History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II, Part 73

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Jewett, Stephen
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, Jr.
Number of Pages: 864

USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 73
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 73

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farm and came to Northfield, Minn., and retired from active agricultural operations. Mr. Wilkins has never sought public office, but has at times consented to serve on the school board. In 1849, Mr. Wilkins was married to Mary J. Tew, born in Mendon, near Rochester, N. Y., in 1826. To this union were born seven children, three of whom lived to maturity. Ernest C. Wilkins, lives in Sumner, Wash .; Mary Elizabeth, who died in Northfield and Eliza Estelle, married to John H. Corliss, M. D., of Sumner, Wash. Mary J. Tew Wilkins died in August, 1883, and Mr. Wilkins later married Louisa Feidheim, born near Elgin, Ill.

Charles and Susan (Holden) Wilkins were the parents of Robert C. Wilkins, the father being of Scotch birth and the mother of Welsh descent. Of their seven children, four married and raised a family of children. Mrs. David Wood, of Kala- mazoo, Mrs. Harvey Dean, who lived in the neighborhood of Portage, Wis., and Frederick who lived in the same vicinity are dead, Robert C., the only one surviving being the subject of this sketch. Charles Wilkins brought his family from Eng- land to America in 1828 stopping near Rochester, N. Y., where he settled on a farm. There they lived until the mother died when Charles (the father) came to live with his son Frederick until his death.

The parents of Mrs. Robert C. Wilkins, nee Louisa Feidheim. were both natives of Germany, the father born in Hanover and the mother in Munich. They were married in New York and came to Cannon City, Rice county, in 1855, and opened a hotel. The father also dealt in cattle, and sold meat throughout the county, visiting Northfield once each week, to supply his cus- tomers. In 1861 he moved to Northfield and opened a meat market to which he later added a grocery store. He continued in business many years. He and his wife are now both dead. They were the parents of seven children: Moses Feidheim, of Min- neapolis; Caroline Feidheim, of Northfield; Louisa now Mrs. Robert Wilkins; Louisa, now Mrs. Edward Chase, of Minne- apolis ; Lewis, of Minneapolis ; Joseph, of Chicago ; Rosa married to James Butler, of Minneapolis.

James B. Wickham, a pioneer resident of Faribault, Minn., was born in Orange county, New York, June 4, 1844, coming 'with his parents at the age of six years to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he passed his boyhood and received his education in the district schools. He responded to the call of arms early in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in Company F, Fifth New York Cavalry, at Lyle, serving under the famous General Custer till the disbandment of his regiment in 1865, at Winchester, W. Va., then returned to his home in Bradford

IIISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 113

county, where he remained about a year, emigrating west in June, 1866, and locating at Faribault, Minn., engaging in the engineering business which has claimed his attention ever since. He accepted the position of chief engineer at St. Mary's Hall. October 1, 1883, and has creditably filled the same ever since. Mr. Wickham is a Republican in politics, and is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his city. Ile is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic. As to religious belief, he holds to the tenets of the Episcopal Church. November 21, 1867, he was united in marriage with Emma Cooper who died in 1877, leaving one boy, Charles B., of Portland, Ore. He was married a second time, February 4, 1880, taking as his bride, Annie Atkinson, by whom he has three children: Fred, of Minot, N. D., who is an engineer on the Great Northern Rail- way; James H. and George, who are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wickham have their residence at Second street and Sixth avenue East.

Albert A. Winkley, a native of Warsaw township, Rice county, Minnesota, was born June 27, 1857. He received his education in the district schools, afterwards engaging in farm- ing until twenty-eight years of age. He was one of the oldest children in a large family and it was necessary for him to work, and take some of the responsibilities of caring for the younger children at an early age. At the age of eleven years he was so unfortunate as to have his left leg taken off in a mowing machine while assisting his father in the field. In those days there were no artificial limbs manufactured that a person could wear with any comfort. 'Getting along the best he could until he reached the age of twenty-eight years, when he made and patented an artificial limb and opened a small shop in Faribault, Minn. Ifis artificial limb proved a success and eleven years later he moved to Minneapolis, where he opened and established a large shop which was incorporated in his name and is still operated as the "Winkley Artificial Limb Company." In 1891 he sold his interest in the above firm and became traveling representative for E. 11. Erickson Artificial Limb Company, remaining with these people but a short time.

