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 25
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Leaving home when quite young and having no one whatever to lean upon, the success which has crowned his efforts has been brought about as the direct result of his own independent endeavor. His lines have not always fallen in pleasant places
and he has often met with discouragements sufficient to daunt the spirit of almost any young man. Through it all, however, he has kept his face toward a high place in his chosen profession, and has succeeded by earnest and honest endeavor in building up a large practice and in planting himself firmly in a high place in his professsion.
Dr. Webb was married in Clinton, Iowa, September 22, 1884, to Miss Etta P. Bitner, a native of the State in which she was mar- ried, and born October 23, 1862. Her parents were Jacob and Mary (Harding) Bitner, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter born in Canada. Dr. and Mrs. Webb have two children-Lillian C. and Florence. Mrs. Webb's father was a contractor and builder in Clinton, Iowa.
ANIEL HEDMAN resides in Storden township, Cotton wood county, Min- nesota. He is one of the leading citizens of that locality and resides on a fine farm on section 6. The place of his nativity is found in Sweden, his birth occurring August 9, 1860.
The parents of the subject of our sketch were Ole Hedman and Annie Danielson, also natives of Sweden. In April, 1869, the family emigrated to the United States, and coming to Minnesota, located in the city of Mankato for some time. From thence they removed to Cottonwood county, and located on a pre-emption, the claim on which our subject now resides. The father died in 1872 ; the mother is still living on the farm. In the father's family there were six children. four of whom are now living-Andrew, Lewis, Mary and Daniel.
Our subject came to America with his par- ents and settled with them for a time in Mankato. He received a good common- school education, and on the coming of the parents to Cottonwood county, our subject
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accompanied them and has since made his home in Storden township. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced farming for himself and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since. He has an excellent farm and in connection with the production of grain also raises a good stock of English shire horses. His farm is well improved, and provided with good buildings, and contains a good grove of cottonwood trees. Since coming to the township our subject has taken an active interest in all matters tending to the general welfare. He is a man of good characteristics and has served his constitu- ents ably and efficiently in various official positions. He has held various offices on the town board, and has been justice of the peace two years, and is treasurer of school district No. 42.
Mr. Hedman was married December 26, 1883, to Christina Hanson, daughter of Hans Hanson Kaste, a native of Norway. The father resided in his native land until his death; the mother is living in Dane county, Wisconsin. Miss Hanson was a native of Nor- way, where she was born in the year 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Hedman have three children- Annie, Hattie and Lillie.
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ETER KEEGAN, a prominent farmer 'and stock-raiser of Holly township, Murray county, Minnesota, resides on section 32. He came to Murray county in 1878, and was one of the pioneer settlers of his township. He homesteaded his present place in 1878, and commenced making per- manent improvements, building a house fourteen by twenty feet. He broke some sixty acres of land, and has now a fine farm of 240 acres. Mr. Keegan has been one of the most prominent citizens of Murray county. He has taken an active interest in public matters, and in 1886 was elected judge of probate of Murray county, being
re-elected in 1888. He has also held the office of chairman of the board of supervi- sors, and was township clerk for five years. He has held various school offices, and has always taken an active interest in educational matters. He is a man of excellent acquired as well as natural attainments, and is highly esteemed by all his constituents.
Mr. Keegan was born in Ireland, in Sep- tember, 1842, being reared in. that country to the age of eight years. He then came to America with his parents and located in Brooklyn for five years. Coming West they then located in Walworth county, Wisconsin, where our subject remained some five or six years. During this time he had lived on a farm with his parents, and had been given a good common-school education. In 1864 he enlisted in Company E, Forty-second Reg- iment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and was discharged in June, 1865, at Madison, Wisconsin. His regiment was stationed most of the time at Cairo, Illinois, doing pro- vost duty, a portion of the time on the Mis- sissippi river. After being discharged from the service our subject returned to Wiscon- sin and engaged in work in the pineries dur- ing the winter months, and on the rivers during the summer months, for some four or five years. He then came to Minnesota, locating in Winona county, where he re- mained for two years engaged in farming. Thence he removed to Steele county, and after several years returned to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he was married and settled on a farm for about five years. Four years were then spent in Janesville, Waseca county, Minnesota, where he en- gaged in the wood business. In 1878 he came to his present place, where he has since resided.
