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 17

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 17

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).

Mr. Secor was not without a feeling of patriotism and of loyalty for his country's interests on the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion. He was a stanch unionist and enlisted in Company C, Second Iowa Infan- try, being engaged in a number of battles and skirmishes and participating in General Sherman's famous march to the sea. He was taken sick and spent some six months in va- rious hospitals, his life being despaired of sev- eral different times. On his discharge he returned to his business in Iowa In politics Mr. Secor affiliates with the republican party. He is a loyal member of the Grand Army of

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the Republic and Masonic fraternities, and also of the Congregational church.

Mr. Secor was first married in 1862 to Miss Samantha E. Van Curen, by whom he had three children-Elsworth E., a real estate agent; Stanley S., a farmer, and Myrtle, now Mrs. Regan, of Iowa.

The second marriage of Mr. Secor oc- curred in 1878, when he wedded Miss Jennie Lyons. This union has been blessed with two children-Joy and Ruth.

AVID P. SEARLES resides on sec- tion twenty-two, Shaokatan town- ship, Lincoln county, Minnesota. His farm is under good cultivation and is a valuable piece of property.

The subject of our sketch was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 22d day of May, 1850. He is the son of Phile- mon and Permelia M. (Covey) Searles. The father was a native of New York and the mother a native of Vermont. The parents lived on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits. There were two children in the father's family, David being the youngest. The father died in June, 1851, and the mother passed from this life in June, 1879. Both the parents spent their lives in the State of New York.

Our subject assisted in supporting his mother until he was eighteen years of age. Up to this time he had attended school at every opportunity and had obtained a good common school education. At eighteen he took exclusive control of the farm and con- tinued its operation for three years. Then he and his brother, Elihu E., operated the farm together for one year, and David, our subject, purchased land in an adjoining town. One year later he sold out to his brother and mother and came West, spending a year in Illinois and Wisconsin. He then returned to New York and purchased the

farm which he had sold the year before, and operated the same until October, 1879. Pass- ing then on toward the West he spent a couple of months in Illinois and Wisconsin, and in February, 1880, came to Lincoln county, Minnesota, from whence he went to Redwood county, and from thence to Mar- shall, Lyon county, prospecting through this region. He next moved to Lincoln county and purchased the right to the farm on which he now lives. Returning to Illinois he spent a month, and then returned to his farnı in Lincoln county, where he has re- sided ever since. In politics the subject of our sketch affiliates with no particular party. He is a man of independent spirit and thinks for himself and votes for the best adapted and most available candidate for the position as he understands the mnen and measures. During his early life he received a thorough classical education, and was well-equipped for any line of life into which he might be called. He is an influential member of the Ancient Order United Workmen, and is re- spected and esteemed by all his neighbors as a kind and considerate gentleman and public spirited citizen.

Mr. Searles was married January 7, 1871, to Celestia M. Cook. This lady was a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, and is a daughter of Samuel and Mira M. (Palmer) Crook, both natives of Vermont. The father was a millwright and also a wheelwright by occupation, and died in 1886. The mother still lives and is residing with her daughter, Mrs. Searles. Mr. and Mrs. Searles have one child, Milton D.

ANIEL WEBSTER McNAIR, a pros- perous farmer and leading citizen of Jackson, county, Minnesota, resides on sec- tion four of Alba township. He is a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he was born December 25, 1839. His parents,

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D. D. and Evaline (Moody) McNair, were both natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject spent his early life in the home of his parents, received a good common-school education, and assisted his father in various kinds of labor. In the fall of 1862 he joined the Union army, enlisting in Company F, Thir- teenth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry. under Captain Stephens. He was ap- pointed regimental wagon-master and filled the position for seven months, when he was detached and appointed brigade wagon- master. Later he became division wagon- master, and after holding that position for a time was appointed on Captain Dutton's staff. that officer being quartermaster of the district of Northern Alabama. Our subject was general superintendent of the quarter- master's department under Captain Dutton for one and a half years. At the end of that time he was ordered to join the Fourth Corps, which was stationed at Galveston, Texas. He went to New Orleans and re- ported to General Strang and was put on duty as a secret detective of the river trans- portation force. After holding this position for some time he returned to Galveston, Texas, and remained there until the Fourth Corps was mustered out of the service. There was then a call for old soldiers and our subject veteranized, serving thereafter one and a half years, making in all a total service in the army of four years. He was discharged at Galveston, Texas, and the regiment was disbanded at Madison, Wisconsin, where he received his final dis- charge papers. After the war he spent a number of years in the South, residing in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama, a con- siderable portion of the time being spent in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was engaged in making cotton-seed oil. In 1876 he came to Jackson county, Minnesota, and purchased a farm, on which he now lives. He returned to the South, and remained a few years, but

