USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources > Part 102
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MILTON D. SMITH was born in Chantauqua county, New York, June 6, 1834. His father, Milo Smith, removed his family to Michigan in 1839, and the following year to St. Joseph county, Indiana. Here Milton had the advantages of a country school, and spent his youth. In the autumn of 1855 he came west in search of a place to build him a new home and fortune. He found the desired spot in a quarter-section of Minnesota fertile lands, viz : the N. W. ֏ of Sec. 35 in the township of Plainview, and hastened back to his old Indiana home to acquaint the lady of his choice, and make arrangements for the removal of his personal effects hither in the spring. January 6, 1856, he was married to Margaret Leininger, daughter of a St. Joseph county farmer, and as soon as spring opened, with his young wife, came to resume possession of his new home. From the first, prosperity attended the life of the young pioneer and his bride. His fortune grew apace, and in 1879 he bought the E. B. Eddy place, one of the finest residences in the neighboring village of Plainview, and removed to town. His broad acres now aggregate seven hundred and twenty, situate on sections 25, 26 and 35, all in the township of Plainview. Mr. Smith has been the recipient of local public honors, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a republican in politics. Six children have been born to him, as follows, viz : Helen (Mrs. F. Leininger), of Plainview ; William H. (in the grocery and cigar business), Plainview ; Martha F. (Mrs. Fred. McArthur), of Ordway, Dakota Territory ; and Harry D., Irving and Bessie, living at home.
FLORENCE SULLIVAN, Mazeppa, was born in Madison county, New York, June 25, 1853, and was but three years old when he came to Minnesota. His education was furnished by the common schools,
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and he remained on the farm till of age. He was married in 1878, to Rachael Woy, born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois. Mrs. Sulli- van's father, Enos Woy, was one of the pioneers of Wabasha county, and now resides at Providence, this state. Mr. Sullivan was engaged in farming till 1881, when he settled in this village. He is a member of Mazeppa lodge, I.O.O.F., and in politics is a demo- crat. He was reared in the Roman Catholic church, but does not now give allegiance to that sect. Two children have been born to him, christened as follows : January 19, 1879, Lillian ; January 17, 1883, Frances. Mr. Sullivan's father, Michael, was born in the Parish of Dinmaer, County Kerry, Ireland, in 1830. When of age he came to New York, and was there married in 1852, to Ann Hogan, a native of County Carlow, Ireland. He settled near Mazeppa in 1856. He subsequently removed to Chester, where he now lives.
ANDREW D. VAN BUREN, farmer, Lake City, is a son of William and Elizabeth Rose Van Buren, and was born at Kingston, Ulster county, New York, in 1820. His parents and grandparents were' also born and buried there. He is a lineal descendant of the same illustrious Holland ancestor as was the statesman Martin Van Buren. Though he disclaims to any honor won for the name by that eminent personage, yet is proud of him as a distant relative. Early in life he learned the trade of blacksmith and followed the same till his removal to Wisconsin in 1854. There he settled on a farm near Madison and engaged in farming till the outbreak of the war of the rebellion, when he enlisted in Co. B, 11tli Wis. Vol. Inf., and served till the close of the war. Soon after the charge on Fort Blakely he was discharged and returned home. In 1869 he removed to Pepin, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm, on which he resided till 1877, when he sold, came to Lake City and purchased his present home near the lower end of Oak street. Besides his resi- dence here he owns a farm in the township of Lake. He was mar- ried in 1841, at Kingston, New York, to Miss Abbie S. Dresser, a native of Stockbridge, Berkshire county, Massachusetts. They have two children, L. Augusta, wife of G. W. Sanford, of Middleton, Wisconsin, and Mary E., wife of James E. Sweet. Mr. Sweet was born in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1844. In 1856 he came with his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin, and in 1866, on April 9, was married to Miss Mary E. Van Buren. In 1868 he removed to Pepin, where he purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural
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pursuits. In 1879 he purchased a pleasant little home on the shore of the beautiful Lake Pepin, near the lower end of Oak street, and has a fair prospect for a pleasant life.
