Illustrated album of biography of Southwestern Minnesota : containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers...:History of Minnesota, embracing an account of early exploration...and a concise history of the Indian outbreak of 1862, Part 102

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago : Occidental Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Minnesota > Illustrated album of biography of Southwestern Minnesota : containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers...:History of Minnesota, embracing an account of early exploration...and a concise history of the Indian outbreak of 1862 > Part 102

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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workmen, related the circumstances, and told him that he felt so badly that he could not work, and believed he would re- turn home. The fellow-laborer told him that there was no danger, as his broth- er had gone to the same place for wood, and would probably be with the boys. So Mr. Leder, resting a little more quietly and trying to drown his fears, con- tinued work until about the middle of the afternoon, when a terrible snow storm came up. He was compelled to quit work and return home. Night came on and his sons did not put in an appearance. Morning dawned and still the sons were absent. De- termined to find the boys if possible, the father started out to procure help, but was driven back by the intense severity of the storm. The following day he obtained assistance and started to find the where- abouts of his sons. He found the sled about three miles from home, but apparently the boys had unhitched the horses and allowed them to wander off by themselves. The team was tracked some distance to a large slough, where they were found stuck fast in the snow and frozen solid. The little party then followed the track of the boys for some eleven miles and found them locked in each others' arms, frozen to death. Apparently they had in their wanderings passed near a neighbor's house but did not succeed in reaching shelter. This was one of the sad- dest losses that has ever fallen to the lot of Mr. Leder, and he has never quite got over the loss of his sons. His son John mar- ried Helenus Chauler, and resides on a farm in Brown county.

The subject of our sketch has passed through many hard experiences since com- ing to Cottonwood county. He has lost considerable by grasshopper raids, and also by storm and fire. In 1881 the roof blew off his stable, and two horses were frozen to death, besides several head of cattle were so

badly frost-bitten that they died a short time after. In June, 1879, our subject and his family were attending religious services when his house took fire and was burned to the ground. Everything in the shape of household goods was destroyed, and worse than all there was no insurance on the building or contents. This was a heavy loss and took a great deal of courage for our sub- ject to continue in this country and try to recover his lost fortunes. He has kept sturdily and manfully at work, and has been gradually building anew his lost fortunes until to-day he is quite well-to-do and sur- rounded with the evidences of prosperity and success. He is a man of excellent character, and is energetic and public- spirited. He is esteemed by all who know him.

OMER C. WING is a member of the firm of Francisco, Pride & Wing, proprietors of the Blue Earth City roller flouring mills of Blue Earth City, Faribault county, Minnesota. He was born in Cass county, Illinois, in the year 1858, and was the son of Benjamin and Cynthia (Sınith) Wing, natives of New York and Illinois, respect- ively.

Our subject was reared on a farm and was given good common-school education. His early life was quite varied in its experiences, and he resided in numerous locations, and engaged in milling business in Hokah, Min- nesota, and also in Minneapolis. On coming to this city lie entered his present partner- ship, and purchased the Blue Earth City mills. Our subject has charge of this property, and has proven one of the most successful of managers.

Mr. Wing was married in 1883 to Miss Frances L. Styles, by whom he has had three children-Ethel B., Lulu and Perry L.

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AY LADUE, one of the prominent citi- zens of Luverne, Rock county, Minne- sota, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, April 7, 1827. His father, Joshua LaDue, was one of the pioneer settlers of that county.

The subject of our sketch remained under the parental roof throughout his early life, receiving a fair common school education. In 1847 he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in company with F. P. Ishenwood in Fredonia, New York. The firmn did busi- ness in that city for some five years. In 1850 Mr. LaDue went to Sherman in the same State, and in company with A. D. Leet commenced in the mercantile business in that city. In 1853 he was appointed postmaster, and held that position until the fall of 1857, when he resigned, with a view of making Minnesota his future home. In 1858, in company with A. D. Leet, he com- menced business in Rochester, Minnesota, and continued a resident of that city until 1862. At this time the partnership was dissolved and the stock closed out. On ac- count of ill-health Mr. LaDue then started out on the road with a team and began car- rying a wholesale stock of notions. He continued in this line for I. R. Johnson & Co. for some five years, and then engaged with the old and popular house of Whit- field Brothers & Co., of New York City. For some twenty years he represented this firm.

