History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 105

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1222

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

necessary buildings, all in good condidtion. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Plainview. Mr. Rother was married May 1, 1918, at Rochester, Minn., to Mary E. Bloom, daughter of John and Katherine Bloom, the father being a native of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. John Bloom came to Minnesota in 1873, settling first at White Bear, but later moving to Olmsted County, where they are now prosperously engaged in farming. They have had five childred, of whom three are now living: Ethel, Walter and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Rother have one child, Katherine, who was born June 20, 1919.

Charles J. Rother, who is successfully carrying on farming and stock rais- ing in Highland Township, was born on section 7, this township, September 7, 1875, son of Gottlieb and Katherine (Sauerssig) Rother. The father, who was born in Germany, came to the United States at an early day, and settling in Wabasha County, Minn., bought a farm of 120 acres in section 7, Highland Township. He subsequently purchased more land until he had 260 acres and spent his time developing his farm until his retirement from active work. He then moved to Plainview, where he died in 1916. His wife, who was born in Fredonia, Wis., is still living and makes her home with her son, Edward, in

Oakwood Township. Charles J. Rother acquired his education in District School No. 38, Highland Township, and was reared on the home farm, which he helped to cultivate. When 22 years old the Spanish-American war broke out, and he enlisted for military service. After six months' service in the army in the United States he returned home, where he spent the winter. The next spring he went to South Dakota, where he remained two years, from there going to Alberta, Canada, where he took and proved up a farm which he operated for 17 years. In the spring of 1919 he returned to Minnesota and went to farm- ing in Oakwood Township, Wabasha County. In the spring of 1920 Mr. Rother removed to the George Thompson place, better known as the Widow McGrath place, where he is now engaged in general farming and stock raising, with profitable results. In 1906 Mr. Rother was married to Fanny La Point, daugh- ter of Cornelius and Melvina (Fountain) La Point. Her father was born in La Crosse, Wis., and her mother in Quebec, Canada. After following agricul- tural pursuits for many years in Wisconsin, they went to farming in Alberta, Canada, where they are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Rother have been the parents of four children, of whom three are now living: Louis, Olivia and George. The eldest son, Jeffrey, died May 19, 1920, after an operation for appendicitis.

Herman Amerland, a Wabasha County pioneer, the founder of a good farm in Wabasha Township, now carried on by his son Edward and daughter Sophia, was born in Hanover, Germany, May 14, 1822. He was reared on a farm and received a common school education. Until nearly 30 years of age he remained in his native land, where, on January 2, 1852, he was married to Catherine Budke, also a native of Hanover. In 1853 he and his wife, with their first born child, Gerhard Henry, took passage on a sailing vessel for New Or- leans, in the United States, where in due time the parents arrived, their son having died on the voyage and been buried at sea. On board a river steamer Mr. and Mrs. Amerland journeyed northward to St. Louis, in which city they remained during the winter. In the spring of 1854 they continued their north- ern pilgrimage, going as far as Hastings, but soon returning south to Wabasha. Two miles south of the village they took a claim of 80 acres of wild timber land, now within the city limits. On this tract they erected a small log house and . began the work of developing a farm. The task was a long and hard one, but was well accomplished, and the farm is today one of the best in this part of the county. In 1870 Mr. Amerland built a comfortable frame house and other necessary buildings. Though he and his wife suffered hardships in the early days, they endured them patiently and were always hard and willing workers. In the very early days they had frequent experiences with the Indians, who were very numerous. The Indians camped and had their tepees in the Amer- land woods and often came to the house to trade fish and game for tobacco

