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 93
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Mr. Christman was married in Le Sueur county, July 8, 1860, to Miss Frederica L. M. Dunlevy, a daughter of William and Jane A. (Scott) Dunlevy, natives of New York. This lady was born in the State of Vermont, November 17, 1841. This union has been blessed with the following named children- Albert, Alice, and . Belle, an adopted daughter.
The subject of our sketch is a man of good business qualifications, and is highly re- spected both as a business man and citizen.
SA A. START is a leading farmer of Dale township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He resides on section 12, where he located in 1871, and where he has lived ever since. He was born in Bakerville, Franklin county, Vermont, May 7, 1836.
The father of the subject of our sketch was born in the same town in which his son was born. Asa's parents were George S. and Mary (Colton) Start. The father was a dis- tiller by trade, and lived in Vermont until his death, which occurred in 1865. The
mother was a daughter of Emeius Colton, a farmer of Franklin county, Vermont. She was educated in Shelden, Vermont, and is still living in that State, at the age of eighty- one years. She was born January 14, 1806. The father was born December 17, 1803. The grandparents of our subject were Moses and Margaret (Gould) Start, the former a native of New Hampshire, where for many years he was engaged in farming. Our subject was one of seven children, five of whom are living, he being the third in order of birth.
Asa A. Start was reared in Franklin county, Vermont, where he remained' until he was twenty-one years of age. He assisted his father on the farm, and received a good common-school education. After he was twenty-one years of age he went to Massa- chusetts, where for eighteen months he was on a farm. He then removed to Delaware county, Iowa, where he attended Almora Institute for about a year. He then returned to Vermont, and enlisted, in July, 1862, in Company I, Tenth Vermont Volunteer In- fantry. His regiment was part of the Third Army Corps and Third Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. Our subject was on reserve detached duty on the upper Potomac river for some time. He did not participate in any very severe battles, but was in a number of skirmishes. He was somewhat disabled, and was in the hospital for a year, first at Alexandria, opposite Washington, in what was called the Methodist church hospital. Our subject's discharge was granted at Bur- lington, Vermont, April 26, 1865. One and a half years were spent in that State, and then he came to Nebraska, where he en- gaged in the grain business for three years. He then emigrated to Fayette county, Illi- nois, where two years were spent in agricult- ural pursuits. At the end of that time he came to Cottonwood county, locating on his present place, where he has lived ever since. He was one of the first settlers, there being but one other complete family in the town- ship when he came. This was the family of John Harvey. 'On making his location, our subject at once commenced to improve his farm. He built a sod shanty, and the second year set out a grove of trees. He passed through the grasshopper raids, raising but little grain, and experienced various other hardships and discouragements usually found in pioneer life. He has passed successfully through all these trials, however, and by dint of hard work and perseverance has become
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quite well to-do and accumulated considerable property. He has always taken an active interest in public matters, and being a re- publican in politics, has held many offices. He has held all the township offices except that of constable, and has been treasurer of school district No. 11 for three terms. He has the honor of being one of the first jus- tices of the peace, holding that office for two years. He was chairman of the board of supervisors for eight years. He is a United Workman, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is a man of strong, progressive ideas, well educated, thoroughly up to the times, and is looked upon as one of the leading and most influential citizens in the township.
Mr. Start was married, March 22, 1862, to Miss Helen Cutler, a native of Boston, Mas- sachusetts, but reared and educated in Ver- mont. Mr. and Mrs. Start have six living children - Elmer A., Gilman C., Luella A., Mabel, Herbert E. and Mary. Those de- ceased were-George Byron, died at thirteen years of age, and an infant.
- ILLIAM J. STEGNER is one of the reliable farmers of Hendricks township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, where he is located on a fine farm on section 32. The birth-place of our subject is found in Wisconsin, where he was born May 5, 1856, being the son of Conrad and Mary (Martin) Stegner. The parents were well-to-do farm- ers and occupied a prominent position in the locality in which they lived.