Judge Keegan was married January 6, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth McAvoy, a native of Ireland, and daughter of Daniel and Ellen Mc Avoy. This lady came to America with
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her parents in 1859, and located in Wiscon- sin. Mr. and Mrs. Keegan have been blessed with eight children - William, Nellie, Ber- tha, James, Sarah, Emma, Maggie and May. The oldest son is a resident of Tracy, Lyon county, and the oldest daughter is a teacher by profession.
Perhaps no man in the county is so well known and highly respected as Judge Kee- gan. He has always been public-spirited, and has assisted materially in the develop- ment of the various interests of his locality. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and is a consistent member of the Catholic church.
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OHN KROEGER resides on section 20, Verdi township, Lincoln county, Minne- sota. He is a native of Germany, where he was born November 21, 1855. His parents were John and Margaret (Otto) Kroeger, who were also natives of Germany. The father was a farmer by occupation and lived in his native land until his death, which oc- curred in 1855. The mother is still living in Germany.
John Kroeger spent his early life in his native country and received a good common- school education. He made his home with his parents and assisted them in work on the home farm. In 1873 he bade good-by to the associations of early life and came to the United States. Landing in New York City July 25th of that year, he passed on to Minnesota, where he found employment on various farins in Waseca county. He con- tinued in that county until the fall of 1878, when he located on the place where he now lives in Lincoln county. He has a home- stead of 160 acres of fine land. After locat- ing his claim he returned to Waseca county and remained until the spring of 1879, at which time he returned to his claim where he has since lived. He was one among the
early settlers of the township, and passed through many severe experiences. Through the winter of the deep snow, so well re- membered by the early settlers of Lincoln county, our subject did not get his team out of the barn from the 10th of January until the 1st of April, so badly had the snow drifted about his buildings. Seeding was not com- menced that year until the 25th of April, and then the snow had not entirely disappeared. Other circumstances combined to make our subject's early life in Lincoln county one of the most trying kind. These vexatious cir- cumstances, however, have all been forgotten in the prosperity and successes which have come to him in the succeeding years.
Mr. Kroeger was united in the bonds of marriage November 27, 1884, to Emma B. Enke. This union has been blessed with two children-Frank A. and Elsie A.
Since locating in Verdi township Mr. Kroeger has taken a prominent part in pub- lic affairs and has held several official posi- tions. He has been chairman of the board of supervisors for four years and holds that position at the present time. In his official capacity he has exerted a strong influence for the benefit of his locality and has proven himself an efficient and loyal citizen. In politics he affiliates with the republican party and is an influential member of the German Lutheran church. In early life he received a good common-school education, and this, in connection with good, native abilities, makes him prominent in business and social circles. He is a man of excellent
1 character, is a loyal citizen, and always gives his earnest support to every project which tends to the upbuilding of public interests.
JOHN S. ROBERTSON, deceased. Mrs. Jennie L. Robertson is the widow of J. S. Robertson, who was in life one of the most esteemed and honored citizens of Win-
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nebago City. Mr. Robertson was a native of Dundee, Scotland, where he was born in the year 1832. He was the son of John and Maie Robertson, natives of the same land. The father was a mechanic by occupation.
