History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 84

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

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M. Frank Gillooly, proprietor of the old Curtis Bryant farm on the out- skirts of Elgin Village, which he is now operating, is a man who has had a wide and varied experience in the West and Southwest as stage driver, cowboy and ranchman in the days when those callings were surrounded by the halo of ro- mance, and not unassociated with danger. He was born at Dewitt, Ia., August

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15, 1859, son of Malachi and Margaret (Keefe) Gillooly. The father was born in Ireland and on coming to America settled in New Orleans, where for nine years he was a member of the police force. There he married Margaret Keefe, who was a native of that city. After their marriage they migrated north and located on a homestead in Clinton County, Ia., where they spent the rest of their lives engaged in agriculture. They had a family of ten children : John, James, Patrick, Katherine, Julia, Mary Ann, Margaret, Theresa, M. Frank and Sarah Jane, of whom those now living are James, Patrick, Katherine and M. Frank. Mr. Gillooly died September 24, 1893, aged 86 years, and Mrs. Gillooly died July 31, 1895, aged 76. M. Frank Gillooly was educated in the public schools of Dewitt, Clinton County, Ia. He remained on his parents' farm until reach- ing the age of 19 years, and then went to St. Louis, Mo., and from there to San Antonio, Tex., where he spent a year and a half, in 1879 and 1880, driving a stage between San Antonio and El Paso. After that he went to Ogalalla, Neb., where he was engaged to drive a herd of cattle to Dodge City, Kan. This herd consisted of 4,500 head, and the trip took three months. Mr. Gillooly then came up the river to Winona, and from there to Elgin, Wabasha County, this being in the spring of 1881. In the following spring he went to South Dakota and took land on which he farmed for 14 years, when he sold out. In the meanwhile he had married, and now, in 1897, with the two older children, he drove overland to Wabasha County and rented the Curtis Bryant farm, belong- ing to his wife's parents, and situated .close to Elgin. Village, and joined his wife who had preceded him. The farm contained 80 acres, and there he and his family remained for four years. After that he spent four years in Roches- ter, Olmsted County. In 1908, with his family, he went to Canada and took land on which he resided a year and a half. Then he sold it and returned to Elgin and again resumed agriculture on the Bryant farm, which has since been his home. He has made valuable improvements on the place, having remodeled the residence, and put in waterworks, electric lights and cement walks. As the land is one of the most desirable building sites in the vicinity of the village, he has laid out a part of it in building lots. Mr. Gillooly is a man possessing much force of character, coupled with enterprise, a desirable addition to any community, and while living in South Dakota served on the village council of Andover. He was married October 10, 1884, at Aberdeen, S. D., to Nellie M. Bryant, who was born in Elgin, Minn., daughter of Curtis and Mary C. (Colby) Bryant. Five children are the issue of this marriage: Mary, born June 19, 1885, married Robert N. French, formerly of Chicago, general sales manager of the Union Match Co., but now of Minneapolis; Walter, born November 8, 1887, who married Pearl Bringgold of West Concord, Minn., and is now with the Western Construction Co. in Idaho; Howard, born March 18, 1892, who served in the world war from June 24, 1918, to November 9, 1919, spent 14 months in France, as did also Lloyd, and is now living at home; Lloyd, born July 3, 1895, who was in the 23d Engineers in the world war, from November 21, 1917, to June 24, 1919; and Leonard, born December 14, 1900. Mr. Gillooly and his family are affiliated religiously with the Methodist Episcopal church.

Nicholas J. Majerus, a Minnesota pioneer and Civil War and Indian War veteran, residing in Mazeppa, was born in Luxembourg, September 29, 1839, son of John and Anna Majerus. The parents, who were natives of Holland, came to the United States in 1847, locating in the town of Sheldon, Wyoming County, N. Y., where until 1865 they were engaged in farming. They then came to Wabasha County, Minn., buying 160 acres of land in Chester Township, on which tract stood a small house and a straw barn. There they made their home and in time developed the place into a good farm. Mrs. Anna Majerus died in 1880, and John Majerus in 1888. They had a family of six children, five sons and one daughter. Those living are Nicholas and John N., both residing in Mazeppa. The deceased are Carlos, Peter, Anna, and one who died in infancy. Nicholas J. Majerus was a boy of eight years when he arrived in New York

