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 89
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31, 1804, and is still able to travel alone, going to and fro between her children in different states. Four of her sons were in the army, and still survive. With her husband she took np residence in Gill- ford in 1856, and dwelt there till after his deatlı, April 3, 1870. Mr. Warring served as supervisor of that town. He was an ardent democrat, but voted for Lincoln at his second election.
JULIUS FRICKE, a native the Elbe, near Hamburg, Germany, emigrated to America in 1852, landing at New York city, where he was married to Miss Annetta Tebbens, October 5, 1853, by whom he had seven children, three boys and four girls. Two boys now sleep in Plainview cemetery, and Alfred, born February 22, 1864, the remaining son, works with his father, who in the year 1860 established the first harness-shop in Plainview, close to the site of his present place of business. Mr. Fricke resides in a handsome brick dwelling, which he erected in 1877 on his village farm of eighty acres, in close proximity to residence of Dr. Tefft. Besides this he is the owner of a farm of one hundred and two acres, which he bought of Hiram Schlacht, and is recorded under warrant 74,708. He is recognized as perfect master of the harness business in all its branches.
S. S. KEPLER, now and since 1876 of the Eau Claire "News," Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and also member of the firm of Kepler & Co., drygoods, was for twenty years a resident of this city, and for the greater part of that time actively engaged in trade on his own account. Mr. Kepler is a native of Pennsylvania, and having become acquainted with the conduct of business, as clerk, came to Wabasha in the spring of 1856 as clerk for the mercantile house of H. S. Allen & Co., lumbermen on the Chippewa, who had estab- lished a house here for the sale of general merchandise, and also a lumber yard. The manager of the business here, W. H. Creamer, went to New York in the summer of 1856, and dying there, the charge of affairs here was committed to Mr. Kepler until the arrival of W. J. Arnold that fall, who was at the head of business here until the stock was removed to Chippewa Falls, the following spring, and the business at Wa- basha closed. In the fall of 1857 Mr. Kepler started trade on his own account, and the following spring was joined by W. S. Jackson, with whom he was associated in business directly until 1876, and indirectly until the time of Mr. Jackson's death some years later. Their first business house was on the south side of Main, just east of
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Hurd's Hotel, and from this location they removed in 1864 to the corner of Main and Alleghaney streets, where in 1879 they built what is now the corner storeroom of Masonic block, and occupied by E. J. Dugan, dry goods merchant. The firm of Kepler & Jack- son shipped the first wheat ever shipped from Wabasha market in the fall of 1858, and were very actively identified with all the business interests and educational and religious affairs of the city. In addition to the lots and buildings owned by Mr. Kepler on the east side Wabasha, he has a tract of about fifty acres on the west side, platted in part, and containing some of the most eligible building sites in the city. Though no longer a resident, Mr. Kep- ler takes a deep interest in all that concerns the life of the city, and his face is frequently seen on these streets. Mr. Kepler was mar- ried in the city which for twenty years was his home, August 20, 1868, to Miss Kate McDongall, also a native of Pennsylvania. They have one son, W. S. Kepler, born in this city November 18, 1870.
HENRY BURKHARDT, sheriff, office in county jail. Sheriff Burk- hardt was elected in the fall of 1881 and his term of office will expire with the close of the present year, December 31, 1883. His depu- ties are : Rudolph Eichenberger, Wabasha ; Robert Romick, Lake City ; William Baxter, Plainview ; John Gregory, Mazeppa. Mr. Burkhardt is a native of Switzerland, came to America in 1854 and was in Madison county, Illinois, until his removal to Wabasha in 1860. The following year, 1861, in the spring, Mr. Burkhardt removed to Read's Landing and engaged in business, establishing his meat-market and dealing in live-stock. This business he still conducts, its management at present being in the hands of his son Otto. Mr. Burkhardt has been prominently identified with the business of Read's Landing and also with its local government, for the past twenty-two years, as well as interesting himself in county affairs, serving as commissioner of the county for the fifth district from 1877 to 1881. In 1856 Mr. Burkhardt married Elizabeth Burgher. They have seven children living: Rudolph, born December 27, 1857, now married and living in Polk county ; Otto, in charge of the business at Read's Landing, born March 28, 1864. Fannie, born March 4, 1866 ; Annie, born January 24, 1868 ; Ber- tie, born April 5, 1870; Henry, Jr., born June 12, 1872 ; Edwin, born February 13, 1878.
