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 47

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 47

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The subject of our sketch was married in 1877 to Miss Annie E. Harrison, of Floyd county, Iowa. This lady is a daughter of Ira and Louisa (Dean) Harrison, her father being a native of Maine, and her mother a native of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation and was a man of large prominence in the country in which he lived. He reared a family of nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Poorbaugh have five living

children-John E., Nellie L., Sarah A., Bes- sie E., and Benjamin F.

Mr. Poorbaugh is one of the most alert and wide-awake business men of Jasper vil- lage, and it may be truly said of him that he is a " hustler," using a term generally under- stood by all Westerners. Whatever business he takes hold of prospers in his hands, be- cause it is given his most thorough and active attention. His relations with the company in whose employ he is at present engaged have been of the most cordial character, and his business enterprises have brought him continued financial success. In all matters which tend to the development of Jasper, he renders valuable assistance with both his time and money. In politics he affiliates with the republican party and is one of the representative members of that organization in this part of Pipestone county.

ETH AUSTIN is one of the most es- teemed citizens of Winnebago City, Fairbault county, Minnesota, where he is now living a retired life. The place of his nativity is found in Fort Harrison, Indiana, where he was born, May 17, 1817. His par- ents were Elijah and Jane (Brink) Austin, na- tives, respectively, of Connecticut and Penn- sylvania. The parents were married in Penn- sylvania, April 14, 1793, and had a family of whom two children are now living-Seth and Elijah, who is now a resident of Meeker county.

The father of the subject of our sketch was engaged in the fur business throughout the States of New York and Vermont. Later he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and became one of the first settlers of Columbus county, Ohio. Later he settled in Fort Harrison, Indiana, where he engaged in farming until late in 1817, when he re- moved to Edgar county, Illinois, becoming the first settler of that county. He en-

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tered some eight hundred acres of govern- ment land, paying $2.25 per acre. He con- tinued his residence in Illinois, engaged in stock raising and agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred October 13, 1846. He was eighty-two years of age when he died, and was one of the wealthiest and most influential men of that locality. He was a man of patriotic spirit, and in early life served in the Revolutionary War, enlist- ing when he was sixteen years old. The mother died in April, 1829, aged fifty-two years and eight months.

The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch received his early training and education in Illinois. His edu- cational advantages were furnished by the frontier district schools, held in primitive log cabins, some without floors save the bare ground and with greased paper windows. Until twenty-one years of age our subject attended the district schools in winter and at other times assisted his father in work on the home farm. On attaining his majority he went to Wisconsin and for two years worked in the lead mines, after which he returned home and engaged in farming until 1851. His father gave him the home farm on the condition that he provide for the future care of his parents and sisters. In 1851 he moved to Green county, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming, owning six hun- dred acres of land. He was one of the early settlers of this locality, and during thirty- three years of his residence there became one of the most prominent and wealthy citizens. In 1884 he came to Winnebago City and purchased his present residence property. He had also purchased 320 acres of land some years prior to making his location, and gave a fine farm to each of his sons. Throughout his life our subject has been one of the most active and public-spirited of cit- izens where he has lived. While a resident of Green county, Wisconsin, he held the

position of justice of the peace and also officiated in various other positions.

Mr. Austin was married in 1842 to Miss Elizabeth Wyatt, of Edgar county, Illinois, who died June 23, 1880. As the fruits of this union there are five living children- Elizabeth J., James W., Sidney O., Annie, now a resident of California, and Marion. James married Florence Cotherman, by whom he had two daughters-Adella T. and Leora E. He resides in Winnebago City. Sidney O. married Alice Cotherman, and now resides in Green county, Wisconsin. He has two children-Clarence and Murill. Marion married Emma Cotherman and has one daughter, Florence, and now resides in Winnebago City. The second marriage of Seth Austin occurred April 12, 1883, when he was wedded to Mrs. Eliza Wyatt, widow of John Wyatt, to whom she was married October 1, 1854, and who died in April, 1865, from injuries received in the war. Mrs. Eliza Wyatt was the daughter of Isaac and Mary (Kyle) Betts, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and farmers by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt had four chidren : William J., who married Lena Morlf, by whom he has had two children- Merta and Roy; Isaac M., who married Nora E. Lawrence and has one child, Hazel J .; Mary E., married to Samuel D. Chyrst, by whom she has had three children-Maude O., Fred J. and Walter C .; and Olive N., who married James Lawrence, by whom she has had one child-Earl A. John Wyatt enlisted in the Union army March 28, 1864, joining Company D, Thirty-eighth Regiment Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry. He was severely wounded by being shot in the shoulder, and from the effects of this wound died in April, 1865. His body was brought back to Wiscon- sin and was buried in Monroe, Greene county. He rose from the private ranks to that of corporal, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant, but did not live to fill that posi-

