USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 12
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Charles W. Tiffany was born in Oneida county, New York, the son of Alanson Tiffany, a farmer of New York state, who was born in 1806, and died April 15, 1891, and of his wife, Anna K. (Rector) Tiffany, who was born in 1810 and died December 30, 1887. The youngest of ten children, six of whom are now living,
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Charles W. Tiffany was reared to farm pursuits and received such education as the schools of his neighborhood afforded. He came to Redwood Falls in 1878 and engaged in the implement business for several years. In 1886 he secured 160 acres of land in section 33, Delhi township, where he successfully carried on general farming until 1894, when he retired and moved to Red- wood Falls, where he now resides. He was married January 4, 1883, to Marcelia Nichols, born September 14, 1853, daughter of John Nichols, a farmer of New York, born in 1814, and died in 1876, and his wife, Margaret (Seaton) Nichols, born in 1828, and died September, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany have one child, Smith N., born September 4, 1886, now of Aberdeen, S. D. He was married to Georgia Chatterton June 18, 1912, and has two boys: Robert C., born April 13, 1913, and Burton C., born Sep- tember 6, 1914.
Joseph D. Winn, manufacturer and farmer, was born in Wells, Maine, October 14, 1821 and died February 10, 1905. He was reared in his native state, and attended the neighborhood schools. As a young man he engaged in the manufacture of bottles at Dayton, Ohio. From there he moved to Ironton, Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he was employed in the iron works. In 1870 he went to Minneapolis and worked in the foundry of the C., M. & St. P. Railway Co., until 1875. During this time, in 1871, he built a residence on the corner of First avenue and Thirteenth street, grubbing out the trees and bushes to make room for it. In 1876 he began the manufacturing of printers' furniture and mill furnishings over the Morrison Planing Mill at St. Anthony Falls. This mill burned in 1879 and he then moved to the Moul- ton Planing Mill on Hennepin Island, which he bought, con- tinuing the same business until 1881, when he sold out. He was also associated with Charles Perry in the manufacturing of print- ers' supplies and electrotype foundry material. In 1881, how- ever, he determined to adopt the life of a farmer. Accordingly he came to this county and purchased 160 acres in section 34, Redwood Falls township. Mr. Winn and his family were en- tirely without rural experience, and so unaccustomed were they to farm life, that they had to seek the help of their neighbors as to the proper way to harness a horse and the correct method of handling a plow. Their difficulties were increased by the fact that their funds were small, they had little to spend for hiring help or improving the farm, and the place they set about to de- velop was all wild land, surrounded by swamps. But with un- daunted courage they overcame all these obstacles, working early and late, and finally by shrewd management and persistent ef- fort winning success. Now the members of the family are among the most efficient farmers in the vicinity, and although they once had to, seek advice about the simplest work, they are now
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frequently approached by their neighbors as to their opinions of the values of various crops, and also as to their experience with the best methods of modern farming. Mr. Winn was mar- ried March 25, 1850, to Mary Jane Bean, born November 16, 1830, in Ossippee, New Hampshire, and died January 10 1910. She was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Annible of Portsmouth, N. H. Mr. Annible was a railway conductor. Mr. and Mrs. Winn have had eleven children: William, Frank H., Joseph D., Jr. Clara and Ira all of whom died at Minneapolis; Harry A .; Charles H., Alberta, Jennie and Ada, all of whom are living at home on the farm. George met his death in an accident on the farm in 1890, at the age of twenty-one years. In 1891 the sons, Harry A., Charles H., and George, took charge of the home farm consisting of 640 acres, all of section 34. In 1914 they divided the farm: Harry A: took 240 acres, Charles, the same amount, and the sisters received 160 acres.
