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 94
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hold of moves on to success. He has met with large profit in his various business vent- ures and has accumulated large means. He is a republican in politics and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, be- longing also to the local Grand Lodge. He is a director of the Cottonwood County Bank. He is a man of excellent character and is held in high esteem.
ENRY SMITH is the efficient and popular sheriff of Murray county, Minnesota. He resides on a farm on the southwest quarter of section 30 of Belfast township.
Mr. Smith was born October 3, 1856, in Green Lake county, Wisconsin. He is of Irish descent, his parents, John and Mary (McDevitt) Smith, being natives of Ireland. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm, and until fourteen years of age he was edu- cated in the common schools. When about nineteen or twenty he started out for him- self and worked in the pineries in the State of Wisconsin. He worked in the woods and on the river until 1880, when he came to Murray county and purchased the right to the tree claim on which he now lives.
Mr. Smith was married in Fulda, June 7, 1888, to Miss Mary Nevin, who was born in Austin, Minnesota, March 25, 1866. This lady was the daughter of James and Bridget (Joice) Nevin, natives of Ireland. The mar- riage of Mr. Smith has been blessed with one child-Frances Jane.
Mr. Smith has been identified with the local interests of the republican party. He was elected sheriff of Murray county on the republican ticket, in the fall of 1884, 1886, and again in the fall of 1888. He has proven an able and efficient officer, and has served his constituents to their entire satisfaction. When he began life for himself he had no
means whatever, and had naught to depend upon but his own efforts. He now owns a fine farm of 160 acres, with about forty-five acres under cultivation, ten acres of a fine grove of trees, a good frame dwelling-house and barn, besides considerable stock. He has been quite successful in his farming operations, and is provided with all nec- essary farm machinery. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and is a consistent member of the Catholic church. -
R. HARRY W. MERRILL, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Pipestone, Minnesota, made his location here February 29, 1884, and immediately engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has accomplished eminent success. He is a native of Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa, where he was born December 2, 1856. His parents, James H. and Mary A. (Chase) Merrill, were natives of Maine. The father was a builder and contractor by trade and followed that line of occupation in Portland and other cities in his native State. In 1854 the father came to Iowa, after having spent some time engaged in the contract business in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. After coming to Iowa he settled at Osage, Mitch- ell county, where he engaged in contracting and building until 1872, when he removed to Maywood, Illinois. For two years in that city he engaged in his old business and then accepted a position as foreman for the Chi- cago Road Scraper and Ditcher Company, re- maining with that company until 1886. He is still living in Maywood, having retired from active business. Throughout his ca- reer the father has been a man of large public enterprise and has interested himself extensively in public affairs of the localities in which he has lived. While in Mitchell county, Iowa, he served his county as sheriff for two terms, and was a member of the school
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board for some years, holding that position where he now lives in Illinois. In the fa- ther's family there were two children-Dr. Harry W. and a sister, Hattie E.
The educational advantages furnished the subject of our sketch during his early life were of a good character and he acquired an excellent education. For some years he at- tended the public schools in Osage and later in that city attended the Cedar Valley sem- inary, remaining in the city until 1872. In that year he removed with his father's fam- ily to Maywood, Illinois, where fortwo years he attended schools. He then went to work for H. W. Small, a commission broker of Chi- cago, and remained with that gentleman for one year. At theend of that time he engaged as traveling salesman in Ohio for the Chicago Scraper and Ditcher Company. After one year spent in the employ of this company he then engaged with his uncle, F. A. Merrill, in the livery and feed stable business at May- wood. Two years later he found employ- ment with a publishing company at Chicago, with whom he continued at work on a per- iodical called the Interior, until 1882. Dur- ing the last two years of this service he was engaged in reading medicine to some extent, entering the Rush Medical College late in 1881 and graduating from that institution in February, 1883. Soon after he commenced the practice of medicine in Algonquin, Mc- Henry county, Illinois, remaining there until coming to Pipestone in 1884.
