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 82
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member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and also associates with the United Workmen. He is a man of good abilities, well known and highly respected by his fellow-citizens.
Mr. Weeden was united in the bonds of matrimony in December, 1852, to Miss Har- rietta O'Gearn, a native of Wilton, Saratoga county, New York, where she was reared and educated. In early life this lady was a teacher by profession. Mr. and Mrs. Weeden have no children.
AMES WILLMANN is one of the lead- ing Norwegian farmers and substantial citizens of Limestone township, Lincoln coun- ty, Minnesota. He is the son of Tobias and Tena (Knuteson) Willmann, both natives of Norway. The subject of our sketch was born in Bergenstift, Norway, February 24, 1853. He remained with his parents on the farm and attended school until he wastwelve years of age. At this age, in 1865, he came to the United States with his parents, and first settled fourteen miles east of Dodgeville, Wisconsin. He continued living with his parents until 1866 or 1867, but worked for neighboring farmers during most of the time up to that year. At that time the family moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and our subject went with them and continued in that locality until 1879, with the exception of about two years, during which period he was in the Wisconsin pineries. In March, 1879, he came to Lincoln county, Minnesota, and took a homestead of 160 acres on the northeast quarter of section 34. He has made this his home ever since, proving up on his land in June, 1884.
Mr. Willmann was united in the bonds of matrimony in Fillmore county, May 25, 1879, to Miss Julia Berg, a native of that county, where she was reared and educated. Her parents were Andrew and Christine (Berg)
Berg, both of whom were natives of Norway, Mrs. Willmann was born in Fillmore county, February 12, 1860. The names of the chil- dren in the Willmann family are-Anna, Ida Tobias, Amanda and Betsey.
When our subject settled in Lincoln county he had but very little means, and for some few years had to live in straitened circumstances. His family occupied a dwelling which was part a dugout and part boards. This prim- itive method of living was continued for some time, and was then replaced by a good, substantial dwelling, more in harmony with the success and prosperity which had at- tended the labors of our subject. He has been quite successful in raising grain, and has surrounded himself with the necessary ap- purtenances of successful farming. He owns three horses, eight head of cattle and lias all the necessary machinery. He has a fine farm and has about seventy acres under cul- tivation. Since making his location in the township he has taken a prominent interest in public affairs, and has held the offices of town supervisor and clerk of the school board. He is a man of the strictest integ- rity, and is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
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OHN NELSON is a reliable farmer of Belfast township, Murray county, Minnesota. He is the son of Nels and Kaisa Ler, both of whom were natives of Sweden. When our subject was three or four years old the mother died in her native land.
John Nelson was born March 3, 1836, in Wermland, Sweden. On the death of the mother he was bound out to a neighboring family and continued with them until thir- teen years of age. He then employed his time at the shoemaking trade for about six months, and then went to his father's home and found employment in a saw-mill until about 1855. He then emigrated to Norway,
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and staid there until 1866, engaged in various kinds of labor, among them being work in a grist-mill, on various farms, and as general carrier about the harbors of Christiania, Norway, where he lived. August 22, 1866, he left his native land and came to America, first stopping in Rolla, Missouri, and from thence, after three weeks' stay, he went to Hannibal, where he found employment with the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Com- pany. Two months were spent in the employ of General Scofield, and then our subject went to Glasgow, same State, where he took the steamer for St. Louis. From thence he went to Washington and worked at macadamizing various highways until spring. From thence, coming to Chicago, he continued mason work for some time, and then commenced at work in loading various boats with lumber and wood. His next employment was in a brickyard nine- teen miles from Chicago. In 1867 he went to Evanston and worked at drilling stone, assisting the masons in completing the Methodist University of that place. He did not remain long, however, but soon went to Clairmont, Fayette county, Iowa, where he followed the stone business until winter set in. McGregor was his next objective point, and from there he went to St. Louis, where he obtained a free pass over the Iron Moun- tain Railroad, and then worked on their rail- road until Christmas, and then went to St. Mary's Landing to procure a boat. In this he failed, and then went to Cairo and next to Grand Levee, Louisiana, where he found employment for three months. He then returned to his family in Clairmont, Iowa, and worked for a while at the mason trade. His next location was at a point midway between Elgin and Clairmont, where he worked in a saw-mill, getting out lumber and staves and headings for the Clairmont grist-mill. He continued in this until the spring of 1870, when he came to Murray
county in the summer and took a pre-emp- tion on the southeast quarter of section 24. He has made this his home ever since, and has been engaged in general farming and stock raising, together with blacksmithing and repairing. He has 174 acres of land, about 100 acres under cultivation, and has a frame dwelling-house 12x24 feet with an addition 12x24.
