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 32
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years. The mother of our subject died in February, 1881. In the father's family there were four children, three of whom are now living-George H., J. Frank and William W. George H., our subject, came to Pipe- stone in 1880, and engaged in the hardware business. On first coming to the city he purchased business property on Olive street. William W. came to Pipestone in 1885. J. Frank is residing on and operating the home farm in New York, the father having retired from active business. The grandparents of the subject of our sketch were John S. and Nancy (Spink) Gurley, natives, respectively, of Connecticut and Rhode Island. The grandfather was a farmer by occupation, and while in early life he removed to St. Law- rence county, New York, where he resided for some fifty years. The grandfather had a family of four children, two of whom are now living -- George G. and William R. The parents of the mother of the subject of our sketch were Thomas N. and Betsey (Stower) Wallace, both natives of Vermont and farmers by occupation. In the Wallace family there were ten children, five of whom are now living-Mrs. Anna Benjamin, Charles and William (twins), Edwin, Mrs. George H. Perry and John S.
The parents of the subject of our sketch were members of the Universalist church, and in that belief our subject was reared. He spent his younger days with his parents engaged in work on the home farm, and also attending the district schools at every oppor- tunity, remaining with his parents until lie was twenty-one years of age. In 1877 he came west to Minnesota, first stopping in Winnebago City, Faribault county. While in that city he clerked in a hardware store for some two years, and in 1880 returned home on a short visit. He then again came west and settled at once in Pipestone City, where he engaged in the hardware business, as has already been stated. The firm of
Gurley Brothers was formed in January, 1889, and is now doing an immense business, carrying a large and valuable stock of goods in their line. Besides his business in the city, he is also interested largely in farming enter- prises, and keeps some sixteen head of blooded horses. One of his farms is located within the corporate limits of Pipestone City. Soon after coming to the city he purchased lots and erected a very fine residence on French street, costing somewhat over $1,800.
Mr. Gurley was married in 1881 to Miss Amelia D. Poulin, a native of West Stock- holm, New York. This lady was the daughter of Narsess and Betsey (Smith) Poulin, natives of Ontario, Canada. The parents are now living in Pipestone, to which city they came in 1888.
In politics the subject of our sketch has affiliated with the republican party for many years, and since becoming a resident of this county has occupied a prominent place in the local affairs of that organization. He has become one of the most popular men in the party, and is an important factor in its coun- cils. He has been interested largely in the financial development of the city and has done much, both in financial and other ways, to build up the city that he has made his home.
LERMAN NELSON is one of the leading business men of Slayton, Minnesota. He is the son of Swan and Eliza (Olson) Nelson, natives of Sweden. In about 1868 the parents came to the United States, locating in Decorah, Iowa, where the father engaged in work at the carpenter's trade. In 1871 they came to Murray county, Minnesota.
Herman Nelson was born November 22, 1855, in Estersund, Sweden. He resided on a farm with his parents and attended school
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until he was sixteen years of age, when the family came to the United States, locating in Iowa. Our subject continued at the parental residence for about three years, after which he moved to Murray county, Minnesota, in 1872. After locating in Murray county, our subject remained with his parents for about a year assisting in work on the home farm. He then took a homestead on section 4 in Leeds township. Here he re- mained during the greater part of the time until 1881. The hardships through which our subject, with all the other early settlers, passed are hard to describe. It is almost impossible to fully show what a disastrous scourge the grasshoppers proved. During four years all kinds of crops were entirely destroyed, and during this time the heads of families had to go to other localities in order to support their families. In 1881 our subject sold his farm and went to the village of Hadley, where he engaged in the general mercantile business. He remained in that village until 1887, and then sold out and located in Slayton, where he put in an excellent stock of general merchandise. He is a leading merchant of the village, and is building up an extensive and profitable business. Since coming to the township he has taken an active part in public matters, and has proven his efficiency as a citizen and business man by holding various official po- sitions. He has been treasurer of the town- ship for some five years, and has been a member of the village council. He is an influential member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and belongs to the Swedish Lutheran church of Slayton. He is a man of excellent business qualifications, and has accumulated large means. He is careful and systematic in all his transactions, and enjoys the confidence of all his business associates.
