History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 65

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 65


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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY


an attack of apoplexy. His end was painless as he lay in a comatose condition from the time of his seizure until his death. He was a man universally loved and mourned, a good husband and father, quiet and unobtrusive in his manner, genial and obliging, with a kind word for everyone. His record as a business man was one of unquestionable integrity. He held many offices of trust and responsibility, serving on the board of supervisors of Elgin township, also as town treasurer for twelve years, as postmaster, as president of the board of education for several years and as a member of the village council. Above all, he probably did more than any other one man in advancing the interests and shaping the destiny of Elgin village. In the words of Le Baron Russell Briggs of Harvard University, "He was a man who was 'always there.'"


Henry Boatman, a retired farmer residing in Lake City, was a pioneer of Minnesota and an early settler in Wabasha County, taking part in the develop- ment of its agricultural resources. He was born in Germany, August 9, 1845, son of Frederick and Lena Boatman. At the age of nine years, in 1854, he came with his parents to the United States, the family locating first at Ottawa, Ill. There Mrs. Lena Boatman died, and her husband, Frederick, placed his son, Henry, in the care of an American family, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvanus Crook, and came to Minnesota, homesteading 160 acres of land in Hay Creek Township, Goodhue County. Henry remained with the Crooks until the spring of 1865, when he enlisted in the United States' service and was sent to Memphis, Tenn., where he was stationed at the time President Lincoln was assassinated. He was mustered out at Springfield, Ill., in September, 1865, and returned to Ottawa, where he remained until the spring of 1867. He then came to Goodhue County, Minnesota, to visit his father, whom he had not seen for eleven years, and for whom he worked two years, subsequently returning to Ottawa, Ill., where he found a wife in the person of Nellie Elizabeth Mosher, daughter of Merwin and Sophronia Mosher, their marriage being celebrated July 22, 1871. In the fall of 1873 he and his wife located in Stillwater, Minn., where they resided for two years. Then in the fall of 1875 Mr. Boatman bought 80 acres of improved land in section 3, Mt. Pleasant Township, Wabasha County. The only building on the land was a small shanty, in which Mr. and Mrs. Boatman lived for two or three years. In 1878 he bought a second tract of 80 acres adjoining on the west; and in 1881 a third tract of the same size, thus coming into possession of a farm of 240 acres. From the beginning he had been working hard in improving the place, and about 1880 built a sub- stantial two-story, ten-room frame house. He also erected a barn and other necessary buildings, and beautified his house, planting his front yard with maple trees, carrying the young trees on his back from Hay Creek, a distance of nine miles, his farm being located four and a half miles west of Lake City. Through industry and economy he conquered success, and having acquired a competence, in 1912 he retired to Lake City, where he bought a nice residence, since occupied by himself and wife and daughter Ella May. On his retirement he leased his farm to his son, Merwin, who in 1918 bought the 120-acre tract on which the buildings stand, and is operating the entire 240 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Boatman have had five children: Wesley, of section 2, Mt. Pleasant Town- ship; who was born May 9, 1874; Ella May, born March 19, 1876; Ida S., born July 30, 1879, now Mrs. John Kennedy of Lake Ciy; Merwin Howard, born April 18, 1886; Ray Mosher, born July 23, 1889, a farmer in West Florence Township, Goodhue County; and two children, Carrie and Edwin, who died in childhood. Mr. Boatman and wife are prominent members of the M. E. church at Lake City. Politically he is a Democrat and for a number of years was a member of the school board.


Wesley H. Boatman, who is prosperously engaged in agriculture in section 2, Mt. Pleasant Township, was born in Hay Creek Township, Goodhue County, May 9, 1874, son of Henry and Nellie (Mosher) Boatman. He was only four or five years old when he accompanied his parents to section 2, Wabasha County,


EMIL A. BECKER


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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY


and here he subsequently attended the district school up to the age of 14 years. His industrial activities were expended on the home farm, which he helped his father to improve, and they were associated together until 1903. October 10, that year, Mr. Boatman married Lillian Elizabeth Thimijon, daughter of Charles and Minnie Thimijon, of Mt. Pleasant Township, her parents being early immigrants from Germany. Mr. Boatman and wife already had a home prepared, he having bought, in the fall of 1902, the farm on which he and his family are now living. This was known as the Granville Clark farm, and con- tained 160 acres, of which 125 were under the plow. It is now one of the best farms of its size in the township, the soil being good and highly cultivated. The house, which Mr. Boatman has improved, is a six-room frame structure, gas-lighted. He has also improved the other buildings, has a good operating equipment, and owns a large touring car. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining satisfactory help on reasonable terms, he operates but one-half of his farm, renting out the balance, but in spite of this limited activity, is doing a satis- factory business. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife attend the M. E. church at Lake City.


