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 48

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 48

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Masons, Worthington lodge, No. 101, and also of the Grand Army of the Republic post. In politics he affiliates with the republican party and by reason of disabilities acquired during the war receives a pension from the government.

March 18, 1865, Mr. Crane was united in marriage in Philipsburgh, Quebec, to Miss Louisa M. Hogle, dangliter of Augustus and Eunice (Fordice) Hogle, natives of Canada. Mrs. Crane was born near Philipsburgh, in 1840. The fruits of this union are-May L., now Mrs. Frank Durfee; Frank M., and Nellie, who died in infancy. Frank M. resides in Worthington and clerks in a drug store. Mr. Frank Durfee is a successful hardware mer- chant of Worthington.

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EREMIAH A. HOUGHTALING, a leading business man of Fairmont, Min- nesota, is engaged extensively in the hard- ware trade. He is the son of Abram and Sarah (Veile) Houghtaling, natives of the State of New York.

Jeremiah Houghtaling was born in Esopus, Ulster county, New York, November 23, 1815. His time, until he was twenty-two years of age, was spent in school and on the farm of his parents. He then turned his at- tention to boating on the Hudson river, and for a time was employed as a workman on a salary, and later owned an interest in a boat. He followed his employment on the river until 1856, in which year he removed to Ottawa, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, pur- chased a farm, and resided thereon for two vears, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He then sold out and removed to Milwaukee, where he operated a dray line for a short time. In 1859 he moved to Wisconsin, pur- chased land, and engaged in farming for about eight years. He then returned to the city of Milwaukee and made that his home until 1875, and was employed during this

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time in the management of a coal yard. In 1875 he came to Fairmont, Minnesota, and engaged in the hardware business. Later he sold a one-half interest in his business to Mr. J. A. Sinclair, and the firm name became Houghtaling & Sinclair. In 1881 our sub- ject sold his half interest in the busi- ness to a Mr. Colby, and removed to his farm, where he resided three years. He then returned to the village and bought back a share in the hardware store from Mr. Colby. Mr. Houghtaling took a two-fifths interest, Mr. Sinclair a two- fifths interest and Mr. Colby a one-fifth interest and the business was conducted in this way as Houghtaling, Sinclair & Co., until February, 1887, when our subject pur- chased Mr. Colby's interest and became the owner of three-fifths of the business. The firm name is now Houghtaling & Sinclair, and they are one of the most substantial and leading firms in the city. They have an ex- tensive stock of goods, have a tin shop in connection and are doing a large and profit- able business. They employ two skilled tinners and an apprentice. Besides his vil- lage property Mr. Houghtaling owns a fine farm of 360 acres, six miles northwest of Fairmont.

The subject of our sketch is prominent in public matters in the village and has been elected president of Fairmont three differ- ent times. While a resident of Wisconsin he was chairman of the township board and was also assessor. His political affiliations are with the democratic party.

Mr. Houghtaling was united in Esopus, New York, December 1, 1836, to Miss Catharine Elting, daughter of Ruloff and Dina (Elting) Elting, natives of Ulster county, New York. Miss Elting was born in New Poltz, Ulster county, New York, April 13, 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Houghtaling have been blessed with the following-named children-Dina (deceased), Abram, Ambrose

(deceased), Sarah Jane (deceased), Magda- line, Victorine (deceased), Kate (deceased), Bruno (deceased), Elmore, Lillian and Rich- ard (deceased). Abram married Barbara Miffley and resides in Fairmont. Magdaline married Byron E. St. John and is now a resident of Martin county. Elmore wedded Mary Wade and resides in the village of Fairmont. Victorine was married to E. G. Comstock, of Milwaukee, and lived in that city until her death.