The early life of the subject of our sketch was spent with his parents on the home farm in his native State. He was given good ed- ucational advantages and acquired a good common-school education. He remained beneath the parental roof until in 1875, when he went to Minneapolis and found
employment there as a coachman, at which he continued for about four years. Then in 1878 he came to Lincoln county, and located his present claim. He concluded not to make a permanent location at that time, and so returned to Minneapolis and remained for a few months. Then in the fall of 1878 he returned to his farm and built what he calls a "$7 shanty," after which he returned again to Minneapolis, remaining in that city until the following spring. At that time he made a permanent location on his farm where he has been actively engaged in gen- eral farming ever since. During several winters, however, he returned to Minneap- olis and found employment for brief periods.
Mr. Stegner was married March 28, 1882, to Louisa Zimmerman. This union has been blessed with six children-Alice, Lidia (de- ceased), Robert, Ruth, Wilbur B. and Win- nifred S., the last two being twins.
In politics the subject of our sketch is a member of the prohibition party. He is a strong temperance man, and because of these sentiments cast his vote with that party. He is a man of excellent principles and tries to act out those principles in daily life. His active interest in matters relating to the public welfare has made him many friends. He is a member of the German Evangelical church. In his farming operations he has been quite successful, and although coming to the county a poor man, he has met with such success that his farm plainly manifests good circumstances to the most casual ob- server. He has a good home and has sup- plied his farm with good buildings.
JOHN GILRONAN is an influential farmer of Altona township, Pipestone county, Minnesota. He has an excellent farm on'section 22, where he has resided since the fall of 1879. Mr. Gilronan is a native of Ireland, where he was born Feb-
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ruary 19, 1849. His parents were Peter and Mary (McManus) Gilronan, both natives of Ireland and farmers by occupation. The grandfather's name was also Peter Gilronan, a native of Ireland and a farmer by occupa- tion. The father of our subject continued his residence in his native country until his death which occurred in 1887. His mother died in 1881.
John Gilronan came to America April 12, 1868. His early life had been spent in his native country, where he was given good educational advantages in the public schools. Until coming to this country he assisted his father in work on the home farm. Leaving home and arriving in New York City on the date just mentioned, after a week's stay in the city he went to Wabasha county, Min- nesota, where he engaged in work for a farmer for about a year. In 1869, in com- pany with his two brothers, Peter and James, he came to Lake Benton, Lincoln county, for the purpose of looking up land. They found only four white men in that vicinity, and as they looked over the county on every side nothing was to be seen but the wild, unim- proved prairie. They remained during the summer and had considerable sport shooting game, with which the country abounded. During that season our subject saw a herd of buffalo on the prairie a short distance from where Lake Benton now stands. Late in the season our subject went to Rochester and remained in that vicinity for about a year. He was not satisfied with the location of this city, however, nor with the looks of the country thereabouts, and in 1871 he went to Lansing, Mower county, where he remained during the winter of that year. Again he returned to Rochester and made that his home for about a year, after which he went to Rock Island county, Illinois, where he engaged in work on a farm for two years. At the end of that time he returned to Rochester and engaged in work on vari-
ous farms for some time. He then pur- chased a farm and made his residence in Olmsted county until the spring of 1879. He then came to Lake Benton, Lincoln county, and soon after located his present farm as a pre-emption. He remained on this land during the summer and improved it to some extent, in the fall returning to Olm- sted county for his family. Returning to his farm in Altona township he has remained here ever since.
The subject of this sketch was united in marriage January 10, 1876, to Miss Selina Ringey. This marriage has been blessed with six children, five of whom are living- Mary, Josephine, John G., Rosa and Thomas H.
Mr. Gilronan affiliates with the republican party and is a man of good business qualifi- cations having served his fellow citizens in various official capacities. He has been chairman of the board of supervisors for two years, and member of the school board for six years. In his farming operations he has been highly successful and has thoroughly improved his farm and provided it with good buildings, and has surrounded himself with the evidences of thrift and prosperity. He is a man of good character and is respected by all who know him.
