History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 91

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

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Bratine Collier, a pioneer of Wabasha County, was a native of Illinois, in, which state he grew to manhood and was married. With his wife Collisa he came to Minnesota in 1856, during the early rush of emigration to this state, then a territory, and settled in Cook's Valley, Greenfield Township, where he took land and engaged in farming. His original trade was that of cooper, but

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

at that time he had no opportunity to follow it here. Neither did he continue farming very long, for after a few years he engaged in the manufacture of brick at Kellogg and was occupied subsequently until his death in June, 1877. While the Civil War was in progress he served one year as private in a Min- nesota regiment. His wife survived him many years, dying June 5, 1907. They had three children: Lizzie, who married E. J. Gage, lives in Minneapolis, and has two sons; Ada, who married C. H. Coleman, resides in Centralia, Wash., and has two children; and William D., proprietor of a blacksmith shop in Kellogg, Minn.

William D. Collier, who is conducting a successful business as blacksmith in the village of Kellogg, and has also other business interests, was born in Cook's Valley, Greenfield Township, this county, August 4, 1860, son of Bra- tine and Collisa Collier. His early years were spent on his parents' farm, but while still a boy he accompanied them to Kellogg, where he attended public school until it became necessary for him to help support himself, when he took up any occupation that came handy. At the age of 13 he drove a dump cart on the Milwaukee road while it was in process of construction. When he was 17 he started to learn the trade of blacksmith, which he has followed ever since, having for many years been proprietor of one of the best equipped shops in the county, which he sold in March, 1920, and is now devoting his time to his truck farm in Kellogg, and is a stockholder in the Telephone Company. As a public spirited citizen he has taken some part in governmental affairs, having served as a member of the village board, and being now in his second term as president of the village, and at one time was acting marshal of Kellogg. For six years he has been president of School District No. 31. He belongs to the Order of Samaritans, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Collier was married, November 9, 1886, to Augusta Weinberg, of Cook's Valley, daugh- ter of Henry and Anna Weinberg. Her parents, natives of Hanover, Germany, settled in Greenfield Township, this county, in 1856, and were farmers there for the rest of their lives. The father died September 28, 1907, but the mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Collier have four children: Edward, George, Edith and Chester. Edward married Mary McGraw, of Kellogg, and is now farming in Greenfield Township. George, who lives in Minneapolis, took an active part in the recent World War, serving as sergeant in the 54th Pioneer Infantry, in France. He was 47 days on the front lines in the Argonne Forest and helped to smash the Hamberg line. He is now treasurer of the Hudson Manufacturing Co., of Minneapolis. Edith is bookkeeper in the store of Kenans & Lydon, Kellogg. Chester is attending school.

Frederick Fick, one of the hardy pioneer settlers of Wabasha County, who took an active part in its agricultural development, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, April 5, 1820. In his native land he was married to Mary Danck- wart, a native of the same province, born November 19, 1825. They came to the United States in March, 1856, locating first near Joliet, Ill. In June, 1858, they came to Wabasha County, Minnesota, and settled on 80 acres of wild land in section 10, West Albany Township, where Mr. Fick put up a little shack to house himself, his wife, and their infant son, Henry. Early progress was slow, and Mr. Fick had to work out at anything he could find to do to earn a sub- sistence for his family. In harvest time he found work near Red Wing for 50 cents a day, and in the winter of 1858-59 he cut 126 cords of wood on an island in the Mississippi, opposite Reed's Landing, for which he received 50 cents a cord. His sole capital when he reached Wabasha County was $40, but in course of time through unremitting industry and frugality, he became one of the most prosperous men of his locality, and had so increased his land hold- ings that before his death he had given farms to three of his sons and started another in the mercantile business in Lake City. He died June 13, 1903, and his wife on December 28, 1918. They were both reared in the German Lutheran faith, but joined the German M. E. congregation in West Albany Township.

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM FICK

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

Their children were: Henry T., born in Germany, now a prosperous farmer in Polk County, Minn .; William, engaged in farming in West Albany Township; Mary, now Mrs. Gottlieb Moechnig of West Albany; Benjamin C., a retired merchant of Lake City; and Edward L., residing in West Albany.