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

with his parents. He was reared on their farm in Wyoming County, that state, and remained there until 1860, when he was 21 years old, when he went to Mich- igan. In the fall of that year he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. After a short stay in Michigan, he came west to Minnesota, locating at Red Wing. This was in 1861, about the time of the breaking out of the Civil War. On August 16, 1862, Mr. Majerus enlisted in Company G, Seventh Minnesota Infantry, under Captain Williston. For fourteen months the regiment was em- ployed in fighting the Indians, and saw some lively skirmishing, taking part in the actions at Birch Cooley and Wood Lake. In October, 1863, it joined the Army of the Tennessee, and was active in several hard fought battles, includ- ing those of Tupelo, Miss. (three days), Tallahatchie, Nashville and the Mobile Forts. It was also engaged in the pursuit of Price through Arkansas to Se- dalia, Mo., besides taking part in many skirmishes. At the battle of Nashville Mr. Majerus was wounded, and on August 16, 1865, he received an honorable discharge at Ft. Snelling, Minn. While in the army he had bought 80 acres of land in Belvidere, Goodhue County, but sold this on his discharge, and bought a quarter section in Chester, on which he lived four years. In 1873, after a residence of a year and a half in Lake City, he came to Mazeppa, and in the same year bought a building on the corner of First and Walnut streets, where he engaged in general mercantile business, including the sale of liquors. He carried on that business for a number of years, and became prosperous, ac- quiring a considerable amount of residence and other property, buying and selling real estate as he saw a good opportunity. He erected the first brick building in town, and at one time owned a good share of the village. About 1904 he retired, and has since led a life of ease and leisure, known by everybody and one of the popular citizens of the village. For fifty years Mr. Majerus has been a member of the Masonic order. A number of years ago he also joined the Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, and is now commander of Post No. 150, G. A. R., a Post which death had reduced in membership to four individuals. He has always been a Republican in politics. Mr. Majerus was married, at Bellchester, November 3, 1869, to Anna K. Groff, who, like himself, was a native of Luxembourg, where her parents died when she was ten years old. She was 18 when she came to this country, settling in Goodhue County, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Majerus had four children: Clara, wife of William Smit- sen, connected with the old National Bank, at Spokane, Wash., of which he is vice president; Mary, wife of Floyd Kingsley, a druggist of Mazeppa; Justine, residing at home; and Laura, wife of George Searles, a real estate man of Ma- zeppa. Mrs. Anna K. Majerus died January 1, 1912, and the household affairs are presided over by the daughter Justine.

William Searles. On the morning of Saturday, December 20, 1919, there passed from this life one of the best known and most highly respected pioneer settlers of Wabasha County-a man whose loss was deeply deplored by his family, friends and the entire community. William Searles was born in Bar- ton, Cambridgeshire, England, parents were natives of the same county, where they were married. In 1853 they came to the United States, and in 1856 took a claim in Viola Township, Olmsted County, Minn. After remaining there à few years they removed to Kandiyohi County, this state. In 1877 they re- turned to the home of their son William, where they remained until their death, that of Mrs. Elizabeth Searles in 1878 and Joseph Searles in 1893. They were the parents of seven children: William, Stephen, Mary, Martha, Eliza, Joseph and Elizabeth. William Searles spent the first 22 years of his life in his native land. There he was married, October 21, 1852, to Mary Ann Smith, who was born in Melbourne, Cambridgeshire, England, May 5, 1826. He and his wife, in company with his brother Stephen, set sail for America, landing at New York, after ten or twelve weeks on the water, January 3, 1853. Mr. Searles went first to Troy, N. Y., where he worked in the railroad shops until 1854, then came to Illinois, working in the Illinois Central railroad shops at Amboy