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tion. He was a reliable farmer of Greene county before his enlistment.

Three of Mr. Austin's sons died in the service in the Union army. Elijah W. en- listed in the Twenty-second Wisconsin In- fantry, and died in the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, March 22, 1863. Shedrach en- listed in the Fifth Wisconsin Battery, and is supposed to have lost his life on the de- struction of the steamboat " North America." Seth enlisted in the Twenty-second Wiscon- sin Infantry, and died at Jefferson Bar- racks, Missouri, in 1864. The body of the last son was brought home by the father and interred in an honored grave in Wisconsin. The bodies of the others could not be ob- tained.

The subject of our sketch has for years affiliated with the republican party, and has always been an active and generous-spirited citizen. He is a man of the highest charac- ter, and has for years been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Religious matters have always occupied a considerable amount of his attention, and for a long period of time he was a class-leader and steward while residing in Wisconsin. He is now living a retired life in Winnebago City, where he is held in high esteem by all who know him.

RANCIS M. DYER is an influential and prosperous farmer and stock raiser, residing on section 26, Lake Side township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He made his location in the county in 1871, being one of the early settlers of the town- ship. Mr. Dyer was born in Waldo county, Maine, August 28, 1841. He continued in his native State until he attained the age of twenty-three years, residing with his parents, who were Thompson Dyer and Lucy Bruce (White) Dyer.

The subject of our sketch received a good

common school education, and on completing his course of schooling commenced teaching in his native State. He taught but a short time, however, and then engaged in the drug business for a year and seven months. In 1864 he enlisted in the United States Navy, but after being examined was con- sidered unsound. He came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, in November, 1864. He resided in Wabasha county for seven years, engaged in farming and in work at the car- penter's trade, and taught school during the winters. After this period had expired he came to Cottonwood county, and has since been a permanent resident. He has taken an active part in all public matters, and has been a member of the board of supervisors for several years, being chairman of that body for some time. He has held various school offices, and is at present clerk of school district No. 23, having held this position for twelve years. He is a man of large intelli- gence, and has always taken an active inter- est in educational matters. He was ap- pointed county superintendent of schools in 1875, and served two years, and again in 1886, serving one year. In politics Mr. Dyer affiliates with the prohibition party. He is a member of the Grange and Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is secretary of the Farmers' Alliance. He is a man of broad, progressive ideas, and is one of Cottonwood county's most respected citizens. He is pub- lic spirited, benevolent, and occupies an in- fluential place in the political and social affairs of his county.

Mr. Dyer was married June 29, 1862, to Miss Hattie U. Weld, a native of Cornville, Somerset county, Maine, where she was born January 13, 1843. She was the daughter of Zebina Weld, a native of New Hampshire, and a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer have nine children-Willis Frank, Etta L., Hattie U., Abbie May, Clyde M., Blanche O., Elaine E., Grace R. and Merton W. Wil-

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lis Dyer was married in December, 1887, to Miss Carrie E. Goss, a native of Highland township, Wabasha county, Minnesota. She was the daughter of H. M. Goss, an old set- tler and farmer of Selma township, Cotton- wood county. The Dyers live in a pleasant and commodious home on section 20, and are highly respected.

ON. ERICK SEVATSON, of Jackson county, Minn., is the present repre- sentative of his district in the Minnesota legislature. He was born in Norway in the year 1844. In 1864 he came to the United States, and five years later settled in Minne- sota. He is engaged in farming in Christi- ana, Jackson county, Minn., and also con- ducts a bank at Windom. He is married. He is a republican in politics. -

JENS H. CHRISTENSEN, a reliable far- mer. of Shaokatan township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, resides on section 17. He was born in Denmark, May 13, 1848, and was the son of Christen Madson and Karen (Jensdaughter) Madson, both of whom were natives of Denmark. The father was a far- mer by occupation and had a family of six children. The mother died in Denmark in 1877, where also the father passed from this life February 3, 1878.

