History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 98

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

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self a good citizen, ready to lend his aid and influence to every. project for the good of the community. He has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances and is a man highly esteemed and respected.

Edwin D. Morris, an energetic and thriving farmer of Lake Township, was born in West Albany Township, September 21, 1874, son of John F. and Sarah (Hancock) Morris, who were pioneers of this county. When he was 12 years old his parents removed to Lake Township, and he has since always resided in section 32. In his boyhood he attended district school for a while, and in the fall of 1893 became a student in the Minnesota Agricultural Col- lege, where he was graduated in the spring of 1896. He has always lived on the home farm except for three months which he spent in the state of Wash- ington in 1908. Since his father's retirement in the fall of 1909 he has oper- ated the farm in section 32, and also the old original homestead of 160 acres in section 8, West Albany Township. A practical and scientific farmer, he has made a good record, and is well provided with good modern machinery and other necessary equipment. His operations are conducted on an exten- sive scale, the land under his control amounting to 320 acres, and he prac- tices general farming, making a specialty of breeding Red Poll registered cat- tle. For ten years he has served as clerk of Lake Township, in politics being a Republican. Mr. Morris was married June 16, 1909, to Helen, daughter of Charles and Helen Frost, of Lake City; she was born December 22, 1880, at Central Point. Her parents were early settlers in this county, locating at Lake City. Mrs. Morris attended the Lake City Commercial College, and sub- sequently became a nurse, securing her training at the city and county hos- pital at St. Paul. Both Mr. and Mrs. Morris were reared in the faith of the Episcopal church. Their home has been brightened by the advent of two children : John F., born April 11, 1911, and Jean S. born June 29, 1918.

Ole Olson, who operates a fine farm of 325 acres in section 37, Lake Town- ship, is a man who has risen to his present position by overcoming many ob- stacles through force of will and determination. He was born May 8, 1862, in Sweden, not far from the cities of Landscona and Lund, his parents being Olaf and Eleanor Olson. The father was a poor workman, who, however, owned a small piece of land. He subsequently died in Sweden. The mother was born in Sweden in 1830. She and her husband reared three sons, Ole, Peter and John. John lives in Sweden, but Peter, who, like Ole, came to America, is now a farmer in Lake Township, this county. Ole Olson had to make himself useful at an early age, working as herdsboy during the sum- mers and attending school winters up to the age of 13 years, when he began working out as a farm hand. At 15 he began to learn the blacksmith's trade, but soon gave it up and went back to the farm. For four years he was coach- man for a Mr. Grundtworm, a wealthy Danish land owner, and at 21 entered the employ of another farmer. Every year during this period he had to serve several months in the army, his employer releasing him for that purpose. He remained with the farmer last mentioned for five years and then went back to Mr. Grundtworm as superintendent of his farm, and this time remained with him four and a half years, meanwhile receiving military training in the cavalry. On October 30, 1886, he married Olivia Oakeson, who was born in Sweden, September 20, 1861, daughter of Oke and Johanna Pearson, and who had worked for the same employer as himself. By this time Mr. Olson had resolved to emigrate to the United States, but as he was still of military age, neither the government nor the church would grant him permission. He finally got a permit to accompany his wife to this country on his promise to return. They went to Denmark, and from there to Leith and Glasgow, Scot- land, sailing for America from the latter port May 5, 1887. They had bought tickets in Glasgow for Minneapolis, which city they reached the latter part of May, the ocean voyage having taken 12 days. In Minneapolis Mr. Olson found employment as laborer for the city and with the Rosehill Nursery Co.

EDWIN MORRIS.

