USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 31
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Willis J. McDonald, cashier of the Walnut Grove State Bank, was born March 16, 1870, in Blue Earth, Minn., son of James and Sarah (Blanchard) McDonald. James McDonald was born in New York, May 16, 1832, and died May 15, 1882, in Blue Earth; his wife, born in Maine, February 29, 1840, died July 12, 1904, in Blue Earth. James was a tailor and sailor in early life, but for several years before his death was engaged in farm- ing near Blue Earth, Minn. There were five children in the fam- ily: Charles N., of Raymond, South Dakota; Clarence P., of McGregor, Minn .; Willis J .; Henry T., of Harpers Ferry, West Va .; and Walter R., of Benchland, Mont. Willis J. McDonald completed his high school education in Blue Earth in 1887 and then worked on his father's farm until 21 years of age. He was station agent at various points on the Chicago and North West- ern railway, and after seven years of service went to Walnut Grove, where he was associated with A. Swoffer in the grain business from 1898 to 1910. January 1, 1900, he was elected cashier of the Walnut Grove State Bank. He is also secretary of the Walnut Grove Building and Loan Association, and is in- terested in the Corn Belt Land Company of Walnut Grove. A Republican in politics, Mr. McDonald has served as president of the village council, as village recorder, as president of the school board for fifteen years, and is now treasurer of the school board. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. McDonald was mar- ried March 3, 1897, to Belle Stewart, who was born April 16, 1870, daughter of Donald and Catherine (Watson) Stewart. He and his wife have three children: Kenneth J., born January 16, 1899; Willis S., born August 17, 1901, and Malcolm B., born May 14, 1905. The family faith is that of the Congregational church.
Eleck C. Nelson, a farmer and stock buyer of Walnut Grove, was born in Norway, September 29, 1846, son of Christopher and Martha (Eleck) Nelson. The father, born in Norway, died in
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that country, in 1850. The mother was also born in Norway, and died in 1885, in Allamakee county, Iowa. They had four children: Betsy, now Mrs. Peter Johnsen, of Walnut Grove; Nels C., of Spring Grove, Minn .; Eleck C .; and Ranel, who is deceased. Eleck C. Nelson came to America in 1866, his mother coming a year later, June 10, 1870. He homesteaded 160 acres of land in North Hero township, Redwood county, Minnesota, being the first settler in the township. He broke up and im- proved his land and when he sold his holdings in 1892 had ac- cumulated 333 acres. He then moved to Walnut Grove and bought 80 acres adjoining the town, where he has lived and farmed ever since. He is also an extensive stock buyer and deal- er, shipping to St. Paul and Chicago about fifty carloads of cat- tle every year. In politics he is a Republican, and has held vari- ous positions of trust. For 15 years he was supervisor of the North Hero township; for ten years a member of the village board of Walnut Grove; and for four years mayor of Walnut Grove. Mr. Nelson was married September 15, 1871, to Olena Olson, who was born in Norway, June 24, 1852, daughter of Ole Nesa and Aasa (Olson) Nesa. Her father died in Norway and she accompanied her mother to America in 1852, the year of her birth. They settled in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and resided there until 1872. The mother then made her home with Olena until her death. There were four children in the family, but Olena is the only one now living. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have had the following children: Anna C., now deceased; Mary, now Mrs. L. T. Ellefson, of Walnut Grove, who has seven children and one grandchild; Fred, who resides in North Dakota; Albert, deceased; Samuel, residing at home, who married and has one child; Julia, now Mrs. George Sulky, of Walnut Grove, who has two children; and Hjelmer, residing at home. The family at- tends religious services at the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Daniel A. Malloy, proprietor of a well-known grocery store in Walnut Grove, Minn., was born in this place, May 17, 1883, son of James and Effie (Way) Malloy. The parents, who were natives of Ohio and Canada, respectively, in 1887 moved from Redwood county to Marion county, Oregon, where they farmed for some years and then sold. The mother returned to Walnut Grove in 1890, the father going to Washington, where he died. The former was later married to Fred C. Swoffer and after his death to George Stevens, and they live on a farm in Murray county, Minnesota. Daniel A. Malloy helped Mr. Swoffer in the grocery business until the latter's death in 1906, after which he operated the store for his mother for three years. She then sold the property and he was appointed postmaster of Walnut Grove, January 1, 1907, holding office until February 1, 1915. In March, 1915, he purchased his present business. He is a
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Republican in politics. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I. O. 0. F., having held all the chairs, and with the Modern Wood- men of America. Mr. Malloy was married June 26, 1906, to Josephine Larson, who was born November 30, 1886, in Redwood county, Minnesota, daughter of James A. and Johanna (Halver- son) Larson. Mr. and Mrs. Malloy have had three children, of whom two are living: Frederick, born January 27, 1908; Ray- mond, born September 14, 1909; and Helen, born November 18, 1914, who died October 24, 1915. The family faith is that of the Congregational church.
