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 109

Author: H.H. Hill and Company. 4n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill & Co.
Number of Pages: 1176

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 109

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1290

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

Harry K., born in September, 1876, and Dwight S., born in March, 1878. Mrs. Brooks is a member of the Congregational church. Dr. Brooks' parents, who were many years residents of Minneiska, re- moved to Winona, where the former died in the spring of 1883. He was well known there as one of the noble men of that county's early settlement.

THOMAS TALMAN JENKS, Lake City, whose grandfather with two brothers came from England and settled in Connecticut and New Hampshire just previous to the outbreak of the war of the revolu- tion, was born in Lamoile, Vermont, July 4, 1823. His parents were Jeremiah amd Hepcibeth (Talman) Jenks, and were natives of Lyon, New Hampshire; the latter a descendant of a Holland family who emigrated to the colonies about the middle of the last century. Mr. Jenks, like his father, was reared a farmer, and fol- lowed that as a business till his advent into Minnesota in 1856. The same season he built a shingle mill at Central Point. Six years later he bought a planing mill located at the foot of Dwelle street, and soon after converted it into a shingle factory, and time converted it into a tenement, which has long since passed out of existence. He was married at Elmore, Vermont, December 14, 1845, to Elmira Bailey, a native of the same state, born April 18, 1827. To them were boru six children, three of whom are living, whose names in the order of their birth are: Lucelia A., born in Massachusetts, September 7, 1846, now the wife of Jolin W. Northfield ; Francis H., born in Vermont, April 18, 1848, and Elwin T., born in same state, September 10, 1853. The three deceased were : Eugene A., Emma A. and Ada, aged eighteen months, seven years, and fourteen years, respectively.

JERRY DADY, farmer, Greenfield, is among the early residents of Wabasha county, having come to Wabasha in 1855. In 1856 he settled on his present farm. His residence is on section 35, and he has a large farm, part of which lies in Watopa township. Mr. Dady was born in Castle Grogery, County Kerry, Ireland, and was reared on the farm that had been for many generations in possession of his ancestors. His education was supplied by rate schools, and re- mained there until thirty years old. He then married Nora O'Don- nell, a native of the same parish, and together they set out to make a home in America. For several years he was employed in railroad construction in Vermont, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. From the latter state he came to Minnesota as above related. He has been

1291

BIOGRAPHICAL.

industrious, and has thereby secured a competence. In public affairs he has always sustained the Democratic party, as have his sons, and all the members of his family are in good standing in the Roman Catholic church at Wabasha. There are five children, resident as follows : Eugene, Warren, Minnesota; Mary (Mrs. Maurice Durgan), Black River Falls, Wisconsin ; Nora (John Drysdale), Kellogg; Michael, Wabasha; John, at home. The latter is the prop of his parents in their old age, and is a rising young man. IIe is now serving the third successive term as town clerk.

MICHAEL U. DADY, Wabasha, son of the above last-named subject, was born in Greenfield, October 7, 1855. He was reared there, and attended the common school. When eighteen years old he took up blacksmith work in Kellogg, and has followed it ever since. Became a resident of Wabasha in 1879; worked some time in a machine shop, and is now employed by the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul Railway Company as blacksmith and repairer. In 1879 he married Fanny Hudson, who was born in Pierce county, Wisconsin, of Scotch and English parents. They have a son, born June 18, 1880, and christened Charles.

ABNER TIBBITTS, who is mentioned as among the first to locate where Lake City now stands, was a native of the State of Maine. He came to Racine, Wisconsin, in 1853, and there married, and in 1855 came to Lake City. Here Messrs. Abner Dwelle and Samuel Doughty gave him an interest in the new town site just being platted by them. He was a man of good address and possessed of excellent argumentative qualities, hence very useful in booming a new town. This ability, well used. was perhaps the principal consideration received for the share he became possessor of in the real estate here. He was a man of aggressive characteristics and filled a few positions of trust to the state and nation. In 1878 he went to New Mexico, where he is now filling a position in a custom-house.

DR. P. A. JEWELL (deceased), once a prominent resident of Lake City, was born in the State of New York and was educated in the classical course at Oberlin, Ohio, and graduated from the medical department of the Ann Arbor University. During the war of 1861-5 he was appointed to the hospital service in Washington, and there did the government efficient service. He was married August 20, 1863, at Morris, Illinois, to Miss Catharine Underwood, a graduate of the Female Medical College, of Philadelphia, and sister of J. M. Underwood, of this city. He came to Lake City in 1868,

1292

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

and established the nursery which now bears his name. The doetor and his noble wife were only spared to their fellow citizens a very few years, and now repose in Lake City's beautiful cemetery. They left an unblemished name, but no posterity.