The early life of the subject of our sketch was spent in his native land attending school and assisting in work on the home farm un- til he was sixteen years of age. He then went to work on a farm in Schleswig-Holstein, continuing in that employment for six and one-half years. He then spent a winter in his native place and in the spring joined the army and served six months. Getting permission to return home he went from thence to Schleswig-Holstein, remaining six months, and on the 10th day of May, 1872, took ship

for America. Landing in Quebec he passed on to Chicago, from thence going by vessel to Marinette, Wisconsin, where he worked in a saw-mill for two months. Going from thence across the bay into Door county, same State, he engaged in chopping wood for four years after which he purchased a farm of 240 acres, on which he remained until the spring of 1885. He took an active part in matters of a public nature while in Wisconsin and was a member of the board of supervisors for three years and also township clerk for two years. In 1885 he came to Lincoln county, Minu., and purchased the place where he now lives. He has a fine farm of 240 acres and has, perhaps, the best farm buildings in the town- ship. His land is under good cultivation and he has become quite well-to-do. He has tak- en an active part in public matters and was appointed township clerk the first year of his location in the township. He has held this position ever since and has also been and is a member of the board of school directors. In politics he affiliates with the republican party and has become one of the representative citizens of the county.

November 4, 1876, Mr. Christensen was married to Mary Wisetsky, a native of Bohe- mia. This union has been blessed with seven children, five of whom are now living -Anna C., Cecilia A., Eacia C., John J. and Louis Albert.

ELCOME D. UNDERWOOD is one of the leading farmers of Lake Sarah township, Murray county, Minnesota. He first came to the county in 1879, but af- ter working a farm during that summer he went to Woodstock, Pipestone county, and homesteaded land in Burke township, where he lived one and a half years. He made considerable improvement, built a house and set out a large number of trees and was one of the first settlers of that township. After

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a year and a half of residence there lie came to Lake Sarah township and purchased his place of 157 acres, this being the same farm that he had worked prior to going to Pipe- stone county. His place in Pipestone county was adjacent to the present site of the village of Woodstock. Since returning to Murray county he has continued his residence and has been engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is beautifully located on the shores of Lake Maria, and his buildings are surrounded by a natural growth of tim- ber, making it one of the most pleasant loca- tions in the township.

The subject of our sketch was born in Owego, Tioga county, New York, Septem- ber 1, 1836. His father was Timothy Under- wood, a native of Vermont and a farmer by occupation. Removing in early life to the State of New York, the father died in that State some years ago. The mother's maiden name was Hannah Baldwin, a native of Con- necticut and still living. In the father's family there were five children-Wealthy, Welcome D., George W., Aurilla and Achsah. When our subject was six years of age the parents removed to Chautauqua county, New York, where they remained. In 1855 our subject was married to Elizabeth Young, of the town of Amity, Erie county, Pennsyl- vania. He remained in Erie and Chautau- qua counties until 1862, when he, with his wife and three children, removed to Wiscon- sin. September 22, 1865, his wife died, and in 1866, he, with the children, returned to Erie county, Pennsylvania. In 1867 he was married to Rhoda Young, and in 1879 they came to Minnesota as has already been stated. The three children above mentioned bear the names of Mary, Newell and Achsah.

In 1864 our subject enlisted in the Seven- teenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served throughout the war, being discharged in 1865. He was wounded and taken pris- oner in March, 1865, and was kept by the

Rebels for some thirty days in Libby prison. He participated in the battle of Kingston, North Carolina, where he was wounded ; besides various other battles and skirmishes of minor importance.

