History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 26

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110

USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 26

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James Y. Demeritt, the pioneer, was born in Woodstock, New Hampshire, February 16, 1822, and died in Brockway township, Stearns county, December 22, 1902. He was reared as a farmer and devoted his life to that pursuit. It was in 1855, the year of the first settlement of Brockway township, that he located here. His brother Hiram B. Demeritt had been through here the pre- vious year as one of the construction crew on the old state road north from St. Cloud. This brother, Hiram, a splendid type of the pathfinders in the new country, was born in 1834 and died June 11, 1911. James Y., the subject of this sketch, settled in section 36, on the river. He soon found that he was on school land, but as he secured government script he was enabled to remain in possession. Mr. Demeritt and his friend, William McNeal, who arrived at the same time, crossed the Mississippi to Brockway township, in a canoe, making their stock swim. Thus, isolated from civilization, Mr. Demeritt began his life in a new country. He was one of the organizers of the town. The first postmaster of the North Prairie office was Stephen A. McNeal and Mrs. De- meritt was his assistant. Mr. Demeritt was one of the leading men in public affairs, and occupied many town offices. Mr. Demeritt was married in 1851, at Woodstock, N. H., to Laura J. Gray, born in that place, Dec. 9, 1825, one of the five children of John and Hannah (Dearborn) Gray. Mr. and Mrs. Demeritt had two children: Hannah Isabel, who married Robert L. Russell, and Eva E., who lives at home with her mother. Mr. Demeritt attended the Baptist Church. Mrs. Demeritt and Miss Eva E. are Methodists.

Robert S. Russell, one of the pioneers, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, May 24, 1844, son of Robert Russell. Robert L. and the mother came to Amer- ica in the fifties, the father, Robert, having arrived some three years previous. The family settled in Benton county. But as the country began to be settled, Robert craved for new adventures, though he was attaining success and

MR. AND MRS. JAMES Y. DEMERITT AND DAUGHTER

WILLIAM GORDON

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

achieving honors in Minnesota. So in 1860, he went to Pike's Peak, where he was killed in the mines by a blast. His wife, the mother of Robert L., died in 1877. It was in 1873 that Robert L. moved to Brockway township, where he became a successful farmer.

Mr. Russell was married in 1874 to Hannah Isabel Demeritt, born in New Hampshire in 1856, daughter of James Y. Demeritt, the pioneer. Of their five children two are living. Laura A. married Oscar A. McGee, at present stationed at Ft. Sheridan, near Chicago, Ill. He is the grandson of John Mc- Gee, another early pioneer of Brockway township. John A. Russell married Sadie Clepper and has five children: Loren R., born July 11, 1899; Erwin A., born May 31, 1901; John A., born May 18, 1903; Ruth L., born May 21, 1905, and Raymond J., the youngest.

William Gordon, deceased, was one of the oldest settlers in this county and one of the best known. He was one of the prominent men of the town of Brockway, and the earnest stand that he took on a number of public ques- tions won for him wide commendation. He was born at El Creek, Pictau, Nova Scotia, Canada, September 27, 1828, son of Alexander and Margaret (Scott) Gordon, sturdy Scotch people who were married in Glasgow, and subsequently came to Nova Scotia. The father, like most of the residents of Pictau, divided his time between farming and fishing, the income derived from these sources meeting the modest needs of the family. William Gordon was reared in Pictau, and at the age of sixteen came alone to Bangor, Maine, where, as he grew to manhood, he engaged in lumbering. It was in 1854 that he arrived in St. Anthony Falls, in Minnesota. In September, 1855, he came to Stearns county, and settled in Brockway township, where he secured eighty acres in section 29. He cleared this tract, erected primitive buildings which he later replaced with modern structures, and improved and developed the place until it became one of the best known on Winnebago Prairie. Mr. Gordon took a deep interest in the affairs of his township. When the town was organized Mr. Gordon was one of the first supervisors, and at the next election he was chosen town clerk, a position he filled for thirty-two years continuously until 1900, when on account of ill health he declined to serve further. The records of his office were regarded as among the various best that were sent to the courthouse, and were displayed as models of what such records should be. He was a school officer for twenty years, and postmaster for a long period. In fact it was said that it seemed as if Mr. Gordon had only to express his willingness to accept any office which was in the gift of the people of the town or under their influence, and it was his so long as he would keep it. While his early educational opportunities were limited, yet by virtue of natural aptitude and general reading he qualified himself for the satis- factory discharge of such business duties and affairs as came to him, and for the intelligent performance of his duties as a citizen. Mr. Gordon was known in Benton and Morrison counties as well as in Stearns. Aside from his farm- ing operations he was employed for a time in carrying supplies to the forts of the Northwest, and during his latter years he spent several winters in the lumber woods. In the early days when Brockway was included in the St. Cloud circuit, Mr. Gordon was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,