Harry A. Winn, a prosperous farmer and well-known citizen, was born in Ironton, Wis., August 21, 1859, son of Joseph D. and Mary Jane (Bean) Winn, with whom he lived in various places before coming with them to Redwood county, in 1881. Here with his father and brothers, he set about to learn farming and to develop a substantial estate. When the estate was divided, he received 240 acres in section 34, on which he is now conduct- ing general farming and stock raising. While he devoted his attention to various branches of agricultural endeavor, he has made a specialty of stock raising. He has fourteen registered Shorthorn cattle for dairy purposes, and also raised a large herd of cattle for the market, shipping about two carloads each year. He likewise raises some excellent swine, and ships about a carload each year. He is one of the few large owners of sheep in the county, feeding at times as many as 1,000 a year. A fea- ture of the farm is the fact that 140 acres are devoted to clover. Five acres are set to fruit trees. Another important factor in the value of the farm is the fine grove set out in 1870, which now yields a good supply of fuel and lumber, 75,000 feet of lumber having been cut in the past thirty years in addition to a con- stant supply of fuel. Mr. Winn is one of the promoters of the Redwood County Rural Telephone Company and a stockholder of the Farmers' Elevator and Lumber Yard in Redwood Falls. He has served as treasurer of school district No. 63, for five years and his brother Charles H. has been director of same for five years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Fra- ternally he is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the M. B. A. Harry A. Winn was united in marriage June 21, 1890, to Emma J. McGregor, born June 24, 1869. They have had four children: Herbert A., born April 4, 1891, married March, 1915, to Opal Mosher, and now residing on his father's farm; Edgar, born
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May 7, 1892; Helen, born July 5, 1894; Florence, deceased, and Harold, born October 8, 1904.
Hial D. Baldwin, banker, jurist and attorney, was born in Auburn, Cayuga county, New York, July 6, 1827, son of Horace and Ann Baldwin, both of English descent. He was educated in his native state, and in due time was admitted to the bar. He was at Stoughton, Wis., from 1857 to 1860, and then for sev- eral years practiced law in Waseca county, this state, in the meantime becoming interested in the hotel, mercantile and the banking business. In 1871 he came to Redwood Falls, and here opened a law office. His worth was at once recognized, and at various times he served in such positions as clerk of court, judge of probate, and county attorney. He was also judge of the Munic- ipal court, and served as one of Redwood Falls' most honored majors. By appointment he occupied the bench of the Ninth Judicial District, and made a most admirable judge. Aside from his legal practice, during which he handled much important liti- gation, Mr. Baldwin was much interested in banking. He be- came interested in the old Redwood County Bank, was one of the factors in making it a state bank, and later in making it a national bank, and served as one of the officers of the institu- tion for many years, the present name of the institution being the First National Bank of Redwood Falls. Judge Baldwin was married in 1852 to Angeline O. Marvin, of Lysander, Onon- daga county, New York, the daughter of Stephen Marvin.
Herbert A. Baldwin, president of the First National Bank of Redwood Falls, is one of the most active factors in the efforts which have made Redwood Falls one of the best known of Min- nesota's smaller municipalities. A thorough believer in the fu- ture of the city and county, he is ever ready to lend his hand to any good cause which has the betterment or progress of the city and county in view. His influence is strong with all classes throughout the community, and he is ever ready to use that in- fluence in behalf of whatever he believed to be right and of ad- vantage to the people. A ready orator, his services as a speaker are in demand on every occasion, and his genial welcome of vis- itors to the city has done much to increase the high repute in which the city is held. A man of unusual business ability, and one who has achieved a full measure of success, he is neverthe- less democratic and approachable, and his delightful personality has had its influence on all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Baldwin is one of the native sons of Minnesota, his birth having occurred in Waseca county, February 22, 1865. When a child of six years, he was brought to Redwood Falls by his par- ents, Hon. H. D. and Augusta Baldwin. Here he attended the public schools and later the high school and on laying aside his text-books he entered upon his business career. Realizing how
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essential is physical development to the successful business man, he spent eighteen months in work upon a farm, in order that he might expand his lungs and strengthen his muscles, thus prepar- ing for the closer confinement of commercial life. In connection with his father he then embarked in the grocery trade, under the firm style of H. D. Baldwin & Son, spending three years in a mercantile career, after which he entered the high school in order to further add to his education. His next business serv- ice was in connection with the Redwood County Bank. He started as messenger boy, and by earnest devotion to his duty, won steady promotion until he became cashier, a position he re- tained after the bank became a State bank, and still later after the bank became a National bank. In 1910 he assumed the duties of his present position as president. He is also connected with several other banks, being president of the Security State Bank, of North Redwood, and vice president of the State Institution for Savings, at Minneapolis, as well as vice president of the Min- nesota Fire Insurance Company, at Chatfield, Minn. For nearly three decades he has been treasurer of Redwood Falls. In addi- tion to his financial interests he is an extensive holder of real estate. He has also been interested in the hotel business. He has passed through the chairs of the Knights of Pythias; is a member of the I. O. O. F. He has been an active patron of such local interests as the park system, the Commercial club, and the Armory, and is connected with numerous boards and committees. Mr. Baldwin was married January 8, 1887, to Eva F. Martin, born in 1861, daughter of George W. and Eliza J. (Clements). Mr. Martin is a retired farmer of Redwood Falls, Minn., and a pioneer of Dakota county, Minn., who came to Renville, Minn., in 1883, and to Redwood in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have four children : Dean, born March 12, 1890, who has been a stu- dent of the high school of Redwood Falls, Carleton College and the Winona State Normal school; Vean, born March 12, 1890 a graduate of the high school and Carleton College and now a teacher; Clinton H., born September 10, 1892, a student in the law department of the University of Minnesota; and Marjorie E., born December 13, 1900, a student of the Redwood Falls high school.
