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 57

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 57

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CON. H. W. HOLLEY is a retired "railroad man" residing in Winnebago City, Faribault county, Minnesota. He is a native of Jefferson county, New York, where he was born May 5, 1828. Mr. Holley is the son of David and Betsey S. (Randall) Holley, the former a native of New York and the latter born in Massachusetts. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed that line of business throughout his life. He was born in 1802 and died in 1888. The parents were both members of the Episcopal church, and were prominent people of the locality in which they lived. They had a family of two children-H. W. and Ophelia, now Mrs. Bemis, residing on the old home- stead.

In early life our subject was given good educational advantages, and attended college at Norwich, Vermont, where he prepared' himself for the profession of civil engineering. He started for the West, taking boat at Buf- falo and going to Cleveland, Ohio, where

he found employment as a civil engineer on the Cleveland & Pittsburgh railroad. He continued in the employ of this company for some four years, and then spent one year in making surveys for the Cincinnati & Parkersburg railroad in Ohio. IIe then came to Indiana and engaged in surveying in the vicinity of Fort Wayne for some eight months. In 1856 he came to Minnesota and located at Chatfield, Fillmore county, where he published the Chatfield Republican for some four years. He was also appointed re- ceiver of the United States land office at that place and continued to hold that position after the removal of the office to Winnebago City. He continued in the office of receiver of pub- lic moneys for eight years at Winnebago City, and also became one of the organizers of the Root River Railroad Company. This corporation built the present Southern Min- nesota Railroad to Winnebago City, and our subject was the chief engineer of this com- pany while it was building and until it was sold out to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company. Mr. Holley has since con- tinued his residence at Winnebago City, and has largely interested himself in farms throughout this and adjoining counties. He was proprietor of the town plat of Delevan, Faribault county, around which he also owns a number of farms, and is also financially in- terested in a number of town sites along the Southern Minnesota Railroad, east of Del- evan. He was a member of the constitutional assembly in 1857, and in 1859-60 was a mem- ber of the State legislature from Chatfield. Throughout his life he has actively interested himself in all matters of a public nature, and has become one of the most prominent men in the politics of Southern Minnesota. He is considerable of an author, too, having pub- lished several works which have become quite popular. He published the " Politicians" in 1876, and a second edition of that work in 1883. In 1886 he issued a book called the

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" Heggensville Papers," which had quite a large sale. In 1889 there emanated from his pen a work called " Random Shots at Living Targets," which has become quite popular and has had a large run. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and is one of the most important factors in the local affairs of that organization.

Mr. Holley was married in 1855 to Miss Eliza Christie, of Ohio, a daughter of John and Martha Christie. Five children have blessed this union-Maud, Kate, now Mrs. Dr. Stauf- fer, of Winnebago City ; Elizabeth, who mar- ried A. D. Denne, a merchant of Winnebago City ; Harry, who is a civil engineer in Flor- ida, and Mabel.

AMES H. CLARK is one of the promi- nent and substantial citizens of the village of Windom, Minnesota, where he is engaged in handling farm machinery and lumber. Mr. Clark's native place is found in Kenne- bec county, Maine, where he was born in the year 1830.

The parents of the subject of our sketch were Rufus and Jane (Colby) Clark, both of whom were natives of Maine. The father was engaged in the lumber business and also in farming and remained in the State of his nativity until his death. He was a man of much prominence and held various township offices, and was one of the wealthy men of that section of country. He was a member of the Baptist church and took an active part in matters of a temperance nature. The grandfather of the subject of our sketch was Thomas Clark, a native of New Hampshire and a farmer by occupation. He reared a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, eight of whom are now liv- ing. the oldest being eighty-eight years of age and the youngest sixty-nine. Rufus Clark reared a family of eight children, six of whom are now living-Lydia A., Carrie

M., James H. (our sketch), Abbie A., Charles F. and Emma J.