WILLIAM E. REUSCH, merchant, Lake City, was born in Hanover, Germany, June 14, 1845. When he was but nine years old, his father, Joseph Reusch, died, leaving to be reared on a farm by his mother. He received a good common-school education in his native language, to which he has added, by reading and observation, a comprehensive knowledge of the English in this country. He was married February 6, 1870, to Miss Emma F. Miller, who was born in the city of Hamburg, September 8, 1837. She was also left an orphan at the age of four years, by the death of her father, and was raised in Lutheran Protestant hospital. On February 17, 1875, he sailed from the city of Hamburg on board the steamship Pomerania, commanded by Capt. Swenson, for New York, where they arrived on March 2. He came direct to Minnesota, and settled in Frontinac, where he engaged in trade till October, 1876, when he removed to Lake City. Here he opened a grocery store and con- ducted a successful business till the great fire of April, 1882, when his property was consumed, though partially insured. On the 22d of the same month he purchased a two-story brick store, in size 20×82 feet, in block 25, fronting on Center street, and at once put in a stock of groceries and liquors, where he is now doing a fair business. Early in the spring of 1882 he sent to the old country for his brother, Joseph C. Reusch and family, who had arrived and took up quarters with him the night of the fire, thus losing all their household goods, and leaving them destitute of everything but friends in a strange land. Mr. Reusch is a fair dealing man and merits a fair share of the public patronage.
GABRIEL CHALMERS, farmer, is a native of Dumfriesshire, Scot- land, where he was born November 11, 1828. His parents were Gabriel and Margaret (Mundle) Chalmers, to whom were born twelve children, Gabriel being the eleventh. When he was ten years of age he accompanied his parents to Lanark county, Ontario, where he lived with his parents until twenty-one, when he went to Oswego county, New York. Here he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed it there eight years, returned to Canada and pursued his calling until his removal westward. In 1878 he located on the farm in West Albany, which he now occupies, being known since the early settlement of the township as the "Lone Tree " quarter-
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section. He was married July 4, 1853, to Mary Morris, of Somer- setshire. Seven children have been the fruit of this union, four of whom are living : Edward J., John M., Charles H., William H. Mr. and Mrs. Chalmers are Presbyterians. In politics he is repub- lican. He is a prosperons farmer and an intelligent citizen.
EZRA FELLER, the genial proprietor of the only hotel in Plain- view, was born in Duchess county, New York, where he lived until at eleven years of age his parents removed with him to Wayne county, Indiana. In 1860 he went to Oconomowoc, Wankesha county, Wisconsin, and employed his time from 1869 to 1878 at farming. For two years next succeeding he started and ran success- fully the Plainview Livery Stable, which lie removed to its present site in the rear on assuming the position, for which he is so admi- rably adapted, as proprietor of the hotel, which lie purchased of A. Y. Felton, March 1, 1881. The house is quadrangular in form, measures 100×300 feet, and is noted for its scrupulous cleanliness and painstaking, businesslike attention of all interested in its management. Uncle Ez., as Mr. Feller is familiarly called, has had two wives ; the second still living proves an invaluable anxiliary in the inner working of the hotel, and is admired for her particular care in the welfare of her partner, and in his success in business.
JOHN BEHRNS, Millville's enterprising landlord, and agent for the "Plano" reapers and mowers, was born in Germany, in 1830, the third son of Gabriel Behrns. An eighteen-year-old lad, Mr. Behrns spent four years in Chicago as his first struggle with the world. Four years after he left Chicago he came to Wabasha county, and became one of Oakwood's first settlers. About 1870 he founded Bremen. From this time on he was buying, selling and trading in land until 1878, when he came to Millville and started his present hotel. It is nicely situated near the depot, and was one of the ear- liest business places in Millville. In 1882 he took the agency for the "Plano" twine binder. He has always been one of the leading men of the township, and held its principal offices, of which mention is made in the general history. He kept one of Millville's early stores. He has been a member of the Odd-Fellows. He married Lndiwika Koping, a native of Germany, in 1856. They have five children.
