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 91
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AMOS BARNES (deceased) became a resident of Zumbro in 1862, and was one of its most successful farmers. He was a native of England, born in Kent county July 6, 1832, and died here July 25,
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1881. He was very patient under a severe affliction, cancer of the bowels. Ile was converted in 1867, and joined the Wesleyan Methodist church and died at peace. He was reared to farm labor, and emigrated in 1852 to New York, where he remained six years, and then removed to Walworth county, Wisconsin. Here he was married April 28, 1862, and set out at once to occupy his land in Minnesota, purchased in 1859. The farm embraces one hundred and sixty acres on sections 14 and 23, the residence on the former. Mrs. Barnes was born in New York city. Her maiden name was Mary Munden, and her parents - Frederick and Mary A .- were natives of England. She is also a member of the Wesleyan church. Four children are left to stay her widowhood, all at home, chris- tened George A., Marie Antoinette, Charles E. and John A.
FITZ GERALD SLOCUM, Lake City, is a descendant of Anthony Slocum, who came from England to Massachusetts in 1630, and was one of the founders of Taunton, that state. Capt. Henry Sherman, who served the colonies in the revolutionary war and in Anthony Wayne's campaigns against the Miami Indians, made his home in Providence, Rhode Island. Here grew up and married his daughter Mary and Samuel Slocum, parents of Fitz Gerald Slocum. The latter was born in Bristol, Addison county, Vermont, where he enjoyed limited educational advantages till fourteen years old. His parents then removed to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and took up the task of opening a farm in the wilderness. At eighteen our subject went to New Jersey in the employ of some stock drovers, who afterward took him into partnership. September 16, 1843, lie married Sarah P. Griggs, who was born in East Amwell ; her grandparents and parents, John and Catharine Griggs, were, like herself, born in New Jersey. In 1845 Mr. Slocum opened a hotel in Frenchtown, and subsequently engaged in the same business at Flemington, New Jersey. In 1854 he went to Wauwatosa, Wiscon- sin, and kept a hotel till his removal to Lake City in 1862. For a short time he engaged in the sale of agricultural machinery, and bought produce for nine years ; was six years employed at the Bos- ton Mills, and is now with the Lake City Flouring Mill Company. For five years after his arrival he supervised the construction of Lake City streets and roads ; was five years constable, one year policeman, and four years city marshal ; has always been a democrat. Was a charter member of the Odd-Fellows' lodge and is a member of the Masonic order. In religious faith Mr. Slocum is a Univer-
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salist, while most of his family attends the Episcopal church. Their pleasant home on Elm street is the result of Mr. Sloeum's toil and perseverance. His nine children are all in Lake City and were christened as below : Frances C. (Mrs. Erwin Alexander), Sarah, Helen (Mrs. Chas. F. Frost), Catharine, Lucy (Mrs. Arthur B. Hill), Susie, Jennie, Harry L. and Fred Gerald.
J. G. LAURENCE, president of the Wabasha Mill Company, is a native of Syracuse, New York, where he was born May 1, 1836.
ELEVATOR, WADASIIA.
In 1862 he came to Wabasha county and opened a farm of eleven hundred acres five miles southeast of town, at what is now known as Midland Junction, the intersection of the Midland railroad with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. This farm Mr. Laurence continues to operate, growing grain and raising stock, of which latter there are at present on the ranch forty head of cattle, three hundred hogs,
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twenty head of horses and five hundred sheep. Mr. Laurence has been more or less in public life since removing to the county. He was elected county commissioner in 1864, serving two terms ; was register of deeds from 1872 to 1875 ; was elected a member of the state senate in 1880 and re-elected in 1882 ; and is now serving his third term as mayor of the city of Wabasha. That he has been thoroughly identified with all the interests of the city, its railroads, improvements, industries, etc., will be fully apparent on reading the history of the various enterprises in which he has taken part. Mr. Laurence was married June 6, 1872, to Miss Alice G. Wyman, of Wabasha. They have two children : W. Hamilton, born February 24, 1875, and C. Wyman, born November 25, 1879.