John Nelson was married in Norway to Maron Amelia Anderson, January 1, 1864. She died in Murray county in 1882, leaving five children-Adolph, Anna, William, Em- mett and Lewis. May 6, 1883, Mr. Nelson was married again in Cottonwood county to Miss Brit Sogge, a daughter of Goodmund Sogge. This lady was born in Norway in August, 1843.
The subject of our sketch was the first settler of Belfast township, and has taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to the public welfare ever since making his location. He has been township supervisor, and has held other positions. His early life in the county was filled with many hardships, among them being the destruction of his crops by the grasshoppers by which he lost four crops. During these years he was obliged to find work at different occupations in order to support his family. For some time he worked in the pineries, and again he went to the harvest fields outside of the grasshopper belt working on three differ- ent railroads. He is a man of good char- acter, and is highly respected by his fellow- citizens.
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E WITT A.DAY is a prosperous farmer of Lake Side township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He resides on section 4, where he located in 1873. He has passed through all the vicissitudes and trying cir- cumstances common to the life of all pioneer settlers, but these things have been forgotten
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to a great extent and our subject is now sur- rounded with the signs of prosperity and success. In matters of a public nature Mr. Day has always been an active and enter- prising citizen, and has held various official positions ; he has been assessor during four successive terms, and has been a member of the board of supervisors for three terms ; for two years he was treasurer of the school district, and has taken an active interest in educational matters. In his farming opera- tions he has been quite successful and is car- rying on an extensive business in grain and stock raising.
Mr. Day was born in Franklin county, New York, May 5, 1839. He was the son of Orrado Day, who was a native of Massachu- setts, and a farmer by occupation. In early life he removed to Franklin county, New York, where he was married and resided for some years. In 1862 he came to Wisconsin and remained one year, after which he re- turned to New York State, where he lived until after the close of the Civil War. He then came to Minnesota, locating in Wabasha county, where he died in 1871. He was an influential citizen and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. De Witt's mother's maiden name was Eliza Al- len, a native of New York, and who died when our subject was four years of age. Our subject's father married Phœbe Allen, who was also a native of New York State, and who died in 1859. In the father's family there were twelve children, ten of whom grew to man and womanhood-Orrin, Louisa, Rodney, Anna, James, Rhoda, Phœbe, Cynthia, Charles and De Witt A.
Until twenty-four years of age our sub- ject spent the greater part of the time in New York. He received a good education in the district schools, and assisted his father in the work on the farm. At twenty-four years of age he came to Waupun, Wiscon- sin, where he stayed a short time, and then
enlisted August 15, 1862, as a private in Company A, Thirty-second Wisconsin In- fantry, and was discharged June 11, 1865. Mr. Day participated in numerous battles, among those being Tallahatchie, December 3, 1862; Holly Springs, December 16, 1862; Parker Cross Roads; Coliersville, November 3, 1863; Moscow, the following day; LaFay- ette, December 27th; siege of Atlanta. in August, 1864; Jonesborough, August 31. 1864; Saltpatchie, February 3, 1865, and Bentonville, North Carolina. Our subject was also engaged in many skirmishes and battles of minor importance. On being dis- charged from the service he came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming for seven years. He then removed to his present location, where he has resided ever since. In politics Mr. Day affiliates with the republican party. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Grand Army of the Republic fraternities.
