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 81
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DR. E. A. PATTON, of Minneapolis, was formerly a physician of Lake City, in partnership with his father, G. R. Patton. He is a gentleman of superior education and attainments and is now the professor of physiology in the Minnesota College Hospital of Min- neapolis. His wife, Mattie S., is a daughter of Maj. L. S. Van Vliet, whose sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume.
HARRISON GILLETT, the great engine-boiler builder and machinist, of Lake City, was born in Coopertown, New York, in 1824, and at the early age of twelve years had developed considerable taste for machinery, especially such as was propelled by steam power. At that age he began running an engine at Syracuse, New York, and two years later went into a machine-shop to learn the art of build- ing. This he completed, and to this day has kept pace with the development of steam machinery and in many ways taken decidedly advanced steps in the science. In 1856 he came to Minnesota and located in Lake City, and at once, in company with Starr, Gaylord & Thompson, built a mill - his connection with this firm, however, was soon severed, he drifting into his old business and also starting a foundry. He run the first heat in this city on July 10, 1869, and erected his large machine-shop at the corner of Main and Dwelle streets in 1870. This building is a massive stone structure in size, 38×120, walls eighteen inches thick, on a substantial foundation, two feet in thickness, fifty feet of the front, two stories high, the entire building covered with an iron roof. The interior is arranged into apartments to suit the convenience of the different branches of work carried on, each room being supplied with new and improved machinery for the moulding and making of any article, from a wheelbarrow to a complete steam threshing-machine, capable of
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being conveyed to the field by its own motive power. In this immense establishment is a thirty-horsepower engine, which not only propels the vast machinery within its own walls, but also furnishes the power for two grain elevators. During the threshing season of 1882 Mr. Gillette had in the field thirteen full-equipped steam threshers, through which was run about five hundred thousand bushels of grain, earning the sum of fourteen thousand three hun- dred dollars. Suffice it to say that Mr. Gillett is a natural machinist in every sense, and his sons are men of the same stamp. He was married December 31, 1846, to Miss Mary L. Bayard, of the State of New York, who has borne to him eight children; six of whom are still living, whose names in the order of their birth are Frank H., Frances L. James H., Fred H., Addie L., and Asa D.
JOHN FLETCHER, Lake City, was born in Madison county, New York, February 18, 1831, and is the ninth child of Isaac and Nancy (Brown) Fletcher, who reared a family of ten to manhood and womanhood, save the first child, a daughter, who died at the age of sixteen years. They were natives of Vermont and York State respectively, and died in Madison county, New York. John's early years were spent on the farm, and his education was com- pleted with three terms at Hamilton Academy. For seven years his time was principally employed in teaching school. In 1856 he made a trip to Minnesota, having been employed to place the machin- ery in a mill at Mazeppa. At this time he placed the buhrs in the first flouring-mill in this county. The same season he made a claim to a quarter-section of government land in Goodhne county. In 1860 he became a permanent resident of this county, settling with his family on a farm in Mazeppa, and three years later removed to Lake City where he for several years conducted a hotel. In 1870 he engaged in the grain trade and in 1880 removed his head- quarters to Cass county, Dakota, though he continued to reside here. Jannary 6, 1858, Mr. Fletcher was united in marriage to Sallie B. Hawks, who was born in Georgetown, Madison county, New York, whither her parents - Horace and Hannah (Bardwell) Hawks - removed from Massachusetts in the earliest period of Georgetown's settlement. To Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher two children were given, one of whom, Phila L., is now in attendance at the city schools. The other died in childhood.
