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 26
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Mr. Peterson married Stena Sornson, May 28, 1885. The fruits of this union have been four children-Lena, Sophia, Emma" and Appa. The family are members of the Lutheran church.
Since coming to the township, our subject has engaged actively in farming and has striven hard to make his farm one of the best in the township. In connection with raising grain he has also turned his atten- tion considerably to the raising of Norman horses. He has a fine house, surrounded by a nice grove of trees and has his farm pro- vided with other good improvements. In politics Mr. Peterson affiliates with the demo- cratic party, and has held various positions of trust in the locatity in which he has lived. He is a man of good character and is highly respected.
RED MOHL is engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business at Adrian, Nobles county,' Minnesota, and, although still a young man, ranks high with the substantial business men of South western Minnesota. He is a Scandinavian by birth, and is the son of Charles A. and Christine (Johnson) Mohl, natives of the kingdom of Sweden. Our subject was born in Warn- land, Sweden, August 31, 1860. His father was a soldier, and was a prominent citizen of his native country. They resided on a farm and there our subject was reared, being given good educational advantages until he was fifteen years of age.
At fifteen he commenced earning his own living by working for various farmers, and continuing thereat for about two years, after which he went to Christiania, Norway, from whence he came to the United States in the spring of 1876. He landed in New York City July 4th, a stranger to our habits and customs, but willing and anxious to learn, and ready to take hold of whatever oppor- tunities presented themselves for making a livelihood. He first located in Worthington, the county seat of Nobles county, Minnesota. It was only a little while before his ready brain and keen eye became familiar with the ways of doing things in America, and lie thought best to move to Adrian, where he saw more prosperity than he thought Worth- ington could produce. While in Worthing- ton, he engaged to some extent in farming, hiring out on various farms in the vicin- ity of that place, but, owing to the grasshopper raids and to the destruction of all kinds of crops, our subject failed to get his pay that year. He went to school during the winter, and continued working on farms in summers and going to school in the winters for about four years. Two years of this time he engaged in working a farm on shares. He also purchased a relinquish- ment of a claim which he afterward sold.
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In the spring of 1883 he came to Adrian and worked in the elevator during the fall and winter, and the following spring commenced work in the lumber yard of F. J. Porter. He continued with this gentleman until June 1, 1888, when he opened a real estate office. This was not his first venture in this line, however. While with Mr. Porter he had negotiated several real estate loans and had sold considerable land, his business increas- ing so rapidly that he was obliged to sever his pleasant business association with Mr. Porter in order to attend to matters pertain- ing to the enterprise in which he had gradu- ally gained a strong foothold. In the spring of 1889 he sold over eight thousand acres of land.
Since becoming a citizen of the village of Adrian, Mr. Mohl has become favorably known for his extensive knowledge of the country and for his honorable methods in conducting his large and increasing business. He has constantly prospered, and while en- riching himself has aided many to become owners of good property, and this at little expense to the investor. He has some very valuable lands in close vicinity to Adrian, Rushmore, Ellsworth and Worthington, and some fine lands at distances of from five to ten miles from the places named at prices within the reach of all. He has done much to build up the village and the surrounding country, and while doing this he has built up an enviable reputation for honest dealing and for courteous, gentlemanly treatment of all with whom he has come in contact. He owns and operates a fine farm in Olney township, has it well improved and provided with good buildings, and also owns a resi- dence and two lots in the village. In poli- tics he affiliates with the republican party, is a notary public, is secretary of the board of health and school director.
On the 12th day of November, 1888, Mr. Mohl was united in the bonds of matrimony
to Miss Anna Paulson, daughter of Hans and Ellen M. (Peterson) Paulson, natives of Norway. Mrs. Mohl was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, in 1866.
- DAM H. KURTH is an influential farmer of Shaokatan township, Lincoln county, Minnesota. He has a good farm on section 8, of that township. He was born in Elgrove, Illinois, April 22, 1857. He was son of Henry. Sr., and Catharine E. (Wehnes) Kurth. A sketch of the father, who was a loyal and Chris- tian citizen, is found in the biography of Fred H. Kurth, in another department of this work.
