USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 20
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C. F. LARSON AND FAMILY
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the harvest, helping with the threshing. During the winter he chopped wood. Then he worked out among the farmers and after a while obtained employment with H. Werring of Golden Gate, with whom he remained for sixteen and a half years, having charge of his farm for 12 years. Then he moved to Morgan town- ship, Redwood county, bought 160 acres of improved land in sec- tion 29 and engaged in farming for himself. He carries on gen- eral farming and dairying. Mr. Larson has been chairman of the township board for the last eight years and a member of the board for ten years. He has served as a member of the school board for 14 years. He is a member and director of the Farmers' Eleva- tor Company of Morgan.
November 10, 1889, he was married to Catherine Strong, who was born June 10, 1872, in Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, daughter of Charles Strong, a native of Long Island, N. Y., and his wife, Ellen (Frost) Strong, who was born in Vermont. They were married in Iowa. The father, a veteran in the Civil War, served three years in the Thirty-Second Iowa Regiment and was wounded. He engaged in farming and died in Golden Gate, where he had settled after coming from Iowa, being 77 years of age at the time of his death. They had six children, Nellie, Frank, Catherine, Charles, John and Roy. Mr. and Mrs. Larson were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Ellen, now Mrs. Ed Allison, of Brown county; Catherine, a teacher; Laura, Bennett, Mildred and Mamie, the four last mentioned are residing at home.
Julius C. Jackson, who is well known in banking circles in Redwood county, was born in Forkton, Ky., October 10, 1873, son of James and Mary (Chapman) Jackson. The father was a native of Virginia, who lived for 25 years in Williamsburg, Iowa, and later moved to Sherman, Texas, where he retired from farming. Julius C. Jackson graduated from the Missouri State Normal School at Kirkville, Mo., in 1891 and was assistant superintendent of schools at Jamesport, Mo., for two years. He was then elected superintendent of schools at Williamsburg, Iowa, where he re- mained for two years and next spent two years at De Smet, S. D., as school superintendent. From 1898 to 1902 he was in the real estate business at De Smet and then became cashier of the State Bank at Parker's Prairie, Minn., where he remained for four years. In 1906 he bought an interest in the Farmers' and Mer- chants' State Bank at Morgan, Minn. He was president of the bank during the years 1911 and 1912, was cashier in 1913, 1914 and 1915, and was again elected president January 1, 1916.
Mr. Jackson is a stockholder and was one of the organizers of the Mahnomen Land Company of Mahnomen, Minn., established in 1912. and served as its president for one year. He was also one of the organizers and president of the Citizens' State Bank at Mahnomen, Minn., and is a stockholder in the Peoples' State Bank
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at St. Paul. He has been an influential factor in the village affairs of Morgan and served as mayor for two years. He was also recorder for one year, treasurer for two years, and is now serving his sixth year as secretary of the board of education. Fraternally he is associated with the Masons and Odd Fellows, and is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Jackson was united in marriage April 9, 1899, to Florine S. Armstrong, who was born October 4, 1879. Her father, Ase F. Armstrong, who was engaged in the real estate business at De Smet, South Dakota, died in 1911 at the age of 63 years. His widow (Alice Tyler) now lives in Los Angeles with her sons, Newell and Claude. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have two children: Lyle, J., born December 15, 1903, and Quinten, born December 14, 1907.
Joseph Franklin Bunting, of Delhi township, was born October 22, 1864, in Dane county, Wisconsin, son of Job and Mary (Noble) Bunting, natives of England, who came to America at an early age and met and married in Dane county, Wisconsin. Here the father purchased 100 acres of land and engaged in farming and here he and his wife resided until their death. Job Bunting was born in 1823 and died May 5, 1894; his wife, born in 1830, died May 13, 1910. They had the following children: Alice, now Mrs. D. W. Whittet of Redwood Falls; Selena, now Mrs. Henry Abbott of Rock county, Wisconsin; Isaac, of Dane county, Wisconsin; Sarah Ann, deceased; James, deceased; George, de- ceased; Joseph F .; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Arthur Vickers, of Dane county, Wisconsin; Amos, of. Dane county; and Agnes, deceased. After finishing school at Albion Academy, Albion, Wis., Joseph F. Bunting came to Redwood county and a few years later pur- chased 160 acres of land in section 21, Delhi township. Here he began to break ground and erected a five-room house which in 1910 was replaced by a fine ten-room house. He made many improve- ments and erected suitable buildings-a barn, 32 by 60 feet, an implement shed, granary and corn crib. He has a fine grove 'around his home and a small apple orchard. He has the following acreage of grain : wheat, 30 acres; corn, 40 acres; oats, 45 acres, and barley, 10 acres. He keeps a good grade of stock, having graded Durham cattle, and has from 12 to 14 milch cows, also raising Poland China swine and Percheron horses.
