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 28

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 28

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Mr. Rank was married to Miss C. Fickle of Guthrie county, Iowa, in 1855. Three

children have blessed this union -- Alonzo C., Edwin and Ida M. Alonzo married Emma Englehart, by whom he had three children-Bert, Harry and May. Edwin is head clerk and manager of his father's store.

The subject of our sketch is a man of excel- lent business qualifications and has built up a profitable trade which is steadily in- creasing in volume. He is progressive mind- ed, public spirited, and is a man of high char- acter. He affiliates with the republican party in politics, and is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and Grand Army of the Republic fraternities. Mr. and Mrs. Rank are both members of the Presbyterian church.

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JAMES McVEY, an exemplary citizen and substantial farmer of Pipestone county, Minnesota, located on section 4, of Fountain Prairie township, in 1880. He homesteaded his present excellent farm, and commenced his operations by breaking twenty acres of land during the summer. He also built a small shanty, in which he lived for about a year and a half. At the end of that time he moved to the northeast quarter of the section on which his farm lay, and remained for about two years, during whichi time he farmed his own land, and the part of the quarter section to which he had moved. At the expiration of the two years just mentioned le moved back to his home stead, and has made that his home ever since. Ever since the organization of the township he has occupied a prominent and influential place in all affairs of a public nature.

The place of the nativity of the subject of our sketch is found in Carleton county, near the city of Ottawa, Canada, where he was born May 4, 1838. His parents were Stewart and Mary A. McVey, who were natives of Scotland.

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SOUTIIWESTERN MINNESOTA.

Our subject remained in the country of his nativity until he was about eighteen years of age. Most of this time had been spent in work on the home farm, and in attending school whenever opportunity pre- sented itself and he could be spared from the farm. His school privileges were fur- nished by the district schools of his native country, and he was able to obtain a good common-school education. When he was eighteen years of age he con- cluded to leave the parental home, and to take hold of life's duties for himself. Removing to St. Lawrence county, New York, he remained for six months engaged in farming, after which he went to the State of Wisconsin, where he remained until his enlistment in the Union army, at which time lie was located in Wood county, where he had been engaged in the lumber business. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, en- tering the service as a corporal. His discharge was given in November, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tennessee. This regiment was commanded by Colonel George E. Bryant until the bat- tle of Atlanta, when Colonel Bryant took command of a brigade, and James K. Proud- fit commanded the regiment until the close of the war. The war experience of our sub- ject was full of excitement and hardships. He saw many severe battles, among them being the battles of Cold Water, Vicksburg, Canton, Atlanta and Kenesaw Mountain, besides many other battles of minor impor- tance. He was slightly wounded at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, but soon recov- ered, his injury not being of such a severe nature as to require attendance at the hos- pital. After his discharge at Chattanooga, in 1864, our subject returned to Wisconsin and resumed his old occupation of lumbering. He continued in the State of Wisconsin until in 1880, in which year he removed to Pipestone county, Minnesota, and made

settlement on the farm on which he now lives.

On the 18th day of August, 1867, Mr. Mc- Vey was wedded to Miss Sarah Bennett, a native of Windham county, Vermont. When she was ten years of age her parents re- moved to Columbia county, Wisconsin, where she received her education and early train- ing. The marriage took place in Kilbourn City, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. McVey have five children-George, Victoria, Sarah, James Garfield and Donald-all still unmarried and residing with their parents.

In politics Mr. McVey affiliates with the republican party, and since coming to the county he has held a prominent place in the counsels of this organization. His abilities as an official are of a high order, and his services have been required in numerous instances. Shortly after coming to the township, in 1881, he was elected on the township board, and held that office for one year. For four years he held the position of treasurer of school district No. 38, and, in 1882, was appointed postmaster of the Mc- Vey postoffice in Fountain Prairie township. He has held the office of roadmaster also, and is at present a member of the town board of supervisors. In the fall of 1888 he was elected one of the county commis- sioners, which position he holds at the pre- sent time. Ever since his location in the township our subject has been intimately identified with its best interests, and has taken an active part in all matters which pertain to the welfare of the township and county. He is a man of high character and is respected by all who know him. He has an excellent farm provided with good build- ings, and has a pleasant family. Mr. McVey is an influential member of the Grand Army of the Republic and Masonic fraternities. Our subject is a member of the Episcopalian church, and his wife of the Congregational church.