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ANIEL H. GEORGE is a prosperous farmer of Troy township, Pipestone county, Minnesota, and resides on an excel- lent farm located in section 2. He was born March 8, 1834, in Northampton county, Penn- sylvania.
The ancestors of our subject were mostly of American birth, and his parents were Daniel and Nancy (Dalrymple) George, the . father being a native of the place in which our subject was born, and the mother a native of New Jersey. Daniel George, the father of our subject, was born January 17,
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1793, and the date of the mother's birth was September 12, 1801, their marriage occurring January 27, 1820. Removing to Illinois the father died in 1865; the mother passed away in 1847 while residing in Pennsylvania.
Daniel H. George, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, remained under the parental roof until he attained the age of seventeen years, up to which time he had en- gaged in work on his father's farm. The winter months were spent in attending the district schools, where he obtained a good common-school education. At the age of seventeen he commenced to learn the trade of carriage and wagon-making, serving a regular apprenticeship of three years. He then went to Bath, in his native county, where he worked as a journeyman wagon- maker for five years. In 1857 he went to Warren county, New Jersey, and opened a business for himself. He continued con- ducting a prosperous business in that county until 1867, when he removed to Will county, Illinois, rented his father's farm, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1865. He then concluded to re-engage in work at his trade, and removed to Lemont, Illinois, where he engaged in manufacturing for himself until the fall of 1873. At that time he again en- gaged in farming, renting a farm in that county, on which he remained until 1886. In the spring of that year he came to Pipestone county, Minnesota, and located where he has since lived. He is engaged quite extensively in farming operations, and, besides his own land, rents a farm on section 3.
Mr. George was married December 17, 1857, to Susan A. Butler, and this marriage has been blessed with seven children-Ida, William H., Lizzie, Harry E., Rollin D., Bertha and Irwin E., all living at the present time. Three children died in infancy.
The subject of our sketch is a man of sterling qualities, honest and upright in all his dealings, and by careful attention to the
details of his work has accumulated consid- erable means. He takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the public wel- fare, and has gained the confidence of his neighbors and fellow-citizens. In politics he affiliates with the republican party.
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B A. SWARTWOUT is a well-to-do farmer who resides on section 29, of Springfield township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He is a native of the State of New York, where he was born August 13, 1841. His parents were Harry and Ann (Van Hanig) Swartwout, natives of Saratoga county, New York. The father was a farmer by occupation, and during the early years of his life engaged in work at the carpenter's trade. In the father's family there were four children. The mother died in 1853 and the father in 1859 in New York.
The subject of our sketch was much at- tached to his home and continued his resi- dence with his parents until seventeen years of age. Up to this time he had been given good educational advantages in the public schools in the locality in which he lived. Leaving home at the age of seventeen he went to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he spent a couple of years visiting among friends, after which he engaged in farming for four years. When this period had ex- pired he purchased 120 acres of land and held it for six months, and then sold out at a good advance over the purchase price. Going from thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, he remained four months, and then took a trip through Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, looking for a location. He then returned to Michi- gan and remained for some time until he came west in company with A. S. Talmage. Forming a partnership with this gentleman he purchased 960 acres of land, where he now lives. He has a fine farm of extensive
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dimensions, thoroughly improved and pro- vided with excellent buildings.
Mr. Swartwout was married March 30, 1869, to Miss Amanda Angell, a native of Michigan. Her parents are still living in that State.
Ever since coming to Cottonwood county Mr. Swartwout has taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the public welfare. He has assisted materially in the develop- ment of all moves which have tended to the upbuilding of the agricultural and financial interests of the locality in which he lives. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and has been a member of the board of school directors for eight years. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is a man of good character, being held in high esteem by all with whom he has to do.