improved his farm, erecting buildings and putting his land under good cultivation. His next move was to New York City, where he engaged in canning fruit and vegetables for seven years. At the end of that time he returned to Jackson county, and settled on his farm in Alba township. On first coming to this county, in 1876, Mr. McNair found almost an unbroken, uninhabited prairie. Since that time houses have been built in various locations, settlers have planted trees, cultivated their lands, and this part of Jack- son county has become one of the most admirable and productive farming regions in the country. Our subject has a fine grove of trees, which is only one among the many scattered here and there over the prairie. IIe has made good improvements, has a com- fortable and commodious dwelling house, large barns and other outbuildings.

Mr McNair was married, in the year 1866, to Miss Angeline Crunk, a native of Huntsville, Ala. This union has been blessed with three children-Frank D., Hattie L. and Fred F.

The subject of our sketch has been emi- nently successful in all his business opera- tions and his various other enterprises, and has accumulated considerable means. He does not spend his entire time on the farm, but has a winter residence in the village of Heron Lake, where he resides during the cold season and to give his children educa- tional advantages. In the summer he moves to his farm, and superintends its manage- ment. He has an exellent stock farm, has a number of fine horses, cattle and sheep. In politics Mr. McNair affiliates with the repub- lican party, is an enthusiastic and conscien- tious worker for its principles, takes an active interest in matters pertaining to the general welfare, and is highly esteemed for his loyal citizenship and integrity of char- acter. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, B. F. Sweet Post, No. 149, of Heron Lake.

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HARLES CHENEY DREW. Prob- ably no inan has been more intimately associated with the business interests of Southwestern Minnesota than the gentleman whose name heads our present article, and his name is indissolubly connected with the history of the growth and development of the counties in which he has operated. At the present time he is a resident of Luverne, Rock county, Minnesota, but carries on busi- ness in the furniture line at Pipestone.

Charles Cheney Drew's ancestors were among the pioneers of New England, having settled upon those rugged shores early in Colonial times. Records which have been preserved in the family carry the lineage back through five generations, including our present subject. This brings us back to Levi Drew, of whom but little is known except that he removed from Connecticut, and located at Madbury, New Hampshire. He married and reared a family of the fol- lowing children-Levi, Andrew, Daniel, Ephraim and Girl Drew. The oldest son, Levi Drew, moved from Madbury to New Hampton, New Hampshire. He married and became the father of the following named children-William, Joseph, Betsey, Zachies and Benjamin. About all these children were born at Holderness, New Hampshire. The second son, Josephi Drew, was the grandfather of our present subject. Joseph Drew was born at Holderness, New Hampshire, August 10, 1772, and died April 17, 1833. He married Betsy Wallace, who was born July 25, 1773, and died January 26, 1871. Their marriage was blessed with the following named children-Levi, Merribah, Nathaniel, Enoch W., Andrew B., Josiah, Asa, Aseneth and Henry. The oldest son, Levi, was the father of Charles C. He was born April 20, 1800, and died July 13, 1850. He married Rhoda Ames, who was bornl July 4, 1796, and died in September, 1852. They became the parents of six children, as

follows-Nathan LaFayette, who was born July 30, 1824; Charles C., our subject, who is mentioned at length later; Levi Burleigh, who was born May 17, 1827, (deceased) ; Daniel Kelly, born Novem- ber 20, 1828, died July 13, 1851; Rhoda Elizabeth, born March 24, 1830, and Amanda M., born October 27, 1833.

