History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 111

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 111

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Charles F. Anding, proprietor of one of the best farms in Gillford Town- ship, situated in section 23, was born in this township, October 21, 1873, son of

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William and Magdalena (Kirchner) Anding. He is a grandson of Moritz Anding, who settled in section 13, Gillford Township, in 1866, and is therefore a member of one of the pioneer families of the county. His literary education was acquired in the school of district No. 19, and he subsequently attended the Minnesota Agricultural College at St. Paul from the fall of 1893 to the spring of 1895. Afterwards, until the fall of 1900, he continued to assist his father on the home farm, and in the year last mentioned started in for himself on his present farm in section 23. This farm contains 160 acres, of which 140 are under cultivation, the soil being very productive. There is a comfortable frame house, and in 1920 Mr. Anding built a modern frame barn, the main part of the building (for cattle) measuring 40 by 80 by 12 feet, with a full tile basement of 81/2 feet, and the best steel equipment, to which he added an "L" 24 by 40 by 12 feet, for horses, also equipped in modern style, and with running water in every stall. In the same year he built a tile silo 14 by 47 feet in size. Mr. Anding does diversified farming, growing grain and hay and other products of the soil, and breeding pure blood and high grade Holstein cattle, pure blood Poland-China hogs and White Plymouth Rock poultry. A thoroughly practical man in his line of business, he has made good financial progress and is well to do. He was one of the organizers and builders of the Zumbro Falls Telephone Company, which he served as president for three years and in which he is now a stockholder; is a member of the Zumbro Falls Shipping Association, and has stock in the Farmers Elevator Co. of the same place. He has served nine years as a member of the Gillford Town board, and has been clerk of school district No. 88 since 1902. On December 13, 1905, Mr. Anding was united in marriage with Florence E. Boyce, who was born in Gillford Township, August 18, 1884, daughter of Frederick and Mary (Flannigan) Boyce. Of this union four children have been born: Floyd C., on January 4, 1907; Sylvester F., January 8, 1909; Mildred F., December 25, 1910, and Moritz W., November 20, 1915. Mr. Anding and his family are affiliated religiously with the Jack- sonville congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics he is independent. Frederick and Mary Boyce, the parents of Mrs. Anding, were both born in Wabasha County, Minnesota, and were prosperous farmers here. Mrs. Boyce died in 1903, and in 1911 Mr. Boyce sold his farm in this county and moved to Dodge Center, Dodge County, Minn., where he owns a farm on which he is now residing.

Robert White, for many years one of the leading farmers of Watopa Town- ship, but now passed away, was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, December 4, 1851, son of James and Isabelle (Parker) White. In the spring of 1853, as an infant of 14 months, he accompanied his parents to the United States, the family settling first in Connecticut, then in New York State, and later in Saginaw, Michigan. There Robert White remained until the spring of 1870, when he came to Wabasha County, Minnesota, and for some years thereafter was a resident of Plainview. It was not until his marriage in 1879 that he took the farm on which the rest of his life was to be spent, and on which his widow still resides. This farm is located on Hoosier Ridge, in section 35, and at the time Mr. White moved on to it, the only building was a little shack about 12 by 12 feet in size. He at once began the work of improvement which he carried on until death put an end to his activities, and the results he achieved are visible today in one of the finest farms in the township, provided with a neat and commodious residence, spacious barns and outbuildings, a brick silo, and everything necessary for extensive farming operations along scientific lines. A large apple orchard is also one of the features of the place. This compre- hensive development of the original tract was accomplished with the aid of his sons, who, as they grew up, became more and more useful. Mr. White was a man of sterling character, honest and industrious, and popular within a wide circle of acquaintance. His death, which occurred April 13, 1917, was an event that caused sorrow throughout the community, the people realizing that a lead-

