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 103
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REV. PATRICK B. MURRAY, Catholic priest of the Highland church, was born in Ireland in 1823. He received a good primary education in Ireland and emigrated to America in 1844. He after- ward attended several prominent educational institutions both in the United States and Canada. His first mission was at Mackinaw, Michigan, about the year 1855. While stationed here he learned to speak the Indian dialect. Soon after the Mormon settlement on Bea- ver island was broken up he took charge of a Catholic mission on the island and became familiar with the true history of the famous King Strang and the Mormon church at that point. He has also presided over the Sheboygan, Michigan, church, and more recently was pastor of the Kalamazoo Catholic society, in the same state. Owing to ill health, requiring a change of climate, he came to Higli- land in the spring of 1883.
DAVID WALKER, liveryman, Lake City, was born in Montgom- ery county, New York, May 1, 1825. His father, Simon Walker, was a farmer and reared his son to the same industry, affording him the advantages of a few months each winter in a subscription school. Mr. Walker occupied his time in farming in the old Empire State till 1865, when he came to Minnesota and settled on a farm in Goodhue county, which he improved and occupied till 1880, when he sold out and removed to Lake City, and embarked in the livery business in V. R. Lee's, on stand on Washington street. Mr. Walker was married in 1856, to Miss Julia Herrington, of Madison county, New York, and has two children, Hattie, who still resides with her parents, and Nettie, now Mrs. D. H. Williams, residing at Crooks- ton, Minnesota. Mr. Walker is a member of the I.O.O.F., the Encampment and of the Equitable Aid Union. He is one of Lake City's worthy though unassuming citizens.
REV. THOMAS B. KILLIAM, pastor Methodist Episcopal church, Lake City, is a native of the State of Delaware, and was born March 17, 1837. He was educated principally in high schools of Wilming- ton, and licensed to preach in 1859. In 1860 he was admitted to the Philadelphia conference on trial, and in 1864 was ordained elder and received into full connection. He remained in the Philadelphia conference till its division in 1868, when he was assigned to the new created (Wilmington) conference. In 1880 he came west and joined the west Wisconsin conference, and in 1881 was transferred to the Minnesota conference and stationed at Lake City. The Methodist Episcopal church of this city has been on the ascendancy
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during his three years' pastoral charge of the same. He was mar- ried in 1866, to Miss Maria C. Hitch, of Delaware, and has four children, one son and three daughters.
REV. JOHN WESLEY HORNER, pastor Congregational church, Lake City, was born at Lanesville, Harrison county, Indiana, September
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
6, 1852, and is a son of Jacob Horner, a prominent physician. At the age of fifteen he entered the state university at Bloomington, Indiana, where he diligently pursued his preparatory course four years. At the age of twenty-one he entered the Yale Theological
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Seminary, at New Haven, Connecticut, from which he graduated in May, 1876. Ile soon after entered upon his ministerial labors at Bloomfield, Iowa, where he was ordained October 9, 1876. While on this charge he was married to Miss Orpha Morgan, on May 10, 1877, and who died May 27, 1878, while he was in charge of the church at Keosanqua, Iowa. Soon after this sad event in his life ill health compelled him to resign the ministry till the spring of 1880, when he went to Coral, Michigan, and resumed his clerical labors. After two years spent in the work here and Otsego, Michi- gan, he came to Lake City in May, 1882, and so acceptably supplied the pulpit of the Congregational church in this city up till the winter of 1884 that he was unanimously called by his congregation. His second marriage was on September 22, 1881, to Miss Kate Gertrude Clarke, a daughter of Robert L. Clarke, Esq., private secretary of Gov. Sherman, of Iowa. Mr. Horner has two children, Charles Sumner, by his deceased wife, and Hazel May, by his present wife.