The marriage of the subject of our sketch occurred in 1884, in which year he was wed- ded to Miss Alice C. Thompson, daughter of H. E. Thompson, now of Pipestone. This marriage has been blessed with one child, a son named John W.
Since coming to Pipestone county, Dr. Merrill has built up a large practice and an enviable reputation as a physician and sur- geon. He is a member of the Southwestern Minnesota Medical Society, of which he is at
present the president. In public matters he takes an active interest and renders substan- tial assistance in every project relating to the development of Pipestone city's best interests. In 1886 he was elected county coroner, and has held that position ever since. He is a man of excellent abilities, a well qualified and expert physician and sur- geon, and is esteemed by all who know him.
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ETER D. HALSEY, one of the early settlers of Pipestone county, has been identified with the interests of Troy town- ship since June, 1879. He now resides on section 6 of that township. He was born in the State of New York, June 23, 1850, and is the son of William and Ann (Harrison) Halsey, both of whom were natives of Mas- sachusetts. The father's parents were na- tives of France and the mother's parents were of English birth. The father was a blacksmith by trade and followed that line of employment throughout the most of his life.
The subject of our sketch remained with his parents until he was ten years of age and then commenced working out for neigh- boring farmers. This line of employment was continued for about seven years, at the end of which time he removed to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he found work on a farm for about eighteen months. He then removed to Minnesota, settling in Olmsted county, and remaining there on a farm for about eight months. During this time, however, he visited various parts of the State, and finding the vicinity of Mankato an eligible place of residence he removed to Blue Earth county and resided near Man- kato for about four years. Five years fol- lowing were spent by hin on a farm near Winnebago Agency, same county, and June 2, 1879, he removed to Pipestone county, and settled on his present farm. He came
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by team, having started with a yoke of oxen to drive through to Nebraska. On coming to Pipestone county he was struck with the lay of the land and concluded to stop and locate. He did so and has resided in Troy township ever since.
Mr. Halsey was united in the bonds of marriage in October, 1860, to Miss Hattie Whipple, who died later. On the 13th of February, 1878, Mr. Halsey was again mar- ried, to Laura McNeal. By his first mar- riage Mr. Halsey had four children-Lyn- ford W., Nellie M., Fred E. and Minnesota M. All living at the present time.
Circumstances were such during the early life of Mr. Halsey that he was not able to obtain much schooling, but by home study and careful observation he has stored his mind with an abundant knowledge of the practical side of things. He is a close ob- server and is one who profits by his observa- tions. In the affairs of the town in which he lives he takes a prominent part, and has held several minor official positions. He has been a member of the town board for two years and has occupied a position on the school board for six years. In politics he is a firm believer in the principles of the re- publican party, with which he has affiliated for a number of years. In his business in- terests he has attained marked success and has gathered a comfortable fortune.
OHN GROSS, one of the leading farm- ers and stock raisers of Pipestone coun- ty, Minnesota, resides on section 22 of Gray township. He came to the county March 22, 1879, and located his present homestead. He is one of the thorough and energetic farmers of the town, and has improved his farm by constant cultivation, and erected good farm buildings. On settling on his land he built a small stable, and made that his dwelling until he built his present good house. Mr.
Gross is a practical farmer, and has met with considerable success in all his farming oper- ations.
The subject of our sketch was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1830. His father was a farmer and stock raiser, and was also named John Gross. He was also a native of Northampton county, and made that place his home throughout life, dying in 1861. The mother passed from this life in 1875. In the father's family there were twelve children, our subject being the eighth in order of birth.
Mr. Gross remained with his parents in his native county throughout his early life, and received his education in the district schools. In 1851, determining to strike out for himself, he removed to Stephenson coun- ty, Illinois, and made a two-years' residence in that locality. He then started with a company of prospectors for Pike's Peak, and followed that line of occupation during one summer, returning after that time to Ogle county, Illinois, where he resided seven years, engaged in general farming and stock raising. After that period had expired he removed to the State of Iowa, locating in Story county, where for two years he en- gaged in the butcher business, after which he began clerking in a dry goods store, con- tinuing in that line for five years, and con- tinuing in Story county engaged in various enterprises for seven years longer. Then, in 1879, he removed to Pipestone county, Min- nesota, where he has resided ever since.
