History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 108

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

USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County, Minnesota > Part 108

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).

John Nordine, vice president of the Jewell Nursery Company of Lake City, and one of the leading horticulturists of Wabasha County, was born in Verm- land, Sweden, July 22, 1852, son of John Pearson Nordine and his wife, Britta K. (Anderson) Nordine. His parents lived and died in their native land, and there he, himself, remained for a number of years, acquiring his education in the public schools, and also spending three years in the army officers' school. He early made a practical acquaintance with farm work, and also to some ex- tent with nursery work. In 1882, having then been married six years, he came with his family to Minnesota, and at once located in Lake City, begin- ning work as a laborer for the Jewell Nursery Company. Three years later he became one of the department foremen. His next promotion was to the position of superintendent of the propagation department, and this he still holds. In 1917 he was made vice president of the company, and in 1918 was elected manager of all outside work. In 1908 Mr. Nordine built his present fine residence, situated near the plant, thoroughly modern, and beautifully surrounded by flowers and shrubbery. For many years he has been a mem- ber of the State Horticultural Society. His rise in life has been the result of close study and unremitting industry, and he is today one of the leading

652

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

authorities on arboriculture and horticulture in the state. Mr. Nordine has also various other activities which with his regular work keeps him busy. For nine years he was a member of the Board of Education of Lake City, and is now chairman of the Swedish Baptist church. He also belongs to the Ma- sonic order, in which he has advanced as far as the Commandery, and to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Equitable Fraternal Union. He was married in Sweden, January 24, 1876, to Ida C. Carlson, who, like himself, was born in Vermland, December 12, 1854. The issue of this marriage are five children: Charles G., born February 27, 1877; Louis F., October 19, 1884; Martha V., March 12, 1892; Edith E., March 24, 1894, and Paul R., November 20, 1898. Charles G. married Marie Olson of Stockholm, Wis., and has seven children: Roy M., Grace M., Carl F., Margaret R., Donald E., James and Marion. Louis F., who is superintendent of the sales department of the Moline Vacuum Heat Co., at Moline, Ill., married Mildred G. Anderson, of Brookings, S. D., and has three children, Florence, Louis and John Jr. Martha V. is the wife of Rev. P. Alfred Peterson, a minister of the Swedish Baptist church at Brainerd, Minn. Edith E. and Paul R. are still residing at home.

William Duffus, one of the notable pioneers of Wabasha County, now deceased, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, October 8, 1828, son of James and Margaret (Allan) Duffus. He was the second born in a family of three children-two sons and a daughter. The parents were poor and the father died when William was but eight years old. Consequently, young though he was, the subject of this sketch had to do something to help keep the wolf from the door, finding such opportunity in herding cows for a neighbor. While thus employed, he attended night school during the summers and daily school in the winters, thus acquiring a common school education. In 1853 he came to America, locating first at Racine, Wis., where he arrived with 35 cents in his pocket. There he remained two years employed in a flour mill, and at the end of that time came to Minnesota. He had by this time through strict economy saved $1,000, which he invested, while on the way to Wabasha. County, in village property at La Crescent, Minn. This proved a poor invest- ment. The family still own the property, but it has never yielded an income more than sufficient to pay the taxes and keep up the repairs. Arriving at Reed's Landing, Mr. Duffus went thence on foot to West Albany Township, where, in the fall of 1855, with George Wilson and George Perry, who like himself, had invested some money at La Crescent, he took up land, a tract of 160 acres on what is now section 12. It was unimproved prairie land, and Mr. Duffus broke it, but not being satisfied with the property, he sold out and bough 160 acres in section 3. When he selected the land he walked across. the prairies and through the coulies by Indian trail to Faribault, where the land office was located, a distance of 55 miles and return. On the 160 acres bought in section 3, but little had been broken, but there was a poor frame house and pole stables thatched with prairie hay; in short, the surroundings were as unpromising as might be. There he lived alone for a while, however, but finally becoming discouraged, he rented the place and went to Illinois. Subsequently, however, he returned and resumed work on his place. There was plenty of game, and Indians were numerous in the vicinity. One season after Mr. Duffus had seeded his land, the wild pigeons came in such numbers as to darken the air. Sweeping down upon his corn field, they devoured the fresh sown grain so that he had to reseed the land. In threshing he first used the ancient method of having the oxen tread out the grain. Afterwards he made use of the flail, and at a much later period he invested in a horse- power thresher, which was the first used in this section. On October 15, 1868, Mr. Duffus married Anne Wilson, daughter of James and Anne (Bal- lack) Wilson. She was born in Banffshire, Scotland, October 22, 1836, and on October 15, 1867, set out for America with her brother George. After ar- riving in Wabasha County, Minn., she made her home with a bachelor brother,