John S. Robertson remained with his par- ents until ten years of age, and in early life learned the trade of cabinet-making. He came to America when he was about twenty- two years of age and settled in New York City, where he lived for several years engaged in the cabinet-making business. In 1858 he came to Minnesota, first locating on a farm in Delavan township, Faribault county. He returned to New York City, and after a stay of two years came to Faribault county, bring- ing his family and settling at Bass Lake, where he resided nine years. He improved his farm and built one of the best houses in the township. In 1869 he sold his land and came to Winnebago City, where he engaged in the furniture business. He built a beauti- ful home on Main street and resided there until his death, which occurred April 23, 1889. He built a brick block adjoining his residence, where for years he carried on the most extensive furniture business in the county. He purchased considerable land in the county and dealt to some extent in real estate. During his life he held many offices of trust, and at the time of his death was president of the village council and chairman of the board of supervisors. In politics he affiliated with the republican party and was one of Winnebago's best citizens. He always stood ready to aid with money and personal effort, every public enterprise. His fellow-citizens will miss him in many ways, as he labored honestly and earnestly for the welfare of the village, and he left hehind him a record both successful and honorable. In his private business he was eminently success- ful and although commencing without any, or at most, very small capital, he left an estate valued at from fifteen to twenty
1
thousand dollars. He was popular with the people and his death was universally regret- ted. He was a member of the Blue Earth Valley lodge, No. 27, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, which lodge took charge of the funeral arrangements. He was a member of the Mount Horeb Chapter and of the Mankato Commandery of Knights Tem- plar. The services were attended by a large number of friends, who came bringing flow- ers and appropriate words to show their respect and esteem for their deceased fellow- citizen. Mr. Robertson is remembered by a host of friends as a genial, public-spirited, warm-hearted man. No good cause ever applied to him for aid without receiving some assistance. When the movement to- ward the completing of the Baptist college at Winnebago City was first inaugurated, Mr. Robertson rendered valuable assistance and gave five hundred dollars to aid in fur- thering the project. He it was who selected the site for the college, and such an earnest, active part did he take in carrying the matter on toward completion, that he was elected vice-president of the institution.
Mr. Robertson was married in the year 1859 to Miss Jennie L. Brown, a native of Terryville, near New Haven, Connecticut. She was the daughter of David and Eu- phemia (Hill) Brown, natives of Scotland. After their marriage the parents came to America and settled in New Haven, where the father engaged in manufacturing for a number of years. Later the family removed to Long Island and from thence came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, where they built the first house in 1853. They settled on a farm and remained but a short time when, on account of sickness, they returned to New York State, where the father soon died. In the Brown family there are three living children-James, Helen (now Mrs. Grant), and Jennie L. Mrs. Robertson is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is
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one of the leading spirits in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She is also a member of the missionary society, and is one of the most charitable and highly esteemed ladies in the village.
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ICTORY G. MOTT is a leading citizen of Jackson county, Minnesota, and resides on section 22 of La Crosse township. His birthplace is found in Susquehanna coun- ty, Pennsylvania, where he first saw the light in March, 1827. His parents were Elihu and Fannie (Foster) Mott, born and reared in Hartford, Connecticut, the father a farmer by occupation, and both parents resided in Pennsylvania until their death.
Up to nineteen years of age the subject of our sketch assisted his father in work on the home farm, and was also given the advantages of a good-common-school education. At the age just mentioned the father died and our subject engaged in farming and lumbering until 1849, when he removed toan adjoining county and lived on a farm for some time. He then went to Missouri and remained in that State from 1857 until 1864 engaged in farming to some extent, but working princi- pally at the carpenter's trade. April 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Ninth Missouri State Militia, under Colonel Guitar. He was discharged April 6, 1863, after hav- ing served gallantly and faithfully in the Union army. He came to Minnesota in 1864 and located for some years in Watonwan county and engaged in farming. In 1873 he came to his present location, taking 160 acres of land as a tree claim. He has been actively engaged in improving his farm, building a good house, barn and other outbuildings, and in setting out a fine grove of ten acres of trees. This is one of the finest and largest groves in Jackson county.
The subject of this sketch was married in 1847 to Miss Martha Gaston, a native "of
Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed with five children-Horace D., J. C., John, Maria Frances and Mary, of whom all are deceased save J. C. and Mary. J. C. now resides on a farm near that of his father.
The subject of this sketch passed through many hardships during his early settlement in Jackson county. The first serious mis- fortune that fell to his lot was the destruc- tion of his crops by grasshoppers, in 1874. For several years thereafter he did not raise . sufficient grain to furnish flour for his fam- ily and feed for his team. The grasshoppers, not satisfied with destroying the grain, de- stroyed even the trees that he had set out on his tree claim.