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On December 13, 1888, he with his wife and child, came to Wabasha County to work the Spotwood farm in Mt. Pleasant Township for a Mr. Smith of Minne- apolis. He drew but little of his salary, and after two years, his employer becoming financially embarrassed, Mr. Olson bought the farm, machinery and stock to save his earnings. In 1895 he sold the farm and deposited his money in the Merchants Bank of Lake City, which failed and he lost all his money. For 11 years he rented the James Lawrence farm. Then in 1906, he rented the Webster farm in section 27, Lake Township, and also an adjoining farm in section 21, the two together having an area of 325 acres, and he has since been engaged in operating this place, having a first class equipment. For his herds of Shorthorn cattle and Chester-White hogs he has thoroughbred sires. He has 11 work horses and a fine touring car, and as a highly successful general farmer he commands the respect of the community. He was one of the founders and is a member and director of the Farmers' Elevator Co., a member of the Farmers' Shipping Association, and a stockholder in the Se- curity State Bank of Lake City. Mr. Olson's record as an American citizen is equally good. He has served efficiently in various capacities in town office and on the district school board, and during the recent world war took a very active part as township chairman of the committees organized to raise funds, leading his forces over the top in every drive, for which he received honorary tokens of appreciation from his fellow citizens and townspeople. In politics he is a Republican. He is associated as a member with various fraternal or- ders, including the Masons, Odd Fellows, the M. B. A., and the Equitable Fra- ternal Union, his wife also belonging to several. Religiously he was reared a Lutheran, and contributes liberally to the Swedish Lutheran church at Lake City, and all his children were confirmed in that church. They are people of a strong, rugged type, and have reared a large family, having lost only two children in infancy. The following is a brief record of their children: Ellen Marie, born in Minneapolis, July 4, 1888, died in June, 1889. Oscar Leonard, born in Mt. Pleasant Township, December 13, 1889, is now a farmer in Pierce County, Wis. Ernest Julius, born July 1, 1892, was drafted for mil- itary service, June 24, 1918, was sent first to Camp Grant, at Rockford, Ill., then to Camp Meigs, at Washington, D. C., where he received mechanical training. On September 1, 1918, he sailed from Hoboken, N. J., for England on the Steamship Navassa; was a member of the Mobile Laundry Unit, No. 321, Quartermaster's Department; crossed from Southampton, England, to France and was stationed at Beaume, where he served as fireman. He shipped again for the United States June 29, 1919, landed in New York; was sent to Camp Mills, L. I., and from there to Camp Dodge, Ia., where he was discharged July 19, and arrived home July 20. He is now working for the Jewell Nursery Company. John Edwin, born March 5, 1894, is farming in Lake Township. The above mentioned children, except Ellen Marie, were born in Mt. Pleasant Township. The next child, Martin William, was born in West Albany Township, July 3, 1896. He is with the Jewell Nursery. Annie Ellen, born January 22, 1897, is residing at home. Allan Francis, born March 8, 1901, died in June, 1904. James Lester, born March 2, 1904, is attending school. Mr. Olson's mother-in-law, who came alone to this country in 1902, resided with her son Ole until her death on November 25, 1913. Her remains were laid to rest in the Lutheran Cemetery at Lake City.

Samuel Robinson, who was a pioneer settler in Zumbro and Mazeppa Town- ships, where he developed a good farm, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1827, and came to America in 1842, settling first in Sullivan County, New York, where, until 1856, he worked as a farm laborer. He then came west to Will County, Ill., where he remained for about two years, at the end of this time coming to Wabasha County, Minn. There were very few settlers here at the time, but plenty of Indians, and the land was nearly all wild, but a few acres having been broken here and there, where a pioneer had built a little log cabin

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in the wilderness and started to carve out a home. Mr. Robinson himself be- came one of these early home builders, buying 80 acres of wild land from the state in section 36, Zumbro Township (town. 109, range 14). Later he pur- chased and added to his farm 50 acres in section 16, town. 109, range 14, and 10 acres in section 31, town. 109, range 13, these two latter tracts being in what is now Mazeppa Township. Through long continued industry he cleared and improved his place and erected thereon substantial buildings, and this he did through a long period of financial stringency without placing any mortgage or incumbrance on the property. Politically he was a strong Democrat. In 1859, the year following his advent in the county, Mr. Robinson married Eliza- beth Bailey, who was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1831, but who was of Scotch ancestry, as he also was. Their happy married life was terminated by Mr. Robinson's death on October 1, 1900. Mrs. Robinson survived him a num- ber of years, passing away October 18, 1916, at the age of 82. He was reared a Presbyterian, but never affiliated with any church after coming to this country. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were the parents of five children, all born on the farm, namely: Andrew B., born in 1860, who died unmarried June 4, 1882; Thomas, born in 1861, now a retired farmer in Rochester, Minn .; John, born in 1862, a prosperous farmer at Hammond, this county; Robert, born in 1865, now a carpenter in Winona; and Phebe, now Mrs. R. F. Wahler of Winona.