Adolph H. Kemper, cashier of the First State Bank of Wal- nut Grove, was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, September 6, 1880, son of Frederick and Louisa (Bald) Kemper. Frederick Kemper, who was born in Prussia, Germany, April 9, 1837, has now retired from farming and lives with his children. His wife was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1847, and died in Wiscon- sin, November 2, 1890. There were seven children in the family : William F., of Alberta, Canada; Alvina, now Mrs. L. Kehle, of Waverly, Iowa; George L., of Aberdeen, South Dakota; Adolph; Clara, deceased; Fred, deceased; and Edward, of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Adolph H. Kemper attended the common school and the Brown Business College at Davenport, Iowa, in 1904 return- ing to his father's farm in Wisconsin. Four years later he en- tered the employ of the Security Savings Bank of Davenport, Iowa, and six months after that became cashier of the German Savings Bank of Eldridge, Iowa. February 1, 1910, he came to Walnut Grove, Minn., and became vice president of the First State Bank, a year later being elected cashier. He is a Repub- lican and served as village councilman one year. Mr. Kemper was married, June 1, 1910, to Pearl Pettit, who was born May 7, 1889, only child of Frank and Aurah (Monroe) Pettit, natives of Michigan state. Her parents first moved to Wisconsin and later, in 1914, came to Walnut Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Kemper have three children: Carlos E., born April 7, 1911; Evelyn E., born July 30, 1912, and Ardys E., born August 4, 1914. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Martin Jacobs, a retired farmer of Walnut Grove, was born in Christiania, Norway, June 4, 1843, son of Jacob Olson and Anna Olson. His father died in 1852 in Lafayette county, Wis- consin, and his mother in 1883. The family lived in Wisconsin for 25 years. There were five children: Mary, now deceased; Martin, subject of this sketch; Caroline, now Mrs. Thomas An- derson of Walnut Grove; Carrie, who married Thomas Green- wood, of Warren, Ill., and Marie (Mrs. Benjamin Chase, de- ceased). Martin Jacobs went to Albert Lea, Minn., in 1876, and a year later came to Redwood county, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land in section 6, North Hero township. At first he
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lived in a dugout, but after a time built a good substantial farm house and buildings. He broke the land with oxen and made many improvements, carrying on general farming and stockrais- ing. In 1911 he sold this farm and moved to Walnut Grove, where he now makes his home. April 22, 1861, Mr. Jacobs en- listed in the Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, was mustered in at Fond du Lac, Wis., and assigned to the army of the Poto- mac, with which he remained for two years and six months. At different times he served under Generals Mcclellan, Burnside, Hooker and Meade. Some of the principal battles in which he took part were: Bolivar Heights, 1861; Winchester, 1862; Cedar Mountain, 1862; Second Battle of Bull Run, 1862; Antietam, Sep- tember, 1862; Chancelorville, 1863; and Gettysburg, 1863. He was wounded in the left hand at the battle of Chancelorville. In the fall of 1863 he was transferred to the western army and served under General Sherman in Tennessee, was in the Battle at Resaca, Ga., and took part in the famous march to the sea. He was wounded again in the neck and shoulder at the battle of Dallas, Ga., in 1864. July 18, 1865, he was mustered out at Louisville, Ky. He is a Republican politically and served on the North Hero township board four years and on the school board two years. Mr. Jacobs was married November 18, 1871, to Belle Halverson, who was born October 24, 1848, in Norway, and came to America in 1869, where her parents later joined her, coming to Walnut Grove. Her father was born February 19, 1820, and died May 29, 1889, and her mother, born August 4, 1822, died November 22, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs have the following children: Amanda, born February 11, 1873; John H., July 16, 1875; Emma, December 31, 1879, and Alma, February 13, 1885. Amanda married Harl Wiggins of Walnut Grove and they have three children: Elmer, born June 23, 1894; Myron A., born February 24, 1898, and Harry, born September 22, 1900. John married, February 3, 1913, Emily Forrester, and they have two children : Lloyd W., born May 20, 1914, and Anna Belle, born April 14, 1916. Emma, married October 3, 1896, to Bert Edison, has four children : Clarence M., born January 29, 1899; Alice I., born December 6, 1900; Luella, born in January, 1905, and Ever- ett C., born April 21, 1912. Alma was married December 24, 1906, to Arthur T. Betts and has two children: Bernetta I., born November 26, 1910, and Bernard J., born December 27, 1913. