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 27

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 27

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. Currie is a republican in politics, and is an influential member of the Masonic fra- ternity, of which he is treasurer.

RRIN MOTT. This gentleman is one of the reliable farmers and most influential citizens of Verdi township, Lin- coln county, Minnesota. He was born in Rome, Oneida county, New York, Marclı 22, 1852. In his father's family there were thirteen children, of whom seven were boys, Orrin, our subject, being the fourth son in order of birth.

The early life of Orrin Mott was spent beneath the parental roof, and he assisted in work on the home farm. He was given the edu- cational advantages furnished by the district schools, and continued with his parents until he reached eighteen years of age. He then engaged in farm work for a year in the em- ploy of a man named Kline. When this year's engagement had expired, he then started out on a trip overland, driving an ox team to the Red River country, where he located land and built a shanty, and prepared to make a permanent residence. He re- mained a few months, when the grass-

hoppers raided the entire country and de- stroyed so many crops that our subject became disheartened and left. He then went into the pineries, where he remained until spring. His next move was up the Wisconsin river, where he took charge of bringing a raft down the river to St. Louis. Five weeks were spent on this trip, and he then returned to his home by way of Chicago. This was shortly after the great fire in that city, and our sub- ject well remembers the chaotic appearance of the ruins left by the devastating fire fiend. Returning to Wisconsin he worked in the harvest fields for some ten days, and then went to Minnesota, where he continued working in that line for some sixteen days, receiving as remuneration $3.50 per day and board. He stopped for some time in Dakota county, Minnesota, where he spent the fall and then returned to Wisconsin. He re- turned to the home of his parents and took his father's team and engaged in hauling lumber on the Black river during the winter. Then he went to Sparta and engaged at the carpenter's trade until the fall of 1877, when he was married and took a trip to Winona, Minnesota. From that point he camne alone to Marshall; thence overland to what was then called Marshfield, Lincoln county. He located the land where he now lives, and soon after went back to Sparta, Wisconsin, where he remained until the following spring. He then purchased a team, and on May 1st started out with his household goods and family for his claim in Lincoln county, arriving there on the 10th of the month. He also shipped a car load of lumber, and also provisions, which he had to haul by team from Marshall, a distance of forty-five miles. He built a small shanty and made a permanent residence on his present excellent farm of 320 acres.

Mr. Mott was united in the bonds of matri- mony November 2, 1877, to Frances Bailey,

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a very estimable lady of Melrose, Wisconsin, by whom he has had one child, Alfred H.

It is interesting to recall some of the early experiences through which Mr. Mott passed, and it is also interesting to compare the differ- ence between his circumstances now and then. When he landed in the county he had but three dollars in money and a team and wagon. To-day he is comfortably located on a fine farm of 320 acres and has the best dwelling house and barns in the county. The passer-by sees the best evidences of comfort and prosperity on the farm of our subject. He has been a hard-working and a careful farmer and by thrift and economy has accumulated considerable means. On his farm there is living water, a spring creek running across one part of it. In this stream are to be found many different kinds of fish. In the stream our subject has indeed a great deal of piscatorial sport, having caught therein a five-pound pickerel. Perhaps no other man in the county has taken as much interest in public affairs as has our subject. Being in politics a republican he has always supported the winning side, and has himself held various official positions with honor and credit. He has been township treasurer for some two terms, school treasurer two terms, and has held other positions. He has been elected twice as trustee and treasurer of the Elkton Farmers' Alliance Warehouse Com- pany, of Elkton, Dakota. As agent for this company he went to Minneapolis and pur- chased lumber for the' Farmers' Warehouse at Elkton.

In his travels he has sold wheat through- out Iowa, and down the Mississippi as far as St. Louis. Perhaps no man in the township is as widely known as our subject. Some time ago he took an extensive trip, being absent from home about a month, and during this time visiting the world's exposition at New Orleans. He also took a brief tour to the old battle-fields of Lookout Mountain

and Mission Ridge, going thence down the Gulf of Mexico, where he had the privilege of seeing the remnants of an old torpedo used by the Rebels in the Civil War. He is an exemplary citizen, and is widely re- spected.

Orrin Mott's parents were J. S. and Adeline (Soals) Mott, the father a native of Steuben county, New York, and the mother of Massachusetts. The father is still living, a resident of Monroe county, Wisconsin. The mother died March 17, 1880, at Leon, Wisconsin. J. S. Mott's parents were Elias and Lucretia Mott, the former born in New Jersey, and the latter at Albany, New York.

