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 44

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 44

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The parents of the subject of our sketch were Johannes T. and Sarah L. Holden, and there were seven children in the father's family. The parents are still living in their native land.

Mr. Holden was married June 11, 1866, to Miss Karen J. Reberg, born in the same place in which our subject was born. Mr. and Mrs. Holden have seven children- Sophia, Julius, Carl, Lottie, Anna, John and

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Matilda. Sophia is married and now resides in Tracy, Lyon county.

The subject of our sketch is a republican in politics, and with his family belongs to the Lutheran church. He stands among the lead- ing and representative men of the county.

OHN PEARSON is the capable and efficient county auditor of Pipestone county, Minnesota. He located in the county in 1877, and settled on land in Grange and Troy townships, one claim being a homestead of 160 acres and the other a 160-acre timber claim. He moved onto his homestead in 1878, and commenced farming and making improvements by breaking a few acres and building a small house. During the summer of each year until 1885 he made the farm his home, removing thence each winter for the purpose of following business pursuits in other localities. In 1885 he moved into the city of Pipestone, and has since that time made that place his permanent home. He was appointed to his present office in the year 1880 to fill a vacancy, and in 1881 was elected to the office by a large majority. He has held the office ever since, and in 1884 received every vote cast in the county-nine hundred in all. Besides this he has held other official posi- tions, having been treasurer of Grange township in 1879 and 1880, and also super- visor in 1879 ; and is at present a member of the village council.

Mr. Pearson was born near Dayton, Ohio, July 21, 1836. He was the son of Thomas and Nancy (Nock) Pearson, both of whom were natives of Ohio. For many years the father was engaged in farming in his native State, and in 1841 removed to Indiana, first settling in Cass county, and afterward locating in Miami county, in both counties engaging in the occupation of farming. Miami county continued his home until his

death, which occurred in 1864. The mother is still living in Wabash, Indiana. In the father's family there were seven children five of whom are now living-Oliver, John, Catharine, Andrew and Susan. Those who died were Nelson and Perry D. The parents were exemplary members of the Baptist church, and the father in early life was an old line whig, affili- ating with the republican party from and after its organization. He was an act- ive worker in church and school matters and held several official positions in the township in which he lived.

The boyhood days of the subject of our sketch were spent by him on the home farm where he was given the advantages for edu- cation furnished by the district schools. He remained with his parents until 1861, in which year he helped to organize a company of soldiers in Miami county, Indiana, for the purpose of joining the Union army. He accepted the position of lieutenant of the company and stood ready to join in the serv- ice. The military hopes of the members of this company, however, were doomed to dis- appointment. The men had enlisted for three months, but as the quota for three- months men had been filled in Indiana the company was disbanded. This, however, did not deter our subject from again offer- ing his services to the Union army. He en- listed August 29, 1861, as a private in Com- pany D, Thirty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was made corporal, later sergeant, and finally captain. The regiment was afterward mustered as Eighth Indiana Veteran Volunteer Cavalry. The military career of Mr. Pearson ex- tended through four years lacking thir- ty-five days. He was engaged in the following battles : Shiloh, Corinth, the battle near Nashville, Liberty Gap, Middleton, Nicojack Gap, Gaines Gap, Chickamauga, Peavine Church, Tunnel Hill,

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Cheraw Trustle, Stony Face Ridge, Lewis ville, siege of Atlanta, siege of Chattanooga, Solomon's Grove, and many other smaller battles and engagements. It was his misfor- tune to be taken prisoner at Solomon's Grove, North Carolina, in 1865, being held by the Rebels for twenty days. He was incarcer- ated in Libby prison and Castle Thunder. He claims to have been fairly well treated with the exception of having to "subsist on short rations " most of the time. His clothes were also taken from him, such as overcoats, blankets, etc., and one Rebel was determined to take our subject's boots, but he declined to give them up to the Rebel, who finally con- cluded to leave Mr. Pearson in peaceful possession of his footwear. Perhaps the re- sult of the little commotion between the Rebel and our subject would have had a dif- ferent termination had it not been for the fact that when he was taken captive he had charge of a Confederate officer who was a prisoner held by the Union forces. When the Rebel demanded Mr. Pearson's boots this Confederate officer came to his rescue and caused the would-be boot owner to desist. The ground for the officer's objection was, as he said, "When held a prisoner by the Union army and in charge of this man (Pear- son) I was treated well, and I now demand for him the same treatment that was given to me." After twenty days of captivity Mr. Pearson was paroled and started for home minus all the buttons of his coat and vest, and minus all moneys which he had with him at the time of his capture.

