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 59
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been engaged in diversified pursuits, but in them all, by careful management, has attained merited success, and has made a considerable fortune. In public matters he always takes an active interest, and willingly assists by word and deed, in a financial and in other ways, in every project which tends to the strengthening of the financial status of the town in which he lives. He is a man of excellent principles, honest, upright in every particular, and is respected and es- teemed by a large circle of friends.
HAMILTON WELLS is a retired farmer, residing in Pipestone City, Minnesota. He is one of the pioneer settlers of the county, having made his location here on the 26th of March, 1878. He first settled in Grange township, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land, and on which he resided for about two years. While on that land he built a shanty 12x14 feet, and seven feet high, and broke 100 acres, and in every way experienced the usual enjoyments of pioneer life. In 1879 he entered into a contract with the government to carry the mail to. and from Luverne, in Rock county, Minnesota. This engagement was continued for eight years, during the most of which time his residence was in Pipestone City. He made a successful engagement with the government, and during the greater time of his employ- ment on the mail route used two horses, the traffic and governmental matter being so large that one horse was not sufficient. Some years ago he traded his farm for city property, and is now the owner of three houses, other than his own residence, in which he has tenants at present.
The subject of our sketch is a native of Jackson county, Ohio, where he was born on the 3d day of July, 1827. He is the son of Thomas and Mary (McCoy) Wells, natives of Kentucky and Ohio, respectively. The
father was engaged principally in farming throughout his life, and in 1846 he removed to Sioux county, Wisconsin, where he fol- lowed that occupation until his death. Our subject continued at the home of his parents until he was sixteen years of age, being given good educational advantages in his native State. On attaining the age just mentioned he hired out to work on a farm in Indiana, and remained with one employer for two years. At the end of that time he returned to Ohio and remained another two years, and in 1847 went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. One year later, in 1848, he went to Sioux county, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming until the breaking out of the war. In Octo- ber, 1861, he enlisted in Company L, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and continued in the Union service for three years. In a skirmish with guerillas six miles from Corinth, Mississippi, he was severely wounded, and suffered a long period of disability before his entire re- covery. He was engaged in a great many battles and skirmishes. After his three years' services he returned home, and shortly after removed to Iowa, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for three years in Chickasaw county. At the end of that period he again found his way back to Wis- consin, where for ten years he followed farming, after which he came to Pipestone county, as was stated in the opening of this sketch.
Mr. Wells was married October 17, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth E. Harris, of Harrisburg, Sioux county, Wisconsin. This lady was a daughter of Jonathan and Abigail E, (Cro- craft) Harris, her father being an extensive farmer in Sioux county, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have had four children, three of whom are now living-John W., Henry H. and Charles E. John married Emma Heffel, and is now residing on a farm in Pipestone county; Henry married Miss Ada Chapman, of Berlin, Wisconsin ; Charles
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married Pettie C. Kester, of Reedsburg, Wisconsin. The subject of our sketch has lived a long and useful life. His career has been full of activities and earnest endeavor to build up for himself and family a com- fortable fortune. He has accumulated con- siderable means, and now after a long life has settled down to enjoy the results of his labor. Being an early settler of Pipestone county, he occupies a prominent place in the minds of his fellow-citizens, and has a wide circle of acquaintances. In politics he affili- ates with the republican party. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both take an active interest in all mat- ters which pertain to the social and moral welfare of the public.
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RIC LARRABEE is a prominent farmer of Selma township, Cotton- wood county, Minnesota, and is the son of Alvah and Amy (Humphry) Larrabee, natives, respectively, of New York and Ver- inont. Our subject was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, June 10, 1848, to which place his parents had removed in an early day. When Eric was thirteen years of age the parents removed to Freeborn county, Minnesota, locating on a farm of two hun- dred acres near the city of Albert Lea. Re- siding on the same for three years, they then sold out and located in Brown county, near the village of Sleepy Eye, on two hundred acres of Sioux reservation land.