653

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

John, who had preceded them to this country, and continued to reside with him until her marriage. At times Mr. Duffus was tempted to return to Illi- nois, but his wife declined to sign the papers necessary to the sale of their land, not wishing to leave her relations here. Thus being obliged to remain, he made the best of circumstances and did all he could to improve his prop- erty and make his surroundings more tolerable, and in this he succeeded, though it was a work of time. Prosperity came at last, the farm was well developed, with a good residence and other buildings, the house being sur- rounded with evergreens, and neighbors had come in to relieve the monoton- ous isolation and brighten the daily routine of existence with social converse, and mutual hospitality. In the early days, before his marriage, Mr, Duffus had felt this isolation so much that, hearing there was such a place as Lake City, he with two or three others for whom the word "city" possessed a strong attraction, harnessed up an ox team, and, taking three days' provsions, set out to find it. The feat was accomplished in one day, but needless to say, they saw no bright lights, department stores or marble palaces. In fact, the other members of the party, when they reached the goal, thought they had lost their way and started on the return home, where all arrived not much the worse for their voyage of discovery, and not much the better. Mr. Duffus carried on general farming and kept good stock. He added to his farm in section 3, 160 acres adjoining on the north and 80 acres on the west, the latter, however, after selling the north addition. Besides this he owned 160 acres near Cot- tonwood, in Lyon County, Minn., which tract he subsequently sold. At his death he owned in all 270 acres, 240 in section 3, West Albany and 30 acres of timber land in Glasgow Township. In September, 1907, he left the farm, and bought a comfortable residence in Lake City, at the corner of Lyon avenue and Garden street, where his widow and daughter now live. Here he passed away, October 3, 1908. He had previously divided his land, giving to his son John the 80-acre tract on which the farm buildings stood, the south 80 acres to his wife, and the west 80 to his daughter Margaret. Some time before his retirement he had leased his plow land, keeping control of the pasture and meadow land, and giving his attention to breeding pure-blooded Shorthorn cattle and Shropshire sheep, and to the apiary business, in all of which occu- pations he was an adept and highly successful. He and his wife had two children : Margaret Allan, born March 27, 1871, now residing with her mother; and John Alexander, born May 14, 1876, who is living on the home farm. Re- ligion was a controlling power in Mr. Duffus' daily life, and in those of his wife and children, and he and they were instrumental in establishing religious services in the community, which for several years at an early period were held in the school house. In 1884 a church building was erected near the Duffus home, to which Mr. Duffus contributed liberally of his means, and with his own hands he built the stone foundation. He also boarded the workmen free, and did much else to advance the cause, and for years he served the church as an elder. It is known as the United Presbyterian Church, and is located in what is known as the Scotch Settlement, the people in the vicinity being nearly all from Banffshire, Scotland. It is, and long has been, noted for its strong Sunday school, also for its Literary Debating Society and Young People's Society, and in all these phases of church work the Duffus family took a deep and active interest. Their home was always open to any social or church affair calculated to promote the interest of the community, and was frequently selected, the people of the community knowing that they would receive a hearty welcome. Often the entire neighborhood-some 50 or 60 men, women and children-sat at table on these occasions, and this spirit of hospitality still remains with the surviving members of the family. Mr. Duffus was of a quiet disposition, kind and gentle, and upright in his dealings with all, but his word was law in the household. In politics he was a staunch Republican, but was not active in public affairs except as a mem-

654

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

ber of the school board. He was a strong advocate of temperance, and set a good example in his daily life, for which he is held in honored remembrance.