JOSEPH MERRITT UNDERWOOD, of the Jewell Nursery Co., was born in Wayne county, New York, November 10, 1845, and is a son of Daniel and Chloe (Durfee) Underwood, natives of the State of New York. In 1854 his parents removed to Illinois, and settled on a farm near Morris in Grundy county, where he passed from child- hood to manhood under the influences of good educational as well industrial advantages. He came to Lake City in 1868 with his brother-in-law, Dr. P. A. Jewell, who about that time started in the nursery business, which was superintended by Mr. Underwood up to the time of the doctor's death, in 1878, when it became the property of the superintendent. In this business enterprise Mr. Underwood has demonstrated a higher order of intelligence and executive ability than is usually found among the business men of the time. To him is largely due the credit of building up to its present prosperous standing the "Jewell Nursery," and to his strict business principles and honest integrity is dne his high standing among his fellow men. He was married May 4, 1871, at Winona, Minnesota, to Miss Anna B. Sargeant, a daughter of M. Wheeler Sargeant, prominently connected with and well known in the early settleinent of Winona. She was born in Hampton, New York, December 9, 1847. They have but one child living, Roy, born August 15, 1867. Mr. Underwood's parents sold their farm in Illinois in 1873, and came to Lake City, where the former died in 1881, aged seventy-nine years. The latter,
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though feeble in health, is in the seventy-sixth year of her age, and is tenderly cared for by her son above named.
HON SLOAN M. EMERY, also of the Jewell Nursery Co., is another of the self-made men of this new and prosperons state. He was born at Columbus, Texas, in 1848, and within nine weeks both of his parents died of yellow fever, leaving him an orphan in infancy. Soon after his bereavement he was taken to Mississippi by a relative, and, some years subsequently, to Pennsylvania. His next move was to Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained till his twentieth year. Up to this time his educational interests had not received the desired attention, although the study of the lower branches had been pursued with due diligence as opportunity afforded. At that time he entered the collegiate institute at Valparaiso, Indiana, and there completed a three years' course. He was married there in 1870, to Miss Julia H. Haas, a daughter of Samuel G. Haas, Esq., well known in that state. In 1871 he came to Minnesota, permanently locating in Lake City, and the next year entered the private banking-house of Joel Fletcher. He was a moving spirit in the organization of the Lake City bank in the fall of 1873, was its first vice-president, one of the board of directors, and is the only one (except J. W. Ray) of the original incorporators now connected with it. In 1879 he resigned the vice-presidency and associated himself with J. M. Underwood in the nursery, farming and live-stock business. For a more particular account of this enterprise reference may be had to the history of the Jewell Nursery in another chapter. Mr. Emery, although comparatively a young man and by no means an early settler, has evinced to his friends and associates, and the general public, that high order of intelligence and executive ability which has won for him the seat which he now fills in the state legislature. On him this honor was conferred in the fall of 1882, from this (twenty-third) district. Mr. and Mrs. Emery are members of the Presbyterian church.
JOHN COLEMAN DOUGHTY, of the Jewell Nursery Co., Lake City, was born in Rockaway, Long Island, July 4, 1846, and is a son of Samuel Doughty, a banker of Lake City, whose personal history ap- pears elsewhere in this work. As the parents of J. Coleman entered on a pioneer life in Minnesota when he was scarcely nine years old, his educational advantages were not very flattering ; this dis- advantage, however, compensated for by a two years' course at Oberlin College, and one year at Bryant & Stratton's Business Col-
75
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lege. He first started in business for himself as a contractor in bridge building, which he followed about five years. He then bonght into the hardware business with E. Hacket, at Lake City, whom he in time bought out, and continned the business alone till May, 1882, when he associated with himself in trade Mr. W. H. Hobbs, a worthy young man of this city. Mr. Doughty had built up and conducted a prosperous trade, and the addition of the new man to the business was the addition of still more life and activity, so that when they sold out to Anson Pierce, on February 4, 1884, it was said to be one of the best mercantile houses in the city. On February 26, 1884, Mr. Doughty, with Mr. J. M. Underwood and S. M. Emery, organized and had incorporated the Jewell Nursery Company, each taking one-third of its stock. A history of this enterprise will be found in the chapter on Lake City. Mr. Doughty was married, March 21, 1869, to Miss Mary C. Herron, a native of Crawfordsville, Indiana, who died in 1874. His second marriage was on September 17, 1878, with Miss Mary F. Brill, who was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, July 12, 1855. He has three chil- dren, Mary and Katie by his first wife, and Jesse E. by his present one. He is a member of the Masonic fraternities of this city.
