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 20
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W ILLIAM H. BRADLEY. This
gentleman represents one of the largest and most important mercantile estab- lishments in Lake Benton, Lincoln county, Minnesota. He located in the village in 1885, and has since been engaged in operat- ing his extensive business. His parents were Lemi and Urania (Hart) Bradley, both natives of New York. They were farmers by occupation, and resided in their native State where the father died.
William H. Bradley was born in Tomp-
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kins county, New York, March 13, 1854. His early life was spent with his parents on the farm, and his early education was re- ceived in the district schools. When he was about thirteen years old his mother moved into the village of Groton, the father having died some years before. On moving into that place onr subject commenced clerking in a general store when he was seventeen years of age, up to which time lie had at- tended the district schools. He continued his clerkship for two years, and then went to Auburn, New York, and found employ ment as clerk in a dry goods store. Con- tinuing in that city one year, in 1874 he came to Lincoln county, Minnesota, on a hunting and fishing expedition. His health had been poor up to this time, and this trip was made for the purpose of recupera- tion. He spent the entire summer in hunt- ing, and in the fall went to Minneapolis, finding employment in that city in a dry goods store, where he remained some- what over a year. He then returned to his native State and remained until the winter of 1875-76, when he returned to Lincoln county and took a homestead, on which he lived a short time. This was in the spring of 1876, and the year pre- vious the country had been scourged by grasshoppers and the ground was full of grasshopper eggs. Our subject remained until these insects began hatching out, and he then concluded that it would not be prof- itable to remain during the summer, so he went to Minneapolis and found employment as a clerk in a cigar store during the summer, and through the following winter he clerked in a hotel. In the spring of 1877 he re- turned to his claim in Lincoln county and kept " bachelor's hall" for four years, im- proving the farm and proving up in 1883. He continued his residence on the farm un- til June, 1885, when he traded it for a dwel- ling, a store building, and also a stock of
groceries, in the village of Lake Benton. He moved to that place shortly after, and has ever since been engaged in that Jine. Since coming to the city he has identified himself intimately with the affairs of local govern- ment, and has held the office of town clerk. He is a man of excellent business principles, has a fine stock of goods and an extensive trade. His business transactions have al- ways been characterized by uprightness and fair dealing, and he has made friends of all with whom he has had business relations.
Mr. Bradley was married in Lake Benton, May 22, 1883, to Miss Fannie Fletcher, who was born in Winona county, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Alexander and Rose (Gilbert) Fletcher, the former a native of New York and the latter a native of Eng land. This marriage has been blessed with two children-Lemi and Bernice.
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DSAAC L. HART. This gentleman is the proprietor and publisher of the Pipestone County Star, the pioneer newspaper of Pipe- stone county, Minnesota. This journal was established June 19,1879, and by its successful management Mr. Hart has grown in popu- larity and influence, and his paper has be- come the leading newspaper in the county. Having entered the newspaper business at a very early age, the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch has be- come a master of the art in which he is at present engaged, and understands the busi- ness in all its manifold details. He has therefore built his paper on a strong foun- dation and, understanding how best to push its management, has caused it to gain in popularity and favor among the people and has built upa large subscription list and other patronage.
The place of the nativity of the subject of our sketch is found in the State of New York, where he was born August 9, 1843. He is
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the son of Elijah and Margaret (Stanton) Hart, both of whom are natives of New York State. The father made a business of manufacturing fire engine hose and followed that occupation in New York until 1850, at which time he removed to Chicago, Illinois. For some years he followed the old business in that city, but later entered the steam fire de- partment, where he continued some years. He is still a resident of Chicago and is at pres- ent employed in the city water works. The mother died in January, 1887. In the father's family there were nine chil- dren, three of whom are now living- Martha I., Isaac L. and John S. Martha I. married Robert V. Shurley and is at present living in Chicago. She has two children -- Henry and Winnie, the latter now Mrs. George Leslie, of Chicago. John S. still resides in that city.