Mr. Day was married January 17, 1866, to Miss Eliza E. Jackson, a native of Frank- lin county, New York, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Day have three children-Emma B., a teacher; Bert R. and Susie W.
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AMES FRANCIS HOSFORD located permanently on his present excellent farm on the southeast quarter of section 8, Lake Stay township, Lincoln county, Minne- sota, in the spring of 1881. He first came to his claim when nineteen years of age, and made a few improvements. The farm had been located and claimed by his father a short time before. Our subject worked on the claim during the summer of 1878, and in the fall returned to Dakota county, from whence he had come to Lake Stay township. The following spring he returned to his claim and engaged in making improvements thereon
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until in the fall, when he went to the Wis- consin pineries. Continuing in work there until spring, he again returned to the claim, and has made his home there ever since. This claim was owned by Mr. Hosford's fa- ther, and our subject made a special effort to become the possessor of it. In the fall of 1884 he purchased the farm of his father, he having proved up on it some time before.
James F. Hosford was born in Dakota county, Minnesota, November 8, 1859. His parents were Caleb and Margaret (Strathern) Hosford, the father a native of New York, and the mother a native of Scotland. The par- ents were farmers by occupation, and were well-to-do and influential people in Dakota county. The early days of the subject of our sketch were spent by him on the home farm. He was given good educational advan- tages in the district schools, and remained beneath the parental roof until he was nine- teen years of age. He then came to his father's claim in Lake Stay township, Lin- coln county, and after working that during the summer returned to Dakota county in the fall, returning to his claim, as stated in the opening of this sketch.
Mr. Hosford was united in marriage in Lake Stay township, December, 1884, to Miss Ella K. Christianson, a daughter of Seivert and Onny (Johnson) Christianson, natives of Iceland. This lady was born in Iceland, and came with her parents to this country while still young. She is a lady of good qualities and received a good common- school education. Mr. and Mrs. Hosford have been blessed with two children-Mar- garet and Alva.
On starting out for himself, at the age of nineteen years, our subject had but little money, and had no one to depend upon but himself. His capital was his hands and his efforts. He took hold of the duties of life which presented themselves to him manful- ly, and determined, if possible, to lay the
foundations for a successful life and to ob- tain a competency. He has been quite suc- cessful in all business enterprises, and in whatever way he has turned his attention he has met with prosperity. He has worked hard, but success has crowned his efforts, and to-day, instead of being a poor man, he is possessed of a good farm, well improved, and is a man of prominence in his township and county. IIe has a good quarter-section of land, with about sixty-five acres under cultivation, five horses and seven head of cattle, besides all implements necessary to successful farming. He has a comfortable frame dwelling-house, and has a pleasant and agreeable family. He has been honored by being placed in various official positions in his township. He has been township treasurer for two years, township supervisor and assessor for one year, and clerk of the school district for four years. Mr. Hosford is a man of good qualities, public-spirited and benevolent, and has the esteem of all with whom he has to do.
ALSEY E. LAMPORT is an influ- ential farmer and resident of section 30, Slayton township, Murray county, Min- nesota. The place of his nativity was Mish- awaka, Indiana, where he was born August 13, 1849, and his parents were A. M. and Roxy (Ferris) Lamport. The father was born in Ovid, Cayuga county, New York; the mother in Manchester, Dearborn county, Indiana. In early life the father was a shoemaker by trade, but on account of ill- health he finally engaged in farming in In- diana, and followed that occupation until his death, which occurred November 17, 1874. The mother is still living and resides in Decatur, Michigan. In the father's family there were seven children, our subject being the third in order of birth.
The early life of our subject was spent
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under parental authority in his native county in Indiana. He was given good educational advantages in the district schools, and did not leave home until he was twenty-one years of age. At that age he went to Toledo, Ohio, and found employment as baggageman for one of the railroad com- panies. Following this employment for fif- teen months he then came west to Manches- ter, Iowa, where he hired out on a farm for two years. He then rented a piece of land and operated it for another two years. In 1879 he came by team to Currie. For one year he lived on the shores of Lake Shetek. He then purchased a settler's right to the place where he now lives. Since coming to the township our subject has taken an active interest in general matters, and has served in the official capacities of justice of the peace for two years, township clerk for three years, and has held various other posi- tions. He is a man of strong temperance sentiments, and in politics affiliates with the prohibition party. He is a man of excellent abilities, and is widely respected as a man and citizen.