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SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

RCHIBALD CURRIE, SR., is one of the most influential citizens of the village of Currie, Murray county, Minnesota. He was one of the early settlers of the county, having made his permanent loca- tion here in 1873. Mr. Currie is now en- gaged in the real-estate and loan business. He came to the present site of the village of Currie because of the excellent water power, and in 1872, the year previous to his loca- tion, he built the frame of a flouring mill. In 1873 the building was completed, and O. A. Pray, of Minneapolis, put in two run of stone, our subject owning an interest in the mill until 1886. This mill was well equipped with the patent roller system, and was finally sold to Snider & Silvernale. Mr. Currie and son were the first settlers on the pre- sent site of Currie, and our subject put up the first building in the village in the fall of 1872. For some time this was occu- pied for a small store. This business has finally developed to large proportions, and our subject's son, Neil Currie, has entire charge. Since coming to the county Mr. Currie has been one of the most prominent citizens. For five and a half years he was county treasurer, and has held other posi- tions of minor importance, in all of which he has proven his efficiency and worth as a business man.

The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch is a native of Argyle- shire, Scotland, where he was born in the year 1816. Remaining in his native land until five years of age, he then came to America with his parents, locat- ing in Canada. Here our subject re- mained, receiving a good common-school edu- cation, and engaged in various kinds of em- ployment after reaching his majority, until 1861, when he removed to Minnesota, locat- ing in Troy, Winona county. He was en- gaged in the mercantile business, and during this time was one of the leading public spirits

of his locality. He was also largely inter- ested in lands in the vicinity of Troy. From Troy he went to Rushford, and there oper- ated a store for five years. St. Charles, Min- nesota, became his next location, and for four or five years he operated a mercantile busi- ness in that place. He then came to Currie, Murray county, Minnesota.

Archibald Currie was married March 1, 1842, to Miss Jane Wilson, who was born in Canada. She died May 22, 1879. Mrs. Cur- rie was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was an exemplary Christian lady. Eleven children were the fruits of this union, eight of whom grew to man and womanhood- Neil, Jane, John, Ebenezer, Margaret, Arch, Christina and Willie. A sketch of Neil Cur- rie is found in another department of this work.

Since coming to this county the subject of our sketch has interested himself largely in buying lands, and now owns a number of farms in Murray county and one in Pipestone county. His real estate business has been of large dimensions, and he has been doing a large and profitable business. In politics Mr.Currie affiliates with the republican party, and attends the services of the Presbyterian church, with which society he is in hearty sympathy. Perhaps no man in the county is better known than Mr. Currie, and, wher- ever known, he is highly respected for his sterling qualities as a true and loyal citizen and careful business man.

EORGE S. WAIT. This gentleman became one of the pioneers of Pipe- stone county in the year 1878, his settlement being made on the 5th day of May, when he homesteaded his present farm on section 30, of Elmer township. Mr. Wait was pos- sessed of the usual energy and perseverance found among the characteristics of the pio- neers of every country. He intended to make