The marriage of Mr. Gross occurred Au- gust 4, 1850, on which day he was united in matrimony to Miss Eliza Rockel, a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Gross have had twelve children, eight of whom are now living-Ellen and Jane (twins), Lucy, John, Allen and Curty (twins), Emma and one unnamed. Daniel, a son aged twen- ty-two years, died in October, 1886; William
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and Addie (twins), and an infant, also died in early life.
The subject of our sketch was one of the early settlers in Gray township, and, with the growth of his neighborhood in prosper- ity, he has gathered a comfortable amount of means, and is now well situated. He in- terests himself in public matters, and espe- cially in those things which pertain to the welfare and prosperity of his town. Through- out his career he has been closely identified with religious work. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, but is not very closely allied to that party, believing in sup- porting the best candidate. As a citizen and neighbor he is held in high esteem by the residents of the town in which he lives.
ATTHIAS DRESSEN, a reliable farmer of Marshfield township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, located on the northwest quarter of section 10 in the spring of 1877. He is the son of Matthias and Kate (Schaffer) Dressen, both of whom were natives of Prussia. The parents were farmers by occupation, and resided in their native country throughout their lives. They died in about 1852.
Matthias was born in the city of Cologne, Germany, October 18, 1828, and spent his early life with his parents on the farm. When he was about twenty-four years of age the parents died, and our subject entered the service of the Prussian army, continuing his military life in his native country for about three years. He then came to the United States in 1854, and first stopped in Rochester, New York, where he found em- ployment on a farm for about four years. Again the spirit of roving took possession of him, and he came westward, stopping for about three years in Iowa City, Iowa, where he engaged in teaming. His next move was to Louisa county, same State, where for a
year he worked on a farm. Removing thence he made Red Wing, Minnesota, his head- quarters, purchased a farm and lived thereon from 1861 until 1877, when he came to Lin- coln county, settling on his tree claim. He has given a great portion of his time to mak- ing a success of trees which he has set out on his tree claim. Although in many instances growing trees on the western prairies has been fruitless, our subject has succeeded in raising a fine grove. Mr. Dressen has one of the best farms in Marshfield township, and has provided himself with a good dwell- ing-house and other buildings necessary to the successful operation of a well-regulated farm. He has a large cattle barn, and also a large horse barn, and not far distant stands a large granary, all these building being in excellent repair and nicely painted. Besides being engaged in general farming our sub- ject makes a specialty of raising fine blooded hogs. Since coming to the township our subject has served efficiently in various official positions, having been township treasurer for three terms, and supervisor for two terms. He is a member of the Catholic church, and takes an active interest in mat- ters of an educational nature. On coming to the township our subject was possessed of but little means, and had to depend on his own efforts for obtaining sustenance and accumulating a fortune. He has been thrifty and systematic in his habits, and has success- fully operated his farm, being now sur- rounded with the evidences of prosperity and success. He has a nice home, and a pleasant and agreeable family.
Mr. Dressen was married in New York, March 15, 1854, to Anna M. Flagel. Mr. and Mrs. Dressen have been blessed with the fol- lowing-named children-Henry, Theodore, Mary, John, Charles, Kate, William, The- resa, Gretchin, Anna, Peter, Susan, Lizzie, Matthias (deceased) and Phillis (deceased). Henry and Theodore are married, the latter
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to Miss Kate Myer. Mary married Michael Scholer. Kate married Edward Butman.
ENRY HEINEMAN owns a good farm on section 26, Storden township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He is a native of Germany, where he was born February 8, 1834. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth (Kools) Heineman, also natives of Germany. The parents emigrated to America in 1857 and located in the State of New York. They both died some years ago. They were farmers by occupation and were influential citizens of the State of New York.