The wedding day of the subject of our sketch occurred March 16, 1876, at Manches- ter, Delaware county, Iowa, when he was married to Eva E. Stevens, a native of Eaton county, Michigan.
ACOB GORECKI is a substantial farmer of Limestone township, Lincoln county, C Minnesota. He is the son of Stanislof and Mary Wiland Gorecki, both of whom were natives of Germany. His parents were well- to-do and were influential people in their na- tive land.
The subject of our sketch was born in Kon- ietz county, Tuchlka, Germany, July 26, 1849. He remained with his parents and re- ceived a common-school education in his na- tive land, and when old enough commenced
working out as a common laborer. He contin- ued in his native country until 1868, when, in company with his parents, he came to the United States, crossing the ocean in a sail- ing vessel, and arriving in New York City May 1, 1869. For some three months after he reached this country our subject engaged in work on various farms, and at the end of that time removed to the vicinity of Chicago, where for a time he engaged in farm work. His next move was to go to Sag Bridge, where he worked in the stone quarries for eleven years. This period of employment was spent under one boss. Our subject be- ing thrifty and economical, laid by consid- erable money. At the end of this period of service he purchased a farm and engaged in farming for himself in Cook county, Illinois. He remained on this farm for six years and then sold out and came to Lincoln county, Minnesota, and purchased 115 acres on sec- tion 19 in Limestone township, where he has since lived. He has a good frame house and frame stable and granary and has pro- vided his farm with all the appurtenances necessary to its successful operation. Dur- ing the eleven years in which he engaged in quarry work in Illinois he drove team for six years, and at various times has traveled considerable. He has visited Cairo, Illinois, Dubois and other places in that State, and also has journeyed to various localities in the State of Michigan. Throughout his career he has been successful in all his various en- terprises. Besides being a quarryman and teamster in the quarries in which he worked, he also had experience as engineer for a water pump, also for four months worked for a railroad in Illinois, so that, take it altogether, our subject has passed through varied expe- riences, but through it all has been econom- ically inclined, and has saved considerable money.
Mr. Gorecki was married in Cook county, Illinois, January 14, 1876, to Miss Rose Glads,
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daughter of Charles and Margaret (Chemiel) Glads, natives of Germany. This lady was born in the same place as her husband, in 1840. She remained in her native country some years, until coming to America with her parents, where she received her educa- tion. The fruits of this union are Anna, Theresa, Joseph, Martha, Mary and Helena.
The subject of our sketch has been a duti- ful son, and has had his parents with him during his entire residence in this country. His father died October 15, 1886, at our sub- ject's home in Lincoln county. The mother is still living. On coming to the United States our subject was in very limited circum- stances. He is now comfortably settled on his farm, and is one of the most substantial and well-to-do citizens of the township. Since making his location here he has taken an active interest in all matters of a public nature, and has been a consistent member of the Catholic church. He has held the offices of town supervisor and town treasurer. Be- sides operating his farm, which he has done successfully, he has also been agent for a self-operating washing-machine, and has given more or less of his attention to making sales of this article throughout the township. Mr. Gorecki is a man of true loyal character, is a good citizen, and is held in high esteem by all with whom he has to do.
RS. MARIANNE E. JACKSON is a resident of section 8, Lake Side township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. She is the widow of William H. Jackson, who purchased 160 acres of land on this sec- tion in 1871. He died May 15, 1873.