We now come down to the history of Charles Cheney Drew, whose name heads our present article. He was born at Holderness, New Hampshire, October 24, 1825. His early life was spent in his native State, where he received his education and learned the car- penter's trade. He remained at Holderness until 1836, then removed to Plymouth, in the same county, and made that his home for the succeeding fourteen years. At the expiration of that time he settled in Holder- ness village, where he worked at the carpen- ter's trade with his father, until the death of the latter. Shortly after, in 1852, he was married, and in 1854 moved to Nashua, and worked at his trade in Nashua, Boston, and Chelsea. In March, 1856, Mr. Drew settled at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and engaged in the lumbering business. In 1860 his saw mill burned, causing a loss of all his accu- mulations up to that time. He at that time owned an interest in the first circu- lar-saw mill built in that city. He con- tinued in the lumbering business until 1870, when he removed to Charles City, Iowa, and remained there for several years, visiting, meanwhile, California, Boston, and other places, and also devoting some attention to the logging business on the Chippewa river, in Wisconsin. In 1876 he removed with his family to Rock county, Minnesota, where he has since lived. He engaged in the furniture trade, and also car- ried on other important business ventures. In 1880 he opened a branch store at Pipe- stone, which he still conducts, and erected the first stone store building in that county.

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In 1880, with his son-in-law, Frank Smith, he engaged in the banking business at Ed- gerton, and continued this until May, 1884. He has since been identified with various other enterprises ; he built the fine "Jasper front" block on Main street, Luverne, and has taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to the development of all material and financial interests of this locality. He is also engaged to some extent in farming, and operates four large, well-improved farms in Pipestone and Rock counties. He is a stockholder in the Rock County News, which paper he helped to establish in 1888. In politics he affiliates with the prohibition party, and, with his wife, belongs to the Baptist church, of which he has been a trustee for over twenty years. He is an influential member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, and in all his relations, whether of a business or of a social nature, he holds the high respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.

Charles C. Drew was married, June 1, 1852, to Sarah Frances Ferson, and their marriage has been blessed with three chil- dren-Inez Isabella, Zillah Estella and Jen- nie Lendamine. Inez Isabella, who still re- sides at Luverne, was born March 20, 1857. December 25, 1877, she married Frank Smith, of Stillwater, Minnesota, who died April 9, 1886. They became the parents of three children-Cleon Drew Smith, born Novein- ber 19, 1879; Frank Dayton Smith, born March 3, 1882, and died January 30, 1886, and Forest C. C. Smith, born March 1, 1884. Zillah Estella Drew was born August 30, 1860. She married William Henry Wilson, of Ogdensburg, New York, December 24, 1881. They were married at Luverne, Min- nesota, where they still live. They have one child, Charles Drew Wilson, born October 1, 1882. Jennie Lendamine was born Septem- ber 12, 1863. She married Walter M. Say- age, of Canada, December 24, 1885. They have two children-Edith Evangeline Sav- I

age, born February 2, 1887, and Walter Merle Savage, born March 18, 1889. They were married in Luverne and removed to Watertown, Dakota, where they still reside.

We can not close this article without an appropriate mention of Mrs. Drew's an- cestry. She is a descendant of the Mac- Phersons, who were originally from the highland counties of Scotland, where they formed a part of the famous " Clan Chattan." Families of this name emigrated to the north of Ireland to escape religious persecution at the hands of the Catholics. For some years their residence was in Ireland, but at length the Catholics in that country commenced persecutions which led to the famous siege of Londonderry, after which they deter- mined to seek in the New World a home for themselves and children, where they could worship God unmolested. Numbers came to the then new settlement of New England, among whom was (first) Paul Mac- Pherson, from the Parish Dumbe, County Derry, in Ireland. He landed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1732 with his son William. The year following the rest of the family came over, consisting of his daughter Eliza- beth, and sons James, Samuel, Joseph and Henry. It is believed that his wife had died previous. They settled in Chester, New Hampshire, where they lived until the sons married and new homes became necessary, and William, the eldest, went to London- derry, New Hampshire, where he died, leav- ing a son and daughter. James went to New Boston, New Hampshire, where he died, leaving a family, most of whom afterward went to Ohio. Samuel and Henry went to Frencestown, New Hampshire. Both had families whose descendants are still, many of them, in New England. Joseph settled in Deering, New Hampshire. He had two sons whose descendants may be found in - Illinois, Michigan and New York. The daughter, Elizabeth, married Sam Dickey,