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until 1856, when he decided to come to Minnesota, to which territory a consid- erable stream of emigration had already set in. On his arrival here he pre- empted the farm in Haverhill Township, Olmsted County, now known as the Charles Wolfgram place. Four years later he exchanged it for the farm in Farmington Township, the same county, on which he lived for 40 years, and which he still owned at the time of his death. After settling on the latter farm he became an extensive land owner, and added to the original area of 80 acres until he was the owner of a full section of land. In 1878 he raised as high as 11,000 bushels of grain, of which about two-thirds was wheat. During Mr. Searles' early career as a farmer he was badly handicapped by rheumatism and suffered other trying experiences. In 1883, while driving his team to Roches- ter, he was overtaken by the cyclone which caused such havoc in this vicinity, and one of his horses was killed, he, himself, being thrown from the wagon. In spite of all drawbacks, however, he successfully pursued his vocation until 1901, when he retired and purchased a residence property in the Village of Elgin, which was his home subsequently until his death. During his active career he took a great interest in all public affairs, and served the community as a member of the town board and as a member of the school board for a num- ber of years. He was also interested in the Farmers Elevator Company and the Creamery Association. He was a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, which he joined at Troy, N. Y., and had been a member of the local Masonic lodge since October 1, 1887, serving as one of its earliest masters. He also held the Royal Arch and Knights Templar degrees, being affiliated with the Commandery at Rochester. Mr. Searles enjoyed good health for one of his years until the day previous to his death, when he suffered a slight stroke. From this he soon rallied, but at supper time another attack came on and he re- mained unconscious until his death at 5:30 a. m., on Saturday. He had been a widower for nearly 30 years, his wife having passed away on April 8, 1890. They were the parents of six children: William S., DeWane, Arthur, Anna M., Sidney S. and Helen B., of whom the following is a brief record: William S.,

born December 15, 1853, died June 30, 1896. DeWane, born April 22, 1858, is now postmaster at Elgin, Minn., and is given a separate mention in this volume. Arthur, born September 17, 1860, is now a resident of Farmington Township, Olmsted County, Minn. Anna M., born July 26, 1863, for some time followed the occupation of teaching, but in later years, with her sister Helen, looked after the welfare of the home and together they cared for their father in his declining years. She is associate matron of Vesper Chapter, No. 196, O. E. S. Sidney S., born February 14, 1866, is now living retired at Rochester, Minn. Helen B., born January 26, 1876, is a graduate of the Winona State Normal School, and for 7 years was a very successful teacher. She also filled the posi- tion of superintendent of public schools, both at Eyota and at Byron, Minn., and was a teacher of the piano for several years. She is a member of Vesper Chapter, No. 196, O. E. S., serving as worthy matron in 1916, and for the year 1918 was chairman of the Elgin branch of the Red Cross.

De Wane Searles, postmaster at Elgin, of which place for a number of years he has been a prominent business man, was born in Farmington Town- ship, Olmsted County, Minn., April 22, 1858, son of William and Mary Ann (Smith) Searles. He was educated in the district schools of his neighborhood and in the Elgin public school, and resided on his parents' farm until the win- ter of 1885. He then came to Elgin and for one year was in the employ of Richardson Bros., merchants. On September 12, 1886, he bought a half interest in the hardware business from E. O. Ordway, becoming a partner with J. W. Bryant under the firm name of Searles & Bryant. At the end of one year Mr. Bryant sold his interests to T. W. Mathieson and the style of the concern was changed to Searles & Mathieson. As such it remained for two years, and then Mr. Searles became sole owner of the business, which he conducted alone for three years. At the end of that time he sold a half interest to J. D. Siem,

EMIL J. SELL AND FAMILY

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Jr., who was his partner until 1907. During the next eight years Mr. Searles was expert and salesman for the International Harvester Co., with headquar- ters at Elgin. In 1915 he was appointed by President Wilson as postmaster of Elgin, the office then being of the fourth class. In 1916 he was appointed for a period of four years and the post office was raised to a third class office. In this position he is still serving, having proved a very popular official. For several years Mr. Searles was a member of the village council, for two terms acting as president. He also served several years as village treasurer, and in every position has shown himself a capable man of business with a keen eye to the public interest. He is a member of Elgin Lodge, No. 115, A. F. & A. M., and of the Scottish Rite lodge at Winona. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Searles was married January, 1884, to Susan Selina Richardson, who was born in Elgin Township, March 11, 1862, and who died July 20, 1916. After her student days she followed teaching for three years, two years in Viola and one in Elgin Village, teaching the primary department the first year after the present school building was erected, after the cyclone in 1883. From young womanhood she had taken an active interest in all the affairs of the town, social and public welfare alike. In religious belief she was a Universalist, although she never united with any church, as there was no Universalist organization here. She was an active worker in the M. E. Ladies' Aid and the Ladies' Ceme- tery Association. A charter member of the order of the Eastern Star, she held the highest office to which her associates could elect her, that of Worthy Matron, in 1912, and always had been an active member. She had always been interested in the progress of the schools, and even during her last illness she followed the agitation of a bond issue for a new school building with great interest and was highly elated at the result. While she had been in poor health for at least ten years before her death, she had until July 4, two weeks before her death, been able to be about and attend to her household duties. A severe cold, which developed into pneumonia, led to the fatal termination, and she passed away deeply mourned by her family and a wide circle of friends.