SILAS GEROME SMITH, carpenter and builder, is one of the pioneers of this county and father of the first white child born in Highland township. His grandfather, Jared Smith, was a native of Maine, was a farmer and settled at Pompey Hill, Oswego county, New York. Here was born and reared Israel Smith, the father of this subject, who followed blacksmithing from sixteen years of age. He married Eliza Richer, who was born in West Monroe, same county. Silas G. Smith was born September 13, 1833, at the same place as his father. For seven years he worked with his father at his trade, and never went to school after he was ten years old. At twenty- five he began carpenter work, having previously been employed for some time as filer and sawyer in a mill. After losing all his posses- sions by fire, he determined to seek a home in the New West, and came to Wabasha county, locating on land in Highland in the the fall of 1854. In the spring of that year he married Ellen S. Jacott, who died May 17, 1876, leaving two children. Julia Ann, the eldest, born January 20, 1857, is the wife of Julius B. Lewis, in Wabasha. Silas Jerome resides with his father, and was twenty years old March 5 last. Mr. Smith made his home on his farm until 1875. August 31, 1864, he entered Co. A, 3d Minn. regt., as a recruit. He was placed on detached service, and remained at Duvall's Bluff most of the time till discharged, July 28, 1865. Since 1875 his home has been in Wabasha, where he owns two lots on the levec. In May, 1877, he married Isabel A. Robinson, who is a native of Oxford, Massachusetts. Despite his meager schooling Mr. Smith has contrived to secure a good fund of general informa- tion, and is an intelligent citizen. In political matters he affiliates with the democratic party. He was two years constable in High- land, and subsequently served as deputy county sheriff. He has been connected with a Baptist church which now indicates his reli- gious faith. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Congregational church in Wabasha. Mr. Smith is a member of the Equitable Aged Union. He has been engaged since his residence here in millwright work, and house, boat and pontoon building. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway pontoons at Read's Landing and Prairie dn Chien show his handiwork ; also one at Lacon, Illinois.

1293

BIOGRAPHICAL.

PATRICK FRANCIS RYAN, teacher, was born near Elmira, New York, October 18, 1856. His parents, Patrick C. and Johanna Ryan, were born in Limerick, Ireland, and came to America in 1848. For several years the father was employed in railroad construction, and settled in Greenfield township, where he now resides, in 1857. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common school in Greenfield and in the Wabasha city schools. He has been employed on a steamboat, on river lumber fleets, and on the railroad. During the winter of 1883-4 he had charge of the Minne- iska school, the term completing his thirty-sixth month of teaching. He is highly regarded by school superintendents, and his services are in great demand. For some time his home has been in Wabasha. He is a member of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union, and has represented this county in the state and national conventions of that body. He has also acted as delegate in several democratic county conventions, and was secretary of the Wabasha Hancock Club in 1880. Mr. Ryan is a young man of more than ordinary ability, and the writer is glad to note that his talents are likely to be fully appreciated by his fellow-citizens.

JOHN McDONALD (deceased) was born and reared in Sligo, Ireland, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. He became a resident of Wabasha in 1856, and after working for Oliver Cratte some time, he purchased and operated a shop on Alleghaney street. His death occurred May 7. 1879, after a long illness. His age at this time was about sixty years. Previous to coming here he spent several years in Lexington, Kentucky. In March, 1862, he married Miss Mary Agnes Cavanaugh, who was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1844. On account of his long illness, Mr. McDonald's estate was encumbered with debt, but his widow has become inde- pendent by industry and good management. She has a nice home on the corner of Second and Alleghaney streets, and is educating her children well. There are four children, christened John, Katy, Louis and Molly Agnes. The firstborn, Joseph, died at six months of age. All are members in good standing of the Roman Catholic church.

LEWIS DE CAMP, carpenter, Wabasha, is a son of David and Saralı De Camp, all born in Harrisburg, Giles county, Virginia - this subject on January 12, 1821. His grandfather was a native of North Carolina, and was a soldier in the war of 1812, as was his father. Lewis De Camp was raised on a farm, and at twenty-five

1294

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

learned the carpenter's trade. He had previously spent some years in driving a six-horse freight team. In 1854 he went to Iowa City, Iowa, and engaged in farming, and came thence to Wabasha three years later. His home has ever since been here, and carpenter-work has received most of his attention. He now has considerable prac- tice as a horse-farrier. He has eighty acres of land in Wisconsin, and two lots where his home is in Wabasha. In 1845 he married Adelia Duncan, native of his own county, as were her parents, Landon and Sarah Duncan. Five children made complete their family circle : Eliza Jane (Mrs. L. Malin), resides at Read's Landing ; Mary (Blanchard), Massachusetts ; Ira, sketched below ; Alexander and Thomas reside with their parents. Mr. De Camp finds spiritual comfort in the faith of Universalism, and has always been an adherent of the republican party.

