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 15
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Affiliating throughout his life with the republican party, Mr. Moulton has held numerous positions of trust and responsibil- ity. In the fall of 1861 he was elected county commissioner in Olmsted county, and in the fall of 1862 was elected to the State legislature and served two terms. In 1863, he was appointed deputy provost marshal and deputy United States marshal. Of the
minor offices, he has been justice of the peace and member of the school board and city council. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church, and of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Rochester. He resides on liis farm two miles from town, and does an extensive real estate business in the vil- lage.
Mr. Moulton is a self-made man. Starting in life with nothing, and throughout it all having depended upon his own resources and his own energy, business prudence and sagacity have won him a comfortable for- tune. Enterprising, intelligent, and pro- gressive, every enterprise calculated to bene- fit his locality receives his earnest support and encouragement. In all public matters he is, and has always been one of the leaders, and his name is indissolubly associated with the history of the growth and development, and also the political history of Southern Minnesota. A man of high moral character, and strictest business integrity, the word of J. P. Moulton is recognized as being as good as a bond.
ALBERT C. MATTHEWS, a reliable and respected citizen and prominent business man of Lake Benton, Minnesota, is the successor of Messrs. Matthews & Kim- ball, proprietors of the private bank at Lake Benton, Minnesota. This institution is one of the strongest financial institutions in the county and enjoys a large patronage. Mr. Matthews' bank transacts general banking business as well as foreign and domestic ex- change, and all collections sent to him receive careful attention. Albert C. Matthews was born near Indianapolis, Morgan county. Indiana, October 17, 1832. His parents were George and Mary (Coble) Matthews, natives of Ohio and Tennessee, respectively. The mother was of German descent and the father traced his ancestry to Wales and
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England. The father was a millwright by trade and was a well-to-do citizen in In- diana.
The subject of our sketch received a good education in his early life and learned the trade of millwrighting from his father. Dur-' ing all his spare time he assisted his father until he was eighteen years of age, when he removed to Wapello, Iowa, where for seven or eight months he found employment in a large mill. Removing thence he went to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where he re- mained until the spring of 1852. At this time, being struck with the gold fever, he concluded to go to California, and so, buying an ox team, he started overland to reach the gold fields. He was five months and four days on the journey, and when he arrived in California he engaged in mining for eighteen months. He was not very successful, how- ever. Gold did not appear at every touch of the pick-ax, as he had heard it did. So, be- coming disgusted with this kind of work, he concluded to engage in employment at his trade. Going to Shasta City, he was em- ployed in repairing a large mill, and also built two new ones, remaining in that local- ity for some three years. At the end of this time he returned to his home in Wisconsin, where he found work at his trade and built a large steam mill at Mineral Point. He en- gaged in millwriting and working at the carpenter's trade until 1859, when he com- menced buying wheat and all kinds of farm produce and also hides, shipping his pur- chases to Chicago, where he found a ready ınarket. November 19, 1862, he enlisted as fourth sergeant in Company B, Thirty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry. This regiment was en- listed for nine months, and our subject con- tinued in the service for ten months and twenty-two days, and was discharged as or- derly sergeant. On his return from the service he was given a recruiting officer's commission, and he recruited a company of
thirty-two men and took them to Milwaukee and with them enlisted. He was then com- missioned as lieutenant of Company G, Thirty-fifth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was sent South in command of his company, and engaged with the Rebels in Louisiana. He participated in two severe battles in that State and in all the engagements of the Mobile campaign, and assisted in the reduction of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley. He had charge of fifty men in putting in mortars and guns at several important places, and in all his active service proved a faithful and effi- cient officer and soldier. At the capture of Mobile his corps was sent up the Tombigbee river, where, after a sanguinary battle, he captured a large number of Rebel soldiers. After the close of the Mobile campaign our subject was sent into Texas, and was at Max- amilian's siege of Matamoras. He saw