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 41
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Colonel White is a native of Boston, where he was born in the year 1841. His parents were William A. and Lucy (Jackson) White, the former a native of Maine and the latter a native of Massachusetts. The father was an importer of dry goods and was engaged extensively in the mercantile trade in com- pany with his brother, Charles A. White.
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In 1855 the father moved to the city of New York, where lie engaged in the manufacture of American woolen goods. He remained in business in that city until his death, about 1875, and became one of the wealthy and prominent citizen of the East.
The younger days of Colonel White were spent by him in attending school in Boston, Brooklyn and New York. On completing , his education he commenced a clerkship in a commercial house of New York City. He continued in that line for about two years, and, on the breaking out of the Rebellion, offered his services to the Union army, and served his country well and ably throughout a long military career. Harrison White came of good revolutionary stock, and when the rebels opened their batteries upon Fort Sum- ter and the old flag, though he was but nine- teen years of age, he promptly abandoned his lucrative position and enlisted as a private in Company G., Thirteenth Regiment New York State Militia, of Brooklyn ; which was called out for ninety days, and assigned to McClellan's command. On his return at the expiration of this term he assisted in re- cruiting and organizing a company of the Sixth New York Cavalry, and was com- missioned as lieutenant by Governor E. D. Morgan. He was again mustered into the volunteer service of the United States, this time for a period of three years, and his regiment was assigned for duty to the Army of the Potomac. In August, 1862, Lieuten- ant White was promoted to the captaincy of his company, and subsequently to the rank of major, while still later, for meritorious services, he was made lieutenant-colonel, and brevet-colonel, the latter commission being conferred both by the governor of New York and the president of the United States, for services at the battle of Five Forks, in Virginia. General Sheridan recommended for Colonel White a third brevet commission " for conspicuous gallantry in action," and
the commission was promptly conferred by President Lincoln. At the close of the act- ive campaign in the East, the Sixth New York, whose ranks had been greatly reduced by the casualties of war, was consolidated with the Fifteenth New York Cavalry, and Colonel White was placed in command of the consolidated regiment. He was ordered by General Grant to Louisville, Kentucky, to protect that country against the incur- sions of lawless bands of guerrillas, and was assigned to the command of the Second Brigade, First Cavalry Division. The city of New York presented Colonel White's regi- ment with a beautiful silk flag, upon which the regiment had inscribed the names of sev- enty-five battles and skirmishes, in all of which Colonel White participated, with the exception of two of minor importance. Col- onel White is now in possession of a photo- graph of the flag which was presented by the city of New York to his regiment. Our subject served under Generals Sheri- dan, Pleasanton, Buford and Devin in the First Cavalry Division of the Army of the Potomac, and in the same corps with Custer and Kilpatrick. For services in the battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, General Custer and Colonel White were detailed by special orders from General Sheridan to report to Secretary Stanton the captures by their respective di- visions, which amounted to some sixty pieces of artillery, thirteen stands of colors, several thousand stands of small arms and several thousand prisoners, besides wagons, stores and camp equipage. Among his war papers Colonel White has a strong recommendation from General Devin for promotion to a brig- adier-generalship, besides several high en- dorsements from other generals under whon he served, and numerous highly complimen- tary notices from New York papers.
After his discharge from service in the Union army he returned to New York and located in the town of Mont Clair, New Jer-
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sey. He resided in that city, but found em- ployment as a salesman in a lace house in New York. He remained in the East in business until 1877, when he came to the State of Minnesota, stopping for a short time in St. Paul. Shortly afterward, and in the same fall, he came to the village of Beaver Creek, where he has since resided.
Colonel White was united in marriage in the year 1872, to Miss Ella J. Bushnell, a na- tive of Ulster county, New York, and a daughter of Asa B. and Janette (Longen- dyke) Bushnell. Mr. and Mrs. White have four children-William H., Elsie B., Grant A. and Lucy J.