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ing citizen had departed from their midst. For over 26 years he had been clerk of the district school board, had served as chairman of the board of super- visors, and for a number of years as justice of the peace, and for 24 years had been a member of the order of Modern Woodmen of America. In addition to his wife and children, he was survived by his mother, now 91 years old and a resident of Weaver; two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Gow, of Madison, Wis., and Mrs. Mary Young, of Pictou, Ontario, Canada; and two brothers, Frank of Kalispell, Mont., and James of Weaver, Minn. Robert White was married at Alma, Wis- consin, November 17, 1879, to Freda Guettinger, who was born October 16, 1861, daughter of John and Fredericka (Lauderbach) Guettinger. Her father was a native of Switzerland and her mother of Germany. They were married in Buffalo City, Wisconsin, and spent the rest of their lives as farmers in that vicinity, Mr. Guettinger dying at Cochran, Wis., December 23, 1896, and Mrs. Guettinger in May, 1913. Their children were as follows: Louise, who mar- ried Gunder Enlagen, and died in 1887, leaving two children, Clarence, now deceased, and Anna, who is living; Freda, widow of Robert White; Bertha, who married James White, of Weaver, Minn., and has three children living; John, of Colton, Wash., who married Mollie Kaiser and has six children; Matilda, who is the wife of Frank Bowman, of Tacoma, Wash., and has three sons; Albert, who married Amelia Hofer, and has three children; Ida, wife of Herbert Thomas, and the mother of five children; and three who died in in- fancy, making a family of ten in all. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Robert White, all living, are Harry, Lloyd, Hugh, Guy, Frances, Ora A., and Elsie. Harry, born September 3, 1880, is now engaged in operating the home farm on shares. Lloyd, born October 10, 1882, married Ella Dern, and resides at Butte, Mont. Hugh, born March 29, 1884, married Margaret Steggar, and has two children, Alta and Dolores. Guy, born September 28, 1887, and now a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, married Mrs. Lulu Starr, who has a child by her first husband. Frances, born March 14, 1891, is the wife of Ernest V. Foster. She has two children, Howard, born November 25, 1910, and Doris, born December 25, 1913. Ora A., who was born March 11, 1898, is now Mrs. Len V. Montgom- ery. She has had one child who died in infancy and one daughter living, Elsie, born February 19, 1900, is residing at home with her mother. The White family is prominent among the leading families in the county, and its members have always stood for progress, culture and social advancement.

John E. Winters, who is engaged in agriculture in the town of Watopa, of which he is town clerk, was born in Whitewater Township, Winona County, Minn., February 25, 1881, son of Adam and Christina (Peterson) Winters. The parents came to Minnesota from Indiana and settled in Winona County, where they were engaged in farming until 1895. They then moved to Wabasha County, where they farmed until 1912. In that year they moved to Minneiska village, where Mr. Winters conducted a general store until his death on June 4, 1918, and where his wife, who was born in Sweden, is now living. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of their ten children, five are now living, the full list being as follows: Lester, Nellie, Etta, Jennie, May, John, Nora, Jessie, Arthur and Walter. Those deceased are Lester, Nel- lie, Etta, May and Nora. John E. Winters was educated in the town of White- water, Winona County. Until 1903 he worked for his father and then took up telegraphy, which occupation, however, he followed for only one year, at the end of that time going to work at the carpenter's trade, at which he worked two years. After that for seven years he followed the occupation of cream buyer. He then rented the farm on which he now resides, containing 200 acres in sections 21 and 22, Watopa Township, which he has since carried on suc- cessfully. He has become a prominent citizen of his township, and in addition to being town clerk, a position which he has held for three years, he is serving as treasurer of school district No. 93. Mr. Winters was married, November 22, 1905, to Matilda Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson. Her

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parents were natives of Sweden who came to America in the early fifties, set- tling on East Indian Creek, in Watopa Township, this county, where they did general farming and stock raising until Mr. Johnson's death March 15, 1887. Mrs. Johnson subsequently married Ole Chelgren, with whom she is now living in the village of Weaver, where they operate a hotel. Mr. and Mrs. John E. Winters are the parents of four children : Clarence A., born January 20, 1907; Harold A., September 7, 1909; Eugene E., March 10, 1912; and an infant born May 13, 1920.

