USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 76
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 76
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Mr. Leary is a Democrat in political sentiment, but has never taken any active part in political matters more than to perform his duties as a good citizen. He is a Catholic in religious faith.
T. J. Murphy is a prosperous business man, of Faribault, Minn. He is a native of Canada, and was born August 8, 1865, to Michael and Mary (Heatherman) Murphy. The former a native of Ireland and the latter of Canada, whither the father immi- grated in 1847. He was a farmer, and in 1865, after his mar- riage, went to Ohio and lived two years, then returned to Canada, whence in 1867 he removed with his family to Lake City, Wabasha county, Minnesota, where he passed the rest of his
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life on a farm, his death occurring September 4, 1908. The mother now-1910-lives in Mower county, where the family own a fine farm of 240 acres. Our subject grew up on his father's farm and acquired a common school education. On attaining his majority in 1886 he went to Kenyon and was there engaged in the furniture and undertaking business two years. Selling out his interest in 1888, he next carried on a wood work shop and business some fourteen years with sucess. In 1902 he sold this business and then, for nine months, was engaged in the rug trade at Mankato, after which he bought a half interest in the Dish Rug Company and took up his residence at Faribault. In 1905 Mr. Murphy purchased the other half of the business and since that time has been sole proprietor of what has come to be widely known as the Faribault Rug Company. The house manufactures all kinds of rugs, carpets, etc., and through its salesmen carries on an extensive and growing trade throughout the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas. Mr. Murphy has served as assessor for Mower county. He is a Demo- crat in politics and in religion adheres to the Catholic faith. lle belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Foresters and Modern Woodmen, and is also a member of the Commercial Club of Faribault. In January, 1893, Mr. Murphy married Mary Conniff. whose parents. Peter and Margaret (Haggerty) Conniff, for- inerly of Houston county, Minnesota, in 1871 settled on a fine farm in Mower county, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have three children, Frances, Joseph and Mary, all of whom are attending the parochial schools.
Albert Ochs is a popular and prosperous merchant of Fari bault. Ile is a native of Minnesota and was born at New Ulm October 26, 1872, a son of Joseph Ochis, native of Germany. The father settled at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1852 and worked there as a contractor and builder three years, then moved to St. Paul, Minn., whence, after two and a half years he moved to New Ulm and there followed his regular occupation all his life. ITis death occurred in the fall of 1905, and was followed by that of the mother in the winter of 1906. After closing his school days in his native place, Albert worked as a clerk in the drygoods store of Mr. Frank Kutzing until 1888. With his brother, J. A. Ochs, he then established the firms of Ochs Brothers and opened a 5 and 10-cent store on Third street, where it was continued till 1894, when the location was changed to Center avenue. In 1901 Mr. O. H. Ochs came into the firm. The business pros- pered and branch stores were established at Owatonne, Waseca. St. Paul, Austin and New Ulm and the business grew to large proportions. In 1909 our subject purchased the stock of the main store at Faribault and as proprietor of "The Bee Hive," con-
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ducted the business, dealing in drygoods, cloaks, suits, men's clothing and furnishings, shoes, etc., and in fact, everything or- dinarily carried in a general department store. Mr. Ochis is active in several fraternal societies, being identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Catholic Foresters, Knights of Columbus and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He also belongs to the Commercial Club of Faribault. In poli- tics he is independent in his views and actions, and in religious faith is a Catholic. On October 23, 1900, Mr. Ochs married Alice C. Tetrault, whose father, a native of Canada, is in the carpet business of Faribault. The mother was born in Connecti- cuit and died in December, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Ochs have three children, named respectively, Alfred L., Cecelia A. and Donald F. Mr. Ochs is financially interested in the Citizens Bank of Faribault.