Mr. LaDue was married in 1850 to Miss Jennie Buell, a native of New York State. This marriage has been blessed with the fol- lowing-named children -Clarence M., Le- mont, Mabel, John J. and Albert. The son, John J., is engaged in business in Luverne, and Albert is employed in the Rock County Bank, of that place.

Mr. LaDue is quite an extensive farmer, owning some seven hundred and ten acres of land, lying just southeast of the city. He

has this under excellent cultivation and thoroughly improved. He owns some forty- two head of horses, many of them of ex- cellent breed. He also has 140 head of cat- tle, among them being a number of full- blooded Durhams. Associated with him in his farm enterprise he has his two oldest sons.

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ACOB TOBERT, a resident of section 20, Rose Hill township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, is a native of Russia, and was born March 5, 1850.

The parents of the subject of this sketch were Peter and Catharine (Oust) Tobert, natives of Russia. The father was a farmer, and lived in his native land until his death, which occurred in 1865. The mother is still living in that country. The grandfather of our subject was governor of the southern province of Russia for three years, and the family were quite prominent in Russian affairs.

Up to twenty-three years of age Jacob Tobert assisted his father on the home farm. He received a good common-school educa- tion, and was married in 1873, after which he worked on a farm for some three years. He then emigrated to America, the land of equal rights, of which he had heard so much. Coming to Minnesota he rented a farm near Heron Lake, and from thence came to his present residence in Rose Hill township. He took a pre-emption of 160 acres, and during grasshopper times changed it to a homestead. He has some of the best improvements found on any farm in the township, and is one of the most systematic and careful farmers in the region. He gives his attention principally to the raising of grain, but has several head of cattle and horses. He is a man of large experience, has a well-trained mind, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. In politics

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he is a republican, and is a stanch member of the Lutheran church.

Mr. Tobert was married January 15, 1873, to Miss Maria, daughter of H. Staodaten, a native of Russia. This union has been blessed with seven children-Maria (de- ceased), John (deceased), Catharine (de- ceased), Paulina, Leonard, Henry and Phenia. Mrs. Tobert died October 15, 1883. She was a lady of estimable character, and her death was mourned by a large circle of friends.

(HN E. JOHNSON, a thrifty and re- liable farmer of Scandia township, Mur- ray county, Minnesota, was born in Ostre Toten, Norway, November 28, 1856, his par- ents being Even and Agnette (Anderson) Johnson. In the father's family there were the following-named children - Frederick, now in Monroe county, Wisconsin; Martha, now the wife of Jonas Lindblom; our subject and Even E.

Previous to coming to America in 1869, our subject remained with his parents in Norway and attended the common schools between the ages of eight and twelve years. On coming to the United States at the date just mentioned, the family lived on a rented farm fourteen miles from St. Peter for two years, and then came directly to Murray county, where they took a homestead on the northeast quarter of section 22, Scandia town- ship. The first year they built a dug-out house in which they lived until 1877. Some land was broken the first year, and he and his father went to Cottonwood county and worked on the Northwestern railroad until haying time, when they returned to the claim and put up some hay and then went with an ox team to St. Peter, one hundred miles distant, to get provisions. They were o11 the road about two weeks. The next spring our subject went to St. Peter for pro-

visions, and was away from home for five weeks as there was so much rain that some of the streams were so swollen that he could not possibly cross them, but had to go about fifty miles out of liis regular course. Several of the streams he crossed were so high that he had to tie the wagon-box to the wagon and swim the oxen. This was a very trying journey and one which no one would care to repeat a second time. When he started, his people had twenty-five pounds of flour. This, of course, was gone long before his return, and as their neighbors were as des- titute as they were, none could be borrowed. During this time the family would have act- ually suffered from hunger if it had not been that his brother Even killed some wild fowls and found some of their eggs, on which the family managed to subsist until our subject's return. In 1873 they raised a small crop, and then for four years the grasshoppers de- stroyed nearly everything, so that they had only just about enough wheat to make flour for the family. Since that time they have had good crops and have done very well in- deed. Our subject now owns a fine farm of 160 acres with about eighty acres under cul- tivation, a comfortable frame house and frame barn 24x48 feet in size. He also owns considerable stock. Our subject got a post- office established on his farm and of this he was postmaster until the village of Balaton was started, when the office was removed to that place. Our subject has been quite act- ive in local political affairs, and has held the office of town clerk for ten years, was justice of the peace for several terms, and was school clerk for six or eight years. He is a man of good character, and is an exemplary mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