William Fick, proprietor of a large and excellent farm in section 5, West Albany Township, was born in this township June 24, 1860, son of Frederick and Mary (Danckwart) Fick. As a boy he attended the district school up to the age of 15, and remained with his parents until 1883. On November 28, that year, he was united in marriage with Christina, daughter of Christian and Dorothy Prueter, of Lake Township, and he then began farming for himself on a farm of his father's in section 10, West Albany Township, where he re- mained until 1897. In that year he bought 200 acres in sections 5 and 8, West Albany, known as the James Wheelan farm. There was a poor set of buildings, to replace which he has built a modern, two-story, ten-room house; a frame barn, 36 by 76 by 16 feet, with full basement of 9 feet; a "young stock" barn, 24 by 30 by 10; a granary, 20 by 36 by 12; machine shed, 16 by 48 by 8, and a wagon shed, garage and pump house. He has also purchased a second farm, of 160 acres, in section 4, West Albany Township, adjoining the home farm, and has in all 360 acres under the plow, all very productive land and well tilled. He is engaged in diversified farming, his place being well stocked with high grade Shorthorn cattle, of which he has a herd of from 50 to 60, including 12 to 15 milch cows. He is also a breeder of Percheron horses, being a member of the Percheron Society of America, and aside from these interests, which are highly developed and profitable, he is a stockholder in the Farmers Ele- vator at Lake City and the Farmers Terminal Packing Co., of Newport, also a member of the local Shipping Association. In short, Mr. Fick is an excellent type of the successful farmer of today, who keeps up with the march of prog- ress and knows how to draw wealth from the soil, whence all wealth, except that derived from the fishing industry, originally springs. He is a man highly respected, a good husband and parent in the home, and a reliable citizen in all things pertaining to the general welfare. To him and his wife five children have been born: Benjamin E., August 4, 1884; William C., March 20, 1886; Harry V., April 3, 1888; Ella J., August 14, 1890; and Albert, July 30, 1894. Benjamin E., who assisted his father on the home farm till 1920, when he pur- chased 160 acres in section 33, Lake Township, and in the fall engaged in farm- ing on his own account, was married September 4, 1912, to Mary Ellen Hud- dleston, of Glasgow Township, and they have one child, Margery Mae, born June 4, 1913. William C., who married Frances C. Cooper, of Central Point, Goodhue County, traveled for the Jewell Nursery Co., of Lake City, until the spring of 1920, when he purchased 67 acres in Central Point and is engaged in farming for himself. Harry V., who was county superintendent for 8 years, is now engaged in the real estate business. Ella J. is the wife of William Grobe, of West Albany Township, and has one child, Ruth. Albert, who assists his father on the farm, married Martha Oak, of Lake City, June 28, 1919. In the fall of 1920 he rented 160 acres from his father in section 4, and engaged in farming on his own account.

John Howe, an early settler in Glasgow Township, where he developed a farm, was born in Prussia, Germany. There he grew to manhood and married Susanna Leison, with whom he came to the United States in 1858. They first located at Dyersville, 28 miles west of Dubuque, Iowa, where they engaged in farming. In 1861 they came to Wabasha County, Minnesota, settling on a homestead of 160 acres in Glasgow Township. There Mr. Howe farmed for ten years, or until his death in 1871. His wife survived him but a few years, passing away in 1876. They had six children: Mary, George, Matthew, Eliza, Peter, John and Jacob. Matthew is now deceased, as also is Mary, who was the wife of John Plein, of Highland, and left five children. After the death of Mrs. Howe, Jacob, the youngest son, came into possession of the farm.