Charles Riley, a Minnesota pioneer, who settled in the neighboring county of Winona, and whose descendants are prominent in Wabasha County, was a native of Ireland, in which country he was married to Mary Hussey. About 1849, immediately after his marriage, he came with his wife to the United States, and, settling in New Jersey, was engaged in farming there until the fall of 1855. A few years previous to the latter date, or in 1851, the Sioux Indians had ceded all their lands east of the Sioux river to the United States, and a considerable emigration had begun to Minnesota. Attracted by the pros- pect of cheap land, Mr. Riley also set out, with his family, and on arriving in the then territory, secured 80 acres of wild land in Gilmore Valley, Winona County. Not being wholly satisfied with the location, he moved about 1857 to Waseca County, where he engaged in farming on a tract of 120 acres. While still residing there, he bought a farm in the town of Hart, Winona County, consisting of 160 acres. He then bought 177 acres, situated three miles west of what is now Winona city, selling 120 acres of his other farm for $700, and trading the other 40 acres for a yoke of oxen. Thus equipped with funds and other necessaries, he bought another farm three miles west of Winona, on the Minnesota City road, for $4,000, which was a good price for a farm in those days. There Mr. Riley resided with his family for 20 years, at the end of which time he had improved the place to such an extent that about 1889 he sold it to the Laird-Norton Lumber Co. for $10,000. He then bought another farm, of 272 acres, one mile farther west on the same road, for which he paid $5,500, and continued his farming enterprises. His career was nearly over, however, as several years later, on August 23, 1892, he died from blood poison, resulting from the extraction of a tooth. His family subsequently sold the farm for $11,000. A part of this increased value may be attributed perhaps to the general rise in land values, but still more to the improvements effected by Mr. Riley, who throughout his career showed himself a man of energy and foresight, a good provider for his family, and equipped with all the qualities which go to make the successful man, in whatever community he may be found. Doubtless he would have succeeded anywhere, but the new territory of Minne- sota gave him superior opportunities to show his ability. His son, John T. Riley, is now one of the leading farmers in Watopa Township, Wabasha County.

John Thomas Riley, proprietor of an excellent farm of 400 acres in section 36, Watopa Township, was born at Iosco, Waseca County, Minnesota, May 10, 1858, son of Charles and Mary (Hussey) Riley. His boyhood and youth were spent on the various farms purchased and operated in succession by his father, whom he assisted in the work of improvement. In time he became his father's right-hand man, and was given the management of the farm on the Minnesota City road, three miles west of Winona, which was sold in 1889 to the Laird- Norton Company; and he not only conducted this farm, but also several others in the vicinity, amounting altogether to about 1,000 acres. Previous to this, however, he had resided for a while in Winona, during which time he was en- gaged in bridge carpenter work for the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. After resuming his residence on the family homestead he made farming his sole business and showed the same capacity which had made his father a successful man in that line of industry. About 1898 Mr. Riley bought an improved farm of 145 acres at Beaver, in Whitewater Township, Winona County, the price of which was $4,000. There he resided for five years, during which time he re-

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modeled the house and made other improvements, finally selling the place for $5,500. He now made a change of base, removing to Wabasha County, and renting the present Ames farm of one-half section from Mr. Hulbert. His agreement was for the period of five years, and it was during that time that he bought his present place, which he rented to Lewis Martin, finally taking pos- session himself. It had some improvements, to which, however, he has greatly added, having remodeled the house, erected a fine barn, 30 by 75 feet, and con- crete floor, put up a silo, and constructed a well and cistern. The erection of the barn and the remodeling of the house, to which he added a kitchen, took 25,000 feet of lumber, all of which he cut from timber on his farm. Of the total acreage of his farm, about 170 acres are under the plow, 90 acres of which lie in the valley and 80 on the ridge. A part of his land is in pasture. He keeps on an average of 45 Durham cattle, 12 to 14 of which are milch cows, the cream from which he sells to the creamery. He has also a good herd of Duroc-Jersey hogs, and some Norman horses, and is carrying on a profitable business as a general farmer. Formerly Mr. Riley was a director and stockholder in the bank at Weaver, but some time ago sold out his interests to the present pro- prietor of that concern. On November 23, 1880, John Thomas Riley was united in marriage with Helen Costello, who was born in Sheboygan County, Wiscon- sin, in 1862, daughter of John and Mary (O'Rourke) Costello, her father being a railroad man. Of this union ten children have been born, namely: Charles B., John Henry, Helen, Genevieve, an unnamed daughter who died in infancy, Florence, Mary, William, Margaret Anna, and Gertrude Lucille. Charles B., born January 19, 1882, is residing at home. John Henry, born August 9, 1884, and now a resident of St. Paul, Minn., married Stella Schultz, of Oregon. He has two children, John and Marguerite. Helen, born October 18, 1886, is living on the home farm. Genevieve, who was born July 7, 1888, died November 19, 1907. Mary, born April 18, 1892, married Henry St. Jacque, who died of influ- enza and pneumonia. She has two children, Gertrude Margaret and John Henry. William, born November 11, 1898, enlisted in the United States army on May 10, 1917, and sailed for France December 17, 1917. He took part in the desperate fighting at St. Mihiel and at the Meuse-Argonne, but was fortunate in escaping death or wounds, and after his return to the United States was honorably discharged at Camp Dodge, Iowa, May 20, 1919. Margaret Anna, born September 26, 1900, and Gertrude Lucille, born June 23, 1904, as the youngest members of the family, are still living with their parents. Carl Per- sons, son of a sister of Mrs. Riley, was also a soldier in France, and at the battle of Chateau-Thierry received a severe wound in his left foot, from which he is badly crippled. The Riley family are members of the Catholic church at Minneiska, and Mr. Riley also belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Modern Woodmen of America. A prominent citi- zen of his township, he is widely known and everywhere respected.