Ole H. Olson, a popular business man of Hammond, who has also rendered good service as a public official, was born in Norway in 1860, son of Hover and Anna (Masel) Olson. His parents came to the United States in the year of his birth, settling in Springfield, Ill., where the father found miscellaneous em- ployment. After the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in an Illinois regi- ment, with which he served about two years. On his return to his home in Springfield, he traded the city property he owned there for a farm in Jackson County, Wisconsin, to which locality the family removed. Later they came from there to Minnesota, locating in the town of Zumbro, Wabasha County. There were three children in the family, all sons. One died at the age of four years, the two survivors being George, who is a resident of Oronoco, Olmsted County, and Ole H. The latter was educated in the district schools of Wiscon- sin and Wabasha County, Minnesota, in Zumbro Township attending school No. 49. He was brought up to farm pursuits and began an independent career by renting a farm in Zumbro Township. In- 1894 he bought the home farm of his wife's father in Zumbro Township, four miles southwest of Hammond, where he successfully carried on general agriculture until 1916. He then rented the farm to a tenant and moved to Hammond village, where he now has charge of the Standard Oil station. His public service has been varied. He was a mem- ber of the Zumbro Town Board 13 years, being chairman for nine years; was township treasurer one year, and trustee of the village board two years. For twenty years he has belonged to the fraternal order of Woodmen. Mr. Olson was married in August, 1883, at Hammond, Minn., to Dora A. York, daughter of Edward M. and Mary (Sinclair) York, her parents being natives of Maine and pioneer settlers of Wabasha County, Minnesota. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Olson, one of whom, Iva Belle, died in 1885. The other is a son, Cleve, now living on the old home farm, who married Mary Paine, of Wabasha, and has a son named James H.


Emil A. Becker, one of the leading business men of Elgin, proprietor of an up-to-date furniture store, undertaker and music dealer, was born at Charles City, Iowa, June 12, 1882, son of Herman and Anna (Lippe) Becker. He ac- quired his education in the public schools of Charles City and of Elgin, Minn., to which latter place he came with his parents when 12 years old. At the age of 15 he began his business career as clerk in a store in Elgin, and was thus occupied until 1909. He then went to Appleton, Minn., where he became sales manager in the furniture and undertaking department of the Leader Depart- ment Store, holding that position subsequently for five years. With the experi- ence thus gained, he returned in 1914 to Elgin and purchased the furniture and undertaking business of his father, which he has since conducted with a grati- fying measure of success, his stock being large and complete. He is also a


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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY


partner with his brother, Arthur E., in the Becker Bros. Music Co., having stores at Elgin and Plainview, he attending to the Elgin branch of the business while his brother looks after that at Plainview. In 1908 he took a course of embalming at the Johnston School of Embalming in Philadelphia. One of the progressive men of the village, he is interested in whatever concerns its pros- perity and advancement and is regarded as a reliable and whole-souled citizen. His fraternal society affiliations are with the Masons, Modern Woodmen of America and the Modern Brotherhood of America. Mr. Becker was married June 20, 1906, to Myrtle Connery, who was born in North Dakota, November 20, 1887, daughter of Thomas and Emma (Behrns) Connery. Two children have blessed their union: Arthur, born June 3, 1907, and Lawrence, born February 19, 1918.