Our subject continued residing with his parents until he was a little over twenty-one years of age. He then found employment on various farms, and later learned the mason's trade, which business he followed for some seven or eight months. During this time he took a homestead on section 8 in Butterfield township, Watonwan county. He finally commuted his time and then sold out and took a pre-emption on section 8,
Selma township, Cottonwood county, in which township he afterward took a tree claim. He has resided on this claim ever since, with the exception of two years spent in Brown county, one year on a rented farm and one year working out at his trade. He then returned to his farm, which he had left on account of failure of crops, and has since continued his residence there. He has been quite successful and has a good frame house, barn, and other buildings, and a fine grove of eleven acres of trees. In politics he affili- ates with the republican party, is a man of good character, and is widely respected. He has held the office of township clerk, treas- urer, and also school director and treasurer of the school district.
Mr. Larabee was married to Miss Allie J. Hall of Waukau, Winnebago county, Wis- consin, on the 23d of March, 1875. They have had three children born to them : Jen. nie May, born December 14, 1876; Ward W., born May 18, 1878, and Amy O. Larrabee, born November 30, 1884.
EV. DAVID P. OLIN, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lake Benton, Minnesota, is the son of Rev. Giles and Electa (Palmer) Olin, the former a Methodist Episcopal minister and a native of Wales, and the latter a native of England. In 1866 the parents located at Sparta, Wis- consin, where, two years later, they both died. The parents were exemplary Chris- tian people and died in the triumphs of Christian faith.
Rev. D. P. Olin was born in Montgomery county, New York, December 26, 1852. Removing with his parents to Sparta, Wis- consin, in September, 1865, he was given the educational advantages of the high school, from which institution he graduated in June, 1868. He removed from Sparta to Prairie du Chien, where he resided with Rev. Alfred
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Bronson, D. D., for two years, during which time he attended the Prairie du Chien Col- lege. Completing his educational course he then entered the employ of G. W. Comstock & Co., proprietors of a soap factory. He continued his engagement with them as traveling salesman for one and a half years, after which he removed to Eau Claire. In that city he accepted a position as book- keeper and scaler of logs for the Eau Claire Lumber Company. He continued a profit- able and satisfactory engagement with this company for three years, after which he went to Red Wing, Minnesota, and estab- lished the Red Wing broom factory, in which business he continued for some three and a half years. In March, 1878, he sold out his business and removed to Brookings county, Dakota, where he took a homestead and tree claim and engaged in farming until 1886. He still owns the homestead. In October, 1886, he entered the Christian ministry and was or- dained as deacon in October, 1888. His first charge was at Spring Lake, Hand county, Da- kota, where he organized a church society and secured sixty-eight members. When he took charge of this work there were but eight persons who had been members of a Metho- dist Episcopal church. He was given charge of a large circuit or mission field, and suc- ceeded remarkably well in creating an in- creased religious interest. On his circuit he organized five church societies. £ This was indeed missionary work of the hardest kind, and in remuneration for his labor he received $198.37 as a total for liis year's salary. He was not working, however, for money, and therefore his greatest encouragement and happiness was in the fact that he had suc- ceeded in renewing the religious interest of many people who had severed or lost their connection with church societies to which they had belonged before locating in that country. From Dakota Rev. Mr. Olin re- moved to Heron Lake, Jackson county, Min-
nesota, where he was given charge of the Methodist church, having joined the Minne- sota conference that fall. He remained at Heron Lake, accomplishing a great amount of good, and building up the church society from a membership of twelve to a member- ship of thirty-six. Removing thence he was staiioned at Lake Benton with charge over Lake Benton and Balaton circuit. He resides in Lake Benton, to which place he came in October, 1888. Rev. Olin is an earnest preacher of the gospel and has succeeded in awakening considerable religious in- terest in his charge. Besides being a good preacher, a man of good Christian thought, he exhibits in practical life what he de- fends in his sermons. On taking hold of the charge of which he is shepherd at present he found the church society at a low ebb because of various distressing circumstances which had come to the people in the years previous. He com- menced earnestly laboring for his master and the church by the grace of God and much hard work and perseverance has built up and strengthened the church society, increasing the membership at Balaton from twenty- four to sixty-four. Our subject was converted under the ministry of Rev. C. Hobert, D. D., in Red Wing, in February, 1875. His wife and her father were converted at the same time and all were received into the church fellowship on the same day by Rev. Mr. Hobert. The subject of our sketch is a man of excellent Christian character, and living an exemplary Christian life among his peo- ple, teaches not only by words but also by actions and actual life the way of holy living. Besides being a good preacher he is a man among men, taking hold of the various inter- ests which circle about his church work and giving them his utmost care and attention, sympathizing with the wants of the distressed, comforting those in sorrow, strengthening the spiritual belief of those who are spiritually
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downcast. His Christian and gentlemanly bearing are of such a nature as to draw to him many friends in Lake Benton and vicinity.