In politics, Mr. Bunting is a Republican and has been super- visor of the Delhi township board for 16 years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Bunting was married July 27, 1892, to Emma Taber, who was born February 25, 1861, in On- tario, Canada, daughter of John and Charlotte (Smithers) Taber. Her father, born in England in 1823, came to Canada when 16 years of age and was engaged in the hotel business about one mile from Seaforth, Ontario, Canada, for several years. In 1872
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he came to Redwood county and bought 160 acres in Vale town- ship, where he engaged in farming. In 1901 he retired from ac- tive work and made his home with his son at Seaforth, Minn., for a number of years. Then he moved to Green county, Washington, where he died in February, 1906. He was a veteran of the Mexi- can war, coming from Canada to the United States to enlist, and was twice wounded, once being left on the battlefield supposed to be dead. Mrs. Bunting's mother was born in England in 1833 and is now living with her daughter Hattie at Sioux City, Iowa. There were ten children in the family : Elizabeth, now Mrs. Eugene D. Lamb of Seaforth, Minn .; Charlotte L., now Mrs. R. S. Pickett of Wabasso, Minn .; Emma S .; Mary A .; Caroline, now Mrs. John Heimer of Redwood Falls, Minn .; Susan, now Mrs. William Long- bottom of Ontario, Canada; William C., living at Green Lake, Washington; Minnie R., now Mrs. Charles Davis of Redwood county, Minn .; Nettie; and Hattie, now Mrs. George Musselman of Sioux City, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Bunting have the following children : James Earl, born May 12, 1893; Roy Harold, July 8, 1894; Hubert Leslie, March 13, 1898; and Mildred, May 16, 1900, all of whom are residing at home.
Earl I. Bliss, a progressive farmer of Delhi township, was born February 24, 1890, in Renville county, Minnesota, son of Benjamin and Laura (King) Bliss. The father, now a traveling salesman for the Avery Implement Company, was born in 1864; the mother was born in 1867. There were seven children in the family : Earl I., Grace, deceased; Maude and May, twins; Ethel; Ida and Iva, twins, of whom Ida is deceased. Benjamin Bliss bought 160 acres in Delhi township in 1900 and added to it from time to time until he had 320 acres, which he farmed until 1912, when he sold 100 acres to his son Earl and moved to Redwood Falls to take up his position with the Avery Company. Earl I. Bliss completed his education in the schools of Delhi township and has lived on his farm ever since 1900. He raises horses for his own use and special- izes in Poland China and Duroc Jersey swine, keeping also about four milch cows. The farm, which was all uncultivated land when his father bought it, is now well improved; good substantial build- ings have been erected on it, and trees and small fruits set out .. In politics Mr. Bliss is Independent. He has served three years on the school board of district No. 89 and is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Bliss was married to Florence Garner June 12, 1912. She was born September 6, 1888, daughter of James and Sarah (Johnson) Garner. Her father was a farmer, born near Dayton, Ohio, in 1858, and her mother was born at Smith Falls, Canada, in 1867. Both are now living at Turlock, Calif. There were seven children in the family: Florence, Adrian, Harley, June, deceased; Mabel, Ruth, deceased; and Merton. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss have one child, Floyd, born April 7, 1913.
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Neil Mckay, a prosperous farmer of Delhi township, was born June 6, 1867, in Argyleshire, Scotland, son of Archie and Jennette (McNaughton) Mckay. In 1875 he came with his parents to Ontario, Canada, where his father engaged in farming and died December 22, 1881; his mother died in 1908. Neil Mckay came to Redwood county in 1890 and purchased 160 acres of land from J. A. Willard of Mankato at $13.00 per acre. This land was en- tirely uncultivated and without improvements of any kind. In 1892 he built a five-room house, in 1898 added four rooms and has since remodeled the house so that now it is entirely modern. The first crop of wheat, planted in 1892, yielded 36 bushels to the acre. He had planted 100 acres and the crop was sold at 87 cents per bushel. He has since decreased the wheat acreage and increased that of other grains. He began with five acres of corn, yielding 25 bushels the acre, and now plants 60 acres and has a yield of 50 bushels to the acre. There being no market for oats in the early days, he planted 15 acres for his own use, but now has 60 acres and has a good market. He also plants 12 acres of barley. Mr. McKay keeps a good grade of stock and raises Shorthorn cattle, having 12 milking cows and a fine Poll Angus bull. He also raises Duroc Jersey swine and the Norman breed of horses. He buys two carloads of sheep to feed for the market every year. He has erected good farm buildings and has a substantial barn, 32 by 74, built in 1916, modern in every respect. A corn crib and shed were built in 1895 and a feeding shed in 1915, 18 by 36 feet.