Mr. Nelson was married in Kasson. Dodge county, Minnesota, in October, 1877, to Miss
Betsey Peterson, daughter of Iver Peterson, a native of the Kingdom of Norway. This lady was born in the State of Iowa, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been blessed with two children-George Leonard and Sadie Isabel. -
OHN BAKER EDWARDS is at pres- ent engaged in the general mercantile business in Winnebago City, Minnesota. He is a native of England, where he was born in 1827. His parents were Michael and Hannah (Horn) Baker. The father was en- gaged for many years in his native land as a manufacturer of various kinds of cloth goods. He came to the United States in 1862, the mother having died in England some years before. The father engaged in active business life at cloth manufacturing in various parts of the Union during most of his days and finally retired and died at Winnebago City in 1886. In the father's family there were four children-George, Joseph, Mary and John. George and Joseph are residents of Faribault county, Minne- sota, and Mary is still a resident of England.
The subject of our sketch spent the early years of his live in his native land, where he was given excellent educational advantages. In connection with other lines of occupation he taught school for many years and also learned the cloth making business. Coming to America with his wife in 1851, he settled in Grundy county, Illinois, continuing his residence there until July, 1857. He then came to Winnebago City, Faribault county, Minnesota, and located a pre-emption of 160 acres of land about a mile and a half from the village. His first improvement was the building of a log house with a bark roof and no floor. After residing in that for some time he later put up a comfortable frame dwelling- house and other out-buildings. At this time there were but few settlers in this locality and
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our subject and his family experienced many hardships. Although bringing some thirteen hundred dollars with him, the comforts and much less the luxuries of life could not be had. His nearest mill market was over thirty miles distant, at Mankota, Blue Earth county. Passing through these early pioneer experiences, however, our subject continued improving his farm until 1883, when he sold out. Prior to this time, however, for five years he had charge of woolen mills. For three years he had charge of the woolen mills at Mankota, and for two years at Preston. During one year he leased a woolen mill, employed thirteen men and operated a inost successful business, turning out a fine quality of goods. With the exception of two years, the family resided on the farm. In 1883 Mr. Edwards removed to Winne- bago City, and engaged in the mercantile business, which he has since carried on.
The subject of our sketch was married in 1851 to Miss Elizabeth Holgate, a native of Yorkshire, England. There are now six children in Mr. Edwards' family-Martha, Ninnie, Sadie, Addie, Frank and Ralph. Martha married Mr. Lot and has had six children-Edith, Roy, Harry, Ethel, Her- bert and Ray. Minnie married A. J. Simon, by whom she has had three children-Ray, Fay and Olive. Sadie married G. D. Eyga- broad, of Winnebago City. Addie married Judson Miner, by whom she has had two children-Paul and Estella. Rusha E., now deceased, married Mr. Sperry and died leav- ing two children-Maude and Guy. James, the oldest child, died at seventeen years of age.
The subject of our sketch has been quite prominent in the affairs of the republican party, of which he is a member and has held various official positions. He has been an active business man ever since locating in the county and has done much to bring Winne- bago City and locality up to its present pros-
perous condition. He is a man of good character and is highly respected by all who know him.
ILS S. TAARUD is the able and efficient treasurer of Murray county, Minnesota. He was elected to that position in 1882, and at each succeeding election since then he has been reinstated in the office. He made his location in the county in 1872. and first settled in Dovray township, where he remained some ten years. He home steaded land on section 4 of that township, and was the first actual settler. He assisted in the organization of his town, and became one of its leading citizens. He was township treasurer, and held various other positions, continuing his residence on the farm until being elected to his present office. He then moved to the village of Currie, where he has since resided. He also interested himself while in Dovray township in educational matters, and held various school offices. That township was named after the birth- place of our subject.
