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 108
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He afterward bought out Stedman and ran the store for a time alone, then sold out and accepted the management of a store at West Dry- den, New York, then a year each in West Virgil and New Jersey. His next move was westward, to McHenry county, Illinois, wliere in 1847 he and Josiah Dwight opened a general store at Woodstock. Here he continued in business until the spring of 1857, when he came to Wabasha county and opened a store in Plainview, in con- junction with William Kimbedy. In 1859 he built the store now occupied by Cornwell & Son for a hardware store, and took his brother in as partner. He was deputy postmaster under postmaster Yale, and postmaster four years under President Johnson's admini- stration. He went out of the mercantile business in 1870, and has since devoted the most of his attention to the collection business and the official duties of justice of the peace, which position he has filled almost continuously for the past twenty years. Mr. Norton has been thrice married, his first wife being a Miss Clara Church, of Castile, New York, by whom he had two children, namely, Clara- belle (Mrs. E. A. Pomeroy), of Plainview, and Edith. In 1864 Miss Sarah Sanchfield became his second wife, by whom he had one child, Grant, a student in the Rochester Commercial School.
WILLIAM CLARK, farmer, of Plainview township, was born in the Allegheny mountains, Hardy county, in the State of Virginia, April 23, 1825. His father, Hendricks Clark, owned a mill and distillery. In 1835 the family removed to Canton, Ohio, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1844, when in his twentieth year, our subject went to Indiana, where for eight years he did farm work summers and taught school winters near Goshen. In 1852 Mr. Clark crossed the plains to California, performing the entire journey from Omaha to Sacramento on foot. He tarried in the mining-camps of Downieville, on the Yuba river, for one year, and spent another year farming near Benicia before returning to the states. On May 12, 1856, he located his claim on section 18 in Plainview. To his original quarter-section he has made additions and now owns four hundred acres of fine land just west of Plainview village. Mr. Clark's father was a Quaker, and sought to bring up his children in the way they should go. but his son William was not always the most tractable boy, and when ten or twelve years old used to devote more time to hunting, fishing and nutting than to Sunday schools ; but notwithstanding his wildness there was no innate wickedness in his heart, while his mind was endowed with those literary tastes which rendered him a fine student.
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EDWARD FRANKLIN HOPKINS was born at Manchester, Maine, September 3, 1849. At the age of five years his parents, Wm. H. Hopkins and Rhoda M. moved to Readfield, Maine, where in 1858 his father died, leaving a good property to the widow and the two small children, of which Edward was the younger. The following year the mother moved with the family to Boston, Massachusetts, where for two years the children received the benefits of a fine school. In April, 1860, they came to Minnesota, arriving at Lake City late in the evening. The following morning Mrs. Hopkins became Mrs. Standish, by being joined in wedlock to Rev. E. A. Standish, of Mazeppa, the wedding taking place at the residence of De Witt C. Sterry. Edward A. Standish was a Methodist clergy- man, and a direct descendant of Capt. Miles Standish, of the May- Flower. Mrs. Hopkins had not seen Mr. Standish for about twenty years, until the arrival in Lake City. They had known each other in their earlier days. They came at once to Mazeppa and occupied the Standish homestead. The war breaking out soon after this, Mr. Standish's sons, Merit G. and Miles E. joined the 1st and 3d regi- ments respectively, Minn. Vols., leaving Edward, the only remain- ing boy, at home to work the farm. Several years of hard labor for Edward followed. At the close of the war he was placed in school at Red Wing, and afterward at Hamline University. He rapidly developed a taste for learning. He afterward went to Rockford, Illinois, and took a full course in a commercial school at that place. After this he went to Lake City and clerked for C. F. Young, and has followed this business ever since, being at the present writing engaged with E. L. Ford & Co., of Mazeppa. On December 20, 1875, he was married to Josephine Sutherland. They have two chil- dren, Hattie and James Shirley. Besides his duties in the store, he has also an insurance business, and is notary public. He has also been engaged for several years in breeding and raising for market fine hogs. Ilis sales of fine animals during 1882-3 amounted to over fifteen hundred dollars.