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and while not active in membership during his latter years he lived a con- sistent Christian life. At the time of the organization of the church in 1855, a Sunday school was organized, and of this he was chosen superintendent. This work he kept up until his last sickness, maintaining the school under circumstances which at times were very discouraging. For twelve or fifteen years before his death he had practically given up work on the farm, and for years before his death he was an invalid. When the end came the people felt that they had lost one of their best citizens. Few men in the county were so favorably known, and he died beloved by all who knew him. Mr. Gordon was married in January, 1854, at Bangor, Maine, to Phoebe E. Getchell, who died January 1, 1878, at Brockway. The children were: Adelbert W., Anna- bel (now Mrs. James W. Porter, of Crow Wing), Hanna May (now deceased, the first wife of James D. Boyd, formerly of St. Cloud), and Lora E. (who was drowned in the Mississippi river at the age of sixteen). September 11, 1881, Mr. Gordon married Mrs. Caroline Hiscock, by whom he had one daugh- ter, Alma M. Mrs. Gordon, who survives her husband, is living with her daughter on the old homestead.

Adelbert W. Gordon, a farmer in Watab, Benton county, was born at St. Anthony Falls, in what is now Minneapolis, December 29, 1854, son of William and Phoebe E. (Getchell) Gordon. He came with his parents to Brockway in 1855, his boyhood was spent on the farm, and his schooling was obtained in the district schools, part of the time under the tuition of Asa Abbott. As a youth he worked on one of the construction crews of the Great Northern between St. Cloud and Sauk Centre, and since then, though he has devoted his time largely to farming he has done considerable railroad work and lum- bering. It was in 1880 that he started farming at Watab. He owns 250 acres of good land, nearly all under cultivation. His new modern home which faces the Mississippi river which is but a short distance away, and plainly in view. His former home was struck by lightning and completely destroyed May 25, 1914. Mr. Gordon was school clerk for many years while living in Brockway, and for nearly a quarter of a century he has been school officer in Watab. He is also an active member of the Old Settlers' Association. Mr. Gordon is widely known as a pleasing gentleman to meet, affable and courteous, and is highly respected in the community in which he lives. In 1878, Mr. Gordon married Elizabeth Wyatt, a native of Illinois, and they have four children : Earl I., Warren W., Lois and Ray W. (deceased). Lois is a teacher. Warren W. married Elizabeth Burton, and has two children, Alice T. and Lester R.

Clifton B. Gregory was born in Essex county, Vermont, October 30, 1843, son of Ephraim L. and Abigail (Young) Gregory. In 1856 he came to Minne- sota with his mother and settled in Le Sauk township. In 1861 he joined the army, serving three years and one day, after which receiving an honorable dis- charge. After being married he settled on a farm in Stearns county. Upon the death of his wife the farm was conferred to the eldest son, Daniel C., with whom he still lives at the hale and hearty age of 71 years.