Until twenty-four years of age the subject of our sketch assisted his father in work on the farm, and also attended the district school acquiring a good practical education. At the age just mentioned he commenced working for various employers and occupied his time in various pursuits until 1861. In that year he enlisted in Company I, Twenty- seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel H. W. Slocum. He partici- pated in the battle of Bull Run, in the Pen- insular Campaign, the two battles about Fredericksburg, and various other battles of minor importance. Mr. Heineman was sun- struck on the march between Washington and Fair Oaks Court House, but was not seri- ously injured. He was discharged in 1863, and shortly afterwards returned to his home in New York and commenced work, continu- ing thereat until 1873. At that time he removed to Minnesota, taking up his abode in St. Paul, where he engaged in various employments for four years. From thence he removed to his present homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, where he has since lived. He is an energetic, hard-working farmer and has striven to make his place one of the best in the township. He has taken pride in putting it under good cultivation and in putting up good buildings. He has
five acres of a good grove of trees. In con- nection with his farming operations, he also is raising blooded stock and always has some choice animal for sale.
Mr. Heineman was married September 23, 1864, to Mrs. Elizabeth Bass, a widow with three children. Mr. and Mrs. Heineman have been blessed with one child-Otto. The Heineman family are pleasant and agreeable people and have a cheerful and hospitable home. They are members of the Lutheran church.
In politics the subject of our sketch affili- ates with the democratic party. He is an in- fluential member of the Grand Army of the Republic, LaGrange Post, No. 76, of Windom. His history in the township has been one of activity in public matters, He has held various official positions, such as chairman of the township board, treasurer and clerk of school district No. 52. He is at present a member of the board of supervisors. Mr. Heineman is a man of broad ideas, strong principles, and is esteemed by all who know him.
ODFREY KIKUL resides on section 18, Rose Hill township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He is a native of Rus- sia, where he was born November 17, 1857. The parents of our subject were Fred and Elizabeth (Hachabaum) Kikul, both natives of Germany. The parents brought their family to the United States in 1877, and returned to their native country in 1881, where they still live.
The subject of our sketch followed his parents in their various migrations, leaving his native land with them and coming to America in 1877, and continuing his resi- dence in his father's family until he was twenty-two years of age. At that time our subject pre-empted 177 acres of land where he now resides. This was afterward changed
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to a homestead, and our subject has been ac- tively engage in making excellent improve- ments. He has one of the best farms in the township, and is acknowledged to be one of the most systematic and successful farmers in his region. Besides raising grain, he is also engaged quite extensively in raising Galloway cattle and horses of fine blood. In this line he shows his accurate knowledge of stock raising and is producing some of the finest animals of their kind in the county. He has always taken an active interest in public matters and affiliates with the republican party. With his family he belongs to the Lutheran church of Rose Hill, and assisted quite largely in building the edifice in 1884. Mr. Kikul was married to Mary Rupee, daughter of Jacob Rupee, August 9, 1881.
RANK A. HYKE, one of the leading business men of Luverne, Minnesota, is a dealer in flour, feed, grain, wood, coal, etc. He is one of the prominent business men of the city, and has built up an exten- sive patronage. He made his location in Rock county in 1871, in which year he set- tled in Luverne and engaged in the harness business. He was one of the very earliest pioneers of the county, and has continued his residence here ever since his first settlement. He continued in the harness business until 1878, in which year he purchased a farm of 160 acres in Springwater township, and en- gaged to some extent in farming. Prior to selling out his harness shop, however, he engaged to some extent in his present busi- ness. He has the honor of being the pioneer wheat and grain buyer of Rock county, and made the first shipment of grain from Sioux City, Iowa City, Le Mars, and other points to Luverne over the Omaha railroad when that road was first built into the city. For some time prior to the building of the road he had a train of teams hauling grain to
Worthington, Nobles county, and returning with lumber and goods to Luverne. On the advent of the railroad our subject purchased a large grain warehouse near the track, and used that until 1884, in which year he built a large elevator on the B., C. R. & N. Rail- road, where he now keeps from two to six men constantly at work and does an exten- sive business. He has been one of the bene- factors of the city, and has been actively in- terested in all projects tending to the im- provement of the village. He has built several stores and other buildings and has purchased quite a number of farms in the county, having four under operation at the present time. Throughout his residence here he has been doing an immense business and has had "many irons in the fire," in farming, mercantile, grain, and other busi- ness-no matter how largely he has been in- terested, he has kept a continual personal oversight of his affairs. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank, the Bank of Beaver Creek, and has interested himself largely in the building and loan association of his adopted city, and in many ways his financial interest in the growth of Luverne is shown.
