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 37
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Dr. Humes was married in 1867 to Miss Emma McColley, of Winnebago City. This union has been blessed with five children- Alice A., Ella A., Gertrude, Edith and James P.
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ISRAEL TURNER. This gentleman is one of the leading financial spirits of the village of Jasper, Pipestone county, Minnesota. He is the president of the Jas- per Bank, which was established in March, 1889. Mr. Turner is of English birth, being born March 17, 1843. His parents were Robert and Mary (Timpley) Turner, both of whom were natives of England. The father was an operator in one of the large cotton factories which abound in England.
The subject of our sketch spent his early boyhood days in the parental home, being given excellent educational advantages. He acquired a good education, and also de- veloped fine musical abilities. At the age of sixteen years he engaged as a musician in the British army, continuing about two years and a half. He then joined the navy, and for five years was leader of one
of the naval bands. At the close of this five years' service he found employment in the British arsenal at Woolwich, England, in which he continued some two and a half years. During his service in the navy he visited the southeast and southwest coasts of Africa, along which he cruised some two years, thence going to the Brazilian Islands. where he spent three years. The division to which our subject belonged was under the command of Sir Henry Keppell. Captain Speeke and Captain Grant, of the British army were passengers on board of the same ship, "H. M. S. Forte," to Zanzibar, their starting point for the interior of the country. A company of soldiers were also landed at Zanzibar, from whence they struck into the interior, to try if possible to discover the source of the River Nile. After much weary marching and untold miseries and privations, the discovery was made, and the captains named above returned to England by another route, reaching that country before the arrival of the ship. The ship fare, including the oft-heard-of and unconquerable "hard tack," was not in accordance with the taste of our subject, and his physical nature re- belled against the infliction of "hard tack." He could eat it only in small quantities, and in consequence thereof fell a way in flesh, and he was forced to purchase his own food. Whenever the vessel stopped at any port he would go ashore and lay in a supply of pro- visions for his own use. In this way lie suc- ceeded in getting through with his naval experience alive. While a member of the military band, he was one of thirty-two musicians, and was one of twenty-four while serving in the navy. Returning to England after his naval service, he then found employ- ment as above stated, in the British arsenal. In 1867 he emigrated to the United States and first located at Cedar Falls, Iowa. While in that city he was in the employ of the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company, as station
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and baggage master. This line of employ . ment was followed by him for some three years, when he was promoted to the position of station agent for the same company at New Hartford, Butler county, Iowa, where he remained three years. Then for a period of nine years he held a profitable engagement with the Burling- ton, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad, as their station agent at Nora Junction, Iowa. After this period he engaged as first agent at Spirit Lake, Iowa, remaining some five months, and from there going to Iowa Falls, where, for a little over fourteen years, he was in the employ of the same company. Removing from that place he went to Mason City, and engaged in the wholesale and retail coal business under the firm name of Turner & Co. This company is one of the largest and strongest of the kind on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system of railroads, and the business is still continued under the old partnership name. Removing from Mason City he came to Jasper, Pipe- stone county, in March, 1889, at which time he established his present banking business. He erected a very fine building of the famous Jasper stone, this being the first bank in the village.
The wedding of the subject of our sketch occurred March 19, 1889, on which date he was married to Miss Annie Rhem, a native of Mason City, Iowa, where she was reared and educated.
Mr. Turner is one of the largest capitalists of this part of the county, and, having come to Jasper with a considerable amount of money, will assist materially in building up and improving the village and vicinity. Having been trained in a practical school in the railroad employ as their financial agent, he is fully equipped for the business in which he has embarked, and will, without doubt, meet with a large degree of success. In politics our subject is an independent, be-
lieving that it is wisest to elect the best men to office. He is an influential Mason and Knight Templar.
