USA > Minnesota > Wright County > History of Wright County, Minnesota > Part 38
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Nagel entertains his favored friends. Mr. Nagel is a member of numerous societies, including the Chapter and Blue lodge of the Masons. He was one of the organizers of the First State Bank of Buffalo and served as its first viee-president. In 1906 he was a member of the Republican State Central Committee.
Thomas Smithson, a pioneer, was born on Long Island, in New York state, was reared in that state, and as a youth learned the trade of machinist and engineer. He married Hannah Humphrey, a native of New York City, and there were born three children, Susan, George and Amelia. Susan died in New York state. In 1856 Thomas Smithson brought his family to Wright county, among the earliest pioneers, and located on 160 aeres on the west side of Lake Pulaski, in Buffalo township. There he ereeted a log cabin and began farming with the aid of an ox team. On this farm five more children, William, Sarah, Adelaide, Elizabeth, Adeline (twins), Katie and Emma, were born. Sarah Adelaide was but six weeks old when her mother died in 1861, at the age of thirty-three. Bereaved of his wife, Mr. Smithson went to St. Paul, and there for a time followed his trade. For his second wife, he married Harriet Clute, and re- turned to his farm on Lake Pulaski, where he added eighty aeres of land to his original elaim, ereeted modern buildings, and brought the place to a high stage of cultivation. Before coming west he had joined the Baptist church and the Odd Fellows at Hoboken, N. J. At Buffalo he joined the Masons. Mr. Smithson died December 19, 1896, at the age of seventy. It is interesting to note that while working in a foundry at Minneapolis Mr. Smithson helped turn out the first car wheels ever made in Minnesota.
Thomas Henderson, a retired farmer living in Buffalo, was born in Ontario, Canada, January 21, 1855, son of Thomas (Sr.) and Sarah (Robinson) Henderson, natives of Ireland, who came as children to Canada, married and became leading farmers. Thomas Henderson, Sr., died in the prime of manhood, leaving three sons, William, Joel and Thomas. Later the widow married Mathew MeClay, and by this union had seven children, Sarah J., Samuel, James, John, Leslie, Margaret and Robert. Mr. McClay, in 1873, brought the family to Minnesota and settled in Howard Lake, this county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Thomas Henderson received his early education in Canada. After coming to this eounty he took up farming on eighty aeres of land in Middleville township. He married at the age of twen- ty-three. In 1881 they went to Sherburne county, where they farmed until 1909. Then they seeured five aeres in the suburbs of Buffalo, where they now reside, the traet giving Mr. Hlender- son just enough work to keep him busy, without proving the burden that a larger farm would be. Mr. Henderson is allied
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with the Masonie body at Monticello. Mr. Henderson was mar- ried April 30, 1878, to Sarah Adelaide Smithson, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Humphrey) Smithson, pioneers of Wright county. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have three children, Eva Jane, wife of H. Il. Chilson, of Big Lake; George A., of British Colum- bia ; and Mabel, wife of R. A. Marriage, of Big Lake.
John C. Aldrich, one of the early settlers of Buffalo township, now deceased, was born in Deposit, Broome county, New York, March 2, 1828. At the age of eight he was brought by his par- ents to Ohio, and from that state, when he was thirteen, they set out by team for Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood. After attaining maturity he returned to New York state and there married a Miss Tuttle, who died a year later, leaving him one daughter, Hattie. Then he returned to Jeffer- son county and took up farming for a while. There he married Mrs. Matilda ( Whitney) Sexton. It was in 1864 that they came to Minnesota and located in Dakota county. In 1886 they eame to Wright county and settled on 160 aeres in seetion 28, Buffalo township, for which he paid $6 an acre. On the place was a log house built by the pioneer, George Davis, and some of the land had been broken. But the place was for the most part wild and timbered. Mr. Aldrieh eut off the timber, broke the land, ereeted a frame house and suitable barns, and became a prosperous man. Ile was mneh interested in school matters, and took an active part therein, helping to build the first, second and third sehool- house in his distriet. He was also an active worker in the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mr. Aldrich died in 1898 at the age of sixty-nine. His wife died in 1888 at the age of fifty-eight. They had three children, Elmer, Charles and Willis S.
