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 74
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The boyhood and early life of the subject of our sketch was spent in the state of his nativity at the home of his parents. His father being a farmer by occupation, Matthew followed in the same line of business through- out most of his life spent in New York, He received a good common-school education in the district schools. On reaching manhood he commenced work for himself, principally at farming, and continued his residence in his native State until he was twenty-five years of age, when he started westward on a trip of inspection through Michigan and Wisconsin. Remaining in Wisconsin until the breaking out of the war, he enlisted, in 1862, in the Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a private. His part in the war was important, and all the duties which fell to his lot were well and thoroughly performed. Throughout his service he held the position of a non-commissioned officer, and when dis- charged was ranked as third sergeant of Company K. He was discharged at Vicks- burg, Mississippi, and was mustered out of his regiment at Madison, Wisconsin, having passed a portion of his service under Cap- tain Whicher, and also under Albert S. Sampson. The experience of our subject was of a severe and exciting nature, being spent mostly in hard fighting at the front. He participated in about thirty-eight battles and skirmishes, among them being the
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battles of Nashville, Kane river, Bolton, siege of Vicksburg, Black River bridge, Cold Harbor, Jackson, Hollow Springs, Pleasant Hill Landing, Tehola, Margo cross roads, Mobile, Spanish Fort, Jerry Run, Safolio river and Blakeley. The last battle in which he was engaged was at Fort Blake- ley and the taking of Mobile, in which our subject saw much severe fighting. In the battle of Tehola the Rebel shot fell upon the Union lines like hail, and comrades on the right and left and in front, and, indeed, all about our subject, were struck down by the Rebel bullets. In this battle our subject narrowly escaped death, as it was found afterwards that there were nine bullet holes in his clothing. After his discharge from the service Mr. Gunsolus returned to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and for a short time stopped at Rosendale. From Wiscon- sin he removed to Waseca county, Minnesota, in about 1865, pre-empted government land and made that his home until coming to Pipestone county in 1878.
Mr. Gunsolus was married on the 9th day of March, 1858, to Miss Mary M. Brooks, a native of Madison county, New York, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Gunsolus have three children, one daughter and two sons-Melissa E., married to Charles E. Hathaway, now a resident of Spencer, Wisconsin ; Guy T., married to Miss Josephine Keating, and now a resident of Minneapolis; and Roy E., aged sixteen and still living with his parents.
Our subject is one of the most enterprising citizens of the township, and has always taken a lively interest in matters pertaining to the public welfare. He has always been a stanch republican in politics, and on the organization of that party, voted for its first candidate, John C. Fremont. In the later history of Pipestone county he has been quite prominent in matters pertaining to the official government thereof, and has held
several positions of trust and responsibility. At present he is township treasurer, to which office he was elected in 1888. He was the first clerk of the school board in the town- ship, being elected in 1879, one year later being succeeded by Major Runals. He also holds the office of street commissioner, to which he was elected in 1888. In these mat- ters, and also in all those things which tend to the elevation of the morals of his fellow men, he takes an active and influential part. With his family, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which society he has held the office of treasurer since its organization. He also holds the offices of trustee and steward of his church. In edu- cational matters he is also a leading spirit, and was one of the promulgators of the plan of erection of the village school house, being a member of the building committee ap- pointed for the purpose of overseeing its con- struction. He is a stanch temperance man, and has been actively engaged in fighting the saloon element during his entire residence here. In Grand Army of the Republic cir- cles he occupies a prominent place, and has held the office of quartermaster of the post since its organization up to January 1, 1889, at which time he was elected commander, being the present incumbent of that office. Mr. Gunsolus is a man of strictest integrity, has been prospered in all his business opera- tions, and is one of the representative citizens of the township.