MAJOR L. S. VAN VLIET. The Van Vliets in America are all descendants of four brothers Van Vliet, who came from Holland about two hundred and fifty years since, and settled in New York and New England. Major Van Vliet is a scion of the New England branch, and was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, May 26, 1830. When he was nine years of age the family removed to Racine county, Wisconsin, which was thenceforth his home until he removed to this city, in 1867. Young Van Vliet's education was received in the schools of his native and adopted states, principally in Vermont, to which he returned for that purpose, taking an academic course. He was engaged in farming and stock raising until the second year of the war, when he was commissioned captain U. S. Vols., by President Lincoln, and assigned to duty with the army of the Ten- nessee as adjutant quartermaster, in which capacity he rendered effi- cient service to the department, and received promotion as well as honorable mention in the dispatches and reports. He was in charge of Gen. Grant's ammunition train, when the unsuccessful movement around the rear of Vicksburg was made, and was at Holly Springs, then occupied by about sixteen hundred Union soldiers, when raided by Van Dorn. Here he succeeded in eluding the vigilance of the
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rebel general, and also in saving the funds of the department, then in his hands. Of the sixteen hundred troops all were captured save Maj. Van Vliet and two other officers. His principal service, how- ever, was as adjutant quartermaster, at Memphis, Tennessee, in charge of river transportation, which responsible, onerous post he held for three years, furnishing transportation to Gen. Grant's army in its successful movement down the river against Vicksburg, and actively engaged in the important movements along the Missis- sippi. His efficient services were recognized at Washington, and he was four times honorably mentioned in the quartermaster's reports to the secretary of war. Declining the recommendations proffered him for appointment to the regular army, Maj. Van Vliet remained at Memphis until the summer of 1866, when he was mus- tered out of the United States service, and returned to Wisconsin. The following year (1867) he removed with his family to this city, and three years later (1870) organized the First National Bank, became its cashier, and so continues. His financial standing and ability are fully recognized, and his influence in local affairs is evi- denced in the history of county and city events. September 23, 1856, L. S. Van Vliet was married, at Racine, Wisconsin, to Miss M. L. Russell, also a native of Vermont, born May 2, 1834. Their children are : Mattie S., wife of E. A. Patton, M.D., of Minneapo- lis ; Jennie A. and Jessie S. attending Lake City High School, the former a member of the present senior class. The major has never lost his taste for fine stock. He is still an enthusiastic horseman, and owns some of the best bred trotting stock in the Northwest.
CHARLES WISE, dealer in farm machinery, Lake City, was born in Baden, Germany, January 28, 1843, and is the son of Charles and Magdalena (Lehman) Wise, who were also natives of Baden. In 1851 he, with his mother and other members of the family, came to America, and joined his father, who had preceded them in 1847. One year was spent in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, after which they removed to Tioga county, New York, and thence to Minnesota, disembarking at Read's Landing, on April 26, 1856. The family at this time consisted of father, mother, five brothers and one married sister. After prospecting a short time a location was made on gov- ernment land in the town of West Albany, where they entered upon the arduous task of making a farm under all the disadvantages of a new and unsettled country. As the word "failure " is rarely ever written on the page of a German's history, so it was in this case, and
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the words "abundant success" may be used to signify what was accomplished in eleven years' faithful labor by this industrious family ; a farm of nearly six hundred acres was paid for, and thoroughly improved. In 1867 this farm was sold, and they removed to Lake township, where a large amount of land was bought, and where some of the family now live. The father died in 1877, and the mother in 1869. Charles, with two of his brothers, removed to Lake City, and purchased a brewery of John Minges in 1870, and in 1876 became the sole owner ; sold out a few years later, and with his brother Ed., in the spring of 1884 embarked in the sale of farm machinery. For the purpose of carrying on this business they built a two-story brick-veneered store and salesroom, with iron front, in size 20×60 feet, on Center, between Main and High streets, and opened up to the farmers a first-class stock of the best implements made. Besides his interest in Lake City, Mr. Wise owns in the town of Lake two hundred and eighty acres of land, eighty acres in West Albany, and three quarter-sections in this state, out of the county. He was married November 28, 1869, to Miss Katie Kaspere, also a native of Germany. In 1873 he visited the Baden, and spent several months reviewing the scenes of his childhood. He has a family of five children, whose names, in the order of their birth, are : Ferdinand, Joseph, Charles, Katie and Martin.