PATRICK MCDONOUGH died in the town of Greenfield, March 19, 1883, aged seventy-eight. He was born in Tiernay, County Galway, Ireland, and married Ann Lee, of the same parish, who died there. She was the mother of nine children, two of whom are living. Mr. McDonough afterward married Nappy Sullivan, who died in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, in 1851, three years after the removal of the family to America. Three children were given to the second Mrs. McDonough,
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but all are now deceased. After some years' residence in Cincinnati, and two years on a farm in Mason county, Kentucky, Mr. McDonough came to Greenfield, and settled on section 31, where he continued to dwell during the remainder of his life. Himself and family were all reared in the Roman Catholic church. The youngest child, Mary, is now the wife of Larry Calhoun, and resides in Wabasha.
MILES MCDONOUGH, son of Patrick, whose sketch appears above, was born in the same parish in 1832. His education was supplied by the parish school before he came to America with his father. He was four years employed on Ohio and Mississippi river steamboats, most of the time as watchman. He came to Greenfield with his father, and was his most valuable assistant. Is now the proprietor of six hundred and eighty acres of land, of which three hundred are improved. His products are diversified, embracing both grain and domestic animals. In 1883 his crops included eighteen hundred and twenty-five bushels of wheat, eight hundred and fifty of barley, eight hundred of oats, and forty tons of hay. In 1867 a large and handsome frame house was built, and is now occupied by the family. Mr. M. has been five years school director, and was elected town supervisor in 1879-80-1-2. Ann Flaherty, to whom he was wedded in 1857, is a native of Lettermullin, same county as her husband. They have nine children living. Mary Ann, the eldest, is now Mrs. Edward Drury, and dwells in Wabasha ; Nora, Agnes, Edward, Maggie, Katie, Michael, Lydia and Maud are at home. Patrick Henry, the third child, died at St. Francis' Seminary, Milwaukee, October 13, 1879. This was a youth of great promise, and had nearly completed the third year of his study for the priesthood at the time of his demise. He was born February 7, 1862, and his early life was passed on his father's farm, and the rudiments of his educa- tion were acquired at the common school. He soon developed a rarely intellectual character, and his life was early set apart for the holy calling from which death snatched him. He was a very studious youth, and was a leader in all his classes, and his death was univer- sally regretted by the church in this country.
PATRICK MCCARTHY (deceased) became a permanent resident of Greenfield in 1855, and died there in 1870, aged fifty-six years. Mr. McCarthy was born in the parish of Castle-Connell, County Limerick, Ireland, and was reared on a farm there. On reaching manhood he set out for America, and spent some years in railroad
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work in New York and at Galena, Illinois. He came up the Mississippi in the spring of 1854, and took up land near what is now Lake City. This he sold in a few weeks, and went back to Galena. Here he was married during the same year to Miss Ann Ryan, who still survives him. Mrs. McCarthy was born in the parish of Marngh, County Limerick. When this couple came to Greenfield they settled on section 26, where they dwelt ten years. Some more land was then acquired by purchase on section 27, where the husband died and the widow now 'resides with her youngest son. Mr. McCarthy served some years as town supervisor, and was treasurer of his school district for the first fourteen years of its existence. He was always a democrat, as are his sons, and all were baptized in the Catholic church. At his death the father left four hundred and forty- one acres of land, which has been equitably divided between the widow and heirs. All the children living were born in this town- ship, James, the eldest, March 5, 1860. He was studious in his habits, and became a proficient penman. In 1880 he went to Chicago, and found employment with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company as waybill clerk. His faithfulness and ability have been appreciated, and he has steadily advanced to his present position as head collector in the city. John, the second son, was born June 15, 1861, and has spent all his life here on the farm. His education was supplied by the common schools of the town, and although equally as capable for business as his brother, has chosen to be his widowed mother's stay. Elizabeth, the youngest child, dwells at home, and is now teaching school at Theilman.
· GEORGE W. HALL (deceased) became a resident of Wabasha in 1857, engaging in the sale of furniture. He was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1824. His parents, Moses and Catharine Hall, were natives of the same state. He was reared on a farm, and engaged in the grocery trade in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1854. Saralı Butturff, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Butturff, of Pennsylvania, was born in Cumberland county, same state, Feb- ruary 28, 1825. The latter was united in marriage with Mr. Hall February 6, 1849, and still survives him. After three years of trade in Iowa our subject came to Wabasha, and opened a furniture store in partnership with Mrs. Hall's brother, Samuel Butturff. In 1860 he took up a homestead in Glasgow township, on which he dwelt three years. Being in delicate health, he sold out and returned to Wabasha. Here he was some time a clerk in Weatherbee's store.