- ESLEY E. STODDARD, a pros- perous farmer of Amboy township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, located on section 20, July 1, 1878. His native village was Monroe, Erie county, New York, where his birth took place April 2, 1850. His father was Emory D. Stoddard, a native of Connecticut and a farmer by occupation throughout the most of his life. In the fall
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of 1863, after having spent some years in New York and Michigan, he came to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and located near Mankato. He resided on a farm at Winne- bago Agency until his death, which occurred in 1872. He was a man of high character, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Our subject's mother's maiden name was Frances Wright; she was born in Massachusetts and died in St. Joseph county, Michigan, in 1858. She was a member of the Methodist church. At the date of the mother's death there were in the father's family five children-Otis, Sarah Frances, Wesley E., George Washington and Darwin. In 1860 the father married Mrs. Eliza (Barns) Robison, and this marriage was blessed with five children-Warren, Elmer, Alice, Emerson B. and Arvilla.
Our subject's parents left New York in about 1854 and went to Newaygo county, Michigan, where the father engaged in lum- bering for some three years. At the end of that time, in about the spring of 1857, nearly all his personal property was destroyed by fire. The family then went to St. Joseph county, same State, whence, in the summer of 1863, the family came by team to Blue Earth county, Minnesota. They were on the road some six weeks and during this time camped out along the way. On reach- ing Blue Earth county, the father made his location as has already been stated.
The subject of our sketch received the main part of his education in Blue Earth county, and at eighteen years of age left home and commenced working out at farm work, spending some two years in Steele county, Minnesota. He then returned to his father's farm and remained nearly a year, after which he went to the pineries in Wis- consin. Four years were spent in lumber- ing and then our subject came to Minnesota, spending some time in Waseca, Blue Earth and Le Sueur counties, engaged in farming.
In 1878 he went from Le Sueur county to Cottonwood county, and located on his pres- ent farm. He has been a hard working man, and has been engaged in farming and stock- raising with good success. He has a fine farm of 160 acres and has about thirteen acres of it in a grove of trees-cottonwood, maple, willow, black ash and butternuts. Mr. Stoddard affiliates with the republican party in politics and is one of Cottonwood county's representative citizens. He has been quite successful in his various enter- prises since locating in Amboy township; has become quite well to do, and has sur- rounded himself with evidences of prosperity and success.
ANIEL F. FOWSER is a prosperous farmer residing on section, 4 Slay- ton township, Murray county, Minnesota. The place of his nativity is to be found in Lockport township, Will county, Illinois, where he was born November 21, 1856. His parents were Joseph J. and Esther (Ream) Fowser, both born in Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation, and settled in Illinois in 1854, becoming one of the pioneers of that State. He had a family of eight children, of whom our subject was the oldest son.
During the winter months of his early life, our subject attended the district school and at other times assisted his father in work on the home farm, continuing in his birth-place nn- til he was twenty-one years of age. For one year after that time he found employment on the home farm, and at twenty-three years of age was married and took charge of a part of the home farm, his brother, E. T. Fowser, farming a part for four years, after which our subject operated it all alone until 1887. In March of that year the father sold the farm, and the family came to Murray county, Minnesota, where the father still lives. He is now living a retired life in the village of
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Slayton. Our subject located on section 4, where he has an excellent form of 160 acres of. land provided with what are considered the best buildings in the township. Since making his location here he has engaged principally in farming, but is now turning his attention to raising blooded horses, and also has an inter- est in an imported shire stallion.
Mr. Fowser was married February 27, 1879, to Miss Henrietta Gardner, a native of Ohio. This union has been blessed with four children-Clayton G., Loyd F., Grace V. and Mabel M. Our subject's wife was a daughter of Martin and Henrietta (Dhuey) Gardner, who were natives of Germany. In their early married life her parents came to the United States and located in Ohio, where their daughter was born, June 13, 1854. Later they removed to Lockport township, Will county, Illinois, where they both died - Mrs. Gardner August 24, 1882, and Mr. Gard- ner March 30, 1888.
In politics the subject of our sketch affili- ates with the republican party, and has served his constituents in various capacities since coming to the township. He is a man of excellent qualities, and is highly respected by his fellow-citizens. He now holds the of- fice of school director in the district in which he resides.