MARTIN JOHNS (deceased) was born in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, July 9, 1826, and was reared on a farm, where he received a common-school education. Early in life he entered the boot and shoe house of his brother-in-law as an apprentice, and with him completed the trade. He was married in 1853, to Miss Mary A. Frantz, and in 1857 came to Minnesota, landing at Lake City on April 9. He soon after engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and later opened up a store for the purpose of dealing more largely in that branch of merchandise. This he continued up till a short time before his death, which occurred July 17, 1866. Mrs. Johns was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and is the daughter of Jacob Frantz, who was born on his father's farm, and was the son and only child of John Frantz, of whom he inherited a large estate in lands and mills. He was the father of ten children, six of whom are still living, and died early in life. Mr. Johns left, besides his widow, three sons, who are worthily perpetuating their father's good name. The eldest, Horace Frantz Johns, is now in this city, and is the junior member of the manufacturing firm of Neal,
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Johns & Co. ; William is merchandising in Hastings, Minnesota, and Walter is engaged in business in St. Paul. Mrs. Johns' second marriage was on August 8, 1872, to Mr. A. W. Detmars, who died in this city November 6, 1882. He was a native of the State of New York, and was born in 1822. Much of his life was spent as a traveling salesman, though his latter years were passed in this city. During his residence here he was an enthusiastic supporter of all measures or enterprises which had in view the building up and advancement of the city's prosperity. Mrs. Detmars still resides in this her adopted eity, in her pleasant and elegant residence on Lyon avenue, and is an active member of the Episcopal church.
JOHN R. GOODENOUGH, broom manufacturer, mason and stone- eutter, Lake City, is a native of MeHenry county, Illinois. He is the son of Stillman and Angeline (Wood) Goodenough, and was born April 5, 1839. His parents were natives of the State of New York, and were married in Illinois, where the former had settled in 1833. In 1848 the family removed to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where the mother died in 1852. The father, after spending over three years in the war of the rebellion as a member of the 19th Wis. Vol. Inf., and participating in all the severe marches and trying campaigns and battles of that brave regiment, returned to his home, and some years later removed to Washington county, Kansas, where he still lives actively engaged in stock raising and dealing in real estate. He is a son of Christopher Goodenough, one of eleven brothers who se- creted themselves on shipboard and took their departure from the unbearable tyranny of despotie Russia prior to the American revo- lution, five of them taking an active part in that war on the colonial side. From those brothers, it is believed, descended all bearing that name in this country, many of whom have distinguished themselves and are prominently connected with our American institutions as disciples of Blackstone, doctors, medicine and divinity, as well as politieians. Our subject, John R., came to Lake City in August, 1861, and the same fall established a broom factory. His was the first machine ever brought to this city, and his broom handles could be obtained at no nearer point than Milwaukee. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, Sth Minn. Vol. Inf., in which he served as a faithful soldier three years (see 8th Minn.), when he was honorably discharged, and returned to Lake City. Here he at once resumed the manufacture of brooms, but the following spring was burnt out, and then removed to Florence, a little farther up the lake, and some
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time later returned to Lake City. Besides his broom business, he also devotes much of his time to masonwork and stonecutting, giving especial attention to country contracts. He is a thorough mechanic, and master of all his trades. He was married in Lake City, in 1866, to Elizabeth Northfield, a native of Cambridge, England, wlio came to America with her parents, John W. and Susan (Littlechild) North- field, in infancy. Three promising children bless this home, whose names in the order of their birth are: Ada A., Olive R. and Effie. Mr. Goodenough and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a substantial member of the republican party.
EPHRAIM WILDES (deceased) was one of the earliest settlers in Greenfield. He was born in Phippsburg, Maine, in 1794, and died in Cook's Valley in April, 1860. Judith Blaisdell, to whom he was married at Bath, was born in the same state in 1800. For many years they dwelt in Bath, and Mr. Wildes commanded a schooner engaged in the coasting trade. In 1854 he came to Greenfield, and took up the northeast quarter of section 34. Next year he moved to section 30, where he put up the first framed house in the township. He was the father of nine children, the eldest, Ephraim Madison, being fatally shot here in a claim dispute. Esther (Norton) resides in Maine. Zina died in New Orleans, and Silas in California. Asa was shot in some border trouble in Nevada. Annie (Mrs. S. A. Kempe) dwells in Red Wing, and Francis H. in Aurora county, Nevada ; Merinda (Steele), at Maiden Rock, Wisconsin. A sketch of the youngest is hereunto appended.
