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 78

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 78

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

After Mrs. Gowin's marriage she settled, with her husband. in Fond du Lac county, .Wisconsin, where they resided until the fall of 1870. They then moved to Dodge county, Minnesota, renting a farm until 1873. It was in this year that they came to Selina township, Cottonwood county, and settled on a homestead on the northwest quarter of section 8. March 5, 1883, Mr. Gowin was working in a saw-mill in Antigo, Wisconsin, when he was struck by a log and killed al- most instantly. He had gone to this place to find employment during the winter. His crops had been destroyed, and he was obliged to find other work to support his family. His wife and children were at this time on the claim in Selma township. After her husband's deatlı Mrs. Gowin remained on the farm about two years, when she took a home- stead on section 4 of Delton township, where she has since lived. She is a good manager, and thoroughly understands the farming business ; has about fifty acres of land under cultivation, and has the farm provided with good buildings.

Mr. and Mrs. Gowin had the following- named children-Milton, Adeline, Clarence and Calista (twins), Harriet, Rosie, Grant, Mary and Charles, all living but Calista, who died when about six months old. Adeline married Samuel Hudson, and is now residing in Selma township.

OHN P. BOULTON is one of the lead- ing and well-know farmers of Alta Vista township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, and is located on section two. He is the son of William and Mary (Leslie) Boulton, natives of England. The parents resided in Eng- land throughout the most of their lives.

Our subject's native place is in Westmore- land, England, where he was born May 2, 1837. He remained with his parents, ob- taining a good common-school education

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until he was about seventeen years of age. He then learned professional engineering and followed that occupation, engaged in opperating stationary and locomotive engines for some twenty-four years, twelve years in England and twelve years in the United States. In 1868 he came to America and located for a time in the State of New Jersey. After one year's residence in that State he removed to Plymouth, Pennsyl- vania, where he remained for a few years. Removing thence the family located at Shen- andoah, remaining in that place for about nine years, when, in the spring of 1880, they came to Minnesota and located on section two in Alta Vista township, Lincoln county. He paid $1,000 for 160 acres of land, and has since been engaged in the successful opera- tion of the same. Since coming to the township Mr. Boulton has occupied himself principally with farm business and has been highly successful in all his operations. He has engaged to some extent in raising stock and has a fine farm, well improved and well supplied with buildings. He is a man of the highest integrity of character, and is looked upon with respect and confidence by all his fellow-citizens. He is a man of good ideas, and having in early life obtained a good common school education, is well prepared to assist in various ways in the management of local township affairs. He has served his fellow-citizens in various official capacities, and among other offices has been treasurer of the school district for sometime. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party, and has become prominent in the local counsels of that organization.

Mr. Boulton was married in Ulverston, England, in 1865, to Miss Mary Pennington, a daughter of Christopher and Anna (Tyson) Pennington, natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Boulton have been blessed with two children -Robert and William. The members of the family belong? to the Catholic church.

B ENJAMIN B. THOMPSON, a prom- inent citizen and furniture dealer of Fulda, Murray county, Minnesota, is the son of William R. and Betsey (Berry) Thompson, the father a native of Farnum, England, and the mother born in Vermont.

The parents were well-to-do citizens of the State of Vermont. and the father before coming to the United States, was a quarter- master of the military barracks in Quebec, Canada, in the War of 1812. The Berry family is one of considerable note in the early history of America, the grandfather of Betsey Berry having come to America in the ship Mayflower. The father of Betsey Berry was a major in the War of the Revolution, and his uniform now hangs in the museum of the State of Maine. The mother of our subject died February 19, 1841, and the father was murdered in Boston, Massachu- setts, January 2, 1853, and was robbed of $12,000. This family were possessed of an in- tensely military spirit and served their coun- try bravely and gallantly. Major Berry was one of only eight survivors of his regiment, First Vermont Infantry. He died March 14, 1833, at the age of ninety-nine years eleven months and sixteen days.

