USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 74
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 74
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town line. Mr. Zimmerman has his store well fitted up with jewelry safe and every appliance looking to safety and fine dis- play and besides an elegant stock of jewelry, perfumery and notions, has a fine fountain. Mr. Zimmerman is a man of thrift and has dealt somewhat in real estate since settling in Morris- town with gratifying success.
William Zabel was born in the State of Illinois, April 30, 1858, son of Chas. and Minnie ( Brandt) Zabel, both natives of Germany. By trade Chas. Zabel was a wagon maker. He came to America in 1849, and located in Mellenry county, Illinois, where he worked at his trade until 1857. Ile then moved to Minnesota and located at Prairieville, Cannon City township. Rice county, working at his trade until 1866. He then bought one hundred and seventy acres of land in the above named town- ship on which he carried on a general farming until 1899 when he sold his farm and moved to Faribault where he lived in retire- ment until his death in 1905. Mrs. Zabel died in 1902.
William Zabel was educated in the district schools of Canon City. After leaving school he rented a farm in the town of Wal- cott on which he did general farming up to 1904, when he bought 240 acres, doing a general and dairy farming, which he still con- tinues. He was married October, 1884, to Mary C. Dwyer, a daughter of John Dwyer, of Ireland. Mr. Dwyer's occupation was that of a farmer. He came to America and located first in New York State, and afterward moved to Minnesota and located at Faribault, he worked out for several years and then bought a farm in the township of Walcott where he did general farm- ing until his death. Nine children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Zabel. In politics Mr. Zabel is a Republican. He is a stockholder in the Prairieville Creamery, the Farmers'Co-oper- ative store at Faribault, and of the Farmers' Elevator Company of Faribault. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Frank A. Berry, of Faribault, was born in Borodino, Anondago county, New York, and in 1866 came west to Fari- bault. Since that date he has been closely identified with its life. Upon his arrival here he engaged in the wholesale lumber busi- ness with a partner, under the firm name of Smith & Berry. From 1870 until 1903 he followed agricultural pursuits, and held an interest in several local concerns. In 1903 he succeeded lud- son Wilson as president of the Citizens' National Bank, of Fari- bault, and continued in that capacity until the bank was sold in 1908. Since that date he has lived practically a retired life.
Alson Blodgett, of Faribault, was born in Genesee county, New York, May 3, 1830, and was married in New York city, coming to Faribault in January, 1856. Mr. Blodgett then returned east, and when he came back to Rice county, brought
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with him a team of horses and a vehicle which he turned into land in Warsaw township, where he located on a farm, there remaining until 1875. He then sold the farm and came to the city of Fari- bault, where he entered into the sash, door and blind business, in connection with a lumber yard, under the firm name of Linner & Blodgett. Three years later this firm was sold out, and in 1881 Mr. Blodgett purchased the Smith Lumber Yard, which he de- veloped into a large industry, incorporated in 1892, and known as the Wisconsin Lumber Company. Mr. Blodgett's three sons now being associated with him in the company. Mr. Blodgett is now president of this company. He is a Republican in politics, and at one time served as supervisor in the township of Warsaw.
Alson Blodgett, Jr., secretary and treasurer of the Wis- consin Lumber Company. Faribault, was born in that city January 11, 1860, his parents being Alson Blodgett, Sr., and Mary (Cook) Blodgett. In 1880 he entered the lumber business with his father. The company was incorporated in 1892, and at that time the subject of this sketch became secretary and treasurer, a position he has since retained. Mr. Blodgett is a Republican in politics and has served as president of the Faribault school board for six years. He is also a director of the Security Bank of Faribault, and of the Faribault Commercial Club.
Ernest A. Taylor. July 6, 1861, in what was then the township of Merton, Steele county, Minnesota, there was born to H. W. Taylor and his wife. Lenora ( Kendall) Taylor, a son, who was named Ernest Ansel. In January, 1865, he, with his sister Lula, who was two years his junior, was taken by his parents to Buckland. Mass., where the family lived with the paternal grandparents for a year.
