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 49

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 49

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).

Dr. Shepard, of whom this sketch treats, was united in marriage November 7, 1858, to Miss Eliza Quayle, a native of Painsville, Ohio. This lady died in 1863, leaving three children-Rosa, John and Ralph. Dr. Shep- ard was married the second time in 1870 to Miss Sabrine Silvernale, a native of Pennsyl- vania, where she was reared and educated. By this marriage there have been three chil- dren-Alice, Louisa and Ray.

The subject of our sketch is one of the best and most efficient physicians and surgeons in

Murray county. He has an extensive and profitable practice and has gained an enviable reputation in bringing about radical cures and performing complicated surgical oper- ations. In politics the doctor affiliates with the prohibition party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of which he is the senior warden. He is also chief templar in the Good Templars' society. As a man, a citizen and a physician, Dr. Shepard is held in high esteem.

OHN ISIDORE BERNARD, one of the early settlers of Pipestone county, lo- cated on his present place on section 8, of Gray township, in February, 1880. The first settler of this township was Andrew Gray, who located in 1876 on section 10, his son, Charley Gray, being the first child born in the township. After remaining about eight years Mr. Gray removed to Toledo, Iowa, and has since gone to Nebraska. Among others who located in the township about the time of its organization are C. W. Fen- lason, who made his settlement in 1879 on section 14, and in 1886 removed to Colorado. He was the second county superintendent of schools, being elected in 1882, and having held the office of register of deeds from 1880 to 1882. Henry Pease located in the town in 1878, and died in 1888. C. T. Howe, a settler of 1879, still remains in the town. Mr. Bernard has been intimately acquainted with all these early settlers, and relates many interesting reminiscences of early pioneer life. Our subject is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the Poland-China breed of swine, having as fine specimens of these animals as are found in southern Minnesota. He has been thrifty and energetic in the operation of his farm, and in handling his stock. He commenced at the very bottom of the ladder, being possessed of but very little

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ineans when he located in the township ; has gradually risen in prosperity and good cir- cumstances, and is one of the representative farmers of the township.

The subject of our sketch was born thirty- five miles from Montreal, Canada, January 29, 1839. Ilis parents were Louis and Mary Bernard. The father and mother were natives of France and followed the occupation of farming throughout the most of their lives. The father died in Canada in 1867. The mother died in 1852.

Mr. Bernard was reared and educated in Canada at the home of his parents, in the the Parish of St. Hermas, county of Two Mountains. After having passed through a course in the district schools, he was sent to St. Therese College, forty-five miles north of Montreal, in Terre Bonne county. Through financial difficulties he was recalled home after having passed but four years in the above-named college. At the age of seven- teen he moved to Ohio, locating in the city of Cleveland, where he remained for three years, learning the carriage painting trade. Then, in 1861, on the 19th day of April, he enlisted as a private in the Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This enlistment was in answer to the president's call for 75,000 volunteers, and it was for a period of three months. After the completion of this time of service he re-enlisted for three years in the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteers, enter- ing the service as a private and continuing in that regiment for one year and a half, when he was honorably discharged on ac- count of sickness. Several eminent men were connected with his regiment, among them being R. B. Hayes, major ; lieutenant-colonel, Stanley Matthews; captain, D.C. Howard; and E. P. Scammon, as colonel. Our subject was discharged from service at Fayetteville, West Virginia, in February, 1863. After his discharge he removed to Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he was married and where

he made his home for about three years. In 1866 he removed to LaCrosse county, where for about twelve years he followed the busi- ness of painting in the village of West Salem. While here he became quite interested in affairs of local importance, and held various offices in the village in which he lived, such as town clerk, justice of the peace, etc. In 1878 he was assistant sergeant-at-arms of the Wisconsin legislature and held that position during the session of 1878 and 1879. As has been stated in the opening of this sketch, he began looking for a location in the western part of Minnesota and settled on his claim in Pipestone county, April 9, 1880.

Mr. Bernard was married in April, 1865, to Miss Bettie Smith, who was reared and educated in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard have but one living child-Ethelyn, who is now Mrs. Franklin B. Bennett, of Pipestone, Minnesota. Their other children died several years ago. Isidore died July 12, 1870; Willie L. died July 5, 1874, and Harry S. died August 26, 1874.