Mr. Pearson relates many interesting rem- iniscences of his army life, for but few sol- diers saw more active or exciting and dan- gerous service. He led a cavalry charge while in command of the advance guard on the McCook raid, at midnight, capturing the camp and camp equipage, and routing the enemy. The enemy was prepared to give them a warm reception by having barricades

built across the lane and a force behind it. When the Union forces arrived within a few rods the Rebels fired a volley which made one sheet of flame across the lane, and then withdrew. While near Atlanta he had com- mand of a company that was ambushed, and had his horse shot under him. One man and three horses were killed, but the enemy was repulsed. At Missionary Ridge he operated with the cavalry on the flank ; was with General McCook on the raid to relieve the prisoners at Andersonville. The command failed to connect with General Stoneman. They traveled four days and nights, fought a battle, were surrounded and defeated, and most of McCook's command and all of Stone- man's was captured. Oursubject's regiment cut through the lines and reached the Union forces in safety. He was with General Kil- patrick on the raid around Atlanta. At Lovejoy Station a rifle ball cut his pants, but no further harm was done. In the same battle his company took a battery of two guns in a cavalry charge, the battery firing the last shot when the company was within sixty feet of the muzzles of the cannon. On the same raid he had his saddle stump par- tially shot away by a grape shot. At Cor- inth he was on the skirmish line in a thickly wooded valley. The enemy advanced to within about four rods, then opened with a volley. The Union forces in reserve, a short distance in the rear of the skirmishers, sup- posing the Union boys had all been killed or taken prisoners, opened a heavy volley in the brush. Pearson, with a comrade, took shel- ter behind a large oak tree, and when the Rebels would fire a volley they would run around on the Rebel side, and when the volley was returned would run around on the Union side. When the battle ended the comrade had four bullet holes in his clothes but was uninjured. In 1862 Mr. Pearson marched with his company from Green river, Kentucky, to Shiloh ; Corinth, Mississippi ;

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then to opposite Chattanooga, Tennessee ; then to Louisville, Kentucky ; then to Frank- fort, Kentucky ; and to Nashville, Tennessee; in all about fifteen hundred miles during the summer; and he "stacked arms" with the company every night. At Liberty Gap he and a Confederate soldier exchanged compli- ments eight times in succession with rifles, across a field, each taking refuge in the cor- ner of a rail fence. The Rebel finally re- treated. As the army advanced from Mur- freesboro (General Sheridan in the advance) Colonel Harrison was ordered to place his regiment (Thirty-ninth Indiana) a quarter of a mile in advance. The colonel ordered Com- pany D to go a quarter of a mile in advance of the regiment. The captain of Company D ordered Pearson to take four men and place them at intervals of fifty paces apart, one in advance of the other, leaving himself fifty paces in advance of any man in the army. The command was given to "forward march," and thus he marched on to the Rebel camp at Liberty Gap, at the head of Rosecrans' great army. In the fall of 1864 Mr. Pearson was sent to General Kilpatrick's headquarters on detached duty to take com- mand of a company of the provost guards, which position he held through the march through Georgia and North and South Car- olina, during which all prisoners and horses were turned over to him. The general had made arrangements whereby he was to be- come one of the "staff," and act as assistant provost marshal, but he was captured while with headquarters before the necessary papers had arrived to make him a permanent staff officer. He was with General Kilpat- rick while reconnoitering at Aiken, South Carolina, when the enemy made a dash on them, driving them back, and, as the gener- al's horse scaled the temporary barricade, the Rebels shot at him (being within fifteen or twenty feet), but missed their mark. Both our subject and the general were res-