Mr. Winkley is known in every state in the Union, and he receives letters daily from unfortunates who have lost their limbs and seeking advice and information regarding the right kind of limb to purchase. He is always glad to help anyone who is so unfortunate as to lose their limbs to secure the very best. Mr. Winkley patented what is known as a slip socket leg, and the Winkley slip socket has brought relief to people all over the world to-day. Mr. Winkley returned to Faribault in

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1891 and later purchased the livery business of J. J. Clark which he has conducted since with great success; in 1907 he erected a commodious and up-to-date barn 140 feet by 72 in dimensions having stable room for fifty horses which he keeps constantly in use. In 1909 he purchased the Taylor bus line which he now operates in connection with the livery, his buses meet every passenger train that arrives in Faribault daily. In politics the Republican party counts him a loyal member.

He is also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. Knights of Pythias, American Order of United Workmen and the Order of Eagles. December, 1885. he was united in marriage with Ellen G. Farnham. of Meredith, N. H. They have eight children. Albert F., born December 16, 1886, who now resides in La Grande. Ore. : John A .. born Feb- ruary 10, 1887, in business with his father ; Mary A., born Feb- ruary 9. 1889; Martha E., who was born August 21, 1892; Herbert Q., born October 4, 1895; Joseph W., born July 13. 1897 ; Charles A., born June 13, 1899; May G., born December 4, 1902. The family residence is located on the corner of Cen- tral avenue and First street South. They attend the Congre- gational Church.

Nicholas O. Winans, retired business man and farmer, now residing at 804 Seventh street, in Faribault, was born in Elmira, N. Y., August 30, 1830, son of Nicholas and Frances (Cook) Winans. natives respectively of New England and Pennsylvania. The father, who spent the greater part of his life as a farmer in New York state died in 1855 and the mother passed away in Minnesota in 1878. Nicholas received his education in the public schools, and after leaving school followed farming until fourteen years of age, when. in 1844, he moved to Aurora, Ill., with his mother. He clerked in a store for a number of years, and in 1854 engaged in the hardware business in the same city, remain- ing until 1857. That year he came to Faribault and engaged in the meat business. In 1861 he purchased a farm in Wells town- ship, consisting of 100 acres in section 26. There he built him- self a home and erected other necessary buildings, successfully carrying on general farming until 1904. Then he came to Fari- bault, purchased his present home, and has since resided herc. He is a Republican in politics and is much interested in the issues of the day although he has never sought or held public office. Mr. Winans was married October 12, 1857, at Aurora, Ill., to Martha Kendall, daughter of John and Sarah (Hapgood) Kendall, who came to America July 16, 1838, and located in Aurora, IHl. Mr. Kendall died in 1854 and his wife in 1887. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Winans. Clark was born December 20, 1873. Richard A. was born August 13, 1875,

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and died May 1, 1888. John R. was born May 18, 1878, married Jennie McIntire, and now lives in Presho, S. D. The family faith is that of the Methodist Church.

Frank Henry Wilkowske was born in Morristown township, Rice county, Minnesota, in 1872, and is the third of a family of seven children born to Rudolph and Ida (Koplieske) Wilkowske. who were married in the spring of 1869 at Waterville, Minn. The mother died in the spring of 1898. Their children, other than our subject were Albert, a farmer by occupation, Augusta. who is married to Edward Kiser, Conrad, a practicing physician, Otto, a farmer, Minnie, who is married to Rudolph Kanne and Wilhelm, who lives on the family homestead. The father, who was a native of Province of Posen, Germany, was born February 9, 1842, to Daniel and Justine (Krueger) Wilkowske. He was the third child of a family of seven children, whom his widowed mother brought to this country, in the spring of 1855, settling at Green Bay, Wis., where they bought a quarter section of land at fifty cents per acre. In the spring of 1863 the family came to Rice county, Minnesota, and settled on the tract of land in section thirty-six, Morristown township which became the fam- ily homestead. Rudolph first bought eighty acres of school land for five dollars per acre and afterwards bought a quarter section for fifteen dollars per acre. llis first house was built of rough logs and was a rude cabin twelve by eighteen feet in dimensions, but served as a home till 1868. Ile broke the land with ox teams and with these hauled the produce, at first to Hastings and later to Faribault, the main trading post. But with dauntless courage he met and overcame these difficulties and privations incident to settling in a new country and lives to enjoy the fruits of his labors surrounded by hosts of friends and honored and respected by all who know him. He served in local offices, being path- master. school treasurer, etc., and in the German Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has many years been a loyal mem- ber, he has held the various offices of clerk, steward, treasurer and class leader. He now resides at Faribault whither he moved in the fall of 1903. 1Ie married his present wife, who was form- erly Margaret Eichhom at Vincent, lowa.

