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 63
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Our subject and his wife are both mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and have led long lives of Christian usefulness. In politics Mr. Heath affiliates with the re- publican party. Mr. Heath has passed through a long career of activity and useful- ness and is now surrounded with the fruits and blessings which are brought by the con- sciousness of a well-spent life. He is a man
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who is held in high esteem by all who know him.
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ETER NELSON is a well-to-do farmer residing on section 34, West Brook township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. His native land is Denmark, where he was born February 4, 1850. His parents were Nels and Christena (Nelson) Knutson, both natives of Denmark, where the father still lives and was born in 1811. The mother died in 1883. His father was a laborer, and tried to give his children the advantages of a good education.
Up to fourteen years of age the subject of our sketch attended school and then was obliged to work out. He continued at various employments until attaining twenty- two years of age, when he emigrated to the United States, locating for two years in Mankato, Minnesota; thence he went to Omaha, Nebraska. After a month's stay in that place he went to the State of Iowa, and three months later to Dodge county, Minnesota, which county remained his home for five years. He then came to his present place of residence, taking a homestead of 160 acres of land.
Mr. Nelson was married in June, 1881, to Ingeborg Fosse, daughter of John Fosse, a native of Norway. This union has been blessed with four children: Lars Nikolai, Carl John, Hans Theodore and Annie Christena. The family are members of the Lutheran church.
Our subject has been quite successful in various financial projects, and his careful management of his farm has brought him considerable profit. In connection with rais- ing grain he also raises Durham cattle and Norman horses and Poland China hogs. In this line he has succeeded in producing some of the best animals in the township, and has made it a profitable source of revenue. In
public affairs he always takes an active part, and assists in the management of public affairs. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and has held the office of township treasurer and various positions on the school board. He is a man of high character, and is highly respected by all who know him.
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AMES E. DOAK is an influential busi-
ness man of Slayton, Murray county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in handling coal, wood, stone, brick, lime, hair, cement, salt, plaster of Paris, etc. He carries a large and complete stock, and is doing an exten- sive and profitable business.
Mr. Doak is the son of Derius and Martha (Thompson) Doak, both of whom were na- tives of Maine. The father's family were among the first settlers of New Hampshire, locating in an early day in the village of Londonderry. They came to this county from Ireland, where they resided in the town of Londonderry. They were prominent and influential people of New Hampshire.
James E. Doak was born in Scarsport, Maine, May 24, 1842. During his early life he attended the district school in summer, and, as soon as he became old enough, during the winter he followed a seafaring life. At sixteen years of age he gave his entire time to life on the sea, working on vessels plying between Portland, Maine, and Cuba, and trading in sugar and molasses. When the Civil War commenced our subject was mate of the vessel Augusta, and giving up that position, he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry, his en- listment being dated May 1, 1861, in answer to the first call of the President for vol- unteers. He served during three years of the war, being discharged July 27, 1864. For gallant and efficient service he was gradually promoted from the rank of private
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up through all the various offices to second and first lieutenant. He participated in all the battles of his division up to May 24, 1864, when he was wounded at the charge on Tay- lor's Bridge, twenty miles north of Rich- mond, Virginia. IIe was also wounded at Fredericksburg, in December, 1862, and also at Wauping Heights, in September, 1864. After being severely wounded at Taylor's Bridge, and while at home on a furlough, he was discharged from further service. After recovering from his wounds he again en- gaged in a seafaring life, continuing until 1880. During this period of life on the sea, he served on several vessels plying in the India, Australia, China and California trade. During this time he was master of a ship. In 1880 he quit a sailor's life and was mar- ried, after which he engaged in the whole- sale tea and coffee business in Boston, Mas- sachusetts. He continued in this line for some three years, and then closed out, and in September, 1885, came to the village of Slay- ton, Murray county, Minnesota, where he at once opened in his present line, and where he has since remained. Our subject has been an earnest politician throughout his life, and has occupied positions very close to the lead- ers of the national republican party. Mr. Doak was a resident of the city of New Or- leans for a while, and for two years (1869-70) had charge of the river police, receiving his appointnient from Governor Warmouth.
Mr. Doak was married in Marlborough, Massachusetts, November 2, 1881, to Emma S. Fay, a daughter of William and Sophia (Fowler) Fay, natives of Marlborough and Northbridge, Massachusetts, respectively. Mrs. Doak's parents were early settlers of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, where they were wealthy and influential people. Her grandfather was one of the prominent men of Marlborough, where he established a banking institution, of which he became president. William Fay, her father, is now
president of that bank. Mr. and Mrs. Doak have been blessed with one child : William Fay.