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of Chester, where they died, leaving a large family. Of the next generation, Samuel MacPherson married Patty Weatherspoon, of Chester. Their children were Elizabeth, John, Martha, Joshua, James, Margaret and Mary. They came to Francestown about 1777. [Third generation.] Their son James married Mary Starrett, a daughter of David and Mary (McClintock) Starrett, November 27, 1786. Their children were Rebecca, Mar- garet, John, Samuel, David S., Moses B., David, Levi and Leonard. [Fourth genera- tion.] One of their sons, John, was the father of Mrs. Drew. It was during his generation that the name was changed from MacPherson to Ferson. John MacPherson was born March 11, 1792, and died July 17, 1872, at Francestown, New Hampshire. He was married, January 19, 1819, to Lucy Woods, of Francestown, New Hampshire. She was born November 28, 1798, and died February 3, 1885. Their marriage was blessed with ten children as follows-Lucy Maria, Mary Sophia, John Leonard, Clarissa Ann, James Starrett, Levi Pratt, Sarah Frances, Julia Antoinette, Lendamine An- toinette and Mary Sophia. Their history, in brief, in the order named, is as follows- Lucy Maria, was born July 23, 1820; mar- ried Granville Rideout, of Nashua, New Hampshire, April 1, 18+1, and settled at that place, where she died and where her hus- band and family still live. Mary Sophia was born in 1822, and died at Francestown, in October, 1840. John Leonard was born December 8, 1823; lie first married Mary Branch, of Maine, who died in 1854, and in 1855 he married Lenora Sabin; they emi- grated to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where they still live. Clarissa Ann was born January 1, 1826 ; married Amos Fletcher, of Maine, in 1847; they still live at Nashua, New Hampshire. James Starrett was born July 23, 1827; he married Augusta Willard, of Canada, in 1850; they live in Minneaopolis,

Minnesota. Levi Pratt was born in 1829, and died in 1837. Sarah Frances, who is now Mrs. C. C. Drew, was born May 15,1831. Julia Antoinette was born November 16, 1833, and died May 14, 1837. Lendamine Antoinette was born November 30, 1838; she married William Wallace, of Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1853; they still live in that place. Mary Sophia was born June 6, 1842, and died February 23, 1847.

IDEON W. HILES is a member of the firm of Holer & Hiles, dealers in lumber, lath, shingles, sash, doors, moldings, fence posts, and all kinds of building mate- rials, in St. James, Watonwan county, Min- nesota. Mr. Hiles is a native of Dryden, Tompkins county, New York, where he was born June 21, 1852.

Our subject is the son of Jacob and Fla- villa (West) Hiles, natives of New Jersey and Connecticut, respectively. The parents came to New York State when quite young and the father engaged in farming and lumber- ing and also owned a grist mill which he operated a few years. The parents resided in Tompkins county until their death, that of the father occurring in 1871, and that of the mother in 1881. They had two chil- dren-Jonn W. and Gideon W. The grand- parents of our subject were John and Cyn- thia (Griswold) Hiles, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter born in New York. The grandfather was a lumber mer- chant throughout his life.

The subject of our sketch attended school until he was twenty-two years of age, and also assisted to a great extent in work on the home farm. For three years he found employ- ment in a meat market in the village of Dry- den and then operated a farm in Tompkins county for some three years. In 1881 he came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and worked for John Martin & Co., lumbermen, for one

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year. This firm then sent Mr. Hiles to Devil's Lake, Dakota, to establish a lumber yard. This he did and continued its opera- tion during one season. He was the sent to Angus, Boone county, Iowa, where he took charge of the company's lumber office and continued in the business four years. The yard was then sold out and our subject returned to Minneapolis, where he remained until the spring of 1887. At this time he came to St. James and purchased his present lumber yard of J. S. Anderson. He con- tinued the business until February, 1888, when he took in his present partner, to whom he sold a one-half interest in the business.

Mr. Hiles was married in 1883 to Miss Alice B. Lemont, of Tompkins county, New York, where she was reared and educated. This lady was a daughter of A. B. Lemont, a prominent citizen of New York.