Donald Stewart, a sturdy pioneer of Redwood county, was born in Campbellton, Scotland, May 1, 1834, son of Hugh and Annie (McLean) Stewart. The family came to Canada when Donald was a boy. There they lived for a number of years. From there in 1856 Donald Stewart and his brothers, Archibald, Andrew, and John, came to Wabasha county, this state. It is worthy of note that all of these four brothers afterwards came to Redwood county and all became prominent and prosperous citizens, Andrew being the only one of the four who is now
,
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living. Donald Stewart arrived in Redwood county in the fall of 1871, and secured a half section of land in sections 10 and 15, Redwood Falls township. His first building was a frame shanty 16 by 24 feet, which, in later years, was converted into a gran- ary. Beginning to farm on a small scale and gradually breaking more and more of his land, Mr. Stewart in time obtained unus- ual prosperity. Of sturdy Scotch principles he early espoused the prohibition cause and fought hard for his belief in the days when temperance was not so popular as it is at the present time. At one time he was a candidate for the legislature. A thorough believer in education, he served for some years as a school direc- tor. It is worthy of note that Mr. Stewart specialized in the dairy business at the time when many others believed that this county was more adapted to the feeding and shipping of stock and would never become a leading cow district. His active life was brought to an untimely end July 2, 1896, when he was killed in a runaway accident. Mr. Stewart was married in London, Canada, July 1, 1861, going back to Canada from his farm in Wabasha county to claim his bride. His wife Catherine (Wat- son), was born in Scotland, June 1, 1833, came to Canada as a girl, lived with her husband some ten years in Wabasha county, came to Redwood county with him, was an admirable helpmate in all his endeavors and survived her husband by three years, dying October 30, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were the parents of eight children: Annie L., is the wife of Andrew D. Smith, of Paxton township, Redwood county, Minnesota; Andrew D., is a farmer of Redwood Falls township, Redwood county; Margaret, of Seattle, Wash .; Robert, of Redwood Falls township; Archie, deceased; Belle, now Mrs. W. J. McDonald, of Walnut Grove, Redwood county; John, of Medford, Minn .; Catherine, now Mrs. Francis Pollard of Morgan, Redwood county.
John C. Smith, for many years a prominent farmer and dairy- man of Winnebago, Ill., was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1832, came to America in 1851 traveled about for a while and in 1859 purchased land near Winnebago, Ill., where he devoted his time to grain raising and dairying. He was a stock holder in the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and the Farm- ers' Co-operative Elevator Company of that place, as well as secretary and director of the Winnebago Farmers' Co-operative Creamery. In politics he was a Republican, later working in the ranks of the Prohibition party. After a useful life he died in April, 1913. John C. Smith was married in 1858 in Illinois to Jean McNair, who was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1834, and died in Illinois in 1909. In the family there were seven chil- dren : James M., of Illinois; Andrew D., of Redwood county, Minn .; Annie J., wife of George Bridgland, of Illinois; Eliza- zeth C., wife of David Greenlees, of Sidney, Australia; Martha,
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of Illinois; Jesse (deceased), wife of Dr. William R. Bagley of Duluth, Minn., and David of Illinois.