The subject of our sketch has been a very prominent citizen of Slayton ever since mak- ing his location, and he has always assisted in developing and carrying out every project which tended toward the improvement of his locality. He is prominent in Grand Army of the Republic circles, and has been commander of the Logan post, No. 162, ever since that post was organized. He is also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a director of the camp of Modern Woodmen of America. Perhaps no man in the county has had such a wide personal experience as the subject of our sketch. He has traveled extensively, and has been around the world three or four times. In his sailor's life he visited nearly every part of the civilized world, and has for 173 days at one time been out of sight of land. He is a man of good business qualifi- cations, and has met with merited success in his financial enterprises. He is thrifty and economical, and is highly respected among his business associates.
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ANS CASPERSON, one of the relia- ble citizens and farmers of Royal township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, is the son of Casper and Carrie (Rasmusson) Ras- musson, both natives of Denmark. The par- ents were farmers in their native land.
Hans Casperson was born in Frinen, Den- mark, February 2, 1849. The early educa- tional advantages of the subject of our sketch were not of a very high order, but he was enabled to obtain part of a common school education. The circumstances in which lie lived were somewhat straitened, and he was obliged, at twelve years of age, to leave home and commence earning his own living by working on various farms in his native coun-
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try. He continued at this occupation until 1872, when he emigrated to the United States, first stopping in the vicinity of Albert Lea, Minnesota, where he found employment amongst farmers for four years. At the end of this period he went to Floyd county, Iowa, and followed railroad work for two years, after which he returned to Freeborn county, Minnesota, and for some time followed farm- ing. He then took a contract for building fences and roads and continued at that line for about two years. Then in the spring of 1878 he came to Royal township, Lincoln county, and took a tree claim. He lived on this claim during two summers, but during the winters found employment at Mankato and Rapidan in Blue Earth county, Minnesota. After that, for three or four years he found employment on different farms in Freeborn county, and in 1884 came to his claim and made a permanent settlement.
Mr. Casperson was married in Limestone township, Lincoln county, January 11, 1887, to Miss Ella Hoven, a daughter of Johann Hoven and Ellen (Olea) Hoven, natives of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Casperson have had one child -- Clara, who died in October, 1887.
On coming to Lincoln county our subject had but little means, and had no one to de- pend upon but himself. He was full of energy and push, however, and commenced actively improving his farm and laying the foundations for future prosperity. He has accomplished much success, and is now in fair circumstances. He has 160 acres of excellent land, about forty acres under cultivation, and seven acres of trees ; has a good frame house and barns, and owns a team of horses and several head of cattle. Since coming to the township he had taken an active interest in all matters of a public nature, and has fulfilled his part in the manipulation of local governmental affairs. He was chosen delegate to attend the first county conven . tion held at Marshfield in June, 1881. He
is a man of good business abilities, and has efficiently held several positions. He has held the office of chairman of the board of supervisors for the last two years, and has also been school treasurer for three years. He was elected constable in the spring of 1881, but held that office only a short time, on account of going away. He has also been treasurer of the Farmers' Alliance of this county for some time, and is always interested in the furtherance of any project which has for its aim the benefit and improvement of the con- dition of the farmers. He is a man of good character, a loyal citizen, and esteemed by all who know him.
- EORGE W. KNISS is engaged in the real estate and loan business in Luverne, Minnesota. He came to the county in June, 1870, and settled in the village of Luverne, where he has resided ever since. He pre-empted land in Clinton township and commenced farming, living on the same for some eighteen months, after which he took a homestead that is now within the city limits of Luverne. He improved all his land and engaged in general farming and stock-raising for a number of years. In company with Judge Hadley, of Luverne, he prepared the first set of abstract books in the county, and they continued as partners in business of this nature for some eight years. In 1880 the partnership just mentioned purchased a one-half interest in the Bank of Luverne, now known as the First National Bank. Our subject was vice-president of the bank which the partnership purchased, and re- tained his interest and position until 1884, when he sold out. Besides giving his atten- tion to the real estate and loaning business, he has engaged extensively in operating some excellent farming lands. He is now engaged in managing 1,500 acres of land, a great portion of which is improved and upon
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which are found fine buildings. At the organization of the county he acted as the first county auditor from the 9th day of November, 1870, until the following May, and made ont the first election returns of the county. Among the other positions which he has held and in which he has proven himself eminently qualified as an official, are those of deputy register of deeds, which he held two years, and justice of the peace one term. He has been a notary public since 1873, and is so well and favora- bly known that he does the largest business in the line of drawing papers and taking ac- knowledgments in the county.
George W. Kniss is a native of Defiance, Defiance county, Ohio, where he was born October 12, 1838. His parents were Jacob and Mernava Kniss, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter a native of Vir- ginia. The father was an extensive leather merchant throughout his life, owned a large tannery and dealt to a considerable extent in boots and shoes. He was one of the wealthy and influential citizens of Defiance.
