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 81

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 81

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OBERT A. VAN NEST is a prosper- ous farmer located on section 17, Lake Side township, Cottonwood county, Minne- sota. He was born in Minneapolis, Minne- sota, January 31, 1862, and is the son of Hiram and Rachel C. (Blaisdell) Van Nest, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Maine. The parents were married in Minneapolis early in 1861, and still reside in that city. The father is a speculator and farmer and is engaged in raising blooded stock, giving most of his attention, however, to speculation. He has been and is a prominent man in that locality. The subject of our sketch was one of three sons-Robert A., John H. and Char- ley Elliott, the latter being named after the eminent physician, Dr. Elliott, of Minneap- olis.

The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch was thoroughly educated in his younger days in the city of Minneapo- lis. He also attended the medical college in New York City, and graduated from that institution in 1887. He also attended the State University of Minnesota and the Mc- Gill University, in Montreal, Canada, and received a thorough classical education. For one year after completing his educational course, he was engaged in business at Minne- apolis. He came to his present location in Au- gust, 1888, where he has since resided. He has one of the finest farms in the State of Minne-

sota, comprising 2,240 acres, and given prin- cipally to stock raising. Generally our subject has three hundred head of cattle, and buys and sells continually. He has three large barns on his farm, one of which will hold four hundred head of stock. His horse barns are 40x90 feet, 30x150 feet and 40x50 feet. He has a sheep barn eighteen feet wide and 150 feet long. He has one of the largest and most pleasant farm-houses in the township, in which are contained eighteen rooms. Besides the monstrous farm our subject owns in this township, he has two other farms in Great Bend township, these latter being rented out. Besides being engaged in raising grain our subject also takes a great fancy to the raising of blooded horses, and has a number of fine specimens of the Nor- man breed. He has also numerous short- horn cattle and Berkshire hogs, some of them among the best in the State. In politics Mr. Van Nest affiliates with the republican party, and has taken an active part in all public matters. In the spring of 1889 was elected supervisor of Lakeside township.

Mr. Van Nest was married, November 1, 1888, to Miss Emma Filteau, a native of Chicago, but reared and educated in Minne- apolis. She was the daughter of Charles Filteau, a native of Canada and a bridge builder, residing at present in Minneapolis. Her father built all the bridges on the main line of the Omaha railroad through the State of Minnesota. He is a representative citizen of Minneapolis.

ILLIAM T. W. ERREDGE, one of the reliable farmers of Pipestone county, located on section 32, in Gray town- ship, April 1, 1882. There were but few settlers in that region at that time, and Mr. Erredge was one of the first settlers in the south half of the township. The claim on which he located had been filed upon by

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another party whose right Mr. Erredge bought out. He at once commenced his improvements, there being about twenty- seven acres broken on the place. He built his dwelling-house soon after making his location. He also built a large combination granary and stable 14x18 feet and two stories high. On each side of this was a wing, 14x18 feet which were used by him for sta- bling his horses and cattle. Since coming to the township he has been engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has steadily increased in wealth and prosperity.

Mr. Erredge was born in the City of Lon- don, England, April 13, 1825. He is a son of George and Sophia (Read) Erredge, both of whom were natives of England, the father being born ih the town of Brighton and the mother born in Somersetshire. The father followed the occupation of butchering throughout the most of his life in the city of London, in which place he located in 1819. He died in that city in July, 1858. The mother's death occurred December 4, 1833. The subject of our sketch was one of eleven children, only three of whom grew to man and womanhood --- Eliza, our subject, and Henry.

The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this biography was reared in Lon- don, in which city he received excellent edu- cational advantages. He remained with the father's family until he was sixteen years of age, and after that time, until he was twenty- one years old, he clerked in several dry goods, grocery and drug stores. When he attained his majority, in the year 1845, he came to the United States, landing in New York City after a voyage of five weeks and four days. Leaving New York, he came directly to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, remaining in that locality until he came to Pipestone county in 1882. While in Wisconsin he was engaged principally in farming, but in con- nection therewith also engaged somewhat

in threshing. In that State he became quite prominent in local affairs and held several offices in the township in which he lived.