Our subject's grand-parents on his mother's side were Asa and Ruth Soals, who had in their veins the pure "blue blood" of the Pilgrim Fathers. Grandfather Soals was a soldier in the War of 1812, and drew a land- warrant for one hundred and twenty acres. Our subject also remembers distinctly his grandmother Soals telling him (when he was a small boy) of her father doing battle in behalf of the colonies during the Revolu- tionary War.

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ENRY AHSENMACHER is a lead- ing farmer of Altona township, Pipe- stone county, Minnesota. His excellent farm and pleasant home is located on section 20, where he has surrounded himself with the signs of posperity and industry.

The subject of our sketch was born in Prussia, Germany, February 3, 1829, his parents being Henry and Margaret (Brauer) Ahsenmacher, both natives of Prussia. The father was a shoemaker by trade and remained in his native country throughout his life. Our subject's great-grandfather was Henry Ahsenmacher, who was born in 1697 and died in 1803, at the age of 106 years.

Henry Ahsenmacher remained with his parents, being given good educational facili-

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ties, until he was fourteen years of age, and up to this time had assisted his father in work at the shoemaker's trade. After he was fourteen years old he gave his entire time to the shoemaker's business and continued with his father until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1851 he entered the Prussian army and served until 1853, and in 1854 came to the United States, landing at New York City in November. From there he went to Chi- cago, where he remained a few days in order to get as nearly Americanized as possible be- fore starting out forthe farther West. Hethen went to Blue Island and worked at histrade for some two years. In 1857 he came to Le Sueur, Minnesota, and opened a shoe shop, which he operated until August 16, 1862. At that date he enlisted in Company G, Tenth Min- nesota Volunteer Infantry and gave his services to the Union army throughout the war, being honorably discharged August 16, 1865. He had a varied military experience, and served his adopted country faithfully and honorably. He was at Mankato when the thirty-eight Indians were hanged at that place, and, as he was a bugler for the com- pany, he mingled the bugle sound with the enthusiastic hurrah from the multitude when the drop fell at the third tap of the bass drum. He served in Minnesota during the entire Indian campaign until 1863, and then was sent to the South to participate in the strife with the Rebel forces. He was a man of good military abilities, and was made sergeant of his company, in which rank he continued throughout the war. After being discharged he returned to Le Sueur, and con- tinued running a shoe shop until 1876. He remained in the village, however, until May, 1878, when he came to Pipestone county, driving overland by team and locating his present claim in Altona township. He built his shanty and made a few other improve- ments, and returned to Le Sueur to get his family. He brought them to his new location

in the spring of 1879, and has made Altona township his permanent home ever since.

Mr. Ahsenmacher was married July 25, 1859, at Le Sueur, Minnesota, to Mary Hess, a native of Cologne, Prussia. She contracted a severe cold in the winter of 1862-63 at camp while nursing her husband's sick com- rades, and died May 8, 1863, of quick con- sumption at Le Sueur, while her husband was with his company removing the Indians to their new reservation in Dakota.

Mr. Ahsenmacher was married again, April 5, 1866, to Louise A. Kruschka. This union has been blessed with eleven children -Frank, Mary, Julia, Henry, William, Louise (deceased), Carrie (deceased), Cath- arine, Charles, John (deceased), and George. Louise and Carrie were killed by lightning in 1881. While asleep in the house a storm came up, and a bolt of lightning struck the house, descending through it into the cellar beneath, resulting in the death of these chil- dren. Catharine was the first white child born in Altona township, her birth being July 8, 1879.

In politics our subject affiliates with the democratic party, but is not a " free trader." He has always interested himself actively in the public affairs of his township. He has a good education, and is well fitted for the various duties which have fallen to his attention. He has 320 acres of excellent land, and is engaged in raising grain and stock. While in Le Sueur he was an influen- tial member of the Grand Army of the Re- public.

HRISTIAN N. PETERSEN, a leading citizen of Fairmont, Minnesota, is en- gaged in the real estate business. The place of his nativity is found in Haderslev, Nord Sles- wig, Germany, where he was born April 30, 1859. His parents were Nis C. and Mag- dalena (Rasmussen) Petersen.