LE SIVERSON is a thrifty and relia- ble farmer and stock raiser of Marble township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, and is located on section 24, where he settled in 1870. His settlement was made before the land was surveyed and he filed homestead papers on his farm June 7, 1873. He was the first actual settler in the township, and it was then twenty-two miles to the nearest neighbor. His nearest market was New Ulm, to which place he had to go to obtain flour and provisions. He assisted in the or- ganization of the township and served on the
first board of supervisors, being a member of that body for two years. He also served as a member of the second board elected, and is at present treasurer of school district No. 48, which position he has held since its or- ganization. It will be seen by this official record, that Mr. Siverson has taken a promi- nent place in the history of local government and has accomplished much toward the cor- rect manipulation of local affairs. The first year of his settlement in the township he broke two acres of land, built a log house 14x14 feet, in which he lived some nine or ten years, and at the end of that time he built his present commodious farm-house. The first year he also built a log stable and used this for his stock for some two years. He then built a larger stable of logs and used that for stabling purposes until in 1885, when he built his present good barn. Since coming to the county he has been exten- sively and successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising and has accumu- lated a good fortune.
The subject of our sketch is a native of Christiania, Norway, where he was born January 13, 1842. His parents were Siver and Bertha (Erickson) Peterson, both of whom were natives of the old country. The father died some years ago and the mother is still living in Norway. In the father's family there were seven children-Peter Erick, Rachel, Ole, Mary, Ole and Hans. Mary and Erick are both dead; Mary passed from this life when she was about seven weeks old.
The subject of our sketch remained with his parents in the old country engaged in farming until 1868. He was given good educational advanges and acquired a good common-school education. In 1868 he left his native land, came to America and located in Goodhue county, Minnesota. After work- ing out on a farm in that county for two years, he then came to his present location,
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where he has since lived. In politics our subject has affiliated for some years with the republican party and takes an active place in the local counsels of that organization. He is a man of good ability, a systematic farmer, and has met with success in all his various enterprises. He is a leading member of the Lutheran church, of which he has been treasurer and trustee for some years.
Mr. Siverson was married in March, 1870, to Miss Kate Sorenson, a native of Norway. This lady came to America when she was sixteen years of age and settled in Goodhue county, Minnesota, where she first met Mr. Siverson. This union has been blessed with ten children-Siver, Charles, Barney, Sophia, Edward, Mary, Martin, Carrie, Lena and another Edward. The first Edward died when four years of age. Mr. Siverson has a pleas- ant and hospitable home, and is one of the leading farmers of Lincoln county.
ICHAEL CULLEN, one of the most prosperous farmers of Bondin town- ship, Murray county, Minnesota, is the son of Patrick and Mary (Flynn) Cullen, natives of Ireland. He was born in Thell township, County of Sligo, Ireland, September 26, 1852.