Being one of the pioneer business men of the city of Beaver Creek, Colonel White has become intimately associated with the finan- cial interests of this locality. Among the business men with whom he has had mer- cantile relations he is held in the highest esteem and is looked upon as one of the most successful business characters and upright loyal citizens of the community. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is a leading member of John Buford post, No. 165, Grand Army of the Republic, Depart- ment of Minnesota, of which he was a charter member and its first commander. Besides being considerably interested in political and financial matters, our subject has not forgotten nor neglected to materially assist in the development of the moral side of his own character and that of the people of the community in which he lives. He has assisted largely in building all the churches in the city, and was one of the or ganizers of the Presbyterian church, giving liberally toward the erection of the house of worship for that society. He interests himself largely in all the departments of the work of that church and has been superin- ten dent of the Sabbath-school ever since its organization. He is one of the trustees of the church to which he belongs. Col-
onel White has been eminently successful in all the lines of business in which he has engaged, and has proven his capabilities and efficiency in all public and private matters in which his aid has been enlisted. He has become one of the most prominent citizens of Beaver Creek and Rock county.
NDREW J. LOWRY, one of Pipe- stone county's representative farmers, located in Elmer township on the 29th of March, 1880. His settlement was made on the northeast quarter of section 32 in the above named township, where he has since lived. He has a fine farm, well adapted to general farming and stock raising, on which is a nice grove of trees and comfortable farm buildings. Since taking up his resi- dence among the pioneers of Elmer town- ship he has taken an active interest in all matters of a public nature, and has been elected by the people to numerous official positions.
The subject of our sketch was born in Berrien county, Michigan, October 6, 1848. The father, John Lowry, was a native of Delaware, in which State he remained until he was about twenty years of age. Remov- ing thence he went to Michigan, where the subject of our sketch was born. The father was a mechanic by trade, and followed that line of employment throughout the most of his life. He died at the age of sixty-six years, in June, 1886. He was a man of the highest integrity, a prominent citizen, and was respected by all who knew him. He was a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which society he occu- pied an official position at the time of his death. The mother of our subject was Mary Ann (Mitten) Lowry, a native of the State of Delaware, where she remained until seventeen or eighteen years of age, when, with her parents, she removed to the
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State of Michigan. The mother is still living, and is a resident of Wisconsin. In the father's family there were six children, four of whom are living-Bell Richards, , now a resident of Wisconsin; Andrew J., our subject ; Leonard, married and living in Wisconsin, and Ella Lincoln, who was born on the same day on which President Lincoln was inaugurated. Ella married James Barry and is now living in Wisconsin. James T. died in the fall of 1880. He was a married man and a carpenter by trade. Etta Dell died at the age of sixteen years, in 1878.
Andrew J. Lowry received his education while living at his boyhood's home in Pepin, Wisconsin. His residence with his parents continued until he was about seventeen years of age, when he removed to Michigan and worked out on a farm for some seven or eight years. He then went to Warren county, Illinois, where he was married and took up his residence on a farm and engaged in farm- ing for about five years. At the end of this period he returned to Wisconsin, remaining during the winter. The following spring he came westward and made a settlement in Pipestone county, where he has since lived.
August 15, 1871, is the date of the mar- riage of Mr. Lowry to Miss Harriet A. Mill- hollen, a native of Henderson county, Illi- nois, where she was reared and educated. Her father was Pinkney Millhollen, a miller by trade and an influential citizen of Hen- derson county. He died some thirty-nine years ago. Mrs. Lowry is one of four chil- dren - Henry, David, John and herself. Mrs. Lowry's mother was married the second time to Mr. A. F. Forgey, by whom she had four children-Clark, Elisha Jackson, Ade- line, who died in 1875, and Lewis, who died in 1879. Mr. Forgey died some years ago at the age of eighty-four. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry have four children - Elvene, Addie Belle, Lura and Frank Allen, all of whom are liv- ing at the home of their parents.
In politics Mr. Lowry affiliates with the republican party. He has been identified with the best interests of the section in which he lives for nearly ten years, and by his sterling qualities of integrity and upright- ness has drawn to himself many warm friends. He is a man of good education and sound judgment and in the many positions which he has held in the management of public affairs of the township, has proven himself a citizen of high order and a man to be respected by every one. He is a man of pleasant habits, open-hearted and genial, and his residence is indeed the home of a pleasant and interesting family. Amongthe offices which Mr. Lowry has held during his residence here may be named those of asses- sor, which position he held one year in 1885; overseer of highways, holding that position three years, and clerk of the school district No. 17, which he has held since 1884, with the exception of perhaps four months.