Rev. Mr. Olin was married by Rev. C. Hobert in Red Wing, July 5, 1875, to Miss Jennie Tyler, a daughter of M. S. and Isabel (Barclay) Tyler, natives, respectively, of England and Scotland. Miss Tyler is a native of Red Wing, Minnesota, where she received her early training and education. Rev. and Mrs. Olin have been blessed with two children-Lottie, born in Red Wing, and Harry, born in Brookings, Brookings county, South Dakota.
ETER O. RAKNESS is the popular and efficient postmaster of the village of Hadley, Murray county, Minnesota. He is also engaged in the general mercantile busi- ness and does a large and profitable trade. He was born in Norway, January 9, 1848, and was the son of O. O. and Bertha (Peter- son) Rakness, both of whom were natives of Norway. The parents were farmers by occupation and resided in their native land until their death. The mother died in 1850, the death of the father occurring January 19, 1884.
The subject of our sketch left the parental home in 1872. Up to fifteen years of age he had attended the district schools and after that until 1872 he engaged in farming and fishing. In the year just named he sailed to America, landing in New York City, July 1st. Passing thence he came West to Minne- sota, locating at the city of Mankato, where he found employment as a mason for Mr. Wilkinson. He continued his residence in Mankato until 1877, when, in March, he went to Oregon, remaining sixteen months, his time being spent in the employ of the Oregon Transfer Company and the Oregon Steam Navigation Company and also with
surveying corps, the last three months of his stay in Oregon being spent in salmon fishing in the Columbia river. He then returned to Minnesota, coming to Slayton, Murray coun- ty, where he had taken a farm prior to his going to Oregon. Returning to Minnesota he employed his time in working for a surveying corps of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad. After three months he again returned to his farm, where he resided four years. Then selling out all his personal prop- erty he went to Madelia and engaged in clerking in a general store owned by Bisbee, Olson & Boynton, continuing with them about a year. He then came to the village of Hadley, Murray county, and opened a general store under the firm name of Rak- ness & Company, his partner being O. K. . Rakness. After nine months this partner- ship was dissolved and our subject became the sole proprietor. He carries a finely as- sorted stock of goods, worth somewhat over twenty-five hundred dollars, and is well pre- pared to meet the wants of his increasing trade. He was appointed postmaster of Hadley village in 1887, which position lie holds at the present time. He is a man of excellent business qualifications and has been quite successful in all his financial operations. He is the check payer of the F. H. Peavey Grain Company.
Mr. Rakness was married November 14, 1873, to Johanna Oye, a resident of Mankato at the time of her marriage. This lady was the daughter of Ole and Ingeborg (Tilstad) Oye, both of whom were natives of Norway, where the mother died some years ago and where the father still lives. Miss Oye was a native of Norway, where she was born in the year 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Rakness have been blessed with the following-named chil- dren - Bertha, Oscar, Ida, Otto, George, Lena, and Alida.
The political faith of the subject of our sketch is with the republican party, in whose
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principles he has believed ever since coming to the United States. He has become quite popular in his locality, and being known as an excellent business man, has efficiently filled various official positions. He has been township clerk for four years, justice of the peace for three years, and is a notary public. He is a man of excellent character and is a member of the Lutheran church.