The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch was born in Bingham, Somerset county, Maine, March 17, 1833. He was reared in that State, remaining with his parents until eight years old and with relatives on various farms until he was six- teen years of age. His mother died when he was eight years old and he was then bound out to work for relatives. At sixteen years of age be purchased horses and wagon and commenced peddling various kinds of dress and dry goods and Yankee notions all over Maine and New Brunswick. He engaged in various kinds of employment, part of the time purchasing horses in Canada and shipping them through to the United States. After running his wagon for about

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eight years he was married, and commenced running a boarding-house in Vassalborough, Maine. He was thus engaged for eight years, and then, in 1862, went to Mauston, Juneau county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in carpenter work until 1863. He then went to Johnsonville, Tennessee, and joined a con- struction corps, being given charge of a di- vision. After seven months his health failed, and he returned home. His work in the South was in perilous circumstances, and while at Johnsonville the Rebels fired on the Union fortifications, and many cannon balls went through the building where our subject and his corps were at work. After return- ing to Wisconsin he commenced work at his trade, which he followed until March 15, 1880, when he came to Fulda, Murray coun- ty, Minnesota, where he still engaged in work at his trade for a year. He then opened a furniture store, which he has since conducted. Mr. Thompson is a man of excellent quali- ties, possessed of a generous, open-hearted disposition, and has made many warm friends in Fulda and adjoining country. He has been quite successful in his business opera- tions, and has accumulated considerable means.

Mr. Thompson was married in Searsport, Maine, in September, 1856, to Miss Mary E. Chase,by whom he had two children-C. E. and F. H. She died July 25, 1862. Mr. Thompson was again married, March 14, 1868, at Lindina, Juneau county, Wisconsin, to Miss Cloe M. Trumball, a relative of the Harrison family, her mother being a second cousin of William Henry Harrison. Miss Trumball was the daughter of Gilbert and Lois (Heath) Trumball, natives of New York. She was born in November, 1850, in Concord, Erie county, New York. This union has been blessed with the following-named children- Willie A., Calvin L., Mary L., Cora M. and Ella H.

ELSON MINET, one of the leaders in the public affairs of Grange town- ship, Pipestone county, Minnesota, resides on section 24. The place of the nativity of Mr. Minet is to be found in the State of Vermont, where he was born August 5, 1843. The names of his parents were John and Mary (Martin) Minet, both of whom were natives of Canada. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in an early day removed from Vermont to Wisconsin, where he now lives. He is a man of prominence and influ- ence in the town where he lives. The mother died in Wisconsin in 1886.

Work on the home farm occupied a con- siderable portion of the attention of our sub- ject until he was fifteen years of age. He was, however, given the advantages for edu- cation furnished by the district schools, and being a ready student he acquired a good common-school education. When he was fifteen years old he left the parental home and commenced working in the pineries in Wisconsin, engaging in that employment during the winter months and in the sum- mer of each year finding employment on the river. This line of life was continued until August 22, 1862, when he enlisted in the Tenth Wisconsin battery of light artil- lery, serving throughout the war and receiv- ing his discharge June 25, 1865. He was first under Captain Beebe, who was the ranking officer of this company, and when the time of the enlistment of the company expired, our subject was transferred to the Twelfth Wisconsin Battery Light Artil- lery. Ater an honorable service in the war he returned to Wisconsin and en- gaged in work in the pineries and on the Mississipi river after the plan he had followed before he entered the service. This kind of life was continued with success until 1874, when he entered the railroad em- ploy as a brakeman, which occupation he followed for two years. At this time he

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took to himself a wife and purchased a farm in Juneau county, Wisconsin, on which he remained engaging successfully in agricul- tural pursuits until coming to Pipestone county in 1878. He drove through by the primitive method of a team and covered wagon, located his land and remained until fall, making some improvements. At this time there was not a house to be seen any- where in the township, and the first house was built that season by a man by the name of Clarey. This gentleman is now dead. Our subject commenced making improvements on the farm by breaking some of his land and building a small house. In the fall he returned to Wisconsin and after remaining in that State during the winter came with his family to the farm in Pipestone county and made a pernament settlement.