Nicholas Schouweiler, one of the leading business men of Hammond, en- gaged in the sale of lumber and building material, was born in Highland Town- ship, Wabasha County, in 1861, son of John and Anna (Mumper) Schouweiler. The parents were from Germany, coming to the United States about 1860, and taking a homestead of 160 acres in Highland Township, this county, where they resided for the rest of their lives. The father died about 1882 and the mother on July 28, 1918. There were ten children in the family, one of whom died in infancy. The others were Nicholas, John, George, Bartel, Michael, Frank, Anthony, Mary and Katharine. Michael, Frank, Anthony and Kathar- ine are now deceased. Mary is the wife of Nick Brucher. George lives in Highland Township. Bartel is on the home farm in the same township. John resides on a farm in Glasgow Township. Nicholas Schouweiler was reared on his parents' farm, and was educated in the district school and the Wabasha high school, in which latter he was a pupil for one winter. Besides following the ordinary routine of farming, for some time he operated a threshing-ma- chine. In 1888 he came to Hammond and engaged in the hardware business. Later he became a grain buyer, which occupation he followed for twelve years. Then in 1902 he opened a lumber yard in Hammond, of which he is still the proprietor, also handling coal, brick, lime, cement and all kinds of building material. He is also president of the Hammond State Bank, in which he is a stockholder. He has taken a helpful part in local affairs, having formerly served for three years as village clerk, then three years as a member of the village board of trustees, also as a member of the school board and as president of the village, showing efficiency and devotion to the public interests. His reputation as a citizen is among the best, and his success as a business man has proved him an asset to the village. Mr. Schouweiler was married, June 24, 1890, in Highland Township, to Eva Peters, daughter of Adam and Johanna (Leonard) Peters. Her parents, natives of Prussia, arrived in Wabasha County in 1855, among the pioneer settlers of the county, having previously resided for a short time in Michigan and then in Iowa. On coming to Wabasha County, they homesteaded a farm in Glasgow Township, which is now owned by their son John. They had eleven children, of whom seven are now living, namely, Garrett, Katherine, Margaret, Eva, Peter J., Theodore and John. Mr. and Mrs. Schouweiler are the parents of three children: Laura A., Veronica J., and Arthur P. Laura and Veronica are teaching school, the former in Hammond and the latter in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Arthur P. is attending


school in Minneapolis.


Nicholas Brucher, a pioneer merchant of Hammond, where he is still carrying on business, was born in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, January 16, 1851, son of John and Susan (Ley) Brucher. The parents were farmers who spent their lives in their native land, the mother dying in 1869 and the father in 1881. Their family numbered ten children, only three of whom are now living, namely: Mary, still residing in Luxemburg; Elizabeth, a resident of Cashton, Wis., and Nicholas. The others were: John, who died in Kellogg, Minn., in 1916; John (second), who died in Luxemburg; Peter, who died in


W. P. HOLTON


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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY


Paris; Catherine, who died in the United States in 1876; Peter (second), who died in Kansas in 1895; Nicholas (first), who died in Kellogg, Minn., in 1915; and Margaret, who died when young. John, the first son thus named, was a pioneer of Wabasha County, coming here in 1855. He was for many years engaged in farming, finally retiring to Kellogg, where he died, as above men- tioned. Nicholas Brucher in his boyhood attended school in his native land. He subsequently learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed until he engaged in the manufacture of moulding and veneering with his brother, who purchased the business from an uncle. For three years he was thus occupied, after which for several years he again worked at his trade, spending one year in London. In 1870-71 he was in Paris during the siege, and saw and endured many hardships. In 1877 he emigrated to the United States, first locating at Kellogg, Wabasha County, Minn., where he engaged in carpenter work. He came to Hammond in 1879, and in the spring of the following year opened a general store which was practically the first store started here, and since then he has continued in mercantile business and prospered, being known far and wide as a reliable merchant, keeping a good stock and honest in his dealings. He was the first president of the village, an office in which he served for a number of years, and he also served as recorder and a member of the school board. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Brucher was married in 1883, in the town of Highland, Wabasha County, to Mary A. Schouweiler, daughter of John and Anna (Mumper) Schouweiler, who came to this country from Luxemburg about 1860, settling in Highland Town- ship, this county, where they engaged in farming. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schou- weiler are now deceased, and so also are five of their ten children. The others, Nicholas, George, Bartel, John and Mary, are all residing in Wabasha County. Mr. and Mrs. Brucher are the parents of eight children: Anna, wife of A. P. Hilger, of Mazeppa; Nicholas Peter, who resides in Hammond; Edward John, also of Hammond; Lucille, wife of Norton L. Beyer, of Hammond; George H., who is a traveling salesman; Walter M., who is a student in the high school at St. Paul; Charles, attending school in Hammond; and Rosella, who is residing at home.


