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 31

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 31

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).

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consin Infantry, and served one year. par- ticipating in the engagements at Jackson- ville, Tennessee. Soon after his enlistment he sold his farm, and on his discharge from the service he came to Minnesota, locating in Austin until the following spring. He then removed to Jackson county and took a homestead on section 28, of Wisconsin town- ship, being one of a party of seven, all from Wisconsin, after which State the township was named. Our subject resided on his farm until 1873, when he was elected county auditor. He then sold his claim and pur- chased land in Hunter township, which he still owns. After being elected to his im- portant office he removed to the village of Jackson, and served two terms. He then moved to his farm in Hunter township, and made that his home until the fall of 1879, when he was again elected auditor, and again moved to the village, and has held the office, giving excellent satisfaction, and in- creasing in popularity ever since.

No man in the county, perhaps, has proven as valuable and painstaking a citizen as has Mr. King. His abilities have been recognized in many different ways, and especially can this be seen from the fact that he has held most of the important offices of the county. In 1867 he was elected judge of probate and held the office for six years. He was county superintendent of schools for two years and for the same length of time while auditor held the office of county attorney. Wher- ever he has been, throughout his entire life, his abilities have proven of such a high or- der that he has been called upon to serve his fellow-citizens in various important positions of trust and responsibility. He held various positions in Wisconsin. He was the second chairman of the board of township super- visors in his township, that civil division then comprising a territory now occupied by five townships. The first presidential vote of our subject was cast for John C. Hale, of

Massachusetts, a free-soil candidate. There were only two other votes of that kind in his locality. His next presidential vote was cast for J. C. Fremont, and he has voted the republican ticket ever since. It is worthy of note that when our subject voted for Fre- mont, although his township had been dem- ocratic for years prior to this time, the vote stood 287 for Fremont and 27 for Buchanan, our subject being the township clerk at the time. Besides owning his fine farm Mr. King also possesses an excellent residence in the village of Jackson. He is a niember of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, and also of the P. of H., U. L. and Farmers' Alliance.

At Troy, Wisconsin, March 27, 1856, Miss Antoinette L. Porter was married to Mr. King. She was the daughter of S. S. and Cornelia (Dann) Porter, natives, respect- ively, of New York and Connecticut. She was born in New York City, December 12, 1835. Her father printed the first newspa- per in Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. King have been blessed with the following- named children-William P., Selah S., Nellie G. and John L. William P. married Mary E. Trumbull, who died February 28, 1887, leaving one child, Mary G. He is now a photographer of Windom. Nellie G. mar- ried E. W. Davies, a banker of Pipestone. Selah S. resides in Jasper, Pipestone county, Minnesota, where he is postmaster and ed- itor of the Jasper Journal. John L. King is with his brother, Selah S., assisting in the management of his newspaper enter- prise.

OHN BISBEE, senior member of the firm of Bisbee & Olson, is at the head of the largest mercantile establishment in Watonwan county, Minnesota, the business being located at Madelia. Besides dealing

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in general merchandise, the firm also han- dles grain.

Mr. Bisbee is a native of Oxford county, Maine, where he was born April 16, 1839. His parents were Jones and Rebecca (Rob- inson) Bisbee, natives of the same place. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was the son of John and Sarah (Pilbrook) Bisbee, natives of Maine. John Bisbee was a farmer, and was the son of Charles Bisbee, a native of Massachusetts and a farmer. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Bisbee, the founder of this family, came from England in about 1635, and resided in Massachusetts. He was a large landholder in England, and bequeathed liis property to his grandchildren. He was a member of the Massachusetts assembly. The father of the subject of our sketch was reared on a farm and followed that occupa- tion throughout his life, becoming one of the wealthiest farmers in his locality. He died in 1875, having throughout his life affiliated with the democratic party. The mother of our subject was the daughter of Increase and Abbie (Parlin) Robinson, na- tives of Maine. Increase Robinson was a farmer and mill owner, and owned large tracts of land in Maine. He was of Scotch- Irish descent. Our subject's mother is now a resident of Madelia, and has reached the age of seventy-five years. Our subject had but one brother, Sylvester, who resides in Madelia.