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The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm, residing with his parents, and receiving a good education in the common schools. He also studied German in a private school until he was sixteen. His mother died when he was five years of age, and about four years later his father married Christina Jhul. At six- teen years of age our subject went to Den- mark, and, entering the high school at Co- penhagen, pursued a course of study for three years. For one year thereafter he traveled under the instruction of Professor Segelcke in the creamery and cheese business. He traveled all over Denmark; visited Sweden and Holland and different parts of Germany to learn the various methods of conducting a creamery business. He then took charge of a creamery owned by Mr. Lobb, of Slude- gaard, Funen Island, Denmark, and con- tinued in the business in that place for a year. He then returned home on a visit, and in the spring of 1881 went to Hamburg, and from thence to New York City. Going on to Chicago, he remained a few weeks, and then went to the home of an uncle in Clin- ton, Iowa, with whom he remained during the summer, taking lessons in English at a private school. He then entered the em- ploy of A. Boysen, of Chicago, selling lands in the northwestern counties of Iowa. In the fall of 1882 he came to Fairmont, where his employer owned some twenty thousand acres of land. He continued in the employ of this gentleman for about a year, and after selling nearly all his lands, formed a part- nership with Mr. C. H. Bullard, and soon after took the agency for the sale of lands owned by Messrs. Fredericksen, Hansen & Drummond. They also engaged in hand- ling real estate for other parties, and our subject has made that his business ever since, doing a general real estate, insurance, loan and collection business. In the fall of 1886 he was nominated for county auditor by the democratic party. His election, how-

ever, failed, being defeated by about eighty- three votes. As the county is strongly re- publican, this is an excellent record for our subject, and shows how popular he is among his fellow-citizens. The party vote of that year stood 981 republican to 465 democratic. In this instance Mr. Petersen was defeated by but eighty-three votes, after but three weeks' canvass, and his first experience in politics.

On the 16th day of November, 1887, the subject of our sketch was married to Miss Anna Feehan, daughter of Patrick and Kate (Neven) Feehan, natives of Ireland. This lady was born in Oconomowoc, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, Octocer 4, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Petersen have one child, Alma Catharine, born February 4, 1889.

LOYD SILVERNALE is a well-known and prominent business man of Cur- rie, Murray county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the milling business. He owns a one-half interest in a large mill, owned and operated under the firm name of Schneider & Silvernale. Mr. Silvernale came to Mur- ray county in 1868 with his father, and set- tled on the southwest quarter of section twenty-eight, in Shetek township. He made that his home for some years. The father's name was W. F. Silvernale, a native of the State of New York, where he was reared and educated. In early life he came to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and became one of the early settlers of that locality. In 1868 he came with his son to Murray county, where he resided until 1883, when he went to Missouri. Our subject's mother's name was Zorada (Horton) Silvernale, a na- tive of New York, where she remained dur- ing her early life. With her parents she finally removed to the vicinity of Beaver Dam, Dodge county, Wisconsin. In the father's family there were two children-

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Frances, now the wife of A. C. Fling, and our subject, Floyd. Mr. Fling resided in Currie until the spring of 1889, when he re- moved to Missouri. While a resident of this county he was engaged in the mercantile business, and for several terms held the office of register of deeds.

The subject of our sketch was born in the town of Genesee, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, December 16, 1853. He re- mained in that locality until fourteen years of age. Up to this time he had received a good education. He came to Minnesota with his people, and · completed his education in Lake Crystal. Then for two years he took charge of an engine in the Omaha railroad elevator in Lake Crystal. From that time he engaged in various pursuits, and finally came to Mason township, Murray county, Minnesota, where he remained several years. He took a prominent interest in local affairs, and held various offices in that township. He then came to the village of Currie, sell- ing out his farm and purchasing a one-half interest in the mill.

February 2, 1878, Mr. Silvernale was mar- ried to Miss Emma Thomas, a native of Wi- nona county, Minnesota, where she received her early training and education. She was the daughter of Rufus Thomas, who came to Murray county in about 1873, and re- moved to Missouri in 1879. He is now de- ceased. During a portion of his life he lived in Winona county, where he was engaged in farming. He served in the War of the Re- bellion, and was an officer in the Union army. For a time he was engaged in the inercantile business in Rushford, and from thence came to Murray county and settled on a farm. He was county auditor for some years, and was one of the leading citizens of the township. He was a man of thor- ough piety, and was an earnest Sunday- school worker. He took an active interest in all matters pertaining to the religious and

moral welfare of his fellow-citizens. He be- came quite prominent in political circles, and held numerous official positions.