Samuel E. Foster, one of the leading farmers of Watopa Township, was born in the town of Menter, Lake County, Ohio, December 28, 1851, son of Wil- liam Henry and Emeline C. (Griffith) Foster. His great grandparents on the paternal side were natives of Wales, another strain of Welsh blood being de- rived through the Griffith family, and his maternal grandmother was a Skinner. His mother's family settled in Youngstown, Ohio, where there is a considerable Welsh colony, though Emeline C. Griffith was born in New York State, as was also William H. Foster, her husband. The latter went to Ohio to learn the moulder's trade, and remained in that state from the early forties until 1863. After working for some time as a moulder, he conducted a spoke and hub fac- tory for some time in Lake County, Ohio. In 1856.he came with his family to Olmsted County, Minnesota, where he took a tract of wild land and developed it into a farm. Subsequently he sold that farm and took another in Clark County, Wisconsin, where he remained for five or six years. Again he sold, going to Barron County, Wisconsin, where he farmed until his death in March,

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1893. He was about 70 years old, having been born in 1823. His wife, who was born in 1828, died in 1917, at the age of 89 years. They were the parents of six sons and three daughters, of which children five are now living. The record in brief is as follows : Charles, who married Charlotte Pierce, died at the age of 49 years; Melissa, who married Daniel Hall of Fillmore County, Minn., died about nine years ago at the age of 63; Alice died in infancy ; Samuel E., subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Laura is the wife of Herman Stegeman of Seattle, Wash .; Emery lives in Plainview, Minn .; Amos in Colby, Clark County, Wis .; John died unmarried, and Julius, who married Sarah Thornton, is now a resident of Colfax, Wash. Samuel E. Foster acquired his education in a district school in Olmsted County. Until arriving at the age of 14 years he assisted his father on the home farm, and then began work- ing out, sending his money home. He followed various kinds of farming, in- cluding threshing, working by the month and day, until 1884, when he started in for himself, buying the first "eighty" of his present place of 400 acres, most of which lies in section 33, Watopa Township. He has erected all the buildings and fenced the entire farm, when he first took possession there being only a log cabin on the place. The original part of his present house was built 27 years ago, and Mr. Foster has since put up three additions to it, transforming it into a long and commodious structure. The front part, facing the road, is constructed of cement blocks, the other parts of the building being frame. His first barn was a straw shed, which has long since been replaced with a large and substantial structure. As a general farmer and stock raiser Mr. Foster established a good record and is now in comfortable circumstances. He increased the area of his farm to 480 acres, and on his retirement from active work in 1907, rented it to his son Charles, who operated the farm until 1915, when Mr. Foster rented it to his son-in-law, Nobel Evans, who is still conduct- ing it, Mr. Foster and his wife retaining their residence on the place. He is a stockholder in the creamery at Weaver and in the Greenwood Prairie Telephone Co. Formerly for two years he served on the school board of district No. 82. Fraternally he belongs to the M. W. A. and he and his family are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Foster was married, January 9, 1883, to Alice Arvilla Murray, who was born in Cook's Valley, near Kellogg, Minn., daughter of John and Marie Elizabeth (Klausen) Murray, her parents being early settlers in that locality. Her father was a native of Scotland, after coming to this country, settled first in New York, subsequently moving to Wis- consin and helping to build the first sawmill at Eau Claire. Later he came to Lake City, Wabasha County, Minn. His wife came to this county in 1855, and they were married, December 12, 1858, after a short residence in Wabasha making their home in Lake City. They had three children, of whom two grew to manhood: Ovid, of Plainview, and Alice A., wife of Samuel E. Foster. She was born December 12, 1860, and when six months old accompanied her parents to a farm next to the present Foster property. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have had four children, all of whom are now living, as follows: Charles, born July 13, 1885, now a farmer, who married Lena Walberger of Wabasha, and has three children, Elmer, Robert and an infant as yet unnamed; Ernest Verne, born April 13, 1887, who married Frances White, and has two children, Howard and Doris; Ethel Elizabeth, born October 15, 1893, who married Noble Evans, now living on the Foster farm, and has one child, Wayne Foster; and Inez Mabel. born March 20, 1889, who is the wife of Frank Fritzloff, a farmer residing near Plainview.