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ANIEL B. WHIGAM, a prominent farmer of Troy township, Pipestone county, Minnesota, lives on section 10. which has been his home ever since 1878. The place of his nativity was Lake county, Illinois, where he was born February 18, 1840.
The subject of our sketch is the son of William and Caroline (Wright) Whigam, natives of New York and Vermont, respect- ively. Captain Daniel Wright, his mother's father, was a native of New York, and was one of the first settlers in Lake county, Illinois, where he built the first log cabin in 1835. Mr. Whigam still has a picture of this old cabin. Mr. Wright lived on this farm until his death, which occurred at the good old age of ninety years. William, a brother of our subject, was the first child born in Lake county. Daniel B.'s father was a native of Brooklyn, New York, and by occupation a sailor until he came to Illinois, which was in 1834 or 1835, where he was one of the pioneer settlers. He died four months before Daniel was born.
The subject of our sketch remained in Illinois until he was nineteen years of age, receiving a common-school education. The four and a half years following were spent in California, where he followed the business of freighting from Sacramento up the mount- ains. Then he returned to Illinois and re- mained on the old homestead for about seven years. In 1871 he came to Faribault, Minne-
sota, where he kept a restaurant until April, 1878. At this time he came to Troy township in company with Major Rice. The journey was made by the good old-fashioned method of ox teams. In June his family followed him. During this summer he built his house, which was the second and at that time the best in Pipestone county. This house has been his home ever since.
August 3, 1863, Mr. Whigam was married to Miss Lucy A. Smith, of Illinois, the daughter of Timothy B. and Lucy P. (Rider) Smith, who came from New Hampshire. This union has been blessed with two chil- dren, both living at the present time-Lewis E. and Nellie M. Mrs. Whigam's mother died in 1888, in Troy township. Mrs. Whigam's father spent his last days with his daughter's family, where he died in 1884.
The educational advantages furnished the young in the early days of Mr. Whigam's life were of such a character as to enable him to obtain an excellent common-school education. By careful observation and at- tentive reading on the current events of the day and of the recent history of our country, Mr. Whigam has become well posted in all matters that pertain to practical life. He is one of the most social of men and is an in- teresting conversationalist. His life, both in precept and practice, during his residence in this county, has been of such a high charac- ter that he has drawn to himself the respect and esteem of all who know him. In matters of a public nature he takes a lively interest, and is one of the very best citizens of the county. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Whigam states that the most trying time he has experienced since he came to Pipestone county, occurred in the winter of '88. It was about 4 o'clock P. M., and as it had been warm and pleasant all the forenoon, he decided to take his cattle down to the creek
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and water them. Up to this time he had been carrying water to them all winter. Everything went all right until he had got started home, when the wind suddenly "shifted" and in five minutes one of the worst "blizzards" he had ever witnessed was raging. The cattle could make no headway against it, and he finally lost his way and was obliged to let them go. He went with the wind until he reached a wire fence, which he followed until he came to a neighbor's house a mile from home. From there he took a ball of twine, fastened one end and kept the other in his hand, so in case he should not be able to get home he could re- turn in this manner, after three hours of hard work, he reached his house. The next day they went out for the cattle, but found only one that was alive out of nineteen head, and that one was frozen so badly that it was never able to get around afterward.
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ILLIAM A. MILLER, an influen. tial farmer of Prescott township, Faribault county, Minnesota, located on sec- tion 6, April 15, 1858. He pre-empted the land on which he now lives and has made it his residence ever since. He has been en- gaged in farming and stock-raising, and be- ing but two miles from Winnebago City, has an excellent market for all his grain and stock. He has nine acres of a fine grove which for the past five years has supplied the family with fuel. This grove was planted by our subject, and there are now some very large trees. About twenty feet from the door of his dwelling stands a tree some sixty feet in height, its branches spreading fifty feet from tip to tip. In circumference it measures some eight and a half feet, and al- though having attained such remarkable growth it was planted by Mr. and Mrs. Mil- ler in 1869. It is supposed to be the first tree planted in the township, and when put
into the ground was no larger than a walk- ing stick. It was first brought here from Shelbyville by Dr. Humes in 1859, and was used by that gentleman as an ox goad and was given to Mr. Miller, who planted it. Our subject was the second actual settler of Pres- cott township, Mr. L. W. Brown being the first. During all these years our subject has continued a permanent resident, although having experienced many hardships and se- vere times. He passed through the grass- hopper raids and raised but little grain for two years, and experienced other trials and privations such as are usually found in pioneer life. Faribault was his market place and a trip to that place occu- pied some five days. Mr. Miller assisted in the organization of the township in 1861, the first meeting being held in the house of Henry McDowell, where there were eleven votes cast for the organization of the civil division. Our subject was one of the first supervisors and afterwards officiated as township clerk, holding various other of- fices, and has always taken an active part in public matters.