In politics Mr. Bernard is a member of the republican party. His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He is a man of strong, decided opinions. For two years he held the position of chairman of the board of supervisors; is now on his third term as justice of the peace; is the second president of the Farmers' Alliance of the county, which position he has held for two years; for the same length of time he has also been secretary of the Old Settlers' Association, and is at present secretary of the Live Stock Association of the county; for four years he has been a member of the village board of education, and has held the office of treasurer of this latter board for two years. Thus we see that since Mr. Ber- nard's residence here he has taken an active interest in all matters which tend to the promotion of the general welfare and pros- perity, and his assistance has always been

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cheerfully rendered in all affairs of a public nature. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, is a pleasant man to meet in social intercourse, and being possessed of a fair education, he is well fitted for the place he occupies before the citizens of the township in which he lives. In every way he is a representative farmer. He has a comfortable home and a pleasant family.

ON. WARRINGTON B. BROWN, of Pipestone, is the present State senator from his district. He was born in Colches- ter, Chittenden county, Vermont, June 4, 1845. He came to Minnesota in the fall of 1865 and is at present residing in Pipestone City, Pipestone county, where he is engaged in farming; he is married. During the War of the Rebellion he served in Company I, Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, participating in several battles. He was dis- charged on account of a wound received at the assault on Petersburg, Virginia, April 2, 1865. For six years he served as county commissioner of Pipestone county and during five years was chairman of the board. He was elected to the house of representatives in 1884 and to the State senate in 1886, receiv- ing 2,845 majority over three competitors. He is a republican in politics.

ATHAN BAXTER is a retired far- mer and capitalist of Winnebago City, Faribault county, Minnesota. He was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1820. He was the son of Chaun- cey and Nancy (Vroman) Baxter, natives of New York. The father was a leading citizen of his native State, where he was engaged extensively in the lumber business, and also in farming. He had a family of six children, two of whom are now living-Nathan and Celesta, now Mrs. Gilbert, of Wisconsin.

Our subject was reared in Pennsylvania, where he was given a good practical educa- tion. He learned the business of handling lumber and also followed farming to some extent until coming to Wisconsin in 1862. He located in Waukesha county, where he engaged in farming and also in the wood business. Here he remained until 1888, hav- ing met with large success and having accumulated considerable means. He then sold out his fine farm of two hundred acres of land, and also his valuable city property, and removed to this place, where he has since lived. His coming in 1888 was not the first time lie had seen Fari- bault county, however. In 1887 he had visited this region and had purchased a farm of two hundred acres four miles north of Winnebago City. This he has kept improv- ing, and it is now operated by his son George. Mr. Baxter also purchased a farm of 160 acres three miles north of the village in 1885, and also owns a farm of 160 acres three miles north of Wells that he pur- chased in 1887. He has another small farm of eighty acres, not far from the city of Win- nebago. He is one of the largest landed proprietors in the village, and reaps a large in- come therefrom. He purchased his residence on Cleveland street in 1888, and is at present making substantial improvements.

Mr. Baxter was married January 1, 1843, to Miss Amelia Decker, a native of Dela- ware county, New York. She was the daugh- ter of George and Eliza Decker, natives of England and Connecticut, respectively. The father came to America in 1812, and settled in Franklin, Delaware county, New York, where he was married, and reared a family of seven children, three of whom are now living-Fayette, Hannah (now Mrs. Vroman) and Mrs. Baxter. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter have had nine children, six of whom are now liv ing-George E., who married Miss Ada Kil- mar, of Janesville, and by whom he had one

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son-George; Wilbur, who married Miss Ella Hall, of Wisconsin, by whom he had three children-Willie, John and Marion ; Osborn, who married Miss Ella Lyman, and has three children-Cora, Elva and Amelia ; Emma J., now Mrs. N. Fuller, who has one son-Stewart; Eliza, now Mrs. Gray, and Newton, of Ottawa, Illinois.

The subject of our sketch is a republican in politics, and has affiliated with that party for many years. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of republicanism, and is a man of broad and progressive ideas. He is genial and public-spirited, and is one of the solid and substantial men of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter belong to the Presbyterian church.

