USA > Minnesota > Wright County > History of Wright County, Minnesota > Part 37
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Samuel L. Cronk, veteran of the Civil war, and retired farmer, now living in Buffalo, was born in Steuben county, New York, sou of Philip and Mary (Lawrence) Cronk, natives of Pennsyl- vania, who some years after the birth of Samuel L. moved baek to Bradford county in their native state and there spent the remain- der of their days. Philip Cronk as a young man was a black- smith. Later in life he took up farming. Himself a soldier of
SAMUEL L. CRONK AND FAMILY
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the Civil war, he gave five sons to the service. The children in the family were as follows: Joseph, Adeline, Edgar (veteran), Malissa, Samuel L. (veteran), William (veteran), George (vet- eran), Josiah (veteran), Mariah (twin to Josiah) and Calvin. Of these sons, William came to Wright county in the fifties and located in Rockford township. Samuel L. came to Minnesota in 1859 and visited his brother at Rockford, but spent the larger part of his time in the vicinity of Red Wing. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served within a month of four years. He went south with the regiment and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was captured at Murfreesboro, but was soon afterward paroled and sent to fight the Indians in the vicinity of Wood lake. Later he was again sent south with the regiment and assigned to the Army of Tennessee. He was mustered out of the service in Arkansas, paid off at Ft. Snelling and discharged. After the war he came to Wright county and followed his trade as a carpenter wherever he could find work. He was one of those who assisted in erecting the Wright County Court House in 1877. He also built the first Presbyterian church in Buffalo. Later he secured eighty acres on the banks of Lake Pulaski, cleared up the land, erected buildings and did some farming. In 1896 he retired and moved to Buffalo, where he took up his residence in a house which he had erected about 1875. Mr. Cronk became a member of the Masonic lodge at Rockford, but when the lodge was organized at Buffalo, December 12, 1879, he became one of the charter members of Nelson Lodge, No. 135, A. F. & A. M., and was the first Tyler of the lodge. He is also a member of the G. A. R. His wife is a member of the Eastern Star and of the Relief Corps. The family worships at the Presbyterian church. Mr. Cronk was married, as a young man, to Matilda Stokes, a native of England, who died and left him one son, Arthur. In November, 1869, Mr. Cronk married Harriett Gilchrist, by whom he has two children, Willard and Irene. The parents of Mrs. Cronk were Archibald and Elizabeth Gilchrist, who brought her from Indiana at the age of eleven years and located on eighty acres lying on the township line between Buffalo and Monticello.
John Dixon, well known in Buffalo and vicinity, was born on the old homestead in Frankfort township, April 2, 1857, son of James Dixon, the pioneer, who is appropriately mentioned else- where in this work. John Dixon remained at home until his mar- riage, January 17, 1889, after which he located on a farm in sec- tion 8, Rockford township, where he farmed 160 acres for fifteen years. His was a true pioneer venture. When he moved onto the tract it was entirely covered with timber. He cut off the wood and brought the land under cultivation, living in the mean- time in a small frame house and sheltering his stock in a log
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barn. Later these buildings were replaced with more modern structures. A barn, 44 by 80 feet, which he constructed, was, when it was new, one of the very finest in the county. It was on November 20, 1903, that Mr. Dixon and his good wife moved onto lot 24, which included lots 9, 10 and 11, on the picturesque banks of Lake Pulaski. A briek house which had stood on the plaee had been remodeled and renovated and put in proper shape to be opened as a first-elass summer hotel. Guests began to floek to the place faster than they could be accommodated. Mr. Dixon enlarged his park to some eighteen aeres by purchasing lots 8 and 12, and provided for his inereasing