LORIN J. FLETCHER, grain-dealer, Lake City, is a brother of John Fletcher above mentioned. He was born December 11,
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1833, in Madison county, New York ; enjoyed the advantages of a common school through youth, to which was added one year's academic training. The eight years previous to 1856 were spent in a store, and in this year he came to Mazeppa, this county, and embarked in a mercantile business. After conducting a pioneer store one year he returned east, where he remained until 1859, when he again came to this county. Then followed a two years' residence in Mazeppa, after which he permanently located in Lake City, and at once engaged in the grain and commission business as a member of the firm of Amsbry & Fletcher. This firm con- ducted a prosperous business in this city up till the time of the con- struction of railroads through the interior, which materially cut off their trade from the rural towns. This firm also were agents for the St. Louis and St. Paul line of steamboats on the Mississippi river, and was for many years agent for the Northwestern Express Company, as well as for the American Express Company after it had absorbed the former. After the completion of the railroad to this city, they built an elevator near the company's depot, where Mr. Fletcher is still engaged in the grain trade. He was married at Lake City, April 26, 1859, to Miss Mate E. Amsbry, the only daughter of his business partner, Mr. William H. Amsbry. She is a native of Shenango county, New York. To them were born two children, but one of whom is living, a daughter, Jessie C., now eight years of age. 1
WILLIAM H. AMSBRY (deceased) was born in New Hampshire in 1817, and was reared on a farm in Shenango county, New York, from the time he was six years of age. In 1836 he was married to Miss Charlotte Coley, and followed agricultural pursuits in She- nango county till 1856, when he removed to the new and untried State of Minnesota. He first settled in Mazeppa, in this county, and there bought out and completed the first mill begun in the county. In 1860 he sold out and removed to Lake City, where he conducted an extensive grain and general commission business. He died in 1881, and is much missed by his friends and fellow- citizens. Mr. Amsbry served this county as commissioner, in its early history, and Lake City as a staunch friend and advisor in later years.
DAVID CRONIN (deceased) was one of the early settlers of Lake City, having come here about 1856. He was born in Ireland, and there married Miss Margaret Walsh in 1843. In 1846 they emi-
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grated to the United States, and for the following ten years was engaged in railroading in various states both east and west. By this time they has succeeded in saving a little money, and a small family had come to be cared for, hence their removal so far north- west. Here he purchased a small farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the town of Lake. Soon after he had got started at farm- ing came the outbreak of the late war, in which a spirit of patriot- ism and love of his adopted country caused him to enlist. He became a member of the Sth Minn. Vol. Inf., and was engaged in border warfare with the Indians, when he died at Fort Abercrombie, where his remains now rest. Mrs. Cronin, though aged and feeble, still resides in this city with her four children, whose names in the order of their birth are : Daniel, Mary, Margaret and David. One son, Michael, a promising young man, died (it is supposed) from injuries received by being struck violently on the breast with a plow handle. The mother and children are faithful members of the Catholic church.
WILLIAM E. PERKINS, livery man, Lake City, came to Lake City in September, 1858, and spent his first winter here teaching a school at Central Point, after which for a time he engaged in handling lumber for F. R. Sterrett and Bessey & Willis, after which he spent some time in farming within the present limits of Lake City. In the fall of 1866 he embarked in the livery business with A. W. Detmars, and so continued about five years. He then bought out Mr. Det- mar's interest, and has since conducted the business individually, near the corner of Lyon avenue and Washington street. His busi- ness of late years requires about twenty horses, though before the con- struction of the railroads a larger number were needed. In addition to his livery and 'bus business, Mr. Perkins is also engaged in the purchase and sale of fine and heavy horses, most of them obtained in Illinois and Iowa. Mr. Perkins was born in Watertown, New York, September 16, 1839, and is a son of George B. and Cinthia (Woolley) Perkins. He was married July 23, 1858, to Miss Anna M. Woodford, a native of Vermont. To them were born five chil- dren, of whom two, George W. and Sidney W., are living, and now in business. The former is agent for the American Express com- pany of this city, and the latter employed in his uncle George W. Perkin's store at Furgus Falls, Minnesota. Three lovely and affec- tionate daughters once graced the home of Mr. and Mrs. Perkins. Of these, Litha E. (who was their second child) died soon after
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entering on her third year. L. Nellie and Florence G. were longer spared to their fond parents. The former died of diphtheria Febru- ary 19,1879, in the twelfth year of her age, and the latter died of the same disease Jannary 1, following, in her tenth year. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins are prominently connected with the Episcopal church, and he is a staunch member of the Masonic fraternity.