John Bisbee was reared a farmer's boy, continuing with his parents and receiving a common-school education until he was eight- een years of age. After this time he taught several terms of school, and, locating in Mas- sachusetts, was a clerk in a store for about a year. He went on a fishing expedition down the Gulf of St. Lawrence, spending the summer, and then returned to the Auburn Academy, where lie finished his education. He then accepted a position in a wholesale

boot and shoe house in New York City, con- tinuing with the company for two and a half years. On the breaking out of the war he returned to his home in Maine and taught school and also engaged somewhat in farm- ing up to 1865. He then came to Minnesota and settled at Garden City, Blue Earth county, where he purchased a farm and also engaged in teaching school. For four years he clerked in a general store and then came to Madelia and was employed in the store of Boynton & Cheeney for four and a half years. He then associated himself with Mathias Olson and opened their mammoth general store, in which business they have continued ever since. Our subject has also a fine farm of four hundred acres about five miles from town, and has it well stocked with fine cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. He also owns one hundred and fifty acres ad- joining the town site and a beautiful home on seven and a half acres on Main street. This is one of the most delightful residence places in the village and is beautified with shade and or- namental trees. Our subject has been actively engaged in building up his mercantile busi- ness. He is careful and cautious in his in- vestments and has accumulated considerable means. He has also taken an active interest in village and county matters and has with credit and honor filled various official posi- tions. He is at present a member of the village council, of which he was president for some time. In politics he is a believer in the principles of the democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is well known and highly esteemed through- out the entire county. He is a man of large means and assists liberally in all public projects.

Mr. Bisbee was married in the year 1863 to Miss Ardelia Small, of Wilton, Maine, and daughter of Jeremiah and Mary (Merrill) Small, farmers in and natives of Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee have had twelve children-

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Melvina F., J. Oscar, Samuel S., Edgar C., Albert J., Mabel A., Arthur L., Frank J., Maurice S., Elmer, Everett H. and Carroll. -

OHN ALFRED SINCLAIR, one of the leading business men of Fairmont, Mar- tin county, Minnesota, is a native of Great Britain, born in Brampton, County Cumber- land, England, October 24, 1852.

Until he was nearly seventeen years of age our subject attended school, and then com- menced working in his father's dry goods store, continuing in the business until he was nineteen years of age. He then went to Langholm, Scotland, as book-keeper for his brother Thomas in a large woolen mill, con- tinuing with him for three years, or until his father died, in 1873, when he returned home. He then went to London and entered a large dry goods store to learn more about the business, intending to enter a partnership with his brother Frederick in the operation of the store of the father. Remaining in London for about a year his health failed and he returned home. His brother H. W. was also in poor health, and they concluded to come to America. They came to this coun- try, locating, in 1876, in Martin county, Min- nesota. They worked out for a couple of years in order to recover their health and learn something of the country. Our subject then engaged in clerking in the Martin County Bank, and after a short time pur- chased a one-half interest in a hardware store owned by J. A. Houghtaling. He still re- tains his interest in that business. In 1880 he started an important enterprise in the county known as the Chain Lake Creamery, which he is still operating. When our sub- ject commenced in the creamery business he formed a partnership with Mr. Marsten, with whom he continued for a year, and then pur- chased the entire plant, and has continued the operation of the business as sole pro-

prietor ever since. He operates on the "gathered cream" system, and manages an extensive business to the satisfaction of his patrons and with fair financial success to himself.

Since coming to the county, Mr. Sinclair has proven an active, public-spirited citizen, and has been a valuable factorin the establishi- ment and building up of important business enterprises. He is president of the Martin County Agricultural Society, which position he has held for three years. He has been treas- urer of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows for four years, and senior warden of the Episcopal Church for the same length of time.

Mr. Sinclair was married in Fairmont, April 9, 1885, to Henrietta Wollaston, daughter of Percy and Catharine (Mossop) Wollaston, natives of England. Miss Wollas- ton was born in Huyton, near Liverpool, England, December 20, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair have two children-Harold Percy and Wilifrid.

