USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 79
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 79
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in the state legislature, was judge of probate ten years, and has held many other positions of public trust and honor. He helped select the site for the Bishop Seabury Mission, and for forty years was secretary and director of the state institutions, being a prime mover in their location and organization here. Mott Hall, the stately structure at the Minnesota School for the Deaf, one of the prominent features of the Faribault landscape, is named in his honor. He and his family have taken more than an ordinary interest in literary and educational pursuits, and their influence on the community has been far reaching. Mr. Mott has been superintendent of the State Sunday School Asso- ciation ; president of the Association of Charities and Correc- tions, and superintendent of the Congregational Sunday school for a long term of years. Mary Ripley was the daughter of Rev. David Ripley, and was born at Pomfret, Conn., in 1825. She was educated at Geneseo, Ill., and married Mr. Mott, August 16, 1852, and came with him to Faribault in 1856. Six children were born to them, all in Faribault, except one son who died in child- hood, as follows: Millie, who was Prof. W. M. West's first wife ; Mary E., Alice J., Christie and Louise. Only Alice J. and Louise are living. The Mott home has been one of many natural sor- rows; but they have all been met with quiet resignation, and the brighter, happier side of life is always turned towards both stranger and friend.
Charles Augustus Wheaton, for many years deceased, was for a quarter of a century one of the sturdy figures of Rice county. One of that noble band of leaders who started the anti- slavery movement in New York and New England, he lived to see the black men freed and the principles of equality and justice which he had fostered so many years at great personal sacrifice, triumphant. In Northfield his editorial pen was ever at the disposal of any good cause, and he was a leader in all progressive movements. Placing the love of his country first, he faithfully served the state, the county and the city, and his death, March 13, 1882. was a severe loss to the community. The following biog- raphy, published shortly before his death, sums up his career and work. "Charles A. Wheaton was born July 1, 1809, in Amenia, Duchess county, New York. His parents moved to Pompey Hill, Onondaga county, when he was but six months old. He received his education at Pompey Academy, which was a leading institution of learning in that part of the country. At the age of twenty-five years he married Ellen, eldest daughter of Victory Birdseye, a prominent lawyer and public servant in western New York. Early in his career he espoused the anti-slavery cause, and was associated intimately with Garret Smith, Beriah Smith, William Lloyd Garrison, and others. He was also active
O A. WHEATON
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V
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in temperance reform, and was for several years identified with the educational interests of Syracuse. He was the organizer of the First Congregational Church in that city, this church being started by anti-slavery people who had formerly been members of the Pro-Slavery Presbyterian Church there. In the late fifties many misfortunes befell him. He lost his wife, financial reverses came, and a railroad in the southern states in which he was heavily interested proved a failure. In 1860, through the influence of his old friend, John W. North, he left his old home and sought a new one in the state of Minnesota. In 1861 he married Martha Wagner, a daughter of the late Thomas Archi- bald, of Dundas, Minn., and started in life with new courage. His attention was first turned toward milling, but later he was engaged in editing the 'Rice County Journal,' and was engaged in that occupation at the time of his death, having taken C. II. Pierce as an associate in the business." His funeral services were held at the Congregational Church in Northfield, March 17, 1882, and all the business houses were closed in honor of his memory.