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EZEAU B. PLOTTS, past assistant engineer United States navy, an in- fluential citizen of Worthington, Nobles county, Minnesota, is the son of Rev. Conley and Anna F. (Frankfort) Plotts, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter born in Philadelphia. Our subject is a native of Mount Holly, New Jersey, where he was born January 29, 1837. Our subject's father was a prominent educator in the Eastern States, and for years was the principal of the schools at Mount Holly, and in Philadelphia was the founder of several school institutes. He was a graduate of Princeton College, and was a man of considerable prominence in educa- tional circles.
The subject of this sketch commenced go- ing to school when he was four years of age, and his younger days were spent almost wholly in obtaining an education. He finished his training in the Central High School of Philadelphia in 1853, his name being now on the roll of honor in that in- stitution, because of his gallant service in the United States navy. The school was of the same grade as most of the colleges in the country, and our subject was able to obtain a classical education. On leaving school he commenced learning the ma- chinist's trade with Reany, Neafie & Levy, in Kensington, Philadelphia. He remained with this firm for some four years, and then employed his time as a journeyman machin- ist whenever he could find work to do in that line. When not able to find work at his trade he taught school in Iowa and Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1859 returned to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to which place his parents had moved while our subject was learning his trade.
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He returned home on account of ill- health, and remained with his parents until the early part of 1860, working a part of the time in the railroad shops of the city. He then went to Norfolk, Virginia, whence, after remaining a short time, he went to Richmond and made that his abiding place until in February, or March, 1861. He left for Washington on the last train for that city before open hostilities between the North and South had cut off all communica- tion. On reaching Washington our subject went to Williamsport and made application for admission into the naval service. July 1, 1861, he was accepted, and ordered to re- port for duty on the sloop of war "Rich- mond." In August this vessel left Brook- lyn navy yard and cruised for about a month in pursuit of the ship "Sumpter." Then the vessel reported for duty at Pensacola and was sent to blockade the mouth of the Mississippi river, where they relieved the ship " Brooklyn." For some time the vessel was on blockade duty, and October 1, 1861. sailed up to the head of the passes, and re- mained there until the morning of October 12, when they engaged in battle with the Rebel. ram "Manassas." In this engage- ment the Rebel steamer collided with the "Richmond," and broke a large hole in the side of the ship, and did considerable dam- age. After fighting for about an hour and a half, the vessels separated, neither having gained a decisive victory. Our subject par- ticipated in all the hard-fought engagements while on board the "Richmond," from 1861 to 1863, and was relieved from duty on board this vessel in 1863 and ordered to report to the commander of the-" Nipsic." He was with the South Atlantic squadron for about nine months, most of the time lying off Charles- ton, in the vicinity of which he participated in four engagements. In 1864 he was sent on board the "Octora," in which ship he served during two severe engagements, his
vessel leading in the fight in Mobile bay against Fort Morgan. Our subject's squadron continued in the vicinity of Mobile Bay until the close of the war, and Mr. Plotts spent a short time in the hospital as the result of hardships and exposures through which he had passed. Later he was sent to New Or- leans, and later was ordered North on sick leave, when he returned home and remained until 1866. He was then ordered on duty again in the naval service, and was sent to League Island, Philadelphia, where he was stationed four years. He was then detached from this service, and, returning home, re- mained a year and then, March 6, 1872, came to Worthington and settled on land in Elk township and remained until February, 1877. At that date he removed to the village of Worthington, and has since made that liis home. He is one of the most public-spirited citizens of the county, and has taken all active part in all public matters. He has · been deputy sheriff for five or six years, village recorder six or seven years, and has held various other local offices with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents.
In his financial matters Mr. Plotts has been fairly successful, and owns valuable property in the city. He resides in a beauti- ful Queen Anne cottage, built in 1888, and provided with modern improvements. Mr. Plotts is still attached to the naval service, being retired on pay during peaceful times. He is still liable to be called out for duty at any time. He is a member of the Masonic, Grand Army of the Republic, Post 34, and Ancient Order United Workmen lodges, and of other civic societies.