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Otto B. Dahlgren, proprietor of a general merchandise store at Walnut Grove, was born April 10, 1883, at Hastings, Minn., son of Charles L. and Charlotte (Anderson) Dahlgren, natives of Sweden. Charles L. was born in 1848 and still lives on his farm in Gale township, this county. He came to Minnesota at the age of twenty-one years, settling first in St. Paul, where he
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was employed by a railway company, and then moving to Hast- ings, coming to Redwood county four or five years later. He bought 80 acres of land, to which he later made additions so that now he has 320 acres in Gale township. His wife was born in 1846 and died in 1913. There were three children in the family : Martin V., of Canada; Otto B., and Albert, who lives on his father's farm. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church. Otto B. Dahlgren was graduated from the Mankato Commercial College in 1907 and became assistant cashier of Walnut Grove State Bank, where he remained five years. He resigned that position to enter the general merchandise business, which he now conducts. A Republican in politics, he has served as president of the village council since 1913 and was village recorder from 1910 to 1913. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons, having passed all the chairs of the Blue lodge, and also with the Odd Fellows. Mr. Dahlgren was married on Thanks- giving day, 1908, to Hannah J. Lund, who was born July 10, 1884, daughter of Charles and Charlotte (Swenson) Lund. Her par- ents were natives of Sweden, who settled in Carver county, Minne- sota, and are now both living at Walnut Grove, having retired from farming. Mr. and Mrs. Dahlgren have one child: Elaine Charlotte, born December 21, 1909.
James McGinn, a substantial farmer of North Hero township, was born August 3, 1848, in Wisconsin, son of Henry and Jane (McCrey) McGinn, natives of county Tyrone, Ireland. The par- ents coming to America as young people, when single, met each other and were married in Wisconsin. There Henry McGinn worked in the lead mines and after several years went to Dubu- que, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming until 1858. Then he settled in Wabasha county, Minnesota, buying 160 acres of land, which he farmed until his death, March 1, 1875. His wife died there in March 1896. They had ten children, of whom seven are now living: James, Patrick, Michael, Margaret, Mathew, Mary and Peter. In 1898 the home place was sold and James moved to Redwood county, where he bought 160 acres of wild prairie land in section 21, North Hero township. On this he has made many improvements and erected good buildings, having also a large grove of cottonwood and box elder trees. Besides raising some grain, he keeps Shorthorn cattle, Duroc Jersey swine and Percheron horses. In politics a Democrat, he served as county commissioner of Wabasha county four years, was a member of the North Hero township board two years, and was treasurer of the school board of Wabasha county thirty years. He is the present assessor of North Hero township, having served for the past two years. Fraternally he is identified with the A. O. U. W. lodge of Walnut Grove. Mr. McGinn was married June 2, 1872, to Sarah McCullough, who was born near Balti-
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more, Maryland, daughter of James and Sarah (McCown) Mc- Cullough. James McCullough removed to New York City and in 1860 to Wabasha county, Minnesota, where he died in 1887; his wife died in New York. Mr. and Mrs. McGinn have ten children : Sarah, residing in Wabasha county, who was the wife of A. J. Cosgrove, now deceased, and has eleven children; James H., a grain buyer residing in Walnut Grove, who has three children; Mary E., now Mrs. Milan J. Wiggins, of North Hero township, and the mother of two children; George F., residing at home; Rose F., deceased, who was the wife of A. E. Polson and had one child; Agnes R .; Thomas M .; Margaret; John D., telephone offi- cial at Lamberton, and William. The family faith is that of the Catholic church.