EDWARD AMERLAND

SOPHIA AMERLAND

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

or eatables. Several Indian mounds are on the farm. Their early dealings with the Indians appeared to the Amerlands in the light of a thrilling experience, and they doubtless felt some natural timidity owing to stories they had heard of the ferocity of the savages when on the warpath, but as they treated them kindly they never had any trouble with them, and were treated with respect by the Indians in return. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Amerland were members of the Lutheran Evangelical church and Mr. Amerland was a Republican in politics. Both died on the home farm, Herman Amerland on October 18, 1893, and his wife, Catherine, May 11, 1895. They were the parents of ten children, the first of whom, who died at sea, has been already mentioned. The others were as fol- lows: Henry born November 8, 1855, now engaged in the real estate business in Fargo, N. D .; Anna, born April 8, 1857, now Mrs. John Yost of Wabasha City; Louisa, born June 23, 1859, who married L. S. Russell of Minneapolis, and is now deceased; Sophia, born March 23, 1864, who never married, and is now residing on the home farm; Helena, deceased; Edward, born January 9, 1870, who is unmarried and living on the home farm; John, born April 25, 1872, who is engaged in the auto business in Fargo, N. D .; and Clara, born February 18, 1875, who married S. T. Hill of Minneapolis, and is now deceased. After the death of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Amerland their son, Edward, and daughter, Sophia, bought out the other heirs and have since operated the farm. They have rebuilt the original buildings and added others and today have a fine set, all electrically lighted. Their stock barn has a full modern equipment, as also has the farm in general, 150 acres of which is under cultivation. They carry on general farming and dairying, keeping from 15 to 20 milch cows. Their cattle are of a high grade, known as the "Brown Swiss" breed their swine being of the Poland China variety. For both herds they have full blooded sires. The Amerland farm is beautifully located on the main highway between Wabasha and Kellogg, and now contains 228 acres. Edward and Sophia Amerland affili- ate with and help to support the Congregational church of Wabasha. Neither has ever married. They have purchased a fine residence with two lots in Wa- basha city, where they expect to make their future home. Politically Edward is a Republican.

George Schultz, a well known and respected farmer and stock raiser of Highland Township, was born in Eau Claire County, Wis., June 15, 1884, son of Martin and Anna Schultz. The parents, natives of Germany, came to the United States in the early seventies, first stopping in Milwaukee, where they remained for one year. From there they went to Eau Claire County, where they bought a farm of 80 acres, and began housekeeping, having been married in Milwaukee. The land was raw and largely covered with timber and there was a small log house on the property. Martin Schultz later built a good house and barn and other necessary buildings. There he was engaged in general farming and stock raising until he sold the place in 1916, since which time he has been living retired. His wife, Anna, having died in 1887, he subsequently married Rosa Kabosky, who, like his parents, was a native of Germany. By his first marriage he had six sons and two daughters. One of the daughters died young, but the other children are all now living, namely: Michael, Martin, Frank and Joseph (twins), John, George and Nellie, the last mentioned of whom is the wife of John Rodinsky of Independence. George Schultz was reared on the home farm in Eau Claire County and was educated in the dis- trict school. He remained on the farm until 21 years old and then went to Montana, where for five years he was engaged in railroad construction work. At the end of that time he returned to Wisconsin and worked at Arcadia and Independence until he came to Minnesota in 1912. In Highland Township, this county, he worked on the farm of Joe Schacht until he began farming for him- self, since which time he has made good progress raising crops and stock, hav- ing good herds of cattle, hogs and sheep. Mr. Schultz was married in 1919 to Mary Rother of Highland Township, and they are the parents of a son, Elmer, who was born February 11, 1920.

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Fred G. Colburn, who is conducting a successful milling business at Jar- retts in Hyde Park Township, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., May 21, 1850, son of Otis and Amelia E. Colburn. The father, who was born at Cham- pion, in the same county, on December 1, 1815, died at Carthage, N. Y., June 12, 1865. The mother was a native of Sackett's Harbor in the same New York county, born in 1823. She died at Jarretts, Wabasha County, Minn., October 15, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Otis Colburn were the parents of four children, only two of whom are living: Mrs. George D. Stanton, of Oak Park, Ill., and Fred G., of Jarretts. Fred G. Colburn was 15 years old when his father died, and after that event he went to Fond du Lac, where he learned the miller's trade with an uncle, Alpheus Colburn, remaining with him for three years. He then went to Brandon, Wis., where for six years he was in the employ of H. G. Matthews. From Brandon he went to Harvard, Ill., in the employ of Wood & Co. A year later he removed to Newcastle, Wis., and for three years rented a half interest in the business of A. Colburn & Son. After that until 1884 he, with C. J. Colburn & Bro., owned a half interest in the Eagle mill at Minne- apolis. At the end of that time Mr. Colburn came to Wabasha County and en- gaged in the milling business at Jarretts, where he has since resided, his son, Judson C., being in partnership with him. He has established himself .se- curely as a business man and is one of the prosperous and highly respected citizens of his township. He has served 25 years as treasurer of school dis- trict No. 47 and in politics is a Republican. He and his family attend the M. E. church. Mr. Colburn was first married November 28, 1882, to Cora E. Lewis, daughter of Lucius R. and Delilah Lewis of Fond du Lac, Wis. She died at Jarretts, Wabasha County, July 10, 1897. By her Mr. Coburn had four chil- dren: Louisa A., born February 26, 1884; Ada A., December 30, 1885; Ethel M., December 29, 1889, and Judson C., June 15, 1894. Louisa A. is now the wife of George Sime of Aberdeen, S. D., and has two children, Richard C. and Rhoda. Ada A., who graduated from the Plainview high school, and was a teacher sev- eral years, is now keeping house for her father. Ethel M., who graduated from the English high school at Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Business College, is now a stenographer and bookkeeper. Judson C. Colburn, who, as above mentioned, is in business partnership with his father, enlisted for service in the world war, August 15, 1918. From St. Paul he went to the officers' train- ing school at Camp Grant, where he was located when the armistice was signed. He was discharged November 30, 1918. On September 15, 1920, he married Lura Mae Herrick of Farm Hill, Minn., who was born March 12, 1899. Mr. Fred G. Colburn married his second wife, April 25, 1900, Annie Love, who died without issue July 24, 1914.