A. J. MYERS, agent Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, Mazeppa, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York State, in October, 1851. At two years of age he came west with his parents, to Wis-
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consin, where he lived two years. His parents then moved to the State of Minnesota, stopping for a time at Saratoga, from which place they went to Lake Sheteck, Minnesota. Here they were driven from their home by the Indians, during the Indian outbreak of 1862, and fled for safety to Mankato. Shortly after reaching Mankato, his mother died from the effects of exposure, consequent on their flight from the Indians. This was a sad epoch in the life of young Myers, as his father had lost everything by the Indian out- break, and had no means of providing for his family but his bare hands, and threw him almost wholly on his own resources. He proved equal to the occasion, however, as, though but eleven years of age, he commenced fighting the battle of lite on his own account. For a number of years he made his way by working on farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin. At the age of eighteen years he went to learn the trade of furniture finisher. He then worked at the jewelry business two years, but the confinement not agreeing with his health, he was compelled to quit it. Up to this time of his life his advantages for schooling had been so limited, that they were hardly worthy of note. But he was of that kind not to be kept down, and while working at the jewelry business he devoted his spare time to study and improving his mind by midnight oil. In this way he fitted himself for business, and became so proficient with the pen, that subsequently he taught writing and penmanship several terms. After quitting the jewelry business he engaged in selling sewing machines and organs, and ultimately engaged in the insurance busi- ness, but having married and settled in life, his almost continnal absence from home was unpleasant, and he determined to enter some other field ; accordingly in 1878 he made application for the position he now fills ; but here he was beset with difficulties. He had sufficient education, was a fine penman, but was without experi- ence. He believed, however, he had capacity for the position. In an interview with Mr. Lakey, the superintendent, he frankly stated all these facts, and was accepted. During his first year as agent he learned the art of telegraphing from an operator employed at his expense, since which time he has been independent and competent in every department. Mr. Myers is a member of the Masonic order, and is junior warden of the lodge. In December, 1878, he was married to Miss Minnie E. Buell, of Hyde Park, whose father was one of the earliest settlers of Wabasha county. They have two children, Frederick B. and Arthur L.
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Commercial Hotel, corner of Main and Bailly streets, H. OSWALD, proprietor. This house, the property of Lucas Kuehn, was about one-half its present size when Mr. Oswald took possession, in 1879, with the understanding that it should be immediately enlarged and the whole put in first-class condition. As it now stands, the hotel fronts one hundred and twenty feet on Main street, seventy feet on Bailly, with ample office, billiard room, bar, sample-rooms, kitchen, dining-rooms, parlors and family rooms on the first floor, and well- arranged guest rooms on the second ; of these latter there are thirty-two. The dining-room facing on Bailly street is 30×40 feet, and the table and service such as befit a first-class hotel. The situa- tion of the house is pleasant, at the east end of the principal street of the city, with a charming river view, and such gorgeous sunsets as the sun dips behind the bluffs in the west, as are seldom seen in any land. All the appointments of the house are first-class, and the popularity of the management is evidenced by the fact that the house is always full, and cots a nightly necessity. A good omnibus line runs to all the trains and day-boats, and travelers arriving in the city at any honr find no difficulty in reaching the hotel. The business of the house is thirty per cent in advance of corresponding period of 1882. Mr. Oswald is a native of Saxony ; came to America in 1866, and three years later settled in Duluth, where he was engaged in tobacco manufacture. He was living at Red Wing for three years, before coming to this city, in 1879, to assume charge of the Commercial Hotel. Mr. Oswald married Miss Selma Beckert the year before he left Europe for America. They have but one child living, Brunhilda, born in this city October 5, 1882.
ORLO B. MUNGER, merchant, is a native of Addison county, Vermont, but nearly all his life has been spent in Minnesota. He was born in Orwell, September 28, 1855. His father, J. M. Munger, was a native of the same state, and his mother (Malvina L. Beldin) was born in Johnstown, Wisconsin. In 1857 J. M. Munger settled in Washington county, this state, on a farm. Here this subject was raised, attending the common school till fifteen years old, when he began firing on a railroad engine. Three years later took up mill- wright work. In June, 1881, he was employed on the Mazeppa mill, and again in September, 1882. While here he formed the acquaint- ance of Miss Isabel Taft, to whom he was married December 27, 1881. In March, 1883, he bought an interest in the stove and hard- ware stock here, and is now manager of the business of Taft &
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Munger, his partner being A. J. Taft elsewhere sketched in this work. He has one son, Walter Lawrence, born October 7, 1882. He is a republican, and a member of the Masonic order.