The early life of the subject of our sketch was spent in various employments. During a great portion of the time he assisted his father, working both at lumbering and at farming. At the age of eighteen years, after having received a good common-school edu- cation, he found employment in a ship- yard, and continued therein until the spring of 1855. In the year just mentioned he came to St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, where he worked at millwrighting for one year. Then in company with his brothers, Rufus and Charles, he built a mill at Franconia, Chi- sago county, Minnesota. This was the first rotary saw-mill on the St. Croix, and our subject and his brothers continued to oper- ate this business until 1866. Then they moved the mill to Taylor's Falls, and added stave machinery to the mill. They remained in that locality until 1878, when our subject sold out his interests and came to Windom. He at once commenced in the lumber and fuel business, and continued in that line until 1885, when he put in a large stock of farm machinery. He has a fine office and other buildings, and in the management of his extensive business he employs two men. He is also engaged in raising blooded stock, and owns the famous imported French horse "Ferdinand," weight, eighteen hundred pounds ; color. dark dapple-gray ; imported in 1885. This animal is one of the finest in Southern Minnesota, and is a descendant of the noted Arab horse "Gallipoli." In all matters of a public. nature Mr. Clark is found to be one of the most enterprising and enthusiastic of Windom's citizens. He always aids liberally in the upbuilding of every financial enterprise, and takes an act- ive part in local governmental affairs. He is one of the stockholders and directors of the Windom bank. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and is a member

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of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraterni- ties. He is one of the leading and substan- tial citizens of Windom.

Mr. Clark was married in 1864 to Miss Carrie Jellison, a native of Maine, and a daughter of Charles Jellison. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been blessed with three children -Abbie A., now Mrs. L. D. Smith, of Win- dom, who has one child; Ada F .; Ada L., now Mrs. J. L. Eberle, of Windom, and Jus- tus B., deceased.

OHN H. THORSNESS is a thrifty and industrious farmer of Verdi township, Lincoln county, Minnesota. He has a fine farm on section 30, well improved, and thor- oughly. provided with good buildings. Mr. Thorsness was born in Wisconsin, in Dane county, September 24, 1849.

The parents of the subject of our sketch were Hans and Betsey (Randall) Thorsness, both natives of Norway. The father was a farmer by occupation, and a well-to-do and prominent citizen in his native land. He came to America in 1847, locating in Dane county, where he became one of the pioneer settlers. He came to Minnesota in 1864, and died here February 22, 1888.

The State of Wisconsin continued the home of the subject of our sketch for some years. His early life was spent on the home farm in that State, and he assisted his father in farming until he was nineteen years of age. Up to this time he had been given good educational advantages, and, on attaining the age just mentioned, he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, in the employ of various farmers in the vicinity of his home for two years. He then went to St. Croix, and worked there, a part of the time in pineries, and a part of the time in saw-mills. Later he rented a farm in Olm- sted county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming until 1878, when he came to Lin-

coln county and located the place on which he lives as a homestead. He then returned to Olmsted county and brought his family to his claim, arriving thereon in June, 1878. He has made this township his residence ever since. He at once commenced active operations in getting his farm ready for crops. He succeeded well the first year, but the second brought him his first seri- ous disaster. After his crop was harvested and threshed, his entire crop, together with his barn, was destroyed by fire, having caught from a prairie fire.

Mr. Thorsness was married June 4, 1876, to Silva Thorsness, who was born in Wis- consin. Five children have blessed this union, three of whom are living-Henry, Gilbert and Julius.

The political faith of Mr. Thorsness is at- tached to the republican party. He is a man of public affairs, and takes an active interest in all publie projects. He has held several official positions with efficiency and popular- ity. He is a man of large experience, care- ful and conservative in his thought and opinions, and withal, is an industrious farmer, having by reason of thrift and energy brought his farm to a high state of cultiva- tion and accumulated considerable means. He has a pleasant and commodious home, and an agreeeble family. His character is irreproachable, as is also his citizenship, and he is held in high esteem.

LE OPEN is an influential farmer and leading citizen of Lime Lake town- ship, Murray county, Minnesota, and resides on an excellent farm on section 20. He was born in Norway, September 27, 1846. His parents were Nils and Ele (Terdall) Open, both of whom were natives of Norway, and farmers by occupation. They are still resi- dents of their native land.