ANDREW J. WILDES was born in . Bath, Maine, July 23, 1840. He was very early taken upon summer voyages by his father, and received most of his education in the schools of Greenfield and Wabasha after coming here. On January 4, 1862, he entered the United States army, in Co. G, 5th Minn. Vols., and served in the western army; was a participator in the battles at second Corinth and Inka. Was discharged on account of illness in September, 1863, and returned home. Having recovered his health in the northern climate, he re-enlisted in December of the latter year as a recruit in the 1st Minn. regt., and served in garrison duty on the Potomac till the close of the war. Since his return home he has been employed as a carpenter and laborer. He is a member of the I.O.G.T., and in religious faith is inclined toward the Episcopals. Republicanism represents his political ideas. August 22, 1872, A. J. Wildes and Miss Hattie Swift were made one in the bonds of
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wedlock. They have three children, christened Katy May, Charles Francis and William Henry. Mrs. Wildes was born in Burrville, Jefferson county, New York.
SAMUEL H. BELL, collector, Lake City, is the able representative of the McCormick Harvester Company. Like many other citizens of Lake City, he is a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, born in Milroy township, April 18, 1841. His father, George Bell, was of English descent, and Rosannah Mitchell, the wife and mother, de- scended from Scotch people, and were born in Pennsylvania. George Bell served the United States as a soldier in the war of 1812, and afterward settled on a farm in Milroy. Here the early life of Samuel was passed, and, after a rudimentary course in the common schools he spent two years in Tuscarora Academy. In November, 1864, he became a resident of Lake City, and spent eight years as clerk in a store. He then entered the service of the Champion Reaping Machine Company, in the sale of machinery, and was so successful that his services were sought by other similar manufacturers. After seven years of toil in the interest of the Champion, he was employed in his present capacity of collector, and is constantly traveling over a large portion of this state and Wisconsin. December 19, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss 'Anna Bryant, step-daughter of Elijah Porter, whose biography is found in this work. Sereno Bryant, Mrs. Bell's father (now deceased), came of the same stock as the poet W. C. Bryant. One child, a daughter, was given to Mr. and Mrs. Bell May 24, 1869, and christened Maggie May. The family attends the Presbyterian church, and in political matters Mr. Bell affiliates with the democracy.
WILSON W. CASSIDY, lumberman, Read's Landing, is one of the self-made men of Wabasha county. John Cassidy, his father, was a native of Ireland, and his mother, Jane Blair, was born in Pennsyl- vania. Wilson W. Cassidy was born in March, 1832, at Bellfont, Center county, in his mother's native state. When he was ten years old his parents moved to Lee county, Iowa, where he was brought up on a farm, and received a common-school education. At eighteen he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and followed this trade two years. In the fall of 1854 he went to Menomonee, Wisconsin, and entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., heavy lumber manufacturers of that state, and has ever since been engaged with them. His first two years were spent as a common hand in the woods and on the river, but his sterling character and executive ability were not long con-
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cealed from his employers. In the fall of 1857 he was placed in charge of their retail lumber-yard at Read's Landing, where his headquarters still remain. The lumber-yard was closed long ago, and Mr. Cassidy now has charge of the rafting on the Chippewa and Mississippi rivers of the immense lumber fleets of the "Knapp, Stout & Co. Company" ; is also engaged in forwarding supplies up the rivers. By his industry and successful business management, Mr. Cassidy has made himself indispensable to the company's busi- ness, and has also secured for himself a fine home at Read's, beside one hundred and thirty acres of farming land in Pepin township. On December 8, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Kyle, a native of New Brunswick, of Irish descent. All save the eldest of their four children are now at home. They were christened : George K., Mabel and William. Jennie (now Mrs. Edward Bivins) resides at Stephen, Minnesota. While he has taken no part in the administration of public affairs, Mr. Cassidy has always been a faith- ful and consistent republican.
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