Nils S. Taarud was born in Dovray, in the kingdom of Norway, June 6, 1842. He re- sided in his native land until twenty-five years of age, up to which time he had been engaged in work on the home farm, and had attended the common schools at every oppor- tunity. He obtained a good practical educa- tion. In 1867 he concluded to come to America. He first settled in Blue Earth county, remaining in Mankato during the first winter, and from thence going to But- ternut Valley, same county, where he re- mained some five years engaged in farming. He then removed to Murray county and set- tled as stated in the opening lines of this sketch. Mr. Taarud was the son of Simon T. and Thora (Wiger) Taarud, both natives of Norway. The father died in his native land when our subject was about eighteen
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years of age. The mother died in 1878. In the father's family there were six children- Engebret, John, Anna, Lena, Hans and Nils.
Mr. Taarud was married December 11, 1872, to Christina Tusty, a native of Nor- way, where she was reared and educated until she was eighteen years of age. She then came to the United States, locating for a time in Goodhue county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Taarud have seven living children- Simon, Charlie, Lena, Pearlie, Clara, Nellie and Emil.
The political preferences of the subject of our sketch are with the republican party. He is a man of stanch temperance principles, and was formerly a member of the temper- ance lodge, of which he was financial secre- tary for some time. He is a man of excel- lent business abilities, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. He has served in his present official position for a number of years, and has become popular as a public servant.
ILLIAM H. HALBERT is the cashier of the Security Bank of Luverne, Minnesota. He came to Rock county in 1872, and has since been a perma- nent resident. He took a homestead of 160 acres in Magnolia township, building a house of boards and sod 12x16, and improving the land until the fall of 1876. At this time he was elected register of deeds of the county and served three consecutive terms. He made a very efficient officer and served his constituency with honor and credit. He was then appointed to serve out the unex- pired term of W. O. Croford as county au- ditor, and after that time had expired he was elected to the position for two successive terms. At this time he declined a third nomination which was tendered him, and gave his attention to his other business enter-
prises, which had been demanding his care for some time. He assisted in the organiza- tion of the First National Bank, one of the most important financial institutions of the city, and, in January, 1887, accepted the position of cashier, serving about one year. Then, in company with several others, he organized the Security Bank of Luverne, of which he has since been cashier. Throughout his career in this county he has held numerous positions of trust and respon- sibility. While a resident of Magnolia town- ship he served as town clerk for two terms, was chairman of the board of supervisors for two terms, and was clerk of the school board throughout his entire residence in the town. Since coming to the village of Lu- verne he has taken an active interest in educational matters, and for some time was clerk of the school board. In 1882 he was elected mayor of the city, and served one term, declining a renomina- tion. In March, 1886, he was appointed by the governor of Minnesota captain of the State militia, and organized Company F, Third Regiment, at Luverne, of which he is now captain.
The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1840. His parents, James and Sallie M. (Eastman) Hal- bert, were natives of Otsego county, New York. The father followed the occupation of farming, and moved to Pennsylvania in 1837. In 1843 the family moved to McHenry county, Illinois, where they settled on a farm and where the father remained until his death, which occurred in 1857. The mother is still a resident of the State of Illinois. In the father's family there were eight children, five of whom are now living -- Lydia, now Mrs. Giles; Louise, now Mrs. Johnson; William H., Thomas, a farmer of Phillips county, Kansas, and James W., now engaged in farming in Washington Territory.
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William H. Halbert was reared on a farm, where his younger days were spent with his parents. He received a limited common- school education in the districts schools, and a short time before becoming twenty-one years of age enlisted in Company I, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, as a private. He served three years and one month, and after being in the army for two years was made cor- poral of his company. He participated in all of the battles of the Army of the Potomac from 1861 until the battle of Petersburg, and served on duty all of this time with the exception of about fif- teen days. In December, 1863, he was granted a furlough of fifteen days, just men- tioned, for meritorious conduct in an engage- ment in which he had participated. He was slightly wounded at the battle of the Wilder- ness and severely wounded at Muddy Branch, Maryland, at which latter place he had his right foot broken by his horse falling on him. This latter accident laid him up for some twelve months. After his return from the service he taught school some two terms. Shortly after this he was married and moved to Grundy county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits for four years, and then sold out and came to Rock county, Minnesota. He was one of the organizers of Magnolia township, and was one of the officers that started the building of the first school house in the township. He became a man of considerable promi- nence, and was widely known throughout Southern Minnesota. Because of his in- fluence and well-known excellent quali- ties for such line of work he was appointed by the State authorities as one of the three commissioners who laid out and built the road from Worthington to the Dakota line in 1873.