D. M. MCKENZIE, livery and sale stables, corner Main and Wal- nut streets. Premises front fifty feet on Main street, running to the
66
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river in the rear, with booking office on the corner of Main. This business was established in 1860 where now conducted, and the present stock is fifteen head of horses, and ten buggies and car- riages. Two 'buses are run to the trains and the stable force is three men. Mr. Mckenzie is a native of Perth, Ontario ; came to Wabasha county in 1853 with his parents, who the following year entered the farm on which Ed. Drury is now living, just within the city limits on the east Sec. 4, T. 110, R. 11 W. This farm Mr. Mc- Kenzie sold in 1864 and removed to town, having, as before said, previously established himself in livery business. He had the mail contract between this city and Faribault in 1858-60, and in the latter year, in connection with George Hays, took the contract for carrying mail between this place and Rochester, which they held four years, during which time they maintained a passenger stage ronte. Mr. Mckenzie was married in this city in 1861, to Miss Annie C. Campbell. They have seven children, all at home, three of them attending school in this city.
LUGER FURNITURE COMPANY, office and salesroom on the south side of Main street, three doors from Alleghaney. This business, now conducted as a joint stock company, employing large capital and scores of workmen was started in a very quiet way, by Ferdi- nand and John Luger, in 1861, at which time they started a small shop, doing hand-work, and supplying the retail trade of this section of the county. From this small beginning the industry has grown, enlarging from year to year as capital increased and demands for goods were created, until they have reached their present propor- tions, and are justly rated the largest furniture manufactory in south- ern Minnesota. The original shop was located on the east side of Pembroke, just north of the alley between Main and Second streets, and was afterward removed a few doors south of that location, a larger shop built and machinery driven by horse-power employed. From Pembroke street a change was made to Main street, north side, just west of the Wabasha bank, and in this location they remained until 1872, when their present manufactory was built on block 28, original town plat of Wabasha. Ten years afterward, March 15, 1882, the Luger Furniture Company was organized. This is a joint stock concern, capital one hundred thousand dollars, under the following management : president, Ferdinand Luger ; secretary and treasurer, F. J. Luger ; superintendent, John Luger. The manufactory proper is a three-story frame structure, 35×100
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feet, amply supplied with improved machinery for performing their work economically and with dispatch. The engine and boiler house, 24×40 feet, is furnished with an engine of thirty-five horsepower, the fuel for driving which is principally furnished from the refuse of the factory, except during the winter season, when a greater sup- ply of steam is needed for heating purposes. The finishing room is 32×50 and the wareroom 144×32 feet. The business consists in the manufacture of all kinds of common furniture, chairs and bed- steads being their specialties. One of the principal markets for their goods is at Fargo, Dakota, where they have a warehouse and salesroom, for the distribution of their prodnets throughout that section of the northwest. They have also a branch office at Moor- head, in this state. The business at that point is under the man- agement of Ferdinand Inger, president of the company. The number of hands employed at the manufactory is from fifty to sixty, and the value of their manufactured products about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum. Their supplies of hard and soft maple, butternut, oak, elm and basswood are drawn from the valley of the Chippewa. Their walnut is obtained in Iowa. The retail salesroom and office on Main street is 25×60 feet, and they ocenpy the entire second story of the block, the whole affording forty-five hundred square feet of floor room. The secretary of the company, F. J. Luger, has an office comfortably fitted up in the rear of the salesroom, and the retail department of their business at this point is under his charge. Luger Brothers, the founders and principal stockholders of the company, were originally from Voralberg, Tyrol, Enrope. There were eight brothers of them practical cabinetmak- ers, and those who have become residents of Wabasha emigrated to America in 1854, and were for six years in Dubuque, Iowa, before locating in this eity.
URIAH WHALEY was born in New York in 1826. At the age of nineteen he left his home in the east and has spent his whole life in the west. He was two years in the service of the government, with the Sth Minn., and was in some of the principal battles of the war. Mr. Whaley has a family of eight children. He has always been a hard-working and industrious man, being engaged in farming in early days, but now an employé of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company.
