USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 80
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 80
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
Albert H. Vikla was born in Wheatland township in 1886, being the youngest of the family of Martin and Eva Vikla. He obtained his education in the district school, completing the course in the Montgomery graded school. Later on he attended the State Normal School at Mankato. Like three of his older brothers he selected teaching for his occupation. He taught for three years in the Summit school, with chances for another term. In 1907 he married Miss Annie Flicek of this township. He accepted a position in the New Prague Flour Milling Co .. as
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1535
bookkeeper, and so declined to teach the Summit school during 1908-1909. In 1910 he secured the enumeratorship for Lanesburg township, and so gave up his position at the mill. Hle operated the farm with his brothers, Math. R. and Martin G., during the same summer, and re-entered the teachers' field, for which he has a natural inclination. He is at present teacher in the Leo Wrabek district. He resides in New Prague, where he has a fine home established, but he delights in visiting his farm as often as possible. IIe has three children : Edmund, Eugene and Hedwiga. He is a Democrat in politics.
Wencl J. Vikla, a well known farmer of Wheatland township, Rice county, was born in Bohemia, September 2, 1867. While in his infancy he came to this country with his parents, Martin and Eva Vikla, whose sketches also appear in this work. After receiving his education in the district schools of Wheatland township, he asisted his father in the operation of the home farm until 1902, when he became owner of his present farm of eighty acres, on which he is still engaged in general farming. The Republican party claims his allegiance in affairs of politics.
M. M. Shields, the well known and successful editor of the "Faribault Pilot," was born in Whitewater, Wis .. December 16, 1854, son of Charles and Catherine (Muldown) Shields. In 1856 the family moved to Richland county, in the same state, and there the subject of this sketch received his earlier education, later attending the Grove Lake Academy in Sauk Center, Minn. Thus equipped, he taught school in Richland and Vernon coun- ties, Wisconsin, from 1873 to 1879, and in April of the latter year came to Shieldsville. In 1879-80 he taught school in Scott county ; in 1880-81 he was principal of the school at Belle Plain ; and in 1881-82 he occupied a similar position in the Jordan schools. In 1882-84 he was county superintendent of schools in Scott county, was re-elected for the term of 1884-86, and for the term of 1886-88, but resigned in the latter year. During this period he was city justice in Jordan from 1883 to 1885; was admitted to the bar in Shakopee in 1885, was city attorney of Jordan from 1885 to 1888, and held other minor offices. 1Ie came to Faribault in 1888, and with C. J. O'Brien founded the "Faribault Pilot." Mr. O'Brien dropped out one year later. In 1894-98, Mr. Shields was deputy collector of internal revenue. In 1897-99 he was a member of the Faribault library board. A Democrat in politics, he is now a member of the State Central Committee, and in 1898 was a candidate for presidential elector on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Shields is a member of several fraternal organizations and is well liked in the community.
Charles Shields, now deceased, was born in Rahara, county Roscommon, Ireland, November 10, 1812. He was united in
1536 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
marriage, in 1838, to Catherine Muldown, who died May 18, 1882. In 1839 the young couple came to the United States, and from New York, Charles went directly to Pittsfield, Mass., where lie remained for a short time, going from there to Providence, R. I., where for the next four years he worked in the tanning business. He came west in 1844, and purchased a farm in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1856, when he removed to Richland county, Wisconsin, living on a farm until 1883, when he came with his sons, P. H. and John B. Shields, to Minnesota, and settled in Shieldsville. In 1893 he came to Faribault and lived with his daughters, Mary and Kate Shields, until his death. Mr. Shields was a public-spirited citi- zen and always took an active interest in politics. He was sur- vived by three daughters : P. H. and John, of the town of Wells; M. M., Mary and Kate, of Faribault; T. C. Shields and Mrs. M. A. Walsh, of Richland county, Wisconsin.