Mr. Mckay is a Republican in politics and has held various offices in the township. From 1892 to 1900 he was road overseer, and from 1900 to 1906, township supervisor. In 1910 he became township clerk and is still serving in that capacity. From 1890 to 1896 he was president of the school board of district No. 18, Delhi graded school. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. lodge of Redwood Falls and has held all the offices. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Mckay was married February 8, 1894, to Mamie Andrew of Rockford, Ill., who was born December 12, 1872, daughter of Hugh and Margaret (Picken) Andrew, both natives of Illinois and now living in Rockford, that state. Mr. and Mrs. McKay have the following children: Hugh Archie, born November 18, 1894; Eva Jeanette, born October 10, 1897; and Arthur Elmer, born January 25, 1900.
John Cummings, of Delhi township, was born January, 1826, in Argylshire, Scotland, son of Robert and Barbara (McEachran) Cummings, both natives of Scotland, who lived and died there. The children in the family were: Ephemia, Hugh, Angus, Robert, Donald, Archie, Walter, Barbara and John, of whom Donald and John are the only ones now living. John Cummings came to America in 1855, locating in Ontario, Canada, where he lived for
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN CUMMINGS
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about two years. He then went to Illinois, where he resided until 1858, when he moved to Wabasha county, Minnesota, and took a homestead. In 1879 he came to Redwood county and purchased 160 acres in section 20, Delhi township. Later he gave 84 acres of this farm to his son Donald. There was a two-room log house on the land, which was the first house in that vicinity, there not being another between the farm and Redwood Falls, a distance of six miles. Mr. Cummings began farming with three horses and sowed 45 acres of wheat, increasing the amount as the years went by. He is a breeder of Galloway cattle, Duroc Jersey swine, Shropshire sheep and Percheron horses. In politics he is an In- dependent and the family are members of the Presbyterian church at Delhi.
Mr. Cummings was married February 28, 1852, to Isabelle Stewart, who was born in Scotland, October 29, 1829, daughter of Hugh and Annie (McLean) Stewart. Her father came to On- tario, Canada, in 1855, and in 1858 located in Wabasha county. In 1875 he came to Redwood county, where he died in 1888. His wife died in Scotland in 1854. There were nine children in the family : Catherine, Margaret, Archie, Donald, John, of Tacoma, Wash .; Andrew, of Delhi village; Hugh, Robert, and Dugan. Catherine, Margaret, Archie, Donald, Hugh, Robert and Dugan are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings have had nine chil- dren: Robert, of Lyon county, Minn .; Annie, of Delhi, Minn .; Hugh, of Spokane, Wash .; John, deceased; Barbara, now Mrs. William Burr of Colorado; Donald, residing at home; Isabelle, at home; Catherine, deceased; and Margaret, at home.
Isaac Leslie, now deceased, was born January 13, 1831, in Canada, son of George and Mary (Virtue) Leslie. Both parents were natives of Scotland and married there. They came to America and located in Canada, where Mr. Leslie secured 100 acres of land on which he farmed until his death in 1844. His wife died in 1865. There were eight children in the family: George, Isaac, Mary, Aaron and Jacob, who grew up, and Charles, John and Aurelia, who died in infancy. Isaac Leslie came to Minnesota in 1866 and settled in Wabasha county, Minnesota. In 1870 he moved to Redwood county, this state, and purchased 160 acres in section 16, Delhi township, which he farmed until 1908, when he sold it. This farm was all wild and uncultivated when he bought it and he made many improvements and built good substantial buildings. He also set out trees and started an apple orchard. He carried on diversified farming. In politics Mr. Les- lie was a Republican and served on the township board of Delhi seven years, also on the school board for district No. 18 one year. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Leslie was married May 14, 1868, to Margaret McLennan, born in Nova Scotia, March 1, 1833, daughter of Angus and Christina (McDon-
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ald) McLennan. Her parents were both natives of Scotland and married there. Mr. and Mrs. Leslie had the following children: Mary, now Mrs. H. McHenry, and living in Minneapolis; George, of Wabasso, Redwood county; Christina, at home; and Lillico, now Mrs. D. McLean of Redwood Falls. Isaac Leslie died Decem- ber 13, 1915.