Charles Aldrich, one of the leading dairymen of Wright county, was born in Dakota county, this state, February 21, 1866, son of John C. and Matilda Aldrich. He was brought to Buffalo town- ship as an infant, was reared on seetion 28, and on attaining the years of manhood purchased the home place from his father. IIe now has 120 aeres of good land. On it he has ereeted good build- ings and made many other improvements. While he does gen- erał farming and raises some Percheron horses, his great specialty is dairying. Ile has a splendid herd of full-blooded Guernsey cattle that yield him large returns. His average cheek, per eow, for 1914, was $98.25. For a long period he has been an officer of the Buffalo Co-Operative Creamery. In 1912, he completed a service of fifteen years as town elerk, in which position he won mueh praise. He has served on the school board ever since he was twenty-one years of age. In fact, he has done whatever he had found of advantage to the township in which he has lived, and he is regarded as one of her most useful citizens. He is well known in the village and there belongs to the A. O. U. W. Lodge.
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Mr. Aldrich married Cora Helmer, and he has six children, John, Helen, Frank, Aliee, Florence and James, of whom he may well be proud.
William Abel, a prosperous farmer of Buffalo township, was born on the old homestead in the neighborhood where he still resides, March 1, 1871, son of Jacob and Christina (Eriekson) Abel, the pioneers, who are appropriately mentioned elsewhere. He attended the distriet sehools, and at the age of twenty-two started out for himself by purchasing eighty aeres of land from his father. By hard work and industrious intelligence, he has been enabled to add eighty aeres more. He has erected modern buildings, and has good equipment. He raises general erops and makes a specialty of full-blooded Holstein cattle. Being of a fraternal disposition, Mr. Abel has allied himself with the Work- men. William Abel was married in 1901 to Florence Denney, a pioneer, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. They have five ehildren : Ivory, Elmer, Edna, Blanche and Howard.
Jacob Abel, of Buffalo township, is one of the few pioneers who are still living on the original elaim that they took in 1858. Although he is over eighty years of age, he and his good wife are still hale and hearty, and he is able to read ordinary type with- ont the help of glasses. He has fought for his country's liberty, has helped develop a new country, and now in ripe old age he is reaping a full measure of honor and respect. Jacob Abel was born in Williamsberg, Germany, February 7, 1831, son of Jaeob and Riga (Grouse) Abel. In the family there were five children, Jacob, Riga, David, Christ and Christina. Of these, Jacob, the subject of this sketeh, was the only one who came to Ameriea. He came in 1854, being on the water forty-two days. About four years he lived in Ohio. In 1858 he came to Minnesota and seeured a elaim on seetion 15, Buffalo township. Here he endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life. The land was covered with timber and had to be eleared before crops could be raised. But he was enabled to seeure a yoke of oxen, and soon he had a eabin built on the present location of the house. Provisions were scaree, and comforts were few. At times the only food was corn bread made from eorn ground in a eoffee mill. In 1862 and 1863 he was driven away by the fear of the Indians. After the Indian troubles were over the Civil war continued to rage, ealls kept coming for men, and in 1864 he went to Ft. Snelling and enlisted in Co. B, Eleventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving until the elose of the war. He was mustered out in Tennessee, June 26, 1865. Then he returned to his elaim, where he has sinee resided. As time passed he added to his farm, buildings of mod- ern construction were ereeted, and he became one of the substan- tial men of the community. He helped to build the Pelican lake church, served a long period as a school officer, and was town
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JACOB ABEL AND FAMILY
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supervisor for seven years. Mr. Abel was married in 1866 to Christina Erickson, born in Sweden, February 4, 1846, daughter of Swan and Anna Erickson, who came to America in 1850 with their family, and several years later located in Marysville, Wright county. Their children were Peter, Mary, Swan, Nels, Manuel Mr. and Mrs. Abel have had ten children : John, Anna, William, and Christina. Christina did not come when the rest of the family did, but remained several years in Sweden and came later. Christina (deceased), Nels, George, Edward, Emma, Albert and Fritz.