ILLIAM P. SPAULDING, one of the prosperous and energetic farm- ers of Verona township, Faribault county, Minnesota, resides on the southwest quarter of section 22. In the year 1856 he came to the county on a tour of inspection, and re- mained one summer, working out, and be- fore leaving pre-empted a claim on section 15, of said township. He made a few im- provements, such as are required by law, and after the summer was ended returned to Portage county, Wisconsin, and engaged in various occupations until the following sea- son. He then returned to his claim in Verona township, sold eighty acres, and then purchased 160 acres of his present place in 1860. From 1863 to 1864 he was engaged in the boot and shoe business at Lake City, Wabasha county, and in 1868 commenced making improvements on his farm. In June of 1870 he located on his place, and made a permanent residence. Being a hard-working and systematic farmer he has succeeded in making his place one of the best in the township. He has provided it with comfortable buildings, dwelling- house, barns, etc., and has one of the choicest locations, his farm being supplied with natural timber, and several springs, also a creek which carries living water through his place during the entire year. He is en- gaged in farming, and also gives considerable

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attention to the raising of Cleveland bay and English shire horses, and short-horn cat- tle. The official history of the township would not be complete without an important place being given to the name of our sub- ject. He has been chairman of the town- ship board for two terms, in 1888 was treasurer, at present holds the office of clerk of school district No. 5, and has for some time been justice of the peace.

W. P. Spaulding is a native of the village of Lewis, Essex county, New York, where he was born May 21, 1835. He was the son of Luke and Rosina (Desmore) Spaulding, both of whom werenatives of Vermont. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was a member of the Congregationalist church, being a reputable and representative citizen. The mother during early life was a school- teacher. She is still living at the advanced age of seventy-seven years. In about 1840 our subject's father died, and the mother re- married. Our subject's grandfather was Reu- ben Spaulding, a native of Vermont and a farmer by occupation.

The subject of our sketch remained in the home of his mother until he was twenty years of age. Up to this time he was given a good education, and spent a considerable time in work on the home farm. Soon after his marriage our subject moved to the State of Minnesota, and came to Faribault county, from whence he went to Lake City, as was stated in the opening lines of this sketch. He is now one of the leading citizens of Verona township.

Mr. Spaulding was married in the year 1866 to Miss Nancy C. Mead, who died in 1880, leaving four children-Elmer, Jessie, Edith and Florence. Our subject's second marriage occurred in 1882, in which year he married Clarissa Oothoudt, a native of the State of New York, and born in the village of Sweden in Monroe county. She was the daughter of Augustus and Sarah (Eletson)

Oothoudt, both of whom were natives of New York. The father was a farmer and an early settler of Minnesota, who still lives, and resides on section 31 of Verona town- ship, Faribault county. During her early life Mrs. Spaulding followed the occupation of teaching. At thirty-six years of age she had taught thirty-four terms of school, hav- ing commenced in that profession when fif- teen years of age. She was an excellent teacher, and her services were in demand in the schools of Southern Minnesota. She taught in the high schools of Blue Earth City and also at Northfield, where she was en- gaged for two terms. She was educated at Waupun, Wisconsin, and was married the first time in 1863 to Professor Alvin H. Pel- sey, a teacher and for five years a physician. He died in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding have two children-Veron and Gladys. Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and stand high in social and religious circles. Mr. Spaul- ding is a strong temperance man and affili- ates with the prohibition party.

EORGE F. ROBISON, the present auditor of Cottonwood county, Minn- esota, made his location in the county in September, 1870. He is a native of Caroll county, Illinois, where he was born Febru- ary 2, 1843.

The father of the subject of our sketch was Milus C. Robison, who was born in North Carolina in 1809, of Welsh parents, and, when an orphan about fourteen years of age, in company with two older brothers, emigrated to Illinois, settling in Adams county, where they engaged in farming. In later years he traveled northward to the Galena mines, finally locating a squatter's claim four and a half miles northwest of the present site of Savanna, Illinois, in the year 1827 or 1828. In 1837 he married Catherine,