The school education of the subject of our sketch was of comparatively light character, but, being an eager reader and a careful ob- server throughout his life, he has acquired an excellent and extensive fund of general knowledge, and has in this way become a self-educated man. His business, too, has been of such a character as to give him an excellent chance to obtain a large knowledge of practical things and an acquaintance with the events of current history. When nine years of age he entered the office of the Chicago Times as an apprentice, serving seven years, and at the end of that period he engaged in the office of the Evening Journal, and continued his employment there until the breaking out of the War of the Rebel- lion. August 7, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany C, Seventy-second Illinois Infantry, and continued serving in the Union army until March 21, 1864, when he was dis- charged. Immediately after his discharge he entered the treasury department at Natchez, Mississippi, where he was employed until September of the same year. At that
time he returned to his home in Chicago, Illinois. The war experience of our sub- ject was of- the severest and most excit- ing nature. He was engaged in a number of the most sanguinary battles of the Civil War, among them being Champion Hills, Black River, siege of Vicksburg, and all the skirmishes and battles of the Yazoo river expedition, in which his regiment was under the command of General McPherson. He was stricken down with small-pox at Natchez, Mississippi, and confined to the hospital over two months. During this time his life was despaired of a number of times, but he recovered, and at the close of the war he returned to his friends and family in Chi- cago. In that city he continued working at his trade until 1871, when he came to Iowa, settling at Eldora, Hardin county, where he established the Eldora Herald. He continued the operation of that journal until 1879, when he sold out and came to Pipestone county, where he established his present paper, which was the first newspaper in the county, and it has met with fine success. He built his present office, 25x60 feet, in 1883. It is con- structed out of the famous jasper stone. This stone is of the finest kind of building material and makes a beautiful and elegant looking building. The first office was built by our subject on Olive street in 1879, at which time his office was 18x40 feet, and was then the best frame structure in the county. In 1881 Mr. Hart built a fine res- idence on Maine street. It is one of the best in the city, the grounds being beautifully ornamented with shade trees of various kinds.
Editor Hart was married in 1865 to Miss Mary E. Gardner, of Chicago, Illinois, where she was reared and educated. She was the daughter of Charles and Ellen Gardner. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have been blessed with six children-Gardner E., now a partner with his father in the Star office ; Lillian G.,
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Mabel G., Charles G., Ralph G. and Kittie E. In political affairs the subject of our sketch has taken a prominent part since set- tling in Pipestone county. He has not only taken an active part in all matters which pertain to the welfare of the government of the State and county but is also deeply in- terested in whatever pertains to the welfare of Pipestone City and vicinity. He is tied to no party, but being of an independent spirit, fearless in opinions, and out-spoken through his paper in all things which seem to him right and just, he conducts the Star on an independent basis. It may be said of him that this course has made him more friends than otherwise, as all men of sound principles and good judgment look with favor upon independence and fearlessness in politics. Our subject has served his constit- uency well and ably in several positions of "honor and responsibility. For one term he held the office of judge of probate and was village recorder for the same length of time, and was also secretary of the school board for three years. He is a leading and influ- ential Mason and Odd Fellow, and is adju- tant of Simon Mix Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Pipestone City. In all matters which pertain to the social and financial de- velopment of his adopted city he takes an increasing interest, and is always willing to render aid in any manner possible.
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IMON HUNTINGTON is an influ- ential and prosperous farmer of Moun- tain Lake township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He was born in Vergennes, Vermont, December 19th, 1825. At this early day Vergennes was the only city in the present territory of Vermont and had about three hundred inhabitants.
The subject of our sketch is the son of Jon- athan and Sally (Hickox) Huntington, the father a native of Massachusetts and the
mother a native of Connecticut. The father was a carpenter by occupation and followed that business until fifty-eight years of age. He then purchased a farm and engaged in farming during the balance of his life.