LYMON E. THORP, Lake City, who became a resident of this county as early as 1856, is a native of Madison county, New York, is a son of Orrin and Lucretia (Patridge) Thorp, and was born June 15, 1883. His early youth was spent on the farm, where his parents gave him the best educational advantages the country school afforded. At about the age of fifteen he started to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he completed, and followed the business in his native state till 1856. December 25, 1855, he married Miss Marion O. Smith, a native of Shenango county, New York, and in the fall of the next year emigrated to Minnesota, settling in Mazeppa township, in Wabasha county, where he pre-empted a quarter-section of land, on which he built a small house, and there resided one year. By this time his wife's health had become so impaired that her physician advised a return to lier old eastern home. The next two years was spent there and in the fall of 1859 he returned to Mazeppa, and the next spring built the Franklin House, and kept hotel till August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. G, 8th Minn. Vol. Inf. His first two years' military service was in border warfare on the frontier, crossing the plains to the Yellowstone, under command of Gen. Sulley. The regiment was then ordered sonth, where it did garrison duty till the close of the war. After some time spent in visiting friends east, he permanently located in Lake City, and engaged in the grain trade, which he followed till his recent connection with the Jewell nursery as traveling salesman. Mrs. Thorp's parents, Joshua and Anrilla (Franklin) Smith settled in Mazeppa in 1856, where they have since been laid to rest. Mr. Thorp is a member of the Masonic lodge, chapter and commandery of this city, and occupies his own palatial residence in this city.
GEORGE W. SYLVESTER, born April 6, 1828, died September 6, 1876. His father, Caleb Sylvester, was a farmer and surveyor, and resided at Phillips, Maine, where the subject of this sketch was born, and received a common school education. In 1844 the Sylvester family removed to Wisconsin, and located on a farm near Platteville, in the vicinity of the lead mines, where the boys found employment.
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In 1851 George, in company with his brother Charles, crossed the plains with an ox-teamn, and found their way into the gold diggings of California. In 1854 he returned, via the isthmus of Panama, bringing back about two thousand dollars as the fruits of his three years' toil in the mines. The fall of the following year he came to Minnesota, and located a claim on the S. E. ¿ of Sec. 25, in Plainview township. He spent that winter at his Wisconsin home, and on March 18, 1856, was married to Miss Matilda Cook, daughter of Henry Cook, a Wisconsin farmer. This lady was born November 5, 1838, in the township of Waterloo, Province of Quebec. The May following his marriage found Mr. Sylvester and his bride in possession of their new Minnesota home, and here he spent the re- mainder of his life in improving and beautifying his chosen home. Mr. Sylvester was a skillful carpenter, and devoted most of his time to that vocation. In 1860 he erected a large barn which he painted red, and was soon widely known as the "Big Red Barn." The present residence was not erected until 1875. His family now re- sides in the village of Plainview, and consists of Mrs. Sylvester and five children, viz: Edwin L., born March 16, 1859, bookkeeper in the Plainview Bank, educated at the Plainview High School ; Hattie A .; G. Franklyn, telegraph operator at St. Joseph, Minn .; Electra A., and Nellie M. Mr. Sylvester was from the first prominently identified with the religious work in Plainview, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church ; he was also a member of both the Masonic and Odd-Fellows fraternities of Plainview, and was at one time on the township board of supervisors, and was more or less prominently identified with county politics. Mr. Sylvester was the first postmaster of the Woodland office.
PATRICK MCDONOUGH, Mount Pleasant, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, about 1824. When eighteen, he came to the United States and engaged in tailorwork with an elder brother in Shenango county, New York. He came to Mazeppa in the fall of 1856, and secured some land near that village. In partnership with his brother he now owns eighty acres in Zumbrota and a like amount in Mount Pleasant, where he lives. He enlisted February 22, 1862, in Co. H, 5th Minn. regt., and served in the western army. He was an actor in the battles of Vicksburg, Nashville, Corinth, Iuka, Jackson, Champion Hills and the Red River expedition. He was hurt by a fall in the night, but served out his time and was discharged in September, 1865. After the war he spent three years
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in Swift county, where he took a claim and afterward sold it. Mr. McDonough never married, and resides with a niece, Mrs. Mc- Bride. He is a member of Lake City Catholic church and a demo- crat.
JOHN DALE (deceased) was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1806. He was a son of Christopher Dale, also a native of Pennsylvania, of English descent. His mother died when he was an infant. He was reared on a farm and learned the weaver's trade. His wife, Christina, née Myers, was born in the same neigh- borhood as himself on December 28, 1804, and they were united in marriage August 14, 1827. Mr. Dale owned a farm in his native state, which he tilled. He came thence to Wabasha county in 1865 and bought a farm on section 24, Zumbro township. He
died December 23, 1882, at the residence of his eldest son, Daniel. His wife died July 7, 1877. Six sons and one daughter survive them : Daniel, Jacob M., Samuel, John W., Mary Ellen (Mrs. David Myers), Levi A., and Simon W. The third son resides at Fostoria, Ohio ; the fourth at Zumbro Falls ; the daughter at Well- ington, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Dale were Dunkards in faith.