The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch was born in Bohemia in the year 1850. His father was Frank Hyke, also a native of that country, and now a res- ident of Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he is engaged in farming. When our subject was but a small boy his parents came to America and settled at Rochester, Racine county, Wisconsin. After remaining in that locality for some years they removed to Iowa.
Mr. Hyke received a good education in the common schools in Racine county, Wis- consin, and after getting pretty well along into his "teens " commenced a three-years' apprenticeship to learn the harness business. After that time had expired he then engaged
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as a journeyman harnessmaker, working some three months for Mr. Codman, of whom he learned his trade. At the end of that time he went to Burlington, Wisconsin, where he worked for a short period. He then went to Decorah, Iowa, where he en- gaged at his trade for two and a half years. Removing thence he settled in Charles City, Iowa, where another two and a half years were spent. His next move was to Luverne, where he has since lived. In 1874 occurred the wedding of our subject. The union has been blessed with six children-Ida M., Charlotte, Ethel, Clarence R. D., Eva and Beatrice. In politics the subject of our sketch affiliates with no particular party, but believes that the best ends of govern- ment are served by electing the best men to office. Since coming to the city he has built up a large and extensive patronage in his various business enterprises, and is to-day one of the best-known and most highly re- spected citizens of Luverne, and, indeed, of Rock county.
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ARS I. FJESETH is the present efficient treasurer of Lincoln county, Minnesota. He is the son of Ingebret and Gorina (Larson) Fjeseth, both natives of Norway. The parents were well-to-do farm- ers in their native land where they still live.
The subject of our sketch was born about seven miles from Throndhjem, Norway, September 17, 1844. He was reared on the farm of his father, with whom he continued until 1867. He was given good educational advantages in the district schools until he was fifteen years of age and for about one year attended a private school. When not in school he assisted his father on the farm. He remained with his parents until his mar- riage, which occurred in 1867. Shortly after that event our subject came to Amer- ica, locating in Allamakee county, Iowa,
where he engaged at farm work for about a year. He then purchased a farm and oper- ated it successfully for about six years, at the end of which time he sold out and moved to the village of Quindahl in the same county. Here he engaged in general mer- chandising for about two years and then sold out, coming directly to Lincoln county, Minnesota, where he settled on a homestead and tree claim in Hendricks township. He proved up on the homestead some years ago and still owns both farms. In 1888 he rented his farm and moved into the village of Lake Benton. In November, 1888, he was elected county treasurer on the republican ticket, receiving a handsome majority.
The subject of our sketch was married March 20, 1867. This union has been blessed with seven children, three of whom are now living-Hannah, Albert and Gertrude. Those deceased were Albert, Sr., Albert, Jr., Ger- trude, Sr., and Benedict.
Since coming to Lincoln county, our sub- ject has taken an active interest in the affairs of the republican party and has become quite prominent in the local councils of that or- ganization. While living in Kendricks township he occupied various official posi- tions, among them being that of township supervisor, clerk, justice of the peace and chairman of the town board. He has also held the position of school clerk, and during inost of the time since he came to this county he has held two official positions. Before the township was organized he was assessor of the territory now comprised in nine town- ships in the northern part of the county. Mr. Fjeseth and family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. The subject of our sketch is a man of excellent qualities, both of mind and heart, and administers the affairs of his official positions with rare fidel- ity. As a man and citizen he is highly re- spected and has made a host of friends since locating in the county.
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