Adam H. Kurth followed the father's family in its various travels, locating with them in its various locations until he was twenty-one years of age. He was given a good common school education, and assisted on the home farm when not in school. At twenty-one years of age he rented his father's farm in Dakota county, Minnesota, and operated it for some two years, and during the winters of this time he purchased meat for St. Paul butchers. He came West in 1884 and rented his father's farm one year, operating this in connection with his own. He then built a house on his own farm and moved therein, where he has resided ever since. He is a man of excellent qual- ities, true and loyal as a citizen, and is a good friend and neighbor. In politics he affilities with the republican party, and among various official positions has held the office of constable for four years, being the present incumbent of that place.
March 11, 1880, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kurth to Kate Binder. This union has been blessed with five children-Mary M., Emma C., Ida B., George A. and Elizabeth, all of whom are living at the present time.
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W. MOBERLY, the present efficient and popular treasurer of Nobles county, was born on the 26th day of April, 1847, near Owensboro, the county seat of Daviess county, Kentucky, he being the eld- est of eight chilren, five boys and three girls. His parents, Lewis B. and Susan (Owen) Moberly, were natives of Kentucky his grand parents coming orginially from Virginia. His boyhood days were spent on the farm attending the district schools dur- ing the winter months.
In the spring of 1864 his father sold the homestead and removed with his family to Clay county, Illinois, where he purchased land. Young Moberly remained on the farm until the fall of 1866, when he entered the high school at Flora, Illinois, continuing for one year. After leaving school he traveled for a patent medicine firm until the spring of 1868, when he came to Quincy, Illinois, and in July of the same year to Winona county, Minnesota. Here he remained working on the farm during the summer, and teaching school winters, varied with a few trips down the river, until the spring of 1872, when he came West, arriving at Worthing- ton May 23, 1872. He at once filed a pre- emption claim on the southeast quarter of section 14, township 102, range 42 (Olney township). He took an active part in the township's organization, giving the township its name, and being elected the first town clerk.
On the 17th day of march-prior to his coming west-he was married to Miss Annie Campbell, of St. Charles, Minnesota. She was born at Barry, Pike county, Illinois, August 24, 1852, of Scotch parentage.
For the first four or five years after set- tling in Nobles county, they, in common with all the settlers, suffered greatly from the grasshopper plague, seeing crop after crop destroyed by them. To gain a support for his family, Mr. Moberly spent one winter
at work in the woods, and another in Win- ona county teaching school.
In the spring of 1877 he sold his farm in Olney and removed to Westside township, taking a homestead on section 10, township 102, range 43, where he continued his farm work, teaching school winters, until the fall of 1883. He then sold his farm, moved to Ad- rian, and engaged to work for his brother-in- law, James Cowin, in the grain and lumber business. In February, 1884, he came to Worthington as deputy for Captain William Wigham, who had been elected county treas- urer the previous fall, moving his family down in September following.
He filled this position until the expiration of Captain Wigham's term, when he was elected county treasurer, receiving nearly the entire vote of the county.
In the fall of 1888 he was re-elected by a large majority over the democratic and pro- hibition candidates.
Mr. Moberly has always taken an active part in educational and political affairs, being in politics a strong anti-saloon republican. He was town clerk most of the time that he lived in Olney and Westside townships.
He is a member of the Ancient Order United Workingmen, having been recorder of Worthington lodge, No. 65, for the past three years.
Mr. and Mrs. Moberly had six children, one dying in infancy. They are as follows -Susan M., aged 16; Lura C., 14; Russell B., 12; Archie L., 10; Maude (deceased), 10 months, and Mary D., four years old.
REDERICK M. LOUNSBERRY is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, lo- cated on section 28, Dovray township, Mur- ray county, Minnesota. He located on this homestead May 3, 1877, and was one of the first settlers of the township. How well he has succeeded is exemplified by the present
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prosperous appearance of his farm. He has been an active participant in all public mat- ters and has held various official positions. He has been justice of the peace two years, pathmaster, president of the cemetery asso- ciation, etc.