Cassius M. Buck, president of the Citizens' National Bank of Faribault and one of Faribault's leading and progressive citizens. was born near Rockford, in Hennepin county, Minnesota, June 19, 1859. His education was received in the public schools of Howard Lake, Minn., after which he was engaged in the hardware business at Iloward Lake for a period of ten years. from 1882 to 1892. During this time he became interested in banking, purchasing in 1885 the Bank of Iloward Lake, a private bank which he organized as a state bank in 1897, with himself as president. In 1889 he organized a bank at Dassel, Minn .. acting as president, and in 1893 he launched a state bank at Annandale, Minn., also officiating as president. During the fall of 1895 he came to Faribault, assisting in the organization of the Security Bank of this place and acting as cashier until the fall of 1905, when he disposed of his interests and retired from the bank. Two years later, in the fall of 1907, together with friends, he acquired a large majority of the stock in the Citizens' National Bank of Faribault and was elected to his present position as president, having met with the signal success in this capacity which has attended him in all his enterprises. In politics he is very prominent, being a stanch Republican. He served as a member of the state senate from 1903 to 1906 inclusive, declining a second nomination. He was a delegate to the National Repub- lican Convention from the third congressional district and assisted in the nomination of William HI. Taft, afterwards serving as a member of the notification committee of Minnesota which notified President Taft of his nomination. May 9, 1894, at Salem,
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Ohio, he was married to Sarah E. Tolerton, of Salem. They have one child. William James, born February 14, 1899. The Con- gregational Church claims their support. William P. and Mar- garet (Cramer) Buck, parents of our subject, were married in Ohio where the father was engaged in teaching school. In 1854, they came to Rockford, Minn., Mr. Buck continuing as a teacher for the next four years previous to their removal to Carver county where he operated a hotel at Watertown until the out- break of the war. He then enlisted in the Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving throughout the entire war, and being mustered out with his company at Fort Snelling, July 25, 1865. Shortly afterward he died from a fever which he contracted in the army. The mother is still living at Howard Lake, Minn.
Captain Duren F. Kelley, one of the distinguished citizens of Northfield, was born in Newport, N. H., November 16, 1839, son of Franklin and Temperance (Dwinnel) Kelley, the pioneers. He attended the public schools in Newport and came to North- field with his parents in 1855 as a boy of fifteen years, afterward attending the Northfield schools and also the old Hamline Uni- versity at Red Wing. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, marched to the relief of Ft. Ridgely against the Indians, participated in the battle of Wood Lake, September 23, the capture of Red Iron's camp a few days later and the relief of his white captives, was with General Sibley's expedition against Sioux to the Missouri in 1863, engaged in several battles with the Indians, went south with the regiment in September and was appointed A. A. Q. M. and A. C. S., and served at Morganzie, Port Hudson and Baton Rouge, department of the Gulf. Captain Kelley was mustered out in the winter of 1867, after a continuous service of four years and a half. After the war, Captain Kelley came back to North- field and took up farming. Later he started manufacturing and dealing in farm implements. In 1890 he started the manufacture of fencing, wire and wood, under the firm name of the Northfield Fence Works. The sign is still hanging over the works on the west side of Northfield, but since 1902, when Captain Kelley sold out to Reilly & Lathrop, he has not been in active business. In 1880 Mr. Kelley had charge of taking the government census. In 1896 and again in 1902 he was elected to the state legislature. He was a member of the board of education six years, served as city assessor several years and is now special municipal judge. He has been commander of the J. L. Haywood Post, No. 83, several times, and is now serving on the staff of National Com- mander Van Sant. The subject of this sketch was married February 2, 1863, to Emma I. Rounce, daughter of Rev. J. S. Rounce, the first Congregational clergyman in Northfield. To
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1. C. COUPER
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1529
this union have been born the following children: Eva Isabela, born at Baton Rouge, La., October 26, 1866; Edna, born Feb- ruary 20, 1873, died September 20, 1873; Walter F., born July 26, 1874, died September 6, 1874; Duren F., born August 22, 1881. died November 18, 1881; Candes L., born January 26, 1883; F. Raymond, born April 29, 1885. The living children are all married. Franklin Kelley, the pioneer, and Temperance Dwinell, his wife, were both born in Newport, N. H., and came to Northfield in April, 1855. Franklin Kelley was county com- missioner several times and was very prominent in the early days. He was also prominent in the Congregational Church. The Kelleys are direct descendants of John Kelley who settled in Newberryport, Mass., in 1635, D. F. Kelley being the eighth in direct descent from this colonial hero.