much severe service, and was mustered out as cap- tain with his regiment at Madison, Wiscon- sin. His promotion to the rank of captain was dated August 21, 1865. Although being a participant in many of the severest battles and engagements of the war, and passing through many hair-breadth escapes, he suc- ceeded in coming out of the war without a scratch or injury. He brought his army equipments home with him, and, as during the years of the rebellion, he is now ready to serve his country in every time of need. On being mustered out of the service he went to Portage, Wisconsin, and built a large mill fourteen miles north of that city. He oper- ated this mill until fall, and then went into Portage and found employment in a sash and blind factory, continuing at that occupation for a year. He then went to Baraboo, and helped build a saw-mill and furniture fac- tory for a Baraboo manufacturing com- pany. He also engaged in contracting and building, and put up some of the finest dwell- ing-housesin the city. He remained there dur-
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ing twelve years, during five years of which time he purchased and operated a catalogue nursery. This, however, was not a profitable investment and he lost considerable money. In June, 1879, he came to Lincoln county, Minnesota, and prospected over the country for several days, after which he returned to La Crosse, where he had established a nur- sery delivery headquarters. He remained attending to the delivery and setting up of his nursery supplies, and in January, 1880, returned to Lincoln county and took up a pre-emption, on a part of which is now the village of Lake Benton. He has continued his residence in the county ever since, and has been engaged to some extent in farming. On locating here he opened up a set of abstract books and engaged in the real estate business, in which he is still occupied. Per- haps no citizen in Lake Benton is equally interested, financially, in the improvement and development of the village as our sub- ject. He is connected with several important business enterprises, and is one of the best known and most public-sprited men in that part of the county. He owns the Matthews' Bank, a general store, and is engaged in operating three large farms, one of which he has under his direct supervision, the others being rented. He has been interested in the culture of various kinds of fruits since com- ing to the county, and has now 1,400 apple trees growing, and also 1,600 currant bushes, one hundred goosebery bushes, 250 raspberry bushes, all in excellent shape, and exemplify- ing the fact that fruit can be success- fully grown in Minnesota. He has one of the finest farms in the county, containing 240 acres in one body, on which is about thirty acres of timber and 115 acres under cultivation. He has provided it with excel- lent buildings, and the visitor can not help being struck with the evidences of prosper- ity and thrift exhibited on the farm.
The subject of our sketch since coming to
the county has occupied a prominent and influential position in the multiplicity of business interests with which he has been more or less associated and connected. He is a man of excellent business qualifications, and whatever enlists his assistance is almost sure of meeting with success. Careful and systematic in all details, the general outcome of all matters is assuredly desirable and profitable. With these qualifications he combines a conservative disposition, a clear head and a character of the highest integrity. He is well known all over the county, and in fact all over southern Minnesota. He is a man of the highest honor, and is respected by all with whom he has to do. In affairs pertaining to local government he has taken active part, and has held various official positions. He has been justice of the peace for five years, deputy clerk of the court for nineteen months, and in the fall of 1885 was elected clerk of the court, which position he held one term. He is at present on his sec- ond term as president of the village council and has been a member of the school board for five years. Civic matters also demand and obtain a considerable portion of his attention. He was instrumental in the organization of the lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Lake Benton and also at Pipestone. He became a member of that order, joining North Bend lodge, No. 262, at North Bend, Wisconsin.
Albert C. Matthews was married to his present wife, formerly Susan Olmem, in 1883, and they have one son, Archie George. By a former marriage Mr. Matthews had the following-named children - Stephen E., Asher, Flora, Ann, L. A., A. C., Minnie, Grant and Mattie.
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JON. M. N. LELAND is one of the lead- ing citizens of Wells, Minnesota, and, indeed, of Faribault county, in which Wells
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is situated. Mr. Leland is a native of Branch county, Michigan, where he was born in the year 1849. His parents are Hon. Elijah and Julia (Sherwood) Leland, the former a native of Vermont and the latter born in New York State.