patronage by ereeting six cottages, a good barn and a daneing pavilion 36 by 74 feet, with a garage underneath. Boats of various descriptions and other attractions were also seeured. Business continued to pros- per until the venture assumed larger proportions than Mr. and Mrs. Dixon eared to handle. Consequently on May 1, 1913, they sold out to other parties, retaining, however, a small traet of land on which to ereet a private residence for themselves. This traet consists of lot 17 and seventeen aeres besides, on which he has ereeted a building which he intends to equip with cottage apartments. Mr. Dixon, on coming to Buffalo village, purchased the Heiller property. Ile has remodeled the residence, installed a hot water heating plant and made other extensive improve- ments. John Dixon was married January 17, 1889, to Louise A. Elhardt, and they have five children: James, on the old farm, seetion 8, Rockford; June, Chester and Franeis, at home, and Charles, deceased. The daughter is a teacher. Louise A. (Elhardt) Dixon was born in Milwaukee, Wis., December 11, 1862, daughter of Adam and Ernestina (Frederiek) Elhardt, and granddaughter of Herman and Catherine Elhardt and Gotlieb and Sophia Frederick. Herman Elhardt was the head of a family that came from Hesse, Germany, and located in Milwaukee. IIe was a cooper by trade. His son Adam was nineteen years of age when the family arrived in this country. Gotlieb Frederiek brought his family from Saxony, Germany, and located in Mil- waukee, where, after working for a while at his trade as a baker, he beeame a farmer. Adam and Ernestina (Frederick) Elhardt had thirteen children: Louise A. (Mrs. John Dixon), Herman, Amanda, Emily, Emma, Jacob, Helen, Ida, Ella (deceased), Alma, Fred, and two who died in infaney.
William Davies, an estimable citizen, now deceased, was born in Breekenshire, Glaseburg, South Wales, March 7, 1823, and was there reared and learned the trade of shoemaking. Later he became an extensive shoe dealer. In 1869 he came to America and located in Maryland. In 1877 he came to Wright county and engaged at his trade in Buffalo. After his arrival here he purchased two aeres of land on Lake Pulaski, erected a log
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eabin, and walked to and from his work in the village. In time lie remodeled the log cabin, and there he spent his declining years. He died in May, 1895. Ile was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and did much to materially assist in its growth and progress. Mr. Davies was married in July, 1861, to Mary Ann Thomas, born in England October 20, 1836, daughter of Stephen and May (Davis) Thomas, and to this union eight children have been born: William Morley (deceased). Lillie (deceased), Clara, Edith and Elizabeth Gertrude, wife of Abram Richards, both now deceased. Three others died in infancy. The four daughters named above all taught in the schools of this eounty. Stephen Thomas was born in England, and as a young man became a butler. When he moved to South Wales he became interested in mining, and by gradual promotion he beeame superintendent of supplies for an important mining company. Lake View House, conducted by Mrs. William Davies, is one of the most popular summer resorts in this vieinity. Situ- ated on the banks of beautiful Lake Pulaski, in a pretty grove of trees, and supplied with a splendid well two hundred feet deep, it has many natural advantages, and the atmosphere of quiet and refinement, with the homelike comforts, attraet a desirable elass of people seeking rest and recreation. Cottages have been built in addition to the original home, and everything is done for the convenience and joy of the guests. Many years ago Mrs. Davies began by taking as boarders a few people who were attracted by the beanties of the lake, and gradually the demand for aecom- modations beeame so great that Mrs. Davies established a regular summer resort. The food is of the best, the accommodations are adequate and there are ample provisions for outdoor recreation and sport. Mrs. Davies is the soul of hospitality, all her guests are made to feel like old friends, she has a hearty greeting for all, and is a cheerful, capable woman in every respeet.