John Robinson, proprietor of one of the largest farms in Zumbro Town- ship, containing 1,070 acres, is engaged extensively in diversified farming and stock raising, being one of the leaders in this line of industry in Wabasha County. He was born in Zumbro Township, October 15, 1862, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Robinson, pioneers of this county, who settled in the township in 1858. Here he attended district school. From the age of 16 to that of 19 he was a pupil in the high school at Rochester, Minn., and afterwards a stu- dent for four years in the University of Minnesota. During a period of seven years he taught school in this county, having to earn the money to pay his ex- penses through college. On leaving the university he returned to the home farm, where he remained until 1887. He then began farming for himself, in the fall of that year buying 80 acres of improved land in Zumbro Township not far from the paternal homestead. The success he attained was extra- ordinary, for in less than eight years, by 1905, he had acquired 1,070 acres all in one tract; and in addition to that, he now owns 160 acres of unbroken lanc in Bowman County, N. D., and 320 acres of wild land timbered with hardwood, of which 160 acres are in Roseau County and 160 in Cass County, Minn. Up to 1896 Mr. Robinson raised principally wheat, but since that time he has done diversified farming, operating the 1,070 acres in Zumbro Township. On this farm he has four complete sets of buildings and a full equipment of teams, tractors, gas engines and tools and implements of modern type. He keeps on an average of 150 head of high grade Durham cattle, and 120 to 150 Poland- China swine, milking 50 cows on his various farms. These facts speak for themselves and show that Mr. Robinson is a man accustomed to do things on a large scale and achieve success. As though this were not enough to keep him occupied, he is also a builder and has worked more or less at that occupation for the past 35 years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Bank of Hammond, also in the Hammond State Bank, of which he is one of the directors, and a stockholder in the Hammond Telephone Co., the Hammond Creamery Co., and the Hammond Co-operative General Store. During the war with Germany he showed both the business ability and his sound American patriotism as mem- ber and chairman of several committees organized for war work, including the Liberty Loan, Red Cross and Y. M. C. A., every one of the drives going "over the top." These drives took in the villages of Zumbro and Hammond, and also Gilford, Hyde Park and Zumbro Townships, the result forming a splendid record that will remain a bright page in local history. A Republican in politics, he has served his township in many offices and from 1901 to 1905 was treasurer

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of Wabasha County. During that time he and his family resided in Wabasha City. Mr. Robinson is fraternally affiliated with the Blue Lodge of Masons (No. 83) at Mazeppa; Hope Chapter, R. A. M., No. 12, of Lake City; Osman Temple, N. M. S., of St. Paul; the lodges of Red Men and Modern Samaritans of Wa- basha, and the Odd Fellows' lodge at Oronoco. He is a supporter of the South Troy M. E. church, of which his wife and elder children are attendants. Mr. Robinson was married April 20, 1888, to Lucie F. Everett, who was born in Zumbro Township September 26, 1869, daughter of George C. and Mary (Arnold) Everett. He and his wife have had nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Marion, born August 3, 1890; Laura Beth, December 21, 1891; Tina Evelyn, February 17, 1893; John Everett, July 19, 1894; Emerson R., July 30, 1899; Lucille Esther, November 18, 1907. Marion, who died March 4, 1917, was the wife of George Youngs, a farmer of Zumbro Township. She left two children, Donald and Joyce, both of whom are living. Laura Beth is now Mrs. Frank Webster of Oronoco Township, and has two chil- dren, Mary Alice and John Arnold. Tina Evelyn is a student in the law de- partment of Minnesota State University. John Everett entered the United States service in the late war as a member of Company H, 9th U. S. Infantry. In the St. Mihiel sector, October 3, 1918, he received five shrapnel wounds, and was in the hospital until November 24, 1918, since which time he has been in Paris on detail duty. Lucille is attending school. Donald Jones, born May 11, 1912, a grandson of Mr. Robinson, is a member of the latter's household.