William Putnam Holton, who for more than thirty years was one of the leading business men of Elgin, proprietor of a large and well equipped drug store, and also handling paints, wall paper and other accessories, was born at Orfordville, Rock County, Wis., February 12, 1854, son of Samuel James and Euphemia Ellen Addie Holton. The father was a native of Ellington, Tolland County, Conn., and the mother of Ireland. William P., who was one of a large family of thirteen children, at the age of seven years accompanied the family to Menomonie, Dunn County, Wis., and attended school there until the spring of 1868. In the following spring, the family having removed to Missouri, he went with his mother to Marysville, Nodaway County, that state. But at the end of one season, not liking Missouri, the family came north, making the trip by team from Marysville to the Thomas Richardson place in Viola Township, Olmsted County, Minn., where they arrived October 12, 1869. The following year the family settled on the farm in Viola Township, southwest of Elgin, which has since been known as the Holton farm, and for two years William worked on farms in the neighborhood. During the winter of 1871 he attended a telegrapher's school at Oberlin, Ohio. On returning home he took means to improve his general education by attending country school and Niles' Select School at Rochester. With this additional mental equipment, he later began teaching, following that occupation in the Woolley district, Viola Township, in 1880; in the Kincaid district in 1881; in Oronoco in 1881-82, and in the Cora district, Viola Township, in 1883-84. In the summer of 1884 he went to Min- neapolis, where for a short time he was engaged in the commission business with his brother Albert, but in December, that year, he came to Wabasha County and went to work in the drug store of Dr. W. T. Adams at Elgin. In


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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY


1888 Mr. Holton bought the store of Dr. Adams, and conducted it with marked success, having built up a large and profitable trade. In 1895 he with Dr. Adams, built the present brick store block for a store and doctors' offices, and he owned the entire building, including the stores and offices. From 1905 to 1914 he served as postmaster of Elgin, and for ten or fifteen years he was sec- retary of the school board. For twenty years he was treasurer of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he was a member. A Free Mason of high degree, he belonged to the Winona Consistory, Scottish Rite. Mr. Holton was married, July 17, 1881, to Frances F. Dickerman, and he and his wife are the parents of four children: Vincent, Ava, Fred and Ezra. Mr. Holton died April 27, 1920.


Vincent Holton, editor and proprietor of the Elgin Monitor, was born in Viola Township, Olmsted County, June 11, 1882, son of William P. and Frances F. (Dickerman) Holton. He acquired his primary education in the public school of Elgin, was graduated from the Elgin high school in the class of 1901, and was subsequently a student for one year in the pharmaceutical department of Minnesota State University. Then returning to Elgin, he entered his father's drug store. In 1905 he became acting postmaster under his father, and so continued until 1914, when he was appointed postmaster by President Taft, and so served until 1916. In 1905 Mr. Holton purchased the Elgin Mon- itor, of which he has since been sole owner and editor. For the past twelve years he has been village recorder and is still serving in that office. He is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge at Elgin, the Winona Consistory, Scottish Rite, and of Osman Temple of the Mystic Shrine, St. Paul. Mr. Holton was married, July 26, 1905, to Lenore Resler, who was born in Elgin, Minn. He and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church and are popular members of Elgin society.


Fred A. Holton, druggist, and a well known and popular resident of Elgin, was born in this village, September 19, 1886, son of William P. and Frances F. (Dickerman) Holton. He was educated in the Elgin public and high schools, graduating from the latter in the class of 1905. He at once entered his father's drug store in Elgin, where he has since continued employed, being now the assistant pharmacist. In the winter of 1909 he took a course at the Drews School of Pharmacy, Minneapolis. He is a member of the Elgin board of edu- cation, and is a Mason, belonging to Winona Consistory, Scottish Rite, and Osman Temple, M. S., at St. Paul. He was married June 23, 1909, to Grace Resler, who was born in Elgin, Minn., Nov. 23, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Holton have one child, Robert Vincent, who was born December 4, 1915. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church.