IRA DE CAMP, Mississippi pilot, of Wabasha, was born in Harris- burg, January 26, 1850, and is the third child of Lewis De Camp, whose record is found above. He attended the city schools till fifteen years old, and then went on Mississippi lumber rafts. For the last five years he has been a steamboat pilot, for which occupation fifteen years of life on the river have amply fitted him. He has built two houses on Main street, one of which he occupies, the other now in process of completion (March, 1884). He is a member of the E. A. U., and of the Episcopal church. His political support has always been given to republicanism. In 1876 he was united in marriage to Miss Addie Benedict, daughter of James K. Benedict. Mrs. De Camp was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and came here when young. Two children have been given this couple, and christened Ora and James Lewis.

JOSEPH E. FAVROW, merchant, was born at Champlain, Clinton county, New York, in 1827. His father, Lonis Favrow, came from France to join the American army in the war of 1812, and settled in this country. He married Josephine Duval, who became the mother of our subject. The latter's carly life was passed in his native town, where he obtained the rudiments of an education. When fourteen he entered an iron foundry, and spent several years as a moulder. In 1954 he went to Rockford, Illinois, and engaged in the livery business. In the fall of 1856 he became a resident of Lake City, and at once opened the first hotel there. This was called the "Lake City House," and stood on the corner of Washington and Center streets, until destroyed by the great fire of April, 1882. He after-

1295

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ward kept a livery stable, and was five years in the butcher business. After this he engaged in merchandising, and removed his stoek to Donnelly, this state, in 1880. For the past three years he has been postmaster of that thriving town. Ile was four years a member of the Lake City common council, and some time an active member of the school board. His political action has ever been with the repub- lican party. He still holds his connection in all the degrees with the Masonie order in Lake City, and yet holds property here. In 1862 Mr. Favrow enlisted for three years in Co. G, 8th Minn. Vols., and served two years on the western frontier, participating in the battle of Stony Ridge, Dakota, and in several other slight engage- ments with the Indians. The remainder of his term was passed with the western army in fighting rebels, taking a hand in the battles of the Cedars (near Murphreesboro) and Kingston, North Carolina, and was discharged at the elose of the war. In 1862 Mr. Favrow espoused Miss Ellen Conway, daughter of Michael Conway, one of the pioneers of Central Point. Mrs. Favrow is thirteen years her husband's junior, and was born near Ogdensburg, New York. Two children are included in Mrs. Favrow's family. The eldest, Frank- lin Fayette, is with his parents. Ida May is now in attendance at the Lake City schools.

JACOB BUSH, mason, Wabasha, was born at Moscow, in the Distriet of Montreal, Canada, February 1, 1830. His great-grand- father came from France, and settled in Canada. His father, Zabat- tias, was born and reared in the same locality as himself. His name has been changed since lie came here, and as he had no edu- cation, he is unable to give the original French spelling. His early life was spent on a Canadian farm. For some years he was employed in ironworks on Lake Champlain, and he found various employ- ments in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In 1852 he came west, and spent a year on a farm at Columbus, Wisconsin. He came to Wabasha in 1853, and found employment with the fur traders. He claimed land, and afterward sold out. In 1861 he enlisted in the U. S. Vols., Co. G, 5th Minn. regt. Served in the western army ; in the siege of Corinth, Buell's expedition, battles of Tuscumbia, Chattanooga, second Corinth, Iuka, siege of Vicksburg, battle Gun- town, Red River expedition, battle Nashville, siege and capture of forts about Mobile. At Nashville he received a flesh-wound from piece of an exploding shell. In all he was an actor in thirty-two battles, besides severál skirmishes, and was discharged from service

1296

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

in September, 1865. He returned to Wabasha, and has chiefly been employed in mason-work since. He was a member of the G.A. R., while a lodge existed here. He was reared in the Catholic church, and adheres to the democratic party. In 1855 he married Susan Montraill, who was born in Mendota, this state, and died in Novem- ber, 1880. Of her twelve children ten survive her. Josephine, the eldest, now wife of David Pugh, resides in Greenfield ; Isabel (Mrs. William Edwards), Oliver, Lucy (Frank Hoffer) and Emily reside in Wabasha. The rest are at home, christened as follows : Jacob, James, Gracie, Susan, Addie and Frank.