Aaron W. Furtney, an estimable eitizen now living in retire- ment in Buffalo, was born in Ontario, Canada, August 19, 1842, son of Joseph and Charlotte (Hilker) Furtney. Joseph Furtney was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Furtney, who brought the family from Pennsylvania to Ontario, Canada, at the elose of the Revolutionary war. Charlotte (Hilker) Furtney was brought to America from Germany at the age of fifteen by her parents, Aaron and Charlotte Hilker. Joseph Furtney and his wife had eleven children : Aaron W., Josiah, Joseph, Henry, William, John, Henrietta, Lydia, Hannah, Elizabeth and Jacob. Aaron W. was reared in Canada, and mastered farm pursuits. In 1861 he located in Saginaw, Mich. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted from Rochester, N. Y., in Company C, Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, and served until the elose of the confliet. He was captured at the Battle of Petersburg and taken to Richmond.
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There he was put to work as fireman on an engine. But one day, being cut off from the guards, he and the engineer escaped to the Union lines after two months' captivity. He was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and after the war worked as a fireman on Ohio river steamers. Later he returned to his home in Michigan, and entered the pine woods, having experience both at chopping and driving. From there he went to Decorah, lowa, where he learned the trade of masonry. For a while he worked as a con- traetor in Austin, in this state. Then he worked in the "Soo" Railroad shops in Minneapolis. In 1896 he came to Frankfort township, in this county, and purchased thirty-four acres on the banks of Lake Charlotte. The land at that time was wild and covered with brush and had no buildings of any kind. He cleared the land into a park-like tract and erected a rustic log cabin. Later he sided over the cabin, built a large dining room, and opened a summer hotel known as the Furtney resort. In connec- tion with his hotel he kept twelve rowboats and a launch, and his place was very popular. In 1912 he sold out to a group of philanthropists, who use the place as a fresh air resort for city boys. Mr. Furtney now resides in Buffalo, where he has a com- fortable eottage home. After his life of interesting experienees he is now enjoying a well-earned rest from the pressing activities of life. At the age of twenty-nine, Mr. Furtney married Martha Hibbert, a native of Norway, daughter of Jacob and Dorondo Hibbert. Mrs. Furtney died in Minneapolis at the age of fifty- two, in 1891, just twenty years from the time she was married. She left four children, Dora, Edward, Minnie and Ella. In 1894 Mr. Furtney married Albina Dupont, born in Canada, near Mont- real, daughter of Eli and Delima (Gardbois) Dupont, who settled near St. Anthony in 1865. In the Dupont family there were sixteen ehildren.
Samuel O. Helmer, an estimable eitizen of Buffalo, now retired, was born in Wood county, Ohio, son of Philip Van Rensselaer and Hannah (Swain) Helmer. The Helmers are descended from a family that came from Holland in the seventeenth century. Philip was one of four brothers, Philip, Peter, John and James. Peter settled in Indiana and James in Wisconsin, while John remained in New York. Philip, after having married Hannah Swain (daughter of Horace Swain, of New York, who afterward located in Indiana, where he died), came westward about 1845 and located in Ohio, where he hauled boats on the Miami canal, which had just been completed. About 1851 he located in LaGrange county, Indiana, where he farmed. He died there about 1860. His wife died in 1902 at the age of seventy-four. Samuel O. was the only child in the family. He received a good education in the schools of Indiana and was reared to farm pur- suits. As a young man he learned the carpenter's trade. In
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THOR THOMPSON AND FAMILY
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April, 1869, he came to Wright county and for a short time stopped at Dean lake, in Rockford township, some four miles south of Buffalo. Later he purchased 160 acres in section 29, Buffalo township. On this place there was standing at that time a small house, and seven or eight aeres had been cleared. Ile moved into the little house, installed his mother as housekeeper, and with a yoke of oxen started to clear the land. After his marriage his wife and he continued to improve the place. For many years they toiled together, working early and late, and by diligent endeavor attained success. Mr. Helmer was supervisor of the township for many years and chairman a part of that time. He was assessor for several terms, and served on the school board of his distriet a long period. In 1910 he and his wife took up their permanent home at Buffalo. Mr. Helmer was married in November, 1870, to Margaret C. Smith, born in Lieking county, Ohio, daughter of Harrison and Margaret Smith, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Helmer have had two children, Cora B. and Lloyd Harrison. Cora B. was born in 1872, married Charles Il. Aldrich and has six children, John H., Helen, Frank, Alice, Florence and James. Lloyd Harrison was born July 3, 1877, and married Helen S. Major. He was drowned in Lake Pulaski July 8, 1906. A son, Lloyd Major, was born after his death, July 21, 1906.