William H. Jackson was a native of Frank- lin county, New York, where he was born in 1828. He was reared in his native State, receiving his education in the common- schools, and at thirty four years of age went to Canada, where he engaged in the mercan-
tile business for some time. Returning to his native county in New York, he remained until 1869, and then went to Wabasha county, Minnesota, locating at Plainview and becoming a foreman in a warehouse for a few years. In 1871 he went to the Eastern States, from whence he came to Cottonwood county, April 13, 1872. Mr. Jackson was a man of high Christian character and was loved and respected by all who knew him. . He belonged to the Odd Fellows' fraternity, and was a public-spirited and benevolent cit- izen. He died at the age of forty-four years and was buried in the State of New York. Mr: and Mrs. Jackson have one son, Samuel Warren, now aged about twenty years.
Mrs. Jackson, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, is a native of St. Law- rence county, New York, where she was born, May 24, 1833. Her parents, Samuel and Avis Kingston, were natives of Ireland and farmers by occupation. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were exemplary Christian peo- ple. Mrs. Jackson received her education in all academy at Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, New York, and also at a Jadies' sem- inary, and at common-schools in Brasher. Having fitted herself for an educational life, Mrs. Jackson engaged in teaching school and has taught altogether some thirty-eight terms. She is a lady of excellent qualities, and is held in high esteem by all who know her. She is benevolent and charitable and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
After coming to Cottonwood county Mr. Jackson opened a store where the village of Bingham Lake now stands and had an in- terest in the same for some time. He la- bored hard to bring his farm to a high state of cultivation and succeeded in making it one of the best. Mrs. Jackson now owns two hundred acres of land where her resi- dence is located, on section 8, and also owns eighty acres on section 16.
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JOSEPH H. PARKER settled in Pipe- stone county, Minnesota, in 1879. The year before, however, he had homesteaded his present place on section 20, Gray town- ship, but his permanent settlement was not made until 1879. He was one of the first settlers to take land in the township and as- sisted in the organization both of the town- ship and county in 1879.
Our subject was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, July 29, 1855. His parents were Isaac and Phoebe (Skirum) Parker, natives of New Jersey, where they were married and where they lived through- out their lives. The mother died in 1867, and was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and an exemplary Christian. The father is still living in New Jersey, where he lias been engaged in vegetable farming for many years. Joseph Parker was one of seven children, being the second in order of birth-Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, Lily, Emma, Charley and Phoebe. The last child died when it was seven months of age.
Mr. Parker remained with his parents in his native place until the death of his mother, which occurred when he was eleven years of age. Up to this time he had received but little schooling, and what education he had been given was not of a high order. At eleven years of age, on the death of his mother, he hired out to a farmer for a period of six years, receiving but little therefor in the way of money wages. He was, how- ever, given fair advantages for receiving a common school education, which he did by dint of hard study and careful attention to his school duties. At the end of the six years above mentioned he hired out for wages, and continued at farm work until he came to Pipestone county, in 1878. On com- ing West from his native State he stopped for two months in Sioux City, Iowa, and on landing in that place had but fifty cents in cash to commence life with as astranger in a
busy city. He found employment in the nursery of George H. Wright, and after con- tinuing for some time with him came to Pipe- stone county by team with Charles Wright. After remaining two years on the farm in Pipestone county he found employment on the farm of Sweet & Nichols, with whom he continued some five years. He did not return to his place until in 1885, since which time he has been a resident of his farm, and has been actively engaged in its operation.
Mr. Parker was married December 4, 1884, to Miss Ella Morrill, who was born in Wis. consin, June 13, 1860. She was a daughter of Thomas and Matilda A. (McEldowney) Morrill, her father being a native of Ver- mont and her mother of Pennsylvania. Her mother died in 1868, leaving a family of five children-Frank, Andrew, Ella, Edgar and Emma. The mother was a member of the Baptist church, and a thorough Christian lady. The father was married to his second wife in May, 1869, she being Miss Matilda B. Taylor, a native of New York City. Mr. Morrill is at present a resident of Pipestone county, and a biography of his life is given in another department of this work. Mrs. Parker was reared and educated in Wiscon- sin, where she taught some four terms of school. She received a good education, and is a lady of high intelligence. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have one child, a son, Joseph Howard, born September 23, 1888. Mrs. Parker is an influential member of the Presbyterian church, and is an estimable Christian lady.
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