The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch was born in Rock- ville township, Crawford county, Pennsylva- nia, November 1, 1833. His parents were of German descent, but were born in America. Until he was twenty-five years of age Mr. Miller remained in his native county, receiv- ing a good practical education, and for some years engaged in farming and lumbering. He was married in 1856, and about two years later came to Faribault county, Minne- sota, where he has since lived.
On the 23d day of April, 1856, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Julia Ann Humes, who was born in Woodcock township, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have six children-El- bert J., Ella A., Bramwell S., Bert B., Mat- thew, Ozro and Clyde O.
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In religious sentiment our subject is a Baptist, and is one of the influential mem- bers of that society. A strong temperance man, he has for some time affiliated with the prohibition party in politics and believes in the total destruction of the liquor traffic. He is a well-to-do and prosperous farmer, and is one of the representative citizens of the township and county.
NDREW E. ERICKSON is a promi- nent citizen and leading farmer of Lowville township, Murray county, Minne- sota, residing on section 23. The place of his nativity is found in Sweden, where he was born August 30, 1838.
The parents of the subject of our sketch were Erick and Saran (Johnson) Anderson, who were also natives of the land of Swe. den. They came to America in 1871, and settled in Big Stone county, Minnesota, where the father died in 1888. The mother is still living in Big Stone county.
Andrew E. Erickson was the third of nine children, and he remained with his parents until 1868, when he came to the United States. In his early life he was given good educational advantages, and learned the trade of wagon-making and blacksmithing. On coming to America, he located in Ishpe- mning, Marquette county, Michigan, where he was employed in wagon-making and blacksmithing for five years. In 1873 he re- moved to Michigamme, and worked at his trade until 1877, when he opened a general store, stocking it with hardware, furniture, undertaking goods, etc. This business grew to large dimensions and became quite profit- able, but it was destroyed by fire in 1885. In the summer of the following year our subject came to Murray county and pur- chased the land where he now lives. He then returned to the place where he had been doing business for so many years, and
remained until spring. He then brought his family to Murray county, and has made that his home ever since.
The subject of our sketch was married April 24, 1864, to Miss Stina Jonas, a native of Sweden. This marriage has been blessed with the following children-John G., Carl A. and Edward E., all of whom are living at home at the present time.
Our subject is a man of energetic habits, and successfully operates his fine farm of 160 acres, and also runs a steam threshing- machine. He has been quite successful in raising crops and in other business lines, and has accumulated considerable means. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and has held the offices of township clerk, being at present road overseer and school director. Mr. Erickson is a man of excellent qualities, of character beyond re- proach, and is respected by all who know him.
OHN G. D. WHIPPLE is a prominent and well-known farmer and stock raiser located on the northeast quarter of section 8, Diamond Lake township, Lincoln county, Minnesota. He homesteaded his land April 2, 1877, and was among the first settlers of the township. The first year he broke ten acres of land, and raised sixty-two bushels of wheat, and also forty bushels of corn and forty bushels of potatoes. This crop was raised on ground that had been plowed be- fore Mr. Whipple's settlement. He set out a number of trees the first year and also the. second and third years after he came to the township. Among these are to be found fine specimens of cottonwood, ash, willow, in all about an acre near and around his house. He erected a primitive dwelling the first year, 16x16 feet, and has since been adding thereto until he now has a comfortable and commo- dious house, in which he lives. He took extra
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