OHN NELSON settled in Eden town- ship, Pipestone county, Minnesota, when there was not a house in the whole town. His settlement was made on section 34, where he still lives.

The subject of our sketch was a native of Norway, where he was born February 10, 1846. His parents were Ole and Aslaug Nelson, who were farmers by occupation and natives of Norway. When our subject was but five years of age his mother died in the old country. In 1861 the father brought his family to America, landing in the city of Quebec, whence, by way of Montreal, they went to Chicago, remaining but a few days. The family then removed to Lansing, Iowa, going to Prairie du Chien by rail, whence, by steamer, they went to Lan- sing. The father remained in the neighbor- hood of the latter named city until 1879,

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when he removed to Eden township, Pipe- stone county, where he is still living.

The subject of our sketch remained on his father's farm in Norway, being given the educational advantages afforded by the dis- trict school, until 1861, when, as we have already stated, the family removed to the United States, when he attended the com- mon district school until October 5, 1863, when Mr. Nelson enlisted in Company F, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, and continued in the service until the close of the war, being mustered out February 3, 1866, at Little Rock, Arkansas. He saw much severe army service, and was for some time in the gen- eral hospital at Little Rock. On being dis- charged from the service he returned to Lansing, Iowa, where, after engaging in dif- ferent kinds of work for about a year, he purchased his father's farm. He continued the operation of this piece of property until 1877, when he came to Pipestone county, Minnesota, settling on a claim in Eden town- ship, where he now lives. His settlement was made in June, 1877, and this was the second claim taken in the township. He at once commenced his farming operations, broke twenty acres of land, and put up a house fourteen by sixteen feet with eight- foot posts, this being the first dwelling house in the township. Remaining on his farm until in October of that year, he then re- turned to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he stayed during the ensuing winter. The fol- lowing spring he brought his family to Eden township, and made a permanent settlement.

The marriage of the subject of our sketch occurred October 23, 1873, when he was wed- ded to Miss Anna R. Okre, a native of Alla- makee county, Iowa. Miss Okre was born the 16th day of February, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have had six children, all of whom are living at the present time-Otto 'A., Mary J., Joseph L., Selina A., Clara L. D. and Hulda M.

Mr. Nelson has watched with interest the growth in prosperity of the township in which he lives, and has also the satisfaction of know- ing that the town has grown in wealth. When he settled in the town he had but little means, while to-day he has an excellent farm, pro- vided with good buildings, and owns consid- erable stock. He is an intelligent and system- atic farmer, and has brought his land to a high state of cultivation. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and at one time was a member of the Nara lodge, R. H. K., of Lansing and Village Creek, Iowa. He is a member of the Simon Mix post, No. 95, Grand Army of the Republic. In polit- ical matters Mr. Nelson takes an active inter- est, and his services in official positions have been required by his constituents at various times. He has been township assessor for six years, and has been a member of the board of school directors ever since the school district was organized. Heis a good citizen, and a man of high character. After returning from the war he was president of the school district and a member of the school board for seven years, in Allamakee county, Iowa. In relig- ious matters he is a member of the Lutheran church, and takes an active part in its doings.

DRA C. HILL resides in the village of Huntley, Faribault county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the grain and machin- ery business, being in the employ of the Hunt- ley Warehouse Association. He came to Fari- bault county in October, 1863, in company with his father, and purchased a farm on section 17, of Verona township. The father's name was Felix Hill. He followed farming throughout his life, and died in 1887. He was a native of the State of New York, where he was reared and educated. He was a man of much enterprise, and took an active interest in all public matters. He served on the township board of supervisors

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for one year. Our subject's mother's maiden name was Julia Ann Hover, a native of New York, and is still living. The parents were members of the Baptist church. Our sub- ject was one of eight children-Ira C., James F., Elizabeth, Orpha, Adelbert, William, Josephine and Charles.