J. T. McGOVERN, county attorney, office on Main street, over Swartz's store. Mr. McGovern is a native of Amboy, Illinois ; from 1873 to 1876 pursued his studies at St. Michael's College, Toronto, Ontario, and also at St. Joseph's College, in Dubuque, Iowa. He read law in the office of Allison (now United States senator from Iowa) & Crane, of Dubuque, and entering the law department of the Iowa State University, graduated from that institution, class of 1880, and was admitted to practice in the circuit court at Dubuque. Mr. McGovern then entered the office of Pollock & McNulty, of that city, to acquire practice in the drafting of instruments and papers, and remaining there until his removal to this city in August, 1881. Here he entered into practice as a member of the law firm of Van Horn & McGovern, which continued until Mr. Van Horn's removal to Da- kota, in 1882. In the fall of 1882 Mr. McGovern was nominated by the democratic county convention as their candidate for county attorney, and duly elected. His term of office expires December 31, 1885.
ED. A. PARADIS, editor and proprietor of the Plainview "News," though not one of the pioneers of Wabasha county, is nevertheless in some respects a pioneer, having done pioneer newspaper work in Illinois in 1870 and in Kansas in 1873. Mr. Paradis was the son of J. B. Paradis, a contractor and builder, whose father was a wealthy landed proprietor and manufacturer of Lacadie, Canada, where he was born on July 6, 1850. The family soon after removed to Kankakee county, Illinois. Ed. being the youngest of the family of thirteen children, was deprived of the educational advantages enjoyed by his brothers, by the financial failure of his father in 1857. At the age of nine he was cast upon the world to earn his own living. This he did by doing farm work at first. At the age of sixteen he adopted his father's trade, that of a carpenter. He soon found employment with the American Bridge Co., of Chicago, and remained with it until 1870, when he joined his brother, J. B. Paradis, in establishing the Momence (Illinois) "Reporter," their capital stock being, all told, forty dollars. This venture was a suc- cess, and in August, 1873, he joined J. S. Paradis, another brother, in a similar enterprise at Clyde, Kansas, where they started the Clyde "Local Reporter." Owing to grasshopper raids success did
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not attend this undertaking, and in April, 1875, with an empty purse, Mr. Paradis found himself an humble compositor in St. Paul. In the fall of 1876 he found himself once more on his feet, and became one 'of the proprietors of the "National," a French and English newspaper. Financial reverses again came upon him, and the following August he came to Plainview. In August, 1878, he became a half owner of the Plainview "News," and bought the remaining half-interest of his partner, H. J. Byron, April 1, 1882, since which time he has continued sole proprietor of the sheet. In religious matters Mr. Paradis may beset down as a Freethinker. He was married to Miss Jennie Hammil in St. Paul, October 9, 1877.
J. P. WASTE, M.D., came to Plainview in September, 1865, from Ohio. Previous to this he served as assistant surgeon in the 193d Ohio Inf. for eight months. After attending two full courses of lectures from 1860-4 at the Michigan University, he graduated at the Cleveland Medical College. Dr. Waste was born at Green- wich, Washington county, New York, February 17, 1837. He received the advantage of an early public school and academic edu- cation. He is a Freemason of high standing, and is also a member of the I.O.O.F., having held the position of noble grand for one term, and financial secretary for two years. During the year 1871-2 he was elected state senator on the republican ticket. He is a member of both state and county medical societies. In 1867 he was married to Miss Helen S. Higgins, of Mayfield, Ohio, who sub- sequently presented him with two sons and two daughters. One son, Willie, is deceased and buried in Plainview Cemetery. The doctor is a gentleman high in the esteem of the community, having for several years officiated as trustee of the Methodist church.