The father died in Ohio in 1849, the mother is still living and is a resident of Luverne. In the father's family there are three children liv- ing: Minnie, now Mrs. Dr. II. H. Hurlbert, of Duluth ; our subject, and P. J., of whom a sketch is given in another department of this work.
The early days of the subject of our sketch were spent beneath the parental roof in his native town, where he was given a good com- mon-school education. At the age of seven- teen he commenced life for himself as a clerk in one of the stores in his native town. After five years' experience in mercantile trade he enlisted in Company G, Fourteenth Ohio In- fantry, in the three months' service under Colonel J. B. Steadman. After this term of service had expired, our subject re-en- listed in Company C, Sixty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served four
years and four months. For gallant service he was promoted to the rank of captain of Company H, in which he had enlisted, and of which company he had been promoted to the lieutenancy some time before, which position (captain) he held at the close of the war. He also acted as adjutant for some time, and for nearly a year was commander of a battery of light artillery, and the con- valescent camp at Huntsville, Alabama. He was frequently entrusted with the responsi- bility of perilous undertakings when march- ing through the enemy's country. His mili- tary experience was of an exciting nature, and he passed through many narrow escapes. He was wounded in the left leg at the battle of Champion Hill, in which battle his regi- ment was connected with the Seventeenth Corps of the Army of the Tennessee, under General McPherson, and in the Third di- vision under General Logan and in General Leggett's brigade. Among the battles in which our subject participated were Pitt's Landing, at Shiloh, siege of Corinth, battle of Hatchie river, Fort Gibson, Raymond, the assault and capture of Jackson, Mississippi, Edwards Ferry, Black River, Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Iuka, Mechanicsville, Washita river, Canton, and in numerous other battles and skirmishes of minor im- portance. After he was honorably dis- charged from the service he went to Wis- consin and settled at Portage City in Colum- bia county. Here for some time he found employment as clerk in a general store, and remained for some two years. He then re- moved to Yellow River, Wood county, same State, and engaged in lumbering, which line of occupation he followed three years. Thence he removed to Luverne, where he has since resided and where he has carried on a profitable and extensive business.
The subject of our sketch was married in the year 1863 to Miss Lina Older of Packwau- kee, Wisconsin. This lady was a daughter of
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Jesse and Mary Older, prominent citizens of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Kniss have been blessed with three children : Lulu B., Myrtle C. and Ralph W.
For years the subject of our sketch affili- ated with the republican party, but, being a strong temperance man, on the organization of the prohibition party his attention was directed to its principles, and finally he joined the party, and since then has been working for its victory. He was one of the organizers of the Rock County News, a paper operated in the interests of the prohibition party. He is also a Mason, an Odd Fellow and member of the Grand Army of the Re- public. He is a man of the highest de- gree of integrity. and is well known for his business force and progressive ideas, and has an extensive and honorable acquaintance with the settlers of Rock county. He has aided materially in all matters tending to the financial development and other welfare of Luverne and vicinity, and has by con- stant application to his various business en- terprises accumulated considerable means. He is a loyal citizen, a man of high moral character, and is respected by all who know him.
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ILLIAM HARRISON came to Pipestone county in the fall of 1879, since which time he has been a resident of section 19, Gray township, where he lo- cated on railroad land. During his entire residence here, he has proven himself a man of high character, thrifty and industrious, and has surrounded himself with the signs of prosperity and success. In all public matters he takes an active interest, and has held numerous positions of trust, having been one of the directors of school district No. 25 for two terms, and also a member of the board of supervisors for two years. He
was one among the pioneer settlers of the township, and assisted in its organization.
The subject of our sketch was born in New Jersey, in the town of Phillipsburgh, War- ren county, August 29, 1849. His parents were John J. and Catharine (Hauk) Harri- son. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion, which line of business he followed throughout the most of his life. In the spring of 1867 the family removed to Wis- consin, where the father died in August, 1872. He was a respected citizen, and a representative man of the locality in which he lived. The mother was a native of the State of New Jersey, where she was reared and educated. She passed from this life when the subject of our sketch was fourteen years of age. William Harrison was one of a large family of children, ten of whom are living: David, Thomas, Elizabeth, John, William, Catharine, Higgins, Williamson, Marshall and Sarah Jane. The names of the deceased children are Jerry, Henry and Effie Ann.
The subject of our sketch received his early education in the State of New Jersey, being given good educational facilities in the coun- ty of his nativity. He remained with his father, assisting in work on the farm, until he was about eighteen years of age, when he removed with his family to Wisconsin, re- maining in that State one and a half years. At the end of thisperiod hereturned tothe East and continued his residence in New Jersey, engaged in the hotel business for two and a half years. At the end of that time he re- turned to Wisconsin, settling in Sauk county, where he remained some time, and then came to Fillmore county, Minnesota. After mak- ing the last named county his residence for one and a half years he then removed to Pipe- stone county, in 1879, where he has been a prominent resident ever since.