Thor Thompson, a leading jeweler and music dealer, with headquarters at Buffalo and branch stores at Maple Lake and Annandale, was born in Pope county, this state, February 17, 1877, son of Thomas and Guro (Hanson) Thompson, natives of Norway, who were married in Telemarken, Norway, came to the United States in June, 1872, and settled in Pope county, Minne- sota. In 1877 they homesteaded 160 acres in the town of Reno, Pope county, where they lived till their death. The mother died December 7, 1892, and the father January 21, 1902. Thor Thomp- son was reared on the home farm. He became a true Christian at the early age of fourteen years and at the age of nineteen he felt he was called to devote his time to religious work. With this high ideal in view he became a member of the Scandinavian Mission Society of the United States of America, and as a member of this society he spent over thirteen years as a missionary. Doing missionary work, he traveled in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, lowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California. For a period of that time he served as settled pastor. Mr. Thompson was married in 1903 at Windom, Minn., to Ida Mary Lundman, a native of Westbrook, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, daughter of Peter G. and Anna (Carlson) Lundman, who were born in Sweden and married in the United States. In 1911 Mr. and Mrs. Lundman moved to Buffalo, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson made
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their home in Clarissa, Minn., for a short time and from there they moved to Buffalo, this state, and later to Minneapolis. On account of spending most of his time as traveling missionary, Mr. Thompson's health commeneed to fail and he was obliged to engage in some other line of endeavor. Consequently he returned to Buffalo, in the spring of 1910, and in the fall of the same year he opened a jewelry and music store, starting on a small seale. By his honest dealing and courteous and pleasant manners eus- tomers are made to feel their welcome, and owing to the fact that his goods are of the highest quality and his workmanship the very best, his establishment has grown to such an extent that there is not a business eoneern in Wright eounty that can show sueh a reeord. In the fall of 1913 Mr. Thompson established a branch store at Maple Lake, and placed his brother-in-law, Albin Lund- man, in charge. In May, 1914, he established a braneh store at Annandale. Theodore Lundman, also a brother-in-law of Mr. Thompson, has charge of the store at this place. In all three stores is carried a full line of jewelry, pianos and musical instru- ments, typewriters, sewing machines, novelties and the like. Mr. Thompson is an authorized dealer in Edison phonographs in Maple Lake, and from his store in that plaee will fill orders for Edison goods to any part of the country. In need of anything in his line, everyone from a grown person to a little child ean with confidence go to his store and be sure to get the right goods at the right price. He makes wateh repairing a specialty, and he takes pride in repairing watches where others have failed. In addition to this Mr. Thompson is agent for the Twin City Fire Insurance Company, of Minneapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have four children, Stanley Rosswell, Archie Bernard, Myrtle Viola and Chester Irvin.
John C. Nugent, Sr., for twenty-seven years sheriff of Wright county, was born in Medford, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, March 18, 1846, son of James Nugent, a native of Ireland, and Maria L. Nugent, a native of Masasehusetts. From Medford the family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., from there to St. Paul, and in September, 1858, to Chatham township, Wright eounty. John C. Nugent, Sr., received a good public school education, and upon arriving in Wright county took up with his parents the duties of pioneer life. The place which they took was covered with timber. Though then a boy of but eleven years, the subjeet of this sketch helped in elearing the land and in getting in the first erops. In 1866 he started out for himself by securing a tract of land in Chatham township. He became a successful farmer and a most popular man in the community. A natural leader, it was a matter of course that he should early take an interest in public affairs. lle served in local offices and his pop- ularity grew rapidly, so that in 1867 he was elected sheriff of
JOHN C. NUGENT, SR.