Herman Moritz, one of the successful farmers of Delhi town- ship, was born February 2, 1865, in Germany, son of Fred and Augusta (Daganar) Moritz. The father was born in 1832 and died April 20, 1909; his wife was born in Germany and died in that country in 1876. They had two children, Herman, and Mary, now Mrs. George Cook of Kintire township, Redwood county. Herman Moritz emigrated to America and came to Redwood Falls in 1884 (his father coming in 1889), and bought 80 acres of land in section 13, Delhi township, to which he has since made addi- tions so that now he has 480 acres. There was only a small log house on the place at the time he took possession of it, but now he has a fine eight-room house, finished in hardwood throughout, costing $3,000.00. Mr. Moritz has erected various farm build- ings: two barns, one 74 by 42 feet, the other 42 by 35 feet; a corn crib, 26 by 32 feet, and an implement shed, and has three and one-half acres of orchard. He set out a fine grove of cotton- wood and box-elder trees. He has 90 acres of wheat, 60 acres of corn and 100 acres of oats. He markets from 75 to one hun- dred head of cattle and has about thirty milk cows, of the Short- horn breed, and three Belgian brood mares. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Moritz was married April 14, 1888, in Renville county, Minn., to Augusta Koahlar, who was born in Germany, August 15, 1865, daughter of August and Au- gusta (Weasa) Koahler, and came to America in 1885. Her father was born in Germany and died there in 1896. Her mother came to America in the fall of 1896, and was married again to August Wallart, now living in Renville county, Minn. There were five children in the family: Augusta, Charles, of Berlin, Germany; Bertha, living in Berlin, Germany; Lena, now Mrs. Herman Burlang, living in Berlin, Germany, and Fred, of Delhi township. Mr. and Mrs. Moritz have the following children : Fritz, born January 18, 1889, who married Bertha Akree, and is living in North Redwood, this county; Walter, born March 16, 1891, at home; Lotta, born July 2, 1893; Charles, born July 28, 1899; and Frank, born December 25, 1900.
George Lechner, now deceased, was born in Germany, Novem- ber 2, 1846. He came to America when a boy and in 1880 to Red- wood Falls, where he entered into partnership with Henry Ack- man in the grocery business. In 1894 he bought Mr. Ackman's interest and operated the store alone until 1900, when he sold it. He built up a good, prosperous business and at the time of its sale
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GEORGE LECHNER
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it was one of the best in the town. He purchased a farm in sec- tion 26, Delhi township, which he improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Lechner, who was highly regarded and respected by all who knew him, died July 1, 1912. He took an active interest in public affairs and held various offices of trust. Mr. Lechner was married in 1880, to Helen Speckeen, who was born in Waukesha, Wis., October 12, 1860, daughter of Henry and Mary (Bobseen) Speckeen. Her parents were both natives of Germany and made their home near Milwaukee, where they were married. There were five children in the family, one daugh- ter and four sons. Mr. and Mrs. Lechner had five children : George, born September 8, 1881, of Polk county, Minn .; Edward, born March 16, 1882, now of Redwood, Minn .; Lulu, born January 18, 1885, living at home; Bessie (Mrs. Joe Bolster), of Polk county, Minn., born September 12, 1886, and John, born March 16, 1888, who operates the home farm for his mother. The family are all members of the Catholic church of Redwood Falls.