John Sexton, one of the pioneer settlers of Hyde Park Township, now de- ceased, was born in County Limerick, Ireland, May 12, 1827, son of John and Nora (Flynn) Sexton. In the early fifties, leaving his parents in the old country, he came to the United States, finding employment in Pittsburg, where he remained for five years. In 1858 he came on to Wabasha County, Minn .; and bought a homestead of 160 acres in section 1, Hyde Park Town- . ship, the land being all wild. After taking possession he returned to Pitts- burg, where he married Catherine Flannigan, and in the spring of 1860 he brought his wife to Wabasha County, coming up the river by boat to Read's Landing, and from there with an ox team to Hyde Park Township. Begin- ning the work of improvement, he broke the land and erected buildings which were good for that period. About 1868 his wife died, leaving six children, among whom were two pairs of twins. All these children are now deceased. Mr. Sexton remained unmarried for several years, or until November 8, 1873, when he took for his second wife Mary Elizabeth Becker, daughter of Joseph and Wilhelmina (Fox) Becker of Wabasha. She was of German ancestry but was born in West Virginia, July 5, 1853. Her mother subsequently dying in Maryland, the father remarried, and with him and her stepmother she came to Wabasha, Minn., where she was reared to womanhood. Mr. Sexton was a sturdy type of man, made of the right material for a pioneer. He had at- tended common school in Ireland when a lad, but was a worker rather than a scholar, and in time he developed a good farm. In addition to his original farm of 160 acres he bought 16 acres of woodland in Oakwood. He was a Catholic in religious faith, while politically he voted for the man rather than with any particular party. By his second wife Mr. Sexton had 12 children: Wilhelmina, born December 19, 1875; Honora, March 9, 1877; John, January 19, 1879; Johanna, August 7, 1880; Sarah, July 11, 1883; Thomas P., April 25, 1885; Edmund W., January 9, 1887; Rose, Noveniber 19, 1888; Josephine, De- cember 19, 1890; Walter M., April 25, 1893; Clara, August 2, 1895, and Fran- cis Leo, July 13, 1898. Wilhelmina is now Mrs. Leonard Voyer of St. Paul, Minn., and Honora, the wife of John Thornton of Gillford Township. John died October 23, 1890, in his tenth year. Johanna is now Mrs. Frank Hall of Hyde Park Township. Thomas P. resides in Gillford Township. Edmund W. is one of the younger successful farmers of Oakwood Township, owning a farm of 160 acres. He was married, September 19, 1916, to Agnes Laqua, and has two children: Richard, born November 11, 1917, and Rose, born June 20, 1919. Rose Sexton (daughter of John and Mary Sexton) is now Sister Venentia in a convent at Jamestown, N. D., (O. S. B.). Sarah, Josephine, Clara, Walter M. and Francis Leo are on the home farm. Walter M. served in the world war, being inducted into the United States' service, August 27, 1918. He trained at Camp Grant, Ill., and was a member of the 20th Com- pany, 161st Depot Brigade. Later he was transferred to the U. S. Base Hos- pital at Camp Grant, being attached to the Medical Department. While in the service he suffered from influenza. He was discharged June 13, 1919. Thomas P. Sexton was married February 10, 1915, to Helen Miesen, of Minne- apolis, who was born in that city March 16, 1892, daughter of Nicholas and Gertrude Miesen. He owns a good farm of 160 acres in Gillford Township, and is enjoying a successful career, raising grade stock in addition to the usual crops. He and his wife are the parents of a son, John N., who was born November 8, 1917. The Sextons are all members of the Catholic church, and stand well in the community for their industrious habits and good neigh- borly qualities.

William Huddleston, a well-to-do resident of Lake City, widely known and respected, is one of the few remaining pioneers of Wabasha County and of Minnesota. "He was born in Erie County, N. Y., November 8, 1848, son of

MR. AND MRS. JOHN SEXTON

655

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

David and Jane (Cochrane) Huddleston. The parents were natives of Ire- land, in which country the father was born in 1805 and the mother in 1815. David Huddleston became a farmer, which he remained while in his native land, where he married Jane Cochrane. In the early thirties they emigrated to the United States, resided for a time in New York City, and then settled on a farm in Erie County, N. Y. In 1852 they came west to Wisconsin, in which state they remained for a year. At the end of that time a further migra- tion brought them to Winona County, the journey being made overland with five yoke of oxen, one horse and four cows. They settled on land now the site of the City of St. Charles, and also at one time owned what is now the site of Utica, Minn. David Huddleston helped to build the first log house in Rochester, and at the time they arrived in Minnesota there was not a house between Rochester and Winona. After farming for many years, he died April 19, 1892, at the home of his son William in Glasgow Township, Wabasha County. His wife died in Donnelly, Minn., at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Hartung, on August 19, 1894. Of their children, three died in infancy. Eliza, born January 27, 1835; Margaret, born May 18, 1837, and James, born August 18, 1838, are also deceased. The survivors are: Thomas, born August 18, 1839, now residing at Dumfries, Wabasha County; David, born July 27, 1841, a resident of Lake City; James (second), born February 8, 1843, now of Ladysmith, Wis .; John, born February 23, 1846, living in Denver, Colo .; William, born November 8, 1848, of Lake City, Minn .; Margaret, born March 4, 1851, now Mrs. John Hartung of Lake City; and Jane, born September 4, 1854, now Mrs. John Cochrane of River Falls, Wis. When William Hud- dleston was ten years old, his mother removed with him and two of his sis- ters to Glasgow Township, Wabasha County, buying a homestead right of 160 acres, which she proved up, and on which she resided until her death. Upon William she depended to a large extent to manage the farm, a task for which he proved competent, as at the age of 13 he was drawing a man's wages of $13 a month, and was driving seven yoke of oxen on a breaking-plow. The men for whom he drove, Mike Redman and James Strain, paid him, however, in reciprocal labor, building a fence for him on the farm. Of this farm he came into full possession and increased its original area to 260 acres. Be- sides erecting a good set of buildings, he brought 250 acres under the plow, and followed general farming successfully until 1900, when he sold his Glas- gow property and moved into Lake City. Here he owns five houses and lots and has other investments. For over 20 years he bought and shipped cattle from this section, and was an active factor in building up the agricultural and stock raising interests of the county. A Republican in politics, he served for a number of years on the Glasgow Town Board, and was a man to whom his fellow citizens felt they could safely intrust public interests. Mr. Hud- dleston was married March 25, 1885, to Margaret, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Sweat) Hope, of Glasgow Township. He and his wife attend the Congregational church.