The subject of our sketch is doing a large and extensive trade in the milling business, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all his patrons. He is a man of high charac- ter, excellent business abilities, is public- spirited, and whenever called to serve in any official capacity, performs his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to his con- stituents.

ARS ANDERSON. This gentleman is a leading farmer of his nationality in West Brook township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He is engaged in farming on section twenty-four. He is a native of Den- mark, where he was born April 25, 1854. His parents, Andrew and Laura (Larson) Rasmuson, were also natives of Denmark, and are still residents of that country. They reared a family of eleven children.

Up to nineteen years of age our subject assisted his father in work on the home farm and then emigrated to the United States, first locating in Rochester, Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he worked on various farms for eight years. He then came to the place on which he now resides, taking a homestead of 160 acres. He has built good buildings on the farm, and besides raising grain has devoted considerable of his atten- tion to producing Durham cattle and Nor- man horses. He has a pleasant, comfortable dwelling house, which stands in the midst of a beautiful grove of eight acres of trees. The subject of our sketch is a republican in poli- tics, and has always taken an active part in public matters. He was a member of the township board of supervisors for two years, serving his constituents well and faithfully.

November 27, 1880, Mr. Anderson married Miss Carrie Fingerson, daughter of O. Fin-

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gerson, of Olmsted county. This union has been blessed with five children.

ATHANIEL McCOLLEY is an influ- ential and well-to-do farmer of Dela- van township, Faribault county, Minnesota, and resides on a farm on section 31. He came to the county in April, 1861, and set- tled first on section 4 of Prescott township. Remaining in that township until 1865, with the exception of a period of two and one- half years of service in the army, he then came to Delavan township, where he has since resided.

Mr. McColley was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, February 4, 1840. His parents were Alexander and Polley McColley. The family left Ohio when our subject was about five years old, and removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they were among the first settlers; the farm on which they located is now covered by a portion of the city. Here the family engaged in farming enterprises for seven years, and then removed to Colum- bia county, locating near Portage, where our subject was reared and educated until he was twenty-one years of age. His education was completed by taking a course in the seminary at Portage, which institution he left the vear before he would have gradu- ated. The president of this institution was James McGoffin, of Tennessee, a popular and efficient educator. Soon after this our sub- ject came to Minnesota for the benefit of his health. He located in Faribault county, where he has since lived, and where he has become one of the most prominent of its citizens.

In September of 1862 the subject of this sketch enlisted in the Minnesota Rangers as a private, and was honorably discharged in the fall of that year, after having served on the frontier. He re-enlisted in the Second Minnesota Cavalry and served until the

spring of 1866, being discharged at that time at Fort Snelling. After being dis- charged he returned to his farm, and in con- nection with his farming operations taught school from 1866 to 1873. He has been a hard-working and energetic farmer, and has brought his land to a high state of cultiva- tion and provided it with excellent and val- uable improvements. His place is located two miles from Winnebago City. Mr. McColley was one of the first settlers of the township, and has always taken an active interest in its growth and prosperity. For three years he was chairman of the town- ship board, was a supervisor for three years, assessor for nine years, and for seventeen years clerk of school district Nos. 36 and 76. For some years he has taken an active interest in State Alliance matters, and was a representative three different times to the State meeting of that body which met in St. Paul in 1884, 1885 and 1886. Mr. Mc- Colley was one of the committee of which Ignatius Donnelly was a member and chair- man which presented the principles and requests of the Alliance to the State demo- cratic and republican conventions. He has been actively interested in the furtherance of any project which would benefit the farmers of the county and State, and while a member of the State Alliance convention took active steps in various ways for the amelioration of the general condition of farmers in the Northwest. In politics Mr. McColley is a republican, and belongs to the Baptist church, and has been treasurer of that organization for nine years, and has also been clerk of the society. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, and for two years was commander of the Grand Army of the Republic post. He is secretary of the Fari- bault County Agricultural Society, and has been for the past five years.