Clifton B. Gregory married Lena O. Anderson, who was born February 3, 1850, and died June 7, 1910. They had eight children. Daniel C., Benjamin Y., Isabel, May and Lucinda are living, while John A., LeRoy and Eunice are

JOSEPH LONG AND FOUR GENERATIONS Elizabeth ( Long) Hirschfelt, Mary (Hirschfelt) Bidinger, Clara (Bid- inger ) Rau, Louis Rau

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

dead. Daniel C. married Lucy Lindsay, who was born in Carroll, Maine, in 1880. They have three children: Fay B., Maybelle and Viola I. Isabel mar- ried John A. West, November 7, 1905, living in Hillyard, Wash. They have two children: Gladys G. and Helen. Lucinda was married in August, 1908, to Louis Koch, living in St. Cloud, and they have two children, Donald G. and Evelyn L. May was married May 16, 1914, to Joseph M. Fall, and they live in Brockway.

Ephraim L. Gregory was born in Vermont, March 17, 1797, and died Jan- uary 16, 1853. He spent the span of his years in Vermont. He was married, July 16, 1828, to Abigail Young, who was born November 25, 1808. They had five children : Charles F., Elizabeth B., Ephraim L., Clifton B. and Abigail A. All except Clifton B. are dead. After the death of Ephraim L. Gregory, his widow came to Minnesota, with her son, Clifton B., and was here married, dur- ing the war, to Appleton Webb, who was born January 8, 1798, and died October 25, 1883.

Charles M. Hiscock was born in Wilton, Maine, September 6, 1833, and came to Brockway township, this county, in the early fifties, but did not locate there permanently until after the Civil War. He farmed until he died Feb- ruary 23, 1875. He was married November, 1866, to Caroline E. McGee, daugh- ter of John and Mary (Gallop) McGee. Mr. and Mrs. Hiscock had three chil- dren : Mary E. is the wife of John H. Gazett, a merchant in Rice, Benton county, Minn .; Samuel, a farmer of Brockway township; and Jennie Leonora, wife of Everett O. Perry, also a farmer of Brockway township. Caroline E. McGee was born near St. John province of New Brunswick, Canada, Febru- ary 8, 1846, and lived in Canada until brought to Morrison county, Minn., by her parents. She came to Stearns county in 1860. After the death of Mr. Hiscock, she married William Gordon, who died July 15, 1905, in Brockway township. By this union there was one child, Alma M., born September 22, 1885, who is a teacher.

Samuel Hiscock, a well-to-do and substantial farmer of Brockway town- ship, was born in Brockway August 5, 1869, son of Charles M. and Caroline E. (McGee) Hiscock. He was reared on the old homestead, and still makes his residence there. He owns 200 acres in sections 16 and 17, and has brought the place to a high degree of cultivation. Mr. Hiscock was married February 28, 1900, to Edith Gray, who was born January 1, 1879, daughter of Charles H. and Sadie K. (Anderson) Gray. Mr. and Mrs. Hiscock have six children : Charles S., born April 25, 1901; Robert F., born May 16, 1902; Elmer C., June 17, 1904; Leonard L., November 12, 1905; Sadie C., June 10, 1909; and Gordon J., August 13, 1913.

John N. Long, a progressive farmer of Brockway township, was born in Columbia, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1862, son of Joseph A. and Susan Long, with whom he came to Stearns county in the summer of 1880, and settled in St. Wendel. Mr. Long has devoted nearly all his life to farming. He keeps well abreast of the latest developments in agriculture and is one of the leaders in his community. It was in 1902 that he purchased his present farm. He has a good farm, excellent equipment, pleasant home and suitable outbuildings, all of which he built himself. He is serving his third