cued by the capture of their pursuers. At Solomon's Grove Mr. Pearson was taken prisoner while at headquarters. General Kilpatrick, escaping in his night-clothes, then rallied his men and retook the camp, without either hat, coat, pants or boots. Our subject had one hundred and ninety prisoners in his charge, which were released, and about an equal number of Union prisoners were taken. They were marched forty miles the first day without either breakfast, dinner or supper. During the night he was furnished some corn meal and bacon. He took a sheet of paper, on which he mixed the meal, which was then put in the ashes and baked. He put the meat on a stick, broiled it and then fared sumptuously. During his confinement he was not furnished with any cooking uten- sils, and used pieces of splinters off of rail- road irons for knives; used the top of his hat for bean soup, and slept on the floor without any blankets. The windows of Castle Thun- der had neither sash nor glass, and this af- forded plenty of fresh air, as it was in March. As they entered Fayetteville, North Caro- lina, a Rebel rode up to the prisoners and fired into the ranks. One of the men fell, and was left on the street, apparently in a dying condition. Mr. Pearson escaped from the guards twice, but having a sick brother a prisoner, he returned after a spell, to try and release him. The result was they were both marched to Richmond and, after re- maining in prison a short time, were paroled. He reached his home in Indiana on the day that General Lee surrendered. Soon after reaching home he was married, and then went to Mankato, Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where for some years he en- gaged in contracting and building. He followed this line of business until in 1877. He was one of the most popular con- tractors in Mankato, and built many of the principal buildings in that city, among them being the First National Bank, the Masonic

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hall, Turner's hall, the city hall, and Pleas- ant Grove school house, and numerous other store buildings and dwelling-houses of the better class. During this time he employed a great amount of help, and had a force of thirty men under his direction at one time during his business life in that city. In 1877, as has been related before in this biography, Mr. Pearson came to Pipestone county and made his location in Grange township. Throughout his life he has been engaged principally in contracting and building, and is, perhaps, one of the most widely-traveled men in his locality. He has filled contracts in three different States in the West: Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and has built numerous very fine buildings. At Sibley, Iowa, he constructed the Emmet Bank build- ing, one of the very finest structures in the county. During the same year he built a large school house at Waterville, and Wa- seca, both of these buildings being for high- school purposes. Prior to his election to his present office, he performed considerable contracting in the city in which he now lives. He put together the brick work on the Steward block.

Mr. Pearson was united in marriage in 1865, to Miss Lydia M. Wilkerson, daughter of Jacob Wilkerson, of Indiana. This union has been blessed with two living children-Dora, who graduated at Mankato, in 1887, and is now a teacher by profession, filling a position at present in the graded schools in Pipestone City. She taught for some time at Monte- video, Minnesota. Frank E., the other child, is at present a clerk in his father's office, having attended the Sioux Falls Uni- versity.

Throughout the career of our subject lie has been actively interested in all matters of a public nature, and has filled numerous positions of trust and responsibility with credit to himself and honor to his constitu- ents. While in Mankato he served as a

member of the city council for two terms of three years each, and otherwise occupied a prominent position in the affairs of that municipality. He invested to some extent in Mankato real estate, and built a comfort- able and commodious residence on Lincoln street. Since coming to Pipestone he has purchased a number of city lots, and in 1885 erected a liandsome dwelling which cost about two thousand dollars. In his busi- ness matters he has been quite successful, and has accumulated considerable means, becoming one of the substantial and most reliable citizens of the county. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, in whose principles he has believed for many years. Our subject is one of the most genial, warm-hearted and sociable officials, and by his courteous conduct and thorough knowl- edge of the details of his office, he lias made hosts of friends and insured for himself re- election to his present position, if he desires it. He is also an influential member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was the first commander of the post at Pipestone. He served two terms as aid-de-camp to the department commander, and is quarter- master at present, having held that position for three or four years. He is colonel of the Pipestone battalion, and junior vice-com- mander of the department of Southwestern Minnesota, Grand Army of the Republic Association, which position he has twice held.

ENRY J. KURTH is a thrifty and industrious farmer of Shaokatan township, Lincoln county, Minnesota. His farm is located on section 8 of that township. He was born in Elgrove, Illinois, March 14, 1855. He was the son of Henry, Sr., and Catharine E. (Wehnes) Kurth. An account of the father's life and death is found in a sketch of Fred H. Kurth in another depart-

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ment of this work. The father was an ex- emplary citizen and loyal Christian man.