Thomas Shields, one of the carly settlers of the town of Shieldsville, died June 1, 1893, at the age of seventy-seven years, after a long and useful life. He was a native of the parish of Rahara, County Roscommon, Ireland, born May 21, 1816. He emigrated to the United States in 1836 and landed in New York. After working a short time in that state he went to Berkshire county, Massachusetts, where he learned the trade of tanner and currier. In 1840 he removed to Providence, R. I., and in 1843 came west and purchased a farm in Waukesha county, Wiscon- sin. He soon grew tired of western life, and after a residence of two years on a farm he returned to Providence, where he was employed by one of the leading tanning firms of that city to go to Georgia and manage a branch of their business located in that state. Ile remained in Georgia until 1849, when he returned to Massachusetts, where, in 1850, he married Ellen Renehan. He came west again in 1854 and lived on his farm in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, for nearly two years. He sold his farm, and after a short residence at Whitewater. Wis .. he came to Minne- sota in the fall of 1856 and located at Shieldsville, where he kept a store for a short time. He afterward erected a building in which he kept a hotel until he came to Faribault in 1871. He resided in Faribault two years, and during that time kept a hotel on Third street in the rear of the Fleckenstein block. He next moved to South Stillwater, where he resided until the fall of 1878, when he again returned to Rice county and settled on his farm three miles southwest of the village of Shieldsville, living there until his death.
Lucian W. Chaney first attended Carleton as a student in the fall of 1874, entering the collegiate department and gradu- ating in 1878 as Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. He
IHISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTR > 1537
received the degree of Master of Science in 1883. He was as sistant teacher of science for the year 1882-3, promoted to teacher of biology and geology the following year, and elected professor of biology and geology in 1884. He held this professorship until 1908, when he retired on the Carnegie foundation. He was the first athletic director at Carleton and developed and organized this line of activities at Carleton so thoroughly that more than the usual share of successes came to the college in the inter- collegiate sports. He also originated the high school athletic contests, which take place yearly on the college campus. Ile was always a most loyal and ardent worker for the college's best interests. Since retiring from teaching he has held a special and prominent position in the department of Commerce and Labor at Washington, D. C. His father was a member of the board of trustees of Carleton College from 1876 to 1897.
George M. Phillips is one of the leading citizens of North- field, and has been cashier of the First National Bank since its organization. A copy of the "Northfield News," dedicated to him several years ago, said: "No honest charity has ever been overlooked by Mr. Phillips, and no matter how much occupied his time may be, he always has a moment to spare to listen to the story of the deserving or the undeserving. For the former no kindness or help is too great, and for the latter an uplifting hand and beneficial word are always given. As a guiding hand in the public works of the city, his has been constantly in the foreground, and he has done more than any other man in agitat- ing public improvements and substantially assisting them. Ile is a truly good and generous citizen."
Edward Milton Leach was born in Waitsfield. Vt., April 22, 1830, and received his education in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one years, in 1851. he went to Woodstock, Ill., where he remained until 1854, when he came to Faribault and entered the store of Tower Brothers as clerk. In 1860 he went to Colorado, but returned to Faribault in 1864. A year later he was married to Caroline Stowell at Woodstock, 111., and in that year he purchased an interest with L. C. Ingram in the furniture and organ manufacturing business. Later the manufacture of furniture and musical instruments was dropped and the mann- facture of sash, doors and blinds taken up. Later lumbering and milling became a part of the business. Mr. Ingram's interest was purchased in 1880 by Mr. Leach, who in 1887 sustained a severe loss by fire. He met this misfortune with courage, and a new and larger mill succeeded the old one, and later his sons entered into the business, the business becoming solid and pros- perous. Mr. Leach was survived by four sons and three daugh- ters : Mrs. Joseph Weber, H. P. Leach, A. R. Leach, Ralph W.
1538 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
Leach, Mrs. L. D. Harkins, Mrs. M. N. Soper and Walter A. Leach. Mrs. Leach died December 24, 1900. Mr. Leach was a power in the community in which he lived. Possessed of a kindly and generous personality, he made many friends, while his honesty and integrity won the regard and admiration of those with whom he had dealings during his long and successful business career. He died September 18, 1907.