October 16, 1871, the subject of our sketch was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Margaret Clews, a native of Norway. This union has been blessed with four chil- dren-Harry N., Harvey D., Charles B. and Stella M., all of whom are living at" the present time.

Mr. Minet is undoubtedly one of the lead- ing farmers of Grange township, and stands well up among the representative farmers of Pipestone county. He is a man of excellent character, intelligent, and takes an active in- terest in all matters that pertain to the pub- lic welfare. He has a good farm and has surrounded himself with good buildings and the necessary appurtenances of a well- ordered farm. In politics he occupies a leading position in the local affairs of the republican party, in whose principles he firmly believes, and with which he has affili- ated for a long term of years. Among the official positions which he has held within the gift of the citizens of the township in which he lives, are those of assessor and road overseer, he having been the incumbent of the first office for a period of four years

and the latter for three years. His volunteer service during the War of the Rebellion en- titles hin to the leading position which he occupies in the councils of the Grand Army of the Republic, Simon Mix Post. No 95. Mr. Minet is an excellent citizen and is re- spected by all with whom he comes in contact.

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OWARD M. GOSS, an enterprising farmer, residing in Selma township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, is an influ- ential and prominent citizen. His birth- place is found in Randolph, Orange county, Vermont, where he first saw the light, March 7, 1840. His parents were John C. and Elizabeth (Moulton) Goss, both natives of Vermont. Our subject's father was en- gaged in the boot and shoe trade in his na- tive State until 1852, after which he followed agricultural pursuits for two years, and then moved to Kingston, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he purchased a farm on which he lived for one year. He then rented land for three years, during which time he was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Kingston. In the fall of 1858 the family moved to Highland, Wabasha county, Min- nesota, and settled on a homestead of 160 acres, where they remained until the fall of 1874, when they again removed to Selma, Cottonwood, county, Minnesota, where John C. Goss, the father, died in 1877.

The parental home remained the abiding place of our subject until 1861, when he en- listed October 3d, in Company G, Third Minnesota Infantry. He served faithfully and gallantly for three years and was dis- charged November 16, 1864, at Devall's Bluff, Arkansas. The last year's service was spent at Little Rock, Arkansas, in the commissary department. Among the battles in which our subject participated was that of the tak- ing of Little Lock. IIe was captured by

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General Forrest's forces at Murfreesboro and held prisoner for two days, when he was paroled and sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, and exchanged. Soon after he participated in an Indian expedition in Minnesota and then returned South. After his discharge he returned to his father's farm in Minnesota and resided with him for two years. Soon after leaving the service he purchased a farm, and, although living with his father, operated in his own interests. Mr. Goss resided in Wabasha county until 1871, when he sold out and removed to Selma township, Cottonwood county, settling on the 160 acres of land on section 34. Here he has remained ever since and has made comfortable improve- ments in the way of a large frame house with a fine dairy room and ice house attached thereto. He has a fine barn and a nice grove of eleven acres of trees. Although having passed through a great many misfor- tunes in the way of loss of grain during the grasshopper raids and also by rust and blight, our subject has accumulated con- siderable means and has now a pros- perous-looking and valuable farm. He has been a man of considerable prominence in county politics and has affiliated with the republican party. He is a man of strong principles and is highly esteemed. He has been county com- missioner for four years, township clerk three or four years, chairman of the super- visors for five years, justice of the peace twelve years, and school clerk since the organization of the district in 1874. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Goss was married in Highland, Wabasha county, October 19, 1866, to Miss Julia Knudson, daughter of Christopher and Carrie (Grove) Knudson. Julia Knudson was born in Norway, December 28, 1844.

Mr. and Mrs. Goss have been blessed with the following-named children-Francis (de- ceased), Carrie, Ruth, Francis and Dana. Carrie is now Mrs. Willis Dyer, and has one child, Ivan. She lives in Lakeside town- ship, Cottonwood county.