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Peter Howe, president of the State Bank of Kellogg, was born in Germany in 1851, son of John and Susanna (Leison) Howe. He was seven years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States, and the next three years of his life were spent on their farm at Dyersville, Iowa. In 1861 he came with them to Wabasha County and to a farm in Glasgow Township, where he pro- ceeded to make himself busy as soon as he was old enough to be useful. This early industry was a matter of necessity, as the farm supplied an abundance of work for every able-bodied member of the family, so that Peter was able to attend school but one summer. By home study, however, as he found oppor- tunity during the passing years, he largely supplied the defects in his educa- tion and acquired a respectable knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic, and to some extent of other subjects, being a quick learner. In 1874, three years after the death of his father, and two years before that of his mother, he purchased a farm of his own, of 150 acres, in the town of Greenfield, where he was engaged in general agriculture until November, 1909, or for a period of 35 years. During that time he proved himself a capable farmer and made good financial progress, so that at the time last mentioned he was able to retire and take up his residence in Kellogg. It was in 1909 that the private bank at Kellogg, established in 1905 by C. C. Hirschey, Linn Whitmore and John Cos- tello, became a state bank, with Mr. Howe as one of its stockholders, and in 1913 Mr. Howe was elected its president, which office he has since retained. In 1910 he was elected trustee of the village and served one year; was again elected, and for 3 years he was village trustee, and for 3 years he was a mem- ber of the town board of supervisors, serving one year as chairman. In these various positions, official or otherwise, Mr. Howe has shown himself a capable man of affairs, and stands high as a citizen. He is a Catholic in religion and belongs to the Knights of Columbus. In 1874 Mr. Howe was married at Wa- basha, Minn., to Otilla Baker, daughter of John and Anna (Miller) Baker, her parents being natives of Germany, where they spent their entire lives, both being now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have had seven children, Katie, John, Lizzie, Mary, Celia, William and Susanna, the two last mentioned being de- ceased. Katie married Peter Scheirts, of Helena, Mont., and has two children, Paul and Viola. John married Ruba Parson, of Mankato, resides at Stevens- ville, Mont., and has three children, Warren, John and George. Mary is a school teacher at Stevensville, Mont. Lizzie married Peter Steiner and is living on the old home farm. Celia is the wife of Linn Pheilsticker, of Wa- basha, and has one child, Kendall.

Fred H. Dose, of Section 20, Mt. Pleasant Township, is a prosperous repre- sentative of the agricultural class which has had the chief part in developing the resources of Wabasha County. He was born on his present farm, July 27, 1890, son of Fred and Margaret Dose, and this place has always been his home. In his boyhood he attended district school to the age of 15, and was trained by his father to agricultural pursuits. In 1910 he rented the farm, and operated it under rental for some time, buying it in 1917. Its area is 160 acres, of which 120 are under the plow. The buildings include a good, two- story frame house, with an adequate barn and other necessary structures. Mr. Dose follows general farming with profitable results, keeping high grade cattle and grade Chester-White swine. He makes a specialty of raising "baby beef," for which he finds a ready market at good prices. To improve his stock he keeps blooded sires for his herds, and in the management of his farm shows a practical knowledge that makes for success. Politically he was formerly a Republican, but has since joined the Non-Partisan League. In March, 1920, Mr. Dose was elected treasurer of Mt. Pleasant Township. He is a member of the Farmers Elevator Co., of Lake City, and of the Farmers Shipping Associa- tion, and the Oak Center Creamery in Gillford Township. Mr. Dose was mar- ried September 12, 1912, to Emma Wiebusch, who was born November 24, 1892, daughter of John and Anna Wiebusch, of Goodhue County. Their home circle

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has been broadened by the birth of two children: Velma, on April 16, 1915, and Rubie, on June 12, 1918. Mr. Dose was reared in the Lutheran faith and he and his family are members of St. John's Lutheran congregation at Lake City.

Holsey Asaph Knowlton was for many years considered one of the best citizens of Plainview and vicinity. He was admired for his business intelli- gence and honesty, and had a wide acquaintance and many friends in the com- munity he had aided in advancing. During his long life here, he promoted the public interests of the village in various ways and was always found on the side of right and progress. He was born September 12, 1844, at South Stukely, Quebec, Canada, the son of Ezekiel and Mary (Bryant) Knowlton. He was reared and educated in his native town, and came to Plainview in 1866, his father and mother having died in Canada. For a time he farmed north of the village; then, in 1887, he bought 80 acres in section 19, which he farmed until 1909, when he moved to the village and established a home on High Street. These brief facts, however, do not reveal the real worth of the man, or the real work he did in the community. While working hard and achieving success for himself he was ever mindful of the interests of others, and his influence was wide extended. Mr. Knowlton was married October 4, 1870, to Delia Smith, daughter of Abner and Alzina (Montel) Smith. To Mr. and Mrs. Knowl- ton two children were born: Asa O., who lives on the home place which his father acquired so many years ago, and Ella D., who died in 1897. Mr. Knowl- ton died in February, 1919, his wife surviving him lives in the village of Plain- view. Her parents also came from Canada to Minnesota, and settled on a farm in Plainview Township. They are both now deceased.