In politics Mr. Underwood affiliates with the republican party, as did his father before him. He is a man of excellent principles, is genial, warm hearted and public spirited, and is highly respected by all his fellow-citizens. 一 ASTINGS S. C. MACREDIE, an in- fluential farmer of Murray county, Minnesota, resides on section 9, Slayton town- ship. He is a native of Australia, where he was born March 6, 1856. His parents were George and Charlotta (Murray) Ma- credie, both of whom were natives of Scot- land. The father moved to Australia in 1833, and for a number of years operated sheep ranches. Before going to Australia he fol- lowed a seafaring life and was a captain of one of the commercial ships. The grand- father of the subject of our sketch was Will- iam Macredie, who was an extensive landed proprietor of Scotland. The grandmother was Miss (Muir) Macredie. Our subject's father returned to Scotland and died in that coun- try, December 13, 1884. His mother died in the same place in April, 1873.

When our subject was about two years of age his parents left Australia and located in France, living during the greater part of the following four years in Paris. When our subject was sixteen the family located on the Clyde, in Scotland, and our subject's educa- tion was completed in the city of Edinburgh. Mr. Macredie traveled extensively during his early years, passing back and forth a number of times from France to England and Scot- land. He also traveled in Switzerland and Germany, and after completing his education went to Ceylon, India, where he operated a coffee plantation for about three years, also

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visiting India, Burmah Straits, China and the Cape Colony. Then he was stricken with the terrible jungle fever, and for some time his life was despaired of. Re- covering somewhat he was then advised to go to Scotland. This he did and after remaining about a year was married. He then went to his native place in Australia and for about three years engaged in manag- ing one of the stock stations. After the expi- ration of these three years, in 1882, he came to the United States, landing in San Fran- cisco and going from thence to the State of Minnesota, and soon after locating where he now lives at Slayton, Murray county.

Mr. Macredie was married October 2, 1880, to Miss Janet Donner, by whom he has had three children-Dorothy C., Gwynneth and Marjorie. Mrs. Macredie is a daughter of Edward and Maria Donner, both of whom were natives of England. Her parents re- sided in their native land until their death, that of the mother occurring in 1882, and the father dying in 18 -.

In early life the subject of our sketch was given excellent advantages for obtaining a thorough classical education. He is a man of intelligent, progressive ideas, observant, and a ready reader of human nature. In his extensive travels he has gathered a great amount of practical knowledge of men and affairs, and is well fitted to occupy the prominent place which he fills in his town- ship and county. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party. He has a fine farm of 260 acres, under fine cultivation, and provided with good buildings. He also has a half interest in the Terry livery stable in the village of Slayton.

ICHMOND MORTON is one of the prominent and influential farmers of Pipestone county, Minnesota, located on sec- tion 26, Rock township. He made his set-

tlement in that township in the spring of 1880, and has since been identified with the general interests of the township. He was born in Chautauqua county, New York, May 6, 1846.

The parents of the subject of our sketch were William M. and Polly (Sherman) Mor- ton, both of whom are natives of New York. The father was a miller by trade and fol- lowed that occupation throughout his life until his death, which occurred in 1870. The mother is still living. In the father's family there were ten children-Lucinda, Marshall, Mary, Angeline, Homer, Olive, Laura, Fannie, John and the subject of our sketch.

Our subject received his early education in the county in which he was born, and re- mained with his parents during most of the time until he was twenty-three years of age. On reaching that age he came west, locat- ing in Olmsted county, Minnesota. w.here for a number of years he was engaged in various pursuits. For a time he was engaged in the hardware business, and later, followed farming in company with his brother. During his residence in Olmsted county, he went to Nobles county, same State, and pre- empted 160 acres of land, on which he re- mained six months. He then returned to Rochester, Olmsted county, and after remaining a short time, made his settle- ment in Rock township, as stated in

the opening of this sketch. Since coming to the township, he has been en- gaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing, and has taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the town. His first settlement was made on the southwest quarter of section 8, where he re- mained some eight years, after which time he settled where he now lives, on section 26.

On the 2d day of February, 1877, Mr. Morton was united in marriage to Miss Essie Hatch, who was also a native of Chautauqua

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county, New York. When she was two years of age her father's family removed to Minnesota, settling at Rochester, where Mrs. Morton received her education. She was the daughter of Edwin H. Hatch, an in- fluential farmer and dairyman, who now re- sides in Pipestone. Mr. and Mrs. Morton have three children, all of whom are living -Willis, Daisy and Homer.