Mr. Lounsberry was born in West Chester county, New York, April 15, 1829. He made this his home for a number of years and then moved to Broome county, where he lived until twenty-five years of age, receiv- ing a good common-school education. He remained with his parents until his marriage, and then engaged in farming and after three years went to LaCrosse county, Wisconsin, from whence after a short time he removed to Green Lake county. Here he engaged extensively in farming for fourteen years and then removed to Winnebago county, where he remained five years. Returning to Green Lake county he located in Berlin township, where he operated a farm for three years. He then came to his present place, where he has lived ever since.
The father of the subject of our sketch was Gideon Lounsberry, an extensive lum- berman and farmer in New York. He was born in West Chester county and died in Broome county. The mother's maiden name was Pollie Archer, who was born in West Chester county, where she was reared and educated. She died in Broome county. In the father's family there were eleven children-William Henry, Knowlton, Mar- garet, Simon J., James H., Reuben A., Mary E., Frederick M., Nancy J., Rachel A. and Henrietta.
The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch was married August 10, 1849, to Miss Lydia Ann Sawyer, a native of Shenango county, New York, where she was born in the year 1831. Here she was reared and educated until she was eighteen years of age. Her parents were Amos S. and Lucinda Padelford, both natives of New
York, where they lived until their death. The father was a farmer by occupation, and both the parents were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In the father's family there were twelve children- Amos, Lucinda, Laura, Loanna, Sarah, Henry,-Simon, Andrew, Ansel, John, Almira and Lydia. Mr. and Mrs. Lounsberry have been blessed with two children-Frederick J., who is married and now resides in the village of Slayton ; and Belle, now married and a resident of Dovray township. Gideon, another son, was accidentally shot April 6, 1882. He left a wife and one son-Arthur Gideon. The wife's maiden name was Ce- manthia De Vore. He was a representative young man, and before his death was a member of the board of supervisors, and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Frederick Lounsberry affiliates with the republican party in politics, and is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of this part of Murray county. He is a man of excellent qualifications, and is highly respected by all who know him. He has a pleasant home and an agreeable family.
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ENRY P. CONSTANS is one of the most popular characters in Far- ibault county and is proprietor of the Con- stans House of Blue Earth City, Minnesota. He is a native of France, where lie was born in 1834.
The subject of our sketch is the son of George and Louisa (Junker) Constans, natives of France. The father was a government official in his native land, and after the Franco-Prussian war lived a retired life in Paris until his death, which occurred in 1884. The mother died in about 1873. In the father's family there were five children -- Henry V., George, now of Mankato, Min- nesota ; Christian, still a resident of France and captain of the Fourth Regiment of Ar-
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tillery, and also aid-de-camp to General Maal- sharbe; Caroline, now Mrs. Kunz, and Louisa.
The early training and education of the subject of our sketch was received in his na- tive land, and when seventeen years of age he migrated to the United States, landing at New Orleans, from wlience he went to St. Paul, remaining until 1854. He then opened the second store in the village of Shakopee, a short distance south of St. Paul, and re- mained in business there for two years. He then sold out and became the pioneer settler of Blue Earth City. In company with ex- Governor Wakefield, George Kingsley, Sam- uel Hibler and S. Spencer, he built the first log-house on the town site. They made this their residence until August. During the sum- mer Mr. Constans built a hewn log-house two stories high and 20x40 feet, with an addition 18x24 feet. He kept hotel in this building for twelve years and then built his present commodious house. The gentlemen whose name we have just given were the proprie- tors of the town site of Blue Earth City and laid out 320 acres, a portion of which was afterward sold to Mr. Kingsley. They were quite liberal in holding out inducements to settlers and donated a large number of lots to parties who would build houses. They also donated one block for school purposes and one block for the court-house. Our sub- ject at once took an active interest in public matters and especially made his influence felt in political affairs. He was appointed sheriff of the county at its organization and held the office for four years. He has been a member of the school board for some twenty years and has served for several years on the city council.