Simon Huntington resided with his parents on the farm throughout his early life and received a good common school education. He was married in 1849 and continued to live with his parents for three years there- after. In 1852 he removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm on which he lived for four years. Removing thence he engaged in the mercantile business in Clayton county, Iowa, where he remained four years. He then sold out and went on the road for a Milwaukee wholesale house, continuing traveling for that company until 1878. In 1872, however, he moved his fam- ily to Cottonwood county to a claim that he had taken in 1871. He had three claims, a pre-emption, a tree claim and a home- stead, and has obtained deeds for the pre- emption and homestead. The tree claim he has turned over to his daughter Eliza. Our subject continued traveling until 1878, and then came to his farm, since which time he has devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. He has made fine improvements on his place, and has about three hundred acres under cultivation, and has devoted considerable of his attention to raising fine stock and dairying. He has a herd of finely graded Durham cattle, the admiration of all his fellow-townsmen-also a flock of one thousand sheep, of the finest in the county. Our subject has always taken an active in- terest in matters pertaining to the public welfare. and has held various official posi- tions. He has been justice of the peace for several years, has been school treasurer or director ever since he settled in the town- ship, and has held various other positions. He is a leading republican, and is a member of the Congregational church. His experi-
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ence with farming during the first few years of his ownership of the lands in Cottonwood county, was not very cheerful, as for three years during the grasshopper raids he did not raise enough grain to pay expenses. With the exception of this time he has been quite successful and has accumulated consid- erable means. Mr. Huntington is a man of excellent qualities, genial, frank and open- hearted, and is respected by all who know him. He is a man of good business capabil- ities, and is a wise counselor in all matters pertaining to private as well as public wel- fare. He is a stockholder and one of the board of directors of the Cottonwood County Bank, recently organized at Windom.
Mr. Huntington was married in St. Albans, Vermont, January 30, 1849, to Miss Louisa M. Kellogg, a native of Vermont, where she was born in June, 1826. This lady was the daughter of Simon H. and Louisa (Evarts) Kellogg. Mr. and Mrs. Huntington have been blessed with the following-named children -- Ebenezer C., Eliza C., Sarah L., Charles K. and Nellie S., all living except Sarah L. and Nellie S. Ebenezer married Julia Knowlton, and resides in the village of Windom. A sketch of this gentleman is given in another de- partment of this work. Charles married Frankie Clark, a daughter of DeWitt and Sarah (Lack) Clark, of Lemars, Iowa. He now resides at Seneca, Nebraska, and is in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as station agent, a business he has followed since he was seventeen years of age. Eliza C. is unmarried, resides with her parents on the farm, and by indus- try and economy has accumulated consider- able property in her own name. Mr. Hunt- ington having arrived at an age when it is desirable to have less care on his hands desires to sell this property, and offers it for sale at low figures, and on long time, at a low rate of interest. There is no better
opening anywhere in the country for a young man of energy to locate, where he can make a fortune in a few years.
OHN H. WELCH is the present effi- cient and popular postmaster of Win- nebago City, Faribault county, Minnesota. The place of his nativity is found in Niag- ara county, New York, where he was born March 21, 1833. His parents were Nathan and Amy (Lake) Welch, the former a native of New York and the latter born in Connec- ticut. The father was engaged extensively in farming throughout his life and died in the year 1835. The mother died in 1875. Of four children in the father's family three are now living-Daniel L., Wheaton A. and John H. Wheaton A. is principal of one of the ward schools in Brooklyn, New York. The grandfather of our subject was William Welch, a native of Connecticut and of English descent. He was a farmer by occu- pation. The father of our subject's mother was Daniel Lake, a native of Connecticut, where he was engaged in farming throughout the most of his life.