When our subject was three years old his father died, but he remained with his mother until her second marriage, which took place when he was seven years of age. From this time until he was seventeen he lived part of the time with her and part with a brother, Martin, occupying his time in farm work and in attending the national schools. At the age just mentioned he came to the United States, first stopping in Brooklyn, New York, where for one year he worked for the city council on public works. He then found employ- ment with Robbins & Appleton, of Bond street, New York, general agents for the American Watch Company, of Waltham, Massachusetts. For one year he acted as
porter for this company, and then learned the trade of assaying, smelting and refining of gold and silver, and for nearly seven years thereafter filled the position of assayer and refiner of gold and silver for Messrs. Robbins & Appleton. In the fall of 1875 he was sent by the Walton Gold Mining Company (of which company Messrs. Robbins & Appleton were large shareholders) to experiment on ores with mercury at their mines in Louisa county, Virginia. From there he was sent on a like errand to Enfield, North Carolina. He then returned to New York, and the fol- lowing June was again sent to the Virginia mines as expert examiner. He remained there until he finished his assays; he then re- turned to New York and resumed his posi- tion of refiner until the spring of 1879, when, on the advice of a physician, he resigned on account of poor health, and came to Minne- sota, where his health has been very good. The subject of our sketch came to Murray county, Minnesota, in May, 1879, and took railroad land under contract, on which he lived ten months, and then sold his improve- ments and moved to a homestead on section 10, Bondin township. He had taken this homestead while residing on the railroad land, and here his residence has since been perma- nent. When our subject landed in New York he had but little over three dollars in his pocket, but by the labor of his own hands, together with economical habits and good business abilities, he has accumulated a very fair property. Henow owns160 acres of good land, with about ninety acres under cultiva- tion, and provided with a good frame house and barn. He also owns three horses, twenty- three head of cattle and all the machinery he needs. In politics the subject of our sketch affiliates with the democratic party. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and of the Catholic church. Mr. Cullen is a man of good character, and is respected and esteemed as a man and citizen. New York
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City was the place of the marriage of our subject, where he was united in matrimony, May 16, 1877, by the Rev. Father Keane, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, to Miss Annie Wynne, daughter of John and Mary (Cullen) Wynne. She was born in the village of Keadue, County of Roscommon, Ireland, September 24, 1856. The fruits of this union are five children- Mary, Martin, Charles, John and Michael.
Mr. Cullen was a member of the special commissioners appointed by Governor Hub- bard in 1885 to take testimony as to the charge of malfeasance in office preferred by the county commissioners against the clerk of district court of Murray county.
- HEELER NISBET resides on an excellent farm of 160 acres on sec- tion 28, Sweet township, Pipestone county, Minnesota. He has been identified with the interests of the township since 1880, and has become quite influential and made many warm friends.
Mr. Nisbet was born in Oneida county, New York State, March 30, 1849. He is a son of William and Catharine (Fox) Nisbet, the former a native of Massachusetts and a farmer by occupation, and the mother a na- tive of New York. The ancestors on the father's side were natives of Scotland, the grandfather having come from that country to America early in the present century. The mother's parents were natives of Ger- many. The father resided in New York State, engaged in farming, until his death, which occurred August 11, 1869. In the father's family there were seven children, five sons and two daughters. Three of the sons and one daughter are now located in Water- town, Dakota Territory, where they are en- gaged in farming. One son, Harrison, died in the army, and the other daughter died in New York.
The subject of our sketch remained on the
home farm during his early life, and at the time of the father's death took charge of the farming interests of the family. Up to this time he had received a good education, and had rendered assistance to his father at farm work. He was twenty-one years of age when the farm came under his management, and he successfully operated it for about one year. He then came to the State of Minne- sota, settling in Pipestone county, where he now lives.
March 20, 1878, Mr. Nisbet was united in marriage to Helen C. Furguson, a native of the State of New York. Her father's occu- pation was that of a farmer, and they are now residents of Pipestone county, where her father lives on a fine farm of 160 acres.
In politics Mr. Nisbet is a supporter of the principles promulgated by the republican party. Ile has been a member of the board of supervisors for five years, during three years of which time he was chairman of that body. Mr. Nisbet is a man of good educa- tion, is a good citizen, and is respected by all with whom he has to do.
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ADS JORGENSON is a prominent farmer of Westbrook township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and resides on section 24. The place of his nativity is in Denmark, where he was born in May, 1849. His parents, Jorg and Mary (Mat- tison) Jenson, were natives of Denmark, and resided in that country until their death, the mother dying in 1856, and the father in 1882. The father was a carpenter by trade, and in connection with that business owned and operated a farm.