Mr. Erredge was wedded December 29, 1857, to Miss Sarah Donnelly, a native of Charleston, Massachusetts, where she was reared and educated. She came West with her parents to Wisconsin in 1848, and resided in Waukesha county till her marriage. She was the daughter of Peter D. and Mary (Mc- Glaughlin) Donnelly, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father followed the occupation of farming in Wisconsin until his death, which occurred January 21, 1870. The mother died August 9, 1850. They were members of the Catholic church and people of excellent character and wide influence in locality in which they resided. They had a family of seven children-Mary, Peter, James, Sarah, Ellen, Catharine and Francis. James lost his life by drowning, at Charles- ton, when he was two years of age. Sarah is now the wife of the subject of our sketch. Catharine and Francis are the only remain- ing living children. Mr. and Mr. Erredge have been blessed with five children-Rich- mond W., now married and a ressdent of Gray township; Lillian S., now Mrs. I. Dressler, of Elmer township, this county ; George H., who lives at home with his par- ents; Francis J., a clerk in the city of Pipe- stone, and Mary Ellen, who still lives at home.

In his political faith Mr. Erredge affiliates with the democrat party. He is a man of broad ideas, energetic and intelligent, and is one of the representative citizens of the town- ship. His farming operations have been car- ried on with merited success, and he has placed himself and family in comfortable circumstances. In all matters of a public nature he takes a lively interest and has the welfare of his township and county thor- oughly at heart. His family are all mem- bers of the Episcopal church, in which

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society they are held in high esteem and exert a wide influence. He has shown his ability as an official in the management of the affairs of numerous local offices. He has been overseer of highways for two terms, and is at present township treasurer.

Z MOS PORTER located on section 14, Lake Stay township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, in the fall of 1882. He owns a good farm and is well-to-do and in- fluential. He is a son of Justus K. and Sibyl A. (Harding) Porter, natives of Con- necticut and New York. Mr. Porter was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, October 26, 1851.

The early days of the subject of our sketch were spent on the home farm. He assisted in work on the farm and attended the district school until he was sixteen years of age. Two years longer he continued on the farm helping his father in the farm work. At eighteen he entered the North- western College at Watertown and continued his course of studies for about two years. When about twenty years old he went to New York, and in company with his brother- in-law, A. H. Carpenter, built a steam grist-, mill and engaged in operating the same for about one and a half years. He then sold out and returned to Wisconsin, and resided with his parents until he was twenty-six years of age. During several winters he taught school and engaged in various occu- pations. In 1878 Mr. Porter was married, and then engaged in farming for two and a half years. When this period had expired he moved to the city of Watertown and en- gaged in running an engine for two and a half years, part of this time being spent in work for a brickyard and part of the time for a railroad company. When this time had expired he came to Lincoln county and

made his location on his present farm, where he has lived ever since.

The subject of our sketch was married April 10, 1878, to Miss Anna Schuleman, a daughter of Frederick Schuleman, a native of Germany. This lady was born in Water- town, Wisconsin, in April, 1854. She re- ceived her early training in that city, and made that her home until her marriage in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been blessed with the following-named children- Emily, Josephine E., Elsie, Anna, Mary M., Lois Sibyl and Frederick L.

In politics our subject affiliates with the republican party. He has interested himself in various public enterprises, and has offi- ciated in several official positions in the gift of his township. He has been justice of the peace ever since he came to the township, was town clerk for one year, town treasurer one year, and has held the office of school clerk since 1882. He is a man of strong, decided character, is a hard-working, thor- ough-going farmer, and is respected by all who know him. He is a loyal patriotic cit- izen, and interests himself in all matters of a public nature. He is a consistent member of the Congregational church, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Watertown, Wisconsin. He has been quite successful on his farm, and the passer- by witnesses the evidences of thrift and prosperity on his well-regulated place.