John C. Couper is one of the county's venerable and dis- tinguished citizens, one of those who may well be described as ripe in years and wisdom. He still retains the vigor of a much younger man, and still exerts, as he always has, an important influence for good in the community. He was born Jan. 24, 1830, at Morristown, N. Y., and was educated in the common schools and in Ogdensburg Academy. He taught school several terms, and in 1852 went to Albion, Michigan. In 1852, he crossed the western plains, with a wagon train to California. In Sep- tember, 1854, he returned home via Lake Nicaragua and New York City. He was married Jan. 1, 1855, to Harriet Johnson, and together they came to Minnesota, locating in Sciota. Dakota county. In 1862 he was sent to the state legislature. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company F, Eighth Minnesota Volimn- teer Infantry, serving as sergeant and orderly three years until the close of the war, two years in the Indian campaign in Min- nesota and the Dakotas, and one year in the South in Tennessee and North Carolina. In 1866 he came to Northfield, where he has since made his home. March 1, 1886, he engaged in the mercantile business in the firm of J. C. and F. J. Couper and con- tinned in business until Nov. 5, 1908. He has now retired from active business and is enjoying the crowning fruits of a well spent life. He has been a justice of the peace many years, has been town supervisor, and for eleven years served with justice and distinction as judge of the municipal court of Northfield. He is a charter member, past commander and the present chap- lain of the J. L. Heywood Post, G. A. R., and past junior com- mander of the Department of Minnesota. He was for several years a trustee of the Congregational society at Northfield. He has also served as president of the Northfield Fair Association. In the family were six children: Dr. Joseph E. Couper, of Blue Earth, Minn., died in 1906; Charles S. lives in Rochester. Fen-
1530 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
nimore J. lives in Alberta, Canada. Mrs. Evaline C. Miller lives in Northfield; Prof. George B. Couper lives in Cherryville, Ore- gon. Miss Hattie lives at home.
Judge Couper's parents came from South Shields, England, in 1817, and settled in the wilds of northern New York. The father was a prominent man, and held many positions of public trust and honor.
James Hunter, veteran of the Civil War, and for many years an honored official of Rice county, was born in Stormont county. Canada, May 7, 1841. son of William W. and Margaret (Fergu- son) Hunter. He received his early education in the common and high schools of Perth, Lanark county, Canada, and June 1, 1861, came to Minnesota, in which state he has since resided with the exception of one year in the army. Feb. 15, 1862, he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Battery, Light Artillery, and served until Feb. 16, 1863, and was wounded Oct. 8, 1862, at Perryville, Kentucky. He organized Company B, Second Regi- ment, M, N. G., Aug. 15, 1877, was elected captain and served until August, 1885. He was sheriff of the county from 1866 to 1872; city justice of Faribault 1877 to 1886; register of deeds, 1887 to 1897; deputy auditor, 1898; judge of probate, 1899 to 1905 and 1909 to the present time. He belongs to the Commer- cial Club, the Elks, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Judge Hunter was married April 25, 1866, to Elizabeth F. Weath- erson.
The parents of James Hunter came from Dumfriedhire, Scot- land, to Canada, the father in 1818 and the mother in 1823. The father died in 1855 and the mother in 1867.
Harry E. Whitney, who has been a professor at Shattuck school since 1874, was born in Fort Covington, Franklin county, New York, son of Charles Marsh Whitney and his wife, Delia Minerva Safford. He was educated in the common schools of La Crosse, Wis .. in 1866, and entered Shattuck school, graduating in 1871 as valedictorian of its first graduating class. In 1874 he graduated from the classical course at Trinity College, Ilart- ford, Conn., with the degree of A. B., receiving his honorary master's degree four years later. Since then his life has been devoted to the teaching and the study of languages. Since 1874 he has been professor of Latin and German at Shattuck school, and was head master from 1902 to 1905. For three years, in his younger days, Mr. Whitney was adjutant of the school battalion under Major A. E. Latimer. U. S. A. He also has the distinction of having served on the revised charter commission for the city of Faribault. At college, Mr. Whitney was honored with mem- bership in the Psi Upsilon and the Phi Beta Kappa. He is a thirty-third degree Mason, and is a Past Grand Commander.
PROF. H E. WHITNEY
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Knights Templar, of the state of Minnesota. He is a Mystic Shriner and one of the two Faribault members of the Military Order of Constantine. He also belongs to the Sons of the Revo- Intion, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Faribault Commercial club and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Whitney has made a hobby of farming, and devotes every summer to that pursuit. He was married at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Aug. 3, 1881, to Mary Van Vliet, and to this union has been born one daughter, Mary. Mrs. Whitney has been organist and musical director at Shattuck school for thirty years.