James Kirkwood, a retired farmer who has recently taken up his residence in Lake City after a successful career in agriculture, was born in County Down, Ireland, son of William and Elizabeth (Cochrane) Kirkwood. The parents were well to do farmers, and had six children, of whom James was the only one to come to the United States. The others are still living in Ireland. James, who was the third born, landed at New York July 9, 1887, and came west to Minne- apolis, where he remained a few weeks. Then coming to Wabasha County, he located in Trout Creek Valley, Pepin Township, and soon after bought 160 acres of land in section 31, of which 120 acres were improved. There was also a small house on the place. On that farm Mr. Kirkwood spent 32 years, engaged in general farming and stock raisng. He bred Shorthorn cattle and Poland- China swine, from 35 to 45 cattle and from 50 to 60 hogs annually, and was also a successful crop raiser. He made some notable improvements on his farm, building a comfortable two-story frame house, consisting of an upright and wing, with other necessary structures, and always maintained a good equipment, including an automobile. For his stock he had registered sires, and his work horses were strong animals, kept in the best of condition. In the fall of 1919 he retired, leasing the farm to his son, William C., and moved to Lake City, where he now resides at 600 Lyon avenue. Mr. Kirkwood was married December 28, 1887, to Anna Hanna, daughter of William and Anna Cochrane of Glasgow Township, where she was born November 26, 1869. Nine children have been born, to Mr. and Mrs. Kirkwood all of whom are now living, namely: Elizabeth, born December 26, 1888, who is now Mrs. Wright of Lake Township and has three children, Donald, Vivian and Billy; George Arthur, who is a mechanic living in Lake City; Lulu May, now Mrs. Harvey Lang of Lake City; William Cochrane, residing at home; Helen Josephine and Howard James, twins, of whom the former is now a trained nurse and the lat- ter residing at home; Jesse, Alexander Nesbit and Anna Dorothy, also at home with their parents. William Cochrane Kirkwood was drafted for serv- ice in the recent war, May 28, 1918, and sent to Camp Lewis, Wash., and thence to Camp Kearney. On August 1, 1918, he started for New York to go over- seas, but was taken sick on the train, and on arriving at New York, was placed in the base hospital on Staten Island, where he remained 11 weeks. He was then sent to Camp Upton, and thence to the Aberdeen proving ground at Aberdeen, Md., where he was discharged December 19, 1918, with the of-

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ficer's report, "never absent from duty on furlough." Mr. Kirkwood and his family are affiliated with the Congregational church in Lake City, and he and his wife are prominent and respected members of the community. While in Ireland he was a member of several fraternal organizations, but has not re- united with them here.

Charles T. Koelmel, who has taken rank among the successful farmers of Greenfield Township, was born in the Village of Wabasha, Wabasha County, Minn., January 8, 1870, son of Nicholas and Mary (Lawinder) Koelmel. The parents came from Germany to the United States in the early forties, landing at New York. After spending some years in the East, they joined the tide of emigration to the Northwest, settling in the Village of Wabasha, where Nich- olas Koelmel worked as a blacksmith for the C. M. & St. P. railway, and con- tinued in that employment for the rest of his active period. He died June 7, 1902. His wife survived him less than two years, passing away May 7, 1904. They were members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Koelmel be- longed fraternally to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Charles T. Koel- mel was educated in the Wabasha schools. After beginning industrial life he worked for the Narrow Gauge railroad until 1893, and then gave his at- tention to farming, for two years renting the Pat. Ryan farm. In 1895 he rented the St. Jacques farm, on which he resided four years. In 1899 he bought 47 acres in section 13, Greenfield Township, built a shanty and began the cultivation of the land, which he continued for nine years at that lo- cality. It was in 1908 that he bought his present farm of 200 acres in sec- tions 13 and 19, Greenfield. Township, on which he has put up a new set of buildings, besides fencing. He follows diversified farming and stock raising and has made satisfactory financial progress. Mr. Koelmel was married May 2, 1893, to Christina Nigg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Nigg, and he and his wife have been the parents of eleven children: Arthur H., born March 18, 1894; Mabel L., November 26, 1895; Clara C., March 18, 1897; Margaret M., November 18, 1898; Nicholas, February 16, 1901; Walter, April 19, 1904; Addie, August 22, 1906; Veronica, October 10, 1908; Esther, January 21, 1910; Pauline, November 27, 1913, and Julius, January 14, 1916. Arthur H. was one of those American youths who fell a sacrifice in the recent world war, though it was a disease and not the enemy's bullets which struck him down. He was drafted July 26, 1918, and became a member of Company D, 54th Pioneer Infantry. On August 29 the same year he sailed for France, where he took part in military operations. He was subsequently attacked by in- fluenza and died October 8, 1918, at Dellville Hospital No. 33, at 8:45 a. m. He was buried in the Orerville Cemetery grave No. 406; his number 4,069,721. It is the intention of his parents to have his remains brought to this country that they may rest in the home cemetery. Of the other children of Mr. and Mrs. Koelmel requiring special mention, Mabel L. is now Mrs. Peid Petroff, and Margaret M., the wife of Louis Mathias. Joseph Nigg, father of Mrs. Koelmel, was a native of Germany and came to the United States in 1843, lo- cating at Dubuque, Ia., where he remained until 1861. He then came to Wabasha Village, Wabasha County, Minn., where he helped to build the first flour mill, and he subsequently worked as a miller until a few years before his death in 1903. An expert at his trade, he patented the "Big Jo" flour and received a gold medal at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 as a flour maker. He was a Mason and he and his wife were members of the Episcopal church. Mrs. Joseph Nigg is now residing with her son Peter in the Village of Wa- basha. There were 11 children in the Nigg family: Christina, Peter, Jacob, Katherine, Mary, John, Elizabeth, Frank, James, Sophia and Joseph. Frank and Joseph are now deceased.