May 12, 1884, our subject was married in Tracy, Minnesota, to Miss Carrie Olson, daughter of Martin and Gunhilda (Johnson) Olson, natives of Norway. She was born in Western Toten, Norway, August 29, 1862.

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This union has been blessed with two chil- dren-Earl Milford and Amy Georgiana.

ELGA THORSEN, who resides on section 30 of Ann township, Cotton- wood county, Minnesota, was born in the kingdom of Norway, April 9, 1850. His parents, Thor and Mary (Helgeson) 'Asleson, were both natives of Norway. The father died in his native land January 13, 1872, and the mother emigrated to America in 1874, locating in the city of Chicago for a short time. She then came to Ann township, where she now lives with her son, the subject of this sketch.

Helga Thorsen assisted his father in work on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age. He was given a good common- school education, and on attaining the age just · mentioned, he came to America, and for a short time worked in a furniture factory in Chicago. Six months after locating in Chi- cago he went to Indiana, where a half year was spent in chopping in the big woods. His next move was to return to Chicago, and from thence he went to Kendall county, Illi- nois, where for a year he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He then came to Ann township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and located on his present farm of 160 acres. This was in the year 1874, and our subject took his farm first as a pre-emption, after- wards changing it to a tree claim. He has made excellent improvements, and has nearly eleven acres of the finest grove in the town- ship. Among the trees may be found soft maple, elm, white willow, ash and cotton- wood. He has also an extensive variety of fruit trees, consisting of apples, plums, and also a large line of berries. He has one of the finest farms, and withal the best improved in the entire county. In connection with his farming operations he is also engaged largely in raising stock. During the early years of

his settlement in the county he experienced many backsets in his various enterprises, having his crops destroyed for several years by the grasshoppers. In 1875 his crops were all destroyed, and he was compelled to work in the woods in order to obtain a livelihood. He returned to his farm in the spring of 1876, and seeded forty-six acres. This year also the grasshoppers took the crop, and there was not a bushel harvested from this entire acreage. During the fall he went to Goodhue county, and worked during the harvest sea- son, in order to obtain sufficient means to keep him through the winter. The next spring he plowed twenty acres of ground, and put it into grain, and had an enormous harvest. He had twenty-nine and a half bushels to the acre on one piece. From that time the crops were better, and our subject commenced gathering means, and is now in comfortable circumstances. Mr. Thorsen is a man of good character, honest and indus- trious, and attends the Lutheran church. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, in the principles of which organization he has believed since making his location in the United States.

EORGE A. CARNEGIE. This gen- tleman is one of the leading busi- ness men of the city of Pipestone, Minne- sota, where he is the proprietor of a first- class feed, sale and livery stable. He located in this city in 1883, and after re- maining about six months went to Woon- socket, Dakota, at which place he owned a livery stable and a farm. After remaining in that place about one year he then sold out his interests in that locality and returned to Pipestone, where he has since been engaged in the livery business. On arriving in the city he purchased his pres- ent stables just south of the new Calumet hotel. His business is the oldest of the

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kind in the city and he has made himself popular with the traveling public, as well as local residents.