DANIEL DALE, eldest son of John Dale, was born in Center township, Perry county, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1830. His early life was passed on the farm, and at nineteen he began work at the carpenter's trade. He subsequently took up cabinetwork, which he worked at more or less till 1859. In 1856 he took up his residence in Zumbro, making claim to one-fourth of section 19. He still retains one half of this claim, on which he lives. His estate includes one hundred and fifty acres, of which twenty are timbered. He has a fine farm and has handsomely improved it. He was mar- ried October 18, 1859, to Elizabetlı Peterman, a native of Pennsyl- vania ; her parents were Jacob and Annie (Myers) Peterman, of French and German extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Dale are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The former has always cast his vote with the republican party. Their first child was christened Ida, and died when four months old. Jenny M., born March 23, 1863, married D. W. Coleman, and dwells at Emma, Dakota. Helen E., October 1, 1866, resides with parents.
JACOB M., second son of John Dale, was born in Center May 17, 1832. He was put out at an early age to live with a Dutch farmer, and learned the language of his foster-parents, so that he now speaks it equally as well as English. At his majority he took up
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chair making and painting, and followed this occupation many years. He became a citizen of Zumbro in 1856, taking a claim on section 19, June 26. He still dwells on the original claim, and has one hundred and six acres of land. He arrived with noth- ing, and is now independent. On February 24, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah E. Henry, daughter of James Henry, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Mrs. Dale has always been called Lizzie. She was born in Vernon, Trumbull county, Ohio, October 17, 1834. Mr. Dale is a republican and himself and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have two children : John A., born March 2, 1861, resides at Grafton, Dakota; Carrie E., August 8, 1865, now fitting herself for a teacher at Rochester.
LEVI A., fifth son of John Dale, was born in Center, August 3, 1845. Reared on farm and received a common school education. Came to Zumbro November 27, 1863. Next year he bought sixty- five acres on section 24, where his home has been ever since. By industry and perseverance he has made himself independent. Has purchased twenty acres of timber in Mazeppa. He was married November 28, 1869, to Louisa A., daughter of H. C. Brant, whose biography is elsewhere given in this book. They have three chil- dren, born as follows: Earl C., March 14, 1876; Roy M., October 26, 1878 ; Hattie May, May 5. 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Dale are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. The former is a republican, because he considers that correct principles are espoused by the party known by that name. He came to Minne- sota without capital, and with the aid of his faithful helpmeet has secured a happy home.
JOHN A. MARTIN, millwright, Mazeppa, is a grandson of John Martin, of Delaware. His father, John Martin, served as a United States marine in the war of 1812, and married Catharine Portman, also native of Delaware. This couple settled in Russelsburg, War- ren county, Pennsylvania, where was born to them the subject ot this mention, on September 11, 1828. He was reared on a farm on the Conewango river, two miles from a school. He had no oppor- tunity to attend school after fourteen years old, being then employed in a sawinill. Having a natural taste for mechanical labor, he soon became skilled in the use of tools. His father was a lumberman, and he had good opportunities for practice. Mrs. Martin was born and reared within half a mile of her husband, and was united to him in marriage October 15, 1852. Her father, E. W. Chase, was a native
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of New York, and she was christened Mary Jane. After spending a short time in Michigan, he arrived in Mazeppa in September, 1856, where his home has been ever since. After working a short time at St. Anthony, he returned for his family. Coming up the Mississippi on the Lady Franklin, the vessel sunk at Prairie du Chien, but they escaped without loss, and arrived in Red Wing, in December. For a year or two Mr. Martin operated the sawmill here. In the summer of 1857 he built a house on First street, in which he dwelt several years. Next year he bought a farm in Zumbrota township, near this village, and now has ninety acres of land. His present residence on the corner of Broadway and Cherry streets, where he has four lots, was built by him in 1862. He has built or repaired mills at Lodi, Pine Island, Oronoco, Zumbro Falls, Forest Mills, and numerous other points. He is a firm and enthusi- astic democrat, and served as postmaster at Mazeppa throughout Buchanan's administration. His religions sympathies are with the Universalists. He has superintended a great many funerals. He is very fond of hunting, which he has pursued from boyhood, capturing a great many deer. His field has extended from Pennsylvania to Montana, and he visits the latter territory often now. His children were born and christened as follows : October 15, 1854, Emmagene (Mrs. Fred. C. Hollenbeck, Bismarck, Dakota Territory) ; April 15, 1857, Arthur, now at Brainerd, Minnesota; January 18, 1870, Carribelle, home.