James H. Wright, an active and progressive farmer of Gillford Township, residing in section 12, was born in the Village of Sherburn, Martin County, Minn., June 27, 1889, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wright. He resided in Sher- burn up to the age of 12 years and attended the village school. At the end of that time he came to the home of Peter Schaefer of Gillford Township, Wa- basha County, and stayed with him on the farm to the fall of 1912. He was now 23 years old and had saved one thousand dollars with which to start in for himself. His so doing proved a double event in his life, for at the same time, on September 26, 1912, he married Ruby Blohm, daughter of William and Ida Blohm of Gillford Township. It was in the fall of that year that he rented the Claus Meyer farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, where he and his wife began housekeeping. There they remained until 1919, when he bought the Claus Holst farm in section 12, Gillford Township, which is his present home. This farm contains 120 acres, of which 100 acres are under the plow. The soil is productive and the buildings in fairly good condition. Mr. Wright raises grade Shorthorn cattle and Chester-White hogs, and besides doing a profitable business as a general farmer, is a stockholder in the Oak Center Creamery Company. His equipment includes an auto car. Mr. and Mrs.

JAMES WATSON AND FAMILY

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Wright have one child, Marlyn W., who was born December 8, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Oak Center M. E. Church, and are people well liked in this vicinity, both being known as energetic workers and good neighbors. Mrs. Wright was born in Gillford Township, December 29, 1888.

James T. Watson, a retired farmer residing in Lake City, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, October 29, 1840, son of Thomas and Margaret Watson. His parents, who lived and died in their native land, had a large family of 15 children, namely, Jeanette, Thomas, David, James, Alexander George, Wil- liam, Margaret, Helen, Elizabeth, James T., Grace, Isabella, John and Eliza- beth (second). Of these children four are now living: James T., of Lake City, Minn .; John, who is in Scotland; Elizabeth in New Zealand, and Isabella in Bellingham, Wash. James T. Watson in his boyhood attended common school in his native land. His parents being poor, at an early age he had to help support himself and when seven years old was accustomed to herd cattle. In 1869 he emigrated to America with his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George Penny, the party coming directly to Lake City, Minn. Mr. Penny and wife soon moved to Redwood County, where Mrs. Penny died; her husband is now living in California. During his first year in Wabasha County James T. Watson worked as a farm hand for his brother George at $20 a month. With a view to future independence he saved his money and at the end of a year bought a horse team. He then rented 50 acres of Andrew Boss of Gillford Township, broke his land, put in his crop, and then went to Redwood County, locating near Redwood Falls. In the fall he returned to Wabasha County and harvested his crop on the Boss farm, after which he went back to Redwood County. Two years later Mr. Watson located on a homestead of 160 acres ten miles southeast of Redwood Falls, where he re- mained until 1884, when grasshoppers and drought drove him out and he re- turned to Wabasha County and settled on his Gillford Township farm. Here he was more successful and remained until 1900. His farm consisted of 160 acres in section 23, the land being good. When he left he turned it over to his two sons, John W. and Arlo J., and moved to a farm which he had bought in Belvidere Township, Goodhue County, which also contained 160 acres of good land. In 1911 Mr. Watson found himself in comfortable circumstances and accordingly retired and took up his residence in Lake City, leaving his . sons Earl and Walter to operate his farm. He owns a comfortable home at the corner of Adams and N. Sixth streets. Politically he has always been a Republican, though not a strong party man. In Redwood County he served as chairman of Three Lakes Township, also as town clerk and as assessor for different terms. Mr. Watson was married May 18, 1874, to Mary, daughter of John and Elizabeth McPhee, of New Avon Township, Redwood County, Minn., and both he and his wife are still strong and in good health for people of their years. They have had 11 children, as follows: Margaret, born Feb- ruary 25, 1876; John W., April 26, 1877; Arlo J., January 4, 1879; Elizabeth, December 28, 1881; Minnie, April 24, 1883; Mabel, April 23, 1885; Cora, Jan- uary 25, 1887; Grace, February 3, 1889; Irl, January 15, 18 -; Roy, July 22, 1893, and Walter, January 27, 1897. Several of these children are now de- ceased. Elizabeth died in her fifth year May 13, 1886, and Grace while still a babe, on March 7, 1890. Mabel, who married Henry Cordes, resides in Hay Creek Township, Goodhue County, Minn. Cora, who married Charles Cordes, died December 20, 1915, leaving a son, Ray Watson Cordes, who since his mother's death has been reared and cared for by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James T. Watson. Irl and Walter are living on their father's farm in Belvidere Township, Goodhue County. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are affiliated re- ligiously with the First Congregational Church of Lake City and are highly respected members of the community. They have been fortunate in many things, but their life has not been all sunshine, and as devoted parents they have felt sorrow at the affliction of their two children Margaret A. and Arlo