Mr. Hiles is a man of good business quali- fications, and, by careful attention to the various details of his work, has built up an extensive and profitable trade. He is public spirited and active in all matters pertaining to the general welfare, and is a member of the village council. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. -

HARLES P. DAVIS is one of the leading citizens and most well-to-do farmers of Germantown township, Cotton- wood county, Minnesota. He was born in Le Sueur county, Minnesota, February 23, 1860. His parents, Isaac and Catharine (Pettis) Davis, were natives of Canada and Ohio, respectively. They came to Minnesota in an early day, locating in Le Sueur county. They were leading citizens of that locality.

The subject of our sketch received his early training on a farm, and at twenty-one years of age, after his marriage, he rented a farm in Le Sueur county and engaged in agricult-

ural pursuits for some two years. Then, in order to better his condition, he came to Germantown township, Cottonwood county, and purchased a farm of one hundred acres on section 10. Here our subject has erected a very fine frame dwelling-house two stories high and 28x28 feet, nicely painted and pro- vided with modern conveniences. He has a good barn 28x40 feet on the place, and every- thing is kept up in very good order. Our subject has seventy-five acres under cultiva- tion on his own farm and has also about seventy-five acres sown to grain on railroad land adjoining. He has four horses and thirty-four head of cattle and is exceedingly well-to-do. On coming to the county he had but ten dollars in money, and whatever he is worth to-day has been accumulated by hard work and perseverance.

October 5, 1880, Mr. Davis was married in Mankato, Minnesota. to Miss Emma Del- laughter, daughter of William and Mary (Robins) Dellaughter, natives of Pennsyl- vania and Maryland, respectively. This lady was born in Le Sueur county, Minnesota, February 7, 1863. This union has been blessed with three children-Newton, Walter and Blanche. The subject of our sketch is a man of wide influence and takes an active part in political matters of the township. He is at present township clerk, justice of the peace and treasurer of School District No. 60, and has also been treasurer of his township. Being considered one of the most prominent men in the township, his assist- ance is demanded in all matters of a public nature, and this is cheerfully given, as our subject feels the need of improvement in local politics. Our subject has a nice home, a hospitable and pleasant family, and is con- sidered one of the leading and most promi- nent men in the township of Germantown.

LON. ORRIN W. FREEMAN is one of the leading lawyers of Nobles

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county, Minnesota, and is located in the vil- lage of Adrian. He is the son of Abner and Carolie (Rogers) Freeman, both of whom were natives of Maine. Our subject was born in Milo, Maine, July 28, 1850. His father was the station agent at Milo, and also owned and operated an extensive farm, and was largely interested in the mercantile business in the town.

The principal part of our subject's early life was spent in school, and at eighteen years of age he entered the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, at Readfield, Maine, from which institution he graduated, and also became a graduate of the Maine State Seminary, at Lewiston, in 1879-80. He attended the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he became a graduate. Previous to this he had for some time studied law with W. P. Young, Esq., of Milo, Maine, and was admitted to the bar in Piscataquis county in 1878. He practiced law in his native State until 1887. He then came West for the purpose of find- ing a permanent location. He came to Adrain, and since that time has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession.

Mr. Freeman's native and acquired abili- ties have made him a man of much promi- nence wherever he has resided. While living in Maine he took an active part in public affairs, and was elected to various positions of trust and responsibility. While in Milo, his boyhood's home, he held the po- sitions of collector, town treasurer, selectman and chairman of the town board. In 1885 and 1886 he served in the Maine legislature, and was a member of the committee on the revis- ion of the State statutes ; was also a member of the committee on business of the house, on bills of third reading and on ways and bridges. He has always been a stanch republican in politics, and is to-day making his influence felt in the affairs of that party in Nobles county.

After coming to Adrian, our subject went to

Worthington, and spent a short time during the summer with George W. Wilson, Esq., and was admitted to the Minnesota bar in the fall of 1887. Returning to Adrian he applied himself to the building up of his now exten- sive and lucrative practice. He is a public- spirited man, and has taken an active part in the , affairs pertaining to the welfare of the village. He was elected justice of the peace of Adrian in the spring of 1889. In the summer of 1889 he was elected one of the directors of the Adrian school district, and was chosen president of the board. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Milo, Maine, of the St. John commandery of Bangor, same State, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Dirego lodge, of Milo.

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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 17

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