Willard Denney, a leading farmer, living in section 27, Buffalo township, was born near Clinton, Mich., January 6, 1848, son of Amos and Emeline (Beekley) Denney, the pioneers, who in 1856 brought him to Rockford township, and in 1865 to Buffalo town- ship, and located in section 26. He grew up on this place, and now owns a splendid farm in sections 26 and 27, seventy-two acres of which was in his father's homestead. He cleared most of this land, brought it under eultivation, and developed it to a high degree. His house and barns are substantial, and he is regarded as a desirable eitizen in every respect. A pioneer him- self, and the son of a pioneer, he has watched the county grow, and has taken his share in its progress and advancement. He remembers the days when he cleared the wild wood with an ox team, and he also knows of the privations and trials of pioneer times. When he now looks over his 272 acres of spreading farm lands he contrasts it with the view which met his eyes when he first came here, and he is thankful for the strength and energy which has enabled him to bring these conditions about. While he has devoted his attention largely to general farming, he has made a specialty of good grade swine and Shorthorn eattle, and he possesses a good thoroughbred bull. Being interested in edu- cation, Mr. Denney has served as a member of the school board of his district. He was married at the age of twenty-four years to Kate Elliott, of Rockford township, a daughter of John Elliott. Their children are: Alice, Florence, Mabel (deceased), Albert (deceased ), Walter, William and Frank (deceased).
Amos Denney, pioneer, now deceased, was the son of a Revo- lutionary war veteran and was born in New York state. In that state he married Emeline Beekley, and shortly afterward moved to Michigan. From there they went to Illinois, and stayed about one and a half years. It was in 1856 that they started for Min- nesota in a covered wagon, bringing their household goods, their stock, and their children, John, Mark, Celar, Willard, Anna, Lydia, Goodeth, Mary and Adaline. Two of these children, Mark and Celar, served in the Civil war, and the latter gave up his life on a southern battlefield. It was well toward the fall in 1856 when the family reached Rockford township and located on 160 acres
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of wild land on the shores of Beebe lake. With the aid of his sons, Amos Denney put up a hewn log house, but it was burned before it was quite finished, and, somewhat discouraged, the family moved to the village of Rockford. Later they returned to the claim and put up another log house. Mr. Denney was a eooper by trade and seeured considerable work in that line in Rockford and vieinity. At the outbreak of the Civil war he offered his serviees, but was rejected. After the war, he seeured a homestead of 160 aeres on Green Mountain lake in section 26, Buffalo township. Here he built a log cabin, eleared the land, and developed a good farm. A man of decided mechanical ability, he was fond of working about engines. This talent, however, eost him his life, for on February 14, 1878, an engine which he was repairing at Pelican lake exploded and killed him in- stantly. His widow died in 1914 at the good old age of ninety- three years.
Charles P. Cotterell, a successful farmer of seetion 18, Buffalo township, has one of the neatest places in the county. The sightly house is surrounded by a well-kept lawn, the buildings are of the most modern construction, and the farm land, fences, and implements everywhere testify to the thrift and taste of the owners. While comparatively new comers, the members of the family have taken their part in Wright county life, and none are more esteemed and respected than they. A native of Wisconsin. Mr. Cotterell was born in Mineral Point, Dodge county, July 5, 1850, a son of Richard Cotterell and his good wife. Richard Cotterell was a shoemaker by trade. Ile was born in England, and upon eoming to this country located in Wisconsin. There his wife died, leaving him two small children, Sarah, now wife of Stephen Green, of Buffalo, and Charles P. After her death he brought his family to Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he farmed for many years and where he died at the age of seventy- six. By his second wife, he had four daughters and two sons. He was a most admirable man, and a prominent member of the Odd Fellows. Charles P. Cotterell was an infant of but one and a half years when he lost his mother. He was seven years old when he was brought to Olmsted county, this state. He was reared on a farm, and upon attaining young manhood seeured a farm in Lyons county, also in this state. There he and his good wife, Isabella Crookshank, farmed for some thirty years. They were prominent people in their community and Mr. Cotterell served for some time as supervisor in Grand View township, in that county. It was in 1900 when they came to Buffalo township and located on the eighty aeres which they now oeeupy. Here they made extensive improvements, and brought about its present pleasing appearance. Mr. Cotterell is now practically retired from aetive farm work. In the family there are four children :
LEVI ELLETSON AND FAMILY
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Fannie, Frank, Elmer and Walter. Fannie is the wife of Rev. J. H. Sellie, of Buffalo.
