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 50
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Charles F. Warren was engaged in farm- ing, except one year as clerk in the store of his father at Beaver Dam, until 1857.
He spent about one year in business at Mauston, Wisconsin, after several months' travel in Minnesota. In the fall of 1859 he went to Augusta, Wisconsin, with his eldest brother and engaged in farming, opening up a new farm in La Crosse county. In No- vember, 1862, he was married to Miss Hen- rietta Bullis, at Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wisconsin, and spent the following winter at the new farm at La Crosse. In the spring he sold out and purchased land in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and moved back to Fox Lake, Wisconsin. In November, 1863, the first son, Henry C., was born, and in Febru- ary, 1864, the family returned to Augusta for their future home. When President Lincoln issued his last call for "300,000 more," Charles F. Warren deemed it an im- perative duty to join the Union forces, and enlisted in the Forty-eighth Wisconsin In- fantry, February 10, 1865. The regiment rendezvoused at Milwaukee, and went imme- diately to St. Louis, where a few days were spent in Benton Barracks, and thence through Missouri to Fort Scott, Kansas, which was the headquarters of the regiment through the summer. In August the regiment was ordered to march across the plains, and was stationed at points along the Arkansas river, guarding the outposts and government trains along the old Santa Fé route far out into New Mexico. In December the regiment started for Leaven- worth for discharge and muster out, arriving there on Christmas day, and reached Madi- son, Wisconsin, January 5, 1866.
In 1867 our subject entered the mercantile business at Augusta, in company with a younger brother, and carried on a fairly suc- cessful business for ten years, except for serious losses by fire and other unavoidable circumstances. In the spring of 1877 Mr. Warren left the business to his brother and came out and settled on the homestead near Windom, Minnesota, which he still owns.
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While residing at Augusta, Wisconsin, four children were born-Butler Trull, George Francis, Jennie May and Sadie M.
On the 1st of January, 1883, C. F. Warren and his son, H. C., established the Cotton- wood County Citizen, at Windom, which has met with general favor and has a good cir- culation throughout this section of the State. It is republican in politics, independent, and bound by no party or clique. In the fall of 1886 H. C. Warren retired from the office and removed to Merrillan, Wisconsin, and was succeeded by Butler T., a younger brother. Charles F. Warren has been hon- ored with several local offices of trust and honor, and is one of the most highly-re- spected citizens of Windom. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity and Grand Army of the Republic. He is a careful busi- ness man, an intelligent and conscientious writer, and has placed the Citizen upon a fairly prosperous and remunerative basis. It should have been stated that in 1874 Mr. Warren owned and published a newspaper at Augusta while engaged in other business.
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OSEPH A. BILLINGS is a resident of section 4, Great Bend township, Cot- tonwood county, Minnesota. He was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1834.
The parents of the subject of our sketch were Harry and Polly (Buttles) Billings, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter born in Connecticut. In about 1852 or 1853 the father came west, locating in Waushara county, Wisconsin, where he re- sided until 1864. He then removed to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he died in November, 1868. The mother died in Butler county, Nebraska, January 17, 1888. In the father's family there were twelve children of whom our subject, Joseph Bill- ings, was the eighth child.
Mr. Billings' early life was spent in work on the home farm, where he was given the advantages for an education furnished by the district schools. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, and then worked out on various farms until 1861. May 22d of that year he en- listed in Benham Zouaves, a company formed in Berlin, Wisconsin, for the three months' service. The quota for the company, how- ever, was not filled, and it was disbanded without being sent out of the State. Our subject enlisted October 22, 1861, in Com- pany A, Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and was discharged September 26, 1862. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, where he received an injury which caused him to par- tially lose his hearing. He was in the hospital at Benton barracks, St. Louis, for some time, and after his discharge went to Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming until 1864. He then came to Good- hue county, Minnesota and purchased a farm of eighty acres and engaged in farming un- til 1872. He then came by team to Mountain Lake township, Cottonwood county, and lo- cated a soldier's claim on section 4. He re- mained until the memorable grasshopper raid in southern Minnesota, and then re- turned to Goodhue county and remained one year, coming back at the end of that time to his claim in Cottonwood county and put- ting in a crop and then returning to Good- hue county, where he remained two years. He then returned to his claim in Mountain Lake township, and resided there until March 1888. Then, having purchased the place on which he now lives some time before, he moved to his present location, where he lias lived ever since.