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R. T. KIRK is one of the leading physicians and surgeons of St. James, Minnesota. He is a native of Dewitt coun- ty, Illinois, where he was born in the year 1857. He is the son of Orage L. and Lu- cretia G. (Morlan) Kirk, natives of Con- necticut. The grandfather of our subject was Samuel Kirk, a farmer by occupation and a resident of Indiana ; he was probably of Scotch descent. Our subject's mother was the daughter of John G. Morlan, a native of Pennsylvania, and a wagon and carriage manufacturer. His wife was Lucre- tia (Gager) Morlan, of Hartford, Connecticut, and for many years a teacher in that State.
The father of our subject was a builder and contractor and followed that line of oc- cupation throughout the most of his life. In 1887 he retired from active business. During his business life he filled a great many important contracts and always kept
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a large force of men employed. He owned his own brick-yards and manufactured most of the material used in his buildings. He had a family of twelve children, nine of whom are now living : Dr. T., Angeline S., now Mrs. J. M. Dale; Frank, Lucretia, Al- bert L., George, Leon, William and Harry.
The early life of the subject of our sketch was spent principally in school in Clinton, Dewitt county, Illinois. Completing his edu- cational course he then commenced clerking in various stores, and took up the study of imedicine in January, 1878, with Dr. D. W. Admiston. He graduated from Rush Medical College, of Chicago, February 22, 1881, and then engaged in the practice of his profession, coming to St. James, Minne- sota, May 15, 1881. Since coming to the village he has built up an extensive and lucrative practice and his professional busi- ness calls him on many long rides in all direc- tions from his home town. He owns a beau- tiful home and office on Main street and is otherwise financially interested in the devel- opment of the village. He has always taken an active part in public matters and has held various important official positions within the gift of his fellow-citizens. He is county coroner and is the local physician and sur- geon for the St. Paul & Sioux City division of the Omaha railroad. In politics he affil- iates with the republican party, belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Minnesota Valley Medical Association.
Dr. Kirk was married in 1886 to Miss Annie M. Clinton, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of George E. Clinton, a prominent citizen of that place.
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JACOB DEMONG, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Lake Sarah town- ship, Murray county, Minnesota, resides on section 23. He purchased his farm in 1878 and settled thereon in 1879. He now owns
two hundred acres of good land under ex- cellent cultivation and well provided with farm buildings. Mr. DeMong has taken an active part in public matters since coming to the township, and has held various official positions, having been township clerk since 1882. He has been chairman of the board of township supervisors and has held va- rious school offices. He has taken quite an active part in educational matters and has taught several terms of school in the township.
Jacob DeMong was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1854. When one year of age his parents moved to Minnesota, and located in Winona county, where they still live. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Kiefer) DeMong, both of whom were natives of Germany. In 1847 the father came to the United States and for years engaged as a miner in the State of Pennsylvania. In the father's family there were seven children-John, Jacob, Elizabeth, Minnie, Ferdinand, Joseph and Mary. The parents are still living.
In early life the subject of our sketch re- ceived a good common-school education and remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age or until he came to Murray county, where he has since lived. In politics Mr. DeMong is an independent and is a member of the Catholic church. He is a well-to-do farmer and is one of the represen- tative citizens of the county. He has always taken an active interest in public matters and has gained a good reputation as an effi- cient officer.
Mr. DeMong was married December 4, 1884, to Miss Augusta F. Pearsall, a native of Winona county, Minnesota, reared and educated in Murray county. She is a daugh- ter of Powell Pearsall, of whom a sketch is given in another department of this book. Mr. and Mrs. DeMong have one child, Mary Agnes.
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R. JOHN H. TILFORD is one of the leading and most successful physi- cians and surgeons of Windom, Cotton- wood county, Minnesota. The place of his nativity is found in Jefferson county, Indiana, where he was born November 28, 1841.