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himself a pleasant and comfortable home, and if possible to surround himself with sufficient of this world's comforts to be able to enjoy his old age. His first opera- tion was to erect a shanty some 12x24 feet, and then he commenced to turn over the prairie sod, breaking about one hundred acres the first year. In this way he laid the foundations for the competency which he has since earned. Some four years of his life were spent in this primitive shanty, and at the end of that period it was destroyed by fire, entailing upon him the loss of every- thing he had except one quilt. This loss, however, did not discourage Mr. Wait, and he at once commenced drawing lumber for the purpose of building a new dwelling. This house was 14x24 feet, with twelve-foot posts, and in it he lived until another calam- ity came to him in the shape of a cyclone, in 1882, which entirely demolished his home and destroyed nearly all his personal effects. He then built the house in which he now lives, 22x14 feet, with ten-foot posts and an addition 10x22 feet. This building he has improved and made out of it a comfortable and pleasant home. Near at hand are to be seen his farm buildings, barns, granaries, and other smaller structures such as are usually seen and needed on a well-regulated farm Hehas a large commodious barn, built in 1888, 46x48 feet, with room for the accommoda- tion of about fifty head of cattle, and from twenty to thirty head of horses. The stock owned by Mr. Wait is worthy of more ex- tended notice. He has an excellent herd of Short-horn and Hereford cattle, well bred and thoroughly cared for. Among his horses are to be found those of the Morgan and Clydesdale stock, and most of them are finely formed and handsome animals. Since coming to the county he has been engaged in diversified farming, together with the raising of blooded stock to a considerable extent. Before the railroad was built

through this region of country, Mr. Wait occupied very much of his time in driving freighting teams from Pipestone to Luverne and through to Flandreau. With the growth of prosperity in Elmer township and the ad- joining country, Mr. Wait's finances have also grown, and he has accumulated considerable means, in all of his enterprises having met with merited success. It may safely be said that our subject erected the first house in the township on section 30. There was a shanty built on section 29 a short time before, but it was indeed a shanty and could not be called a dwelling house, there- fore Mr. Wait undoubtedly built the first house in the township. It may also be said that he was the first to break land and com- mence farming in the town.

The place of nativity of our subject is to be found near Coberg, in Upper Canada, where he was born October 6, 1843. His parents were Griffin and Betsey (Sprung) Wait, the father being a native of Duchess county, New York, whence he went to Canada when a small boy. He is still living and is eighty-eight years old. Throughout his life he has been engaged in the occupa- tion of farming. The mother was a native of Canada, where she is still alive at the age of seventy-seven years. The parents have lived long lives of usefulness, and for years have been associated with the religious work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the father having been a member of that denomination for some seventy years. The Wait family were people of prominence during the early part of this present century and the grand- father of our subject was a soldier in the War of 1812. The parents had a family of eleven children, all of whom are living in Canada, with the exception of one daughter and the subject of our sketch. The names of these children are as follows-John Dirland, Edgar, Emily, George S., Willett, Clispy, Jennie, Christiana, Sophia, Gilbert and Wallace.

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SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

The boyhood of the subject of our sketch was surrounded with the comforts of the par- ental home and he was given the advantages of good educational facilities in his native county. His education was received in the common schools, in which he was well fitted for the life of busy activity in which he has been engaged for so many years. At the age of seventeen years he left home and removed to Wisconsin, locating in Madison, where he engaged in farming for some twenty-one years. He then came to Pipestone county, Minnesota, where he has lived ever since.

Mr. Wait was united in marriage, March 19, 1863, in Dane county, Wisconsin, to Miss Matilda Conustock, who was a native of Canada. At the age of twelve years she came with her parents to the State of Wis- consin, where she lived until, with her hus- band and family, she came to Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Wait have a family of eight children-Griffin R., Jennie C., Olive, Sher- idan, Bernard Henry, Elgin, Pearly and Effie. Jennie and Olive are both married.

In politics Mr. Wait affiliates with the democratic party, in the councils of which organization he takes a prominent stand. By virtue of his excellent business abilities, his services have been in demand throughout his life by the citizens of the localities in which he has lived, and he has been elected to fill many official positions. Since residing in this county he has held the position of deputy postmaster for two years, the post- office being in our subject's house. He was a member of the first township board, and was elected as judge of probate of the county in 1879, which position, however, he held but a short time. In all matters of a public nature the assistance of Judge Wait has never been asked in vain. Energetic and persevering in his own business relations, he has carried these characteristics into his whole life, whether the lines be led in public or private places. He is a man of broad

ideas, liberal and generous, and has a large circle of warm friends. The maintenance of the highest degree of integrity in his own character and the life of others is his upper- most thought, and it may well be said that these characteristics have always been the dominant features of Mr. Wait's life. He is a good citizen and respected by all with whom he has to do.