Mr. Halbert was married to Miss Ellen Van Hoesen, of Huntly Grove, Illinois, and daughter of R. C. Van Hoesen. This lady
died in 1880. In 1881 our subject was mar- ried to Miss Della E. Gilham, a daughter of Josiah Gilham, of Luverne. Mr. Halbert has had a family-of three children-William E., who died at four years of age ; Jessie O., and Beatrice E.
In political and civic matters our subject takes a prominent place and is intimately associated with several of the leading organ- izations. He affiliates with the republican party, and has been a member of the Mascnic fraternity for twenty-three years, having served in that organization as secretary for three terms, jurnior warden three terms, senior warden two terms, worshipful master four terms, and is now serving his third term as deputy district grand master. He is an influential member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is commander of John A. Dix post, No. 96, at Luverne, which he helped to organize. In all matters tending to the growth and prosperity of the city he has taken an active interest, and has mate- rially aided with moral and financial sup- port. He is treasurer of the Rock County Loan and Building Association, which he helped to organize. Having come to the county in an early day, he has also become intimately identified with the Old Settlers' society of Rock county, of which he is the present treasurer. He lives in an elegant residence in the city, and has a : leasant and agreeable family. He is public-spirited, broad-minded, and has been one of the most important factors in bringing about the present state of growth and development to which Lu- verne has attained. As a citizen he is loyal in his adherence to the principles of right government, and as a friend and benefactor he has gained an enviable reputation. His financial career has been one of the most successful and praiseworthy in the county, and he has planted himself firmly in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citi- zens.
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SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.
HOMAS H. REYNOLDS is a promi- nent citizen of Verdi township, Lin- coln county, Minnesota. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising on section 26 of that township.
Mr. Reynolds was born in England, March 20, 1835, and is the son of William and Han- nah (Hancock) Reynolds, also natives of England. The father was a builder by occu- pation, and resided in his native land until his death. Thomas H. remained under par- ental authority, reaping the benefits of his father's life and experience, and being given a good common school education until he reached the age of eighteen years. He at- tended school until he was thirteen years of age, and then learned the grocery and pro vision business. His first location was in the grocery and provision business in Romsey, Hampshire, England. He clerked there for about one year and then went to Dorchester, county Dorset, where he lived for three years, engaged in clerking. Thence he re- moved to Weymouth, same county, and en- gaged in the grocery business for himself. He remained in his native land until June, 1873, at which time he came to America, first locating in Glyndon, Minnesota. Re- maining in that village until in September, he then removed to Minneapolis, which city was made his home until the fall of 1878. He then came by rail to the village of Marshall, Lyon county, whence he took a team and drove across the country to section 26, Verdi township, where he located his present homestead. He lived on the home- stead until early in 1888, when he purchased a farm adjoining, to which he moved. He now owns 320 acres of fine land. During his early life spent in Lincoln county he saw much hardship attending his pioneer life. His only market for all kinds of grain was at Marshall, forty-five miles distant, and during the winter it was impossible to go to that point, which was also their milling
point. Our subject and family, as well as many other settlers, were obliged to live on boiled wheat, the weather being so intensely cold that it was impossible to go to mill to obtain flour. During that winter he had no team, and many a time has Mr. Reynolds walked to Lake Benton village and brought back supplies on his shoulders. These were hard times, but they have been forgotten in the good results and prosperity which has come of late years to our subject as well as to other settlers.