Mr. Constans was married in the year 1856 to Miss Barbara H'ebeison, of Carver county, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Christian and Barbara (Jaberg) H'ebeison, a native of Berne, Switzerland. Her father was a manufacturer of medicines and was
also engaged to some extent in farming. The father and family came to America in 1854, settling in Ohio, from whence after six months, they went to Indiana, remaining two years, and from thence removed to Car- ver, Minnesota, where they settled on govern- ment land. Later the father moved to Car- ver City, where he lived until his death in 1882. The mother died in her native land in 1846. In the father's family there were five children-Christian (deceased), Maggie, now Mrs. Hostetter ; Mrs. Constans, John, of Carver, and Frederick (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Constans have a family of four chil- dren -- Charles W., Henry E., George F., and Dr. Frank E. Charles W. married Elizabeth Anderson and is now a druggist of Blue Earth City. Henry E. is also a druggist of the same place. George F. is engaged in the lumber business in the City. Dr. Frank E. is now a resident of New York city. He was a graduate of Carlton College, at North- field, Minnesota, and also of the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia.
Mr. Constans is a typical landlord and is conducting one of the most successful hotel enterprises in Southern Minnesota. He is genial, open-hearted, and is one of the most hospitable of men. He has accumulated considerable means and is interested in some property in St. Paul. He is one of the prominent and substantial men of Blue Earth City and Faribault county. Mr. and Mrs. Constans are both members of the Presbyterian church, of which society our subject is an elder.
ALEB D. ASH, a retired capitalist of Madelia, Watonwan county, Minne- sota, is one of the foremost men of his locality. In the development and growth of the village he has proven the right man in the right place. Self-made in every particular, he
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stands to-day one of the most prominent and and substantial citizens of the county.
Mr. Ash is a native of New Hampshire, where he was born October 26, 1823. His parents were Samuel and Sabina (Dexter) Ash, natives of Lisbon, Grafton county, New Hampshire. The father was a man of means and operated an extensive farm in his native State, residing in Grafton county until his death. The mother died in 1882 at the age of seventy-five years. They had a family of of eight children-Phineas, who died in 1881; Mary A., now Mrs. John Hunt, of New Hampshire; William B., who died in 1887; Caleb D., James, living in Grafton county, New Hampshire; Lara J., now Mrs. Brown of Lisbon, New Hampshire; Sarah, now Mrs. Stoddard of Carroll, New Hampshire ; and Eliza, now Mrs. Joseph Haynes of the same place.
Schools, like railroads, half a century ago were few and far between, and the educa- tional advantages of the subject of our sketch were exceedingly limited. In his local- ity there was a small log school house roofed over with bark, and in this primitive educa- tional institution Mr. Ash received his first school training. After attaining sixteen years of age he worked on various farms and in the lumber woods, continuing in these different lines of employment until twenty- one years of age. He then went to New- buryport, Massachusetts, and during one summer worked in a ship-yard, in the fall coming to Boston, Lowell and Manchester, as a section hand on the Boston, Lowell & Concord railroad. After three or four months he stopped in Lowell, Massachusetts, and engaged in moving buildings until nearly spring when he came back to Lowell and en- gaged in the milling business, and also in moving buildings. His residence in that city was continued three years, after which he engaged in farming near the village of Bethlehem, New Hampshire. Remaining
there three years he then sold out and re- turned to Lowell, engaging in work on a canal for some fourteen months. He con- cluded to go west in 1855, and, gathering to- gether his personal effects, started for Wis- consin, locating at Beaver Dam, and engag- ing as a mover of buildings for some three years. His next move was to St. Croix county, where four years were spent in farm- ing, after which, in 1862, he removed to Winona county, Minnesota, and settled on prairie land in Saratoga township, where he purchased a large acreage and became one of the most extensive farmers in that local- ity. He remained in Winona county six years, and then sold out and returned to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where he resided three years engaged at his old trade. While there he assisted in the building of one of the largest Baptist churches in that region. In 1871 he came to Watonwan county, Minnesota, and located in the village of Madelia. He has purchased considerable business property, and owns a fine resi- dence on Main street. He is also largely in- terested in farming lands, and owns an ex- tensive acreage in Watonwan and adjoining counties. He is one of the most public- spirited and generous-hearted citizens of the county, and assists liberally in all matters pertaining to the public welfare. He has held the office of president of the Old Set- tlers' Association, president of the Agricult- ural Society and president of the school board of the village. He was president of the Minnesota Valley Bank, organized August 9, 1886, which institution he assisted in or- ganizing. He has held various official posi- tions, among them being that of street com- missioner, marshal, etc. In politics he affili- ates with the republican party, and is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. He is one of the wealthiest and most substantial citizens of the village.