The subject of our sketch spent his early days on the home farm where he received a good common school education. He was given the advantages of a course in the high school at Lockport, New York, from which he graduated. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age and then removed to Wisconsin where he spent three years in civil engineering on the Milwau- kee and St. Paul and the Milwaukee and Beloit railroads. In 1857 he came to Fari- bault county and took a pre-emption in the township of Verona, four iniles southwest of Winnebago City. He broke a portion of this land and made other valuable improvements, moving thereon in 1861 after his marriage. Shortly after his removal to the farm, how- ever, in May, 1861, he was appointed by
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President Lincoln as register of the United States land office at Chatfield. In October this office was moved to Winnebago City to which place our subject also came. He held the position until the fall of 1866, when he engaged in the hardware business, continuing in the same until 1887. He was appointed postmaster of Winnebago City by President Harrison in 1889, which position he now oc- cupies. Mr. Welch has been one of Winne- bago City's most prominent citizens and has become largely interested in city property. He purchased an interest in Easton's addition to the village, which proved a valuable invest- ment. He built the large brick block in which is now the Winnebago City opera house. He owns a good house on Moulton street. In public matters Mr. Welch has always taken an active interest and has held some of the most important local offices. He has been chairman of the board of super- visors, township clerk and village recorder. He was also president of the village for some time, and was a member of the village board of education.
Mr. Welch was married in 1859 to Miss Martha J. Hazeltine, of Dodge county, Wisconsin, and daughter of William and Sarah (Blesset) Hazeltine, natives of England. Her parents came to America before their marriage and resided at Utica, New York, for several years. The father finally moved to Madison county, New York, where, for about nineteen years, he was engaged in the boot and shoe busi- ness. They then removed to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming. The father died in 1880 and the mother in 1883. In the Hazeltine family there were seven children, six of whom are now living- William B., Elizabeth (now Mrs. DeGarmo), Laura A. (now Mrs. Andrews), Martha J. (now Mrs. Welch), George S. and Burdett B. Mr. and Mrs. Welch have been blessed with three children-Herbert N., Frances A.
(now Mrs. Dr. Beebe, a leading dentist of .Winnebago City), and Fallie E. The wife and children are all members of the Presby- terian church, in which society they are all most prominent and influential workers.
In all matters tending to the welfare and improvement of Winnebago City and vinicity, Mr. Welch has always proved a valuable factor. He has always sanctioned and given material aid in the development of all financial matters which tended to the better establishment of the business of Winnebago, and in the organization of various societies he has rendered valuable aid. In politics he has for years been a stanch republican and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856. He is a man of excellent business qualities, is genial, warm-hearted and gener- ous, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
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HEOPHILUS E. HILLS is a resident of the village of Heron Lake, Jack- son county, Minnesota. He is one of the most influential citizens of the county and is engaged in the banking business. He was born near Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, Iowa, in March, 1844, his parents being Riley E. and Melissa (Pierce) Hills. The father was a native of the State of New York and the mother was born in New Jersey. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1859; the mother died in 1848. Our subject was one of two children, his only brother, Wesley, dying in 1848.
Up to seventeen years of age our subject assisted his father on the farm and attended the district schools. He then enlisted in Company I, Thirty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under E. N. Kirk. The principal battles in which his regiment was engaged were Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Stone River, siege of Atlanta, and all the skir- mishes and battles of the "march through Georgia." Our subject served faithfully and
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was always on duty during his entire serv- ice, being discharged July 12, 1865, at Chi- cago. He then went to Monmouth, of that State, and attended school for nine months. Then, entering the Eastman Business Col- lege, of Chicago, he remained three months, and was then married and engaged in farm- ing in Carroll county, Illinois. After one year's stay he removed to Ogle county and engaged in agricultural pursuits until the fall of 1870. His next move was to Red Oak, Montgomery county, Iowa, where he remained until the spring of 1874. Returning then to the State of Illinois he resided for a time in Lake county and also in Ogle county, and then removed to Sheldon, Iowa, where he en- gaged in the furniture business until Novem- ber, 1885, at which time with A. A. Beebe and S. S. Striker as partners the Cherokee County Bank at Meriden, Cherokee county, Iowa, was opened. He continued in that place for some time, and then, in 1886, started a bank in Heron Lake, Minnesota.