The subject of our sketch is a native of New York, and was born in Chemung county, March 9, 1848. He was reared in his native county until he was eight years old, at which time the family moved to Waushara county, Wisconsin. After a two year's residence they went to Green Lake county, and remained there until 1863, when they came to Minnesota, locating on section 17 of Verona township, Faribault county. January 28, 1864, Mr. Hill enlisted in the Ninth Regiment Minnesota Volun- teer Infantry, at this time being but fifteen years of age. He was eager to join the service, however, and, going with his company to the front, participated in the battles of Tupelo, Old Town Creek, Nashville, Spanish Fort, Blakeley and a number of skirmishes and battles of minor importance. He was discharged as a private, in August, 1865, at Fort Snelling, having served most of the time under Captain H. B. Walker. After being discharged, Mr. Hill returned to his home in Faribault county, and remained on the home farm for some three years. He then engaged at working out at various lines of business until 1877, then engaged in farming on his farm on sec- tion 18, Verona township, until 1888, when he accepted the position he now occupies as manager of the affairs of the Huntley Ware- house Association.

On the 27th day of May, 1878, Miss Jen- nie Rhoades was united in marriage with Mr. Hill. She was born in Essex county, New York, in 1853, and was the daughter of Elisha Rhoades, a farmer, and one of the first settlers of Verona township, where he has

been one of its prominent citizens. During her early life Mrs. Hill was thoroughly edu- cated, and for several years before her mar- riage engaged in the profession of teaching. She was educated in the high school of Win- nebago City. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have two children-Felix and Susie.

The political affiliations of the subject of this sketch are with the republican party, with which organization he has associated for many years. He is a man of strong re- ligious sentiments, and is a member of the Free-Will Baptist church, being chairman of the board of trustees, and a member of the building committee of that society. In the general affairs of the township he takes an active interest, and is now the chairman of the board of township supervisors, having been elected to that position in the spring of 1889. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, and, as a man and citizen, is looked upon with high respect by all with whom he has to do.

HARLES E. WELD was elected county auditor of Murray county Minnesota, in the fall of 1886, and is the present incumbent of that position. He has been intimately associated with the official history of Murray county, and for three years prior to 1886 he was a member of the board of county commissioners elected from Des Moines River township.

Charles E. Weld was born in the township of Cornville, Somerset county, Maine, June 16, 1856. He was the son of Rev. William M. Weld, a clergyman of the Congregational church. The father was a native of Maine and came to Minnesota in 1857, locating in . Greenwood Prairie, Wabasha county. He died in July, 1885. He was a man of schol- arly attainments and was an influential and highly respected citizen. The mother of our subject was Minerva (Lawrence) Weld, a

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native of Boonville, Oneida county, New York. She died April 2, 1867. In the father's family there were six children.

The subject of our sketch came to Minne- sota with his parents when a child. He received his education in Wabasha county, where he lived for fourteen years. His resi dence was then taken up at Marine Mills, in Washington county, Minnesota, where, dur- ing one winter, he went to school, and the following summer engaged in clerking in a general store owned by Walker, Judd & Veazie. After six years of profitable engagement with this firm he then clerked on a freight and passenger steamboat for the St. Croix Packet Company for two sea sons ; and during the winter of 1877-78 spent his time in St. Paul, attending the St. Paul Business College. In February, 1879, he came to Murray county, and became one of the early settlers of Des Moines River town- ship, locating on section 22, where he engaged in farming and stock raising, and remained until he took charge of the office which he now fills. While living there he took an active part in public matters, and held various township and school district offices.

Mr. Weld was united in marriage, May 3, 1882, to Miss Dora J. Allen, who was born in St. Anthony Falls, now East Minneapolis. Early in life she went with her parents to Marine Mills, where she received her early training and education. Her education was completed in the high school of Minneapolis. She was a daughter of B. F. Allen, a lum- berman, who is still living. He was formerly froin Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Weld have been blessed with two children - Mabel and Rachel.

Our subject has proven one of the most efficient and popular officers, and has become quite prominent in the local affairs of the republican party. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Old Fellows

since he was twenty-one years of age, and has held various positions of honor in that organization. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In the administration of the affairs of his office Mr. Weld has always given entire satisfaction, by virtue of his manly and courteous bear- ing and also because he is possessed of excel- lent business qualifications. As a citizen and man he stands the peer of any in the county.