UDLEY J. FORBES, a contractor and builder of Winnebago City, is now located on a small farm on section 15 of Verona township, Faribault county, Minne- sota. He has a fine residence and through his years of employment as contractor and builder has acquired for himself and family a comfortable home. He came to the county in 1857 and was one of the very first settlers of the vicinity of Winnebago City. The father, Benjamin F. Forbes, first located on section 9, where he remained until 1870, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He then went to Blue Earth City and for a few years engaged in the wind-mill business in partnership with Reuben Waite. The father's next move was to return to his former resi- dence in the township, where he has since lived. He has been closely identified with the official history of his locality and has made an excellent record in various official positions. The father was born in Pennsyl- vania, was reared and educated in Wisconsin and engaged throughout his life in farming. Dudley Forbes' mother's maiden name was

Saphronia Williams, a native of the State of New York.

D. J. Forbes was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, September 27, 1854. In 1857 the parents removed to Verona town- ship, Faribault county, where our subject rc- ceived his education. He also attended school at Blue Earth City, and learned the printer's trade, serving an apprenticeship of threc years on the Blue Earth City Post, estab- lished by Williams & Stevens. After this he worked at his trade in different parts of the State until his health failed, when he again commenced study and completed his educational course. He then learned the carpenter's and millwright's trades, at which business he has since engaged, becoming one of the leading and most influential contrac- tors and builders of Faribault county.

For years Mr. Forbes affiliated with the republican party, but being a man of strong temperance principles, he has now joined the prohibition party. He belongs to the United Workmen, of which society he is an earnest working member, and overseer in the lodge at Winnebago City. He is one of the rep- resentative and leading citizens of the town- ship and county.

On the 7th day of May, 1876, Miss Alida Lathrop was married to Mr. Forbes. This lady was born in Faribault, Minnesota, and was the daughter of D. Z. Lathrop, a lead- ing farmer of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes have three children-Clara, Naana and Daisy.

ILLIAM A. POTTER is one of the influential farmers and stock-rais- ers of Amboy township, Cotton wood county, Minnesota. He located in the township in April, 1878, first settling on section 22, where he has since lived. He has 320 acres of land and has one of the best farms in the township. He has always been public-

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spirited and has with efficiency held various local positions. He has been township clerk since 1880, has been assessor for a year and chairman of the board of supervisors for a year.

Mr. Potter's native place is in Jefferson county, New York, where he was born June 28, 1839. His father was Josiah Potter, a native of Vermont, and who emigrated to New York State when a young man. He was a farmer throughout his life and in 1845 removed to Ohio where he still resides. He is a representative citizen and exerts a strong influence in the political affairs of his lo- cality. He is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Our subject's mother's name before her marriage was Mary Ann Mills. She was born in New York State and died in 1868; was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was a lady of excellent character. Our subject was one of six children : George, who died aged eleven years and eleven months; Wil- liam A., Sophronia E., Mary Jane, Charles F. and Lucy F.

Until he was six years of age our subject remained with his parents in New York. They then went to Wyandot, Ohio, where he remained until eleven years of age. Ilardin county became their next home, where he lived until he became twenty-two years of age. Up to this time he was occu- pied with work on the farm and with attend- ing the district schools. In November, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and became a mem- ber of the Eleventh Corps, his company be- ing commanded by Capt. David Thompson. In 1864 our subject was commissioned first lieutenant of Company K, One Hundred and Eightieth Regiment, and was discharged holding that rank in July, 1865. Mr. Potter was engaged in many hard-fought battles, among them being that of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Kingston, Mission Ridge, Look-

out Mountain, Wauhatchie Valley, and many other smaller battles and skirmishes. Our subject was not injured in the war, but was in the hospital sick with the measles for six weeks. After the discharge of our subject he returned to Hardin county, Ohio, and en- gaged in farming until 1867. He then came to Dodge county, Minnesota, where he resid- ed until 1875, when he removed to New Ulm, where he spent three years in farming, and where for two years he held the office of justice of the peace. His next move was to find his location in Cottonwood county, where he has since lived.