The subject of our sketch left the parental

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home in May, 1869, and came to America. His early life was spent in assisting his father in work on the farm and in attending the district school. On coming to America hie located in Lanesboro, Minnesota, where he assisted on various farms during the harvest time. During the winter he worked on the railroad, and the following spring went to Brownsdale, Mower county, where he con- tinued the latter employment until harvest. The various places at which he stopped there- after for some time were Austin, Wells, Man- kato and St. Paul. At these places he worked at various kinds of business, principally at railroad work during certain seasons of the year, and in the harvest fields during harvest time. From St. Paul he returned to Fill- more county, where he worked on a railroad in Fountain during the winter; thence he went to Mankato and St. James, and then to St. Peter. At this latter place he remained during the winter. However, before going to St. Peter, he went over into Murray coun- ty, in August, 1871, and located the claim on which he now lives. In the spring of 1872 he came to his land and put up a shan- ty, and commenced making improvements, soon after finding employment on the Wino- na & St. Peter railroad, at which occupation he continued until fall. Returning to his claim he spent the winter there, and the fol- lowing spring he put in his crop, and then left to work at other employments. He con- tinued operating on this plan until 1876, when he made his permanent location on his land. He has seen hard times, passed through the grasshopper raids and experienced other hardships in common with other pioneer set- tlers. The subject of our sketch is a man of strong characteristics, and has taken an im- portant and active part in the local affairs of his township. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and has been super- visor of his township for six years. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran church,

and takes an active part in religious matters.

Mr. Open was married to Ellen Olson, No- vember 27, 1876. This lady is a native of Norway and a daughter of Torkil Wesby. Mr. and Mrs. Open have been blessed with six children-Pauline E., Kima O., Tennie N., John E., Eddie A. and Ellis O.

RED BLOOM, general merchant, has been identified with the interests of the village of Woodstock, Pipestone county, Minnesota, since January 11, 1884. On that date he took possession of the general mer- cantile business of G. W. Martin, from whom Mr. Bloom purchased his stock. This gentleman is, without doubt, one of the most enterprising citizens of the town and county in which he lives, and has taken a lively interest in all matters of a public nature since taking up his residence among the citizens of Woodstock. He handles an immense stock of general merchandise, and is doing a large and increasing business.

The subject of our sketch was born in Canton Glarus, Switzerland, June 12, 1836. He remained in his native land until 1847, when, with his parents, he migrated to the United States, settling in the town of Wash- ington, Green county, Wisconsin, in which State he remained for twenty-six years, en- gaged in farming and other pursuits. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Company A, Forty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry as a private, and was discharged May 30, 1865, at Hunts- ville, Alabama, as third sergeant under Cap- tain I. T. Carr. The military life of Mr. Bloom was spent principally in guarding railroads and army stores at Athens, Ala- bama. His only wound was received while guarding the roads at the above-named place, the injury, however, was very severe, and our subject has felt its effects throughout the most of his life since the war. After he was discharged from the service he went to

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Monticello, Green county, Wisconsin, and engaged in the mercantile business, in which he continued but a short time when he sold out, and in 1867 went to New Glarus. He continued his business in the latter-named city until he was burned out in October, 1872. He then concluded to move to Minne- sota, and, in the spring of 1873, settled in Nobles county, of that State, where he engaged in farming until 1882. While in that county Mr. Bloom occupied a prominent and influential place among the residents and farmers. He was a man of good judg- ment, pleasant and affable in all respects, and became popular as a county official. In 1878 he was elected one of the county com- missioners and served three years, during the last year of which term he was chairman of the board.

October 2, 1859, Mr. Bloom was united in matrimony to Miss M. A. Roby, a native of Licking county, Ohio. While still young she removed with her family to Green county, Wisconsin, where she was given a good edu- cation. May 18, 1871, Mrs. Bloom died at New Glarus, at the age of thirty-two years. In 1872 Mr. Bloom married Miss Barbary Roby, a sister of his first wife, and also a native of Licking county, Ohio. By his first wife Mr. Bloom had five children-William E, Mary E., A. R., Clara A. and Fred. His second marriage has been blessed with one child-Luther C.