The following spring the family removed to Faribault, and later, when school was opened in the new Central school building. the first day found E. A. Taylor a pupil in the lowest class in the lowest room. The summer he was sixteen found him completing his third year in the high school, and as the school authorities had not yet inaugurated a regular course and there was no such thing as graduation, he thought he had education enough, and having a fondness for mechanical work persuaded his parents to let him enter the blacksmith shop of the Frink & Stafford wagon factory as an apprentice. Four years later, having in the mean- time learned his trade, a hunting trip to Hutchison, Minn., put him in the way of becoming interested in a small hardwood saw- mill. The venture was not a financial success, but it added to his knowledge the ability to run a steam engine and to do logging from cutting the trees to putting the logs on the rollway. Re- turning to Faribault he worked at his trade for Lindeman Bros., and later for Adan Weyer. In the fall he ran an engine for a
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threshing outfit belonging to the Minnesota Chief Company. The next season he had charge of a whole outfit for the same com- pany, starting all alone from Faribault with one of the first trac- tion engines made. It was built over from an engine drawn by horses, and was speeded up to six miles an hour, making it very difficult for an inexperienced driver to steer. All went well till a narrow grade across a slough southwest of Medford was reached, when one front wheel slipped off and the axle was broken. A day sufficed for repairs. The trip was continued and a successful season's threshing was done between Owatonna and Waseca. Returning, bad luck overtook the outfit near the scene of the former mishap. The engine and tank broke through a bridge, Mr. Taylor saving himself from being crushed between the two by jumping.
The following spring-1884-he went to Windsor, Mo., where his mother's people lived, to run an engine in a creamery. The winter of that year, wishing for more education, he gave up his place, went to Sedalia, Mo., and entered the Robbins Business College, which was a good one for that time. After completing the course he returned to Minnesota and carly in 1886, learning that both the Great Northern and the "Soo" roads were going to build through Paynesville, Minn., he went there with Fred Harper and another Faribault boy and opened a blacksmith and wagon repair shop. Business was good from the start. October 6. 1886, E. A. Taylor was united in marriage to Mary E. Tower. daughter of G. W. Tower, of Faribault. January 1, 1887, Mr. Taylor sold his interest in the shop to his partner and went into business with John W. Darby, who was postmaster at Paynes- ville and also had a drug and grocery store. A year later, Mr. Taylor finding the drug business more to his taste than anything he had yet tried. disposed of his interests in Paynesville and bought a two-thirds interest in an exclusive drug store in Maple Lake, Minn. Two years later a disastrous fire wiped out the busi- ness and the family residence, which was above the store. Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were sick with the "grip" at the time and little was saved. Mr. Taylor then went to Minneapolis and entered Prof. Drew's Pharmacy School. After completing the course he successfully passed the examination of the Minnesota State Board of Pharmacy. For a time he was employed in a drug store in Minneapolis, and then accepted a desirable place in a store on the hill in St. Paul. Here the close confinement and long hours gradually told on his health, and not wishing to give up the business, he accepted an offer to take charge of a new stock of drugs that was going in at Breckenridge, Minn. For a time the change was beneficial, but as the business grew the old troubles came back and finally, late in 1894, with his health completely
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shattered, he was compelled to give up the work for all time. The family, which now included two daughters, Erna, born on her father's birthday, July 6, 1890, and Jean, born September 12, 1892, returned to Faribault. For a year and a half Mr. Taylor was unable to do any real work, then he regained sufficient health to do liglit outdoor work and drove 'bus for his father, gradually regaining lost ground till in 1902, when his brother Leslie, who liad engaged in the lumbering business in Aitken county, Minne- sota, died as the result of an accident, E. A. Taylor went there and took charge of the business. The region was a wild one at the time, the nearest available railroad point being Grand Rapids, Minn., thirty-five miles away by the wagon road. Early in the summer Mr. Taylor took his family up. At first they lived in a tent, but as soon as lumber had been sawed, buildings of rough boards covered with tar paper were put up for the camp and a house for the family was built in the same way. It took two years to saw the lumber-something over two million feet-from the tract of land they owned. Then in 1904 they moved back to Faribault. Mr. Taylor soon after opened the Electric Laundry, which he still runs. In local politics he does not follow party lines, and on national questions he usually votes the Republican ticket, but lie approves of the present "insurgent" movement. He is a member of the M. W. A., the M. B. A., the Mystic Workers, the local Commercial Club and the Live Topic Club. The family usually attend the Congregational Church.