ROFESSOR HIRAM E. FRENCH is the efficient and popular principal of the public schools of Pipestone City, Minne- sota. He has been in charge of the schools in that city since September, 1884. At pres- ent the school is divided into five depart- ments in which the total enrollment is 378, of which there is an average daily attendance of about 240 scholars. The professor, assisted by an able corps of five teachers, has brought these schools up to a high standard, and, in connection with the common branches, the pupils are given the advantage of a thorough course in the higher studies, being prepared for college at the end of three years.

Professor French is a native of Maquoketa, Iowa, where he was born October 23, 1851. His parents were Hiram B. and Dyanthy R. (Truax) French, the father a native of Ver- mont, and the mother a native of Canada. Hiram B. French was a blacksmith by trade, and in 1847 came West and settled in Ma- quoketa, Iowa. In the summer of 1848 he went to Canada, returning to Maquoketa in the fall with a wife. He continued plying his trade in Maquoketa until the spring of 1857, when he removed to Pleasant Grove, Minne- sota, where he engaged in farming, following the same for about three years, then return- ing to Maquoketa, Iowa, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He made this line his principal avocation until his death, which occurred in January, 1884. The mother resides at San Jose, Calfornia, the

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wife of General Joseph E. Gage. In the father's family there were six children, four of whom are now living-Charles E., now a merchant of Maquoketa, Iowa; Professor Hiram E., Ella B., now Mrs. Collister, of Savannah, Illinois; and William R., now traveling agent for W. W. Kimball, of Chicago, with headquarters at South Bend, Indiana.

The early days of the subject of our sketch were passed by him in his home in Maquo- keta, Iowa, where, until twelve years of age, he was given good educational advantages in the common schools. At that age he en- gaged in the freighting business, driving one of his father's teams to Dubuque and other places on the Mississippi river, continuing in this line of employment until he was sixteen years of age. He then attended Cornell Col- lege, in Iowa, for one year, after which, dur- ing every winter for some years, he turned his attention to teaching school, still freighting during the summer. This work of teaching winters and freighting summers he con- tinued until he was twenty-three years of age, at which time he was offered a position in the Maquoketa graded schools. He ac- cepted this offer and continued in these schools for four years, after which he at- tended the Northern Indiana Normal for several terms, and graduated therefrom in 1880. He then accepted a position as prin- cipal of the high school at Sabula, Iowa, where he remained four years. From thence he removed to Pipestone, Minnesota, in 1884, and entered upon the duties of the principal- ship of the public school in that place, which position he had accepted a short time before. Since coming to the village the professor has been actively engaged in aiding all projects for public improvements, beside building for himself, in 1885, a fine residence, with all the modern conveniences. He has adorned and beautified his premises with evergreens and other trees, and has made for himself and

family one of the handsomest homes in the city.

Professor French was married in 1871 to Miss Lucy Eberly, a daughter of John and Mary (Hammond) Eberly, natives of Vir- ginia. Mr. and Mrs. French have one child, Kittie M., born in Maquoketa, Iowa, May 23, 1873.

In politics the subject of our sketch affil- iates with the republican party, and is an influential member of the Masonic fraternity and Ancient Order of United Workmen. Professor French was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, of which he is a stockholder and director. In all matters which pertain to the upbuilding and develop- ment of the city and county he has aided loyally with both time and money, and by his energetic manner of taking hold of these things has grown rapidly in popularity among his fellow-citizens. He is a man of wide intelligence, thoroughly and highly educated, and is well qualified for the prom- inent educational position he occupies in Pipestone City. In all matters of a social or educational nature he is deeply interested, and ably aids in the development of these de- partments in the city.

ADOK DAY is an influential farmer of Springfield township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He has a fine farm, provided with a good residence and other buildings, on section 8. He is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, where he was born October 7, 1825.