JOHN L. SAFFORD, since 1860 a farmer of Plainview township, was born in Allegheny county, New York; received a common-
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
school education somewhat limited on account of the illness of his father. In 1845 the family removed to Walworth county, Wiscon- sin. In 1860 young Safford, then in his twenty-sixth year, came to Wabasha county and settled on the southeast quarter of section 16. He offered his services to the government in August, 1862, and became a private in Co. C, of the 10th Minn. Inf .; was honorably discharged as a corporal August 21, 1865. He returned to Plain- view, and on the 30th of the following month was married to Rose C. Jolly, of Plainview, a native of Indiana and stepdaughter of Mr. William Boatman, a pioneer of Plainview township. He erected a house on his farm and resided there until 1873, when he sold this place and bought another of eighty acres, in section 14, where he now resides. Mr. Safford is giving some attention to dairy farming. Is a member of the Grange, No. 41. The family are members of the Christian church. Mr. Safford is republican in politics. His children are : Mary A., born August 26, 1866, and Leonard, born March 6, 1869.
WILLIAM FOREMAN, son of Charles and Elizabeth (Fisher) Fore- man, was born in Ireland. He was married to Maggie G. Robert- son, June 13, 1872. Mrs. Foreman is a native of Canada, of Scotch descent. She came to Wabasha county in company with her father's family and settled in West Albany township. She is the eldest of eight children and has a brother, James, now living in Lyon county, Minnesota. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fore- man, the eldest of which is Harry H., and Ethel Maud and Roy Elmer are the names of the other two. Mr. Foreman is well known all over the township ; has been a stanch republican all his life ; has been town clerk for a number of years. He is a member of Wapahasa Lodge, A.F.A.M., No. 14, of Wabasha city. Also Relief Chapter, No. 6, of the Knight Templars of Lake City. Mr. Foreman has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in home place, and two hundred and forty acres in Lyon county, Minnesota. He carries on threshing during the threshing season quite extensively, running three steam threshers ; has also a wood-saw. He has had charge of the Wabasha Elevator.
HON. FRANCIS W. KNAPP. The subject of this sketch was the third child in a family of five children born to Charles B. and Catherine (McIntyre) Knapp, the former a native of New York State, and the latter of pure Scotch descent. Mr. Knapp was born in Ottawa City (then By-Town), Canada, April 17, 1838. He
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attended school in Canada for a few years. His father, who was a cabinetmaker, removed with his family, in 1847, to Medina, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he located one hundred and sixty acres of government land for a home, and continued to work at his trade, and also followed the business of an architect and profession of a patent-lawyer. While the family continued to reside in Medina Francis received a good common school education, and, being of a studions disposition, was sent to the State University, at Madison, Wisconsin, where he intended to complete a full collegiate course, but, owing to defective health, was obliged to abandon this plan at the close of the first year. He now turned his attention to farming and school-teaching for two or three years. In May, 1860, he came to Minnesota and bought from Levi Emery eighty acres on section 35, Highland township, and his family came the following fall. His farm now contains two hundred and eighteen acres, on sections 34 and 35, on which he has some fine improvements. He was married December 24, 1859, to Hannah E. King, daughter of Jaira M. and Maria (Lum) King, a native of Montville, Ohio, where she was born June 11, 1839. Their union has been blessed by five children, namely, Grace M., born August 23, 1861, a pupil in the State Normal, at Winona ; Hannah E., born April 17, 1866, also a student of the Normal ; Albert H., born June 26, 1868 ; Catherine M., born July 13, 1871 ; and Charles F., born June 11, 1875. Mr. Knapp has taught school several times since coming to Minnesota. He was a soldier in the 10th Minn. for three years, and lost two fingers from his right hand in the last charge at Nashville, for which he draws a pension of ten dollars per month, and ranked as sergeant when discharged. Mr. Knapp is a republican in politics and has taken quite an active part in political contests. He has been treasurer, assessor and supervisor of the township, and was a member of the lower house of the Minnesota legislature in the win- ter of 1867-8.