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LINTON WILSON, JR., the proprie- tor of a livery and sale stable at Fulda, Murray county, Minnesota, is the son of Clinton and Sarah (Shinkle) Wilson. The father was a native of Clark county, Ken- tucky, where he was born October 30, 1806; the mother was born in Ohio, September 4, 1807. Our subject, Clinton, Jr., was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, November 29, 1841, after the death of his father, who was

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killed by lightning. After the death of the father the mother kept house for her hus- band's parents for some years.

The subject of our sketch remained with his mother at the home of his grandparents during his early life, employing his time during the summers in farm work and in the winters attending the district school. In 1859 our subject removed with his mother to her farm, where he remained until August 12, 1862, at which time he enlisted in Com- pany C, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry. He was severely wounded May 20, 1863, but recovered and served till the end of the war and was hon- orably discharged with his regiment at Springfield, Illinois, August 12, 1865. He then returned to Sangamon county and re- mained three years. In 1866 he was mar- ried and engaged in farming. At the end of the three years just mentioned he removed to Montgomery county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for four years, from whence he came to Murray county, Minnesota and took a homestead of 160 acres on section 14, Bondin township. He remained on this homestead until the fall of 1879, during the last two years of which time he was post- master. He then moved into the village of Fulda and the postoffice was discontinued in the township. In Fulda he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for four years and was also postmaster, which position he held until Cleveland was elected. At the end of the four years he closed out his store and went into the livery business. He keeps a large and first-class livery and is doing a profitable business. The subject of our sketch takes an active interest in civic matters and holds a membership in the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Grand Army of the Repub- lic of Fulda. Mr. Wilson is a republican in politics and takes an active interest in the local affairs of his township. He was treas-

urer of the village of Fulda for three terms and was also township treasurer one term. Our subject was in Murray county at the time of the grasshopper raids, which begun in 1873 and lasted four years. During this time the people of that region were obliged to receive some aid from the State in order to live. Part of the time there was not flour enough in the township to make one biscuit. There was little real suffering, but the people had to live on short rations and very coarse food during a large part of the time. For coffee they were often obliged to use wheat or barley. Since that time our subect has been doing very well indeed, and is now in good circumstances.

Mr. Wilson was married in Sangamon county, Illinois, October 18, 1866, to Miss Rebecca J. Bales, daughter of Moses and Catharine Bales. She was born in Madison county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been blessed with eight children-Dora M., James A., William O., Leona, C. Earl, Nellie, Maude and Myrtle.

W ALTER M. BLACKMUN, a farmer of considerable prominence and a leading citizen, is located on section 18 of Selma township, Cottonwood county, Min- nesota. He is the son of Silas and Eleanor (IIinton) Blackmun, natives of New York. Walter M. was born in Waushara county, Wisconsin, in 1859. When he was five years of age his parents moved to Brown county, Minnesota, where he lived until 1874.

Up to 1874 our subject resided with his parents and was given good educational ad- vantages. In that year he came to Selma township, Cottonwood county, with his par- ents and continued living with them until 1883, when he moved to his farm of 160 acres on section 18. He has a comfortable frame house, a good frame barn and granary and has 160 acres under cultivation. He also

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owns 160 acres on section 2 of Delton town- ship, which he holds as a tree claim. He has altogether 270 acres under cultivation. Mr. Blackmun is a man of considerable ability and is looked upon as being one of the sub- stantial citizens of the township. He is town- ship treasurer and has held that office for three years; has been assessor two years, justice of the peace two years, and has suc- cessfully administered the details of these various offices. In his business life he has been continually fortunate and has accumu- lated considerable means.

July 23, 1882, Mr. Blackmun was married . at his father's house to Miss Agnes E. Hud- son, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Black- man) Hudson, natives, respectively, of Can- ada and New York. She was born in Wau- shara county, Wisconsin, April 9, 1863; came to Faribault county, Minnesota, at three months of age and was educated there. Mr. and Mrs. Blackmun have had the following children-Raymond and Willie Clyde.