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Wright county. He served thereafter twenty-seven years, and with the exception of a few intervals toward the elose of that period, almost continuously. He was a good offieer, fearless and able, and the law and order of the county, under his administra- tion, was most admirably maintained. Sheriff Nugent had a faculty of making friends, and of holding those that he did make, and his influence was widespread. After a useful life of busy activity he died January 15, 1905. Sheriff Nugent was a Blue lodge, Chapter and Commandery Mason, and a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the old Druid order. John C. Nugent, Sr., was married, in 1868, to Janette Washburn, born October 24, 1851, of New England ancestry. She died July 29, 1907, widely mourned and deeply beloved. The children in the family were : Nettie (deceased), Jolm C., Jr., Mabel (deceased), Maude, Frank and Loretta.
John C. Nugent, Jr., one of the popular men of Wright county, was born September 11, 1875, on the old Nugent homestead in Chatham township, son of John C. Nugent, Sr., and Janette (Washburn) Nugent. He was reared on the home farm, attended the Buffalo school, and there grew to manhood. For six years he was deputy sheriff under his father, and for two years under William Young. He has a good farm of 267 aeres, and carries on general farming, making a specialty of raising good horses. For ten years past he has been rural mail carrier on route 5. He is a member of Buffalo Lodge, No. 141, I. O. O. F. Mr. Nugent married Bessie Ryder November 15, 1904, a native of Buffalo, daughter of James and Lena (Boomgard) Ryder, early settlers. James Ryder was born in Michigan and as a small boy was brought to this county by his parents, James and Anna Ryder. He married Lena Boomgard, a native of Holland.
Elmer B. Peterson, of the firm of Swensen & Peterson, lumber dealers, Buffalo, was born in Buffalo township, August 16, 1883, son of Jacob and Anna Peterson, the early settlers. He attended the distriet schools and spent his life on the home farm until 1910 when he came to Buffalo and engaged in his present business. A man of genial temperament, thoroughly competent in his busi- ness, he has made many friends and has built up a large trade. Mr. Peterson was married, in June, 1910, to Mabel Johnson, daughter of Gust Johnson, a pioneer of Rockford township.
Jacob Peterson was born in Sweden, April 5, 1851, son of Andrew and Carrie (Olson) Eriekson, and grandson of Erick Peterson, from whom the family name was derived. In 1868. Jacob Peterson's brother, Eriek Peterson (who took his grand- father's name), and his half-brother, Ole Anderson, came to America. In 1869, Andrew Eriekson, the father of Jacob Peter- son, eame. In 1871, Jacob Peterson's half-sister, Christina, came with her husband, Eriek Trogen, and two children, Andrew and
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Anna. In 1870, Andrew Tating, another half-brother, came. It was on June 2, 1872, that Jacob Peterson himself landed in New York. He was followed in 1873 by the mother, and the remaining sister. They completed the family in America. All are now dead except Jacob Peterson and Christina Trogen. The father, Andrew Erickson, the half-brothers, Jacob Peterson, Erick Peterson and Ole Anderson, and the brother-in-law, Erick Trogen, each seenred homesteads of eighty acres in Silver Creek township. Later Jacob Peterson went to St. Cloud. There he learned the wagon and carriage-making trade. Subsequently he returned to Buffalo and worked in a shop here some five years. Then he moved onto a tract of eighty acres one and a half miles east of Buffalo. Few improvements had been made on this land and the stumps were abundant. Mr. Peterson made many improvements, farmed at first with a yoke of oxen, gradually introduced modern machinery, erected good buildings and lived on the place twenty-seven years. He was active in church and Sunday school work of the Baptist denomination, and served as a deacon. In 1909 he returned from active farm work, moved to Buffalo, and erected a sightly home on Grant avenue, the most beautiful residence street in the city. Mr. Peterson was married in 1882 to Anna Peterson, born in Sweden January 6, 1859, daughter of Peter Olson and Carrie Eriekson, his wife, who spent the span of their years on a farm in Sweden. Two daughters, Anna and her sister, Carrie, came to America in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have nine children, Elmer B., Ellis, Albert, Esther, Minnie, Bartel, Helen, Jennie and Adolph.