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LMER F. HINDS is a well-known and respected capitalist, who is living a retired life in Luverne, Minnesota. In company with Robert Herren he opened the pioneer lumber yard in the city in June, 1873, under the firm name of Hinds & Herren. For three years a great portion of their building materials was hauled by team from Worthington, and they also hired farmers to bring lumber to Luverne, on their return trips from Worthington, to which point they went to sell their grain. This partnership was continued for some ten years, the business stand being first located on Main street, where the postoffice now is. In about 1885 our subject sold out his busi- ness interests, and has since been living a retired life.
Mr. Hinds is a native of Kennebec county, Maine, where he was born October 23, 1828. He was reared on a farm and re- ceived an education such as is usually given to farmers' sons. For some time before he
left home he engaged in the lumber business, continuing in that line until the spring of 1852. He then went to California, and for four years was there engaged in the lumber business. In 1856 he returned to his early home, and one year later moved to Kilbourn City, Wisconsin, where in company with Mr. Drinker, he built a large steam saw mill. Here he did an immense business, sawing some fifteen thousand feet of lumber per day. For thirteen years he engaged in this profitable enterprise and then sold out and returned to his native State, where he lived a retired life until 1873. As has already been stated, in that year he came to Rock county, Minnesota, and made a permanent settlement ın Luverne.
The subject of our sketch is the son of Benjamin and Ann (Wheeler) Hinds, natives of Maine. Throughout his life the father was engaged extensively in farming and lumbering. He was the son of Benjamin Hinds, a native of Scotland, and one of the pioneer settlers of Maine. Benjamin Hinds, senior, built the first saw mill on the Kenne- bec river, and engaged in lumbering for many years. Our subject is one of five living children-William, now in Colorado; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Crosby, of Maine; Ben- jamin, a resident of New York State; Ulmer F., and Susan, now Mrs. Burnham, of Furgus Falls.
Mr. Hinds was married in the year 1857 to Miss Maria Winn, of Benton, Maine. She was a daughter of Japhet and Annie (Simpson) Winn, natives of Maine. Her father was a blacksmith by trade, and later engaged in the mercantile business.
Since making his location in Luverne Mr. Hinds has built up an enviable reputation for business integrity and uprightness of character. In whatever line he has engaged, and in whatever way he has turned his atten- tion, he has met with merited success, and has gathered a large fortune. After many
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years of hard work and business activity he is now living a retired life, enjoying the fruits of his labors. His life has been one of activity, and he has traveled quite extensive- ly throughout the United States. He has made two trips to California, and has visited various other parts of the country, both in the way of business and in search of pleas- ure. In all matters pertaining to the gov- ernment of the village and county, he has taken an active interest, and has been hon- ored by being elected to several positions of trust. He has held the office of town treas- urer with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He has been one of the largest land-holders in the county, but has sold a great portion, having the care of but little at present. He has done his share toward improving the city of Luverne, and has built business buildings and other dwell- ing-houses, putting up a fine residence where he now lives in 1876. Being one of the pioneers of Rock county, and having passed through all the experience usually met with by the early settlers, he takes an active in- terest in all matters related to the county's early settlement, and is known and esteemed by all others who came to the county in an early day. In politics our subject affiliates with the republican party, and is a leading and in- fluential member of the Masonic fraternity.
WEBSTER KUTCHIN is the able editor and proprietor of the Lake Benton Republican, of Lake Benton, Lin- coln county, Minnesota. This gentleman is the son of Thomas T. and Amanda Kutchin, the former a native of England and the lat- ter born in Pennsylvania. The parents were well-to-do farmers by occupation and were held in high esteem in the State in which they lived.
The subject of our sketch was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1845.