Mr. Potter was married December 20, 1866, to Miss Belle Baker, a native of Penn- sylvania. She was the daughter of Joseph Baker, who died when Miss Belle was but six years old. Mr. and Mrs. Potter have seven children-Minnie F., Effie S., Charles I., George W., Claude B., Edward C., and Cora Belle. Minnie and Effie are now mar- ried, and reside on section 8 of Amboy town- ship. The former married Warren R. Jef- fers, and the latter became the wife of D. E. Noble.

The political faith of our subject is in har- mony with the republican party, with which he has affiliated for many years. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Grand Army of the Republic, and is one of the most prosperous and well-to-do citizens of the county. He has a fine farm, and makes a specialty of raising sheep and cattle. He has 650 sheep and a large number of cat- tle and horses.

AMES REID CLEAVELAND is one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Lake Sarah township, Murray county, Min- nesota. He located on section 20 in June, 1873, homesteading his present place. He was about the fifth settler in the township, the names of the other pioneers being G.

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Carman, P. Pearsall, M. Husbrook and M. Cole. Our subject assisted in the organiza- tion of the township, and was a member of the first board of supervisors. J. F. Fitch was justice of the peace, and A. L. Dicker- man was chairman of the board of super- visors. The subject of our sketch repre- sented his constituents on the second board of supervisors as chairman, and continued that position for six or seven years. He has held various other positions since coming to the township, among them being that of as- sessor, etc. He has always taken an active interest in matters of a local nature, and has assisted materially in the development and up-building of the general welfare. He has been engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has a number of fine Durham cattle.

Mr. Cleaveland was born in Windsor county, Vermont, August 6, 1825. He is a son of Jediah Cleaveland, a native of Ver- mont, and a farmer by occupation. The father removed to New Hampshire in an early day, and died in that State. He was a consistent member of the Baptist church, as was also his wife. The mother's maiden name was Harriet Randall, a native of Vermont, where she died when our sub- ject was fifteen years of age. Her death occurred in Royalton. In the father's family there were ten children-William L., Charles D., Norman C., Allen J., Edward H., James R., E. R., Carl, Judson and Har- riet E.

The early life of the subject of our sketch was spent in Royalton, Windsor county, Vermont, where he received a good common- school education. At fifteen years of age his father removed to New Hampshire, where our subject engaged in farming pursuits un- til he was thirty years of age. He held a prominent place among the citizens of the locality in which he lived, and held various official positions. He was collector of taxes,

etc., in his locality. After attaining thirty- five years of age he came to Indiana and worked at the carpenter's trade for a year. His next move ivas to Wabasha county, Min- nesota, where he engaged in farming for seven years. From thence he removed to Olm- stead county, where he remained eight years, following agricultural pursuits. In all these places he held a prominent place and was township clerk in Wabasha county, and a member of the board of supervisors in Olm- stead county. He came to Murray county in 1873 and has made that his home since.

Mr. Cleaveland was married July 14, 1850, in Lyndon, Vermont, to Miss Elmina Taylor, a native of Dover, New Hampshire, where she was born March 2, 1827. She remained in that place until twenty-two years of age, and received an excellent common-school education. Mr. and Mrs. Cleaveland have been blessed with seven children-Edward, who died at five years of age; William D., Stella E., Amelia, Zaidee, Mabel and Hattie B. All the children except Hattie B. are married.

In politics Mr. Cleaveland affiliates with the republican party, and is one of the rep- resentative citizens of Murray county. He is a man of good character and is respected by all who know him.

OHN C. CROFOOT is one of the most reliable and substantial farmers of Lin- coln county. He is located on a valuable farm on section 30 in Hendricks township. He was born in Hannibal, Oswego county, New York, March 23, 1854. His parents were Benjamin F. and Caroline (Kimball) Cro- foot, both of whom were natives of the State of New York. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and is one of the prominent and influ- ential citizens of his county. Benjamin's parents were Josef and Polly Ann (Chapman) Crofoot, farmers by occupation, and natives

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of Massachusetts. The subject of our sketch had three brothers and two sisters. Their names were-Anna, Edgar, Emma, Seymore and George.