The father of our subject was reared on a farm, and resided in the State of his nativity engaged in farming until thirty years of age. He then settled in Branch county, Michigan, where for years he was an extensive farmer and one of the most prominent citizens. He was elected to the lower house of the legisla- ture for two terms, and also served by election during one session of the senate. He was an active, public-spirited citizen, and served the republican party, with which he affiliates, in various capacities, having been sent as a dele- gate to a number of State conventions. He lived a useful life and passed away, January 10, 1863, at the age of sixty years. The mother died July 2, 1857, at forty-three years of age. The parents were members of the Presbyterian church, and the father was a deacon in that society for many years. They had a family of seven children, four of whom are now living-Warren was a soldier in the Rebellion, and served in Company G, Fourth Regiment Michigan Cavalry. He died September 6, 1865, aged thirty-one years, and holding the office of second lieutenant, having been in the service for two years. He lost his health during the war and died in Michi- gan from the effects of hard service. Elijah, Jr., was born in 1859 and died at twenty-one years of age. Somers is now engaged in the agricultural implement business in Quincy, Michigan; he also served in the Union army for a period of three years. Imogene, now Mrs. A. D. Hall of Chicago, Illinois, died in Janu- ary, 1878. Sidney C., served in the army of the Union for four years and is now a resident of Toledo, Tama county, Iowa, where he is engaged in the practice of law and where for a number of years he was clerk of the courts;
Murat N., our subject, and William S., a gen- eral salesman for a wholesale house in Chi- cago, Illinois.
Hon. M. N. Leland was reared as a farmer's boy until he was fourteen years old. Educa- tional advantages up to that time were some- what limited and were received in the com- mon schools. At this age he was sent to the Quincy high school in Michigan and attended that institution for two years. Then for three years he went to Coldwater, Michigan, and attended a high school there, after which he engaged in clerking in a dry goods store in that city for two years. In 1870 he came to Wells on a brief visit to his sister, then a resident of that place. While on this visit he purchased a stock of goods at Rochester, Minnesota, and shipped them to Wells, where he became the second merchant of the place, and where he has since continued in business. He built his present good store building in 1880. It is 50x80 feet and well provided with all modern con- veniences and improvements. He has a fine stock of goods and keeps a large force of clerks to wait on his increasing trade. He has not been tied completely to his own pri- vate affairs, but has shown considerable pub- lic spirit in the establishment and operation of various enterprises which have tended to build up the welfare of the village. He as- sisted in the organization of the Wells Creamery Company and now is president of the company. This company operates three creameries, one at Easton, one at Alden and the third at Wells.
The political history of Faribault county would be incomplete without a mention of the subject of our sketch. He has been one of the wide-awake supporters and agressive leaders of the republican party in the county. He stands high in that party throughout the State, and wherever he has been in official capacity he has proven himself an efficient and capable officer. He was elected to the
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State legislature in 1884 and served his con- stituents with ability for one term. He has been a delegate to several State conventions and was a delegate to the national conven- tion in Chicago in 1888 and was one of the warm supporters of General Harrison. In local matters he is always actively interested and is treasurer of the Farmers' Co-operative Association and president of the village board of trade and also of the school board, and has held and now holds various other positions. He is a warm-hearted, genial, liberal-spirited gentleman, a warm friend and an energetic business man. In his financial affairs he is cautious and conservative and has accumulated considerable means. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also a Sir Knight Templar.
Mr. Leland was married October 25, 1870, to Miss Libbie E. Townsend, of Cold- water, Michigan. This lady was a daughter of Madison G. Townsend, now a resident of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Leland have been blessed with five children-Blanche, Muret N., Virginia, Carmen and Rosamond.
ON. CHRISTOPHER HOLMES SMITH, late member of the Minne- sota legislature, and for years a prominent citizen of Cottonwood county, is at present a resident of Worthington, Nobles county. He was born in Windsor county, Vermont, July 14, 1834.