The subject of our sketch has been one of the most prominent citizens of the township since locating therein. He has taken an ac- tive part in matters pertaining to the local government, and has held such offices as township treasurer, assessor, and school director of district No. 35. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, is a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, B. F. Sweet Post, No. 149, at Heron Lake, and is also a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his business ventures our subject has been quite success- ful, and besides farming, has turned his at- tention, to a large extent, to the raising of Holstein cattle and Norman horses.
R AY B. HINKLY is the gentlemanly and efficient cashier of the Rock County Bank, of Luverne, Minnesota. He made his settlement in that city in 1882, and assisted in the organization of the bank, with which he has been since connected as cashier. Besides his banking interests here he also is connected financially with institutions in adjoining counties and States. He is at pre- sent vice-president of the Security Bank, of Howard, Dakota, which he assisted to
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organize. The early life of our subject was spent in his native State, Iowa, where he was given excellent educational advantages, finishing his education at Oberlin College, of Ohio. When nineteen years old he engaged in the newspaper business in Clermont, Fay- ette county, Iowa. While in Iowa he also turned his attention to the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1881. Through- out the most of his life, however, he has been engaged in the banking business.
He has taken an active interest in all mat- ters pertaining to the public welfare and the development of the city and county since making his location here, and has invested largely in local real estate.
Mr. Hinkly was married in the year 1882 to Miss May Harrington, of the State of Iowa. This lady was a daughter of William H. Harrington, a prominent resident of the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Hinkly have been blessed with three children-Laura E., Wil- liam B. and Harry J.
In politics the subject of our sketch affili- ates with the democratic party. He is a man of considerable means, and is looked upon as one of the most reliable and substan- tial citizens of the county.
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LPHONZO K. PECK is a leading cit- izen, and is the postmaster of the village of St. James, Minnesota. He is a native of Rock county, Wisconsin, where he was born January 26, 1848.
The parents of the subject of our sketch were Kartum K. and Lydia A. (Goddard) Peck, both natives of York, Livingston county, New York, where the father was born May 11, 1817. The parents were mar- ried in 1837. Kartum K. Peck was the son of Dr. Daniel and Polly P. (Ketchum) Peck, the former born in Sharon, Montgomery county, New York, in the year 1792, and the latter a native of Canada, where she was
born June 20, 1798. Dr. Daniel Peck was married, November 20, 1814, in Rutland, Jefferson county, New York. Dr. Daniel Peck was a Baptist minister and a physician, resided in Jackson City, Michigan, where he practiced medicine until his death, which occurred January 19, 1859; his wife died March 16, 1870, at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Kartum K. Peck, the father of the gentle- man whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was for many years a teacher of writing in Wisconsin, to which State he went in about 1840. In 1852 he settled in Le Sueur county. Minnesota, and engaged in the hotel and general merchandise business. He laid out and owned the town site of lower Le Sueur. He is now a resident of Deer Creek, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. His wife died May 29, 1854. In the family there are now two living children - Nathaniel A. and Alphonzo K., the former being born February, 15, 1841, and now a resi- dent of Deer Creek, Minnesota. Nathaniel A. was a soldier in the Union army for two years, serving in the Fourth Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. The names of the children deceased are Delevan D., born March 26, 1839, died Oc- tober 11, 1864, while serving in the Union army at Pine Bluff, Arkansas ; Alphonzo. born January 26, 1843, died September 12, 1843; Orlando, born February 3, 1850, died February 22, 1851; and Mary Le Sueur, the first white child born in Le Sueur county, Minnesota, the date of her birth being March 25, 1853. She married Z. E. Thomas, a mer- chant of Glendale. They moved to Butte, Montana, where she died December 1, 1885, leaving a daughter five days old. The father of our subject married his second wife at South Bend, Minnesota, October 19, 1854. Her name before marriage was Mrs. E. D. Ransom ; she died at Faribault, Minnesota.