Asa O. Knowlton, proprietor of a good farm in section 19, Plainview Town- ship, was born in this township, September 14, 1877, son of Holsey A. and Delia (Smith) Knowlton. The parents were natives of Canada, who after coming to Minnesota settled on the farm in Plainview Township on which their son Asa now lives. Subsequently they moved to Plainview, where the father did mis- cellaneous work, among other things helping to build the railroad when it came to Plainview. He afterwards traded his home in town for a farm in the town- ship. He took a strong interest in horses, of which he was an excellent judge, and himself bred some good specimens. In course of time he retired and again took up his residence in Plainview, where he died. His wife is still living in the village. They had but two children : Asa O. and Ella D. Asa O. Knowlton was reared on his parents' farm and educated in the public school in Plainview. On the death of his father he fell heir to the farm, containing 81 acres, and has since operated it successfully and with profitable results, raising the usual crops, breeding Guernsey cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, and making a specialty of dairying. He has erected a silo and other buildings, considerably improv- ing the farm, and is vice president of the Plainview Creamery Association. He is also a member of the Old Settlers' Association of Greenwood Prairie, of the Odd Fellows, including the Rebekah lodge, and of the Woodmen and Inde- pendent Order of Foresters. For two years he has served as a member of the school board. In short, he is a man of general activity in most things con- cerned with the material, moral and social interests of his township, and enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. Knowlton was married in 1906 to Jennie Van Horn, daughter of William and Elizabeth Van Horn, of Plainview. He and his wife are the parents of three sons, Archie R., Holsey W. and John C., all of whom are attending school. Mrs. Knowlton is a member of the Congregational church.

Mathias Gorman, pioneer, whose career in Wabasha County covered the period of half a century, from 1855 to 1905, was born in Ireland, and came to this country in the early forties. For a number of years the family resided in the East, but in 1855 they joined the stream of emigration to the great North- west. Their destination was St. Paul, Minnesota, and after reaching the Mis-

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

sissippi river they took a boat up stream, but Lake Pepin being obstructed by ice, the boat was unable to proceed further, and the party disembarked on April 20 on Wabasha County soil, and made up their minds to remain here. Others who landed with them were the Lee, McDonough and Leydon families, all of whom settled in this county. Mathias Gorman had been previously mar- ried to Nora King, and was accompanied by his wife and two children. He took land in Greenfield Township, and after he had got his family installed in a small house, and done a little preliminary work on his place, he went to Galena, Ills., for cows and other stock, which he brought by boat to Wabasha, and thence overland to his farm. With this stock and their somewhat scanty household effects, they began the work of developing the land and establishing a comfortable home, a task in which, Mr. Gorman finally succeeded. His wife Nora was not long spared to him, dying in 1860, and he subsequently remarried. By his first marriage he had five children: Mary and Sarah, who were born in the East; John J., residing in Lake City; Richard and Mathias, Jr. Sarah and Richard are now deceased. Mary is the widow of Earl Howley. Mathias Gorman, Sr., continued active farm work until 1886, when he retired. He had accumulated over 400 acres, and was a prosperous and respected citizen, whose death on February 4, 1905, was deeply deplored.