Emil J. Sell, a prominent representative of the agricultural interests of Elgin Township, was born March 25, 1872, in the town of Hillsdale, Winona County, son of August and Albertina (Gaulke) Sell. The father was a native of Prussia, Germany, born January 5, 1836. He came to America in 1867, locat- ing first in Michigan, in which state he worked for two years in saw mills. Then coming to Hillsdale Township, Winona County, Minn., he bought 160 acres in section 21, and was there engaged in farming until his death, June 11, 1906. His wife, who, like himself, was a native of Germany, died May 19, 1900. Emil J. Sell was educated in the district schools of Hillsdale Township, Winona County. He worked on his father's farm there until 1894, in which year he bought the farm, and also another, of 80 acres, in section 21, making 240 acres in all. His improvements on the place included the erection of two basement barns and other outbuildings, and he carried on a successful business in gen- eral farming and stock raising. In 1909 he sold his fine place and bought 160 acres in sections 26 and 35, Elgin Township. In 1916 he bought 80 acres in section 35, and in 1917, 80 acres in section 34, making a total of 320 acres. He also erected a new set of buildings, in 1909 building a house and barn, in 1910 a granary, and in 1916 another barn. He is operating the entire farm, breed- ing Shorthorn cattle and Duroc swine, with full-blooded sires at the head of his herds. Mr. Sell is president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Elgin, and also president and manager of the Elgin Live Stock Shipping Association. He is one of the strong business factors in this community and has for years exercised a beneficial influence on the progress and development of Elgin Vil- lage and township. While living in Winona County, he was one of the organ- izers and builders of the Stockton creamery, and served as its president. He also served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Hillsdale Township, and served as justice of the peace. On February 12, 1895, Mr. Sell was united

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in marriage with Augusta Hanson. He and his wife are the parents of six children, who were born as follows: Albertina A., December 14, 1895; Emil A., August 12, 1897; August J., April 6, 1900; Ida A., August 17, 1903; Bertha L., September 17, 1906; and Emma A., December 2, 1911, all of whom are living at home. The family are affiliated with the German Lutheran church.

Michael O. Kemp, an early merchant of Lake City, and founder of the general mercantile firm now known as Kemp & Roschen, was born in Tiffin, Ohio, October 18, 1850, son of Frank and Clara (Krell) Kemp, natives of Belgium. Frank Kemp died when his son was a small boy, and the widow later married John B. Connelly, who brought her west, leaving young Michael O. living with friends to attend school. Michael O. came west at the age of 13 and received his first mercantile experience while clerking in stores in Galena, Ill., and Bellevue, Iowa. Subsequently, with his mother and step- father, he came to Brownsville, in Houston County, this state, where he like- wise secured employment in a general store. It was in 1869 that he came to this county, and started work in a store at Wabasha. From there he came to Lake City as a clerk in the store owned by J. C. Stout, located at the corner of Center and Washington Streets, on the present site of the Dwelle Telephone Exchange. In 1877 the firm of Kemp & Schmidt, general merchants, was formed, consisting of the subject of this sketch, and Henry Schmidt, who had previously been conducting a bakery. The young men were on their way to prosperity and success, when their store was wiped out by the great fire of 1882, entailing a loss over insurance of some $2,800. But in a few days the firm opened in temporary quarters, and in the fall moved to Center street, into the space now occupied by the grocery department of Kemp & Roschen. The business continued to grow in size and importance. In 1885, Mr. Kemp bought out the Schmidt interests and became sole owner. In 1890 he bought the building. In 1898 his son, Francis H., became an active clerk for his father. In 1902 Mr. Kemp retired from some of the more strenuous responsibilities of the business. At that time John Roschen, a former clerk, was taken into the business and the firm name became Kemp, Roschen & Co. In 1914 Michael O. Kemp withdrew and the firm assumed its present name of Kemp & Roschen. Since then Mr. Kemp has resided quietly at his pleasant home at 504 South High street, not actively participating in business, but still giving his friends the benefit of his experience and advice. Busy though he has been with his business affairs, he has found time for considerable useful public service. An active participant in municipal life, he has been city clerk four years, city treasurer eight years, alderman six years, and mayor for three years. A Dem- ocrat in politics, he has been prominent in the councils of that party, especially in the old convention and primary days. His religious affiliation is with the St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, of which he is now treasurer. Mr. Kemp was married in 1875 to Anna Hosch, of Dubuque, Iowa, who died in 1887. She was the mother of three children: Francis H., born June 3, 1876, a Lake City merchant; Clara, born September 21, 1878, and died September 5, 1893; and John, born December 15, 1880, and died February 28, 1918. Mr. Kemp was married May 1, 1889, to Elizabeth Krell, a girlhood playmate of Tiffin, Ohio. This union has been blessed with three children: Louis Otto, Mary Agnes and Corrine. Louis Otto was born June 4, 1894, passed through the graded and high schools of Lake City, and graduated in pharmacy from the Drew School of Pharmacy at Minneapoils, and is now engaged in the drug business at Springfield, Minn. He is a veteran of the World War. Mary Agnes was born August 15, 1897, passed through the graded and high schools of Lake City, and graduated from the Northwestern Conservatory of Music at Min- neapolis. Corrine was born February 11, 1890, and died February 19, 1893. Irma Krell, who is also a member of the family, is the daughter of Mrs. Kemp by her marriage to John Krell. Miss Krell passed through the graded and high schools of Lake City and graduated from the Winona State Normal School,