Martin J. O'Laughlin, who for the last five years has been postmaster at Lake City, is a man with good business experience in several lines of in- dustry, and a creditable public record, having formerly served Wabasha County as auditor and this district in the State Legislature. He is a native son of the county, having been born at Lake City, June 28, 1859. His parents were Michael and Mary O'Laughlin, both natives of Ireland. The father came first to America, in 1835, locating in New Jersey, where he lived for seven years engaged in railroad work and contracting. He came to Wa- basha County in May, 1857, but was married in Ireland, going back to that country for his bride. They settled on 160 acres of wild land in Mt. Pleasant Township, which they developed into a good farm. There Michael O'Laugh- lin died October 3, 1868, after laboring for ten years on the place. His wife survived him many years, dying in Lake City, September 19, 1895 .... They had

656

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

six children: Margaret, born in Oswego, N. Y., now living in Lake City; Anna, born in Oswego, and now residing in Lake City; James, born in Oswego, and Michael, born in Ireland, who are living in Williston, N. D., retired; Martin J., of Lake City, and Frank M., who is living in Lake City, retired. The father, who was a Democrat in politics, cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren. Martin J. O'Laughlin in his boyhood attended school in Wabasha County and remained on the home farm until 1891. In 1890 he was elected county auditor and served for two successive terms, during his incumbency of the office residing in Lake City. Between 1890 and 1903 he was engaged in the grain business in North Dakota, his home, however, being in Lake City. In the meanwhile he had made many friends, and in 1902 was elected to the State Legislature, in which he served two terms, being re-elected in 1904. After 1905 when his last term in the legislature expired, he engaged in the real estate business in Lake City, and was thus occupied for ten years, or until 1915, when he was appointed to his present position as postmaster of Lake City. He has an established reputation as a reliable citizen and com- petent official and is universally popular. Fraternally he belongs to the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. Mr. O'Laughlin was married June 27, 1893, in Wabasha, Minn., to Margaret, daughter of Lawrence and Mary Calhoun of that place. He and his wife have had three children: John C., born in Wabasha in 1894; Richard E., born in Lake City, Sepetember 19, 1895, and Robert, born February 18, 1918. John C. died in 1908. Richard E. is now serving in the Engineer Corps of the United States army. Robert is a student in the Lake City high school.

James P. Martin, a well known business man of Lake City, formerly in the stock raising business, but now connected with real estate interests, was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., October 31, 1846, son of James P., Sr., and Elizabeth (Gorman) Martin. He was the only member of his parents' family to come west, which he did in 1868, as a young man of 18, locating in Lake City, Minn. Here he entered into the livery business with W. E. Perkins, their partnership lasting for 20 years. Mr. Martin then sold his interests in the business and at Central Point began raising pure-bred horses for track purposes, and also pure-bred Jersey cattle. After continuing in that busi- ness for about ten years he sold out and entered the real estate business, in which he has since continued, though for the last few years he has not been so active as formerly. As a stock breeder he achieved a fine record, becom- ing well known over the entire South and West. Though Mr. Martin has never engaged actively in farming, he owns three good farms, one in Wiscon- sin, near Maiden Rock, Pierce County, and two in Minnesota, the three aggre- gating 375 acres. He also owns a comfortable home at the corner of Lyon avenue and Prairie street in Lake City, which he occupies. He has been identified with the growth of the city for the last 53 years and has carved out his own fortune, having started with the slender capital of but $50, the amount he had on his arrival here. Politically he is a Democrat, but his active career has been confined to business lines. His fraternal affiliations are with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, he having been a member of the local lodge of that order for a number of years. Mr. Martin was married in March, 1868, to Julia Frances Hart, daughter of James and Catherine Hart, of Malone, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., the marriage occurring about a month before they came west. Mrs. Martin was born October 27, 1846, and died in Lake City July 8, 1918. She and her husband became the parents of four children : William J., Elizabeth N., Frank H., and James J. William J., who resides with his father, is a telegrapher in the employ of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railway Co. Elizabeth N., is the wife of C. H. Barber, who is employed in the government revenue department at St. Paul. Frank H. is on his father's farm in Pierce County, Wis., while James J. is a pros- perous farmer near Farmington, Olmsted County, Minn.

