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 75

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 75

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).

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

three quarter-sections of land for himself and sons, on sections 4, 8 and 9. His residence is on 4, within a rod of the site of the original log cabin. In partnership with Samuel Doughty and Abner Tib- betts, he platted the city in 1856, and has sold off a portion of his estate in town lots. He still retains a handsome farm on the out- skirts of the city, and takes a deep interest in both rural and city affairs. Although seventy-nine years of age, he walks erect, with- out a cane, and is in the full enjoyment of all his faculties. Every day, summer or winter, rain or shine, he may be seen on the streets of the beautiful city which he founded. His last birthday anniver- sary was celebrated at his home by a family reunion, at which were present children and grandchildren, to the number of nearly a score. During his residence in Michigan Mr. Dwelle was an active member in the Congregational church, and earned the title of Dea- con, by which he has ever since been known. He is now a firm believer in the Spiritualistic faith. Politically he was a whig and abolitionist, and is a republican.

THOMAS L. DWELLE, fourth son of Abner Dwelle, was born in Michigan, September 12, 1840, and was therefore nearly fourteen years of age when he came with his father to the site of Lake City. Immediately after the attack on Fort Sumter he enlisted in the three- months service of the United States. As soon as his time expired he was enrolled in Co. I, 1st Minn. Vols., and served in the army of the Potomac. At the battle of Ball's Bluff he received a bullet wound through the right shoulder, by which he was disabled, and was discharged in February, 1862. Returning to Lake City he has ever since been occupied in the management of his farm. He now has over two hundred acres, part of his farm being within the city limits, where he resides. He is now doing a profitable business in supplying the city with milk. In October, 1877, he married Laura M. Sears, who was born in Caledonia, Wisconsin. Mrs. D. is a daughter of William Sears, who was born in New York. One child, a daughter, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Dwelle April 29, 1880, and christened Addie Pearl.

WILLIAM MCCRACKEN is the first man who made any improve- ments in Glasgow township; he was born in Scotland, August 15, 1815, which was the last day of the great battle of Waterloo. The last of the old family died a few months ago at the advanced age ot ninety-six years. Mr. McCracken landed at St. Johns, New Bruns- wick, April 1, 1841 ; from there he went to Canada and lived there

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THE PIONEERS OF WABASHA COUNTY.

for twelve years, and came from there to Glasgow township June 7, 1855. He first lived in an old house near where his house now stands. He was nnited in marriage, March 24, 1847, in New York. After getting ready to be married the minister they called on to marry them had no license to marry them in Canada, so they crossed over the river into New York and were married. His wife's maiden name was Magdaline Scott, a native of the State of Ohio, of Scotch descent. Of the five children of this union but two of them are living. The eldest is Ann, who is the wife of William Jacobs ; have three chil- dren and live in West Albany township. Hannah married James Gray ; have two children and live in West Albany township. Mr. McCracken's wife died June 14, 1857, and was married to Hannalı Jacobs in October, 1860; she was a native of Germany. Nine children have been the fruits of this union ; six of them still living : Minnie, William, Margaret, Jennie, Jolın and Robert. Mr. Mc- Cracken has a farm of two hundred and forty acres, where he lives, and three hundred and twenty acres in a prairie farnı. The narrow- gauge railroad runs through his home place, the cars of which ran over and killed one of his children (Mary) a few years ago.

EDWARD B. MURRAY was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1818. His parents were Edward B. and Margaret Murray. He came to America in 1853 ; worked successively in bleaching at Falls River, Massachusetts, in wagon-shop at Montreal, Canada, and two years as a honse-carpenter in Bramford, Canada ; by trade he was a ship- carpenter. He came to Wabasha county in 1855; having a few hundred dollars, he bought some town lots in Wabasha; erected a honse and resided there until 1857, when he removed to Highland township and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres on section 14. He now owns a farm on section 16 in the same town- ship, on which he resides. He received a good common school education. The farm on which his parents lived in Ireland had been in the possession of the Murray family for five hundred years. Mr. Murray married in Ireland in 1851 to Margaret Bartley, by whom he had five children, viz: William, Daniel, John, Patrick and Maggy. Daniel is the only one at home, the three youngest resid- ing with their mother in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and William is a dealer in agricultural implements at Minneapolis.