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the only daughter of John and Elizabeth Armstrong, who were of Irish and German descent, respectively, and who settled in a very early day on Apple river, a few miles from where it empties into the Mississippi, experiencing much trouble with the Indians. Mrs. Armstrong having on several occasions saved the lives of herself and two children, Catherine and David, by her presence of mind and the exercise of her courage when their house was invaded by the hungry savages during her husband's absence. At the time of the fight, when the few families of whites were quartered in the block-house, at Elizabeth, and the supply of lead was about exhausted, it was Mrs. Armstrong who thought to make bullets of the pewter spoons and platters and who not only superintended the making of the bullets but also loaded several of the guns for the men that stood at the port-holes firing at the attacking Indians.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Robin- son spent the remainder of their lives on the farm first located by him, making there a very comfortable home. He was a farmer of much push and energy, and was widely known and highly respected by the early settlers of northwestern Illinois. He died in 1845, and his wife in 1852. Four children were born to them-three sons and one daughter. The daughter, Elvira, married S. A. Iden, and died in 1870, near Savanna, Illi- nois. The three sons were volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. John A., the eldest, lost his right arm in the battle of Chicka- mauga, September 20, 1863, and is now a resident of Savanna, Illinois; Charles T. is now a resident of Custer county, Nebraska, where he is engaged in farming.

The subject of this sketch spent his early days on the home farm, and acquired some education at the district schools. Being left an orphan while young, his opportunities were not the best. He lived with friends

until about fourteen years of age; worked by the month a year or two, and then farmed land on shares. The year before the break- ing out of the Rebellion he farmed in part- nership with his brothers. A portion of the year 1861 our subject attended school at Ga- lena, Illinois, and later attended Mount Car- roll Seminary. In February, 1863, he was taken sick, and was obliged to remain out of school the balance of that winter. Return- ing to the same institution the following winter, he continued there until he enlisted in May, 1864, in Company G, of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, to serve one hun- dred days.

He was in the service some five months, among the guerrillas in Kentucky, stationed a portion of the time at Columbus and afterward at Mayfield. Hereturned with his regiment to Chicago, sick with fever, was taken to the sol- diers' home, and was under the doctor's care for two weeks. He was mustered out with the balance of the regiment, on October 25, 1864, while convalescing, and returned to school at Mount Carroll Seminary, remain- ing, however, only until the Christmas vacation. He then purchased an additional interest in the old homestead and later the interests of all the other heirs. He continued in Illinois until 1870, when he sold out and came to Minnesota, in poor health, spending the summer at Lake City. In September of the same year he came to Cottonwood county and located on 160 acres of land in what is now the town of Carson. He was a member of the board of county commis- sioners in 1872-3 and 4. Mr. Robison was married in November, 1872, to Miss Mary E. Smith, daughter of Rev. H. H. Smith, then living in Cottonwood county. He improved his farm in Carson and continued his resi- dence thereon until in August, 1877, at which time he sold the farm and moved his family to near Bingham Lake; he then en-

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tered the employ of S. H. Soule, for a time assisting in that gentleman's store at Mountain Lake, after which he attended the commercial college in St. Paul for a few months, and then took a trip up to the Red River country and Dakota, thence to Nebraska, selling books and taking subscriptions for newspapers. On his return he located in the fall of 1878 at Windom, where he obtained a position in the post- office, assisting there a portion of each week for about two years and occupying the rest of his time at such employment as came to his hand, working about three months of the summer of 1880 for J. T. Smith of Heron Lake.

Upon the opening of the Bank of Windom in May, 1881, he accepted a position as clerk in the bank. He continued in this business some six years, serving as assistant cashier most of the time. In March, 1888, he was appointed by the county commissioners to fill a vacancy in the office of county auditor, and was elected to-that office the same fall.

In politics Mr. Robison affiliates with the republican party. He is a member of the Masonic, Ancient Order of United Work- men, and Grand Army of the Republic fra- ternities, and is one of Cottonwood county's most prominent officers.

Mr. and Mrs. Robison have five children- Edith E., now a clerk in her father's office; Vivian R., Grace E., Winnifred J. and Archie R.

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MBRICK A. ENGEBRETSON is a thrifty and industrious farmer of Ma- son township, Murray county, Minnesota. He has a fine farm on section 32, where he located his claim in 1879. He was born in the Kingdom of Norway, June 22, 1846. His parents were Andrew and Emily (Erickson) Engebretson, natives of Norway. The father was a farmer by occupation and came to

America in 1853. He settled on a home- stead in Newburg township, Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he lived until his death, which occurred in October, 1884. The mother is still alive and is residing on the old homestead.