The parents of the subject of our sketch were Joseph M. and Mary A. (Maxwell) Til- ford, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Indiana. The father left Kentucky when about twenty-one years of age and located in Madison, Indiana, where he engaged in the cabinet-making business. He carried on an extensive trade until 1851, when he removed to the city of Indianapolis, where he engaged in the same business. In 1856 he sold out and purchased the Indiana State Journal and engaged in the publication of that news- paper until 1866. Up to this time he had inade considerable money, but at this time misfortune came to him in the shape of hav- ing to pay a number of notes on which he had signed his name as security. He had also invested heavily in real estate and resi- dence property and was not prepared for the hard times of 1870. His business had to be abruptly closed and he retired to private life. He has always been a prominent man in his State and is one of the leading mem- bers of the well-known Harrison club of Indianapolis. Of nine children in the father's family there are six now living-Mrs. Eliza Green, Mrs. Emma Hall, Mrs. Julia Avery, Mrs. Alice Garvey, Dr. John H. and Samuel.
Up to eighteen years of age the subject of our sketch was given educational advantages of a high order. He completed a course in the district schools and entered college. At eighteen he went to the "Northwestern Christian College" in Indianapolis, and attended there for some years. He then engaged in the study of medicine in Indian- apolis with Drs. Jamison and Funkhouser, with whom he continued for three years. He then attended medical lectures at Ann
Arbor during the winter of 1861-62. In the spring of 1862 he received an invitation from his old preceptor to go to Indianapolis and enter the city hospital to assist in caring for the sick and disabled. He remained sev- eral months, and in August of that year was commissioned as assistant surgeon of the Seventy-ninth Indiana Infantry. He went to Louisville, Kentucky, with a portion of the regiment, and throughout the war con- tinued his medical position in the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. He was always on duty, and during three years never left his command. After being mustered out of the service he returned to Indianapolis, and during the winter of 1865- 66 attended a course of lectures at Bellevue Medical College in New York City, and in 1878 ad eundem in Butler Medical College. He then settled in Indianapolis and engaged in the practice of medicine for one year. His next move was to Pittsborough, Hen- dricks county, Indiana, where he engaged in the practice of medicine for nine years. During this time he graduated from the Indiana Medical College in 1872. On com- pleting his nine years' residence in Pitts- borough he removed to Irvington, Ma- l'ion county, where he engaged in prac- tice for four years. In 1879 he came to Minnesota, locating at Windom, where he has since been engaged in active practice. He has built up an extensive and lucrative business and has been eminently successful in the treatment of the many cases which have come to him. He is a man of excellent qualifications, is highly educated and is a master of the details of his profession. He has performed many remarkable cures and enjoys an enviable reputation both as a phy- sician and surgeon. He has always taken an active part in public matters, and has been a member of the township and school boards and has also been coroner of the county ever since 1879. He is also a leading
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and influential member of the Minnesota State Medical Society. He has made numer- ous investments in various kinds of property and has been quite successful. He purchased several lots in the city, on which he has now an elegant residence and where his office is located. He purchased a farm at Wilder, Jackson county, Minnesota, some time prior to making his residence in Windom. He still owns the farm, on which he has a renter. Dr. Tilford is a republican in politics and belongs to the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Grand Army of the Republic and Ancient Order of United Workmen fraternities.
Dr. Tilford was married in the year 1866" to Miss Luna Meak, a native of Greenfield, Indiana. This lady is possessed of an edu- cation of a high order and is a graduate in music, having taught in that profession a number of years in Indianapolis, Noblesville and Greenfield, Indiana. Her father was Cornwell Meak, a former merchant of Green- field, where he was one of the oldest settlers. He was one of the oldest Masons in the State and was a man of much prominence. Ile owned three or four farms and engaged extensively in agricultural pursuits. Dr. and Mrs. Tilford have two children-Fred M. and Mattie R.