Andrew D. Smith, a well-to-do and prosperous farmer of Pax- ton township, was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, October 27, 1861, son of John C. and Jean (McNair) Smith, natives of Scotland. He was reared on the home farm in Illinois, worked with his father for a number of years and also learned the car- penter trade. His district school education was supplemented with a course of study in a private school in 1884. While still pursuing his work on the home farm he devoted the winters of 1885, 1886 and 1887 to teaching school. It was in 1888 that he came to Redwood county and taught school at the historic old school house in the Wabasha Creek valley. In the winter of 1889 and 1890, he taught in district forty-seven. In the mean- time, in 1889, he bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 7, Paxton township, thus forming the nucleus of his present splen- did place of two hundred and twenty-two acres. On this farm, Mr. Smith conducts general agricultural operations along the latest approved lines. He makes a specialty of raising a good grade of stock, possesses a good herd of Jersey cattle, and a good flock of Shropshire sheep. The value of his farm is further en- hanced by a big grove. The residence, surrounded by a wide lawn, was erected in 1900, and is a modern eight-room dwelling. In addition to this he has erected barns, machine and carriage sheds, granary and other suitable buildings, has fenced and tiled the farm and has purchased a splendid supply of tools, imple- ments and machinery. Aside from his farm holdings, he is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator of Redwood Falls, and also in the Redwood Falls Rural Telephone Company. He has served as chairman of the town board and also as assessor. A Prohibitionist in politics, he has been chairman of the county organization for some years. He and his family are devout members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Smith was married August 15, 1889, to Annie L. Stewart, who was born in Wabasha county, December 1, 1862, daughter of Donald and Catherine (Watson) Stewart, and this union has been blessed with eight children : Donald S., Elizabeth C., Martha, John C., Esther, Jean, Dorothy, and Lucius B. Donald S. was born January 6, 1891, graduated from the Redwood Falls high school, married Irma Mace, January 1, 1913, has two children : Helen A., born Novem- ber 10, 1913, and Irwin M., born August 5, 1916, and farms in Redwood Falls township. Elizabeth C. was born September 17, 1892, graduated from the Redwood Falls high schood and Park College, Parkville, Missouri, with the degree of B. A., and now teaches school. Martha was born March 20, 1895, died March 5, 1897. John C. was born March 29, 1897, and will graduate in 1917 from Park College. Esther, born June 21, 1899, and Jean,
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born August 3, 1901, are students at Redwood Falls high school. Dorothy, born February 7, 1904 attends the graded school in Redwood Falls. Lucius B. was born March 2, 1906, and died March 27, 1907.
William D. Flinn, M. D., was born in Ireland, in 1842, and. as an infant, was brought by his parents to Auburn, New York,; where they lived until he was some eight or nine years old, then coming to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and loeating on a farm near. Columbus. He was but nineteen years of age, when, upon Au- gust 14, 1862, he enlisted in the 23rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- try. On being mustered out, July 4, 1865, he entered Rush Medical College, at Chicago, from which he was graduated with high honors in 1868. With the ink scarcely dry on his diploma, he opened an office in Elysian, Le Sueur county, this state. In the fall of 1870, he came to Redwood Falls and began his remark- able career here. Under Governor A. R. McGill, he was presi- dent of the State Board of Medical Examiners, and remained a member of that body the full period allowed by law. He was appointed United States pension examiner for this district shortly after his arrival, and with the exception of the eight years of Grover Cleveland's administrations, served in this capac- ity until his death. He was consulting physician of the Minne- apolis & St. Louis. Dr. Flinn declined to serve in political office. In the early days he served for a while as county superintendent of schools, and at one time he was prominently mentioned as a candidate for the state senate, though he felt that he could not become a candidate on account of his large practice. Dr. Flinn died November 22, 1897. He was stricken at the office of the Redwood Gazette, October 21, and the best of medical attention was unable to save him. William D. Flinn was married in 1870, to Mary Brainerd, of Danville, Wis., to which union there were born five children. Of these, two, Thomas and Brainerd, are living. Thomas is a practicing physician at Redwood Falls and Brainerd is a student at the Rush Medical College, Chicago.