The Whitneys trace their ancestors through two lines to William the Conqueror, and Turstan de Fleming, who fought with Richard Coeur de Lion : to Rev. Ilenry Dunster, first presi- dent of Harvard College ; Governor Thomas Dudley, of the Mas- sachusetts colony, and to Edward Winslow, of Plymouth colony. The Safford line is traced to Stephen Hopkins, of Plymouth; Eurastus Safford and other patriots engaged in the early develop- ment of colonial and Revolutionary days.
A. W. Mckinstry, one of the leading citizens of Faribault. has the most unusual record of having been sixty-six years in the printing business and fifty-nine years in editorial service. His clean, conservative, yet consistently progressive policy in editing the Faribault Republican, has been an important feature in the growth and development of Faribault and Rice county. Mr. Mckinstry was born of Scotch-Irish and English ancestry, in Chicopee, Ilampden county, Mass., March 19, 1828. Ilis ma- ternal grandfather served in the War of the Revolution. He received bis education in the common schools, which he at- tended in the winter, and worked on the farm in the summer until reaching the age of sixteen years. He subsequently was a pupil in the Fredonia Academy, one term. In 1844 he secured a position in the office of his brother, who published the Fredonia Censor, at Fredonia, Chautauqua county, New York. After serv- ing four years he worked for a time as journeyman in eastern cities, and then formed a co-partnership with his brother in the publication of the Censor. Sept. 3, 1857, he married Ellen E. Putnam. To this union were born two children, Grace E. and Linn H. In 1865, Mr. Mckinstry disposed of his interest in the Fredonia Censor, and came to Faribault. He purchased the Central Republican from Orville Brown, and issued his first number Dec. 27, 1868, and two years later changed the name to the Faribault Republican. He served in the state legislature as a representative, was second president of the Minnesota Ilorti- cultural society, for some time was a director of the First National Bank, and for seventeen years secretary and treasurer of Faribault Gas Light company.
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
Fred B. Hill, professor of Biblical literature at Carleton Col- lege, Northfield, was born in Red Wing, Minn., May 15, 1876, son of Edwin Frederick Hill, and Grace Jeanette Hill, his wife, the pioneers, the former of whom, born in Nashua, N. H., May 19, 1848, is still living, and the latter of whom, born in New York City, Sept. 10, 1851, died at Morris, Minn., June 18, 1903. Fred B. received his boyhood education in the Minnesota public schools, graduating from the Morris high school in 1895. In 1900 he received his B. L. from Carleton College. He received his B. D. in 1903 from the Hartford Theological Seminary, and the same year was ordained to the Congregational ministry. The year 1905-1906 was spent in a tour around the world. In 1906- 1907 he took a post-graduate course in the Hartford Seminary, and has since been engaged in his present profession. Prof. Hill was married June 14, 1905, to Deborah Wilcox Sayles, daughter of the late Frederic Clark Sayles and Deborah Cook Sayles, of Pawtucket, R. I.
Herman Roe, the talented editor of the Northfield News, started his newspaper editorial career in June, 1910, after two years as principal of the high school at Anoka, previous to which time he was one of the popular students at St. Olaf's college. Mr. Roe has that energy and enterprise so necessary in a news- paper man, and his gifted pen is placing him high among the weekly newspaper editors of the state. The subject of this sketch was born in Eau Claire, Wis., June 9, 1886, son of L. I. Roe, a leading citizen of Stanley, Wis., where he has been mayor for several terms. Herman, as he was then called by his friends, was taken to Stanley at an early age, and attended the schools there, later coming to Northfield and entering St. Olaf's college, where he graduated in 1908 with the degree of B. S. He was president of the college band, and accompanied it on its famous trip to the old country in the summer of 1906. He won the Henry Nelson Talla scholarship, and distinguished himself in scholarship, in oratory, in debating, in music, and in literature, occupying a number of editorial positions, including a place on the Viking staff. During the last two years of his college career he worked with Mr. Heatwole on the Northfield News, and in June, 1910, was placed in editorial charge. Mr. Roe was mar- ried Aug. 8, 1909, to Anna Kirkeberg, a graduate of the musical course at St. Olaf's college.