JESSE YOUNGS (deccased) was one of the pioneers of Mazeppa township, taking a claim in the fall of 1856 on section 8, where he died in September, 1865. He was born near Stanton, Connecticut, in 1789, and served through the war of 1812. His father was a revolutionary soldier. He married Martha McBride, and settled in Livingston county, New York, where he remained till he came here. He had two sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Enoch, came here with his father and took up a claim near by. He enlisted in February, 1862, in the 5th Minn. Vols., and was shot in Texas by guerrillas in 1864. He left a wife and five children. The other son remains on his father's original claim. Matilda J., one of the daughters, married Zerch Cornish and lives near Sleepy Eye. Anna married Charles Sibley, and lives near her brother on the old claim.
JOHN J. SIBLEY, as above related, resides on his father's original claim in Mazeppa. He was born in Sparta, Livingston county, New
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York, November 12, 1816. He married Almeda Lovell, born in New York, also the grandchild of a revolutionary soldier, and pur- chased a farm there on which he lived till the spring of 1857. He then came west and located where he is now. Mr. and Mrs. Youngs are Methodists. They have six children : Benjamin, the eldest, served in the war against the Sioux and also at the South. He now resides in Mazeppa. The others reside as follows : George R., Moorhead, this state; Jesse, Mazeppa; Joseph, on father's farm ; Henrietta (Mrs. Alvin Sibley), Lake Benton, Minnesota ; Phœbe A. (Mrs. Joseph Harrison), Mazeppa. Mr. Youngs is a faithful republican.
TURNER J. PREBLE, farmer, is a great-grandson of James Preble, an Englishman. Benjamin, son of the latter, married Lydia Tibbetts, both born in Maine. Their son Turner was born in 1807 in Whitesfield, Lincoln county, that state ; he married Temperance Eldredge, of Argyle, Penobscot county, daughter of Richard and Temperance (Wheldin) Eldredge. The subject of this sketch was born in Old Lemon, Hancock county, Maine, March 30, 1842. From 1850 to 1855 his parents resided in Mckean county, Penn- sylvania, and in the spring of the last-named year became a resident of Minnesota. The summer was spent on rented land opposite Hudson, Wisconsin. In the fall of that year Turner Preble settled at Mazeppa. During the following winter he hewed the timbers for the first mill built in that town. He took up government land near the village, which he held till 1865. He then sold and bought the farm on which he resides (section 7, Chester). The subject of this sketch received but a limited education, such as is afforded by the primitive schools of a new country. For some years after attaining his majority he continued to reside with his father and to assist him in farm operations. In 1868 he purchased eighty acres of land near his father's (partly in Zumbrota), which he still owns and tills. He is now the owner of two outlots in Mazeppa village, beside a half- interest in another on which himself and partner are building a grist- mill at this writing. In the summer of 1883 he built a house near the millsite, in which he now dwells with his family. In 1868 he married May Lord, a native of New York ; her father, Lewis Lord, was a native of Massachusetts, and his wife Jane, of New York. Their children were born as below : Emma J., January 2, 1870; Lefa, February 19, 1873 ; Alonzo, July 28, 1876 ; George, August 3, 1878. Mr. Preble served a short time as a recruit in the 1st
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Minn. Heavy Art., enlisting January 28, 1865, and being discharged October 10 following. He was stationed at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
SAMUEL H. DOANE was born in Jefferson county, New York, on August 18, 1816. His parents were farmers, and Samuel's early years and youth were spent on a farm. In 1843 he, in company with his brother Daniel, went to Rockland county, in the same state, and worked as farm hands for one of the old German farmers of that vicinity. They remained with him for several years, and induced him to lay aside the old-fashioned one-handled plow and wooden- tooth harrow, with which he had cultivated his land, after the manner of his parents. In the fall of 1856 Samuel came to Highland town- ship. He labored among farmers for many years, and drew the Inm- ber for the first hotel ever erected in Plainview. He now resides with his brother Daniel, on the latter's farm, which adjoins his own snug little place of forty acres on section 33.
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