WESLEY KINNEY, attorney, is a grandson of Dr. Abijah Kinney, of Hartford, Connecticut. Ogden, father of Wesley Kinney, mar- ried Huldah Walker, who was born, like himself, in Otselic, New York. They died within two weeks of each other, Mrs. Kinney on April 19, and her husband May 2, 1882, and are buried in the same town. Three Kinney brothers came from England and settled in Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut, respectively, and this family is descended from the latter. Wesley Kinny was born in
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Otselic, Chenango county, New York, December 15, 1837. His life was passed on the home farm till sixteen years of age, attending the common schools. His education was completed at the academy in Charlottesville, New York. In 1857 he began reading law at Delhi with William Murray, Jr., and a year and a half later entered the law office of Wait & Berry, at Norwich, New York. In May, 1860, he was admitted to practice in the superior court, at Binghamton. He became a resident of Mazeppa in 1861, and the following year was admitted to the United States district court. He soon became associated with F. M. Wilson, and practiced at Lake City eight years, during most of which time he was city justice. Returning to Mazeppa, he continued his practice, and has done much for the ad- vancement of the village. He drew up its charter and most of its ordinances, and was active in securing its incorporation ; was first recorder of the village. In 1882 he bought a farm of sixty acres, partly in the corporation, partly in Pine Island township, on which he took up his residence, and to which he gives part of his attention. On August 13, 1865, he was united in wedlock with Acsie A. Ford, daughter of one of Mazeppa's early pioneers. She was born at Lebanon, New York, May 29, 1846. Their children were born and christened as herewith noted : February 8, 1870, Mande ; August 5, 1873, Alvin C .; May 23, 1883, Kent Ford. Mr. Kinney is very liberal on religious questions. In politics he is a democrat. He was a member of the A.O.U. W. until the Mazeppa lodge was abandoned.
LUCIUS KINNEY, farmer, is an elder brother of the above. His parents lived during the year 1833 on a farm in Georgetown, Mad- ison county, and Lucius Kinney was born there on September 27. He was reared on the home farm in Otselic, and received a common school education. January 9, 1854, he was married, the bride being Miss Lydia Bishop, a native of Otselic. Her parents, John and Lydia Bishop, were of New Hampshire birth. Mr. Kinney came to Minnesota in 1856, arriving in Mazeppa September 3, and took up government land in Zumbrota township. A year later he sold out and went back to New York. For sixteen years he engaged in farming there, most of the time on his father's homestead, and again took up a residence in Minnesota. After a stay of two years in Lake City, he bought a farm of seventy acres of land near Mazeppa, in Goodhue county, and has ever since dwelt in this village and tilled the land. Mr. Kinney has always had a horror of debt, and went
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without many things desired rather than violate his cash rule. He has always been a democrat. Himself and wife joined the Metho- dist Episcopal church many years ago. They have two sons. The elder, Frank Clinton, born June 29, 1856, resides in Smyrna, New York, where he married Miss Catharine Wentworth. John Wesley, March 30, 1860, dwells with parents.
JOHN McBRIDE, city justice, was born in Whitehall, Greene county, Illinois, in 1821, hence was one of the pioneer children of that state. His parents, James and Nancy (Taylor) McBride, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. McBride, was a native of the Highlands of Scotland, and came to America and visited Kentucky prior to the days of Daniel Boone, the noted Kentucky pioneer. History states that Mr. McBride located his claim by writing his name on a tree, and soon went to Virginia where he settled, and remained till the time of his death. Our subject obtained his education in the pio- neer schools of his native state, to which he has, by reading and observation, added liberally. January 24, 1842, he married Mrs. Sinia Smyth, a native of Kentucky, who was then the mother of one son, Charles W. Smyth, elsewhere mentioned in this work. In 1845 Mr. McBride with his family removed to Council Hill, near Galena, Illinois, but soon after went to Miningtown, Wis- consin. In 1857 he removed to Guttenberg, Clayton county, Iowa, where he began the publication of a newspaper, which he removed in 1861 to Lake City, and conducted it as the Lake City "Times" till 1865, when he sold out and entered into mercantile pursuits. In 1877 he was elected city justice, and this position still retain's. Mr. McBride has filled many positions of official trust since his resi- dence in Lake City. In 1862 he was appointed notary public, and still holds the commission, and was the same year appointed mili- tary commissioner by Gov. Ramsey. During the early part of the late war, was United States recruiting officer, and was for eight years commissioner of deeds for the State of Wisconsin, appointed by Gov. Fairchild. He is now a successful and extensive United States claim agent. He is the father of five children, three of whom are living, Perry P., a compositor, now in St. Paul; J. Albert, a merchant in Millbank, D. T., and Mary E., at home.