657

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

Henry Wodele, a progressive farmer of Greenfield Township, operating a farm of 293 acres, of which he is the owner, was born in this township July 30, 1880, son of John and Clara (Beiver) Wodele. He was educated in the dis- trict school and until 1905 was engaged in working for his father. He then rented 293 acres, 160 acres lying in Greenfield and the rest in Glasgow and Wabasha Townships, and egaged in agriculture on his own account. In 1910 he bought the farm, which is the one on which he still resides, and where he is successfully carrying on mixed farming, including the raising of garden truck and high grade stock. He has improved his buildings by the erection of additions and has installed a Delco lighting plant, bringing the entire place into good condition, with modern equipment. In addition Mr. Wodele has given some time to public affairs, having formerly served one year as assessor of his township, and six years on the school board of District No. 5. He is a member of the Catholic church, also of the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph's Society and the Equitable Fraternal Union. Mr. Wodele was united in mar- riage October 4, 1904, with Sophia Bootz, daughter of Ambroise and Sophia (Berkley) Bootz. Her parents came to Minnesota from Germany in the fifties, settling in Wabasha County. Mrs. Bootz died when her daughter Sophia was only two weeks old, and the father in 1915. They had three children, Bertha, Joseph and Sophia, of whom Joseph is no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Wodele have had 11 children, born as follows: Clara E., July 8, 1905; Clarence C., December 24, 1906; Mabel R., April 23, 1908; Ethel A., June 8, 1909; Harriet T., September 26, 1911; Mary V., January 7, 1913; John H., April 30, 1915; Ralph R., March 26, 1916; Helen M., May 29, 1917; Bernice L., February 27, 1919, and Harold M., May 5, 1920. Harriet T. died in infancy, April 4, 1912.

George H. Christison, a leading representative of the agricultural interests of Plainview Township, was born in Waukesha County, Wis., November 9, 1862, son of John and Elizabeth (Allison) Christison. The parents were natives of Scotland, but were married in Wisconsin, and were engaged there in farming, an occupation which John Christison followed all his life. In the spring of 1872 he came with his family to Wabasha County, Minn., renting a farm in Plainview Township, which he operated until 1889. He then bought a farm of 80 acres in section 30, on which he resided until 1894, when he re- tired and moved to Owatonna, Minn., where he died. His wife died in August, 1918. They had 12 children: Margaret, wife of T. W. Morris of Brookings, S. D .; George H., of Plainview Township; Elizabeth (a twin sister of George H.), who is now Mrs. Eugene Wedge, of Plainview; William, who met an acci- dental death by drowning in Milwaukee; Wallace, now of Ripon, Wis .; Edward, who is residing in British Columbia; Clara, now a teacher in Great Falls, Mont .; Harry, a resident of Swift County, Minn .; Helen, who is teaching in Owatonna; Lucy, wife of Henry Kline of Halliday, N. D .; Percy of Clinton Falls, Minn .; and Chester, of Swift County, Minn. George H. Christison acquired his pri- mary education in Wisconsin and subsequently attended school in Plainview, Minn. After becoming industrially active he worked out by the month until 1893, in which year he began farming for himself, buying 80 acres of land in section 19, Plainview Township. The land comprised the entire property, as there were no buildings. These he has himself erected, including a good resi- dence and a barn, 34 by 72 feet in size, with other outbuildings necessary to a farmer. He has also installed a private electric light plant which furnishes light for all the buildings, as well as the yard. In addition to these improve- ments he has increased the area of his farm by the purchase of more land, and it now contains 240 acres-160 acres in section 20, and 80 in section 19-making his total land holdings amount to 240 acres. Such an accumulation of property indicates a prosperous career, not counting the fact that he is also a stock- holder in the Plainview Co-operative Creamery Association, of which he has been the president for eight years. As a general farmer he has been energetic and far-sighted, and his operations have been more than ordinarily successful.

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.

History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 108

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