The subject of our sketch was married, February 9, 1864, to Caroline Harvey. She was born in County of Essex, and was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Clay) Harvey. Her parents were natives of Eng- land, and were farmers by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have been blessed with six children-Caroline E., Ellen H., Charles W., Frederick H., Thomas C. and Mary E.
Ever since coming to Verdi township Mr. Reynolds has participated in public mat- ters and has held several official positions, among them being that of township clerk, in which position he is now serving on his fifth term. In politics he believes in the principles of the republican party, and has always cast his ballot for the man supported by that party. He is a man of irreproach- able character, loyal and true in his citizen- ship, and is esteemed by a wide circle of friends. His farm is under good cultivation, and he has it provided with excellent farm buildings.
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HARLES W. HILDRETH is a leading citizen of Worthington, Nobles coun- ty, Minnesota. He was born in Wellsbor- ough, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1822. His parents were Luther R. and Be- linda (Butler) Hildreth, natives of New Hampshire. The mother died when our subject was four months old.
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After his mother's death our subject was taken to live with her parents, and at this time his father left the country, and he has never heard from him since. Charles W. re- sided with his grandparents until he was ten years of age, when he commenced working for farmers in his locality. He followed this occupation until he was fourteen years old, and then went to the woods and en- gaged in lumbering, following that occupa- tion until the spring of 1861. At the age of twenty, in 1842, the accidental discharge of a rifle so wounded our subject in his arm that he had to have it amputated above the elbow. This has disabled him throughout life, and he has not been able to do the work of other men. For twenty years he was engaged as a raftsman, and was one of the most successful men in that line on the river. So successful was he during this time that fifty dollars would cover all the loss that ever occurred to all the fleets he piloted. In the spring of 1861 he started down the river, but owing to the low stage of the water he was obliged to turn his attention elsewhere. He went to Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, arriving June 1, 1861, and remained in Wisconsin until the spring of 1868, during which time he was agent and operator for the railroad company. He then went to Lyon county, Minnesota, and located on section 17, ten miles southwest of the village of Marshall. Here he met with many reverses, being burned out twice and having his crops destroyed by the grasshoppers for four years.
For three falls and winters he engaged in dealing with the Indians, buying furs, etc. The first year of his location in the county he took a trip from where Pipestone now stands and at that time there was not a white man living in the entire county. This trip was made in company with a half-breed. Here our subject saw the Indians worship- ing the great red rock which they believed the Great Spirit had sent for their special
use. Passing on to where the city of Sioux Falls now stands, our subject there found a company of sixty soldiers and the country was devoid of white settlers. Thence Mr. Hildreth went to Yankton, and for sixty miles saw neither white man nor house. Arriving at Yankton, a little frontier settle- ment of five hundred inhabitants, he learned that Yankton was originally called Yank- honkton, "milky water." From thence our subject went up the Missouri river to the Son- tee agency, where there were seven thousand Indians. His object in making this trip was to learn where the best trapping grounds were and to learn how to find them. Suc- ceeding in this object he went up the river to Fort Thompson and then started homeward across the country to Madeira on the Sioux reservation. Thence he went to Lake Benton, and from that point went home after a long and weary, but successful trip into the Indian country. After the trapping season opened our subject's time was spent in buy- ing furs of the Indians and carrying supplies to them. He passed many a night on the prairie in the terrible storms usually called blizzards. During these storms he kept him- self from freezing by tramping around his sled and occasionally giving his team a hand- ful of hay, thus keeping his attention on some occupation and driving sleep from his weary eyelids. The anxiety of Mr. Hildreth at these times can hardly be conceived of, especially his anxiety for his family at home, who were forty miles from other settlers. At one time Mr. Hildreth was out for three days and nights on his way home during one of those severe storms. He stopped on his way at a house where a lady was alone and out of provisions, and gave her enough to last her until her husband's return. For twelve years our subject continued his resi- dence on his claim, and then, as ill-fortune would have it, the government canceled his papers in favor of the Winona & St. Peter
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