CAPT. DANIEL DAVISON was born July 27, 1826, in Pennsylvania, of American parents. His education was obtained in a common school, and is somewhat limited on account of his father's carly death. He remained in his native town about ten years, when he moved with his parents to Muscatine, Iowa. His stay at this place was not long, however. The Indians at this place being very hostile and warlike, his father deemed it necessary to move, which he did, and we next find him located at Marion City, Missouri, then a thriving town. Shortly after moving to the aforesaid place his father died, thus leaving young Daniel, a boy of ten, to shift for himself. He remained in this place about three years after his father's death, when he again moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and was engaged in vari- ous occupations until about nineteen years of age. He then went to work on the river as common laborer for almost two years ; he was then pilot, captain, etc., and remained as such the rest of his stay in St. Louis. Mr. Davison moved to Minnesota in the year 1861 and settled at Read's Landing; commenced work in the lumber business and continued for one year, when he found better employ- ment in his old business as captain and pilot on the river, and has pursued same business ever since. At the commencement of the civil war he offered his services as volunteer in the 3d Minn. regt., but was refused on account of a partially crippled hand. In religion Mr. Davison is a Methodist, and in politics a republican. It was on account of his political views that he was obliged to leave St. Louis. He was an honorary member of the organization known as the St. Louis "Grays," and at the breaking out of the rebellion there was an organization known as the minute-men, organized under Gen. Frost, and Mr. Davison was asked to join the same, but
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refused. After refusing he was naturally looked upon as an enemy, and his business being upon the river he thought it unsafe to leave his family in St. Louis, and consequently moved to Read's Land- ing. He was married about the year 1854, to Maria Caroline Knapke. They have had ten children, eight of whom are still living.
HERMAN DIETERLE, foreman, in charge of Jewell & Schmidt's tinshop, is a native of Tubingen, Wurtemberg. He learned his trade as a tinsmith there, and followed it for years prior to his com- ing to America in 1854. He was in New York city and the eastern states for three years, then came west ; was in Chicago one season, and from there removed to Alma in 1858, having been informed that there was no tinsmith within fifty miles of that city. Supposing it to be a town of some importance Mr. Dieterle came with the ex- pectation of finding a good opening for business, but as there were at that time only two or three small buildings there, the prospect was not flattering. Not discouraged, however, he stuck his stakes, built a shop, and remained there until 1862, when he came to this city, entered the tinshop of Joshua Egbert, and has been in the constant employ of that house and its successors (with the exception of one year spent in the United States army) ever since. He enlisted in Co. G, 2d Art. regt., and served until mustered out. In 1879, desiring to devote some attention to fruit culture, and choosing a location somewhat removed from the center of business, Mr. Dieterle removed to his present home at the east end of the city, corner of Washington and Wabasha streets. He has a pleasant location on rising ground, affording a good view of the river, and his three lots are completely covered with vines and small fruits. Ile has of grapes two hundred vines ; raspberry bushes, four hundred ; currant bushes, two hundred; and, besides a fine strawberry bed, apples, plums and cherries in considerable numbers. Mr. Dieterle is a stu- dent of all matters connected with the working of metals. His library on these subjects is quite complete, and he is a regular con- tributor to the periodicals treating these subjects. He is also thor- oughly conversant with all the late inventions in mechanical arts, and takes the patent-office reports as they are regularly issued. May 26, 1863, Mr. Dieterle was married to Regina Eberle. They have two children : Henry, born August 18, 1866, who has almost com- pleted his apprenticeship under his father's instructions, and Minnie, born August 23, 1875, who attends the Sisters' school in this city.
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W. S. McARTHUR, general cooper factory on Second street, near the Wabasha Milling Company's gristmill. This business was es- tablished in 1869, some blocks nearer the business center of the city, and removed to its present location in 1875, at which time the shop was built. The main building is 22×60 feet and the storage room is 20×50. The business consists principally in the manufacture of flour barrels, butter tubs, and aniber-cane and syrup kegs. The usual number of hands employed is from six to twelve. Mr. W. S. McArthur is a native of Canada, learned his trade there, came direct from that province to Wabasha in 1862, started in business at once, and has now conducted it in this city a little over twenty-one years. In May, 1858, he married Miss Margaret Wilson. They have three children, one of them attending Wabasha city school.