ILLIAM PARROTT. This gentle- man is one of the representative and substantial farmers and stock raisers of Marble township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, where he homesteaded land on the southeast quarter of section 2, on the 16th of April, 1878. Several other parties came from Wis- consin with Mr. Parrott to make a location in Lincoln county. Among these were George Mennie, William Mennie, Frank L. Mennie, and two others, who did not locate in this locality but went through to Dakota. Mr. Parrott was one of the early settlers of the township and passed through all the ex- periences of pioneer settlers. He originated the petition for the organization of the town- ship in 1880 or 1881, and the first township meeting was held in the house of Ole Siver- son. There were about thirteen votes cast at this meeting. Our subject was chairman of the first board of supervisors, which posi- tion he still holds. He has also held other positions of trust and has in every case shown himself to be a capable and trustwor- thy man. He was the first assessor of the township, which position he still holds. He has also held the office of clerk of school dis- trict No. 26 since its organization. He has been actively interested in all educational matters and originated the petition for the organization of the district just named. On coming to the township he broke up ten acres of land and in the year following built a liouse 16x22 feet. He resided in this building some five years, and then con- structed his present comfortable dwell- ing house, which is 18x26 feet in size.

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The first year he also built a small sod sta- ble 14x24 feet, and which, after using for two years, was discarded for a building of more prosperous and pretentious appearance. Since his location in the township our sub- ject has been engaged in general farming and stock raising, having accomplished con- siderable success in every department of his busy life.

Mr. Parrott was born in Green Lake coun- ty, Wisconsin, June 13, 1852. He was reared and educated in that county and made that his home until coming to Marble township in 1878. He remained at home with his parents until about sixteen years of age, after which he worked out on various farms for four years, and continued to work at farming until coming to Lincoln county.

The subject of our sketch was the son of Charles P. and Catharine (Small) Parrott, the father a native of London, England, and the mother a native of Ireland. The father emigrated to America from his native land in 1847 and located in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he became one of the early settlers. He underwent many hardships in that early day, and had to go many miles to obtain supplies for his family. Milwaukee was the grain market, and it was to that city that the pioneers had to haul their wheat. The father was married in June, 1850. He continued his residence in Wis- consin for a long number of years and be- came a prominent and influential citizen. He held various offices in his township, and for twenty-six years was clerk of the same. In the father's family there were eleven children-Mary Ann, William, Rose, Charles, John, Maggie, Kate, Aggie, Lizzie, James and Minnie.

The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch was married Septem- ber 13, 1872, to Miss Elsie Mennie, a native of Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where she received her early training and educa-

tion and resided until her marriage. She was a daughter of Peter Mennie, a promi- nent farmer of that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Parrott have three children-Frank, Mabel and Nellie.

In politics the subject of our sketch affili- ates with the democratic party. For some years he was a member of the Temple of Honor, and served that organization in the capacity of usher for some years. Mr. Par- rott was one of the very first settlers of the town, and his little girl, Nellie, was the first American child born in the township. Our subject has been conducting his farming af- fairs on a systematic basis, and has sur- rounded himself with signs of success and prosperity. He is a man of excellent char- acter, intelligent and liberal-spirited, and holds the esteem and respect of all with whom he has to do.

OHN A. JOHNSON is at present one of the leading liverymen of the village of Slayton, Murray county, Minnesota. He was born in Sweden June 24, 1852, his par- ents being Swen P. and Fredericka C. (Cromick) Johnson, also natives of Sweden. Swen P. Johnson was a farmer and left his native country for America some time after our subject's birth. He located finally in St. Peter, Minnesota, where the mother died February 22, 1874. In 1875 the father came to Murray county and located on a home- stead, where he lived until 1879. Then hay- ing attained a ripe old age, he retired from active life, and has since been living with his children.