Frank II. our subject, grew to manhood on his father's farm and after leaving the district schools attended school at Waterville, supplementing this with a course of study at a business college in St. Paul Park where he was graduated in 1894. Mr. Wilkowske began his business career in 1894, engag- ing in the hardware trade on his own account. In 1896 the business was carried on under the firm name of Wilkowske Brothers and so continued till 1899, when the firm name changed to Wilkowske and Wolf, which lasted seven years. Since 1906

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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES

he has been in business alone. Mr. Wilkowske has filled num- erous local offices. He served as village recorder in 1895 and by re-election in 1896 and was again elected in March, 1900. April 1, 1902, he was elected president of the council and from April 4, 1905. to March 2, 1909, served as recorder. He was elected school treasurer July 30. 1900. re-elected in 1903 and again elected in 1909 for a third three years term. In 1906 he was a candidate for County Treasurer and again in 1908 on the Republican ticket.

In 1896 Mr. Wilkowske married Meta Wolf and they have two bright children. viz: Everet, born July 19. 1900, and Dela, who was born March 2. 1903. Mr. Wilkowske was appointed to serve the unexpired term, as county commissioner. caused by the resignation of John Finley who moved away. He is also clerk of the local Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America.

E. J. Wolf was born in Wheeling township, Rice county. May 1, 1865. to John B. and Katherine (Filpert) Wolf. John B. Wolf left the fatherland with his parents and emigrated to Amer- ica in 1841 and located in Whecling, Ill., where they remained until 1855. At that time they came to Wheeling township, Rice county, Minnesota, where John B's. father lived only a few years, being killed by the falling of a tree. Then John B. and his mother continued to work the farm. In 1893 the mother passed away, but John B. continued to farm at the same place until 1891 when he retired from active life and moved to Fari- bault where he and his wife now reside. Our subject was edu- cated in the district schools of Wheeling township. After leav- ing school he returned to the old homestead where he now car- ries on general and diversified farming. He was married in 1891 to Emma, daughter of C. and Carolina Schmidt, natives of Ger- many. Mr. Schmidt was a shoemaker by trade. and came to America in 1855 locating in Chicago where he worked for some time; later he worked in St. Paul and came to Nerstrand in 1876, where he conducted a shoe store until his death, which occurred in 1899. Mrs. Schmidt lives in California. The home of our subject was blessed with five children, three of whom are living. viz: Sadie, Francis and Dewey. Mr. Wolf favors the Republican party. In religious faith he belongs to the German Evangelical Church. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank at Nerstrand.

George Snow Weston was born in Burnett, Wis .. June 19, 1869. He is the son of Charles and Jane (Dock) Weston, who were natives of Canada. Mr. Weston's occupation was that of a farmer. He came to the States in 1845, locating in Wisconsin, and buying 320 acres of land where he carried on general farm- ing up to the spring of 1889 when he brought his family to Min-

HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1477

nesota, and located in the town of Walcott, Rice county where he bought 340 acres of land and carried on general farming until 1894. He died on the old homestead. May 17, 1908. Mrs. Wes- ton is still living at the old home. Mr. Weston was educated in the district schools of Burnett and attended Shattuck school for two years, then took an academic course at Coaticotte, Canada. In the spring of 1889 he returned to the farm where he with his father carried on a dairy business, later making a specialty of raising Durham cattle and Chester white hogs. Their farm is known as the Maplewood Stock farm, and Mr. Weston still carries on the same line of business on the old homestead. Ou May 17, 1892. he was married to Agnes Butterfield, a daughter of B. B. and Mary (Spafford) Butterfield, natives of Canada. Mr. Butterfield was a farmer and followed it in Canada until his death. Mrs. Butterfield died at Cedar Falls, lowa, in December. 1886. Mr. Weston is a Republican, and his religious affiliations are with the Episcopal Church, he is a member of the A. O. U. W., the Royal Arcanum, and the Knights of Pythias, he is a stockholder and director of the Farmers Elevator Company and treasurer of the Faribault Canning Company.