He lived on the farm of his parents and at- tended the district schools until he was twenty years of age. His first occupation after leaving home was working at the printing business in Fort Atkinson, Wiscon- sin. He continued that employment in that place for about two years and then removed to Fort Howard, same State, where for some time he was employed in work on the Fort Howard Monitor. Thence he removed to Tracy, Minnesota, and became the found- er of the Tracy Gazette, of which, during a term of three years, he was the editor and proprietor. At the end of that time he sold out to William Todd, and then removed to Dakota, where he founded a paper called the Gazette. For three years he continued in the management of that journal, building up for it a large patronage and an enviable reputation. He then sold out and removed to Brookings, Dakota, where he purchased the Brookings County Sentinel, continuing the proprietorship of this paper for one year, when he sold out to Whiting Brothers and came to Lake Benton, where he estab- lished his present paper. From Brookings he brought a newspaper outfit, as at that place he had owned sufficient material to es- tablish two papers.
Editor Kutchin was married in Waupun, Wisconsin, June 18, 1884, to Miss Marion L. More, daughter of Dr. D. W. and Sarah (Jenkins) Moore, prominent residents of that place.
Perhaps no citizen in Lake Benton is more widely known or wields more influence in Lincoln county than does the subject of our sketch. His life since coming to the county has been of the most irreproachable kind, and not only that, but he has been actively interested in all matters which pertain to the betterment of his locality, and by this interest has made a host of friends. Being of a genial disposition, a pleasant conversa- tionalist and well posted on current events
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and in the past history of our country, he becomes at once an instructive and pleasant. companion and friend. He is a man of ex- cellent qualities and has been quite success- ful in his various business ventures. For his newspaper he has built up a large circula- tion and has a profitable patronage in other lines.
ILO T. DEWOLF is one of the prom- inent and prosperous business men of the village of Windom, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He made his location in the county in 1871, coming from Oswego county, New York. On coming to the county he first located in the township of Amboy, where he pre-empted land on section 34. He resided there until grass- hopper times, when he moved to Blue Earth county, where he remained three years engaged in work on a farm for monthly wages. Then for a brief time he was en- gaged in the mercantile business in the vil- lage of Lake Crystal in partnership with John W. IIorlbert. After six months had expired our subject engaged in the butcher business, continuing therein for one and a half years. After this he returned to Cot- tonwood county and opened up a farm of 2,240 acres for R. Barden. He contined in the management of this extensive farm for three years and then purchased a quarter section on section 16. Since that time he has been the owner of one thousand acres of land and now owns four hundred acres. He has been more or less engaged in the stock busi- ness in connection with raising grain, and for the past three years has been engaged in the mercantile business in Bingham Lake, where also he is engaged extensively in han- dling hay. Mr. DeWolf was one of the early settlers of his township and became one of its most prominent men. In 1881 he was elected county commissioner and served three years.
He is at present chairman of that body. He was treasurer of the township for eight years and is at present school district treasurer, having held that office for ten years. He has always taken an interest in matters per- taining to the political welfare of his locality. In whatever capacity he has been called upon to serve his constituents he has proven his efficiency and acceptability. He is at present residing in the village of Windom, the county seat of Cottonwood county.
Mr. De Wolf was born in Oswego county, New York, October 7, 1847. His parents were William and Melissa (Place) DeWolf, natives of New York State. The mother died in June, 1868, and the father is still living.
The subject of our sketch spent his early life with his parents, and remained beneath the parental roof, receiving a good common- school education, until he was twenty-four years of age. He also taught school several terms and after that engaged in clerking in a store for a year. He then came west and located in Ogle county, Illinois, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for some time. Removing thence he located in Pleas- ant Grove, Olmsted county, Minnesota, and from thence came to Cottonwood county, where he located his farm. He then re- turned to the State of New York, where he was married and then located permanently in Minnesota.
Mr. DeWolf was married to Miss Louisa Gardner, a native of Oswego county, New York. This lady received an excellent education in Hartford, Connecticut, and taught school for a number years in her early life. Mr. and Mrs. DeWolf have three chil- dren-Blanch, Archie and an infant un- named.
The subject of our sketch has become one of Cottonwood county's most prominent citi- zens. Ile is a man of energy and strong opinions, and whatever business he takes
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