L. & J. AFFELD, livery, sale and feed stables, corner Second and Bailly streets. Business established by Louis F. Affeld in 1882 in connection with the Green Bay House, which his father (Godfred Affeld) opened in 1869, and which has been under Louis F. Affeld's management since 1877. The livery stock consists of thirteen head of horses, ten carriages and buggies, and there is a stable force of four hands. The stock is quite new, maintained in good condition, and being within one block of the Commercial Hotel, is in a good loca- tion for business. The barn, built in 1882, is 32× 60 feet, with car- riage house, 24×32 feet, attached. Lonis F. Affeld is the son of Godfred and Dorothea Affeld, natives of Bavaria, who came to America in 1853, and three years later to Minnesota, settling near Crystal Lake, where Louis was born June 12, 1859. The family came to this county in May, 1862, residing for a time in Read's Landing, and settled in this city one year later. Mr. Godfred Affeld pursued his trade as a wagonmaker until 1869, when he opened the Green Bay House. There are six children, only two of whom are now living at home, Louis F. and his sister Hulda, who was born March 4, 1855.
ALEXANDER GRAY was born in Banffshire, Scotland, January, 1826; died October 22, 1869. He was the eldest child born to Alex- ander and Isabella Gray, and a brother to James Gray, a sketch of whose life also appears. When a young man, he spent several years in Australia, and in 1862 he emigrated to America, coming directly to West Albany township, and soon located on the farm he occupied until his deatlı. He was married in Scotland to Mary Dingwall, of Banffshire, who died October 28, 1880, leaving five children, James
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E., Alexander D., William, Jeanett and George A. Mr. Gray and wife both belonged to the United Presbyterian church. He was a republican, and at the time of his death was justice of the peace. He left a good farm of two hundred and forty acres, and with his death the community lost one of its best citizens. James E., who is living on the homestead, is a young man of intelligence and promise. He devoted three years to the scientific course of the State Univer- sity, and for a number of years has been a successful teacher in the neighborhood.
JAMES GRAY, farmer, is a native of Banffshire, Scotland, where he was born September 15, 1832. He was fourth of four children, born to Alexander and Isabella Annaud-Gray. The former was a cartwright, and died when James was a child. At the age of thir- teen the subject of our sketch learned the tailor's trade, following it until he was twenty-one, when he went to Australia. The six years passed here were mainly devoted to mining, and after returning to Scotland, he emigrated to this country in 1861, locating on the farm he now occupies. April 26, 1864, he was married to Ellen Perry, a native of Banffshire. Six children were the fruit of this union, viz: Alexander P., Margaret (deceased), James G., Mary A., William W., and Ellen. His wife died February 16, 1876. December 21, 1879, he wedded Hannah McCracken, to whom have been born two children, George S. and Ann D. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are both mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church. In politics he is republican. He is now chairman of the board of supervisors, which office he has held several years. He has a rich farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and may be numbered among the best citizens of the town- ship.
PARLEY BROWN, attorney-at-law, Lake City, is a native of Lor- raine, Jefferson county, New York, and is the second child of Walter and Abigail (Risley) Brown, who reared a family of fourteen children, eight of whom are now (1884) living. His parents were natives of Argyle, Washington county, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut, respectively. He was born April 11, 1818, and was reared on a farm till the age of twenty-one, at which time he entered a mill with a view of learning the trade. His tastes, however, inclining toward the legal profession, he soon after began reading law. Being deprived of educational advantages during early youth, or rather enjoying only such as the primitive schools in the backwoods afforded, his way to the bar was necessarily slow and tedious. But
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"as the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong," so it was with Mr. Brown. He completed his law course, and was admit- ted to the bar at Syracuse in 1859 by the supreme court of the State of New York. In 1862 he removed to Minnesota, located at Lake City, and at once entered on the practice of his profession. In 1840 he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Myers, who was a native of Schoharie county, New York. She bore a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, and died in 1875. Mr. Brown's second marriage was in 1875, to Miss Charlotte Totman, who, too, was born and reared in Jefferson county, New York. Mr. Brown takes little interest in politics, and has been a life-long democrat.
CHARLES LA RUE, farmer, Greenfield, has been a resident of this township since the spring of 1862, at which time he took the manage- ment of the farm he now occupies - then the property of his brother- in-law, W. A. Johnson -on section 22. Among the earliest families of New Jersey was that of La Rue, of French extraction. Isaac La Rue, father of this subject, was born and reared in that state, as was his bride, Martha Gregg. To them a son was born July 29, 1838, in Warren county, and christened Charles. The latter was reared on the home farm, and attended the common school some after he was fourteen years old. Nature did much for him, and he contrived to fit himself for a useful citizen. He has served four years as supervisor of Greenfield, elected by democratic votes. Is a member of Kellogg masonic lodge, of which he is now junior steward. His parents were Presbyterians, and his religions sympa- thies are with that faith. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Mary, daughter of James and Jane Carpenter, all of New York. Mrs. La Rue was born in Madison county. One son has been given to this union, born April 25, 1880, and christened William J.