Eugene B. Wemple was born in Florida, Montgomery county. New York, July 12, 1845. son of David D. and Christiana (Schuy- ler) Wemple, natives of New York. Mr. Wemple followed the trade of a wagon and carriage maker until the year 1848 when he moved his family west to Wisconsin, locating on a farm of 90 acres near Oshkosh, where he lived until 1855. In 1856 he sold his farm and moved to Minnesota. locating in Walcott township. section 13, where he bought 160 acres, doing general farming until the time of his death January 22. 1885. Mrs. Wemple died January 11, 1885. Eugene Wemple was educated in the district schools of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and also attended Hamline university, when that school was located at Red Wing. Minn. After leaving school he returned to the farm where he worked with his father until 1880, then he bought the farm from his father. He has lived there ever since, and has acquired an addi- tional 40 acres. On April 12, 1876, he married Minnie Thompson, a daughter of Samuel and Lucy (Biglow) Thompson who were natives of the State of New York. Mr. Thompson was a doctor of medicine and came west locating near Winona, Minn where he bought a farm on which he lived and practiced his profession up to the time of his death. Mrs. Thompson died in 1894. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wemple: Hen- rietta M. Lewis, whose husband is a farmer living near Kerk- hoven, Minn., Edith Belle Peterson, whose husband is a farmer living near Kerkhoven, Minn. Eugene B., Jr. who is by occupa- tion a gas fitter and plumber and who travels a portion of the

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time, Ethel L., a teacher, and Roy E. lives on the farm. Mrs Wemple died April 3, 1896. On March 28, 1904, Mr. Wemple married his second wife, Cora B. Kellogg, daughter of A. J. and Marilla C. (Barnett) Kellogg. The father was a native of Franklin, Delaware county, New York, and the mother lived in Iowa. Mr. Kellogg was by trade a wagon maker. He came west to Minnesota in 1854 locating at Faribault, where he worked at his trade until 1880 when he retired from active work. He died in Faribault in 1903. Mrs. Kellogg died April 14, 1879. Mr. Wemple has no children by his second wife. He is a Republican and has served on the board of supervisors for two years, and as a director on the school board since the year 1900. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company, The Richland creamery, and in the Co-operative store. He is a meinber of the M. E. Church. Mr. Wemple is one of a family of nine children. William J. for many years in the feed business at Logansport, Ind., now retired from active business; Anna M., married to Frank Ridgeway, who is in the mercantile business at Jackson. Minn .: Sarah J. Matthews, a widow, now living at Faribault ; Engene B. ; Henrietta R. Benham, whose husband is a prominent real estate man in Minneapolis; George W. in the patent right business at Boston; David D. died March 11, 1909. and whose widow and son live at Fergus Falls, Minn. : Daniel S. owner of 1,860 acres of farm land near Fergus Falls, now retired and lives with his family at Fergus Falls; Gertrude Cronkhite, whose husband is a farmer at Maple Lake. Minn.

Alfred K. Ware, a prominent citizen of Northfield, is known throughout the United States as the owner of the Alcantara farm, which has produced some of the finest horses in America. In 1903 he was elected mayor of the city and served with credit for two years. In 1904 he was elected to the legislature, and so excellent was the record which he made in that body, the people of his district honored him with the same position again in 1908. He is now serving and has established for himself an enviable reputation in the minds of his fellow citizens. Alfred K. Ware was born in Waterloo, Iowa, August 23, 1863, and received his early education in the public schools of Minneapolis, and a high school at Evanston, Ill. After graduating from the latter institution, he entered into the real estate and loan busi- ness at Lake Benton, Minn., remaining two years. Then he went to Elmwood, Ill., and conducted a stock farm three years. From 1897 to 1899 he raised stock in Virginia, and in the latter year came to Riee county. Here he purchased the electric light plant at Northfield, and built a sightly brick theater. He also bought eighty acres of land, which he has converted into a famous stoek farm. Mr. Ware was married, March 30, 1887, to

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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES

Harriet Fletcher, born in Winona, Minn. To this union, eight children have been born, five boys and three girls. They are: Cecil G., Mildred R., Ralph F., Fletcher K., Marjorie Ii., Roger (deceased), Alexander E., John T. and Alfreda L. Mr. Ware is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen and the Modern Samaritans. Edward K. and Mary E. (Maxwell) Ware, parents of Alfred K. Ware, were natives respectively of Illinois and Massachusetts. They located in lowa in the early days, and moved to Minneapolis in 1876. Both are now deceased.