The subject of our sketch had a strong at- tachment for his early home, and continued beneath the parental roof for many years. He was given good educational advantages, and when not in school assisted his father in work of the farm. He left home at twenty- one years of age, and went to the city of Auburn, where he found employment for nine months in the manufacturing establish- inent of D. M. Osburn. Leaving Mr. Osborn's employ he commenced work in the shops of Dodge & Stephenson, and remained with them some two months, after which he re- turned to his home and worked for his father on the farm for about one year. Then he again returned to Auburn, where he learned the baker's trade, and after following that for a short time worked in a lumber yard for a year. In 1874 he purchased an interest in a mill, which he helped to run during one winter, and in the following winter sold his interest to his partner. In the spring of 1875 he purchased a farm in Oswego county, New York, and rented it, but, seeing that it didn't pay, he sold out. When he was twenty-one years old his father gave him $1,000, but, like a majority of boys, he says, he did not make the best use of it. In the spring of 1876 he started West and came to Lincoln county, Minnesota, where he has since lived. He built the first house in the town of Hendricks, drawing the lumber with cattle a distance of forty miles. He was the first man to carry mail from Hen- dricks and Shoakatan and the first to carry it from Hendricks to Idlewild, and for a number of years held the contracts for car- rying United States mail in this region. While carrying mail in this wild western country, making his trips on foot, he passed through many hardships, and many times

narrowly escaped death from the terrible blizzards. In those early days and terrible storms he has many times passed a whole month without seeing another person, and has seen such storms that for three days in succession he has been unable to reach his barn, only a few feet away. He has also seen some very long winters, and remembers one in which the snow laid on the ground from October 15 until May 12. During this ivinter the pioneers ground wheat in a cof- fee mill to get something to live upon, the snow being so deep it was impossible to get to town for provisions. He also dug the first well in the township. He has always taken an active part in township affairs. He helped to organize Hendricks township, and was the first town treasurer, which office he has held for many years, and is the present incumbent. He has also held the office of justice of the peace.

In 1878 Mr. Crofoot accidentally shot himself in the head. He was picked up by Lars Fjeseth and cared for for six months thereafter before he was able to attend to business.

The subject of our sketch was married in 1878 to Miss Sophia Johnson, by whom he has had four children-Benjamin, Pernie, Estella and Pearl.

Since coming to the township our subject has identified himself closely with all matters of a public nature and has assisted in every way possible to aid in the development and growth of the county. He is a man of high character, possessed of broad ideas, generous and public-spirited, and has the respect of all who know him. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party. Being well ac- quainted with the early settlers of the town and county and with the various localities on the mail route, he is a valuable and available correspondent, and holds that connection with the Lake Benton News.

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HARLES F. WARREN, editor and proprietor of the Cottonwood County Citizen, of Windom, Minnesota, and one of the leading newspaper men of South western Minnesota, was born at New Boston, Hills- boro county, New Hampshire, May 25, 1829. He was one of three sons of Hon. Parker and Clara ( Trull ) Warren. Parker Warren was engaged in the mercantile business at New , Boston, where he was one of the early set- tlers. He was of Scotch descent, his early ancestors being of the same family as Dr. Joseph Warren, of Bunker Hill memory. An only brother of Parker's was a wealthy ship owner near Boston, while several sisters had families which are now scattered through- out the eastern States. Parker Warren's wife, Clara Trull, was a native of Massachu- setts, like himself. She was one of a family of six sons and six daughters, all of whom married and brought up children, some of whom have occupied prominent State and local positions. Her mother was of the Butler family, of which General B. F. Butler was a member. Parker Warren moved his family to Lowell Mass., in 1839, where the subject of this sketch attended grammar and high school five years, or until the fall of 1844, when the family removed to Wisconsin Terri- tory, and settled on a farm near Beaver Dam, Dodge county, and there successfully battled with the trials of a pioneer life. Parker Warren accomplished much for the material and moral benefit of that community; was a deacon in the Presbyterian church and chor- ister for many years, and was one of a very few to organize the first church in the country. He was elected representative to the first State legislature in 1849. He died at Augusta, Wisconsin, in 1887, aged about eighty -six years, and his widow is still living there.

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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 49

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