The parents of the subject of this sketch were Stephen and Sarah (Glazier) Smith, the former a native of New York and the latter born in Manchester, Vermont. Both of his · great-grandfathers were participants in the successful struggle for independence. Our subject's grandfather, Christopher, after whom he was named, served in the War of 1812, participating in the Plattsburg cam- paign of 1813-14.
Mr. Smith received an academic education
at Chester and Weston, Vermont, and in Twinsburgh, Ohio. In 1854 he left his na- tive State, and, going to Bedford, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, made that his home until in April, 1856, when he went to Richland county, Wisconsin. For ten years prior to 1860, he was engaged in farming and in teaching school. In that year he quit the pursuits just named and entered upon the duties of the office of county clerk, and held that position for two years. On the expira- tion of that term he was elected treasurer of his county, and held the position for seven years, and during the latter part of his term he was also engaged in the real estate busi- ness. In March, 1872, Mr. Smith came to Minnesota, and was one of the first settlers of Windom, Cottonwood county, that vil- lage being made the county seat in Novem- ber of the same year. While a resident of Windom, our subject was engaged consider- ably in buying and selling land, and became one of the most prominent citi- zens of the county, being almost constantly the incumbent of some important office. He held the position of county treasurer of Cottonwood county for six years, was a member of the lower house of the State legislature in 1877, and a member of the senate in 1878. While in the house, Mr. Smith was chairman of the committee on rules, and while in the senate, was a member of the committee on towns and counties, railroads, education and two or three other committees of minor importance. In all his work in the legislature Mr. Smith considered well the best interests of the State at large and the welfare of his constituents. On the same day he was elected to the legislature, Mr. Smith received the appointment of receiver of the United States land office at New Ulm, but as his acceptance of that position would leave his district of counties without a representative, he concluded not , to accept the receivership.
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Mr. Smith is a republican in politics, and as may be inferred from the many impor- tant positions he has held, is a favorite of his party. In religious sentiment he is a Uni- versalist. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, and for seven consecutive years was master of Prudence Lodge, No. 97, at Windom.
Our subject was appointed receiver of the United States land office at Worthington, Nobles county, Minnesota, in Marclı, 1881, and took possession of the office June 1. He continued administering the affairs of the receivership until September, 1885, when his successor was appointed. On the death of ex-Governor Miller, in 1881, Mr. Smith was appointed field agent for the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad Company and had charge of fifty town sites. Our subject held this important position for five and a half years and during this time handled some fifty thousand dollars per year for the com- pany.
Since 1886 Mr. Smith has engaged princi- pally in the real estate business, occasionally mixing in politics, finding it almost impos- sible to throw off old associates and habits acquired while a leader in the political events of the State. He is a director of the Minne- sota Loan and Investment Company, of Worthington ; vice-president of the bank of Beaver Creek, Rock county ; is a member of the board of education, and has been mayor of the village for three terms.
On the 8th of March, 1857, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Freeman, of - Richland county, Wisconsin. She was born in Montgomery, New York, September 29, 1836, and was the daughter of Morris and Mary (Snell) Freeman. This union has been blessed with one child-Grace E. They have adopted two children-Lillie J. (now Mrs. J. H. Kennedy, of Seattle, Washington Ter- ritory), and Bessie B., now eleven years old.
ON. JAMES McHENCH is the pres- ent efficient and popular treasurer of Martin county, Minnesota. He resides in Fairmont, the county seat. He was born in Schoharie county, New York, March 10th, 1824, and has the purest of Scotch blood running in his veins, both par- ents, Captain William and Ann (Ferguson) McHench, being of Scotch descent. John McHench, the grandfather of our subject, came from the old country in early life and settled in the State of Massachusetts, where his son William was born and from whence they afterward removed to Broom, now Gil- boa, Schoharie county, New York, where the grandson, our subject, was born, and where, on the same farm, both the father and grandfather died. John McHench was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and did valuable service in gaining independence for the colonies. Captain William McHench served in the War of 1812, during which he had command of a company on Long Island.