Mr. Plotts was married in New Orleans, July 23, 1864, to Miss Kate Slavin. daughter of Edward and Anna (Davis) Slavin, natives, respectively, of Ireland and England. Mrs. Plotts was born in Galveston, Texas, June 23, 1845, and died in Worthington, April 2, 1885, leaving the following children -- Emily
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C., Martha W., Lillie C., Nellie M., Philip E., Manning J. and Walter J., who died in Sep- tember, 1888. Mrs. Plotts was one of the most prominent and well known of all the old settlers of the county, and was a charter member of Stoddard Post Women's Relief Corps, No. 1, and was also well known for her kindness and charity to those in sickness and distress. She was beloved and mourned by all.
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RANCIS McQUOID. This gentleman is one of the reliable farmers and stock raisers of Gray township, Pipestone county, Minnesota. He located on section 5 in the spring of 1885. He is largely interested in raising short-horned cattle and hogs of the Suffolk breed, which stock our subject brought from Canada. This is a fine breed of swine and was first introduced into Pipe- stone county by Mr. McQuoid. He has been thrifty and industrious in the management of his farm, and has one of the best places in the county.
The subject of our sketch was born in the town of Pickering, province of Ontario, Canada, September 23, 1832. He is of Irish descent, his parents, John and Ann (Dunlap) McQuoid, having been born in County Down, in the north of Ireland. The parents both came to Canada before their marriage, but received their education and early training in the land of their birth, the father being seventeen and the mother eighteen years of age when they left Ireland. The father con- tinued a resident of Canada until his death, which occurred in about 1878. The mother died in 1881. They were farmers by occu- pation, and the mother was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. In the father's family there were five children ---- Ann, Francis, Martha, Henry and James, all of whom are living.
The early life of our subject was spent in
Pickering, the town of his nativity. Here he received excellent educational advantages, and was able to acquire a thorough course of schooling. At seventeen he left the schools, and gave his attention to work on his father's farm, continuing in this line of employment with his father until he was thirty years of age. On reaching this age he was mar- ried, and then engaged in various employ- ments for the purpose of building up and securing a home for himself and family. For the most part he followed the business of farming, and remained in his native country until coming to Pipestone county.
December 24, 1864, Mr. McQuoid was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Weir, a native of the township of Vaughn, province of Ontario, Canada. Her parents were John and Agnes (Temple) Weir, both of whom were natives of Scotland. The parents were married in their native land, and came to Canada in an early day. They brought four children with them-John, James, Jane and a daughter, Agnes, who died before the birth of the wife of the subject of our sketch. Three children have been born to them since coming to Canada - Mungo, Thomas, and - Agnes (now Mrs. McQuoid). Of these chil- dren, the first Agnes, Jane and Thomas are now dead. When Mrs. McQuoid was about six years old her parents removed to Picker- ing, province of Ontario, Canada, where she received her early training and education. Her father was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. McQuoid have three children living-Thomas Henry, James and William. Another son, John, died at the age of fifteen years and ten months, in Pick- ering, Canada. Agnes Temple, a daughter, died at the age of thirteen years and eight months, in the same town in Canada.
The subject of our sketch is a pleasant, sociable gentleman, and is a man held in high esteem by all his neighbors. He is an earnest sympathizer with all matters that
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tend toward the elevation of politics and morals, and takes an active interest in all affairs of a public nature. His political faith is with the democratic party. As a farmer he has proven an excellent success, and has surrounded himself with the evidences of prosperity, such as a good dwelling house, barns and other buildings so necessary on a well-regulated farm.
HARLES CHADDERDON is one of the most reliable and prosperous farmers of Great Bend township, Cotton wood county, Minnesota, and resides on an excellent farın on section 15. He was born in the township of Herman, Dodge county, Wisconsin, Sep- tember 19, 1851. He was the son of Ilon. Jonathan and Sophia (Mattise) Chadderdon both natives of New York, the mother born at Middleburgh, in Schoharie county. The father was born March 10, 1808, in the town of Broom, of the same county, and engaged at the carpenter's trade in the State of New York until about 1845, when he removed to Wisconsin, settling on a farm. After nine years' residence there, he removed to Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota, and taking a claim, remained there until 1877 when he removed to LeSueur county, where he lived a retired life until his death, which occurred January 20, 1884. The mother died in Scott county December 24, 1874. The father was a democrat in politics and was one of the prominent citizens of his locality. He took an active part in the local affairs of his government and served one term in the State legislature in the winter of 1859-60. There were thirteen children in the father's family, our subject being the tenth in order of birth.