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For some years after this he kept a meat-market. He built one house in South Wabasha when he first came here. He afterward bought and improved others. At his death, May 7, 1870, he was possessed of two adjoining residences on Alleghaney street, now owned by his widow. Mr. Hall was a member of the Masonic brotherhood. Hav- ing little education himself, he appreciated the value of schools, and was active in fostering them. He was a contributor to the support of all churches, but the Episcopal was his favorite. He was a firm adherent of the democratic party in politics. The third child and only daughter, Anna, married John A. Canfield, of Kellogg, and is now deceased. The sons, in order of birth, are: Henry W., Green- field ; William Parker and George W., Prairie View, Kansas.
ELIJAH STOUT (deceased) was born in Middletown, New Jersey, February 23, 1806. John and Martha Stout, his parents, were also natives of New Jersey. The former served the colonies as a soldier in the revolutionary army, his pretty wife in the meantime attending to affairs at home. One day while she was engaged in boiling soap a passing British officer attempted to kiss her, and received a dab of hot soap in his face for his pains. In early life Elijah Stout went to New York city and engaged in mercantile life. At one time he had two stores in operation there. In 1827 he was married here, the bride being Julia A., only daughter of George Cooper, Esq. Thirteen children were the result of this union, six of whom are now living. The mother died in 1850 at Middletown, whither Mr. Stout returned in 1831. He had three stores in Monmouth county, and held the office of assessor from 1831 to 1856, over twenty years, and was judge of the county court over two terms, resigning that office to come west in 1856. July of the latter year found him a resident of Lake City, where his talents and enterprise were needed. He at once took part in the efforts being put forth to establish a city on a moral and business foundation. He was among the first to advocate measures for the general welfare, and was always called upon to preside at public meetings. When the poor or sick needed aid or relief his hand was always ready to minister. When he first came here he served two years as justice of the peace, and afterward till the time of his death as assessor. In politics he was always a demo- crat, and never forgot his christian dignity while party strife raged. During the late civil war he was among the foremost and truest sup- porters of the government. He was a life-long member of the Baptist church, and was among the very few who organized a society
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here in 1857. He was both an Odd-Fellow and a Mason, and none were more ready to aid in acts of benevolence and charity. He possessed a singularly sympathetic nature, and having once made a friend, held him through life. He was almost invariably requested to conduct the funerals of friends or neighbors. His faith in chris- tianity continued to the end, and he passed away January 24, 1881, after an illness of nearly three months. In 1854 he married Caro- line M., widow of Judge John Murphy, of New York, and mother of Henry C. Murphy, the well-known attorney of New York city. Mrs. Stout still survives, and is resident in New York. Two daugh- ters of Judge Stout were drowned here in June, 1858, under most distressing circumstances, as related elsewhere. Timothy, the second living son, died at Marshall, this state, in the fall of 1883, aged forty-nine years. He served as captain of Co. I, 2d Minn. regt., during the civil war, and was wounded at the battle of Mill Spring. John resides at Minneapolis, Edward in Texas, Caroline (Murray) at Long Branch, Eliza J. (Williamson) at Duluth, and George and James C. in Lake City.
GEORGE C. STOUT, merchant, Lake City, is the eldest son of Judge Stout. and was born in the State of New York. When quite young, his parents settled in Middletown, New Jersey, and he was reared in that village, receiving the benefit of its advanced schools. He was married in Middlesex county, the bride being Miss Adelaide Perrine, a daughter of Judge John Perrine, of Middlesex county court ; the latter came of a long-lived family, having reached the age of eighty-six when he died, in January, 1884. Mrs. Stout's maternal grandmother lived to be over one hundred and one. Mr. Stout became a resident of Lake City April 15, 1857, and has dwelt here continuously since. He engaged in mercantile business, and in 1870 began an exclusive clothing and furnishing goods trade. In 1876 G. M. Dwelle became a partner, and on January 1, 1884, J. C. Hassinger entered the firm. The business is prosperous, and is con- dueted in a building owned by the firm, corner of Washington and Center streets. It is a double brick, two stories high, and was built in 1882. The structure that stood here April 1, 1882, was totally consumed by fire on the night of the 22d of that month, inflicting a loss of twelve thousand dollars on Stout & Dwelle. There was a partial insurance, and next morning the senior partner started east after a new stock of goods. The present store was at once erected, and stands as a monument to his courage and perseverance. His
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religion is the golden rule, and his political principles are championed by the republican party. He is at present one of the city council. Three children have been given to Mr. and Mrs. Stout. George, the eldest, is in business in St. Paul. Frances and Ada P. remain to grace the pleasant home of their parents.