Mr. Billings was married June 17, 1866, to Florence Wait, a native of the State of New York, where she was born November 2, 1849. She was the daughter of B. C. and Mary (Briggs) Wait, natives, respectively, of
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New York and Vermont. Her father died June 16, 1873, and her mother is now living in Cannon Falls, Goodhue county, Minne- sota. Mr. and Mrs. Billings have been blessed with four children : Milo D., Minnie A., Charles H. and Roy W.
The political affiliations of the subject of our sketch are with the republican party, and he is a prominent factor in the local affairs of that organization. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and An- cient Order United Workmen, and is looked upon as a public-spirited and honorable citizen.
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AIRUS HITCHCOX is one of the most influential farmers of Troy township, Pipestone county, Minnesota. He resides on a fine farm of 240 acres in section 13, on which he settled in the spring of 1886.
The place of nativity of the subject of our sketch is to be found in Onondaga county, New York, where he was born on the third day of April, 1857. His parents were Asahel and Malinda (Davis) Hitchcox, the father a native of New York, where also the mother was born. The father's parents were Samuel and Rosenith (Benedict) Hitchcox. The
parents of the subject of our sketch are still living and are residents of Pipestone county.
The subject of our sketch was so endeared to the old homestead that he made that his home until he reached the age of twenty-four years, up to which time he had engaged in work on the farm and attending school dur- ing the months of each winter. When he was twelve years of age his parents removed to Illinois, settling in McHenry county, where they lived on a farm. When Mr. Hitchcox left home he rented a dairy farm and shipped his milk to consumers in the city of Chicago.
This business was kept up with good suc- cess for five years, and in the spring of 1885 he came to Pipestone county, Minnesota, and
located in the city of Pipestone. One year later he located on his farm in section 32, Troy township, where he has since lived. He became owner of the farm in 1883.
Mr. Hitchcox was married January 7, 1880, to Miss Ruth E. Willson, a native of Illinois. This union has been blessed with two chil- dren, both of whom are living at present- Myrtle A., and Vera L.
Mr. Hitchcox has been quite successful in his business interests, and has at present one of the finest farms in the county. He is also somewhat engaged in the raising of finc stock. He is a man of excellent tastes in this direc- tion and is thoroughly capable of successful manipulation of the details of his line of business. In politics he is a supporter of the principles promulgated by the republican party, and in all matters of a public nature he takes a deep interest.
DWIN H. CANFIELD is the present efficient and popular county attorney of Rock county, Minnesota. IIe located in Luverne in 1881, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of the legal profession. In 1885 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the county attorneyship, and in 1888 was elected to that office. He has become quite prominent in political af- fairs, and besides the office just mentioned he has also been a member of the school board for three years, at present holding the position of clerk of said board.
Attorney Canfield is a native of Marquette county, Wisconsin, where he was born De- cember 27, 1855. His parents, James F. and Mary E. (Holmes) Canfield were natives of Vermont. When a young man the father came West and settled in Michigan, where for some time he was engaged in the mer- cantile business. In about 1850 he removed to the State of Wisconsin and for some year's engaged in farming. His next move was
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made in 1866, in which year he located in Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he re- mained on a farm for four years. At the end of that period he removed to Martin county, and after three years' residence there returned to Olinsted county, remaining until 1881. In that year he came to Lu- verne, where he now lives a retired life.
The subject of our sketch is the only sur- viving child of the father's family. He con- tinued with his parents throughout his early life, being given good educational advant- ages in the common schools. He received a thorough course of study for two and one-half years in the high school and afterwards was given private in- struction in the languages for eighteen months. Some three years after the con- clusion of his school studies were spent by him in teaching in Olmsted county, during which time he engaged somewhat in the study of law. At the end of this three years' ex- perience in teaching he entered the office of Charles C. Wilson, attorney, remaining with him about twenty months and being admitted to the bar in 1881. Since his admission to practice Mr. Canfield has actively pursued the duties of his profession, most of the time in Rock county.