Joseph M. St. George, a native of Wells township, Rice county. was born April 2, 1866. He received his education in the Cedar Lake district school of Wells township, afterwards taking up gen- eral farming and threshing, which he followed for twenty-four years, succeeding his father in business. Mr. St. George was very successful in his farming operations, acquiring a farm in Rice county, which he developed to a high state of productiveness, and another in South Dakota, where he bought for speculation. In 1902 he engaged in quarrying all kinds of building and lime stone near Faribault, and shortly afterwards established a brick vard, now doing an extensive business in both lines. In politics he stands independent, always voting as he thinks best, regardless of party. April 11, 1887, at Faribault, Minn., he was united in marriage with Susan Chapdelaine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Chapdelaine. They have three children, all living at home-Alfred, Lawrence and Elizabeth. The family reside at the corner of First street and Thirteenth street, East. The Catholic Church claims them as members. Mr. St. George is affiliated with the Catholic Order of Foresters. Joseph St. George and Mary (Jersoule) St. George, parents of our subject, were born in Canada and Belgium, respectively, the former in 1834 and the
1485
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
latter in 1835. In 1855 they migrated to Wells township, Rice county, where they homesteaded a hundred and sixty acres, hav- ing the usual experiences of those pioneer days. They united in marriage in 1858. The father continued farming, running a threshing outfit in connection with his farm duties much of the time till 1890, when he removed to Walcott township, where he continued farming till 1899, then removed to North Dakota, taking a claim of a hundred and sixty acres and proving up on it. He still spends most of his time on this property. His wife died in Walcott township, May 3, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Chap- delaine, parents of our subject's wife, were united in marriage in July. 1859. They engaged in farming in Wells township, Rice county, till 1893, then lived in the city of Faribault till their de- cease. Mr. Chapdelaine died at the age of eighty-one years. Mrs. Chapdelaine died at the age of sixty years.
John Street was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, September 10, 1856. He received his early education in the public schools, and when nineteen years old commenced teaching country schools and for several years alternated between teaching and attending school, holding the position as principal of the Sheffield, lowa schools for three years, after which he engaged in the real estate and abstract business, working at this about five years, serving in the meantime as deputy register of deeds in Hampton, Franklin county, Iowa. He came to Minnesota in 1889, stopping at Spring- field, Minn., where he was engaged in banking. In 1891 he went to Lamberton, Minn., and there, with others, organized the Citi- zens' State Bank, of which he was cashier, remaining in this posi- tion about ten years. In the meantime he served for some years as president of the Bank of Moose Lake, and vice president of the Citizens' Bank, of Maynard, Minn. In 1901 Mr. Street came to Northfield and engaged in the real estate and loaning business. In 1906 he entered into partnership with M. W. Skinner and the firm name has since been Skinner & Street. Mr. Street is a Re- publican in politics. He has been president of the Northfield Board of Education for the past six years. Mr. Street was mar- ried October 19, 1881, to Mary J. Winship, daughter of J. W. and Ruth (Aten) Winship, and born in Wisconsin January 19, 1861. To this union were born ten children-Claude W., Ber- nard, Arthur D. (deceased), Bayard T., Edith E., Ruth R., Flor ence E., Maynard J., Douglass and Theodore H. Aaron and Eliza- beth (Clark) Street, parents of John Street, were natives of Ohio and Illinois, respectively. They located in Salem, Henry county. Iowa, among the first settlers, the father dying in 1871, and the mother in 1896. They had six children who grew to maturity : Mrs. Eunice S. King, of Muscatine, Iowa ; Mrs. Mary S. Haines, of Hesper, N. D .; B. G. Street, of Hesper, Iowa ; D. C. Street, of
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Sturgeon Lake, Minn .; L. M. Street, of Minneapolis, Minn., and John Street, of Northfield, Minn., the subject of this sketch.