HON. PATRICK HENRY RAHILLY, the most extensive farmer and stock-raiser in Wabasha county, if not in southern Minnesota, re- sides in Mount Pleasant township, on his immense farm of twelve hundred acres. Mr. Rahilly was born on a farm near the city of Limerick, Ireland, March 8, 1834, and is perhaps the most successful man who ever came to Minnesota a youth and without means. His childhood, till the age of ten years, was spent on the farm, after which he was placed at school in the city of Limerick, where he re- ceived a classical education, though his collegiate course was but par- tially completed, as his father, Mathew Rahilly, decided on emi- grating with his family to the United States, in the sixteenth year of our subject's age. They sailed from the city of Limerick on May 2, 1849, and landed in New York in the month of June. The family soon after settled in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where the father still lives, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. In his eighteenth year young Rahilly left his parental roof with a deter- mination that, if honest industry and faithful application to business had its reward, he would not only make a home for himself but a name among his fellowmen. His first two years was passed in Cayuga county, New York, as a farm hand, where he early acquired a thorough knowledge of handling and dealing in live-stock. After serving his time, including the stipulated month's notice to his em- ployer, he went west to Chicago, in 1854, whither he had been at- tracted by circulars scattered through the east by the Illinois Central Railroad Company. Not finding the desired opening there, he pushed on to Milwaukee, and from there by stage to Dunleith, where he boarded a river steamer bound for St. Paul. While on this his first trip up the Father of Waters, the uncivilized appearance of the coun- try, the sight of numerous squads of half-dressed and less than half- civilized Indians, and the thoughts of the old eastern home, sur- rounded by its many blessings and advantages, caused unbidden tears to flow. On reaching Wabasha prairie (now Winona), he dis- embarked, and soon after made his way west to the new town site of Rochester, Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he at once found em- ployment with the Hon. W. D. Lowery, who was then opening up a
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large farm, as well as conducting a mercantile interest, to which was soon after added a banking business. In time, Mr. Lowery saw in his employé the honor and ability that merited a better position than that of a common hand, and, for the mutual benefit of both parties, placed him in the bank as superintendent, and also made him an equal partner in the farm interests. In August, 1860, Mr. Rahilly severed his connection with Mr. Lowery, and on the 23d of the same month, at Winona, was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Nor- ton, a native of County Galway, Ireland, and a daughter of James Norton, who came with his family to America in 1848. Mr. Rahilly's first and final move after marriage was to his quarter- section of land in Mount Pleasant township, on Sec. 22, T. 11, R. 13, pre-empted by him in 1858. Here he built a temporary resi- dence, and, in the strict sense of the word, started according to his means, and from that day to the present writing has continued to prosper. Acre to acre, farm to farm has been added, till one un- broken farm now numbering twelve hundred acres surrounds his first purchase, on which now stands one of the finest and most sub- stantial brick residences in the state, ontside of St. Paul and Minne- apolis. It was erected during the summer of 1880, on the site of an elegant one destroyed by fire in March of that year. His entire farming interests are all conducted by himself, with the aid of hired help, keeping a large number of hands dur- ing the summer season, and overseeing all branches of his ex- tensive business the year round. It was not until late years that Mr. Rahilly allowed himself to be drawn into politics. The public had for some time seen in him the executive ability and inde- pendence to wisely direct state affairs, and in 1874 prevailed on him to accept a nomination to the state legislature. He was put on the ticket of the democratic party and elected by a flattering majority. He was three times subsequently elected to the same position, and once to the state senate. In 1875 he was placed in nomination and run by his party on the state ticket for auditor, but his party being in a hopeless minority, he was defeated, though in this and adjoin- ing counties he ran ahead of his ticket. To Mr. Rahilly the young men of today may safely be pointed as an example to follow -- a man who has made his way from incipiency to manhood's ripest years. In business, as in war, there are constant promotions of the successful operator, and each promotion is a victory won, for " Peace hath her victories no less than war." The smaller acts of life, the
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finer threads of principle, are the index to what life is or may be. Mr. Rahilly has an interesting family of five children, who are re- ceiving the educational advantages of the St. Paul, Milwaukee and Massachusetts schools and colleges. Their names, in the order of their birth, are : Jennie I., Mary A., James M., Catharine A. and Margaret. One son, Jolın T., died very suddenly of cerebro- spinal meningitis, caused by a fall while in attendance at the Lake City schools, in the twelfth year of his age.