Benjamin E. Darby, editor and proprietor of the "People's Press," Owatonna, was born February 18, 1848, at St. Eleanors, Prince Edward Island. At the age of two years his parents removed with him to their farm in Abram's Village, Egmont Bay. Here he lived until he was sixteen years old, attending the district school and doing much hard work. He evinced good matematical ability and had acquired an excellent knowl- edge of the French language, when he entered the grammar school at the county seat, remaining there two years, studying algebra, Latin, Greek, geometry, land surveying and navigation. He afterward attended and graduated from the normal school in Charlottetown and the Prince of Wales College in the same city. He followed the profession of teacher in that province until August, 1871, when he came to Minnesota. In 1871 and 1872 he was principal of the public school at Zumbrota, Goodhue county ; in 1872 and 1873, principal of the public school at Pine Island, in the same county, and in 1873 and 1874, principal of the public school at Kasson, Dodge county. Mr. Darby has taken an active interest in Owatonna affairs, and his services on various boards have been highly valued. As secretary of the library and city hospital board, and of the fire department, he systematized the methods of keeping the records, and set a standard of excellence that has been maintained to the present day. He was a director and secretary of the Owatonna Public Library six years; director of the Owatonna City Hospital several years and secretary three years; a member of the city charter commission in 1905-06; secretary of the Owatonna fire department many terms, and a member of the board of educa- tion. Hle is also a Mason. Mr. Darby was married in August. 1874, to Kate Annie Barnard, and this union has been blessed with five children: George Franklin, born May 22, 1875; Harry Barnard, born October 15, 1876; Benjamin Edward, born March 28, 1880, and died July 1, 1881, buried in Forest Hill cemetery ; Fannie Amelia, born November 22. 1883, and died November 21, 1887. buried in Forest Hill cemetery ; and William Howard, born March 20, 1888.
George F. Darby, who is associated with his father in editing the "People's Press," Owatonna, was born in Owatonna, May 22, 1875, son of Benjamin E. and Kate Annie (Barnard) Darby.
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1539
He received his education in the public schools and graduated from the Owatonna high school in 1894, having taken the Latin Scientific course. He learned the trade of printer in his father's office, later was taken on the editorial staff, and mastered the newspaper business thoroughly. Mr. Darby has taken an active interest in public affairs, belongs to a number of local organiza- tions, and is one of the prominent young men of the city, having also an extensive acquaintance throughout the county. He was married June 2, 1906, to Eleanor Francis, of Detroit, Mich., and to this union has been born one daughter, Catherine Barnard, April 13, 1908.
Harry B. Darby, foreman of the printing and publishing department of the "People's Press," Owatonna, was born in Owatonna, October 15, 1876, son of Benjamin and Kate Annie (Barnard) Darby. After taking the usual course in the common grades, he graduated from Pillsbury Academy at Owatonna in 1898. Hle learned the publishing and printing business in his father's office, and has been foreman of the establishment for several years, being a thorough master of the printer's art, and producing work of the highest degree of excellence. Mr. Darby is well liked among a wide circle of friends. He was married September 19, 1905, to Mary K. Hockemeyer, and to this union have been born two children: Ethel Margaret, born September 11, 1906, and Benjamin Edwin, born May 5, 1908.
William Howard Darby, manager of the Bucksen Typesetting Company, of Owatonna, was born in Owatonna, March 20, 1888. son of Benjamin E. and Kate Annie (Barnard) Darby. Ile attended the public schools and graduated in the Latin-Scientific course from Owatonna high school in 1908. He is a good machinist and bookkeeper, and is one of the popular young men of the city.
Stephen S. Severson, one of the enterprising business and newspaper men of Steele county, was born in Blooming Prairie, in which village he still resides, November 9. 1884, son of Sever O. and Elen Bergetta (Olson) Severson. He was educated in the common and high schools of his native village, and clerked several years in the West Hotel. In 1898 he took up printing with the Times Printing Company, publishers of the Blooming Prairie "Times," and is still with the company, acting in the capacity of manager. He is also engaged in the insurance busi- ness and has attained success unusual for a young man of his age. Mr. Severson is a Mason, and a member of the M. W. A .. the Equitable Fraternal Union and the Sons of Norway. He is secretary of the Equitable Fraternal Union, and has held offices in the M. W. A.
Sever O. Severson was born in Voss, Norway. in 1839.