Henry J. continued his residence with his parents until they made a settlement in Lin- coln county. He left home at the age of twenty-one years, up to which time he had as- sisted in work on the home farm and had been given a good common-school education. At twenty-one he entered the employ of Andrew Markman, remaining a short time during harvest and then going to Dakota county, where he rented various farms for a year and a half and then rented his father's farm, operating it one year, and then, after operat- ing other farms in the county, engaged in running a threshing-machine some fourteen years. In 1878 he came to Lincoln county and settled on the place where he now lives, taking it as a homestead and making it his residence ever since. He was one of the first settlers, and has taken an active interest in public matters since making his location. He is a man of excellent principles and is esteemed by all who know him. He is a republican in politics, and among the official positions that he has held may be named those of constable and postmaster, the form- er being held by him two years and the lat- ter one year.

Henry J. Kurth was married June 6, 1877, to Dora Kauffmann, a daughter of John and Susan Kauffmann. This union has been blessed with six children -- George H., Liz- zie C., John H., Lena S., Charles W. and an infant.

BENEZER C. HUNTINGTON is the proprietor and publisher of the Win- dom Reporter, at Windom, Cotton wood county, Minnesota. He is a native of St. Albans, Vermont, where he was born Feb- ruary 7, 1850. His parents were Simon and Louisa M. (Kellogg) Huntington, natives of Vermont. The father was a farmer by occu-

pation, and, coming to Illinois in 1852, en- gaged in farming in Winnebago county. In 1856 he removed to Iowa, where he engaged in the drug business and also in manufactur- ing patent medicine. In 1873 he emigrated to Minnesota, locating in Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county. Here he engaged ex- tensively in farming and stock raising. In the father's family there were five children, three of whom are now living-our subject, Eliza C. and Charles K. A sketch of the father is given in another department of this volume.

The subject of our sketch received his early training and education principally in Iowa, and completed his course in the schools of McGregor. He left the parental home in 1865, and engaged in the business of print- ing, serving an apprenticeship of three years in various places. He spent some time in the News office at McGregor, and also in the office of W. H. Farnham, a publisher of Sparta, Wisconsin, and then spent two years in the Intelligence office at Charles City, Iowa. He then returned to McGregor, and worked in the office of the News and Times until in April, 1869. He then formed a partnership with Frank Holland and operated a paper at Decorah, Iowa, until September. This newspaper was called the State Press, and in September Mr. Holland's interest was purchased by S. S. Haislet. Our subject continued in the business until in the spring of 1870, when he sold out to his partner and removed to Strawberry Point, Iowa, where he purchased a newspaper and continued its operation until June, 1871. At this time he came to Windom, bringing with him a news- paper outfit. He established the Windom Reporter in partnership with his father, and they continued its operation until 1882. In that year he purchased his father's interest, and has since been sole proprietor and pub- lisher. Our subject has been engaged in various other occupations, having been a

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partner of Judge A. D. Perkins in the real estate and abstract business from 1882 to 1885. He has bought and sold lands through- out the county and has been quite successful in making profitable investments. He built his newspaper office in July, 1871, and in 1877 built a nice residence on the north side of the town. In public matters Editor Hunt- ington has always been one of the most active of Windom's citizens. He has affiliated with the republican party and ably conducts his newspaper in the interests of that organiza- tion. He was appointed by Governor Pills- bury as one of the State board of immigra -. tion in 1877 and was also a member of the · republican State central committee in 1877-8. He is an influential Odd Fellow, and is a member of the American Order of United Workmen. He is broad-minded and public- spirited, and is one of the most capable editors in Southern Minnesota.

Mr. Huntington was married in the year 1872 to Miss Julia T. Knowlton, daughter of D. H. Knowlton of Garden Plains, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Huntington have been blessed with three children-Aurelia L., Julia G. and Florence A.