ORVILLE D. FORD was born in the town of Lebanon, Madison county, New York, where he received a common school education and lived till September, 1855, when he came to Mazeppa; here he pre-emp-

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

ted one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 30 ; subsequently he bought three eighties and settled on the south half of section 6, where he still lives. He and his father Joseph platted the village of Mazeppa, including the water-power, which is furnished by the north branch of the Zumbro. This land was bought by the Fords of Judge Welch, of Redwing, who owned it under original patent. O. D. Ford sold a number of town lots from his purchase of three eighties, and now has about three hundred acres left of valuable lands. In 1873, in connection with his son Edward L., he estab- lished a boot and shoe store under the firm name of E. L. Ford & Co., and which name still continues. At first the trade was small, but increased from year to year, and in order to keep pace with the growth of business and the demands of their customers they have enlarged their space and added to their stock till it now comprises a full line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats and caps, and clothing, etc., and are doing a good business. Mr. Ford has always taken a lively interest in the growth and welfare of his town and has had much to do toward shaping its destiny. He was at one time engaged in milling, he and his associate having built and operated the first merchant mill in Mazeppa. In 1880 he sold his interest in the mill and retired from the business. He was the first president of the village council after its organization in 1856, and held the office of register of deeds for Wabasha county for five years. In 1858 he was elected to represent his district in the legislature of Minnesota and served till 1861, when his services were alike credit- able to himself and acceptable to his constituents.

JOSEPH FORD, the father of O. D. Ford, was born in Delaware county, New York. His father was a cloth-dresser, of whom he learned the business, and afterward moved to Madison county, New York, where he established and carried on the same business for a number of years, when he turned his attention to farming, at which he continued till 1855, when he came to Mazeppa, arriving in the fall of 1855. He at once pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in the north half of section 6, which he improved and for a number of years carried on farming operations, supervising in per- son his entire business till he was about eighty years of age, when his son, O. D. Ford, attended to his business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1882, he being at the time about eighty- three years old. As a friend and neighbor he was greatly esteemed by all who knew him; in intercourse he was urbane and genial ; his

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THE PIONEERS OF WABASHA COUNTY.

convictions were strong but sincere, and his reputation for probity and fair-dealing was above reproach ; his daily line of conduct did honor to his community, his country and his Creator, and is well- worthy the emulation of all mankind.

E. L. FORD, of the firm of E. L. Ford & Co., general merchants, was born in Madison county, State of New York, in 1851. When four years of age he came with his parents to Mazeppa, where he grew to manhood, meantime obtaining the rudiments of an educa- tion in the school of the village. From here he went to the State University of Minnesota for two or three years, after which he took a course at the Commercial College of Minneapolis, from which he graduated. On returning home in 1873 he and his father established a boot and shoe store under the firm name of E. L. Ford & Co. At first the trade was small, but, being handled with skill and executive ability, it has grown to large proportions ; additions in space and also in variety of goods have been added from time to time till it is now large and comprises a full line of dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, clothing, crockery, queensware, etc. etc. Mr. E. L. Ford is still a young man, but nevertheless has exhibited in his business career capacity and the elements of success, which do him great credit.

G. MAXWELL, contractor and builder, and agent for DeLong & Co., lumber dealers, was born in Franklin county, Massachusetts, August 20, 1829. He acquired a limited education at the common schools, and was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade. Much of his spare time was devoted to the study of mathematics and civil engineering. After learning his trade he worked at it till he was twenty-eight years of age, when, in the spring of 1855 he came to Mazeppa and pre-empted a quarter-section of land in section 29, in the town of Chester, a short distance from Mazeppa. After working his land for a few years he traded it for property in Mazeppa, where he has since resided, and carried on the business of contractor and builder, having erected the greater and finer part of the village, including some four or five churches. In connection with his build- ing operations he and his brother, R. F. Maxwell, run a lumber yard, dealing in such lumber as was in demand, also sash, doors, blinds, building-paper, etc. On the opening of the railroad to this point in 1877 they sold out their lumber business to DeLong & Co., for whom he has since acted as agent. In Chester he was town treasurer two or three terms. He has been county commissioner,

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

and several times town supervisor for Mazeppa. He was the first justice of the peace in Mazeppa and served two terms, and was the first treasurer of the village. In 1877 he was elected to the legis- lature and served one term.