ILLARD S. FRENCH, who now resides on section 10 of Slayton township, Murray county, Minnesota, was born in Saint Clair county, Michigan, Febru- ary 7, 1843. He was the son of Marcus L. and Louisa M. (Storrs) French, both of whoin were natives of New York. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was the son of Enos and Mahetable French, farmers of New York.

The early life up to eighteen years of age of the subject of our sketch was spent be- neath the parental roof. Up to this time he had been given good educational advantages, attending the district school during the win- ter months of each year. During the sum- mers he assisted his father in work on the home farm. At the age of eighteen, in com- pany with his father and two brothers, he made the first trip overland by the Northern

route to Montana in company with a train of emigrants numbering some seventy-five men. This trip occupied from the 20th day of May till the 10th of August, and they went by way of Fort Benton. Our subject, his father and brothers built the first house in Bannock City, and after this engaged in mining for gold. The father and brother returned to the State of Minnesota after one year in Montana. Willard remained in that locality for three years. Then our sub- ject prospected for a year and a half in Alder gulch, from whence he went to Con- federate gulch and there mined for one year. HIe then came to the State of Minnesota, stopping near St. Peter, where his family lived. He remained about two years in that locality and then in company with Captain Aldridge, whom he met at New Ulm, came to what is now Slayton township, Murray county, where our subject now lives. Mr. French was the second settler in the township, the first being Soloman Lester, the latter having been the first settler and the first to build in the township. Mr. French built the second house, and at once identi- fied himself with the interests of his locali- ty. In matters of a political nature he does not take an active part, but has held various official positions.

The subject of our sketch was married March 8, 1870, to Miss Matilda Bell, a daughter of Charles R. Bell, whom the In- dians killed near Fort Ridgely, while on duty at that post, during the summer of 1862. Mr. and Mrs. French have been blessed with seven children, five of whom are living- two sons-Arthur B. and Jay E., and three daughters-Ruby A., Ella V. and Nadine L.

Being a man of excellent business qualifi- cations, Mr. French has been called upon to serve in various official capacities by his fel- low-citizens. He was one of the first coun- ty commissioners, and was appointed the county's agent to purchase the various books

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used by the first officials. For one term he very efficiently served as deputy sheriff, and has been justice of the peace for several terms. He is exceedingly popular all over the county, as will be noticed by the fact that, although a democrat in politics, he has oftentimes been elected to office by the fran- chises of republicans. He is a man of good education, sound common sense, and is over- flowing with practical ideas. His character is irreproachable, and he is held in high es- teem.

ILLIAM LOCKWOOD located in Edgerton, Osborn township, Pipe- stone county, Minnesota, in September, 1878, and is therefore one of the earliest settlers of that locality. He homesteaded his pres- ent place on section 22 in 1883. On the open- ing up of the village of Edgerton. Mr. Lock- wood put up a store building and engaged in the mercantile business. For a year he owned a store at Woodstock, but he sold out there to a firm name Ellthorp & Ware. Since 1878 he has been more or less engaged in the mercantile business at various places. His farm property are of great value and are well located near the village of Edgerton. Besides the land he owns on section 22, he has 80 acres inside the corporation of the village on section 21; 160 acres on the south- west quarter of section 23, and 80 acres on the southeast quarter of section 15. Besides his property interests in Minnesota he is financially interested in other localities and owns consid- erable property. He owns a one-half in- terest in a store building in Crowley, Louisi- ana, in partnership with C. S. Howard. The subject of our sketch has one of the finest farms in the entire county, and perhaps the best in the township. In late years he has been turning his attention largely to the breeding of thoroughbred cattle. His cattle

are principally Herefords, and he is the owner of a fine full-blooded bull which cost $1,600. He has some fine horses of the Norman and Morgan stock, and shipped a stallion of each of these breeds to his property in Louisiana. He has a small herd of Hereford cattle, all nicely formed, excellent animals. The pass- er-by sees very fine buildings on Mr. Lock- wood's farm. He has two large barns, one 80 x 30 feet, and the other 20 x 75. His dwelling is one of the very best in the town- ship, well-built, convenient and commodious.