Mr. Carnegie is a native of Canada, where he was born in 1850. His parents, John and Jane (McGowan) Carnegie, were both natives of Scotland. During their early life they came to Canada, where they were married. The father was a goldsmith by trade and made that his principal occupation throughout life. He is now a resident of Jasper village, Pipestone county, Minnesota, to which place he came in 1888. He is now engaged in operating a jewelry store in that place. When the family first came to Minnesota they located in Fillmore county, where for some time the father was en- gaged in farming and operating a steam saw-mill. Remaining in Fillmore county until the breaking out of the war, the father then enlisted in the service and served during the continuation of hostilities. After the close of the war he removed to the village of Dresbach, Winona county. Minnesota, on the Mississippi river, where he owned a large steam saw-mill. Remaining in that village for two years, he then went to Hokah, Minnesota, where he engaged as foreman in a large machine shop for some- what over a year. At the end of that time he returned to his farm in Fillmore county, making that his home for some years. His next move was to Wells, Faribault county, where he built the machine shops of the Southern Minnesota Railroad Company. After two years' residence in Wells he again returned to his farm in Fillmore county. In 1888 he located in Jasper village, as has already been stated. In the father's family there were nine children, eight of whom are now living-Christa, James, Margaret, George, Alexander, John, Frank and Sarah.

The principal part of the early life of our subject was spent on the farm of his father, in Fillmore county, this State. He was

given good school privileges and acquired a good common-school education. Until fif- teen years of age he remained at home, and at that age went to Howard county, Iowa, and engaged in farm work. He made this his principal business until 1884, since which time he has confined his attention exclusively to the livery business. He first purchased a farm of eighty acres in Fill- more county, in 1878, and after farming that land for one year sold out. On re- turning to Minnesota from Iowa he settled on a farm in Rock county, where he home- steaded 160 acres in Rosedale township. Here he resided, following agriculture, for seven years, at the end of which time he came to Pipestone City, and thence to Dakota, as was before stated. In 1884 he returned to Pipestone, and has since been , successfully operating a well-equipped livery. Since coming to the village Mr. Carnegie has become quite popular as a liveryman. He has made several investments in city property with good success, having pur- chased several lots on which he built houses and then sold out at good advantage, mak- ing a very satisfactory profit on his invest- ments. He also traded property for a dwelling house in the city, which he rents.

Mr. Carnegie was married in 1883 to Mrs. Nellie Colburn, by whom he has had two daughters-Mabel J. and Nellie. In poli- tics the subject of our sketch affiliates with the republican party and is one of the most active business men of the city.

OHN HOFFMAN is a leading and sub- stantial farmer of Royal township, Lin- coln county, Minnesota, and is the son of Charles and Mary (Stalsman) Hoffman, na- tives of West Prussia.

The place of the nativity of the subject of our sketch is found in West Prussia, where he was born June 21, 1852. His parents

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were farmers by occupation, and our subject was reared a farmer's boy. He was given good educational advantages in the district schools, in which he continued his studies until fourteen years of age. At the age of seventeen he learned the tailor's trade, and when eighteen came to the United States, first stopping at Chicago, Illinois, where he worked at his trade for twelve years. At the end of that time he came directly to Lin- coln county and purchased 280 acres of rail- road land in Royal township. He came to the county in the spring of 1883, and has since been a permanent resident.

John Hoffman was married in Chicago, February 12, 1878, to Celia Pekorski, a daugh- ter of John and Mary Pekorski, natives of West Prussia. This lady was born in the same place, in April, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have been blessed with the following-named children-Bennie, who died in Chicago; Mary, Frank, Stanislaus, Vina and Francis. The family occupies a promi- nent place in the social affairs of the town- ship, and are leading members of the Catho- lic church.

Since coming to the township Mr. Hoff- man has identified himself with all matters which have tended to the improvement of various public enterprises, and has served his constituents in various official capacities. His farming operations have been attended with fair success, although he has not made as much money here as in Chicago. However, he has a very nice farm, has a good frame house one and a half stories high, a large barn 18x60 feet in size, and has about 155 acres of land under cultivation. He has con- siderable stock, and is giving considerable of his attention to raising good cattle. The business abilities of Mr. Hoffman are of good character, and, whatever he turns his hand to, meets with more or less success. Pos- sessed of excellent character, genial and pub- lic-spirited, he has won his way into the es- teem and respect of all his fellow-citizens.

HARLES ELG is a reliable and enter- prising farmer of Selma township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He is a na- tive of Sweden, being born in Kromnoberg, November 5, 1860. His parents were An- drew and Augusta Elg, natives of the same country, where the father was engaged in blacksmithing. The parents were in well- to-do circumstances, and gave our subject a good common-school education up to fourteen years of age. From that time until 1880 our subject worked in his father's blacksmith shop.