The subject of our sketch came to America with his parents, landiug in New York, De- cember 13, 1868. They went directly to St. Peter, Minnesota, where the father rented a farm. The subject of our sketch resided with his father on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, attaining that age

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while his parents resided in the vicinity of St. Peter. After this he worked at various kinds of employment until 1876, when he obtained a position in the insane hospital in St. Peter. Here he was employed for nine years, until August, 1886. After the nine years had expired he worked at various kinds of employment, and about the first of November, 1887, he came to Slayton, where he opened a livery stable. He has since operated this business with excellent success. Mr. Johnson is one of the reliable and in- fluential citizens of the village. Heisa man of excellent character and both as a business man and citizen is held in high esteem. He is a republican in politics.

May 28, 1882, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Anna Rinkel. This union has been blessed with three children-Ruth H., Clif- ford H. and George A.

JOSEPH STRINGER isa resident of Alta Vista township, Lincoln county, Minne- sota. He is the son of John and Mary (Spencer) Stringer, natives of England. When our subject was about thirteen months old the parents came to the United States and located for a time in Illinois. Removing thence they went to Waukesha, Wisconsin, and made that their home until 1863. They then removed to Pepin county, where they still remain. The subject of our sketch was born in London, England, March 7, 1850. With his parents he came to America and after locating a short time in Illinois came to Wisconsin, in which State he received a good common-school education. He remained with his parents assisting in work on the home farm and attending school until he was nineteen years of age. However, at seven- teen he had commenced working for adjoin- ing farmers, earning money for his own use. One summer before attaining this age he was away from home working in the lum- ber business along the river. In May, 1878,

he went to Marshall, Lyon county, Minne- sota, and engaged in running a breaking team until harvest time. At that time he went to Mankota and engaged in working in harvest fields and through the threshing season, coming to Lincoln county in the fall of that year. He took a homestead on sec- tion 20, Alta Vista township, and then re- turned to Medo township, Blue Earth county, where he remained until the following spring. Then, in April of 1879, he returned to his claim in Lincoln county and has made that his permanent residence ever since, with the exception of about two weeks, which were spent in a short visit to friends in Wisconsin. He now owns a fine farm of 240 acres, on which are found ex- cellent improvements in the way of fences and outbuildings which are so necessary in the operation of a good farm. He has an excellent frame dwelling-house, a good barn 32x60 feet, with fourteen-foot posts, with a good stone basement eight feet in heiglit. He has about 150 acres under cultivation and has a fine grove of trees of his own planting.

The subject of our sketch was married in Blue Earth county, Minnesota in July, 1880, to Miss Libbie Emerson, a daughter of Juduthan and Lucy (Higgins) Emerson.

The subject of our sketch started out in life for himself a poor young man, having nothing but his own brain and sturdy efforts upon which to depend, and with which to carve out a fortune. He is a man of upright habits, energetic and thrifty, and in all his business relations has been largely successful. Whatever he has to-day is the result of his own hard labor and good management. In politics he affiliates with the democatic party and has taken an active interest in the polit- ical affairs of his township. He was town clerk for one and a half years and held the office of justice of the peace for some time. He is a man of good character and is re- spected by all who know him.

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RNI SIGVALDSON, is one of the substantial farmers of Limestone town- ship, Lincoln county, Minnesota. He is a native of Iceland and was born in Vopnafjord, May 12, 1847. His parents were Sigvald and Arnfrid (Johnson) Sigvald, both natives of Iceland. The parents were farmers in that land and were well-to-do and prominent people.

The subject of our sketch remained with his parents engaged in work on the farm un- til he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he engaged in work for the minis- ter and continued for some five years attend- ing to one of his farms. He obtained a good common-school education in his native land and came to the United States in 1873. He first settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked in a railroad round-house for three and a half years. He then went to Madison, in the same State, and attended the Nor- wegian Lutheran Academy for some six months. After this he went to Bear Lake, Michigan, and for five months found employ- ment in a saw-mill. From thence he removed to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and during the winter engaged in clerking in a general store. In the spring of 1878 he again moved, this time locating for about a month in Marshall, Minnesota, after which he came to Lincoln county and settled on a homestead and tree claim on section 20, Limestone township. He has made his residence on this section ever since and proved up on his homestead in 1883.

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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 78

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