CHARLES W. SMYTH, Lake City, was born in Greene county, Illi- nois, September 20, 1836, and is son of Francis and Sinia A. Smyth, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The former
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died when his son Charles was about three years old, and the latter was married in 1842, to John McBride, Esq., a respected citizen of this city. She lived till January 18, 1871, when she was accident- ally killed in attempting to jump from a entter while out riding with her son, the horse being unmanageable. In 1845, when our subject was but nine years old, he with his parents removed to Council Hill, near Galena, Illinois, where they remained for a short time, and then settled in what is now Lafayette county, Wisconsin. Their stay here, however, was not permanent, as they again went to Stephenson county, Illinois, and engaged in farming for a few years, after which they went to Iowa, and located in Clayton county, where his stepfather published a newspaper till 1861. On the last boat up the river in the fall of that year, our subject came to Lake City, and at once found employment in a lumber-yard. This he followed but a short time, and then went into the "Times" office as a type-setter for his stepfather, who was then publishing that paper. One year later he entered the employ of F. W. Hahn, a large clothier of this town as clerk, with whom he remained about two years. His next business enterprise of any importance was his present. He bought an interest in a meat-market, and has successfully conducted the butcher business in this city for nearly twenty years. November 17, 1867, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Corwin, a daughter of Henry Heys, Esq., of Goodhne county, Minnesota, a native of England. They have four children, whose names in the order of their birth are: Libbie T. Corwin, Druzilla A., Julia A. and Carrie M. Smyth. Mr. Smyth is a charter member of the Masonic lodge of Lake City, is also a member of the chapter and commandery, and of the I.O.O.F., and an enthusiastic worker in and supporter of these societies.
DANIEL C. CORWIN, Lake City, is the eldest of ten brothers who never disagreed, is a native of Long Island, New York, and was born March 10, 1828. His father, Capt. Henry Corwin, was a sea- faring man, and his son started on the water when but nine years old. He followed boating till the age of fifteen, when he left the sea to take a position in a wholesale store in Norwich, Connecticut. He held this position four years, when he turned his attention to art study, at the same time serving his teacher as clerk in his store. After pursuing his studies two years, he returned to Brooklyn, and continued this line of business in and about Long Island and New York till 1859. His time was principally employed in sign and
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display painting, thoughi he produced some very fine specimens of landscapes and oil portraits. The action of chemicals used in his work had by this time so impaired his health that he was compelled to abandon a well-established business, and seek a more health-in- vigorating climate. The same year he came to Minnesota, and pur- chased a farm in Goodhne county, where, after two years' rural life, a portion of his former strengthi was regained. He then sold the farm and removed to Lake City, where he started in business, which he continued till 1879, when he met with a total loss by fire. Ile soon after started in a small way on Main street, where he keeps a restaurant and dining-hall. Mr. Corwin was married in 1848 to Mary C. Smith, who died in 1862, leaving one child that has also passed away. His second marriage was in 1862 to Diantha L. Run- dle, by whom he has two children, Louis A. and Mary E.
PATRICK SHIELDS was born in County Galway, Ireland, in the year 1831. His parents, Stephen and Bridget (Laylor) Shields (or Shiel) were small farmers. When twenty-six years old he emigrated to the United States, and found work in the Stark cotton mills at Manchester, New Hampshire. Here he espoused Margret Beggan, also a native of Galway county. In 1859 he removed his family to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm until just prior to tlie breaking out of the great rebellion. About this time he came to Wabasha county, and bonght ont a squatter on section 30, in High- land township. He now occupies a farm on section 29 in the same township, and has in addition to this place another of eighty acres on sections 20 and 21. His wife is an invalid, but has borne him the following children, viz: Mrs. Elizabeth Rodney, of Highland; John, born February 5, 1858, a young man of good business ability and fine education, residing at home : Maggy Curran, born October 12, 1859; Hanore, born July 30, 1861; Mary, born September 29, 1867. In early pioneer days Mr. Shield used to go barefoot in cold weather, as he was too poor to purchase suitable covering for his feet, and has endured many other hardships, but is now in comfort- able circumstances. Four years after his arrival in Highland he sold his original claim for two thousand dollars in cash. He is a Catholic, and in politics independent.
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