Thomas E. Flinn, M. D., was born May 27, 1884, in Redwood Falls, Minn., son of William D. and Mary L. (Brainerd) Flinn. He graduated from the Macalaster Preparatory Academy and Macalaster College with the degree of A. B., in 1905, and from the Rush Medical College with the degree of M. D., in 1909, and during the next two years devoted his life to work as an in- terne in various Chicago hospitals. Since then he has been in practice in Redwood Falls, Dr. G. R. Pease being his partner. Dr. Flinn was married October 4, 1911, to Lucy M. Hyslop, born November 4, 1885, daughter of John Hyslop, a farmer who died in 1897, at the age of sixty-five, and his wife, Lucy (Kelly) Hyslop, who now lives in Chester, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Flinn
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have three children : Mary, born August 8, 1912; Thomas, born November 15, 1914, and John, born March 7, 1915.
Giles B. Pease, M. D., is the dean of the medical profession in Redwood county, having been in practice here since 1887. He was born in Michigan, November 16, 1861, and after receiving his preliminary education, entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in 1885. For a time he practiced at Madison, Minn. In the spring of 1887 he came to this county and established his practice. In December, 1911, he formed a partnership with Dr. Thomas E. Flinn, a partnership which has since continued. In 1915 the doctors erected a splendid hospital, known as the Redwood Falls Hospital, in which both now maintain their offices. Dr. Pease has been health officer of the city and coroner of the county and has also done efficient service on the city council.
Thomas D. Barber, now deceased, was born in Perth, On- tario, Canada, January 8, 1849, son of William and Mary (Dodds) Barber, the former of whom came to Vesta township, this county, in 1872, and died in 1873. Thomas D. Barber came to Vesta township with his father, and took a homestead on section 6, where he developed a fine farm, and where he successfully car- ried on agricultural operations for many years. He is regarded as one of the real pioneers of the region. As town clerk he did efficient service for twenty years, and for a similiar period was director of the school district of his neighborhood, which he as- sisted in organizing. He also took an active part in the affairs of the Brethren church. In 1902 he retired and moved to the village of Vesta, where he died February 9, 1912. In the fall fol- lowing his death, his family moved to Redwood Falls, where they have since resided. Mr. Barber was married December 15, 1875, to Sophia A. Garry, who was born August 29, 1858, daugh- ter of James and Elizabeth (Dearborn) Garry. John Garry set- tled in Lyon county, this state, in 1874, and later went to Cotton- wood county, where he died at the age of eighty-four years. His wife died in 1861 at the age of forty. Mr. and Mrs. Barber had ten children: William J., proprietor of the garage at Vesta; Elizabeth Gertrude, now Mrs. Albert Becker, wife of a harness dealer at Wood Lake; May A., now Mrs. Arthur Athey, wife of a traveling salesman, of Redwood Falls; Lester A., farmer at Saskatchewan, Canada; Raymond T., a farmer of Saskatchewan, Canada; Florence E., now Mrs. G. L. Crooks, whose husband is manager of the elevator at Vesta, Minn .; Stanley J., proprietor of a barbershop at Vesta; Winnie, who died in infancy; Ruth Alzina, student at the Mankato State Normal School and later teacher in Redwood county, and Jeanette L., student at the Red- wood high school.
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B. James Reynolds, an expert civil engineer, is a splendid example of the success which may be won by a young man of pluck and energy and a determination to make the most of every opportunity. In Redwood county his name is inseparably con- nected with the extensive ditching project which is making the county known throughout the state. Mr. Reynolds was born in London, May 25, 1879, son of Bion and Fanny (Fletcher) Rey- nolds. He came to Western Canada in 1898, and engaged in farming near Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Later he became ac- countant and experimentalist at the government experiment sta- tion at Indian Head. In May, 1910, he came to Redwood county as superintendent of the Sears-Gold farms. For some years he studied civil engineering with the International Correspondence Schools, and in 1912, took up the practice of that profession. He has been unusually successful, and is now doing much of the drainage work of the county, employing four assistants, all of whom are college graduates. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married July 12, 1916, to' Abigail Peavoy, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ellen (Kenney) Peavoy, whose farm is situated within the city limits of Redwood Falls. Bion Reynolds, father of B. James Reynolds, was a man of extensive education, having received his degree of M. A. at Cambridge University. In that university and in London, he taught mathematics for twenty-five years. In 1904 he came to Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada, to live with his son, and died in 1909 at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, the mother of B. James Reynolds, died in 1894, at the age of fifty-five years.
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