Mr. Harrison was married in 1871, on Christmas day, in Baraboo, Sauk county,
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Wisconsin, to Miss Elizabeth Palmer. This lady was born near Williamsport, in Lycom- ing county, Pennsylvania, in July, 1847. When she was eight years of age her parents removed to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where she lived until her marriage. In that county she received an excellent education. Her parents were Jolın K. and Jane (Wilson) Palmer, the father a farmer by occupation, and, at present, living near Augusta, Wis- consin. The mother was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where she was reared and educated. She is also living, and is an exemplary member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. In her father's family there were the following named children : Mary Jane, Elizabeth, William Henry, Emily, Del- pha, Rose Ella, Peter and Hannah, seven of whom are still living. Hannah died when she was eighteen months old. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have been blessed with four chil- dren : Mabel, born October 29, 1872; Lela, born March 8, 1874; Mack, born December 18, 1875, and Grover C., born January 21, 1884, and died when two years and five days old. Mabel is attending the high school at Pipestone.
The subject of our sketch has risen to an influential position among the citizens of Gray township, and is one of its representa- tive men. He is a man of excellent judg- ment and of high character, and has the es- teem of all his fellow-townsmen. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party, and has become quite prominent in the local af- fairs of that organization.
AVID M. FAIRBAIRN, a leading and enterprising farmer and stock raiser of Amboy township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, located on section 22 in May, 1878, where he homesteaded his present place. The subject of our sketch was born in Canada West October 9, 1835. He was
the son of David M. Fairbairn, a miller by trade and a native of Scotland, who emigrated to Canada in about 1832. In 1848 he located in Wisconsin and remained there until his death, which occurred April 22, 1873. Our subject's mother's name was Jane (Herd) Fairbairn, who was a native of Scotland, and who died March 8, 1888. There were ten children in the father's family-Jane, Archi- bald, Elsie, Mary, Janet, David M., Robert H., Esther, William, and James, who died aged one year and six months.
The early training and education of David Fairbairn was received in Canada West. When thirteen years of age he removed to Winnebago county, Wisconsin, remaining in that locality until 1852, when he removed to Waushara county, same State. In 1872 he went to Green Lake county and made that his home until 1878. His life until twenty- two years of age was spent with his parents and he was given a good education in the district schools. On attaining twenty-two years of age he went to California, and pro- spected along the Pacific coast in Oregon, Washington Territory and other localities, spending some thirteen years. His business was that of mining and freighting. After the length of time just mentioned had expired he returned to Wisconsin on a short visit and then went to Kansas and Missouri, where he remained during the winter looking over the country. Returning to Green Lake, Wiscon- sin, in the spring he engaged in farming for seven years, and while there became quite prominent in local affairs. He held various official positions ; was chairman of the town- ship board for five years and held various other positions. In 1878 he came to his present location in Cottonwood county. He is a hard-working, energetic, and systematic farmer and has been quite successful. He is a man of good ideas and wields a strong in- fluence for good among his fellow-citizens. He has held various official positions and has
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taken an active part in public matters. He has been justice of the peace, and in various other capacities has proven his willingness to participate in the management of local polit- ical affairs. In politics he affiliates with the republican party and has supported that or- ganization from its inception.
Mr. Fairbairn was married July 3, 1872, to Miss Joan Safley, a native of Cedar county, Iowa, and a daughter of Robert Safley, a farmer in that State. Miss Safley was a teacher in her early days and is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Fair- bairn have nine children-Agnes D., Robert S., Helen, James L., David A., Jeanie, Mabel, Walter H. and Leonard A.
- RNT LARSON is a substantial farmer and resident of section 20, Lime Lake township, Murray county, Minnesota. He was born in Norway, September 25, 1848, and was the son of Lars and Martha (Runy) Hanson. The parents were natives of Nor- way, and were occupied with agricultural pursuits.
The subject of our sketch left the parental 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 schools. On coming to America he located in Lanesboro, Minnesota, where he assisted on various farms during 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 places at which he stopped thereafter for some time were Mankato and Lanesboro. 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; also in Fillmore county, where he worked on a railroad in Fountain during the winter.
From thence he went to Mankato and St. James, and then to St. Peter. At this latter place he remained during the winter. How- ever, before going to St. Peter, he went over into Murray county 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 shanty, this being the first log house in the township. Later he made a perma- nent location on his farm, after having been during the intervening time engaged in various kinds of labor, spending the winter and early spring on his farm.
Mr. Larson was married to Andrene Nil- son, September 4, 1875. This lady was a native of Norway, and a daughter of Nels Braaten. Four children have been born to this union-Lars, Mina A., Nora E., and Charlotta.
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