In 1878 occurred the marriage of the sub- ject of our sketch to Miss Carrie Alma Hill, of Elgin, Minn. Two children have blessed this union-Nina and Arden. The parents of Mrs. Canfield were prominent people of Wa- seca county, Minn., and resided for a num- ber of years near Alma City, of which lo- cality they were among the pioneers. Alma City was named after Mrs. Canfield.
In 1887 Mr. Canfield purchased 160 acres of land in Mound township, which he has con- stantly improved ever since. He has also been somewhat engaged in the real estate business, having bought and sold some land in the county. He has been very fortu- nate in his financial investments and in
his legal practice, and has become quite- well-to-do. He owns a good residence in the city. Our subject has taken an active interest in all matters which have had a ten- dency to improve and elevate his fellow-citi- zens and to develop the various institutions of his city. He was the prime mover in the foundation of the private library which is now the public library of the city and which contains seven hundred volumes. In religi- ous matters he has also taken a prominent stand and has identified himself with all matters pertaining to the moral development of his fellow-man. He has assisted liberally in various church enterprises in the city and was one of the leading founders of the Unity church. In political matters, too, Mr. Can- field has always acted a prominent part. Ever since making his location in the county he has identified himself with the interests of the republican party and has been honored by that organization in various ways. In 1886 he was one of the delegates to the State convention. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. As a lawyer Mr. Can- field ranks very high among the members of the bar of Rock and adjoining counties. He is thoroughly qualified for the duties of his profession, and all cases presented to him re- ceive thorough and systematic attention. He is one of the leading trial lawyers of Southwestern Minnesota. Being possessed of excellent legal abilities, and a gentleman of courteous deportment, he has drawn to himself an extensive circle of friends.
- ERCY WOLLASTON is the sole pro- prietor of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank, and also proprietor of a large general store at Fairmont, Martin county, Minnesota. He was the son of William Charles and Char- lotte Jane (Fawcett) Wollaston, natives re- spectively of Cambridge and Leeds, England. The mother's father was the vicar of Leeds,
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and both families were occupants of promi- nent positions in English society and politics.
Percy Wollaston was born in Leeds, Eng- land, December 21, 1825. His father was a clergyman, and was master of the gram- mar school in Leeds for some twenty-six years. Coming from an intellectual family, our subject's early education was in no wise neglected. He was thoroughly educated, and at seventeen years of age went into the country to acquire a knowledge of agricult- ure. He continued on a farm for two or three years in England, and in 1848 came to the United States, and spent a winter in Charleston, South Carolina. The next sum- mer was spent in the State of New York, where he was engaged in traveling and sight- seeing. Early in 1850 he went to St. Catha- rines, Canada West, and engaged in work in a flouring mill for about a year. Then, in October, 1851, he returned home, and going to London, engaged in the manufacture of ' carpets. Continuing this business for a year, and then, finding the enterprise not a suc- cess, he went to Liverpool and engaged in the shipping business for the White Star Line of sailing ships, trading to Australia. He continued in this employment for ten or twelve years, and then for several years retired from active life, remaining in his native country until 1876, when he came again to America and found his way to the State of Minnesota. He spent about a month in Fairmont, Mar- tin county, and then returned to England and in June, 1876, came again to this country, locating in the village of Fairmont. In the spring of 1877 he built a large frame build- ing on North avenue, now the principal busi- ness street, which he opened as a general store in June of that year. In January, 1882, he opened the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank in a small way in the rear of his store. Both enterprises grew steadily,and in 1885 he built an addition on the side of his store for his bank, and, again, in 1888, finding that
he still needed more commodious quarters for his increasing business, he added the " Bank building" to the store and built a new brick block adjoining, 40x65 feet in size, half of which is occupied by this bank and the remainder rented for a hardware store.