JAMES F. ROGERS, of the firm of J. Dobner & Co., dealers in agricultural implements, Lake City, was born in New London, New Hampshire, December 28, 1829. He is the first son and second child of Charles H. Rogers, who is a lineal descendant from an English family of that name, who settled in Virginia toward the close of the sixteenth century. He received a classical, to which was added a theological course, with a view to entering the ministry. His tastes, however, inclining more to commercial pursuits, he made the manufacture and dressing of cloth his principal business. He was also what might be termed a public-spirited man, having been twice chosen to a seat in the New Hampshire state senate, and for
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several years occupied the responsible position of high sheriff. His wife and our subject's mother was Miss Abigal S. Copp, daughter of Robert Copp. They died and are buried in Grafton county, New Hampshire. In 1863 Mr. Rogers came to Minnesota and per- manently located in Lake City, and soon after engaged as salesman in the store of Cooper & Rogers, and four years later embarked in a general merchandise business on the corner of Washington and Center streets. After conducting business in that line six years he turned his attention to the sale of reliable and improved farm machinery. He was married May 1, 1860, to Miss Mary M. Water- man, of Norwich, Vermont, who died in February, 1868. His second marriage was on May 31, 1870, to Miss Margery E. Carson, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their children's names are Charles W., Azzy F. and Fred E. Mr. Rogers has served this county several years as deputy sheriff, and this city for the last twelve years as constable.
VAN RANSALAER LEE, veterinary surgeon, Lake City, is a grand- son of Ephraim Lee, who entered the colonial army at seventeen and served through the revolutionary war. Ephraim Lee was born in New York, of Virginian parents, and moved to Canada when James - his son, the father of this subject-was three years old. James Lee grew up in Canada, married Elizabeth MeVeigh, and settled on a farm in her native town, Elizabeth, Leeds county, Ontario, where V. R. Lee was born in March, 1817. Schools were few and primitive in that region and period, and our subject reached the age of seventeen with very little book culture. His parents then removed to Ohio, and when eighteen he set out to make his own way in the world. For some years he was employed as teamster and in various kinds of labor. In 1844 he opened a livery stable at Milan, Ohio, and began the practice of his profession, which his father had followed and taught him. By study he has improved upon his old practice, and has followed the homeopathic system twenty-four years. In 1854 he moved with a team from Milan to La Crosse, and came to Lake City in the fall of 1863. His practice is successful and he is widely known. For two years he kept the Lyon House, the leading hotel, and was landlord of the Sherman House. now burned, five years. In theological views Mr. Lee is a confirmed Universalist, and politically has always been a republican. He has been twice married : in 1844 to Wealthy A. Emerson, who died childless seven years later ; in 1852 to Eliza-
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betli, daughter of Asher Chapman, both born in Amherst, New Hampshire. Three children have been given to the latter union. The eldest, Charles H., is in Minneapolis ; the youngest, Marian Wealthy, keeps house for her father. Francis is his father's assist- ant in business. In the fall of 1882 the mother of these children passed away and calmly waits their coming on the other shore.
FRANK A. WELLS was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, New York, December 3, 1831. His parents were Russel and Sophronía (Adams) Wells. Mr. Wells' early life was spent on a farm. His education was obtained at the Pompey Hill Academy. He spent several years teaching in New York State, a portion of the time holding the position of principal in the Manlius graded school. December 23, 1855, he married Miss Sarah Alexander, of Fabius, Onondaga county, and in the spring of 1861 removed to Sparta, Wisconsin, where he engaged in teaching and agricultural pursuits for two years. In 1863 he came to Wabasha county and purchased the Sprague place on section 29, in Highland. In the autumn of 1873 he disposed of this place and bought the Betsey Hall place, just northeast of Plainview village, where he has since continued to reside. Mr. Wells is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, which he joined March 21, 1853, at Manlius, New York, the lodge at that place, Military Lodge, No. 92, being one of the oldest in that state. He was one of the charter members of Illustrious Lodge, No. 63, of Plainview, and was its first master. He is at present High Priest of the chapter, and a Knight Templar. He is indepen- dent in politics, but has held several offices of trust in the township. His family consists of four children, namely, Lillian (Mrs. F. D. Washburn), of Buffalo Lake, Renville county, Minnesota ; Florence A., Isabelle Winona, and Maud, all at home.