John J. Gorman, now living retired in Lake City after a long and success- ful farming career, was born in Greenfield Township, Wabasha County, Minn., August 14, 1856, son of Mathias and Nora (King) Gorman. At the time of his birth his parents had been located on their farm but a year and four months, and the surrounding conditions were those of a pioneer community, with few white settlers, and but little land developed. As he grew up he assisted his father to improve the place, his waking hours being spent chiefly in work, as he had but little chance for schooling, though the first school in the district was held in his father's original claim shanty. In time he engaged in farming on his own account, acquiring a farm of 320 acres in Greenfield Township, of which he had 200 acres under the plow, the rest being in timber and pasture. He also erected a good set of buildings. His agricultural operations were con- tinued until the fall of 1919, when, on account of failing health, he sold the farm, and moved to Lake City, where he has since lived retired, owning and occupying a comfortable residence at No. 911 North Oak street. During his active career Mr. Gorman served his township twelve years as chairman of the town board, and was assessor eight years. He also served several years as school clerk, and was president of the Kellogg school board. In politics he has always been a Democrat. On July 3, 1883, Mr. Gorman was united in mar- riage with Mary E. Calhoun, daughter of Lawrence and Mary (McDonough) Calhoun. She was born at Reed's Landing, Wabasha County, August 9, 1859, her mother having been one of the party which landed there in April, 1855, at the same time as the Gormans. Subsequently for some time before her mar- riage she was a teacher in Wabasha. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John J. Gorman : Mathew E., Lawrence, Mary C., Margaret, John K., Robert R., and Ruth C. Mathew E., who was a steel worker, met his death by accident at Detroit, Mich., March 28, 1916. Lawrence, who is a railroad en- gineer residing at Clarion, Iowa, served in the recent war with Germany as a member of Company C, 13th Engineer Corps. He entered the service the second day after the United States declared war, and his company was the first to carry foreign colors in England. It was also the first to take part in the fighting at Verdun, August 16, 1917. It left Marseilles, France, for home April 16, 1919. Mary, who graduated from the Kellogg High and the Winona State Normal School, followed teaching for eight years in Wabasha County, is now Mrs. P. E. Waller, of Braham, Minnesota. Margaret Gorman, who is a graduate of the Kellogg High School and the Winona Normal School, is now a teacher. John K. Gorman, like his brother Lawrence, also served in the late war, and gave up his life for the cause of democracy and freedom from military

JOHN KING GORMAN

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

oppression, though not in battle. He was a member of Company K, 54th Pi- oneer Infantry, and went out from Duluth, as he was the owner of a claim in Beltrami County. He worked with the Engineer Corps, and saw active service in the fighting around Verdun, being under shell fire much of the time. He came out of the ordeal unscathed but took sick and died in the hospital, April 12, 1919, being buried in Coblenz. His remains were brought back home in the spring of 1920, and buried in the family lot. Robert R. Gorman, who is a farmer at Roseberg, Ore., is another war hero. He made three efforts to enlist in the West, but was rejected, being finally placed, however, in an emergency fleet there. Being determined to see active service, he came home and suc- ceeded in becoming a member of Battery B, 332d Field Artillery, training at Camp Robinson, Wisconsin. He reached Bordeaux, France, September 1, 1918, and being one of 400 selected to join the Army of Occupation, marched from Bordeaux to the Rhine. He reached home August 28, 1919. Ruth Gorman is a student and is residing at home. It will thus be seen that all Mr. Gorman's surviving sons served their country patriotically in the recent great war, from which one never returned-a fine record, of which the family may well be proud. Their religious faith is that of the Catholic church, attending the parish at Lake City.

George H. Deming, of Oakwood Township, was born on the farm on which he now lives, in section 25, on June 4, 1896, son of Frank and Margaret (Knoll) Deming. He acquired his education in the rural school of his district, and at home took up the occupation of farming, with which he soon became thoroughly conversant. In the fall of 1919 he rented his father's farm of 120 acres in sec- tion 25, on which he is now following general diversified farming and stock raising, keeping Shorthorn cattle of good grade and Chester-White swine. He is a member of the Plainview Co-operative Creamery Association and of the local Shipping Association. He is a veteran of the World's War, having served from June 24, 1918, to July 16, 1919, eight months of the time being spent over- seas. Mr. Deming was married November 25, 1919, to Lydia Holland, of Wa- topa Township. She was born April 4, 1895, daughter of John and Mary (Lamey) Holland, who were early settlers in that township. Mr. and Mrs. Deming are members of the Catholic church.

Michael J. McGrath, one of the pioneers of Oakwood Township, was a native of Ireland who came to the United States about 1856, locating in the Lake Superior mining district, where for a short time he worked in the mines. He was there married to Ellen Nolan, also a native of Ireland, who had come to this country about the same time as himself. In 1857 they came to Wabasha County, Minnesota, taking 160 acres of land in Oakwood Township. After awhile Mr. McGrath bought another tract of 160 acres adjoining his original farm, which gave him a land area of 320 acres. He erected buildings and de- veloped the place and continued general farming there until his death in 1883. His wife survived him until 1904. After the parents' death the property was divided among the children. Of the nine children, there are seven now living : William, Mary, John, Patrick H., Margaret, Michael, and James. The two de- ceased are Matthew and Johanna, both of whom died young. Mary is now the wife of Mike Hollihan, and Margaret the wife of James Murray.

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 91

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