In political faith Mr. Bloom is con- nected with the republican party, in whose councils he occupies a prominent place. He. is also deeply interested in Masonic circles, being a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Pipestone City, of which Chapter Mr. Bloom is the present "Scribe." He is also a member of Stephen Miller Post, No. 139, G. A. R., and is its present commander. He is also postmaster at Woodstock, Minnesota. Throughout his life the subject of our sketch has been thor-

oughly identified with all matters of public nature pertaining to the government of local- ities in which he lived. His life has been well spent in the midst of careful business pursuits and in lines of thorough usefulness to his fello w-citizens. Being given the advantages of a good common-school education in his early youth, young manhood found him well fitted for business enterprises in which he engaged. For several years he taught school in Green county, Wisconsin, and while a res- ident of Washington township of that county was elected clerk of the township, in which capacity he served four years. While a res- ident of New Glarus he was supervisor for two years, and since coming to the State of Minnesota he has been still more intimately identified with the civil government of local- ities in which he has resided. Taking his life as a whole, Mr. Bloom has passed many years of usefulness, and has shown himself a good citizen and a man of the highest char- acter.

It will doubtless be of interest to describe their journey from Canton Glarus, Switzer- land. The party included sixteen families, March 27, 1847, they went down the Lint canal in a flat boat to Lake Zurich, down said lake in a steamer to Basel; thence in wagons to Paris, France; thence down the River Seine to Havre; thence by sailing forty-eight days landed in New York; thence up the Hudson river to Albany; thence by canal to Buffalo; thence by steamer via the lakes to Milwaukee, where they landed July 4th; thence on lumber wagons one hundred miles to the town of Washington, Green county, Wisconsin.

TISS AGNES E. SAFLEY is the present superintendent of schools of Cottonwood county, Minnesota. She was elected to the position in 1886 and com- menced her work January 1, 1887. She is a

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daughter of Robert Safley, a native of Scot- land, who came to Cottonwood county in 1878. Since that time he has been engaged in farming. He was the son of a weaver by trade, and on coming to Cedar county, Iowa, when twenty-seven years of age, Mr. Safley engaged in farming and has made that his business ever since. Miss Agnes' mother's maiden name was Helen Fairbairn, a native of Scotland, where she was married to Mr. Safley May 13, 1842. She passed from this life in 1878. She was a member of the United Presbyterian church. At the time of her death she was sixty years of age, having been born in the year 1818. In the Safley family there were ten children-Joan ; Agnes E., the subject of this sketch; John H., James F., Jennie, an infant deceased, Robert B., Frances, Barbara and Walter.

County Superintendent Miss Agnes E. Safley is thoroughly qualified from an educa- tional standpoint for the duties which de- volve upon her in the office which she holds. Her early life was spent almost entirely in school, her education being received in the public schools in Iowa, at Cornell college, Mount Vernon, and in the Keokuk Business College, from which she graduated in 1877. She was a popular teacher, especially success- ful in penmanship, having studied that branch under C. H. Pierce, who is now the president of the Keokuk Business College.

OHN A. STEGNER is a leading and reliable farmer of Hendricks township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, and lives on an excellent farm on section 34. Mr. Stegner was born in New Jersey, August 6, 1851.

The parents of the subject of our sketch were Conrad and Mary E. (Martin) Stegner, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was an influential farmer in his native land and came to America in 1846. He was a loyal citizen and served as a soldier

in the Mexican War. In 1850 he settled in the State of New Jersey, where our subject was born. Remaining in that State about three years, in 1853 he made a location in Wisconsin. His residence in that State continued until 1860, when he located in Dakota county, Minnesota, and in 1881 re- moved to Northfield, where he died January 19, 1889. The father was a man of extended experience, a loyal citizen, and was respected by all who knew him.

John A. Stegner left the parental home when he was nineteen years of age. Up to this time he had attended school and assisted in work on the farm. On attaining nineteen years of age he worked out through the summers and taught school during the win- ter months until he was twenty-four years of age. At this age he was married, and rented a farm in Dakota county, Minnesota. Ile continued operating that property for about four years and then, in 1879, came to Lincoln county and filed on the place where he now lives.