William H. Ratzlaff, though comparatively a young man. has attained, through his own efforts, a degree of success and a standing in the business life of his city. of which he may justly be proud. A native of Faribault, Minn .. he was born October 5, 1874, to Albert and Wilhelmina ( Budde) Ratzlaff, natives of Berlin, Germany. Ilis father, a baker by occupation, came to this country in 1866 and settled at Faribault, and there carried on a prosperous bakery business until his decease, in 1882. After his death the business was conducted until 1905 by his widow, who now lives in that city. William H. acquired a good English education in the common and high schools of Faribault, and also attended a German school there. He began his busi- ness life as a clerk in the store of Mr. I. P. Kinsey, with whom he remained eleven years and in 1897 established himself in trade on his own account, as sole proprietor of the prosperous and growing business that now bears his name. His establish- ment is thoroughly equipped with every needed appliance for carrying on its extensive trade in drygoods, carpets, rugs, cloaks, men's furnishings, etc., and ranks with the most up-to-date es- tablishments in the city. Mr. Ratzlaff takes an active interest in affairs, and has served two terms as alderman from the Second ward, being supported by both Republicans and Demo- crats, though himself a Republican. Hle is an active member of the Commercial Club of Faribault and serves on the manu- facturing and mercantile committee. In religious belief he ad- heres to the tenets of the German Lutheran church.
On September 25, 1901, Mr. Ratzlaff married Bertha Herbst, whose parents removed from Wisconsin, their native state, and settled at Waseca, Minn., where they now live. Mr. and Mrs. Ratzlaff have two children, Alonzo William and Elaine Anna,
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George O. Lee is a native of Minnesota, being born in War- saw township, Rice county, October 19, 1856. He is a son of Orvin and Laura (Cobb) Lee, natives of Connecticut. They came to Minnesota in 1855, located in Warsaw township, Rice county, where the father farmed until 1863, whence he sold out and came to Medford, where he did contract work on a small scale. Later he entered the meat market business, which he followed until about 1882, at which time he retired from active business life, making his home in Medford, where he remained up to the time of his decease March 16, 1904. The mother still resides in Medford. George O. acquired his education in the public schools of Medford. Leaving school he entered the cheese manufacturing business, working for the Crescent Cream- ery for six years. Then in 1893 he built a meat market at Med- ford, where he carried on a retail trade successfully, and also buys stock for shipment. In 1877 Mr. Lee married Emily E., daughter of John and Elizabeth Bailey. The fruit of this union is four children, Ralph H., who carries on farming in Medford township; Harold G., assists his father in the meat market ; Jessie L. and Frances, who are both living at home. Besides our subject there is one sister in the family, who is now Mrs. Frances Osborn. She and her husband live at Kerney, Okla. In politics Mr. Lee believes in the principles of the Republican party.
Jens I. Hille, son of Ingebrit and Thure Hille, natives of Nor way, was born in Norway March 16, 1847. The parents carried on farming until the death of the father in 1852. Mother died in Norway in 1892.
Jens was educated in the schools of Norway. Leaving school he followed railroad work for some time, and was a sailor for three years. In 1876 he came to America and located in Cotton Wood county, Minnesota, where he remained three years. 11c thence removed to New Market, Minn., remaining there three years, after which he came to Webster township, Rice county, Minnesota, where he farmed until 1902. At this time-1902- Mr. Hille took the management of the Webster Co-operative Dairy Association, which he has carried out successfully up to the present time. He still retains his farm. Mr. Ilille was mar ried 1875 to Randverg Rivenes, a native of Norway. They have nine children named in the respective order of their birth, viz : Thora ; Judeth, who lives at Walseth, Mont. ; Jens lives in Minne apolis: Hans resides in North Dakota; John, South Dakota : Andrew, Anna, Sarah, Ester, are all living at home. Mr. Hille has served with credit a number of local offices in his commu nity, such as assessor, census enumerator, clerk of the school board, which office he has filled for eighteen years. lle is also
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stockholder in the Star Telephone Company and in the creamery. He affiliates with the Republican party, and in religious senti- ment he is associated with the Norwegian Lutheran church.