LAWRENCE CALHOUN, lumberman, Wabasha, is a native of Ire- land, born in Dublin, August 15, 1826. When he was a year old his parents, Thomas and Mary (Hackett) Calhoun, came to America, and soon settled at Shullsburg, Wisconsin, where the father engaged in mining. His youth was spent in the city of Galena, and in 1845 he came up.the Mississippi and was employed during the summer on the Chippewa river survey. The following winter he was employed in lumbering by Allen & Boss at Chippewa Falls, and nearly all his life since has been spent in Inmbering. In the early days he ran a keelboat on the Chippewa and Mississippi, and often shared his supplies with the Indians, who, in turn, often shared their game with him and always remained friendly. In the winter of 1849-50 he carried the mail on his back between Chippewa Falls and Wabasha, making weekly trips. For the past twelve years he has been employed by the Mississippi Logging and Boom Co., and has dwelt in Wabasha, where he has a fine home on Second street. For nine years previously he lived at Read's Landing, and while here, one day, Mrs. Calhoun drove off a saucy Indian with her mop. Mr. Calhoun's marriage occurred in 1858, the bride being Mary, widow of Thomas Sullivan, who died in Highland in 1856. Mrs. Calhoun is a sister of Miles McDonough, elsewhere sketched in this book, and was born in the same place. She is the mother of ten living children, as follows : Anna (Mrs. M. A. Cummings). Minneapolis ; Maria (born July 8, 1856, in Highland), Brainard, Minnesota ; Mary E. (John Gorman), Kellogg ; the others are at home, viz : Sarah, Lydia, Minnie, Maggie, Katy, George, Aurelia and Clara. Rosella, the ninth child, is deceased.

THOMAS WOOD, farmer, is one of the most intelligent and pro- gressive of Watopa's farmers, and is prosperous accordingly. He came into Indian Creek valley, a comparatively poor man, in

1297

BIOGRAPHICAL.

1865, and is now the proprietor of five hundred and twenty acres, of which one hundred and fifty are under cultivation. The rearing of stoek occupies a part of his attention, and considerable grain is also prodneed. Mr. Wood was born June 25, 1819, in Disser-Surges, County Cork, Ireland. He was reared after the manner of Irish farmers' sons, and edneated in the national schools. When he had reached the age of twenty-nine he set out from Liverpool for America on the sail-vessel Hartley Boston, landing in New Orleans after a voyage of two months. Thence he came up the Mississippi to Galena, and spent some time in farming in Illinois. In the spring of 1864 he came to this eounty and bought a farm in Mount Pleasant, which he sold as soon as the crop was removed. After spending a winter in Iowa, he returned and settled on Indian Creek, on section 27, where he continues to reside. In all his travels and labors he has been attended by a most worthy and faithful helpmeet. Eliza Buttermore was born in the same parish three years later than Mr. Wood, and was married to him in 1840. Both are mem- bers of the Methodist church, and Mr. Wood is a temperate man in both precept and example. He has always supported the republican party, and his only publie service has been that of school treasurer. Five children were given to Mr. and Mrs. Wood, of whom only two are living. The first and second born, Mary Jane and John, died at one and two years of age respectively. Robert H., the third, died at the age of twenty-six, while serving his third term as town elerk. The living are Thomas Edwin and William Joseph, at home. The former was elected town treasurer in the spring of 1884.

EDGAR T ROLLINS, of the Town of Elgin, is the son of Orvis V. and Mary O. Rollins, who were among the early settlers of the town, and was born in this town on October 27, 1860. In his early years he received a common-school edneation, and at the age of nineteen he obtained the appointment of teacher of a school in the town of Salem, county of Olmsted. Here he "wielded the bireh " for one term, afterward teaching for one term in the Evans district of his native town, working on his father's farm during the summer season. During the spring of 1880 Mr. Rollins was ap- pointed station agent and telegraph operator at Elgin station, from the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, which position he held for two years and a half, when he resigned, and sinee that time he has not been actively engaged in any business. While acting as operator at Elgin station, the disastrous cyclone of July

1298

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

21, 1883, occurred, and it was Mr. Rollins who sent the first tele- gram that conveyed the news of this terrible event to the outer world. On September 23, 1883, Mr. Rollins was united in mar- riage with Miss Rose M. Bentley, of the town of Viola, Olmsted county. Mr. Rollins is noted as an excellent telegraph operator, and a young man of mneh promise and ability. He is a member of Elgin lodge, No. 115, A.F.A.M., in which lodge he was made a Master Mason about one year ago.