L. GINTHNER, merchant tailor, and dealer in ready-made clothing and gents' furnishing goods, south side Main, midway between Allegheny and Pembroke streets. Property fronts twenty feet on

Main street, and has a depth of sixty feet. This business was estab- lished, as a tailoring establishment, by Mr. Ginthner in 1855, and the ready-made clothing department was added eight years later. Business has been conducted continuously since its establishment twenty-eight years since. Two hands are employed in the manufac- turing department. Mr. Ginthner is a native of Baden, Germany, learned his trade as clothier there, came to America in 1852, and after three years, spent principally in the Middle States, came to Wabasha Angust, 1855. His present store-building was built in

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THE PIONEERS OF WABASHA COUNTY.

1867 ; his residenee, the finest in the city, corner Allegheny and Third, was built in 1882. It is a modern two-story brick, solid stone basement, sills and caps, plate-glass windows, and finished in first-class style throughout. The main L's, two stories in height, are 24×34 feet and 20×30 feet respectively. Mr. Ginthner was married in 1857, to Lugerde Nord. They have six children : George, born November 22, 1858 ; Anton, born April 11, 1860, at work in his father's tailoring establishment; Anne, born April 11, 1862, at home ; Emma, born March 31, 1866, elerk in the postoffice ; Clara, born April 23, 1871 ; Julia, born September 27, 187-, both attending the Sisters' school in this city.

FRANCIS W. SHAW, son of Oliver and Jane S., was born in New Hampshire, May 26, 1836. In May, 1855, he came with his parents to this state and township. They were hardly settled when the father died, leaving Francis (the eldest son) the responsibility of caring for a large family. Many were the trials and hardships of those early days. Mr. Shaw settled on a farm in section 3, now owned by Isaac York, and there built the first house and dng the first well in the western part of Wabasha county. He was married July 4, 1856, to Mary A., daughter of William York, and to them have been born two children, William F. and Ethal. In 1861 Mr. Shaw enlisted in Co. C, 4th Minn. Inf., and served three years and eleven days. He was at the siege and battle of Corinth, Mission Ridge, Altona, siege of Vicksburg, and many others. Upon return- ing to this eounty he engaged for several years in agricultural pursuits. In 1878 he opened a general merchandise storc at Jarrets, and has been doing business there sinee that time. Mr. Shaw is one of the oldest and most enterprising citizens of the county.

BENJAMIN LAWRENCE was born October 16, 1813, at Freetown, Bristol county, ten miles east of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was the son of Spencer and Mary P. Lawrence, who, when Benjamin was seven years old, moved to Plainfield, Vermont, in the year 1820. He had little opportunity to acquire an education. In reeiting poetry it would be difficult to find his mateh, his memory is so true. At the age of twenty, for four weeks and for the last time in his life, he attended school at Marshfield, Vermont, while working as a farmer. The next summer he worked at farming near Bangor, Maine, and during the winter in an iron foundry in High street, Providence, Rhode Island, which he continued for the next two years. In 1837 he went to Van Buren county, Iowa, then part of the territory of

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

Wisconsin. To reach this he started with an emigrating company of Freethinkers, led by Abnon Neeland, editor of the Boston "Inves- tigator." He returned to Montpelier, Vermont, where, through the summer, he worked on a farm, and the following year was em- ployed in Fairbanks (scale) foundry. In 1855, with A. P. Foster and others, he came to Plainview. He left immediately to settle his business in Vermont, and returned for a permanency in October of the same year. His lifetime has been one of continuous hard work, being known to have repeatedly worked drawing stakes, etc., as early as two and three o'clock in the morning. IIis ambition for business life prompts him now, even in his feeblest moments, at the age of threescore and ten, to entertain prospects and devise plans for building a gristmill, hauling ten thousand feet of lumber, etc. etc. He was the first overseer of the poor by appointment of the board of supervisors, May, 1858. It was Uncle Ben, as he is now styled, who, with A. P. Foster, stopped over night May 31, 1855, while prospecting for a settlement, at Mr. Bryant's, in Elgin, six miles west of the town he helped to found.