Robert G. Rogers, an efficient farmer of Delhi township, was born September 18, 1855, in Ontario, Canada, near Stratford, son of John and Sarah (Russell) Rogers. The father was born in Canada, September 18, 1830, and died January 23, 1911, on his farm of 100 acres in Canada, where Robert G. was born. For three years he was treasurer of Fulerton township, Perth county, Ontario, Canada. His wife, mother of Robert, was born March 31, 1827, in Scotland, came to Canada with her eldest sister in April, 1850, and is now living on the farm there. Mr. and Mrs. John Rogers had five children: Robert G .; Mary (Mrs. Geo. Brown, of Manitoba, Canada) ; William, living on the homestead; John, surveyor in Mitchell county, Canada, and Adeline, deceased. Robert G. Rogers acquired his education in the schools of his locality, and at the age of 26 years went to Manitoba, Canada, where he homesteaded 160 acres. He left this land, returned to his home and in March, 1887, came to Redwood county, Minn., where he bought 160 acres of wild land in section 15, Delhi township, to which he made additions from time to time until he owned 293 acres. He built a small frame house 14 by 18 by 8 feet high, and in 1904 built a two-room house and also a barn. He moved the old house to its present location and made additions to it so that he now has a nice modern house of nine rooms. He has a three-acre grove of maple trees, five acres of box elders and a one-acre apple orchard. He raises grain, having 30 acres of wheat, 90 acres of corn and 80 acres of oats. He raises Short- horn cattle and has eight full blooded cattle and one registered sire (Duke Irvin). His other stock consists of Duroc Jersey swine and Norman horses. From a small beginning, having only $7.00 in cash and an ox team to start with, he has made a pro- nounced success of farming and shows promise of continued pros-
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perity. In politics, a Democrat, he has held several offices in the village, has been treasurer of Delhi village council for three years, and for twelve years clerk of the school board of district No. 18. . For six years he has been the secretary of the Farmers' Grain and Fuel company of Delhi and is a stockholder in it, and at one time he was the secretary of the Delhi creamery. At one time he was also a stockholder of the Delhi State Bank., He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. of lodge No. 68, of Redwood Falls. Mr. Rogers was married, February 9, 1881, to Mary Parker, who was born in Australia, August 8, 1862, daughter of William and Bridget (Butler) Parker. Her mother was born in Ireland in 1834, and died in 1909. Her father, born in Canada, in 1830, went to Australia where he made a moderate fortune in the gold fields. He met his future wife, married and returned to Canada, where he died December 22, 1899. They had eight children : Mary; John, residing in Michigan; Rebecca (Mrs. James Good of North Dakota) ; James, of Michigan; William, of South Da- kota; Robert, of Delhi township; George, on the homestead in Canada, and Margaret, wife of Joseph Butters, a veterinary surgeon of Renville county. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have the fol- lowing children : John, born January 21, 1882, who married Rose Ducett, in 1913, and has one child, Olive, born May 3, 1914; Wil- liam, born July 10, 1884, was married February 28, 1913, to Wil- helmina Fader, born July 14, 1892; Leila, born January 25, 1889, who is principal of the Morgan high school; Ira and Clara, twins, born September 27, 1894, of whom Clara is teaching in Kintire township, and Ira is a student at Cornell College in Iowa; and Robert, born October 23, 1897.
George Stronach, a prominent farmer of Delhi township, was born October 19, 1837, in the Parish of Glass, Scotland, son of John and Jane (MeIntire) Stronach. The father, a Scotch farmer, was born in 1812 and died in the fall of 1875, the mother died in June, 1849, both parents having spent their lives in Scotland. George was the eldest of twelve children the others being: Mar- garet, now Mrs. James Taylor; William, deceased; John, de- ceased; Annie, widow of Peter Watson; James; Alexander; Eliz- abeth, deceased; Robert and John (twins) ; Jean, now Mrs. Geo. Robertson, and Charles. All the living children, except George, reside in Scotland. George Stronach came to America in the spring of 1869 and spent the next six years in Wabasha county. In April, 1875, he came to Redwood county and purchased 160 acres in section 20, Delhi township. This land was wild and un- cultivated and here he engaged in farming with his team of oxen. He erected a one-room frame house, 14 by 16 feet, which several years later was replaced by a larger house, and in 1914 he built the present home of eight rooms. The first barn was a rude straw- covered structure. For four years he farmed with his oxen be-
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MR. AND MRS. ALONZO A. NEALE
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fore he was able to secure a team of horses. In 1878 he planted a grove of cottonwood and box-elder trees which now surround the house on two sides. Mr. Stronach is a member of the Repub- lican party and has taken active interest in the affairs of his com- munity. He was president of the school board for district No. 18 from 1875 to 1881 and its clerk for three years at a later period. In 1876 he was township supervisor, the township being organ- ized that year. From 1877 to 1880 he was township treasurer and from 1880 to 1886 was chairman of the township board. From 1886 to 1888 he served as township assessor. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Delhi and he and his family are faithful members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Stronach was married August 7, 1881, to Hannah McLennan, who was born in Nova Scotia, June 1, 1848, daughter of Angus and Christina (McDon- ald) McLennan, both natives of Scotland, who came to Nova Scotia, and later moved to Bruce, Ontario, where they died. There were nine children in the family: Christina, deceased; Angus, deceased; Margaret, now Mrs. Isaac Leslie, of Delhi; Neil, deceased; Catherine, now Mrs. Solomon Russell, of Ontario, Canada; Francis, deceased; Mary, deceased ; Hannah ; Ann, widow of Hugh McDougall, of Delhi, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Stronach's children are: John, born January 21, 1883; Francis, born June 17, 1885; Christine, born August 3, 1888; and William, born Oc- tober 11, 1890. All reside at home with the exception of John, who for the past seven years has served in the Second Cavalry, United States army, in which he is now a corporal. He is now stationed at Ft. Ethan, Vermont.
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