GEORGE HEBBELN, farmer, was born in Germany. He is the youngest son of Hans and Ann J. Hebbeln, of Holstein, Germany. When about twenty-two years old Mr. Hebbeln came to Iowa, but soon changed to Olmsted county, Minnesota. Here he worked for five years, when he returned to Germany on a short visit. He bought horses in Iowa for a short time, and finally bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, all culti- vated. He has always been a democrat in politics, and one of our reliable citizens. He was married in 1871, to Mola Gaducke, of Germany. He has three children.
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ROBERT WHITE, builder, Lake City, is descended from a long line of Connecticut ancestors, of English origin. His maternal grand- father, Van Vorns, was banished to Nova Scotia during the revolu- tion for toryism. James White, the father of this subject, was a native of Connecticut. He married Sarah Van Vorns, of New York, and located in Brooklyn, where Robert White was born, September 7, 1824. When the latter was five years old the family moved to Delaware county, and afterward to Rockaway, Long Island. His elder brothers were prominent builders in Brooklyn, and he learned . his trade with them, being foreman of their shops several years. In 1848 he went to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1849 to St. Louis, Missouri, and returned to New York to escape the cholera that was raging there. He visited Lake City in the fall of 1856, and built several residences here during the following year. In 1858 he went to California, and returned to New York next year. July 13, 1861, he was married in New Jersey, to Miss Mary L. Morris, a native of that state. Her parents, Samuel and Rhoda A. (Van Marter) Morris, were born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, and New York city respectively. Robert Morris, of revolutionary fame, was an ancestor of this family. Mr. White permanently located in Lake City in 1863, landing here May 6. Very many of the city's finest buildings are monuments of his thoroughness and skill. As a citizen Mr. White stands well in the estimation of his neighbors, as is evidenced by his election for seven years as a member of the city council. For over thirty years he was a patron of Horace Greeley's paper, and when the great leader was a candidate for president he received Mr. White's vote, and the latter has since adhered in general elections to the party whose ticket bore Greeley's name. He was formerly a republican. In matters of religion he is a Freethinker. Four sons are included in his family, resident as below : Samuel Morris, pur- suing a business course at Minneapolis ; William Edgar, mechanic, Plano, Illinois ; Robert Melvin, clerk in store at latter point ; Horace Greeley, at home.
JAMES MUNRO, farmer, was born at Banffshire, Scotland, January 14, 1845. His parents were Donald and Ann Noble-Munro, to whom were born eight children, the subject being the youngest. James left his native land at the age of eighteen, coming directly to West Albany, where he has since resided. He was soon followed to this country by his parents, who also located in this township. Here the elder Munro died in 1869. His widow is still living, and is a
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resident of Sibley county, Minnesota. December 8, 1866, James was united in marriage to Mrs. Margaret Kirkman-Corry, a native of Lanark county, Ontario. They have one child, James N. His farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres of rich land, with good buildings. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church. He is a republican in politics. For eight years he has held the office of town clerk, and is one of the prominent citizens of the township.
JEREMIAH BALDWIN, of New Haven, Connecticut, was born in the · year 1827, and removed to Ohio with his parents at the age of six years, and at the age of thirteen to Wisconsin, where he attended school until of age, part being to public and part to select school, taught by Rev. Henry Heaton. He, after working on the farm for several summers, purchased eighty acres, and for a time was employed in the government survey. At twenty-eight he married Julia Emery, of Wisconsin, who, after bearing him two children, Amos E., now practicing medicine in Marshall, Minnesota, and a daughter, since deceased, died in the spring of 1857. Eighteen months after he married his second wife, Lucia A. Pierce, of West Townsend, Vermont, May 5, 1858. From this union sprang Willis P., Horace J., J. Arthur and Minnie A., all living. In the spring of 1863 Jeremiah left Wisconsin by ox-team, after selling out, and settled on his present farm, part of which, one hundred acres, he purchased two years before of one William Thompson. Six years from this he bought out John Allon, twenty acres additional, and completed his present one hundred and sixty acres about four years after by purchase from George Cole. Mr. Baldwin has been an active trustee of the Congregational church of Plainview since its organization, September 19, 1863, and his present wife has for some time officiated as president of the Women's Board of Mission. Albert R. Pierce, brother to Mrs. Baldwin, enlisted in 1861, was wounded near Arkansas ; was honorably discharged at Fort Snelling.
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