During his early life the subject of our sketch was given excellent educational ad- vantages and acquired a thorough practical education. He remained with his parents on the homestead until about twenty-four
years of age. He then spent two years studying law at Jordan, Scott county, and in 1878 came to Cottonwood county and pur- chased the place on which he now lives. It was 160 acres of wild land, having no im- provements whatever. Our subject at once commenced operations, planting a grove of trees, etc., and has now one of the best farms in the township.
Mr. Chadderdon was married to Flora C. Nichol, a native of Scott county, Minnesota, March 19, 1879. This lady died August 27, 1879, and was buried at Jordan, her old home. Our subject was again married Octo- ber 29, 1884, to Miss Ella Harris, a native of Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota, and a daughter of George and Cornelia (King) Harris. Mr. and Mrs. Chadderdon have been blessed with one child, Myrtle C.
The subject of our sketch, as we have already stated, received an excellent educa- tion during his early life, having passed through the public schools, and also having attended four terms at Carlton College, at Northfield, Minnesota. He is a man of strong opinions, of progressive ideas, and is one of the most public spirited citizens of the township. He is a man of strong tem- perance principles, and affiliates with the prohibition party. He takes an active in- terest in all matters of a religious nature and is an elder in the Presbyterian church. He also belongs to the Ancient Order United Workmen, and various other civic organiza- tions. In public affairs he is one of the prominent citizens, and lias been county commissioner for five years, during three years of which he was chairman of the board. He has also been chairman of the township board of supervisors for eight years, and is the present incumbent of that office. He has varied his pursuits since coming to Cot- tonwood county, and in connection with farming has engaged more or less in teaching school. With the exception of last winter
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he has taught every winter during the past seventeen years. Mr. Chadderdon is a man of good character, and is esteemed by all who know him.
ILLIAM D. PECK. This gentle- man found his location in Pipe- stone county on section 26, Gray township, in 1878, at which time he filed a "soldier's homestead." He did not settle on his land at once, but returned to his former place of residence, and remained until in March, 1879, which month saw him again on his land in section 26, and since which time he has held continual residence. He commenced improvements by building a house 12x16 feet and a stable 12x32 feet. He continued living in this house for about five years and during the meantime had built a small wing to the house 8x12 feet. Throughout his residence in the township, Mr. Peck has shown himself to be one of the most enterprising and liberal spir- ited of its citizens. He was one of the organ- izers of the township and the county. He was the first to hold the position of justice of the peace, and holds that office at the present time, being now on his third term. He has also held the position of pathmaster and has identified himself closely with the best inter- ests of his township. Among the other settlers who lived in the town when Mr. Peck came, were Mr. Smith, Charles Maxfield and others. In June, 1885, Mr. Peck concluded to leave the farm; so, removing to the village of Hatfield, he bought out the grocery business of I. N. Converse. He now has a large stock of miscellaneous drugs, glassware and some hardware and notions. He does a large and extensive trade and is patronized from all parts of the county. He is the only busi- ness man in the place and therefore has a monopoly on the trade.
Mr. Peck was born in Harrisburg, Lewis county, New York, June 19, 1830. His
parents were David and Eliza (Brownwell) Peck, both of whom were natives of New York, where they were reared and educated and finally married. They made that State their home, engaged in farming until 1860, in which year they removed to Dane county, Wisconsin. Remaining in that county for some two years, they then removed to Mower county, Minnesota, where they re- mained until their death, the mother dying in about 1875, and the fatherin 1877. They were both excellent Christian people and leading members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The subject of our sketch was the oldest of seven children, the names of his brothers and sisters being Washington, Charity, Lorenzo, Electa, Lewis, and Nelson. Charity and Electa, the two girls, are now dead.