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J., both of whom are deaf, and who graduated from the Faribault School for the Deaf in 1896 'after being there for ten years.

John W. and Arlo J. Watson, proprietors of Sunnyside Farm in section 23, Gillford Township, have owned and operated this farm since the spring of 1900, and are prominent among the successful farmers of the township. The original area of the farm was 160 acres, but 80 acres have since been added to it by the two brothers, giving the farm an area of 240 acres, nearly all of which is suitable for the plow. The Watson brothers are engaged in diver- sified farming and are giving considerable attention to stock raising, having 90 head of Shorthorn and Durham cattle of pure blood, and 40 to 50 head of Poland-China swine, together with a flock of Shropshire sheep. They have built a good two-story frame house, and a frame barn, 38 by 78 by 14 feet, with a full tile basement of 8 feet, and steel equipment. Their equipment is modern and complete, including two double-unit milking-machines, a Ford truck and a Chevrolet car, and through industry and good management they have made the farm a paying enterprise. Neither is married, their two sis- ters, Margaret A. and Minnie M., keeping house for them. John W. the elder, in addition to attending common school for the usual period, was a pupil for some time in the Lake City Commercial College. He began teaching at the age of 17 and followed that occupation for several years in the schools of Wabasha and Goodhue Counties.

Edward Z. Johnson, who was for many years one of the well known and substantial farmers of Hyde Park Township, was a native of Sweden, and was married in his native land to Charlotte U. Forslund. In 1868, leaving his wife and family behind, he came to the United States to establish a new home, and on arriving in Wabasha County, Minnesota, bought 160 acres in Hyde Park Township, where his wife joined him in the following year. Mr. Johnson soon sold 10 acres of his land for the Jarretts mill site, and the railroad, which cut through his farm, took another portion, but he bought enough additional land to make up the original area of 160 acres. The farm was rough and heavily timbered, but he grubbed and cleared the land, erecting buildings, and in time became one of the prosperous farmers of the county. His death took place on the old homestead, July 9, 1907. His wife survived him eleven years, passing away at the home of her daughter Ella (Mrs. Richard Preston) at Jarretts, August 16, 1918. They were the parents of seven children, the two eldest of whom, Fannie and Victor, died in Sweden. The others were: Ella, now Mrs. Richard Preston, of Jarretts; Frederick, residing in Plainview; Emma, who is a missionary at Flagstaff, Arizona; Emery, who died at the age of 15 months; and Caroline, now Mrs. Joseph Bricher, of Cottage Grove Oregon.