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ON. B. M. LOW. Perhaps no man in all of Murray county is so well known for his intelligence, active public spirit and thorough appreciation of the wants of his locality as is the gentleman whose name heads this article. He came to the county in an early day and has since been identified with all matters which pertain to the improvement and upbuilding of the better interests of the locality in which he has lived. His active participation in pub- lic affairs has not been confined to the mat- ters pertaining to his own township, but he has thoroughly acquainted himself and been
associated with all matters pertaining to the welfare of the entire county. Being a man of excellent business qualifications and a character of the highest order, he has been called upon by his fellow-citizens to occupy various important official positions. In ev- ery instance he has proven his efficiency and has administered the duties of his various offices with rare fidelity and with increasing popularity. His home is now located on section 10, of Lowville township, said town- ship being named in his honor.
Mr. Low was born in New York, Febru- ary 3, 1839, and was the son of Jacob and Catharine (Morgan) Low, both of whom were natives of the State of New York. The father followed agricultural pursuits to ob- tain a livelihood and remained in New York State until 1843, when he emigrated to Wis- consin, locating in the village of Lowville, and making that his home until his death, which occurred in June, 1875. The mother is still living in Wisconsin.
The subject of our sketch spent his early life on the home farm, where he was reared until eighteen years of age. He was given a good common-school education, and when not attending to his school duties assisted his father in work on the farm. Leaving home at the age of nineteen he concluded to test what life had for him, and started out for himself, locating in Madison, Wisconsin, where he learned the jeweler's trade, continu- ing thereat for six years. He was a loyal, patriotic citizen, and lover of freedom and liberty guaranteed by his government, and disentangling himself from his business rela- tions in September, 1863, he enlisted in Company E, Forty-second Regiment Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry. He served faith- fully and gallantly in the Union army, par- ticipating in all the engagements of his com- pany until he was discharged in June, 1865. He then removed to Minnesota, residing in Mankato for six months, and in June, 1866,
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he came to Murray county and located the claim where he now lives.
Mr. Low was married in May, 1868, to Miss Mary McCann, an estimable lady who died in the summer of 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Low had six children, five of whom are now living.
On coming to Murray county our subject at once identified himself with the affairs of local government. Being a republican in politics he assisted in the local organization of that party, and was elected by its fran- chises to various offices. He was the first clerk of his township, and has also been justice of the peace, and filled the office of county commissioner for two terms. He was then elected as the unanimous choice of the people as a member of the lower house of the State legislature, and is serving his second term in that capacity. Among his fellow legislators Mr. Low enjoys an en- viable reputation as a man of strong, clear opinions, firm and fearless in his advocacy of what he deems to be right, and for his high integrity of character as manifested in all his associations, whether of a social or business nature. He is a man of broad and progressive ideas, is a careful ob- server, and is a quick and accurate reader of human nature. He is indeed a self-made man; having in his younger days acquired but a common-school education, he has throughout the past years been constantly enlarging and developing his thought by careful study and observation. He is a lead- ing member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to Jo Hooker Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
ARS FLAGE is a reliable and well-to- do citizen of Highwater township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He came to this county in 1873, and located on the southeast quarter of section 18, where he re-
sided some ten years, at the end of which time he removed to the northeast quarter of the same section, making that his home up to the present time.
The subject of this sketch was born in Voss, Norway, November 7, 1845. He was the son of Ole and Julia (Larson) Flage, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and is now a resident of the State of Iowa. The mother died in her native land in 1847.
The subject of our sketch was one of five children-Betsy, Knute, Lars and Sarah (twins) and Mary. Until he was fourteen years of age Lars Flage remained in his na- tive country, being educated in the dis- trict schools. In 1860 he came alone to the United States, locating in Dane county, Wisconsin, where lie engaged in herding cattle. One year later a removal was made to Winneshiek county, Iowa. Here our sub- ject engaged in agricultural pursuits for a number of years, attending school during the winter months for some time. He re- ceived an academic education at Decorah, Iowa, and also attended several other insti- tutions of learning. He followed the pro- fession of teaching for several years in Iowa and Minnesota, and in 1873 located in Cotton- wood county. He has taught school three terms in Highwater township, and has al- ways taken an active interest in educational matters. Although deeply engaged in mat- ters pertaining to his private business, he has always had time and spirit to participate in projects pertaining to the general welfare. Affiliating with the republican party, he has been elected to and has efficiently held vari- ous positions of trust and responsibility, among them being clerk and supervisor of the township, and also clerk and treasurer of school district No. 38.
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