The subject of our sketch was born in Oswego county, New York, November 8, 1849. He received his early training and education in the county of his nativity, and at about fourteen years of age found em- ployment on the Erie canal for two summers, and for one season thereafter was engaged as deck hand on one of the lake steamers. At the end of this time he came to Baraboo, Wisconsin, and engaged for two years in farming. He then engaged in the selling of pumps and fanning mills, and fol- lowed this line of business for three years, in the employ of a firm in Baraboo. At the end of this time he engaged in this line of busi- ness for himself in the towns of Durand and Mondova, continuing in the business for a period of four years. He then removed to Fountain City, and engaged in the stage business, having a contract with the United States for carrying mail. After one year had expired he removed to Independence, Wisconsin,and engaged in the hotel and livery business for a short time. His next move was to Rushmore, Minnesota, and, after remain- ing there a short time, he came to the village of Edgerton, where he made his set- tlement and opened business as was stated in the opening lines of this sketch.

December 20, 1874, Mr. Lockwood was united in matrimony to Miss Ida M. Bur- dett, a native of Waukau, Winnebago county, Wisconsin. This lady is a daugh-

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ter of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Burdett, natives of Worcester, Mass. When she was eight years of age her parents removed to Con- cord, Minnesota. She was educated in the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood have one child, a son-Lee William.

In politics the subject of our sketch is a loyal supporter of the principles of the republican party. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and his wife is a mem- ber of the Congregational church. Ever since coming to the township Mr. Lock- wood has been identified with all move- ments which have tended to the social and financial welfare of his fellow-citizens, and in all matters of a public nature he takes an active part. He is a pleasant, affable gentleman, a man of high character and thorough business integrity, and is esteemed by all with whom he has to do. His business qualities are of a high order, and he has been called upon to exercise them in the administration of the affairs of various public offices. He is at present treasurer of Osborn township and has held various offices in the school district. He is an upright, honorable man, and enjoys an enviable reputation among the citizens of Pipestone county.

OYAL C. WEEDEN is a thrifty farmer residing on section 5, Murray township, Murray county, Minnesota, where he purchased land of the railroad company in 1879. In 1880 he made a permanent location.

The subject of our sketch was born in Washington county, New York, in March, 1826. He was the son of Cogswell W. Weeden, a native of Rhode Island. The father removed to the State of New York at a very early date, and made that his home throughout life.

The early training and education of the subject of our sketch up to the age of fifteen years was received in Easton, Washington county, New York, where he resided with his parents. He then left home and went to New York City and engaged in clerking in a dry goods store for some three years. After spending some time on the New Jersey railroads he returned to New York City and found employment at clerking for three years. Returning to his native home and remaining a short time, during a portion of which he was pursuing a course of study in the Stillwater Seminary, in Saratoga county, New York, he then went to Union village, where he completed his education under the instruction of Judge Lowry, principal of the public schools. He graduated from the high school, and again returned to New York City and found employment as clerk for three years. Passing from thence he went to Chicago and engaged for two or three years as a clerk in the house of J. B. Farwell & Co. Mr. Weeden enlisted in the First Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry as a private on the breaking out of the war. At the end of three months he was dis- charged and re-enlisted in the Fourteenth Regiment as a fife major and leader of the band. He continued in the service until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, where he was wounded. The wound he received was very severe, and his health was not regained for six months after his discharge. Leaving the service he re- turned to Wisconsin, settling on a farm in Dodge county for a few years. His next move was to Rockford, Illinois, where he was inspector of internal revenue for five years. He then came to his present place, where he has since lived. Mr. Weeden is a prominent citizen of Murray county, and has taken an active part in the local affairs of the republican party. He is a prominent

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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 81

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