FRANCIS JERRY (deceased) settled in Chester August 18, 1855, taking a claim on section 28. He opened up three farms, and left his widow eighty acres on section 33, where he died July 24, 1874. Mr. Jerry was a native of New York, born July 6, 1814. He was reared on a farm in Canada by an uncle, his parents having died when he was an infant. He served in the United States forces during the Black Hawk war, and afterward settled near Galena, Illinois. He was married there May 2, 1838, to Elizabeth Gris- haber, who was born in Hoffwelir, Baden, Germany, November 15, 1819. After farming on rented land in Illinois he came to Minne- sota, as above related. He was deranged by a sunstroke in Junc, 1867, and was entirely helpless during the last three years of his life. Besides his widow, five children were left to mourn him, now located as follows : Francis M., Barron county, Wisconsin ; Basil, in Missouri ; Mary (Mrs. William Evans), Plum City, Wisconsin ; Joseph (rendered totally deaf by measles while serving in the 3d Minn. Inf.) with his mother ; Augustns, Winfield, Montana ; Isa- dore, Washington Territory. Basil served through the war of the rebellion, and Francis three years in the same struggle. Mr. Jerry was reared a Catholic, but did not adhere to that faith.

GEORGE BAILEY, Zumbro, is one of the most intelligent and sub- stantial farmers of this township. His was the second claim made

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THE PIONEERS OF WABASHA COUNTY.

and the second house built in the town. Mr. Bailey is a native of Ireland, born in the parish of Lorne, County Tipperary, about 1822. He was reared on a farm, and received a fair common school educa- tion. When about thirty years old he came with his father's family to America, and engaged in farming in Iowa. Here his father died, and he set out to look up a home for the family. He arrived in Zumbro (then Mazeppa) in June, 1855, and located on section 25, where his home has been ever since. He now has two hundred and sixty acres here, besides twenty acres of timber. On this he has placed large and handsome buildings. He had little means when he came here, and has just reason for pride in the success which his labor has wrought. His religious faith corresponds with that of the Wesleyan Methodists. Politically he is an independent democrat. In the winter of 1859-60 he married Mary Little, born in New York of Scotch parentage. She died in 1864, leaving two children, of whom only one is now living, christened Elizabeth. In 1866-7 he was married to Isabel, a sister of his first wife. Her father was one of the pioneers in the adjoining town of Farmington, Olmsted county. Five children have blessed this union, and are named thus : Frank, Andrew, John, Robert and Mabel. Mr. Bailey's parents were Thomas and Jane. The latter came here in 1856, and died in 1864. Benjamin, the eldest son, took land in this town, and died in 1870, without any family. Thomas and Andrew, two other sons, still reside in the town.

ORRIN PENCILLE, blacksmith, Zumbro, son of John and Fanny (Jackson) Pencille, was born in Waterloo, province of Ontario, May 28, 1833. His parents were born, reared and died in the same locality. Up till nine years of age he remained with his family on the farm, and was then apprenticed for twelve years to a blacksmith at Kingston. He had opportunity for limited common school train- ing before and during his apprenticeship. His preceptor was a very severe man, and discharged him at the end of nine years. The canse of this action was young Pencille's interference to rescue a favorite son of his employer from the latter's inhuman flogging for a fancied offense. Pencille at once bought a shop, four miles away, on credit, and at the end of six months had his shop and tools clear, and from that time has followed the calling. He came to Lake City from Canada, in May, 1855, and built a shop at Central Point. In the fall of the same year he took up his residence on a claim on sec- tion 13, which he held over two years, and then sold. Built and

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

operated a shop at Zumbro Falls, which was carried away by the flood of 1859. July 19, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Dennison, who was born in Floyd, New York, daughter of Alonzo and Mary (Knox) Dennison. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Pencille is a consistent republi- can. Has always been active in sustaining and managing the public schools. For the last eighteen years he has dwelt on section 25, where he has operated a blacksmith-shop. He now has two hundred and eighty acres of land in this town, of which one hundred and fifty are under cultivation. Besides this, himself and son are holding half a section of land in Bigstone county under the United States tree cul- ture laws. The family includes five children, two having died in early childhood. The third, Ida M., married Frank Fisher and resides at Castleton, Dakota. The others are at home, their names in order being as follows : William D., Anna L., Grace E. and Kate A. All the family is gifted with musical faculties. In early years Mr. Pencille taught singing schools in the town, and is now considerably engaged in the sale of organs and other musical instruments.