UGH PAUL, who now resides on section 28, South Brook township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, was born in Liverpool, England, August 14, 1860. His father is Edward Paul, a native of England and a resident of Liverpool. The father came to America some years ago and pur- chased some twelve sections of land in Southern Minnesota.

Hugh Paul came to America in 1879 and located on the land which his father had purchased some years before. He com- menced extensive improvements, his first order for lumber for buildings being thirty- two car loads. From this lumber an ele- gant frame house was built, forty feet

square and two stories high, and also eigbt barns besides other smaller buildings. This property has been put in excellent shape, and is one of the most perfect stock-breeding establishments in Southern Minnesota. Con- siderable attention is given to the breeding and importing of English shire horses, Gal- loway cattle and Shropshire sheep. Among the fine imported horses owned on this farm is Ciciro, No. 3552, a fine chestnut horse, im- ported from England in June, 1888, and a full brother of the winner of the London sweepstakes in 1889. Our subject has just refused $3,000 for this animal. Another horse worthy of special mention is Bonnie Laddie, a bright bay, two years old, inported in June, 1889. This horse is a brother of the celebrated Darwin, now owned by Messrs. Galbraith Brothers. All the horses on this farm are pure bred and imported, and both as to collective and individual merits may be said to be among the finest in the West. Among the Galloway cattle is found the finely bred "Hero" of Waverstree, born June 25, 1886, and bred by Biggars & Sons, Chapelton, Dalbeatie, Scotland, sire Crusader "2856," dam Chivalry " 8178," 2719, by Blue Bonnet of Peddershill. Another beautiful animal is the imported cow Nancy Lee, 4th, "8174," 2730, born March 17, 1884, bred by Thomas Biggars & Sons of Scotland, sire Barmoffity Bob " 2266" and dam Lizzie of Nocklar " 2878," by Neil Gow "1138" g. dam Beauty of Nocklar "2867." Nancy Lee took the first premium at the last Minnesota State Fair. There are other animals of wonderful strength and beauty which deserve more ex- tended mention than can be given in this sketch. Besides the cattle and horses on this farm, our subject has four hundred head of sheep, many of them of the finest blood that can be procured in England.

This great farm is known as the Wavertree farm, and in all comprises a tract of twelve sections of land. It is mostly fine rolling

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prairie with the Des Moines river running through it from north to south. Its market is Heron Lake, a thriving town on the Chi- cago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha rail- road, this being the main line between St. Paul and Kansas City, the village being but eight miles distant from the farm. Kimbrae is almost within sight of the farm, being lo- cated five miles distant on the Southern Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul railroad. This monster farm is the wonder and . admiration of the entire county and its successful management is due entirely to the ability of Mr. Paul, who has had it in charge for several years. Mr. Paul is a man of excellent qualities, careful and systematic in his business, and is a genial and warm-hearted man, a typical English gentle- man. He is laying his plans carefully and systematically to make this farm one of the largest and best horse-breeding establish- ments in the State of Minnesota.

Mr. Paul was married in the year 1882. This union has been blessed with two chil- dren-Edward G. and James Q. Mr. and Mrs. Paul are members of the Presbyterian church, and are leading characters both in religious and social circles. Mr. Paul is a democrat in politics. - ILLIAM COYLE is a well-known farmer and stock raiser of Lake Sarah township, Murray county, Minnesota. He located on section 14 of that township in 1878, having purchased his land two years prior to his location. Our subject is a man of large experience and has made a great success of farming. He has paid consider- able attention to raising horses and cattle, and has some fine animals of excellent grades.

Mr. Coyle was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1831. His parents were Charles and Phoebe Jane (Watson) Coyle, the father a native of Crawford county,

Pennsylvania, where he died in 1869. Charles Coyle was an expert veterinary sur- geon and was well known and highly re- spected both as a citizen and as a surgeon throughout a large scope of country in Penn- sylvania. He was one of the best veterinary doctors in that locality. He was a consis- tent member of the Catholic church. The mother was born in Maryland, whence she moved to Pennsylvania when seven years of age with her parents. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in 1866. In the father's family there were ten children --- William, George, Joshua, Sina J., Maria, David, J. W., Charles, Lydia and Emma. Only three of these children are now living -- William, Joshua and David.

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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 44

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