Mr. Wollaston was one of the pioneer business men of the village and ever since making his location he has earnestly advo- cated all projects which have tended to de- velop the business interests of Fairmont. He has done much to establish business and has made many improvements with his own means. When he came to the village there was no mill here, so he erected one, a wind- mill, which has been recently converted into a steam-mill. There was also no church building at the time of his location, and hav- ing been accustomed to church going, he immediately began agitating the project of building an Episcopal church. The matter took definite shape, and ere long an edifice was constructed in which the Episcopal peo- ple might worship. This was the means of starting other denominations in build- ing enterprises, and now the village- has six churches besides one denom- ination which holds meetings over our subject's store. Our subject has also been interested largely and actively in educa- cational matters, and has assisted in providing the village with one of the best schools in the State. One of the most elegant resi- dences in southern Minnesota, beautifully located on the lake shore, is the home of the subject of our sketch. Here he owns 380 acres of land, with ten acres of natural tim- ber. His residence is built on an elevation, and is surrounded with the most beautiful grounds in the city, the lawu being smooth and nicely kept and adorned with groups of natural and evergreen trees.
All matters of a public nature have felt the activity of the subject of our sketch. He
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was the first president of the village council, and has been a member of the council twice since his location in the city. He is a repub- lican in politics, and in religious sentiment is a member of the Episcopal church. He is a man of the highest character, and is one of the most respected citizens of Fairmont.
Mr. Wollaston was married in Oakley, Bedfordshire, England, October 11, 1848, to Miss Catherine Mossop, daughter of Isaac and Agnes Mossop, also natives of England. This lady was born in Cumberland, in that country, October 28, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Wollaston have been blessed with the follow- ing-named children-Catherine, born in Can- ada, and now the wife of Mr. C. Sharpe, cashier of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank of Fairmont; William Charles: Charlotte Jane, now Mrs. Clement Roydes; Percy, who married Alice Ramsdale; Margaret Em- ily, now wife of H. W. Sinclair, an attorney of Fairmont; Francis Henry ; George Hyde, who married Lillian Maude Ramsdale; Rich- ard Fawcett, who wedded Mable Ramsdale; Annie and Henrietta, twins, the latter wed- ding J. A. Sinclair, proprietor of the Fair- inont creamery ; Lucy, Frederick and Ed- ward L.
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OWELL PEARSALL is a leading farmer and stock-raiser of section 22, Lake Sarah township, Murray county, Min- nesota. He located in the county in 1870, and homesteaded his present place. He re- sides on the shores of Lake Sarah and has a grove of natural timber. Our subject has the lionor of being one of the first settlers of the township and of plowing the first furrow ever turned in the township in June, 1870, on section 22. He was the first man to locate with his family in Lake Sarah township. He assisted in the organization of the township and was a member of the second board of township supervisors. He has always taken
an active part in matters of a public nature and has held various official positions. He has been district treasurer of district No. 9 for seven years, has been town supervisor everal times and has always taken an active part in these affairs.
Mr. Pearsall was born in Greene county, New York, in the village of New Baltimore, August 13, 1828. He resided in that place until twenty-one years of age, when he re- moved to Columbia county, Wisconsin. While in New York State he had been working for himself during most of the time after nine years of age. After coming to Wisconsin he worked at the blacksmith's trade for six years, having learned that trade in New York State. After six years he went to Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, and here en- gaged in lumbering during the summer and worked in the woods during the win- ters. In 1864 he left Wisconsin, coming to Winona county, Minnesota, where he resided one year on a farm. Removing thence he settled in Blue Earth county, and in 1870 came to Murray county, as has already been stated.
The father of the subject of our sketch was Samuel Pearsall, a shoemaker by trade. He was born on Long Island and died in about 1860. The mother died in Ohio in 1865. In the father's family there were thirteen children-Matilda, Lydia A., Loman, Fremont. Semantha, Samuel, Powell, William Henry. Jane, Hannah E., John, James I. and Lucy A. Five of these sons served in the Union army during the War of the Rebellion. All the sons are living; all the daughters are dead.
These gentlemen whose names appears at the head of this sketch was married Febru- ary 5, 1862, in Adams county, Wisconsin, to Miss Mary Jane Hale, a native of Henderson, Jefferson county, New York, where she was born March 1, 1844. At one and a half years of age her parents moved to Kenosha 1
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county, Wisconsin, where she was educated in the town of Chester. She was the daugh- ter of O. W. Hale, a farmer. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, and died in McFerson, Blue Earth county, Minnesota, in 1877. Her mother's maiden name was Arthusa Haven, a native of Massachusetts, and still living. There were five children in the Hale family-Larve, Leonora, Ann E. Mary J. and Orville. Mr. and Mrs. Pear- sall have two children-Milford M. and Florence A. The latter is married.