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term as clerk of the township. John N. Long was married November 29, 1892, to Annie Miller, daughter of Frank and Sevilla (Wolf) Miller. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Long are: Esther, Lucy, Frank, Edward, Helen (deceased), Walter (deceased), Mary and John. Lucy married Frank Blaciek, and they live in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Joseph A. Long was born in Baden, Ger- many, March 28, 1830, and died in St. Cloud, April, 1913. He was married in 1853 to his good wife, Susan, who was born in Lancaster county, Penn., and died April 30, 1901, at the age of seventy-three years. The family came to Stearns county in the summer of 1880, and settled on a farm in St. Wendel, where they remained until 1893, moving that year to St. Cloud, where they made their permanent home. The children were: Elizabeth, John N., Mary, Catherine and Bertha, who are alive; and Frank, Joseph and Fred, who are dead. Elizabeth married Jacob Hirschfelt, of Waite Park, this county. Mary married Joseph Rassier, of St. Joseph, Minn. Catherine married Peter Smith, of Sprague, Washington. Bertha married Frank Boos, of St. Cloud. It is worthy of note that Joseph A. Long lived to see eight children, five grandchil- dren, eighteen great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild. Frank Miller was born in January, 1827, and died April 13, 1900. His wife, Sevilla Wolf, died November 28, 1912, at the age of seventy-nine years. They had ten children : Frances, Carrie, Lizzie, Mary, Peter (deceased), Barbara, Annie, William (deceased), Esther and Agnes. Frances married M. Wischnewski; had twelve children, and died June 17, 1894. Carrie married John Russell. Both are dead. They had four children. Lizzie married Andrew Kimble. They live at Grand Forks, South Dakota, and have five children. Barbara married Herman Berman. They live at Grand Forks, South Dakota, and have eight children. Annie is the wife of John N. Long, the subject of this sketch. Esther is the wife of Joseph Nierengarten. Agnes married John Pohl, and they live in St. Paul. They have one child.

John Nelson Perry was born in Penobscot county, Maine, March 29, 1836, and was there reared. In 1860 he came to Minnesota. During the Civil War he had charge of one of N. P. Clarke's ox trains, carting goods between Ft. Snelling and Ft. Ripley. He spent the greater part of his life in operating a farm in section 32, Brockway township. He and his family had many thrill- ing adventures, and endured many hardships. In 1861, they were eye wit- nesses of the crossing of the prairie by a band of 1,400 Indians. This, how- ever, was before the outbreak, and the Indians were then, outwardly at least, tolerant of the whites. Mr. Perry died February 26, 1910, at the age of sev- enty-four years. John Nelson Perry married Mary Elizabeth Getchell, who was born April 4, 1840, daughter of Nathaniel and Alma M. (Wing) Getchell. She died in March, 1913, at the age of seventy-three years. They had eight children : Fannie, now Mrs. William Anderson, of Benton county, Minn .; Everett O., Albert O., of North Dakota; Melvin K. and Ralph W., who are liv- ing; and Laura Etta, who married Andrew Carter, Nettie, and an unnamed infant, all three of whom are dead.

Melvin N. Perry, a substantial agriculturalist of Brockway, was born on the old homestead in section 32, where he still resides, March 7, 1878, son of John Nelson and Mary Elizabeth (Getchell) Perry. He was thoroughly edu-

JOHN NELSON PERRY AND FAMILY

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

cated in the public schools, and learned farming from his father. He has a well-kept farm of 180 acres, with good buildings, and all the machinery and implements that are necessary to successful farming. He is a member of the Woodmen, and he and his family worship at the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Perry married Hannah Peterson, May 16, 1898. They have had six children : Floyd E., born August 13, 1899 (deceased) ; Leonard N., November 26, 1900 (deceased) ; Flossie M., born September 15, 1901; Willard N., March 5, 1903; Julia E., June 12, 1904; Cecil E., born May 15, 1910.