MR. AND MRS. BAKER HARRISON.

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and before her marriage was a successful teacher. She is now the wife of William H. McGraw, and resides at Bismarck, where Mr. McGraw is employed by the Highway Commissioners as civil engineer.

Francis H. Kemp, a prosperous business man of Lake City, senior member of the firm of Kemp & Roschen, general merchants of Lake City, was born in the city where he still lives, June 3, 1876, son of Michael H. and Anna (Hosch) Kemp. He passed through the graded schools of Lake City and graduated from the Lake City high school in 1894. As a boy he helped in his father's store during his spare moments and during vacation time, and upon graduation he became associated with his father as clerk, and in 1902 at the reorganization of the firm he became senior partner in the company of Kemp, Roschen & Co., which since 1914 has been Kemp & Roschen. The company does a large busi- ness, and handles dry goods, men's and women's furnishings, groceries, crock- ery, flour, produce and provisions. In addition to building up a successful busi- ness, Mr. Kemp has been active in civic, fraternal and social affairs. In politics he is an independent Democrat. Since 1907 he has been clerk of the Lake City Board of Education, and in this capacity has done most efficient work. When the Knights of Columbus were organized at Wabasha he became a charter member, and later he helped to organize the Lake City Council, of which he is now the Grand Knight. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Red Men at Lake City. Mr. Kemp was married January 26, 1905, to Esther Walch, who was born in Detroit, Mich., March 25, 1880, daughter of Nicholas and Margaret Walch of that city. This union has been blessed with three children: Paul G., born March 11, 1907; William J., born February 9, 1912; and Margaret E., born January 26, 1916. The family home is a pleasant residence at 217 South Oak street. Mr. Kemp and his family are members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church.

Baker Harrison, a former resident of Lake Township, where for a number of years he was profitably engaged in agricultural pursuits, was a pioneer settler in Minnesota. He was born in Kalamazoo County, Mich., September 4, 1841, son of Stillwell and Myra Harrison, the parents being of old Kentucky stock. With them, he came to Minnesota in 1854, locating at Central Point, Goodhue County, where his father conducted a hotel. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, in Company G, Eighth Minnesota Volunteers, and was in the army three years. Returning to this region at the close of his military service, he took a homestead at Wells Creek, near Frontenac, Goodhue County. To that farm he brought his bride, being married July 4, 1871, to Mary, daugh- ter of Tillinghast and Laura Merrill, of Lake Township. There they lived three years, and then Mr. Harrison sold out, and bought the farm of his wife's parents, in section 6, Lake Township, which he conducted for a number of years, dying there on June 23, 1891, when in his 52nd year. His experience in the army had undermined his health, for he was never very strong after- wards. His wife, who was born in Otsego County, New York, February 12, 1851, came to this section with her parents when about four years old. She is still living, and a woman of bright intellectual faculties, though now has almost lost her sight. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison had two children: Charles B., born October 7, 1875, now residing in section 6, Lake Township; and Laura, born June 9, 1872, who died in infancy.

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 84

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