Embrick A. Engebretson left the old country with his parents and came to the United States, residing with them until 1869. He enlisted August 29, 1864, in Company E, Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and continued in the service until August, 1865. He then returned to his farm, and in 1869 came by team to Mason township, pros- pecting for land. He located his claim and went to Jackson, where he spent one winter. In the spring of 1870 he returned to Murray county and found his claim taken by another party. So he located land on section 32, where he now lives. He also owns a farm of 160 acres on section 6, Slayton township. In all he has 322 acres of land.

December 20, 1876, Mr. Engebretson was married to Lizzie Teninson, a native of Nor- way. This union has been blessed with three children-Adolph, Tilda B. and Ed- ward L.

Since making his location in the county our subject has became one of the most prominent citizens. He has taken an active part in public movements and is able and popular as an official in his township. He has served as supervisor for three years, and for eight years he was chairman of that board. He also held the position of consta- ble for two years, and has been school dis- trict treasurer. Our subject is a man of ex- cellent character, courteous and gentlemanly and is highly respected wherever known. Mr. Engebretson is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a charter member of the John A. Logan post, of Slayton, and for two years has held the office of senior vice-commander of that post.

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OHN B. RAMAGE is a pharmacist and one of the leading business men of Lake Benton, Lincoln county, Minnesota. He was born in Kincardine, Canada, September 3, 1851, and was the first white child born in the township of Huron, Bruce county, in which the village of his birth was located. His parents were William and Mary (De- Velling) Ramage, both natives of Canada.

The early life of the subject of our sketch was spent beneath the parental roof, and he was given good educational advantages in the district schools. On attaining the age of thirteen years he commenced work on the lakes, following the occupation of fishing during the summer seasons for five years, continuing his studies in school dur- ing the winters of these years. In 1867 he was apprenticed to the proprietor of a jewelry store at Kingston, Canada, to learn that business. Health failed, however, be- fore winter had closed, and during the next summer he engaged in the old business of fishing. In the fall of that year he com- menced buying pork, and worked in a pork- packing establishment, having charge of the business during a part of a profitable year's engagement. At the end of this time he commenced clerking in a general store, and for eight months continued therein, when the proprietor failed, and he lost his position. During that winter he attended school, and in the spring of 1870, he went to Lombard, Du Page county, Illinois, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for some two years. Removing to Chicago he then took charge of a confectionery store and after a short time spent in that line, found employment in a carpet store, contin- uing therein until in January, 1873. Feb- ruary 22d, he found employment in a drug store at Chebanse, Illinois, and continued in that place for one year, and during the fol- lowing winter took up the study of medicine. In the spring of 1874 he removed to the State

of Wisconsin, and found employment in vari- ous small towns until 1875, when he located in Galesville, where for seven and a half months he found employment on a farm. In the winter of 1876 he became a teamster and followed that business during the winter. He then commenced work by day's work at whatever he could find to do, and finally accepted a position in a flouring mill, where he continued about a year. One year after this was spent in work on a farm at Arcadia, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1880 he came to Pipestone county, Minnesota, and took a pre-emption, on which he lived until the fall of 1883, three months of which time were spent by him in work on the railroad and as a carpenter. In the fall of 1883 he came to Lake Benton and took charge of a drug store owned by Dr. Campbell. For three years he continued a successful and profitable engage- ment with Dr. Campbell, and at the end of that time he purchased the drug stock and has since conducted a profitable business. In 1886 he passed a creditable examination before the State board of pharmacists, and was granted a certificate granting him the right to engage in that business. Up to the present writing (July 15, 1889) he is the only one in Lincoln county who has passed the examination.

The subject of our sketch was married in Chebanse, Illinois, December 14, 1873, to Miss Austac Whistler, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Craven) Whistler, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Ramage have been blessed with two children-Leroy C. and Mary Blanche. Mr. and Mrs. Ramage are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they occupy a prominent and in- fluential place. They are exemplary Chris- tian people and are held in high esteem by the citizens of Lake Benton.