Mr. Stegner was united in the bonds of matrimony, November 19, 1874, to Miss Mary Jackstetter, by whom he has had six children-William E., Andrew S., Anna E., Irwin H., Fred M. and Paul J., all of whom are living at the present time. Mrs. Stegner is a native of Canada.

The subject of our sketch received a good education in his early life, and attended the college at Northfield for five terms. He was thus well prepared to occupy the duties of any line of occupation into which he might be called. In politics he was a repub- lican until five years ago, since which time he has been a prohibitionist. He has been honored by being placed in several positions of trust and responsibility. He has been justice of the peace ever since the township was organized, and is at present chairman of the board of supervisors, having been a member of that body two terms. He has

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also taken an active interest in the general affairs of the county, and has identified him- self with the interests of the county govern- ment. In the fall of 1888 he was elected one of the county commissioners. Mr. Steg- ner is a man of fine qualities, of excellent character, and is a loyal and upright citizen.

ERDINAND KURZ. This gentleman is one of the leading and most influen- tial farmers and stock raisers in Elmer town- ship, Pipestone county, Minnesota. One of the early settlers of this township, he has been identified with its interests since its organization, and in all matters pertaining to the civil government, and in every way le- lating to the welfare of the township he has taken an active and leading part. His resi- dence is located on section 20, where he homesteaded his present farm in 1878. Mr. Kurz was one of the organizers of the town- ship, was a member of the first board of trustees, and took an active interest in all matters of that nature.

The subject of our sketch is a native of Germany, being born in Wurtemberg. August 10, 1839. His father, John Kurz, was a native of Germany and a farmer by occu- pation. He lived and died in the old country. Ferdinand was one of fourteen children, eight of whom are now living. The subject of our sketch remained in his native land, being given excellent educational facilities, until he was about fifteen years of age. He then concluded to emigrate and settle in the United States, and, taking a steamer, after a short voyage he landed in the city of New York, and thence went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1866. During his residence in Milwaukee he was engaged in the bakery business for some five or six years. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in the Thirty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry. His service during the

Rebellion was very satisfactory to his supe- rior officers, and he was promoted to the position of sergeant, which rank he held on being discharged in April, 1866. He saw much severe service during the time he spent in the war, was in the service at the siege of Mobile and in a great many battles and skir- mishes of minor importance. After his dis- charge from his regiment, he returned to Milwaukee, remaining a short time, and then removing to St. Paul, Minnesota. After re- maining in the latter city for about a year, he then purchased a farm in Dakota county, Minnesota, and made that his home until coming to Pipestone county in 1878. His farm in Dakota county was about fifteen miles from St. Paul, and he was engaged largely in general farming and in stock rais- ing

In the fall of 1866 Mr. Kurz was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Louisa War- weg, a native of Germany. Mrs. Kurz is a lady of fine qualities, being possessed of a good education, and by nature and training well fitted to occupy the position at the head of one of the leading households and influ- ential families in Pipestone county. She is a lady of excellent social tastes, and merits the respect, and esteem of all those with whom she comes in contact. Mr. and Mrs. Kurz have no children.

The abilities of the subject of our sketch have been recognized by the citizens of Elmer township ever since he became one among its residents. From the very first organiza- tion of the township he has been installed in some public office, being at present township treasurer, which position he has held since the first election of officers in the town. Besides the offices we named at the opening of this sketch he has held the office of direct- or of school district No. 17 for two terms. In politics Mr. Kurz is a representative of the local interests of the republican party, with which organization he has affiliated for

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many years. He is a member of the Grand

. Army of the Republic.

ARLISLE FERGUSON is a represent- ative farmer of Murray county, Min- nesota, and resides on section 2 of Shetek township, where he located on a homestead June 9, 1872. He has been a prominent resident of that place ever since, and has made valuable and important improvements. He has a fine grove of cottonwood, ash and poplar trees, and his place, in every particu- lar, shows care and thrift in its management.

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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 57

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