JOHN E. HYDE, retired merchant, is a grandson of Zabdiel Hyde, who commanded a regiment of militia during the defense of New London when it was burned by the British in 1781. William Hyde, father of this subject, was born in Connecticut. Early in life he went to Maine to engage in teaching. Here he met Miss Julia Douglas, another teacher, born within ten miles of his own native place. An attachment sprang up between them and they were married. William Hyde became well known as a newspaper and book publisher, his establishment being located at Portland. Here was born the subject of this sketch, in the year 1819. In infancy he was small and puny, but grew to be strong and rugged, though small in stature, and in early manhood endured great fatigue and extremes of heat and cold. In the early years of his business in Mazeppa he was compelled to depend on neighboring farmers for a team, and could not often get their oxen in winter except on days when it was so cold their owners did not care to be ont. On these days Mr. Hyde was accustomed to go after wood, or to Red Wing after goods. At the same time Mrs. Hyde was not much troubled with customers in his absence, so a double advantage was gained. It grew to be a common remark with the Red Wing merchants on a cold morning, "Well, I guess Hyde will be in today." Mr. Hyde's early life was passed mostly in Portland, and his education was

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THE PIONEERS OF WABASHA COUNTY.

furnished by the schools of that city, and high school in Boston. He was filled with a desire to be a farmer and conceived a great liking for stock, especially horses. Great was his delight when he was permitted to spend a winter with an uncle in the eastern part of the state. When but two or three years old he was one day taken to his father's place of business to ride home with him on a horse. When ready to go his father seated him on the horse, and before he could himself mount the youthful Pegasos seized the reins and struck the horse a blow with the whip. The steed at once set off at high speed, but was soon stopped by a crowd of men without any accident to its rider, who experienced none of the alarm which his freak had caused in all the observers. He was kept at school and in his father's store as much as possible to prevent his haunting livery stables. When eighteen years old he engaged at farm labor for very low wages, rather than be confined in his father's business. He continued to follow this pursuit and finally purchased a farm. He also followed lumbering in winter. In 1842, at Paris, Maine, he married Miss Sarah Stowell, a native of that place. Her father, Daniel, was born in Vermont, and Ann Stowell, his wife, was born in Paris. In 1849 Mr. Hyde sold out his property and set out for the west. His funds sufficed to carry him to Platteville, Wisconsin, where he was employed for some time in a powder-mill. At one time the mill was blown up, but he escaped without injury. In the spring of 1855 he set out for St. Paul, but was induced by a brother- in law to stop at Mazeppa. After helping his brother-in-law to build a log structure he went back to Galena, Illinois, and secured a stock of merchandise, which he brought here with his family in October. He soon bought the store in which he was conducting business, and afterward the store now occupied by E. L. Ford & Co. Here the business was continued till 1872, under the management of Mrs. Hyde, from the early part of 1865. In February of this year Mr. Hyde enlisted at Chicago, in the 156th Ill. regt., as a private. He was soon made orderly sergeant, and when his ability as clerk and accountant was discovered, he was made captain's clerk. This regiment was chiefly occupied in chasing guerrillas, and on three different occasions Mr. Hyde went through a forced march of ninety miles in three days in excellent form. In July, at Cleveland, Tennessee, he received a sunstroke, from which he never recovered, and is now unable to walk about without assistance. In religious faith Mr. Hyde coincides with the Congregationalists. He is an

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.

enthusiastic republican and has always evinced a commendable public spirit. It was largely dne to his influence that the Mazeppa schoolhouse, now inadequate to meet the demands upon it, was built as large as it is. He was town clerk for several years, and nearly always a member of the village school board while in active life. He was the first postmaster at Mazeppa, his commission dating January 2, 1856. He came here in debt and secured his indepen- dence by untiring industry. He claimed a quarter-section of land south of the village, by mortgaging, and afterward redeeming which he was enabled to tide over several mercantile billows. As high as ten dollars was paid by him for one hundred dollars of exchange on Boston. His estate now embraces a large and fine residence and two lots in the village. In partial compensation for his loss of health the United States government pays him a liberal pension. He was one of the most active business men of the town, and his inability is regretted by his fellow citizens. His mind is unaffected and he is an interesting companion despite his impaired hearing. Eleven children were given to Mr. and Mrs. Hyde, of whom nine are living, as follows : Eliza, with parents ; Mary D., teaching, Wilmington, North Carolina ; Frank D., Dubuque ; Edward S., Zumbro Falls ; Anna M. (Mrs. A. T. Pomeroy), Dubuque ; Julia, teacher, at home ; Ella F., teacher, Minneapolis; Minnesota S. (Mrs. Eugene Ruth), Mazeppa; Lizzie F., teacher, Minneapolis ; Joseph W., third child, was killed by a fall from a horse, at nineteen; Willard, the youngest, lived but one year.

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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 75

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