For years the subject of our sketch affili- ated with the Grange movement in politics, but is now and has been for some time a stanch republican. He is a man of excellent characteristics and is' well liked both as a man and citizen by all who know him.
EORGE P. MENNIE is one of the early settlers and best known citizens of Hendricks township, Lincoln county, Min- nesota. He is now living on section 26, where he has a fine farm, upon which are comfortable buildings and other improve- ments, which betoken thrift and hard work. Mr. Mennie was born in the township of Dover, Racine county, Wisconsin, March 22, 1847. He was the son of Peter L. and Mar- garet (Duffes) Mennie.
The parents of the subject of our sketch were both natives of Scotland. The father was a son of George Mennie, a farmer of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who died when his son Peter was seven years old, his wife hav- ing died about two years previous. Peter L. worked for farmers until he was seventeen years old, and then took passage on a sailing vessel for America, arriving after a voyage of two months. He went to Canada, where he had a brother living, and remained for two years. There he became acquainted with the lady who afterward became his wife. She came to Canada from Scotland
in 1834. They had a very stormy voyage. lasting thirteen weeks, in which the masts of their ship were all blown overboard, and they completed the voyage with jury-masts. Their provisions gave out entirely when they were hundreds of miles from any port, and starvation stared them in the face, until they were supplied by another vessel that answered their signals of distress. John Duffes, the father of Margaret, was a well- to-do farmer. He had $60,000 willed to him in the old country that it was necessary for him to cross the ocean to get ; but he had had enough of ocean travel, and never went after it. In 1836 Peter L. Mennie moved from Canada with the Duffes family to Illincis, where they remained two years. " and shook with ague," Peter L. working on the canal in Illinois for two years. In 1838 they removed to Racine county, Wisconsin. The father worked on the Erie canal as a " rip-rapper" for two seasons. He went from there to Mineral Point, Wis- consin, where he worked in the lead mines for two years. He then went to Racine county and bought a farm of eighty acres, and, in 1840, was married at Racine to Mar- garet Duffes. They resided on their farm for nine years, then sold out and moved to Green Lake county, and there engaged in farming. Their nearest market was Mil- waukee-one hundred miles distant-where they had to go for all their supplies of flour. If they did not get goods to bring back for merchants their load of wheat would not pay the expenses of their trip. After a few years what was called "horse boats " (boats propelled by horses) came up the Fox river to Marquette, two miles from Peter L. Men- nie's farm, with lumber, and took back wheat. Then times became better for the pioneer settlers of Green Lake county. In 1879 Peter L. Mennie sold his farm, with the intention of retiring, but he got the land fever, and came to Lincoln county, Minne-
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sota, where the most of his children had taken land. He filed a homestead and tree claim on land in section 22, Hendricks township, commuting his homestead entry in 1880. From there he went to Portage City, Wis- consin, where he is now leading a retired life, enjoying the benefits of a long and well-spent career. He has been a man of considerable means, and has always been a representative citizen of the localities in which he has lived. He has served his neighbors and fellow-citi- zens in various official capacities. In the father's family there were nine children- John D., William G., George P., Mary Jane, Elsie E., Frank L., Ada A., James and Ella- M., of whom seven are still living.
George P. Mennie, the subject of our pres- ent sketch, remained beneath the parental roof until attaining the age of seventeen. When he was seven years old he went to Marquette, to help drive his father's sheep to be washed. While there, his brothers and himself thought it would be fun to ride on planks in the lake, so they boarded their planks and started. George had two laths for poles to push the plank. He had not gone far when his laths would not reach the bottom and he made a break for shore But the water was nine feet deep and he could not swim. Just as he had given up all hope, he felt something hit his head. He made a grab and got hold of his brother's plank that had come to the rescue. The plank would not hold them both up, but it kept them out part of the time, until the other brother ran nearly half a mile for help. George was so near gone when he was got out that he did not know anything for some time. When he was a little shaver the Indians used to take great pleasure in scaring him. If they saw him away from the house they would get between him and the house, and yell at him to see the little "pale face" run, and then they would run after him. If his father was in the field he
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