Mr. Morton has had considerable pioneer experience in southwestern Minnesota. He was the first settler in Graham Lakes town- ship, Nobles county, where he resided six months, as has already been stated, and where he assisted in the organization of the government of said civil division. Leaving Graham Lake township he returned to Roch- ester, and soon after, in the fall of 1879, made his entry on his claim in Pipestone county, to which he came in the spring of 1880. In politics our subject affiliates with the republican party, and is a leading and in- fluential member of the order of United Workmen, in which society he holds the position of trustee. In public matters Mr. Morton has always been one of the leaders, and has very creditably and satisfactorily filled several official positions. He has held the office of supervisor one term, and has been treasurer of the township since 1882. He was elected county commissioner (second district) in the fall of 1884 and re-elected in 1886, which term he is now serving. He has hield various school offices, and is at present clerk of school district No. 20. He also held the office of treasurer of school district No. 41 for three years. In his farming opera- tions Mr. Morton has been quite successful, and is one of the leading and most well-to- do farmers in the township. He has a pleas- ant family and a comfortable home.

ON. FRANK A. DAY, of Fairmont, Minnesota, is the present State sen- ator from his district. He was born in the

year 1853, and settled in Minnesota in 1874. He was elected to the State house of repre- sentatives in 1878; was a member of the re- publican State central committee in 1884; has been chairman of the Martin county re- publican central committee since 1876, and a member of the republican congressional dis- trict committee for eight years. He resides in Fairmont, where he is an editor and pub- lisher. He is married. He is a republican in politics, and a man of much ability.

EORGE W. CRANE, a telegraph line builder and repairer, of Worthington, Minnesota, is the son of Whitfield and Salome (Stagg) Crane, natives of Vermont. George W. was born in Addison county, Vermont, March 25, 1835. When he was one year old his parents moved to Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, New York, settling on a large farm. The father died in December, 1844, and the farm was then leased, the family, however, still living on the property. When the lease expired, our subject and his brother, Henry F., being old enough to run the farm, took charge of it and kept the family together until 1863. The names of the children in the father's family were-Henry F., George W., Delia M., Viola E., Byron G. and Elvira R. Our subject was reared on a farm, but, with the other children, was given good advant- ages for an education.

George W. Crane enlisted, in November, 1861, in . Company C, Seventh Vermont In- fantry, and served until October 9, 1862. On entering the service he was ordered to Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, where General Butler's expedition was fitted out for the re- duction of Forts Jackson and St. Philips. These two forts commanded the approach to the city of New Orleans by way of the Mis- sissippi river. After the reduction of the forts, our subject was taken with his regi- ment to Camp Paripett, a few miles above

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New Orleans, where they remained in camp for some weeks. Thence the regiment went to Baton Rouge, and, after camping there for a few weeks, went to Vicksburg with an ex- pedition under General Williams, consisting of several regiments and Admiral Farragut's entire fleet. Four or five weeks were spent near that city, and while there the Rebel ram " Arkansas " ran through the Union fleet above the city and entered Vicksburg, and the officers of the Union forces being somewhat alarmed and expecting that the Rebel forces was coming in large numbers, the entire command was ordered to fall back to Baton Rouge. Here they bivouacked for a short time, when a force under the rebel general Breckinridge attacked them one morning and there (August 5) ensued the battle of Baton Rouge, in which our subject participated. On the following morning the Arkansas rebel ram appeared above the city and was met and destroyed by the Union iron-clad gunboat "Essex." After this en- gagement our subject's regiment, together with others, moved to the vicinity of New Orleans and made that their camping ground until October 9, 1862, when our subject was discharged by reason of disabilities. He re- turned to New York City on the steamer " Potomac " in company with a comrade of the same regiment who had lost an arm in one of the battles. When they reached the city they were directed to the New England Soldier's Relief rooms, where they remained a week and then went to their respective homes. Our subject operated the home farm until 1870 and then went to Swanton, Frank- lin county, Vermont, where for eight years he was employed at railroad and telegraph work for one of the leading railroad compa- nies. In June, 1878, he removed to Wor- thington, Minnesota, and again engaged in railroad work, continuing in that line to the present time. Mr. Crane is an influential member of the Ancient Free and Accepted

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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 47

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