A. B. Cowan, a retired farmer of Wells township, is a native of Jefferson county. Indiana, and was born January 24, 1832, to J. W. and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Cowan, natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. In 1855 the father settled on a quar- ter section of land which he pre-empted in Wells township, and where he made a home and reared his family, being among the first settlers of the township. Ile was a prosperous farmer and passed his life here, his death occurring March 28. 1887. His widow survived till 1891. Our subject spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the public schools in Indiana. He began life as a farmer and after his father's death, took charge of the home place, carrying on general farming. giving special attention to breeding and raising fine horses and cattle. In 1903 he rented the farm and practically retired from active farm work. Mr. Cowan served in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in Com- pany B, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in which he was a corporal. He is independent in his political views and has filled various local town offices. In religious faith, he is an Epis- copalian. Mr. Cowan is the second child of a family of eight children. The eldest, George, is now deceased as also France, the third, and E., the fourth child, Elizabeth, the fifth child, lives with our subject, Martha is married to Freeman Rabets and lives in Minneapolis : Anna lives at Eagle Bend, Minn., the wife of John Elppard, and Lucinda is married to Jasper MF. Campbell and lives in Colorado. Mr. Cowan has never married. Eliza- beth, the fourth daughter mentioned above, is the wife of Theo- dore Marquis, who is justly proud of his Southern Cross of Honor, won by valor as a Confederate soldier.
J. A. Coleman was born in Richland township May 20, 1865. He attended the district school and worked on his father's farm until 1897, and then went into the mercantile business at Rice Lake, Minn., for one year. He then moved to Richland and con- ducted a general store until 1903, when he sold out and took np farming in Richland township, Rice county. He has served as treasurer of the town board for eight years and town clerk since 1905. He was elected a director of the school board in the sum- mer of 1909.
F. C. Carlton was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1854. His parents settled in Steele county, Minnesota, in 1855, and farmed in Owatonna township until 1867. The family then moved to Merton township, where the father died in 1890 and the mother in 1904.
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FF. C. Carlton was educated in the Owatonna schools. After graduating from the high school he taught twelve years. He was elected county superintendent of schools in 1896 and served two years. Ile is now engaged at farming in Merton township. In politics he is a Republican and served one term in the state legislature, 1907, and for six years he was county commissioner of Steele county.
Orlando Johnson was born in New York state June 27. 1831. In the spring of 1853 he came to Minnesota, settling on a farm in Medford. He served three years in the Civil War and was mustered out at Port Huron. He then returned to Medford township and farmed it four years, then he erected a cheese factory, which he operated eighteen years. He is now living a retired life.
James McCabe was born in Massachusetts June 18, 1833. He came to Minnesota in 1856 and located in Webster township. Rice county. Hle did not devote much of his time to farming. He was engaged in the mercantile business for forty years. He was burned out in 1907 and moved to Northfield, Minn. In the spring of 1910 he moved back on the farm, where he now lives. Hle has served on the town and school board a good many years : also on the board of county commissioners.
F. R. Kauffman, merchant and postmaster of Nerstrand, was born October 1. 1876. He was educated in the district schools of Hampton, graduating from the Hastings high school in 1895. lle then entered the grocery store of his brother. W. F. Kauff- man. at St. Paul. In 1904 he opened a general store at Nerstrand. In his politics he is a Republican and has served as postmaster for five years. He is a stockholder in Farmers State Bank. Hle is married and has two children, Evelyn E. and Estell L.
C. E. Little was born in Henry county, Illinois, November 14. 1858. He came to Minnesota in 1904 and bought 180 acres in Bridgewater township, Rice county, where he now lives.
J. C. Sommers was born in Illinois March 28. 1854. His father, Frederick, settled on a farm in Northfield township in 1855. John C. was educated at the district schools and worked on the home place, where he now resides. Ile is married and has three children.
Edward Lewis lives on the old Cole farm in Cannon City township. He was born in Ohio April 4, 1867. He came to Minnesota with his father, who settled in Cannon City. Edward attended the district schools and the high school at Faribault. Ile taught five winters and assisted his father on the farm sum- mers.
G. A. Miller was born in New York state August 27. 1847. In 1858 he came West with his father. George W. Miller, and
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the family settled in Forest township, Rice county, Minnesota. In 1873 they sold out and moved to Wright county, where the father died in 1874. G. A. Miller worked his farm and run a mill until 1904, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Millers- burg. He has been town clerk for the last twelve years.
C. O. Persons was born in Sweden November 11, 1846. In 1869 he came to America, locating near Northfield. Minn., where he remained three years. In 1872 he moved to Meeker county, where he engaged in farming. In 1876 he returned to Rice county, locating in Northfield township, where he remained two years, then he moved to Forest township, where he has farmed up to the present time. 1910. He has served as supervisor, justice of the peace, assessor and postmaster for fifteen years. He took the census in 1890 and 1910. He has also served as chairman of the town board four years and on the school board a number of years.