Math R. Vikla, the popular principal of the Wheatland village schools, was born in Wheatland township, Dec. 31, 1884, a son of Martin and Eva Vikla, whose life history is given else- where in this volume. His early education was acquired in the district schools, completing with a course in the state normal school at Mankato. After school he at once entered upon his
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life profession of teaching, and at present is filling the position of principal of the Wheatland schools, giving entire satisfaction to all concerned. He taught school in several districts, mostly located northeast of Veseli, where many a young man and woman today proudly claim to have had him for a teacher that remains in their memory. He is also a musician, being a member of the "The Twentieth Century Band" of Veseli. He is well known as a beekeeper among his people, having been engaged in that line since he was a boy of fifteen. He is of a mechanical trend of mind. For the last three years he devoted his spare time to inventions. He owns a patent at present for a safety cockeye and has two other inventions under construction. In politics he is a loyal friend of the Democratic party. He is now serving the community as a town constable.
John P. Vikla was born in Wheatland township, Feb. 9, 1871. Ilis education was acquired in the district schools, afterwards spending a year in the Montgomery schools, and attending sev- eral terms of the teachers' training schools. Leaving school, he worked on his father's farm until 1895, when he procured a position as teacher in the rural schools of Wheatland. In 1900, he discontinued teaching, devoting his entire time for the next four years to selling nursery stock, and then conducted a con- fectionery store at Silver Lake, Minn. Returning to Lons- dale, he re-entered the nursery busines sfor a short period as a salesman, traveling through South Dakota and Nebraska. Ilis next venture was as a photographer at Scotland. S. Dak .. which he operated until his return to Lonsdale in 1906, when he opened his present studio. Martin and Eva Vikla, parents of our subject, are natives of Bohemia. They came to Minnesota about 1871, settling in Wheatland township. In 1905 he retired from active work, himself and wife now living with their eldest son.
Martin G. Vikla was born in Wheatland township July 15. 1880. Having completed the common school in the Veseli public school, lie entered the State Normal School at Mankato, financed by his brother, John P. There he prepared for his life profes sion, that of teaching. In fall of 1900 he taught his first school in Wells township, the so-called Trebon school. It was during this school year that he realized that the education of our chil- dren is not carried on along proper lines, and that as a conse quence the children suffer all through life for lack of proper preparation. Up to this time he had the idea that he was the only one of the many to suffer such a fate. That realization opened up for him a grand field to work in. From that time on he has been an educational reformer. The following year, 1901 he went to school to prepare especially for his work of reforma
1534 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
tion. The following year he re-entered the field as teacher in the public school. During the following years he attended school during summer and taught school during the school year, travel- ing all through the community within a radius of fifteen miles. staying one year in each school giving special attention to point- ing out to the pupils what education means or ought to mean. Besides he gave one public address in each school for the benefit of the parents, showing them along what lines they should carry on the education of their children. He characterizes education as a development of the physical, mental and moral powers of the pupils. He insists that teachers must use common sense and not follow blindly the footsteps of their predecessors. He has been upheld and encouraged in his work by his two brothers. Math R. and Albert H., who likewise were in the field working in somewhat milder form. Each one profiting from the experi- ences of the other two, they soon became the most distinguished educators of the community. And the name Vikla Brothers has come to be pronounced with the greatest of reverence.
As a reformer it is only natural that he should be allied with the spelling reformers and also with Esperantists. In religion he advocates less forms-ceremonies and dogmas-and more spirituality-more Christian life. Ile puts more stress on how to live here than how to prepare for the hereafter. To him the life we live here is the only preparation for the other. Some who are not intimately acquainted with him think him an atheist. He is a reformer of methods rather than of principles. He believes in honesty above all things and personally adheres to whatever is noble and pure. His word is as good as his bond.
It might be added that in 1905 he entered into business with his two brothers, establishing a hardware store at Lonsdale. They soon found out that there is more of educators than of busi- ness men in them, consequently sold out the entire establish- ment to J. J. Jakes two months after opening same. He now lives with his brother, Math. R., on a farm in section 21, of which he is a joint owner since 1906. At present he fills the position of principal of the Veseli school. In politics he is a Republican and has been the town justice for the last four years.
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