1540 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
and came to America with his parents when four years of age. spending his boyhood in Madison, Wis. He married in 1872 and came to Minnesota, locating in Blooming Prairie. He was an engineer up to the time of his death, in June, 1890. Elen Bergetta (Olson) Severson was born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1843. of Quaker parents. her father being in the fish shipping business. She came to America in 1870 and lived with an uncle in Austin until coming to Blooming Prairie in 1872. To Mr. and Mrs. Sever Severson were born three sons, Charles, Otto and Stephen. Sever O. Severson inlisted from Wisconsin in the Civil War February 3, 1863, and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Randall, Madison, March 3, 1863, as a private of Company B, 30th Wis. Vol. Inf .. under Capt. Lewis S. Burton and Col. Daniel J. Dill to serve three years, or during the war. The regiment was assigned to enforce the draft in the state and later was assigned to the Army of the Northwest, and sent by detachments to Dakotas and Minnesota, taking part in General Sully's campaign. Afterward the regiment was ordered to proceed south via Missouri and Mississippi to Louis- ville and Bowling Green, Ky., and assigned to Second Brid. Second Div., Military District of Kentucky, January 10. 1865, moved to Louisville, Ky .. a detachment going to Frankfort, Ky .. on guard and provost duty. Sever O. Severson was honorably discharged September 20, 1865, on account of close of war.
John Gerhard Mohn is president of the Mohn Printing Com- pany. This company publishes the Northfield "Independent." a local newspaper, and the "Norwegian-American." a national newspaper, published in English, which covers the entire North- west. Mr. Mohn was born at Northfield in the year 1880. He is the second son of the late T. N. Mohn, for twenty-five years president of St. Olaf College, and Anna E. Mohn, nee Ringstad, formerly of Winneshiek county, Iowa. John G. Mohn grad- uated from St. Olaf College in 1899, securing the degree of A. B. at the age of nineteen years. His first position was on the North- field "News" staff under the late Hon. Joel P. Heatwole, which he held for two years. Later he was employed on the North- field "Independent," the newspaper he now publishes. Before reaching out into the daily paper field. Mr. Mohn was employed for a short time by the Theopold Mercantile Company, of Faribault, and for three years by J. H. Bell & Co., of Chicago. Since that time, Mr. Mohn, for six years, confined himself to newspaper work for the "Pioneer Press," Omaha "World- Herald." St. Paul "Daily News," Chicago "Inter Ocean," Minne- apolis "Times," and Minneapolis "Tribune."
Ray Anton Mohn, vice president of the Mohn Printing Com- pany, is the third son of the late T. N. Mohn, for twenty-five
IIISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1511
years president of St. Olaf College, and of Anna E. Mohn, nee Ringstad, formerly of Winnesheik county, Iowa. He was born on September 26, 1882. at Northfield. In 1902 he graduated from St. Olaf College and since that time has been constantly engaged in the commercial profession, representing Twohy Eimon Com- pany of Superior, Wis .; H. J. Heinz Company, of Pittsburg : Ringrose Pickling Company, and M. A. Gedney Pickling Com- pany, of Minneapolis. On January 1, 1909, he was given charge. for the latter firm, of Montana, Idaho and Utah.
George William Mohn was born in Northfield in 1884. He is a son of the late President Th. N. Mohn, for twenty-five years president of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., and Anna E. Mohn, nee Ringstad. He received his education at St. Olaf College, from which institution he graduated in 1905, receiving the degree of A. B. Immediately after completing his college course he became local news editor of the Northfield "Inde- pendent." in which position he continued for two years. In the fall of 1907 he accepted the position of principal of St. Ansgar Academy, St. Ansgar, Iowa. Newspaper work, however. was his chosen profession, and in the fall of 1908 he returned to Northfield to become a member of the Mohn Printing Com- pany, with which he has since been connected, first as news editor of the "Norwegian-American." and later as general manager of the company.
Andrew Ansel Rowberg was born on a farm near Hanley Falls, Minn., on May 16, 1887. His father's name was Leif K. Rowberg and his mother's maiden name was Caroline Akre. He attended the country school in his home locality, and later entered St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minn., finishing the acad- emy in 1906, and the college in 1910. In May, 1910. he became a member of the Mohn Printing Company, and on the retire- ment of C. P. Carpenter, he became the editor of the Northfield "Independent."
Egbert K. Whiting, the capable business manager of the "Journal-Chronicle." Owatonna, was born in Clearwater, Wright county, Minnesota. August 17, 1870, son of Samuel and Anna (Mayo) Whiting. He received his early education in the public schools of his native place. and later attended Carleton College. In 1890 he started the operation of a job printing establishment in St. Cloud, and conducted it until 1892. He came to Owatonna in 1894, and was engaged as reporter and assistant business manager until 1897. when in company with It. F. Lners, he purchased the "Farmers' Gazette," which title was changed to Owatonna "Chronicle." March 7, 1906, Whiting and Luers purchased the Owatonna "Journal," and effected a consolidation under the name of the Owatonna "Journal-Chronicle," owned
1542 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
by the Journal-Chronicle Company. Mr. Whiting served five years in Company I, Second Minnesota National Guards. He is a member of the Blue Lodge and the Chapter in Masonry, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He was married October 20, 1909, to May Taylor Hays, of Owensboro, Ky.