The subject of our sketch was educated in the public schools of the village of Le Sueur.
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When fourteen years and seven months old he enlisted in Company G, Tenth Minnesota In- fantry, and served three years and nine days. He was engaged in numerous severe battles, among them being Tupelo, Holly Springs, Nashville, Spanish Fort, and many skirmishes in the States of Tennessee, Louisiana, Ala- bama, Missouri, and Kentucky. He was with a division of the commissary department during the last few months, and was sun- struck on the march to Tupelo. For several days he was carried in an ambulance wagon, and for some time his life was despaired of. He was discharged August 24, 1865, at St. Paul. Prior to his enlistment in the Union army he served in the Indian war in 1862. He, with many others in the village of Le Sueur, volunteered to go to New Ulm and assist in overcoming the Indians. They were suc- cessful in this, and our subject returned to Le Sueur, having received a slight wound in the right leg at the battle of New Ulm, Min- nesota. He then enlisted in the Tenth Min- nesota, as has been stated. After the war was over and he was honorably discharged from the service, he returned to his home in Le Sueur, where he attended school for some time. He learned the carpenter's trade and engaged in work on the railroad as foreman of the bridge carpenters. He continued in this line for seven years, with his head- quarters at St. James. He then engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of Peck & Simons, which partnership lasted fourteen months. Our subject then engaged in contracting and building in the village, and followed that line, employing a number of men, for several years. Besides his vari- ous interests in St. James, he has a fine farm in Jackson county, Minnesota. He also owns some Minneapolis property, and is in- terested in this and other localities.
Mr. Peck was married, on December 26, 1872, to Miss Sophia Chadderdon, of Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota. Mr. and
Mrs. Peck have had three children - Ned A., Hattie Anettie and Matie. The last named died June 20, 1884, aged eight years and seven months.
The subject of our sketch has alway asso- ciated himself with matters pertaining to the general welfare, and has always aided liberally in the development of projects tending toward the improvement of his local- ity. He was a member of the village coun- cil for two terms, and was re-elected in the spring of 1889. He has been commander of the John A. Logan Post, No. 64, Grand Army of the Republic, for three years, and is its present quartermaster. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party, and was appointed postmaster of St. James by Presi- dent Cleveland in 1885, and still holds that position. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter, being junior war- den of the former, and treasurer of the latter. Mr. Peck is a man of excellent busi- ness qualifications, is cautious and conserva- tive, and has accumulated considerable means out of his various investments. He is a man of excellent business principles, and is looked upon as one of the most upright and influential citizens of the village and county in which he resides.
Mrs. Peck (formerly Sophia Chadderdon) was born in Herman, Wisconsin, February 20, 1850. Her father, Jonathan Chadder- don, was born in Schoharie county, New York, March 10, 1808. Sophia Matice, at seventeen years of age, married him. She was born in Middleburgh, Schoharie county, New York, June 25, 1817, and died in Belle Plaine, Minnesota, December 24, 1874. Jona- than Chadderdon died in Le Sueur, Minne- sota, January 20, 1884. They had a family of. thirteen children - George, Catherine, Mary Ann, Peter, Henry, Samantha, Abra- ham, Joseph, Frances, Sophia, Charles, Lida and Edwin, all of whom are still living ex-
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cept George, who died in the army, and Mary Ann, who died while young.
ARL PETERSON, a prominent farmer of West Brook township, Cotton wood county, Minnesota, resides on section 26, where he is engaged in farming. Of Danish birth, he first saw the light March 27, 1752. He is the son of Sorn and Sorena (Sornson) Peterson, natives of Denmark. The father still lives in his native land, where he is en- gaged in farming. The mother died in Den- mark in March, 1866. In the father's family there were five children.
At the age of seventeen the subject of our sketch commenced work for himself. Up to this age he had attended school and assisted his father in work on the farm. On reach- ing seventeen years of age he commenced working on various farms in his native land. He emigrated to America in 1879 and located in Dodge county, Minnesota, where he engaged in farming for six . years. He then came to the farm on which he now lives.
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