Herbert C. Theopold was born in Faribault in July, 1868. He attended the public schools of Faribault and graduated from the Shattuck school in 1886. In 1888 he associated himself with his father, F. A. Theopold, in the wholesale grocery business. In 1905 the business was incorporated under the name of Theopold- Reid Company, with Henry C. as president
George R. Miller, farmer of Rice county, was born in Richland township. December 20, 1866, to J. G. and Susan (Putman) Miller. The father, a native of Germany, was a shoemaker by trade. The mother is a native of New York state. J. G. Miller came to America in 1845 and located in New York city, where he worked at his trade for one month, after which he moved to Genesee county. where he followed his trade for two months. In 1850 he moved west to Wisconsin, locating in Rock county. where he worked on a farm for some time. In 1851 he bought a farm in Fayette county, Iowa, where he remained until 1856. He then came to Minnesota, located in Walcott township, Rice county, where he worked at his trade. In 1858 he traded his farm in Iowa for land in Richland township, where he has done general farming up to the present time. Nine children blessed the home in this family. Five are still living: S. E. Miller is engaged in the grocery business in Minneapolis: Mrs. Lucy Perry, who lives in Walcott township ; Mrs. Rebecca Zanher, who lives in North Dakota, and Emma Miller, who is still at home and has successfully engaged in the poultry and egg business. The subject of this sketch was educated in the district school in Rich- land township. After leaving school he worked on his father's farm, where he still lives. Mr. Miller is a Prohibitionist in poli- tics, and he belongs to the Methodist Church. He has served as a member of the board of directors in the school district for six years, beginning in 1900. He has also served as road overseer for several terms. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co- operative Store at Faribault.
Charles H. Hatfield, son of Robert and Nancy Hatfield, was born in Wells county, Indiana, November 2. 1850. His parents, in 1860, removed to Forest township, Rice county, Minnesota, and here he completed his education in the district schools, after- wards engaging in farming on a farm in Forest township. He also acquired land in Eureka township, Dakota county, and spent two years in South Dakota, occupied in farming, after- wards returning to Forest township, where he continued to follow general farming with much success for the next eight years. He then took a trip into North Dakota, where he in- vested in land in Burleigh county, which he still owns. Mr. Hat-
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field then moved to Faribault-1903-and entered the business of buying and shipping veal and poultry, which still claims his attention. The Farmers' Elevator Company, of Faribault, num- bers him among its stockholders. In politics he is a staunch sup porter of the Republican party, and has ably served on the town board and school committee of Forest, and was treasurer of the school board for a time. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Forest and afterwards of Dundas, but after making his permanent home in Faribault he united with the Congregational Church. May 27, 1886, he was married to Kate Owings, who died two years later, leaving one daughter, Ruth, who is mar- ried to E. I. Femder, of Idaho. Mr. Hatfield was married a second time, November 19, 1897. at Faribault, to Sarah Brown, daughter of James and Sarah (Ford) Brown, of Faribault. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were natives of Scotland, emigrating to Canada in the early seventies, removing to Faribault in the spring of 1872, where he purchased a home on Fourth street, which he continued to own and occupy until his death, March 27, 1908. his wife following him just five days later. The Hatfield residence is at 821 Fourth street, West.
William H. Dean is an enterprising citizen of Morristown, Minn. He was born June 1, 1854, and is the eldest of a family of ten children born to George W. and Martha Jane (Walker) Dean. The other children, named in the order of their births, are James M .: Sarah Jane, who is married to J. D. Hammett ; Mary, the wife of P. A. Young: Nettie Louise, who is married to Hans Larson ; George W .; Nellie, the wife of J. C. Mckenzie : Mattie S., married to Lewis Larson; Minnie, who is married to James Kisor, and Edith, now the wife of Otto Cromwell. The father was born November 15, 1831, in Brown county, Ohio, and is a son of Ninkemiah and Melinda (Jones) Dean, who were pioneer settlers of Tipton county, Indiana, whither they moved with an ox team, thirty-five miles north of the present site of Indian- apolis, when our subject's father was eight years old. In the fall of 1845 our subject's father, with his wife and infant child (our subject ) left his home in Indiana and after a six weeks' journey with an ox team, reached Grant county, Wisconsin, and the following year removed to Waseca county, which was then a part of Rice county, Minnesota. Here he pre-empted and proved up a claim. Five years later he traded this land for the eighty-acre tract in section fifteen, Morristown township, Rice county, Min- nesota, which became the family homestead. Four of his chil- dren were born in the rude log house which he first erected here. Those were strenuous times and there were many hardships and privations to be endured. High prices for everything that set- tlers had to buy was the rule. Mr. Dean paid $2.50 for the first