Axel Anderson, of the firm of A. Anderson & Sons, was born in Sweden, April 8, 1852, son of A. G. and Mary Anderson. He attended the common schools of Sweden, and came to this country in 1880, engaging with the Seymour & Seabin Threshing Company at Stillwater until 1883, when he went to Dassel and worked in a repair shop. Then he came to Faribault and from 1884 to 1900 was engaged with F. W. Winter & Co. in their foundry and machine shop. In 1900 he went into partnership with Andrew H. Rawson until 1905, when Axel R. and George L. Anderson, his sons, purchased the Rawson interests. The firm is now known as A. Anderson & Sons, Faribault Machine Shop and Foundry Company. Mr. Anderson is serving on the official board of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Fari- bault. He was married in 1876 to Hannah C. Erickson, and to this union have been born five children: Axel Richard, George Lambert, Jennie Emily, Isabell and David.
Edward Clark Bill, D. D., was one of that noble band of men whose piety, ability and character did much toward giving the Episcopal Church at Faribault the position in the state and nation that it occupies today. At the time of his death it was written : "The decease of Edward Clark Bill is a great shock to the community in which he has lived and labored so long and well as a faithful steward in the Lord's vineyard. His death will be felt as an irreparable loss, not only to his family, his friends and his church, but also to that great body of people who are striving to overcome evil and to build up the kingdom of God on a firm and sure foundation. Mr. Bill was a remark- able man. Handicapped by nature as few men are, he over- came obstacles with which a majority of people would scarcely have dared to contend, and attained to such a degree of success
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as placed him far above many of the most favored and ambitious of his fellows. As a musician he had few equals, and as a preacher he was able and eloquent, and possessed an unusual power of impressing the truth on the minds of his hearers. As a man he was very genial and warm-hearted and showed forth in his daily life that he was a true disciple of the Master in thought and deed." Edward Clark Bill was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 15, 1846, son of Charles Edward Bill, the well known banker and financier. He attended the public schools, and being early disposed toward an academic life, graduated from St. Stephen's College at Anandale, N. Y. In 1870, attracted by Bishop Whipple's work in Faribault, he came to this city and entered the Seabury Divinity School, from which he graduated in 1873. Previous to this he spent one year abroad, traveling with his sister through the principal cities of Europe. At once upon graduation he was made precenter of the Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior. Ilis musical education and his proficiency as an organist splendidly equipped him for this service. Later he became associate rector of the parish of the Good Shepherd here until 1889, when he became associate priest of Christ Church, St. Paul. He was a most earnest and eloquent preacher, and his services attracted much attention as well as large congrega- tions, both in Faribault and St. Paul. While in St. Paul he continued his work as professor of homiletics and liturgics at the Seabury Divinity School. which position he held at the time of his lamented death. In 1881 his failing health necessitated his resignation as associate priest of Christ Church at St. Paul, and he returned to the family residence in Faribault. Two years previous to this the degree of D. D. had been bestowed upon him by his alma mater. Dr. Bill was a trustee of St. Mary's Hlall, a member of the standing committee of the diocese, and dean of the Southern Convocation for several years and until his death. Ile passed away May 11. 1892, after a brave fight with ill health. Dr. Bill was married in 1875 to Elizabeth Iloyt, and this union was blessed with two children : Alfred Hoyt Bill and Natalie Rochester Bill, who is the wife of Willard McCampbell Reid.
Alfred Hoyt Bill was born at Rochester, N. Y., May 5, 1879. the son of Rev. Edward Clark Bill, D. D., and Elizabeth (Iloyt) Bill, his wife. Ile attended the public schools, completing the course in the Faribault High School, and graduated from Yale University with the degree of A. B. from the academic depart- ment in 1903. After a year of travel abroad and in the United States and Canada, and a year of residence in Plainfield, N. J., Mr. Bill settled in Faribault in his father's former home at 528 West Fifth street, where he has since devoted himself to the
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study of English literature and to the management of the prop- erty which he inherited from his father. He has never engaged actively in business, but was at one time one of the directors of the Citizens National Bank of Faribault, and of the Theopold Reid Company, wholesale grocers of that city, neither of which positions he holds at the present time. Mr. Bill is a Republican in politics and a member of the Episcopal Church, of which his father was for so many years a clergyman. He has been a vestryman of the Cathedral parish for eight years and is now its treasurer. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Bishop Seabury Mission and of the board of trustees of St. Mary's Hall. and of the Faribault Public Library Board. Mr. Bill was married June 30, 1903, to Florence Dorothy Reid, of Plainfield, N. J., born December 12, 1881, at Louisiana, Mo .. the daughter of Samuel and Anna E. (Young) Reid. Samuel Reid is a retired tobacco manufacturer and lives in Jersey City, N. J. Mrs. Reid died September 24, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Bill have two children : Florence Dorothy, born April 13, 1907, and Edward Clark, born April 26, 1910.