In 1880, thinking that they might better their condition in the new world, the Elg family left their native land and came to the United States, locating within a brief time on section 14 of Selma township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. The father took a home- stead of 160 acres, and our subject made his home with his parents, assisting in work on the farm, until 1888. He then purchased eighty acres on section 13, and now has fifty acres in crops. On this eighty the father and son are in partnership, and are conduct- ing an active farming business. Our subject has two brothers and two sisters-Oscar, Henneng, Alma and Sigri, our subject being the oldest in the family.

Since coming to the county Mr. Elg and his father have labored hard to put their farms under good cultivation, and have thor- oughly stocked and improved them. They have several head of horses and a large herd of cattle, and have just completed a neat and commodious frame dwelling-house on the homestead, and have besides this a granary and good stable. In spite of the fact that they have met with various losses by hail, etc., since coming to the county, and that they were poor when they made their loca- tion, they have gradually worked into good circumstances, and have now an excellent farm, provided with comfortable and valuable improvements. Our subject has taken an active interest in public matters, and has al-

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ways assisted in political affairs of his town- ship. He is a member of the board of school directors. He is a young man of good char- acter, pleasant and agreeable, and is one of the most energetic and business-like farmers in the township.

UY S. STEDMAN is engaged exten- sively in farming on section 6, of Cameron township, Murray county, Minne- sota. His native State is Iowa, where he was born June 29, 1854.

Mr. Stedman's parents were C. A. and Elizabeth (Robinson) Stedman, the father a native of Vermont, and the mother a native of Pennsylvania. The parents came to the State of Iowa in about 1852, where the father was a teacher and lawyer by pro- fession. He engaged to some extent in farming for a number of years in connection with his other business. In the father's family there were eight children, our sub- ject being the fourth in order of birth.

Until fifteen years of age our subject as- sisted his father in every way possible, and was given a good common-school education. Two years longer he continued his residence under the parental roof, and then left home to carve out his fortunes for himself. He engaged in work at the brick-maker's trade, in which line he continued until twenty-three years of age. He then rented a farm, and engaged in its operation for two years. In 1879 he came to Murray county by team, and took a pre-emption on section 20 of Cameron township. After a. two years' residence there, he sold out and took a home- stead, on which he now lives, on section 6.

Mr. Stedman was married August 17, 1875, to Mary J. Gable, a native of Ohio. Her parents are still living and residing in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Stedman have been blessed with eight children, six of whom are now living.

The subject of our sketch is a man of strong temperance principles, and affiliates with the prohibition party. He is a man of excellent character, and is one of Cameron township's most public-spirited citizens. He has held various township offices, among them being that of assessor, supervisor, each of which he held for three years, and also school director.

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R. EZRA M. CARR, one of the lead- ing and most popular physicians of Pipestone county, located in Pipestone City, March 15, 1878, where he has ever since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In reality he is the pioneer phy- sician of the county. Since his location here he has made many long rides to attend to patients. During the early days, as he was the only physician in the county, he was sometimes called to travel sixty miles to attend a case. He became well known and popular throughout the entire southwestern part of Minnesota. Having spent a success- ful career in his profession and having per- formed many radical cures and difficult operations he has built up an enviable repu- tation and is still sometimes called to ride forty miles to see a patient.

Dr. Carr is a native of Canada, where he was born June 12, 1838. His parents were James H. and Laura (Rose) Carr, the father a native of Washington county, New York, and the mother born in Canada. The father was a millwright by trade and at an early date settled at Madison, Wisconsin. Later he removed to Eau Claire, where he resided until his death in 1884. The mother is still living in the last-named city. In the father's family there were nine children, six of whom are now living-Dr. Ezra M., Mary, now Mrs. Childs ; Hannah, now Mrs. Olds; Mar- tha, now Mrs. Jenkins; Laura, now Mrs. Johnson, and Wesley. James, another son,

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Illustrated album of biography of Southwestern Minnesota : containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers...:History of Minnesota, embracing an account of early exploration...and a concise history of the Indian outbreak of 1862, Part 102

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago : Occidental Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago : Occidental Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 814