RRIN NASON is one of the early set- tlers of Cottonwood county, Minn., having located here in 1869 in Springfield township. He settled on eighty acres of land and made that his home until 1873. He then moved to the present site of the village of Windom. On the organization of the county our subject was appointed county sur- veyor, and has held the office ever since, with the exception of three terms. After moving to the village he took a contract to carry the mail to and from Jackson, for a period of two years. He took a second contract for the same term, but soon after sold out and opened a livery stable, which he operated until 1876. He then went to Great Bend, Kansas, and occupied his time in surveying, - going thence to Missouri, where he worked for a railroad company. In the spring of 1877 he entered the employ of the Minne- apolis & St. Louis railroad, and was given charge of a large force of men putting in piling and building culverts between Jordan and Waterville, Minnesota. He came to Win- dom the same year, and in the fall was elect- ed clerk of the county courts. He served in this capacity for nine years, and was one of the most efficient clerks that the county has ever had. He is now serving as justice of the peace and is the present surveyor of the county. He has always taken an active in- terest in matters of a public nature, and

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has been county commissioner; was also assessor of Springfield township for some time.

The subject of our sketch was born in the State of Vermont. August 1, 1835. He is the son of William and Lovina (Lyon) Nason, natives, respectively, of Connecticut and Vermont. The father was a farmer, and was in the War of 1812. He came to Min- nesota in 1857 and settled in Le Sueur county, where he engaged in farming in Kasota township. He died at Windom in 1882, at the age of ninety-two years, two months and twenty days. The mother died in 1871, in Le Sueur county, being seventy- four years, nine months and twenty-nine days old. In the father's family were the following named children : Thomas C., Ros- well L., both of whom served in the union army; William and seven sisters are now living-Electa A., Kesia, Ellen M., Calista, Emiline, Juliana L. and Fannie. The first child was Roswell, born in 1816. He was murdered in 1841 at Plattsburg, New York.

Our subject received the training usually given in that day, and had the privilege of attending the district school. He com- menced surveying as a business in Indiana when eighteen years of age, to which State he had gone in 1853. In 1856 he came to Minnesota, locating in Le Sueur county, and engaging in farming until 1858, when he took a contract to carry the mails from Mankato to Sioux City for four years. The first mail he carried on foot, swimming the rivers and plodding along over the prairies, making but slow time on his mail route. August 19, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Seventh Minnesota Infantry, and served three years. He engaged in the following named battles: Nashville, Spanish Fort, Blakeley, and numerous other battles and skirmishes. He was in the artillery service under General Sibley on an expedition in Minnesota and Dakota. After his discharge

from the service our subject returned to Le Sueur county, and thence to Mankato, where he engaged in photography. He re- mained some three years, and then came to Cottonwood county.

Mr. Nason was married, in 1866, to Miss Elizabeth A. Thomas, of Jackson, Minne- sota. Mr. and Mrs. Nason have one adopted child, Clyde A , aged fourteen years.

The subject of our sketch has been quite successful in his business since coming to Windom, and owns considerable property. He still owns and rents his farm. On the north side of the square at Windom he owns a large business building, in the front part of which he has a billiard hall, and has a residence in the rear. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party, and is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities.

EORGE H. GURLEY is the present county treasurer of Pipestone county, Minnesota, and resides in Pipestone city, where he has gathered a large circle of friends, and where he has lived since 1880. Mr. Gurley is one of the most popular men of Pipestone county, and his abilities to exe- cute the duties of his office have been proven beyond all doubt. He was born in St. Law- rence county, New York, April 25, 1854, his parents being William R. and Louisa H. (Wallace) Gurley. The father was a native of St. Lawrence county, and the mother a native of Essex county, New York. The father was an extensive farmer in his native State, and is still living engaged in that occu- pation. Throughout his life he has been a man of considerable prominence in the pub- lic affairs of his locality, and has held numerous positions of trust and responsibil- ity. For the long period of twenty-four years he was assessor of the county in which he lived. He made a specialty of dairying and operated a large dairy for a number of

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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 31

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