Nathaniel Getchell, the pioneer, was born in Wesley, Maine, November 9, 1828, son of Winslow Getchell, who was also a pioneer. Winslow Getchell and his son, Nathaniel, came to Minnesota prospecting in 1852, and being greatly impressed with the country he returned home after the rest of the family and settled at St. Anthony in 1854. In 1855 they joined a party of pioneers, and settled in Brockway township, on the stretch of land then known as Winnebago Prairie, now called Brockway Prairie. The place where they located is now owned and operated by E. O. Perry. They and the party with them were the first settlers in the township. In their cabin in section 33, the first school in the township was opened and the first religious services held. When the township was organized Nathaniel Getchell was elected tax collector. In 1857 when the Brockway postoffice was established, he was the first postmaster. Later in life he served in various other offices. In 1862- 63 he served thirteen months against the Indians as a private in the Minne- sota Mounted Rangers. Nathaniel Getchell was married May 21, 1864, to Alma M. Wing, of Vasselborough, Kennebec county, Maine. Their children were: Annie M., Carrie A., Ernest A., Herbert W. and Alma M. Mr. Getchell died in September, 1910; his wife died in March, 1883.

Everett O. Perry, who successfully operates 185 acres in sections 29 and 33, Brockway township, was born in Brockway township, on the old Perry homestead, November 12, 1868, son of John Nelson and Mary Elizabeth (Getchell) Perry. He received a good district school education and has de- voted his life to farming. The homestead where he now lives constitutes the original claim taken in 1855 by his grandfather, Winslow Getchell. He is chiefly interested in his home and farm, but being of a fraternal disposition, he has allied himself with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is now serving his twelfth year as director of School District No. 7. Everett O. Perry was married October 31, 1893, to Jennie Lenora Hiscock, daughter of Charles M. and Caroline E. (McGee) Hiscock. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have seven children living : Samuel E., Harvey Nelson, Mamie L., Nettie A., Laura C., Irma L. and Edna E. Two died in infancy, Charles and one unnamed.

William McNeal (deceased) was born in New Brunswick, on the first day of May, 1830, and came to the United States in 1851, spending several years in the state of Maine, and two or three years in Michigan, from which place he removed to Minnesota. After spending nearly four years in St. Paul and the adjacent country, came to this town with Mr. Demeritt, in 1855, in whose family he lived till his marriage, in 1858, to Harriet Crumb, of Sher- burne, New York. Mr. McNeal was with Northrup and Brown at the hang- ing of the three Indian murderers, near Little Falls, in 1857. He died Sep-

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tember 11, 1879, leaving his widow a fine rural home. During the Indian excitement of 1862, when all the people fled to St. Cloud for safety, Mrs. McNeal remained at home, and was the only woman in the settlement for two weeks. Bravery usually wins, though it may seem presuming to risk so much.

James L. Gray was born in Whitefield, Maine, January 17, 1829. The family soon after moved to Dexmont, that state, and James L. was disciplined in the hardships of that country and time. He obtained the best education possible in the country schools. He was married in 1851 to Ann M. Smart, sister of H. B. and Edward Smart. They came to Brockway township in 1867, where he was a successful farmer, taking great interest in the schools and public affairs, and served many years in town and school offices. His wife died in 1877, and in October, 1881, he married Randina Moen and they moved to St. Cloud.

Julius Wesler, a scientific and modern farmer of Brockway, was born in Pomerania, Germany, November 18, 1876, son of Julius and Augusta (Teske) Wesler. His parents died when he was eight years of age, and in 1888 he was brought to America by his aunt, Martha Teske, landing in New York, September 13, They came to Minnesota and lived for a while in Silver Creek, Wright county, where Julius received his early English education. He was still a young boy when he worked a summer in the brickyard at Hasty, near Clearwater. Then for a time he worked for J. H. Baldwin, on his farm in Fair Haven township, this county. A few months after his marriage he came to Brockway, where Mr. Wesler entered the employ of N. P. Clark. With him and with his estate, he has still remained. For seven years he was a teamster. Then Mr. Clark placed him in charge of the "Clyde Maine" farm in Brockway. With the exception of four years when he was manager of the Meadow Lawn Farm, in Le Sauk township, also owned by Mr. Clark, he has remained as manager of "Clyde Maine." He is one of the active and energetic young farmers of the township, and has more than made good with the Clark estate. Some three years ago he purchased eighty acres of the Meadow Lawn Farm, which he is operating for himself. Mr. Wesler is re- garded as a useful and substantial citizen. He is a member of Sauk Rapids Lodge, No. 93, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Wesler was married October 5, 1898, to Ida, the daughter of Henry and Emma May Stueck, and they have one daugh- ter, Laura.