Oliver P. Atkinson, now deceased, was for many years a highly respected farmer and citizen of Gillford Township. He was born on Green Prairie, Olm- sted County, Minnesota, February 13, 1861, son of John and Sarah Atkinson. The parents were natives of England who came to Minnesota in the latter fifties, settling on the farm in Olmsted County on which their son Oliver was born. In 1862 they came to Gillford Township, Wabasha County, buying a

MR. AND MRS. OLIVER P. ATKINSON

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farm of 160 acres on section 33, the land being all wild. This land they devel- oped into a farm, the frame house which they erected being now occupied by their grandson, Allen J. Atkinson. Oliver P. Atkinson grew to manhood on this farm and was educated in the district school. In time the home property came into his possession and he continued his residence on it, engaged in gen- eral farming, until his death on June 1, 1903, an event deeply regretted, as he was a man of wide acquaintance and popular throughout the township and the vicinity. He and his wife were members of the Congregational church at Zumbro Falls, and for a number of years he served on the school board of his district. Mr. Atkinson was married, March 9, 1881, to Martha Warren, who was born in Gillford Township, this county, December 15, 1861, daughter of Frank and Margaret Warren. Of this union seven children were born: Le- ander, July 29, 1883; Colon P., May 10, 1885; Vernon W., July 3, 1887; Allen J., November 14, 1889; Lela, August 25, 1892; Pearl, May 29, 1898, and Forrest, November 29, 1900. Leander and Lela are now deceased; Colon is a farmer in Zumbro Township; Pearl is now Mrs. Harry Devery, her husband being a farmer in Zumbro Township, and Forrest is a farmer in Chester Township. After her husband's death Mrs. Atkinson, with the help of her sons, operated the farm until 1909, when she moved to Zumbro Falls, where she resided until her death July 2, 1920. Since 1909 the farm has been operated by her son, Allen J. Atkinson, who is now one of the active and successful young farmers of Gillford Township. He was married June 19, 1918, to Anna Bluhm, who was born in Zumbro Township May 14, 1900, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gust Bluhm. Allen J. Atkinson and wife have one child, Earl, born April 6, 1919.

John W. Tebor, a well known and respected resident of Watopa Township, where he has been engaged in farming for the past nine years, was born in Belgium, September 18, 1871, son of John and Catherine (Nelles) Tebor. His parents remained in their native land, where the father, John Tebor, died No- vember 11, 1918, after experiencing the terrible hardships incidental to the German invasion, without the satisfaction of seeing its final salvation. His wife, who survived him, is still residing there. They had five children, John W., John B., Nicholas, Barbara and Catherine, the two last mentioned being twins. Catherine is now deceased, and the others, except John W., are now liv- ing in Belgium. John W. Tebor came to the United States in 1886, and for some time resided in Chicago, where he worked at manual labor. From there he went to Milwaukee, subsequently visited several places on the Great Lakes, and in 1900 came to Wabasha County. Here he rented 160 acres of land in Highland Township and began farming. In 1911 he bought 240 acres in section 17, Watopa Township, and on that farm followed general agriculture and stock raising for seven years, during which period he served two years as clerk of the school board of district No. 81. In 1918 Mr. Tebor sold that farm and bought that on which he now resides, containing 240 acres in section 7, Wa- topa, where he has since continued his farming and stock raising activities on a profitable basis. He is a member of the Catholic church, and fraternally be- longs to the Good Samaritan Society. Mr. Tebor was united in marriage, Janu- ary 23, 1902, with Della Tentis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Tentis, her parents being natives of Germany who came to the United States in the early fifties, and settled soon after in Glasgow Township, Wabasha County, Minn., where they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Tentis dying in 1904 and his wife in 1908. Their children were Sophia, Adam, John, Catherine, Della, Jacob, Susan, Allen, Emil and Frank. Catherine is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Tebor have had five children, all now living and residing at home: Clarence J., Margaret B., Viola C., George R., and Robert F.

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 111

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