Dennis Cavanaugh, now deceased, was a prominent resident of Faribault. As a man and a citizen, Captain Cavanaugh was possessed in an eminent degree of those personal and social qualities that endeared him to the community in which he lived and moved. He was ever seeking opportunities to please and to serve. He was charitable to the poor and needy, but in his good deeds always modest and self-sacrificing. In his business rela- tions his career was characterized by the strictest adherence to the laws of probity and honor. As a citizen he was energetic, generous of time and of money in the promotion of every interest that tended to the uplifting of the moral tone of the community, or aided in its commercial and industrial progress. Dennis Cavanaugh was born of Irish parentage, December 3, 1838, in Dresden, Ontario. He came to Minnesota in 1856, stopping first at Hastings, and a year later settling in Faribault, where he continued to make his home. He took the oath of allegiance as a soldier of the United States, August 15, 1862, and was at once commissioned as second lieutenant of Company H of the Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, becoming its lieutenant Septem- ber 13, 1862. September 26, 1864, he was promoted to the cap- tainey of Company C, and was honorably mustered out with his regiment August 19, 1865. The following is his military record : "Served in the Sioux War in the summer of 1863, under Gen. H. H. Sibley ; went south in the autumn of 1863 ; served in Ken- tucky under Gen. S. P. Jennison; in Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri under Gen. A. J. Smith; in Missouri under Gen. W. S. Rosencranz; in Florida and Alabama under
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Gen. A. J. Smith. He joined the Loyal Legion November 2. 1887. The war over, Captain Cavanaugh returned to Faribault and engaged in business, becoming with years one of the fore- most merchants. He served eighteen years as a member of the city council and for a part of that time served as its president. He died December 11, 1909, and during his funeral service every place of business in Faribault was closed by proclamation of the mayor.
Loan H. Dibble, the popular manager of the Faribault theatre. was born on his father's farm in Woodville township, Waseca county, Minnesota, April 29, 1872. After his graduation from the Waseca high school he at once became connected with the Andrews Opera Company, working his way up to manager and agent of that and many other organizations, in which capacity he remained until 1905, when he came to Faribault to enter upon the duties of his present position as manager of the local theatre. By catering to the better class of theatregoers and presenting high class productions only, he has achieved an unusual degree of success. He is also manager of the Faribault Bill Posting Company. In politics hic adheres to the tenets of the Repub- lican party. His fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is a charter member. the Woodmen of the World, and he is also a member of the local Commercial Club. Mr. Dibble served ten years as a member of Company K, Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard, seeing active service during the Spanish-American War as musi- cian in Company K. Twelfth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and is now connected with the United Spanish War Veterans. May 4, 1905, at Pipestone, Minn., he was married to Lillian G. Hart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. L. Hart, the father editor of the "Pipestone Star." Two children have been born to this marriage: Redford II., born February 24, 1906, and Gardner 11 .. born September 30, 1909. The family residence is located at 504 Central avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Dibble attend worship at the Episcopal Church. Charles 11. and Charlotte T. (Redford) Dibble, parents of our subject, were natives of New York state. At the age of four the mother emigrated to Wisconsin with her parents, who located in Milwaukee, Wis., and conducted a tavern. The father came to Oconomowoc, Wis., with his parents when a boy of twelve years. In 1866, after their marriage, they removed to near Faribault, Minn., where the father followed farming for a year, subsequently moving to Woodville township. Waseca county, where he continued farming until 1883. He then came to the city of Waseca, engaging in cabinet making until his death, which occurred in November, 1895. The mother passed away December 24, 1908.
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