CALVIN DICKINSON VILAS, M.D., was the first physician to locate in Lake City, and today is among its foremost and successful prac- titioners. His birth dates May 1, 1822, at Antwerp, Jefferson county, New York. His parents, Nathaniel Vilas and Betsey Dick- inson, were born in New Hampshire, and the former enjoyed a gov- ernment pension during his latter years, on account of services during the war of 1812. For many years the father operated a large tannery, which he built at Sterling Center, New York, and here our subject laid the foundation of a more complete education. After attending two courses of medical lectures at Pittsfield, Massa- chusetts, and a course at Woodstock, Vermont, he graduated at the latter place in 1846. In December of this year he married Mary C., daughter of William and Mary C. (Wright) Ford. Mrs. Vilas is four years her husband's junior, and was born in Antwerp, and reared in Sterling, New York. Dr. Vilas began the practice of his profession at Red Creek, Wayne county, New York, and subse- quently spent a year in Oswego county. Thence he emigrated to Racine county, Wisconsin, and located in the town of Caledonia, where he continued in the practice of his profession nine years. In September, 1856, he removed to Lake City, where he permanently located, and soon built up a lucrative and successful practice, which has for many years occupied almost his entire time and attention. Despite the cares of his large practice, the doctor takes time to foster and encourage educational interests and the public schools. During his residence in Wisconsin, he served one year as superintendent of schools, and has been on the school board in Lake City the last six years, and was unanimously for the full term in the spring of 1884. Politically he has always stood by the republican party. His living children are: Walter N., practicing medicine at Racine, Wisconsin ; Elbert E., at Clark, Dakota; George W., at St. Paul, Minnesota; Carrie M., died, aged seventeen years.
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REV. WILLIAM GARDAM, rector of St. Mark's church, Lake City, was born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England, October 18, 1851, and was educated there in the common branches. In 1872 he entered the Headingley College, at Yorkshire, England, where he pursued the study of the classics, mathematics and theology. In 1875 he became a student at the Lincoln Theological College, and at the same time became an nnder-graduate of the University of London. At the end of two years he was ordained deacon, and, the following year, priest in the Lincoln Cathedral, England, by the Rt. Rev. Christopher Wordsworth, bishop of Lincoln. His first ministerial work was curate of Bonrne Abbey church. Lincolnshire, England, where he remained from 1877 to 1879. At this juncture he found himself prostrated with a nervous breakdown, and in October, 1879, came to America with a view to improving his health. In the fall of 1880 he was called to the rectorship of the St. Paul's church at Plymouth, Wisconsin, whence he came to Lake City in May, 1883. He was married December 27, 1881, at Milwaukee, by Bishop Welles, to Miss Mary Chase Smith, a great-granddanghter of Bishop Chase, and daughter of the noted railroad man, H. N. Smith, of Milwaukee. Mr. Gardam's father, James B. Gardam, who is a scientific chemist, now resides at Cleveland, Ohio.
DWIGHT FREDERICK BROOKS, physician at Minneiska, was ushered into this world June 10, 1849, at Redfield, New York. His parents, Sheldon and Jeanette Brooks, were natives of the same state. Both his father's father and mother's father were participants in the war of 1812. At the age of seven years our subject came to Beaver, Winora county, Minnesota, where he remained till 1862, at which time he took up his abode at Minneiska. Up to this time his educa- tion had been received at the common schools ; but now he pursued the studies of Latin and Greek, under the tutorship of Mr. W. B. Bunnell, a noted educator at that time. Soon after this he placed himself in the medical department of Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, but graduated in medicine at Long Island College Hospital. in 1876. Since that time he has been not only following his profes- sion, but is largely engaged in commercial pursuits. In 1876 Mr. Brooks was chosen as delegate to attend the American Medical Asso- ciation at Philadelphia, and has remained a permanent member ever since. He is also a member of the Minnesota State Medical Society and of the Wabasha County Medical Society. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Anna G. Keyes, of Winona, and have two children,
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