John C. Brainerd, banker, one of the leading citizens of Blooming Prairie. was born in Sodus, N. Y., October 2, 1844, son of John C. and Mary (Pease) Brainerd, the former of Colo- nial New England ancestry, and the latter of English birth and ancestry. The subject of this sketch received a good common school education, and for a time attended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, N. Y. In 1854 he was brought to Dodge county, Wisconsin, by his parents. He worked on a farm, taught school, and then became a telegraph operator and railroad station agent, being stationed at various places until 1871, when he came to Blooming Prairie as agent and operator. In all, Mr. Brainerd was in the employ of the C., M. & St. P. road for seventeen years. October, 1871, he embarked in the lumber business, and in 1877 entered the banking business. With the exception of two years in Montana, Mr. Brainerd has resided in Blooming Prairie continuously since his first arrival here. He was the first village recorder and treasurer of Blooming Prairie, and has served in various other capacities in the village. In the fall of 1894 he was elected to the state legislature. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Mr. Brainerd was married October 28, 1870, to Melissa Burnham, and this union has been blessed with five children: George S., Laura M. (wife of Henry M. Hurlbut), Ben. A., Rena C. and March C.
Joel P. Heatwole, who died April 4, 1910, after twenty-six years' service as editor and proprietor of the Northfield "News," was one of the most prominent men in Rice county. He was born August 22, 1856, at Waterford Mills, Ind. In early life he worked on a farm, and learned the printer's trade, later took up school teaching and became principal of the village school in the village of Millersburg, Ind. While thus employed he was interested in 1876 in the village paper and became its editor and proprietor. He also did other newspaper work. In 1882 he came to Minnesota and took up work on the Glencoe "Enterprise." Later he was employed on the Lake Superior "News," published at Superior, Wis. From there he went back to Glencoe and took charge of the "Enterprise." In 1884 he came to Northfield and purchased the "News." In the meantime the Rice County "Journal" had been published by Pierce and Wheaton. The latter sold out and Mr. Pierce remained in charge. It was then absorbed by Mr. Heatwole's "News," the consolidated paper being published by Heatwole and Minder. In 1885, Mr. Heat-
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1543
wole purchased his partner's interest and continued as sole owner until his death. In 1886 Mr. Heatwole was elected a delegate to the Republican State Convention and was chosen secretary of the Republican state central committee. In 1888 he was elected a delegate to the Republican National Convention. In the next state campaign he was chairman, and in 1890, Gov- ernor Merriam appointed him a member of the board of regents of the state university. In the meantime he had been elected president of the State Editorial Association, and twice filled that position. In 1903 he was defeated in a campaign for election to congress, although he reduced the Democratic plurality. In 1896 he was elected to congress, and was re-elected in 1898 and 1900. His influence at Washington was great, and he was assigned to a number of important committees. The memory of his life and deeds will ever be held sacred in Northfield and Rice county.
J. W. Schultz, the genial proprietor of the Brunswick Hotel, Faribault, was born in Germany, November 14, 1866. He came to America with his mother in 1871, residing at Republic, Mar- quette county, Michigan, for a short period, after which they removed to Duluth, where he passed the most of his boyhood, and secured a public school education, supplementing this with a course in a Duluth business college. In 1889, he entered the hotel business at Duluth, in which he was very successful. Later, in 1898, he took up his residence in Faribault and conducted the Arlington Hotel for two years. lle then engaged in the whole- sale business for several years, and a few months ago purchased the Brunswick House, which was originally opened April 11. 1883, by Townsend and Patrick. Mr. Schultz was married March 14, 1891, to Mary Jane Schuman. Two children have blessed this union, named, in order of birth, Arthur and Dorothy. The family owns a beautiful home in the residence section of Faribault, located on the corner of Second avenue and Seventh street. Nichols and Mary (Bach) Schultz, parents of J. W. Schultz, were natives of Germany. After the father's decease in 1866, the mother came to America with her infant son, and died at Duluth in 1891. They were thrifty and industrious people.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.