Levi Elletson, himself a pioneer, represents the third genera- tion of sturdy men who have helped develop Minnesota, and he in turn has raised a fourth generation of splendid children who will still further take their part in Minnesota's progress. The founders of the family, Job and Marie Elletson, were born in England. About 1836, stirred with noble endeavor, they set sail for the new world, and upon their arrival established for themselves a home in Canada. In his latter years, Job Elletson came to Minnesota, and located in Wabasha county, where he died. He was twiee married and reared a large family. By his first marriage he had four children, Job, Frank, Elizabeth and Mary, and by his second marriage he had seven children, Albert, William, Daniel, George, Mariah, Mary and Hannah. Frank, the second son of this family, came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, in the early fifties, and there established for himself a home in the wilderness. But as the years passed he decided to venture still further into the wilderness. Accordingly, with his house- hold goods and his family, he set out for Wright county in an old-fashioned wagon drawn by a pair of oxen. They passed through St. Paul, continned their journey, and in time reached Buffalo township, where they seeured 160 aeres in seetion 10. There was an old shaek on the place, and into this the family moved. No roads led to the traet, thiek woods covered all the neighborhood, no other settlers were near, and provisions were searee. But they set at work with a will, elearing the land, get- ting in erops, putting up a log house, and preparing for the future. They were well on the road to prosperity when the Civil war opened. Fired with the zeal of patriotie enthusiasm, Frank Elletson listened to the call of duty and enlisted in Co. H, Fifth Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. For three years and six months he followed the fortunes of that regiment, proving himself in every way a loyal soldier. At the battle of Gettysburg he received a slight wound. Returning home after the war he again took up the duties of farm life. Gradually he developed the farm, and attained a substantial prosperity. In his latter years he joined the G. A. R. and he delighted in telling of his experiences in the war. He died July 9, 1898. By his good wife, Permile Prindle, he had three children, as follows: Fannie, May and Levi. Levi Elletson, the third child of this family, was born on the old homestead in Buffalo township, June 2, 1861. He assisted his father in developing the home farm, and now owns the place where he was born. To the original elaim he has added 160 acres more. He is a sueeessful farmer, and makes a specialty of blooded Hereford cattle. He also raised fine sheep and swine and a few horses. He has a pleasant modern home, and his well
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tilled aeres are very productive. While interested in publie affairs and the intimate friend of many publie men, Mr. Elletson has been too busy with his work to engage actively in politieal life. He has, however, taken a prominent part in fraternal mat- ters, being a charter member of Buffalo Camp No. 3926, M. W. A., of Buffalo, and a member of Buffalo Lodge No. 141, I. O. O. F .; also the Encampment at Montrose. Mr. Elletson was married December 4, 1883, to Amanda J. Varner, born March 2, 1863, daughter of Henry Varner, the pioneer, who is elsewhere appro- priately mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. Elletson are the parents of nine children, all of whom are living. They are: Annie E., born April 2, 1885; Henry V., born April 11, 1887 ; Miles Franeis, April 9, 1889; James Adam, born April 27, 1891; Mark Eugene, October 8, 1893; Susan Edna, January 21, 1896; Reuben Wesley, Septem- ber 18, 1899; Harry Golden, July 24, 1902; and Donald Morgan, February 6, 1905.
Andrew N. Larson, supervisor of Buffalo township, comes of one of the sturdy pioneer families, and as a boy knew what it was to endure the sufferings and privations of life in the wilder- ness in the early days. He was born in Sweden, September 25, 1856, son of Nels and Marie (Anderson) Larson. In 1866 the parents and the three boys, Louis, Nelson and Andrew N., left their native land, and embarked on a sailing vessel. After a long and tedious voyage of seven weeks, they reached Quebec, and from there went to Montreal, and thence to Detroit, Mieh. They were poor, and just starting in life in a new world, but by doing such work as he could find along the way, the father managed to get his family to the Mississippi river, where they took a boat to St. Paul. From there they went to Carver county, where the father worked in the woods during the winter of 1866-67. In the spring of 1867, the family came by team to Wright county, where the father secured employment on the railroad. Later in the spring, the mother left the son, Louis, with his uncle, Nels Anderson, and walked with her other sons, Nelson and Andrew N., back to Carver county, shearing sheep and working by the day to earn a little ready cash. After the railroad came through, the father secured forty acres of land in section 32, Buffalo township, and the family settled thereon. They first built a log shaek, with a flat roof, sloping enough in one direction to partially shed the water. Later they erected a log cabin with a gable roof. With an ox team they began to clear the land, and in time had a well cultivated farm. Nels Larson was born June 10, 1826, and died March 5, 1914. He was a deacon in the Lutheran church. ITis wife died about 1902. Andrew N., the son, was reared on the home farm. After leaving his father's place he purchased 120 acres in sections 27 and 28, Buffalo township, eighty acres being on the west side. Ile cleared
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off the woods, eleaned out the stumps and by hard labor brought the land under cultivation. After his marriage he and his wife lived in a log granary until they put up the house. Later, from time to time, a full set of buildings was ereeted. Mr. Larson is a Progressive in politics, having formerly been a Republican. He has been a delegate to numerous conventions, and has served for some time in his present position as township supervisor. He is a school officer of district 24, a trustee of the Lutheran church, and a shareholder in the Buffalo Co-operative Creamery. As a young man Mr. Larson married Christina Anderson, now deceased. She left three children, Malinda, Lambert and Nimrod. The present Mrs. Larson was formerly Lena Olson.