Mr. Ash was married at Lowell, Massa-
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chusetts, September 3, 1845, to Miss Harriet M. Haynes, of Massachusetts, daughter of J. and Lydia D. Haynes, of Sudbury, Massachu- setts. Three children were born to them- George H., born April 27, 1847; Mary A., born October 27, 1850, and Charles F., born February 22, 1854. George H. married Mary Nulph, by whom he had four children -- Minnie, married November 20, 1888, to Alfred J. Keeling; Jennie M., William D., and George. Mary A. married C. W. Sey- mour, May 3, 1869, and has the following children-Frank A., Hattie E., Charles D., Maude B., and Clifford E. Charles F. wed- ded Miss Belle Hamell, March 4, 1883, by whom he has had one son, Caleb D.
- HARLES B. CHEADLE is a prosper- ous farmer who resides on section 22, Springfield township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. Mr. Cheadle was born in Wash- ington county, Ohio, August 30, 1849, and was the son of A. I. and Jemima (Witham) Cheadle, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The parents came west in 1855, and settled near Kasota, Minnesota, where they still live. They were among the early settlers of that locality, and were residents of that place during the Indian troubles in an early day. They are well-to-do and influential farmers.
Charles Cheadle left the parental home when he was twenty years of age. Up to this time he had been given good educational advantages in the district schools, and had helped his father in work on the farm. In 1870 he came to Cottonwood county, looking for a location. He walked from St. James to Mountain Lake, and located a claim on section 22, of Carson township, soon after going to New Ulm, where he worked on the railroad until fall. He then went to Man- kato, Blue Earth county, and found work in the woods until the spring of the following
year. He then returned to his claim in Cot- tonwood county, bringing his family with him, and residing there for two years. He then removed to section 22 of Springfield township, where he has since lived. He has a good farm of 160 acres, and has it under good cultivation and well improved, with substantial buildings. He built one of the first log houses in the township, and this building is still standing on his farm.
Mr. Cheadle was married, December 17, 1862, to Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, a daughter of Robert and Harriet (Warrant) Godbolt. Her parents located in Le Sueur county, in 1862, in which year her father died. The mother died in January, 1887. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and a prominent citi- zen of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Cheadle have been blessed with three children, only one of whom is now living, Myrtle A. Oscar and Asa are deceased.
The subject of our sketch affiliates with the republican party in politics, and has become one of the important factors in the local affairs of that organization, having held vari- ous official positions. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of the Ancient Order United Workmen. His wife is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Cheadle is a man of high character, and is esteemed by all who know him.
EIL CURRIE is one of the best known citizens of Murray county, Minnesota. He is a resident of the village of Currie, of which he was the founder, and which was named in his honor. He is at present engaged in the general mercantile business, being also connected with the Murray County Bank. This bank was es- tablished in 1874 and is doing a large busi- ness. He was the first settler of the town of Currie, to which he came in 1872. He built a small store and commenced making
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other improvements. He has identified him- self closely with all matters of a public nature and was postmaster of the village from 1873 to 1887. From 1874 to 1888 he was clerk of the district court of Murray county. He has held various official posi- tions with honor and credit.
The place of the nativity of Neil Currie is found in Canada in the county of Lanark, where he was born Dec. 15, 1842. His father was Archibald Currie, of whom a sketch is given in another department of this work.
Neil Currie was married in October, 1866, to Miss M. Augusta Canfield, a native of the State of New York. Six children have blessed this union-Nettie J., Mabel A., Archie N., Eveline, Neil, Jr., and Hellen.
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