The subject of our sketch remained with his parents throughout his early life, remov- ing with them at the age of seven years to St. Lawrence county, New York, where he was reared and educated in the common schools. He made the village of Lawrence, in that county, his home until in 1861, when, on September 20, he enlisted in Company F, Ninety-second Regiment New York Volun- teer Infantry, his company being attached to the Eighteenth Army Corps. Mr. Peck passed through very honorable service being promoted to the rank of first sergeant the same fall, and being recommended to the office of lieutenant, but owing to the consolidation of his regiment he did not receive this latter office. He was dis- charged June 10, 1863, at Newburn, North Carolina, as first sergeant under Captain New- ton. The subject of our sketch engaged in many hard-fought battles, and spent many weary days in the march to the front. He was at the battle of Fort Anderson, in North Carolina, and participated in a great many skirmishes in the Carolinas and in Virginia. After his discharge he returned to the State
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of New York, and after one year spent in the vicinity of his native home, he turned his steps westward, locating in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he remained dur- ing one summer. From thence he removed to Mower county, Minnesota, in 1864, re- maining a resident there until his removal to Pipestone county in 1878.
Mr. Peck was united in the holy bonds of matrimony July 14, 1851, to Miss Hannah Jenkins, who died in 1860. She was an ex- emplary member of the Wesleyan church, and at her death left three daughters- Wealthy, Ella and Alıneda. Wealthy died at the age of thirteen years. In August, 1861, Mr. Peck was married to Miss Jerusha Rich, a native of the State of New York, where she was reared and given an academic education. She was a lady of large intelli- gence, and taught school for many years in her native State. By this second marriage Mr. Peck has had no children.
The subject of our sketch is a man of ex- cellent abilities, and is looked upon as one of the leading citizens of the town in which he lives. In religious as well as other mat- ters he takes a leading place, and is an ex- emplary member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which society he holds the posi- tion of member of the board of trustees. He takes an active interest in the welfare of this religious organization, and occasionally his voice is heard in exhortation and admo- nition to his brother members and the world around him. While a resident of Mower county, for some six or eight years he held the relation of local preacher in the Method- ist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 93, of which he has been chaplain for about a year. In politics he affiliates with the pro- hibition party, and is heartily in sympathy with all movements which tend to the reformation of the morals and business principles of his fellow-men. Since coming
to this county Mr. Peck has been inti- mately associated with the political inter- ests of the county organization, and has held several positions of trust and responsi- bility. While a resident of Mower county he held the position of supervisor, clerk, jus- tice of the peace, etc. He was nominated for representative on the Greenback ticket for his district in 1876, and received ninety- three votes out of 103 in his own town. Mr. Peck is a good citizen, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.
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YRON H. OLIVER. This prosper- ous farmer is located in Verona township, Faribault county, Minnesota, to which place he came in 1867, and purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 17. He has since bought eighty acres more on sec- tion 16, and now owns 160 acres. He was born in Orleans county, New York, Febru- ary 6, 1844.
Our subject's father was John Oliver, a native of the State of New York, from whence he emigrated to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, in 1847. He now resides in the village of Waukesha, and is seventy-four years of age. He has always been engaged in farming until within a few years, when he retired from active business. Our subject's mother's name, before her marriage, was Elizabeth Jane Morse, a native of New York, where she was reared and educated, and where, for some years during her early life, she engaged in the profession of teach- ing. Her father was Benjamin Morse, a farmer who lived and died in New York. In our subject's father's family there were nine children, seven of whom grew to man and womanhood-Myron H., Lemyra, Wil- liam, Franklin, Edna, Elizabeth and John. Elizabeth married Henry Johnson, a farmer, and died in 1883, leaving two children.
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