Conrad Link, a substantial farmer of section 10, Buffalo town- ship, was born in New York city, May 24, 1853, a son of John and Mary Link, who were born in Germany, came to America on the same ship, and were married in New York city. After living in that city a year they moved to Marion, Ohio. In 1856 they came to Wright county and secured 120 aeres in section 10, Buf- falo township. This tract was located in a stretch of wild woods. They erected a log cabin, and with the help of an ox team cleared enough land to put in the first crops. It was two years before they were able to buy a cow. Even then the dairy business pre- sented many difficulties. At one time the father walked to St. Michaels with twenty pounds of butter and traded it for a three-tinned hay fork. Many traditions of the early days are related by the family. The old log cabin stood across the street from the present residence. Near it is the site of the field where the father raised potatoes by planting them in the unplowed ground and then cultivating around them. The hoe with which he did this work is still preserved. When the Indian uprising came, and the settlers fled, leaving their goods, stoek and erops, he still stuck to his little place. The Indians did not eome and no harm befell him. As the years passed the family prospered. Their efforts made possible the Pelican Lake Methodist Episcopal church, for the land for the church and cemetery were given by the son, Conrad, while a good deal of the work on the building was done by the father, John. John Link died November 22, 1891, and his wife Angust 22, 1887. The children in the family were Conrad, John, Jr., Louise and Caroline. Conrad came with his parents as a baby from New York city to Marion, Ohio, and from Marion to Buffalo township. Ile attended the schools of the neighborhood, and as he grew to manhood gradually assumed the duties of the home farm. IIe did his share in the developing of the home plaee, and on the part which he now owns he has made many modern improvements. lle is a hard-working pro- gressive man, the worthy son of a worthy father, and he is one of those people who are called the backbone of the nation, for
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aside from assisting in the development of the country, he has reared a splendid family of children, who have good pioneer blood on both sides of the family tree. Mr. Link married Mary Dorf, born in St. Paul, daughter of Carl Dorf, an early settler of Buffalo township. They have ten children : Mary, John, August, Harry, Mamie, Lillian, Lawrence, Elsie, Irene and Clarance, all of whom are living. Mr. Link has served on the town board and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Pelican Lake.
August C. Flamant, the pioneer, was born in Laisne, France, April 18, 1824. In July, 1845, he was married to Catherine Vic- toria Martin. On October 31, 1851, they sailed for America, crossing the Atlantic, and reaching St. Louis by coming up the Mississippi via New Orleans. From there they went to High- land, Madison county, Illinois, where they engaged in farming. Of their four children, two died in infancy. In the spring of 1862, Mr. and Mrs. Flamant, with their two children, a son and a daughter, moved to St. Paul, where they lived for four months. July 4, 1862, they reached Buffalo, this county, and settled on a homestead in Marysville township, Wright county. Some twenty- nine days later the first Indian ontbreak occurred. Mr. Flamant took his family to Elk River, but he and Frederick Fletcher returned to the homestead and remained during the Indian troubles. In 1863, when the outbreak was renewed the family again went to Elk River. It is interesting to note that after the Dustin massacre Mr. Flamant and Mr. Fletcher walked six miles through the dense woods to Waverly Mills and saw Mrs. Dustin, who had been pierced through the breast by an arrow. But these exciting times passed, and with the years the Flamants were enabled to develop their place in peace, bringing it from a wil- derness to a profitable farm. Angust Flamant now lives with his son Emil. His wife, who was born July 10, 1819, died in 1903. The daughter, Mrs. Josephine Gerard, died in 1898.
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