The life of the subject of our sketch has been of a somewhat varied nature and he has traveled extensively and engaged in

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various occupations. Throughout all these lines, however, he has maintained the dig- nity and integrity of his character and has been respected as a loyal and true citizen wherever he has resided. Active and ener- getic in all his business relations he has car- ried these characteristics into public life and has become one of the important factors in the local government of the localities in which he has lived. He has been town clerk for a year and has held other minor positions. He is a member of the Lake Benton Lodge, No. 146, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

LIAS WARNER is a reliable farmer of Highwater township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and resides on a fine farm on section 18. He settled on his present homestead in 1872, and has made this his home ever since.

Mr. Warner was born in Stavanger, Nor- way, May 17, 1847. His parents were War- ner and Julia (Guaray) Olson, natives of the same kingdom. The parents came to the United States in 1854, and located in Wis- consin, where they resided until 1871. The father of our subject was a physician of some note in Wisconsin, and died in Green county in 1861. The mother is still living, and now resides with the subject of this sketch. The father's family contained three children --- Mary, Elias and Ole. The last named died in Chicago, at three years of age, when the family was on its way to Wisconsin.

Elias Warner was reared in his native country until he was seven years of age, when he came with his parents to the United States. Locating in Wisconsin, he received a good practical education in the village of Browntown, Green county. He made Wis- consin his home until 1871, when he came to his present location in Cottonwood county, Minnesota. Mr. Warner is engaged in gen-

eral farming and stock-raising on his excel- lent farm of 280 acres. He is also engaged quite largely in buying and shipping graded stock to St. Paul. Mr. Warner is an ener- getic and systematic farmer, and has made his farm one of the best in the county. In all matters of a public nature he has always taken a deep interest, and, having assisted in the organization of his township, which was first called West Brook, and later changed to Highwater, he has associated intimately with local politics. He has been chairman of the board of supervisors for two years, supervisor for three years, township treasurer for two years and clerk of school district No. 38 for three years. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, is a member of the order of United Workmen, and is one of the most respected and representative citi- zens of his township.

Mr. Warner was married March 22, 1872, to Miss Lena Foos, a native of Norway, and a daughter of A. T. Foos, a farmer by occu- pation. This lady came to America with her parents when she was ten years of age, and located in Fillmore county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have four children- Albert, Henry, Mary and Lewis.

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R. NEWTON P. SHEPARD, a lead- ing physician and surgeon and promi- nent citizen of the village of Currie, came to Murray county, Minnesota, on the 9th day of July, 1871. He was one of the first settlers of the village and soon after making his location put up a building on section 12, in Murray township, where he purchased a small tract of railroad land. After remaining a year he returned to Mich- igan, remaining in that State one year, from whence he came to Currie to engage in the practice of medicine, where he has since re- sided with the exception of one year, from the fall of 1877 to the fall of 1878, which

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was spent in Michigan. Dr. Shepard has been the only physician of the village throughout his residence here with the ex- ception of one year, in 1882, when he had a partner, Dr. G. F. Head.

Dr. Shepard is a native of Nobles county, Illinois, where he was born April 10, 1837. When he was four years of age his parents moved to the State of Ohio, where our sub- ject remained until twenty-five years of age. He received a thorough classical education in Lake and Ashtabula counties, Ohio, and left school at the age of twenty. He then commenced the study of medicine with Drs. M. P. Sherwood & Son, of Unionville, Ohio. Hc remained with this firm for about a year and then engaged in farming and somewhat at carpentering for three or four years. In the meantime he continued his study of medicine and became a graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute of Ohio. Removing thence he engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in Michigan for a few months and then came to Murray county, as was stated in the opening lines of this sketch.

Dr. Shepard is the son of Daniel S. and Talmira (Phelps) Shepard. The father was a farmer by occupation and was a native of Massachusetts, and the mother was a native of the State of New York. The father died in Michigan. In the father's family there were nine children, of whom our subject was the oldest.

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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 48

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