Paul Grass, general contractor, and manufacturer of cement blocks, at Wabasha City, of which place he is a prominent business man, was born in Pepin Township, Wabasha County, September 19, 1869, son of Vincent and

KOELMEL GROUP

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

Anna Grass. The parents were natives of Germany who came to America in 1866, locating in Pepin Township, this county, where they bought a par- tially improved farm of 160 acres. Both died about 1890. They had a fam- ily of seven children: Agnes, deceased, who married Stephen Free, of Pepin; Vincent, who went to Salt Lake City and is now deceased; Mary, deceased, who married Henry Stamschor, of Glasgow Township; Sophia, deceased, who married Clement Freese, of Red River Valley, Minn .; Frank and Christ, of Wabasha, and Paul, the subject of this sketch. Paul Grass was reared on his parents' farm, on which he resided until he was 25 years old. In 1891 he married Anna Lager, daughter of John and Christine Lager, of Pepin Town- ship, and they began domestic life on his parents' farm, which had come into his possession through the death of his parents, he purchasing the interests of the other heirs. In 1894 he sold the farm and moved to Wabasha, where he engaged in cabinet making, an occupation at which he continued for seven years. Then in 1901 he began taking contract work as a carpenter, and so continued to 1910. That year he added cement work to his busness, contract- ing in both lines. Four years later, in 1914, he began the manufacture of cement blocks for building purposes, which branch of his business has so flourished that he has now an extensive factory for the purpose on the west side. He continues general contracting, including all kinds of cement work, and his operations cover a wide territory. He has gained a high reputation as an expert workman, and his honesty and reliability are recognized by his fellow citizens, and have been large factors in his success. In politics Mr. Grass is a Democrat. He and his family are members of St. Felix Cath- olic parish of Wabasha. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Grass are: Vin- cent, Tina, John, Edward, Louis and Henrietta. Vincent and John both served their country in the world war and after returning the former took charge of the carpenter work, and the latter the cement work.

Wesley Kinney, a Civil War veteran residing in Lake City, and who has been engaged in the practice of law in Wabasha County for 54 years, was born at Otselic, Chenango County, N. Y., December 15, 1837, son of Ogden and Huldah (Warner) Kinney. He comes of New England ancestry, and his great grandfather fought and fell at the battle of Bunker Hill. Mr. Kin- ney's parents were farmers, and his preliminary education was obtained in the common school of his neighborhood. Subsequently he attended an acad- emy at Charlotteville, Schoharie County, N. Y., and also one at Franklin, in Delaware County, that state. At the age of 17 he entered the law office of William Murray, Jr., at Delhi, N. Y., where he pursued his law studies for two years, afterwards continuing them in the office of Wait & Barry of Nor- wich, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar at Binghamton, N. Y., May 10, 1860, and the diploma he then received is still in his possession. In May, 1861, Mr. Kinney came to Wabasha County, Minn., locating at Mazeppa, where, during the following winter, he taught the village school. The Civil War was then raging, and, inspired with patriotic enthusiasm, Mr. Kinney enlisted in July, 1862, being commissioned first lieutenant of Company G, Eighth Minnesota Volunteers. He remained in service with that company until it was dis- charged August 1, 1865. During 1863 and 1864 he fought under General Sulley in his western Indian campaign, and then, being ordered south, took part in the battle of Nashville, went by way of Washington to North Caro- lina, and was in engagements and skirmishes under General Schofield while in pursuit of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army through North Carolina, and was present at the surrender of that army at Greensborough, that state. After re- ceiving an honorable discharge, Mr. Kinney returned to Wabasha County and began the practice of law at Mazeppa, where he remained for one year, in the fall of 1866 locating in Lake City. Here he has since practiced his profes- sion continuously, with the exception of a few years at Mazeppa .. For the last 33 years he has been city attorney of Lake City. While residing in Ma-

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 98

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