HON. WILLIAM EDWARD WORDING, banker, Plainview, Minne- sota, was born in Castine, Maine, January 21, 1812. In 1836 he graduated from Colby University, and the same year became pro- fessor of Greek and Latin in the Hampton Literary and Theological Institute, which position he occupied till 1841, when he went to South Carolina and accepted the principalship of the Chersaw high school. While residing in Chersaw he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1845, and practiced there for two years. In 1847 he removed to Racine, Wisconsin, and opened a law office. From 1850 to 1862 he was judge of the Racine county court. From 1862 to 1870 Judge Wording was one of the commissioners appointed under the act of congress, approved June 7, 1862, entitled "An act for
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the collection of direct taxes in insurrectionary districts within the United States, and for other purposes"; and under its provisions and the instructions of President Lincoln, dated September 16, 1863, besides selling to soldiers and sailors in the army and navy of the United States, as well as civilians, many tracts and parcels of land, bid in by the United States for the non-payment of the direct taxes assessed upon them under said act, in conjunction with his colleagues, assigned homesteads at the nominal price of one dollar and a half per acre, to twenty-five hundred heads of families of the African race, and set apart a large number of plantations to be rented for the support of schools ; which last-named lands, under a subsequent act of congress, were sold and the proceeds invested in government bonds for the same purpose. The title of the government under the original tax sales of course was contested after the war by the former owners, but the same was finally confirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States. (See case of De Keville vs. Small, 98 U. S. Reports, page 517.) Of course it is not the place here to discuss the policy of these acts, but it may be remarked, nevertheless, that upon the abolition of serfdom in Russia not only was provision made for schools among the serfs, but homestead lands were also assigned them at a low price, and the wisdom of such policy is now apparent in the results : vagrancy is almost actually unknown there. Since July, 1880, Judge Wording has been connected with the Plainview Bank, and has made Plainview his home. His matrimonial life dates from July 17, 1839, when he espoused Catharine Lawrence, of Laconia, New Hampshire.
JOHN P. WAGNER, merchant, was born in Sheldon, Wyoming county, New York, March 8, 1853. His parents, John and Mary Wagner, were born in Belgium and Luxemburg respectively. They settled in Goodhne county, this state, when this subject was but five years old. He was reared on a farm and attended the com- mon schools. In 1880 he engaged as clerk in a general store at Lake City. In the summer of 1883, in partnership with John Weimar, he built and stocked a store at Belle Chester. He is a member of Belle Chester Catholic church, and a democrat. May 22, 1883, he was married to Maggie Tnck, born in New York.
JOHN M. WEIMAR, merchant, has been a resident of Minnesota since he was two years old. His parents, John and Lucy Weimar, now reside at Red Wing, where they located at that time. He was born near Coblentz, Germany, December 4, 1854. His early life
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was spent on a farm near Red Wing, his education being completed by a year at College in Milwaukee. In 1875 be opened a general store, with a partner, at Red Wing ; subsequently spent three years on a farm. In 1883 built a store at Belle Chester in partnership with J. P. Wagner. He was married December 20, 1879, to Josephine Tuck, native of New York, of French descent. They have two sons, born as follows : John N., March 2, 1882 ; Albert, June 15, 1883. All are communicants in Belle Chester Catholic church. Mr. Weimar is a democrat ; was six years clerk of his school district while a resident of Belvidere.
JOHN ASNIER, farmer, was born in Banffshire, October 18, 1835, being the second of four children born to Alexander and Jane Findlay-Asher, both of whom died in Scotland. The elder Asher was a farmer, and our subject lived on the homestead till 1880, when he came with his family to West Albany township, and located on the farm of two hundred acres which he now owns. He was married December 4, 1863, to Margaret Asher, of Aberdeenshire. To this union have been born eleven children, of whom nine are living, viz : Alexander, William L., Isabella J., George W., James I., Margaret A., Mary D. D., Bathia P., Janett W. Mr. Asher is a republican, and, with his wife, belongs to the United Presbyterian church.
F. FERRIS, train dispatcher, and A. A. S. for Chippewa Valley and Wabasha divisions of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- way Company's lines. Mr. Ferris is a native of Elmira, New York, and commenced his work as a railway telegraph operator and agent on the line of the Northern Central, between Baltimore and Elmira, in 1867. He came west in 1870, and was on the line of the North Missouri, now known as the Wabash road. In 1882 he came into Wisconsin, for the purpose of farming on lands owned by him a short distance from the city of Eau Claire, but finding his health insufficient for such work he accepted a situation as assistant in the office of W. R. Sill, of Eau Claire, chief engineer of the Chippeway Valley branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, then in pro- cess of construction. Upon the completion of the road Mr. Ferris came to this city, November, 1882, to accept the position now occupied in the general office of this division of the Chicago, Mil- wankee & St. Paul railway. Mr. Ferris was married September 15, 1876, to Miss Van Buskirk, of Chicago. They have one child, William Emil Ferris, born in this city July 28, 1883.
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