Jacob Wolhart, a veteran of the Civil War, now deceased, was born in New York state, April 6, 1818, and being left motherless at an early age, he traveled a great deal, and as a boy saw much of the world. Being of a loyal and adventurous disposition, it was natural that when the war broke out he should enlist in the service of the Union. It was after the war that he came to Sauk Rapids, where, for a while, he was employed by former Lieuten- ant-Governor C. A. Gilman. After he left the Gilman place he operated his own farm on Rice Prairie for many years. A few years before his death he moved to the village of Rice, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died in 1893. His widow now lives in Paynesville, this county, with her daughter, Mrs. John Adelbert Roach.

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Mr. Wolhart was married three times. By his second wife he had two children : Elisha and Almira. Elisha was killed in the battle of Gettysburg. Almira lives in New York state. It was in 1852, that Mr. Wolhart married the present Mrs. Wolhart. Her maiden name was Mary M. Buell. She was born July 24, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Wolhart had ten children. Celeste is dead; Henry lives in Oregon ; Emma married C. E. Smart; Jane married Clarence Crosby ; George E. farms in Brockway township; Millie married O. M. Smart ; Eva married Henry Picking; Anna married John Adelbert Roach; Elsie mar- ried George Rathburn; Nettie is dead.

George E. Wolhart, a leading farmer of Brockway township, was born in Otego, New York, November 1, 1863, son of Jacob and Mary M. (Buell) Wol- hart. He came to Sauk Rapids with his parents in 1865, and to Stearns county in 1893. He was reared on a farm in Benton county. He has become one of the most successful men in the community. He owns the old Webster farm, so called, of 200 acres in section 28. He has a well stocked place, fitted with all the latest improvements which he needs, and provided with a pleas- ant home and comfortable barns. In addition to this farm, he has several other good farms in the county. Mr. Wolhart was married, July 28, 1883, to Emma R. Smart, who was born June 21, 1863. The children are: Vernice (deceased), Effie, Effie's unnamed twin sister (deceased), Alta R., Raymond J., Willard H., George E., Lee A., Reuben L., Estella A., and Leta V. E. H. B. Smart, the father of Mrs. Wolhart, made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Wol- hart, after his wife's death. He was born October 14, 1819; died March 7, 1914. His wife was born March 6, 1826, and died May 4, 1906. The children in the Smart family were: Cora E., Charles H. (deceased), Gary E., Ora M., Emma R. and Edward R.

Edward J. Smart, a veteran of the Civil War, now living in Brockway township, this county, is a typical New England gentleman of the old school. Descended from a long line of New Englanders, he has transplanted their sturdiness and worth to the new environment of this western country. He was born in Plymouth, Maine, May 10, 1841, son of Edward and Meriam (Parsons) Smart, and grandson of Joshua and Hannah (Nickerson) Smart. Edward J. was reared on the home farm in Maine, and there remained until the outbreak of the Civil War. Then he enlisted in Company H, Twenty- second Maine Volunteer Infantry; went into camp at Bangor, and followed the fortunes of his regiment until his discharge at Bangor. In December, 1863, he enlisted in the Second Maine Cavalry, went into camp at Augusta, and from there went south. To detail the fortunes of these two regiments while Mr. Smart was with them would be to tell a portion of the history of the war. It is sufficient to say that he saw active service along the lower Mis- issippi and the Gulf, and was never found wanting when called upon to prove his valor and his loyalty. His services won his promotion from sergeant to commissary sergeant. He received his final discharge in Florida, in Decem- ber, 1865. After the war, Mr. Smart came north to Stearns county and visited in Brockway township. After three months spent with his brother, Henry, he returned to Maine. However, a short time later, he located permanently in Brockway township, and secured a homestead in section 20, where he has

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 26

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 1110

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110