Frederick Johnson, proprietor, with his sons, of a stock and dairy farm of 320 acres, known by the name of "Ioka," and located in Elgin Township, was born in Hyde Park Township, this county, October 28, 1872, son of Edward Z. and Charlotte U. (Forslund) Johnson. His was the usual education of a. farmer's boy, acquired in the district school, and he grew to manhood on the home farm, where he remained until his marriage at the age of 24 years. In 1903 he rented a farm of 160 acres in Oakwood Township, which he operated for five years. Then in 1907 he bought his parents' farm and moved onto it, registering it as "Hillcrest." Both land and buildings were badly run down, and he set to work to build it up again, remodeling the buildings, erecting barns, a silo, and outbuildings, and planting a fine orchard of 100 trees. In 1911 Mr. Johnson purchased 69 acres adjoining his place, and thus found him- self in possession of a fine farm of 266 acres, where he carried on farming and dairying until 1917, making a specialty of the dairy business. He then sold that place and bought his present farm of 320 acres in sections 10 and 11, Elgin Township, which is now owned by himself and his two sons, Gordon E. and Clinton F. This is one of the best dairy farms in the township and well justi- fies its name of Ioka, meaning "beautiful." Mr. Johnson resided thereon until

FREDERICK JOHNSON AND FAMILY MR. AND MRS. EDWARD Z. JOHNSON-MRS. M. A. FANNING

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November 12, 1919, when he took up his residence in Plainview village, where he had bought a nice residence in the previous month of July. He still con- tinues active work on the farm, however, driving back and forth the distance of four and a half miles. He and his sons have made important improvements on the place, having remodeled the buildings, fenced nearly the entire farm, and set out a fine orchard. They are breeders of pure Chester-White hogs and Jersey cattle, and also raise fruits and berries. Mr. Johnson was chairman of the Hyde Park Township board for six years and was a member of the school board one term. He and his family are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. On February 12, 1896, Frederick Johnson was married to Ella E. Fanning, who was born January 28, 1874, at Hyde Park Corners, in Gillford Township, daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Baldwin) Fanning. Of this union have been born six children: Gordon E., November 1, 1896; Clinton F., July 16, 1898; Lotta May, July 14, 1899; Vendetta E., April 13, 1905; Dorand David, June 9, 1907, and Leroy Vincent, October 21, 1909. Gordon E. married Lillian Zink of Spring Valley. Lotta May was married, June 18, 1919, to Harold K. Gregor, and lives on a farm in Oakwood Township. Vendetta E. is a student in the Plainview high school.

Samuel Fanning, formerly a well known farmer in Gillford and Zumbro. Townships, was a native of New York State. After coming west he was mar- ried in Wabasha County, Minn., to Mary A. Baldwin, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., and they settled on the George Oliver farm at Hyde Corners in Gillford Township. Some years later they took a homestead in Zumbro Township, which, however, they later sold, moving back to Hyde Corners on the David Fanning farm. There, on December 28, 1874, Samuel Fanning died. In 1882 his widow sold the farm and moved onto the Albert Ellison farm in Gillford Township, on which she resided until 1909. She then sold that place and moved to Madelia, Minn., where she remained until 1916, since which time she has resided with her daughter, Mrs. Trella Oney, in Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Fanning were the parents of ten children: George L. and John D., now of Madelia, Minn .; David, deceased; Edmund, of Rochester, Minn .; Walter Scott, of Madelia; Sherman, deceased; Wallace, deceased; Trella A., now Mrs. John Oney of Rochester; Ella E., wife of Frederick Johnson of Plainview, and Sam- uel, of Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Fanning were very active in social life. He taught the first singing-school in his locality, and furnished accommoda- tions for the minister and his family in order that a church might be main- tained in the community.

E. S. Fanning was born in Leydon, Lewis County, New York, and Hannah Fanning, his wife, was also born in New York State. In 1855 they came from Illinois to Wabasha County and lived here sixteen years, and here their seven children were born: Mary L., who now lives in Havre, Mont .; a son who died in infancy; Elizabeth E., who died October 4, 1887; James H., residing at Ne- maha, Iowa; Ezra E., of Anoka, Minn .; Adelbert E., who lives at Storm Lake, Iowa; and Edmund S., Jr .. who lives at Nemaha, Iowa. In the fall of 1871 Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Fanning moved to Sac County, Iowa, where Mr. Fanning died June 25, 1888, aged 55 years, nine months and two days. He was converted two years before he died, joined the M. E. church, and was appointed class leader. Hannah, his wife, died in Sac County, Iowa, December 17, 1907, aged 74 years, four months and 22 days.

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 105

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1222

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1222