The Alcantara Farm, in Northfield, is the breeding place of high grade trotting horses. In 1899, Alfred K. Ware, the pro- prietor, purchased the world-famed Alcantara, a horse that ranked fifth in the world as a sire of trotting and pacing horses, having at the time of his purhcase by Mr. Ware a list of over 135 which was increased to over 160 before his death. Mr. Ware has owned the following horses: Betherton, Sidmont (2.10/2) ; Barolite (2.1714) ; Homeward, Aldatara Wilkesoneer (2.30) ; Red Star (2.124) ; Senator La Follette (2.231/2) ; Royal Ouline (2.231/2) ; Major Silver; Lexantara; Ashon (2.121/2). A great many fast colts have been produced in Minnesota. Among them might be mentioned : Iseneta (2.051/2) ; Happy Ilooligan 2.121/2) : Lady Ouline (2.1714) ; Ollie K. (2.1214) ; Mollie Barolite (2 .- 1814) ; Browie Mae (2.241/2) ; Bessie Barolite (2.221/4) ; Lucy A. (2.191/2) ; Red Sid (2.24}2), and several others that are fast but have not made records. It will be seen from this list that Mr. Ware stands at the head of all in this section for improving the speed qualities of horses.

Lambert Watts, a retired farmer of Rice county, now living in Northfield, was born in Pacham, Caledonia county, Vermont. December 2, 1820, son of Thomas and Jane ( Bailey) Watts, natives respectively of New Hampshire and Newbury, Vt. He received his education in the common schools of Vermont, and early turned his attention to farming. He came to Rice county in March, 1858, and bought a quarter section of land in North- field, where he lived about five years, afterward purchasing 320 acres in section 14, which he still owns. At the beginning of his career in this county, Mr. Watts acquired a Morgan mare, and raised some fine horses of that strain. During his residence here. Mr. Watts has never sought public office, preferring rather to give all his energy, time and attention to his farming. Trouble with his hearing prevented his enlistment in the Civil war. Mr. Watts has taken a deep interest in the development of town- ship and county. The first school in his vicinity, when he first came to Minnesota, was held in his granary, which he gave free of rent. He also donated time and money to various pub-

1480 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES

lic improvements. Mr. Watts has been a life-long Republican. In 1888 he retired from farming and moved to Northfield, where he still resides. He was married in Pacham, Vt., March 29, 1842, to Martha Martin, born in Pacham, Vt., March 20, 1817, daughter of Eliphalet and Martha (Hoyt) Martin, both natives of Penn- sylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Watts were blessed with five children. Thomas born November 14, 1843. served three years in Company C, Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out at the close of the war. Martha J. was born June 2, 1845, and died at Pacham, \'t., September 17, 1845. John M. was born October 28, 1847, and died October 13, 1902. Lizzie Ann was born November 22, 1851, and married Everett Spear, of North- field. Martha J., named for her deceased sister, was born Feb- ruary 23, 1857.

Wiliam Zimmerman, a prosperous and enterprising merchant of Morristown, Minn., was born in Germany in 1878, and is one of a family of five children born to August and Wilhelmeina Zimmerman. They came from Germany in 1883 and settled in Rice county, Minnesota, with their then three children, Fred, now of Faribault, in the hotel business, our subject and Charles, working his father's farm, and was married to Mata Hagel, eight days before his mother passed away, also of Morristown-subse- quently two more children were born, viz: Minnie, now married to Gustav Zielske, and Alma who is at home. The family are adherents of the German Lutheran Church. The mother. who was born August 15, 1863, to Frederick and Wilhelmeina Pieper. of Province Brandenburg, Germany, grew to womanhood and was educated in her native place. She was a woman of noble christian character greatly beloved by all who know her, and her death at Morristown, after a lingering illness, on January 22, 1909, was deeply mourned by many friends. William grew up on his father's farm, and attended the district schools until he was sixteen years old. He went to St. Paul in 1903 and entered Stone's school of watchmaking and engraving and learned the art of engraving and watchmaking and on being graduated returned to Morristown and soon afterward opened for business with about one hundred and fifty dollars worth of goods in L. J. Eisert's furniture store. Beginning thus in a modest way, he gave close attention to his busines which gradually grew under his careful management necessitating an increase of stock each ycar. He continued in his first location till 1908, and then moved his place of business to the general store of Paul Burkart and conducted it there till February, 1909, when his present store building, twenty-six by thirty feet in dimensions and two stories in height was ready for occupancy. This building was formerly occupied by the Methodist Church and stood just south of the

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History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II, Part 73

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Jewett, Stephen Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, Jr. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Jewett, Stephen
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, Jr.
Number of Pages: 864