GEORGE FARRAR, farmer, of the village of Elgin, resides in one of the handsomest and most substantial frame dwellings to be found in this section of the country, situated on the southwest quarter of section 27, where he conducts his farm. He is a son of Calvin and Almira H. Farrar, and was born in Moretown, Washington county, Vermont, May 31, 1833. In his early youth our subject worked on his father's farm in his native state, attending the eom- mon schools of the district during the winter. During the month of September, 1853, when twenty years of age, he determined to . strike out on his own account, and went west as far as Beloit, Wis- consin, where he hired out by the month to a farmer in whose employ he remained for eleven months, when he pushed farther west to St. Charles, Minnesota. In the spring of 1855, in company with George and Curtis Bryant and Henry H. Atherton (the latter of whom had accompanied our subject from Vermont, and shared his fortunes with him), he left St. Charles to seek his home yet farther west, and about April 7, 1855, arrived in that part of Greenwood Prairie now known as Elgin, where he determined to locate. Mr. Farrar is therefore not only one of the original four pioneers of the town, but he is also "boss carpenter " of the first log house ever erected in Elgin, and afterward kept the first hotel started in the town. In the fall of 1855 he filed on the E. } of the S. W. ¿ of Sec. 17, in the timber-land. He had also previously taken a claim consisting of an eighty on seetion 26, and an eighty on seetion 27, about April 8 or 9, 1855, which was jumped by Leonard Laird, in the spring of 1856, during Mr. Farrar's absence in the east, where he went December 6, 1855, returning to the prairie from his native state during the month of May, 1856, his brother Waldo, who was afterward killed while serving his country as second lieutenant of Co. I, 1st regt. Minn. Inf., at the battle of Gettysburg, coming with him. The first marriage of residents of the new town of El- gin was that of George Farrar to Miss Emeline Bryant, daughter of

1299

BIOGRAPHICAL.

John and Lavinia Bryant. The ceremony was performed at Winona, Minnesota, Angust 13, 1856. The issne of this union consists of two sons, Will E. and Frank F., both of whom assist their father on his farm in the summer, and teach school during the winter months. Mr. Farrar has frequently been called upon by the people to represent them in different political offices in his adopted town, having held the offices of supervisor, chairman of board of supervisors, town treasurer and constable, besides having re- ceived from the state the appointment of captain in the 9th regt. Minn. State Militia, on January 28, 1863. Besides being one of the pioneer settlers of the town, Mr. Farrar justly deserves mention as one of the pioneers in religious inatters and temperance work. He was connected with the first religious society organized in the town, has always contributed largely to the cause of Christianity, and is now one of the influential members of the Methodist Church South, which he and his wife joined during the winter of 1877-8, while he has ever been a most active and effective worker in the great temperance canse, identified with and holding offices in the various societies formed in the town froin early days to the present time. He is now P.W.C.T. of Elgin lodge, No. 76, I.O.G.T., besides being a member of the Masonic fraternity, and holding the office of J. D. in Elgin lodge, No. 115, A.F.A.M. Mr. Farrar suffered great damage by the destructive cyclone of July 21, 1883, his barn and ontbuildings being completely demolished, and causing him a loss of fifteen hundred dollars.

JOHN W. BRYANT, senior member of the firm of J. W. Bryant & Co., grain and coal dealers of the village of Elgin, and proprietors of one of the two elevators located in that village, is not only one of the inost enterprising, but is also the youngest man at the head of any business firm in the place, besides being the only one of Elgin's sons conducting business for himself at the place of his birth. Mr. Bryant is a son of George and Polly Bryant, and was born in the first log house ever erected within the limits of what is now the vil- lage of Elgin, on the N. W. } of Sec. 27, on October 15, 1858, his father, who is now judge of probate of Day county, Dakota, being one of the first pioneers of that town. Our subject in his early years received such education as the common schools of his native town afforded, and when only fifteen years of age, withont the knowledge of his parents, he applied for and obtained the position of teacher of the school situated in district No. 77, then known as the Johnson

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 109

Author: H.H. Hill and Company. 4n Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill & Co. Number of Pages: 1176

Author: H.H. Hill and Company. 4n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill & Co.
Number of Pages: 1176