All the intellectual training our subject ever had besides that obtained by private study, was acquired in the primitive school- houses of early days before he was seventeen years of age. On attaining that age he commenced teaching school and followed that profession for fifteen consecutive win- ters, engaging in agricultural pursuits dur- ing the balance of the time. In May, 1856, he went to Wabasha county, Minnesota, and pre-empted 160 acres of land on Greenwood prairie. He opened up a farm and added to it from time to time until he owned 600 acres, nearly all of which he improved. He has since sold the greater part of it. He also became the owner of 800 acres of land in Martin county, which was purchased in 1878. His Wabasha farm is one of the best in that region and is stocked with from forty to eighty head of cattle, fifty to seventy-five hogs, and about a dozen horses. Our subject is a fancier of fine horses
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and cattle, and deals largely in raising ani- mals of good grade. He keeps continually posted in the experiments and progressive movements of the day, and tries to be thor- oughly scientific in all his business engage- ments. He has excellent foresight, and is continually anticipating the market price of cattle and grain, always selling at the right time and obtaining the most money for his various products.
By reason of his extensive farming inter- ests, Mr. McHench was prevented from go- ing to the battle-field during the Civil War, but he gave to the Union cause his warmest sympathy and pecuniary aid. He also held a captain's commission in the home guards, or militia of the town in which he lived, dur- ing the war.
The older settlers of the counties of the southern part of Minnesota who have re- mained here as a rule have become thrifty and prosperous. Coming into the State at an early day, before the territory had taken on Statehood, they made good selections of lands, and being men of push and energy, they have opened up large and valuable farms, most of them being thoroughly im- proved and provided with buildings of the best class and well stocked. These early settlers and pioneer farmers are now in good circumstances and are surrounded with the manifestations of prosperity and success. Among these enterprising and wealthy agri- culturists is the subject of our sketch. He is engaged principally in farming, and has also turned considerable of his attention to the raising of good stock. Intelligent and business-like in all his ventures, being pos- sessed of indomitable will and perseverance, he has gathered to himself a comfortable for- tune. He has also been identified with all the better interests of the region in which he settled, and especially in the affairs pertaining to the general welfare of Martin county. He is public spirited
and is one of the most liberal citizens in giving his time and means toward the fur- therance of public enterprises. He has served his fellow-citizens in various official capacities, superintendent of schools, justice of the peace, etc., and has at all times proven an honorable and painstaking officer. He has served at different times on the board of town supervisors, being chairman of that body for some time, and was a member of the State Agricultural Society for seventeen or eighteen years, through which time, and indeed, ever since, he has taken an active in- terest in every move which tended to the de- velopment of the great and wealthy North Star State. He was elected as a member of the State senate for the session of 1877, in which year he commenced his duties as chair- man of the committee on agriculture. He also served in the following session of the senate and was the chairman of the commit- tee on insane asylums, and during each of these meetings of the legislature served on two or three other committees. During his service as senator, Mr. McHench was brought in contact with some of the leadingand repre- sentative citizens of the State of Minnesota. By these gentlemen lie was looked upon with great respect, and was honored for his excel- lent judgment in legislative matters and for the close and careful attention he gave to his various duties. The political affiliations of the subject of our sketch are with the republican party. In 1852 he voted the whig ticket, but from the organization of the repub- lican party has given it his warm and earnest support. In religious belief he was formerly a member of the Christian church. He cher- ishes his faith most sacredly, is a constant church-goer, and is a liberal supporter of the various churches. On coming to Martin county, in 1878, he took a homestead of 160 acres near Fairmont, and made that his home until the spring of 1889, when he moved into the village. In the fall of 1882 he was elected
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treasurer of Martin county, and has held that position ever since, now serving his third term.
On the 17th day of April, 1889, James McHench was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Daniels. She was the daughter of Reuben G. and Susana Daniels, and was born in Waterloo, De Kalb county, Indiana, Feb- ruary 1, 1859.
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