The parents of the subject of our sketch were Nathan and Lucinda (Cook) Day, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter born in New York. The father was a lum- berman by occupation, and died in St. Law rence county, New York, in 1875. The mother died in 1840. The grand-parents of the subject of our sketch were Zadok and

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Jemima (Nobles) Day, natives of Vermont. The grandfather died in about 1835.

The subject of our sketch was one of nine children, and assisted his father in work at the lumber business throughout the most of his early life, being given good educational advantages during the winter months. He remained with his father until he was about twenty-one years of age, when he took up his residence on a tract of twenty-five acres of land which was presented to him by his father. This farm was in St. Lawrence county, New York, and our subject built a house and engaged in clearing land, remain- ing there one year, after which he went home to take care of his father, who had been suddenly struck with blindness. About one year was spent with his father and then our subject found work on the Erie canal during the summer, after which he purchased a farm of 117 acres and followed the life of an agriculturist for five years. Then in 1854 he went to California, where he engaged in mining at Longbear, on the Uber river, for about three months. From thence he went to the American river, from whence, after one year, he went to Oregon Hill. His life in the mountains was full of many wild experiences. He visited and worked at various places, among them being Branch City, Monte Christo, Eureka, and various places along the Uber and American rivers. In 1860 he returned to New York to his old home, and from thence with his family he went to Iowa City, Iowa, going by way of the lakes to Chicago, and thence by rail to his destination. He resided in the city during the winter, and in the spring bought forty acres of land, and en- gaged in farming for three years. October 15, 1864, Mr. Day enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, and was dis- charged in July, 1865. He served with Gen- eral Sherman in the march to the sea, and saw many hardships and much severe expos-

ure, the results of which have never left him. After the close of hostilities between the north and south our subject returned to Iowa, where he settled on a farm. His health had been almost completely broken down by his war experience, and he was not able to do any of the work on the farm. He had a large family of boys, however, and to these he allotted the work of carrying on the farm business. He resided in that locality until 1875, and then came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, locating on his present farm.

Mr. Day was married July 3, 1847, to Jen- nett Chapin, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York. This union has been blessed with nine children-five girls and four boys.

Since coming to the county, our subject has taken an active interest in public matters and has held various official positions. In politics he is a stanch republican, and is a man who is highly respected by all who know him. He has been a member of the township board of supervisors and also a member of the school board. He is a mem- der of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Good Templars' society.

R OBERT VANS AGNEW is the oldest of three brothers, owners and man- agers of what has been known for some years as the " Carpenter farm," located on section 5, township 104, range 37, or Weimer township, Jackson county, Minnesota. The names of these brothers are Robert R., Frank and Earnest. Robert was born in India in the year 1865 and for some years was a resident of England. In 1883 he came to the United States, located in Jack- son county, Minnesota, and for a year worked at the carpenter's trade in the vil- lage of Heron Lake. He then went to Flor- ida and started an orange grove of fifteen acres at Narcrosse, where he has now about twelve hundred orange trees in fine growing

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condition. In 1889 the three brothers al- ready named purchased the Carpenter farm of 480 acres, located within three miles of Heron Lake and seven miles from Wilder, villages on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapo- lis & Omaha railroad. This farm is one of the best and most productive in Southern Minnesota. On it may be found a fine large barn and large house and all necessary buildings for the keeping of stock. Three hundred acres of the farm are broken and under cultivation and the balance of the acreage is pasture land. At present the brothers are raising grain and Short-horn cattle. This farm is now for sale, and any communication in regard to its purchase will receive prompt attention by addressing Rob- ert Vans Agnew, Heron Lake, Minnesota.

The parents of the subject of our sketch were natives of the empire of Great Britain. The father is now located in France. He spent a few months in 1885 on the orange plantation in Florida. Frank was born in 1868 and Earnest in 1871, the latter coming to America in 1887 and the former in Sep- tember, 1884. Both of these brothers re- mained some time in Florida caring for the orange plantation.

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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 28

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