No man in the village has taken a more active interest in the welfare of the locality than has the subject of this sketch. All matters pertaining to the business welfare of the village have met with his earnest support, and he is always willing to lend a helping hand for the development of the resources of Jackson county. He has built up an enviable reputation for integrity of charac- ter and uprightness in business methods, and is highly esteemed as an exemplary citizen. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the B. F. Sweet Post, No. 149, Grand Army of the Republic, of Heron Lake, in which he is now holding the office of com- mander for the second term. Politically he affiliates with the republican party.
On the 9th day of July, 1867, Mr. Hills was married to Miss Emily E. Beebe, daugh- ter of N. W. Beebe and a native of Ogle county, Illinois. She was one of a family of nine children, of whom the following are
living-Mary J., Emily E., Nathaniel W., Charles E., Alice A. and Earnest E.
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B OBERT HYSLOP, one of the leading and most influential citizens of the vil- lage of Currie, Murray county, Minnesota, is engaged as a dealer in dry goods and gro- ceries. He has a fine stock of general mer- chandise, and is doing an extensive business. He was born January 14, 1860, in Olmsted county, Minnesota.
The subject of our sketch is the son of Hon. John and Lucy F. (Kelley) Hyslop, the father being a native of Scotland and the inother a native of New Hampshire. The father came to the United States in about 1851, locating in New Jersey, where he en- gaged in farming for about three years. He then came to Olmsted county, where he was one of the pioneer settlers, and where he be- came one of the prominent and influential citizens. He took a prominent part in public affairs, and was twice elected as a representa- tive in the State legislature. He was finely educated in his native land, and was a devout member of the Presbyterian church. The mother was reared in the State of New Hampshire. She is also a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and is still liv- ing. There were nine children in the father's family, six of whom are now living-Robert, Mary, John, Jennie, Emma and Lucy.
Until he was about twenty years of age Robert Hyslop gave his time principally to obtaining an education in the county in which he was born. Then, in 1878, he came to Murray county, locating on a farm in Murray township, on section 19, on land purchased of the railroad company. Making this his home for about three years, he then moved into the village of Currie, and engaged as clerk in Neil Currie's store. For some eight year's he continued his employment with this gentleman, and then took charge of the co-
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operative store. The subject of our sketch has taken a prominent part in public affairs since taking up his residence in Murray county. He has filled the offices of town- ship treasurer and township clerk, which lat- ter position he has held for four years. In politics the subject of our sketch affiliates with the democratic party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee. He has thoroughly identified him- self with every project which tended to im- prove the financial condition of the village in which he lives, and he has become one of Currie's representative citizens. He has an extensive trade in his line, and has the best store in the village.
HARLES HEILIG is a prominent farmer of Pipestone county, who lives on section 8, Altona township. He was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, February 25, 1856.
The parents of the subject of our sketch were George and Sophia (Heinowsky) Heilig. the father being a native of France, and the mother born in Prussia. Mr. Heilig, Sr., was a car- penter by trade, and continued his residence in his native land until 1847, in which year he came to America, and located in Dodge county, Wisconsin. He was one of the pioneer settlers of that locality, and worked at his trade there until 1853. Then he pur- chased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Dodge county until 1864. In the latter year he removed to Minnesota, locat- ing in Olmsted county, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred November 17, 1869.
Charles Heilig remained beneath the parental roof, assisting upon the home farm and attending the district schools, until he was seventeen years of age. Then, in 1878, with his mother and the rest of the family,
he came to Altona township, where he now lives. Our subject came a short time previous to the arrival of the rest of the family, his arrival being on May 1, and that of the rest of the family on the 17th of the same month. He at once took the claim where he now lives, his mother locating a claim on section 10. Our subject's mother built the second house in the township, and the family have all continued their residence there, engaged in farming up to the present time.
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