Eberhardt F. Nagel, a pioneer, was born in Germany and came to America as a young man. After living two years in Pennsyl- vania and two years in Ohio, he reached Monticello, in this county, where he met and married Louisa Keherbach, who was born in Germany, eame to America with her brother, Lonis Kehierbach, and shortly before her marriage reached Monticello. May 15, 1858, the young people came to what is now Buffalo, and located three miles east of the present village on eighty acres in section 15, Buffalo township. This tract was all wild land in the midst of a wilderness. They ereeted a log cabin and ent down the trees and broke up and planted the first acre with the use of an old-fashioned grub hoe. In about two years they were enabled to purchase a yoke of oxen. It was about 1863 when they moved to section 18, Rockford township. There they purchased a claim on which a small log cabin and log barn had been ereeted and six acres of land cleared. They developed this place into a splendid 200-acre farm, and here spent many years of their lives. They were substantial, God-fearing people, and no one stood better in the community than did they. In 1892 they moved to a farm of forty acres, which Mr. Nagel had previously purchased,
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on the banks of Buffalo lake, within the present village limits of Buffalo. There they ended their days, Eberhardt F. in 1898 at the age of seventy, and his wife in 1909 at the age of seventy-four. Mr. Nagel was one of the organizers of his school distriet in Rockford township, and served as its treasurer until he removed to Buffalo. A devout Methodist in religion, he helped to establish the first church of that denomination in Roekford township. In the family there were seven children : Edward M., Laura, wife of Frank Crookshank, of Bellingham, Wash .; Herman, now on the forty-aere farm on the banks of Buffalo lake; Frank, a druggist of St. Paul, and three who died in childhood.
Edward M. Nagel, for many years prominently identified with the publie life of the county and state, was born on section 15, Buffalo township, March 21, 1863, son of Eberhardt F. and Louisa (Keherbach) Nagel, the pioneers. He was reared on his father's farm in Rockford township, attended the publie sehools, and remained at home for many years. For a considerable period he worked in a hardware store in Buffalo. Ilis publie life started while he was still on the farm, where he served for several years as assessor of Rockford township. In 1893 and 1894 he was deputy sheriff under George C. Carpenter. From 1895 to 1899 he was register of deeds of Wright county. In 1905 and 1906 he was deputy register of deeds under O. M. Palmquist. In 1906 he was elected to the lower house of the Minnesota legislature, where he served with distinetion for two years, in the sessions of 1907 and 1909. During this time he was a member of the committees on Taxes and Tax Laws, Enrollment, Education, Compensation of Publie Officials and General Legislation. In June, 1910, he was commissioned by President W. H. Taft as postmaster at Buffalo. His work in this capacity gave general satisfaction. Always faithful to duty, he worked day by day, and built up as splendid a service as can be found in a town of its size anywhere. He retired August 24, 1914. and re-entered private life. Mr. Nagel has traveled extensively. A man of wide reading and pleasant personality, he makes friends of all with whom he has come in contaet, and he is intimately acquainted with leading and influential men throughout the country. Reared on the farm, gardening and horticulture are his great delight, and his apples and garden vegetables have won first prizes at the loeal fair. Mr. Nagel's special pride is his handsome cottage on the shores of Buffalo lake, well away from the center of the business activity but within the village limits. The beautiful cottage is set on a sightly lawn, and its interior is finished in hard wood. An orehard of prize-winning apple trees adorns the lawn, and here is also found a small garden. Stretehing away to the lake is a picturesque grove, and at the foot of the grove is a beach where the conditions for bathing are ideal. Here Mr.
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