Nathaniel McColley was married April 2, 1867, to Miss Frances Freer, a native of

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Washington county, Wisconsin. Her par- ents were David and Ardilla Freer, and were farmers throughout the most of their lives. Miss Freer was educated at Blue Earth City. Mr. and Mrs. McColley have five children-Ardilla B., Marion E., Eva- lina M., Alvin M. and Jessie A.

HARLES C. WALKUP is an influ- ential citizen of Sherburne, Martin county, Minnesota, where he engaged in the lumber business. The place of his nativity is found in Marengo, McHenry county, Ill- inois, where he was born September 15, 1859. His parents were George and Phœbe (Spen- cer) Walkup, natives, respectively, of New York and Indiana. The father was engaged in farming and cattle buying, and his life was divided between residence in town and on the farm.

Our subject spent his early life with his parents, attending the common schools, and commenced working out when he was about twelve years of age. He made his home with his parents, however, until he was about twenty-five years old, in the meantime being engaged in various employments in and about Marengo and other places to which his parents moved. When he was a small boy the parents removed to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and after remaining there for about a year and a half again moved, locating in Waverly, from whence, after a six years' residence, they moved to Osage, Iowa. Here they resided, engaged in various lines of business, for six or eight years, when they removed to Pipestone, Minnesota. Our sub- ject remained with his parents until the fall of 1887, when he came to Sherburne and took charge of the lumber yard of C. L. Cole- man. Our subject has been energetically engaged in building up the lumber interests of his employer, and has succeeded in estab- lishing a large business. He is a man of

good character, an exemplary citizen, and has taken an active part in matters of a pub- lic nature wherever he has resided. In poli- tics he affiliates with the republican party, and was city marshal for some years while a resident of Pipestone.

Mr. Walkup was married in Pipestone, Minnesota, April 21, 1887, to Miss Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of Andrew and Isabel (Sin- ton) Wilson. She was born near Joliet, Illi- nois, in 1861. This union has been blessed with one child, Hugh S.

ALVIN RANK, one of the leading and influential merchants of Windom, Minnesota, first located in Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, in 1870. He was one of the first settlers of that township and took a pre-emption of eighty acres, which was afterward charged to a soldier's claim of 160 acres. He made numerous im- provements, and drew his lumber with an ox team from Lake Crystal, seventy miles dis- tant. He resided on his farm until in 1888, when he moved into the village and engaged in his present business. He has met with large success and has built up a large trade.

Mr. Rank is a native of Union county, Pennsylvania, where he was born December 30, 1831. His parents were Samuel and Catharine (Deffenbaugher) Rank, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was engaged in milling and farming and moved to Indiana in about 1839, settling in Miami county. He made that his home until his death, which occurred in 1853. The mother died in 1860. The father was a member of the old whig party and his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. He was a wealthy man and a prominent citizen and took an active part in all church and school matters. Of fourteen children in the father's family the following-named are living-Mary, now Mrs. Hildman ; Samuel D., of Indiana ;

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William J., a resident of Winona county, Minnesota ; Eliza, now Mrs. Moss, of Iowa; and Calvin.

· The subject of our sketch was reared as a farmer's boy, being given very limited advan- tages for an education in his early days. He received about thirty days' schooling out of each year and the balance of the time en- gaged in farming and teaming. He contin- ued at this until 1854 when he went to Green county, Iowa, and purchased one hundred acres of prairie land and forty acres of tim- ber. He made a few improvements and re- turned to Indiana in 1855 and engaged in farming in that State for two years. He again came to Iowa, locating in Scott county where he engaged in farming for one year. His next move was to Kansas, from whence he went to Pike's Peak, where he took a claim and commenced mining, afterward engaging in keeping boarders. He returned some time afterward to Franklin county, Kansas, where he engaged in farming until 1860. On the breaking out of the war he found himself in a peculiar dilemma. He was a Northerner of Northern proclivities surrounded by Rebels. A third of his time was occupied with quar- rels with the Rebels and he came to the con- clusion that it was better for him to leave the country. So, coming to Minnesota, he stopped in Rice county, where he enlisted in Company A, Seventhi Minnesota Infantry. He served eighteen months. He was in the following named sanguinary battles : Tupelo, Nashville, Spanish Fort, and a great many smaller battles and skirmishes. During a part of the time he was at Paducah, Memphis, and in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and other States of the South. After his dis- charge he returned to Rice county, Min- nesota, and engaged in farming until making his location in Cottonwood county, in 1870.

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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 27

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