William Dennison Woodward, a pioneer of Wabasha County, and in his day one of its best known and most prominent citizens, was born in Swanza, New Hampshire, in 1826. He grew up on a farm and received a limited education. Seeking his fortune in the Northwest, he made his way to Wisconsin, and at Trenton, that state, was married in the spring of 1854 to Martha, daughter of David and Abigail (Marsh) Houghton, all of Vermont birth. In the same year he came overland with an ox team from Beaver Dam to Olmsted County, Minn., and settled in Quincy Township. His eldest son, William Henry, was the first white child born in that township. In company with another man, Mr. Wood- ward erected a saw mill on the Whitewater, but in 1856 he sold out his interests and settled in section 33, Elgin Township, Wabasha County, on a 240-acre tract of wild prairie land. His first residence on the land was a small shanty, but he later built a very good house, making all the shingles himself, and in the course of time he acquired an estate of 480 acres, and was a successful farmer. He was a member of the Masonic order, and politically a Republican. His death took place in April, 1870. He left five children: William Henry, now retired and living in Elgin village; David Orlo and Everett E., residents of the state of Washington; Albert Elvin, a druggist in Aberdeen, S. D .; and Mary


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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY


Ellen, who married S. A. Foster and died in 1883. In the fall of 1884 Mrs. Martha Woodward, widow of the subject of this sketch, became the wife of Leonard Knapp, with whom she resided in Dover Township, Olmsted County. She died in September, 1911.


William Henry Woodward, a well known and popular resident of thee vil- lage of Elgin, where he is now living retired, is a man who owes his prosperity to Wabasha County's chief industry, agriculture, in which during his active years he was an adept, having been trained in the pioneer school, and done credit to his training. He was born in Quincy, Olmsted County, Minnesota, August 29, 1855, son of William D. and Martha (Houghton) Woodward, and as a babe accampanied his parents to Elgin Township, Wabasha County, in the following year. On their farm in section 33 he received his initiation into the various branches of the farming business, attending district school in his boyhood days, and generally being provided with more work than play. As he grew older he became of great assistance to his parents, and in 1880 took charge of the home farm. Later he bought the interests of the heirs and became sole owner. As such he made many valuable improvements on it, erecting a barn, 36 by 80 feet, with full basement,a machine-shed, engine-house and tank-house, and conduct- ing a profitable business as general farmer until 1914, when he retired. He now rents the farm to a tenant and is enjoying a life of leisure and comfort, the reward of his former days of industry. As a citizen interested in local affairs, he rendered service for some time as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.


Mr. Woodward was married November 3, 1880, to Sylvia Moody, who was born in Vermont, January 30, 1855, daughter of Nathaniel and Lydya (Dicker- man) Moody, who also were natives of that state. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Woodward, namely : Iva, December 13, 1881; Clayton, May 2, 1883; Winnifred, July 26, 1885; Ray, July 11, 1887; Madge, August 6, 1889; Maud, August 3, 1893, and Edith, August 8, 1895. Iva, who is now the wife of Guy Evans, and resides on a farm in Olmsted County, has two chil- dren, Mildred and Gertrude. Clayton, who resides at home. Winnifred is the wife of John Donaldson and has two children, Marion and Glenn. Ray married Lena Dubrenz and has three children, William, Harold and Frances. He re- sides on the home farm. Madge, a graduate of the Elgin high school, is a teacher in Montana. Maud, who is the wife of T. U. McMullen, an auto expert of Warner, N. D., has one child, James. Edith, a graduate of the Elgin high school, like her sister Madge, is teaching in Montana.


Charles Tradup, a well known and respected citizen of the village of Elgin, where he is now engaged in light occupation, having retired from the more strenuous business of general farming, was born in Osage, Iowa, April 22, 1858, son of Louis and Anna (Weinrebe) Tradup. The parents were natives of Schleswig, Germany, the father born February 6, 1831. Married in their native province, they came to the United States in 1855, locating at once in Osage, Iowa, where Louis Tradup followed his trade of cabinet maker and carpenter. In 1860 they came to Olmsted County, Minn., taking a farm of 160 acres near. Potsdam, in Farmington Township, and there they spent the rest of their lives, Louis Tradup dying April 12, 1913. Theirs was the life of typical pioneers. Their farm, when they first took possession of it, was all wild prairie land, and it took many years of hard work to develop it into the valuable piece of prop- erty it is today, with a fine residence and an ample set of good buildings. It is now owned and occupied by their son, Henry. All their children were sons, namely: August, John, Charles, Mathias and Henry; all but John are now living.




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