The early life of the subject of our sketch was spent in assisting on the home farm, and in attending the public schools. On attaining the age of seventeen years he com- menced work for himself, and emigrated to America in 1874, locating in Freeborn
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county, Minnesota. Here our subject en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for five years, and then removed to Westbrook township, Cottonwood county, where he purchased an other settler's right to the claim of 160 acres, on which he now lives. He has been hard at work improving his farm, and his industry has made his place one of the best in the township. It is provided with a good frame dwelling-house, good granary, barns and other outbuildings. His house is sur- rounded with a fine grove of trees of three acres in extent. In connection with farming Mr. Jorgenson is also raising Durham cattle. Our subject is a man of strong temperance sentiments, and affiliates with the prohibi- tion party. He is a member of the Baptist church, and stands high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
Mr. Jorgenson was married in the year 1873 to Miss Mary Paulson. This union has been blessed with the following children- Annie, Sarah, George, Edward, Walter, Ludvig, Martin Johan, Lanvris and Sine Martina.
HARLES LANE, a leading farmer of Royal township, located on section 29, March 12, 1881, and since that time has been a permanent resident of Lincoln county, Minnesota. He is a son of Thomas and Charlotte (Williams) Lane, natives of Eng- land. The parents were farmers by occupa- tion, and in early life left their native land and came to America, locating in the State of New York.
Charles Lane was born in Brownsville, Jefferson county, New York, May 11, 1838, and spent his early life on the farm of his parents. He was given a good common- school education and resided in his native county until he was married.
The subject of our sketch was married in Henderson, Jefferson county, New York,
February 3, 1860, to Miss Alice P. Eggleston, daughter of Albert and Betsey Ann (Matti- son) Eggleston, natives of New York. Miss Eggleston wasborn in Jefferson county, New York, June 30, 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Lane have been blessed with five children-Mary V., Floyd (deceased), Matthew A., Earl D., and Walter H.
The early life of the subject of our sketch was spent entirely for the benefit of his parents. Whenever he earned anything he turned it into their hands for the support of the family. Therefore, when he left home he had no means whatever. His parents were unable to give him any assistance, and he had to depend on his own efforts to work his way through life. But being possessed of an energetic spirit, economical habits and a determination to carve out for himself success he commenced work and has gradual- ly grown from extremely straitened circum- stances to an honorable position among the well-to-do and substantial farmers of Lincoln county. When he made his location in Royal township he found but very few neighbors and had to undergo many hardships and rough experiences so often found in the life of an early settler. There was but little to do save in the way of breaking his ground and preparing it for the first year's crop, and his location was made without a dollar in his pocket and with a family of five children to support. He had scarcely any provisions and no money to purchase them with. A few potatoes, and that few very small, became the staple article of their diet, and our subject had a terrible fit of the blues for some time. However, he soon found a friend who was willing to give him a little help in the way of work, and our subject eagerly took hold of whatever he could find to do. Perseverance and continual work accomplished the end he desired, and although those hard times are often remembered with something of bitter- ness, yet at the same time it proved an ex-
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perience which cultivated in him those habits that have materially assisted in building up his present good circumstances. Society there was none in those early days, as neighbors were far distant. Markets were also long distances away, and our subject relates many instances when he has gone to market with an ox team a distance of some eighteen or twenty miles. Mr. Lane has met with some financial reverses, and has lost stock and grain to the amout of at least five hundred dollars since locating in the county. His severest and saddest loss, however, was the death of his son Floyd, who had almost at- tained to manhood and was the pride of the family. This young man died after a brief illness of only eighteen hours. Although these hardships, misfortunes and losses have been of a very severe nature, time las con- tributed largely to the healing of the wounds, and our subject's family have been steadily growing in prosperity, until to-day they are among the most well-to do farmers in the county. Mr. Lane is a man of careful, sys- tematic habits, is a thorough farmer, and last year raised a crop which netted him some- thing over a thousand dollars. He has now a fine farm of 160 acres, well provided with a good frame dwelling-house and other out- buildings. He has three yoke of oxen, three cows, and numerous head of young cattle, as well as various kinds of farm implements, so necessary on a large farm.
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ARNED COBURN is a reliable and well-to-do farmer of Belfast township, Murray county, Minnesota. He was born in East Montpelier, Vermont, April 2, 1852. His parents were James A. and Abbie (Dag- get) Coburn, natives of Vermont. The par- ents were farmers by occupation and were well-to-do people of the locality in which they lived.
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