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bushel of wheat he bought, while his first sale of wheat brought him only 45 cents per bushel. Twenty two dollars in gold was the price he paid for one hundred pounds of pork, and in 1856 he counted himself fortunate to get a bushel of potatoes for two and a half days' work. Faribault then had four log cabins, and it took three days to make the trip to Hastings, the nearest trad- ing point, and return, with an ox team. Mr. Dean hauled from the old saw mill in Morristown the lumber for the Eagle Hotel in Faribault. But Mr. Dean was a resolute and true pioneer and met and overcame these early trials and lives to enjoy the well earned fruits of his labors, at the old family homestead. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and got his education in the district schools. He was eight years old at the time of the Indian uprising in 1862, and has a vivid recollection of the perils and dangers that threatened as he in company with other refugees fled from their homes to safety in Morristown. After finishing his schooling he turned his attention to farming. Hle bought his first piece of land. six acres, in 1877, to which he added twelve acres, and then forty acres, and so continued to add to his holdings from time to time until he acquired his present fine farm in section sixteen, Morristown township, Rice county, comprising 1721/2 acres, well improved. This farm is now-1910 -leased to his son-in-law, Samuel J. Downhour. Mr. Dean has served as a member of the town board some nine years, and for four years was its chairman, and has also served on the school board in district 89. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church in Morristown. In the fall of 1905 he moved into the village, and since September 1, 1905, has been in the employ of the government as a mail carrier on rural free delivery route No. 2. Mr. Dean owns lots 4, 5 and 6, in block 3. village of Morristown, and a fine house and barns thereon. He also owns stock in the Morristown State Bank. In 1878 Mr. Dean married Rosa Orpha Henry, of Morristown. Nine children were born to them. Stella E. is married to Samuel J. Downhour and has six children, Harry, Elmer, Dorothy, Lawrence. Pearl and Forest. John, the second child, married Pearl Hoban and has one child, named Iown. Walter, the third, married Lula Mack, in March, 1905. She died in October, 1907. Mabel May, the fourth child. married Hans A. Olson, of Culver, Minn., and has two children, Ruth Irene and Viola May. The fifth child, Onie Bell, is the wife of Cecil W. Temple and has two children, Earl and Marlin. The other children, Hattie Esther, Eathel Mand, Herbert Edward and William Earl are single and live at home.
Angus Grant, a well known citizen of Faribault, was born at Wolf Island, Ontario, Canada, May 26, 1862, there received his
HIRAM A. SCRIVER
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education and came to Walker township, Rice county, with his mother. He engaged for a time in farming. Then he took up railroad contracting with his brother, and still continues in that business. Mr. Grant is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to public office, though at one time he consented to serve as street commissioner. For a period of years in the '90s lie engaged in the coal business in Faribault. He is a member of the Masonic order, and belongs to the United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Grant was married August 31, 1879, at the bride's home in Walcott township, to Anna B. Mills, daughter of John N. and Maria (Biteley) Mills, natives of New York state. who came to Minnesota and located in Faribault in the early days. Mr. Mills was an attorney. He and his wife are now de- ceased. Mrs. Grant attended the Faribault high school and spent some time at St. Mary's in Faribault. Her ancestors were among the Hollanders who settled in New York in the colonial days, several having fought in the revolution.
Mr. and Mrs. Grant have been blessed with five children : Rose M., born June 7, 1880; married Walter G. Smith, of Fari- bault. Donald was born August 20, 1882, and married Grace Armour, of Union City, Okla. He left school at the age of sixteen years and took up railroad work with his father. Ile now has a complete outfit and has made advancements that are remarkable for a man of his age. Goldie M., born March 6. 1888. has gradu- ated in domestic science in the Thomas training school. Detroit, Mich. Angus, Jr., popularly known as "Buster" Grant, is a great favorite in Faribault, especially among the young people. He was born August 25, 1889, and graduated from the Faribault high school with highest honors. Ile was captain of the basketball and football teams, and led his men to victory, receiving cham- pionship honors several times. He also won several medals for athletic proficiency. The youngest child is Mary, born February 29. 1896. The family home is at 521 West Second street.
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