Charles Hanson, a retired farmer of Walnut Grove, was born August 13, 1860, in Christiania, Norway, son of Hans and Maren (Olson) Hanson. The father was born February, 1824, and died in 1881 in North Hero township, this county, the mother was born January 26, 1824, and died January 25, 1889. Charles Hanson came to America with his parents in 1868, locating in Chicago, Ill., where they lived seven years. In 1874 they moved to Waterbury township, Redwood county, where Hans Hanson took a homestead of 160 acres and engaged in farming with one yoke of oxen. In the fall of 1881 he sold this farm and took a timber claim of 160 acres in North Hero township, which his son Charles now owns. Hans Hanson was a Republican and served several years on the North Hero township board. He and his wife had ten children: Mary, Carrie, Louise, one that died un- named in infancy, Carrie, John, Lena, Charles, Nicholas and Anton. All are now deceased except John, who resides in Lyon county, Minnesota, and Charles. Nicholas died in 1881 and An- ton in 1868. Charles Hanson took charge of the home farm, which he inherited from his father. In 1912, after many years of indus- try, he retired from farming and moved to Walnut Grove. His son Carl now operates the farm. Mr. Hanson is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and the Rural Telephone Com- pany of Walnut Grove. A Republican in politics, he served on the North Hero township board one year; was assessor of North Hero township for eighteen years and clerk of school board of district No. 19 for eighteen years. He is a member of and active worker in the camp of the Modern Woodmen of America at Walnut Grove. Mr. Hanson was married July 12, 1884, to Helen Halvor- son, who was born July 11, 1866, in Norway. This union has been blessed with seven children: Henry, born April 22, 1885, who died October 11, 1909; Minnie, born April 17, 1887; Carl Edward, April 5, 1890; Alfred, August 6, 1893; Lottie, March 11, 1899; Martin, February 14, 1904, and Harvey, May 15, 1910. Minnie married Hector Mckenzie, April 16, 1909, at Morgan, Minn., and
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LAWRENCE HOLTON AND FAMILY
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they have two children: Donald, born January 9, 1910, and Kenneth, born November 15, 1914. Carl Edward married Jennie Olson, January 29, 1912, and they had one child, Lucille, born November 25, 1912, who died October 17, 1913. Mrs. Charles Hanson was the daughter of Halvor Paulson and Maren (Olson) Paulson. Her father died June 18, 1889, and her mother in November, 1899. There were nine children in the family: Caro- line, now Mrs. Nils Nilson, living in Norway; Belle, who is Mrs. Martin Jacobs, of Walnut Grove; Ole, of Maddock, N. D .; Petra, now Mrs. John Johnson of Webster, S. D .; Mary, now Mrs. Gus- tav Gulbrandson, of Norway; Helen (first) deceased; Johanna, who married James A. Larson of St. Paul, and Helen, now Mrs. Charles Hanson of Walnut Grove. The family worship at the Congregational Church of Walnut Grove.
Lawrence Holton, a highly respected citizen of Sheridan town- ship, was born December 29, 1840, in Longford county, Ireland, son of Charles and Bridget (Reynolds) Holton. The father, born in 1804, died in 1879 in Sheridan township; his wife, Bridget, born in 1814, died in 1897. The parents came to America in 1850 and lived in Wisconsin for fifteen years. In the spring of 1868 they came to Redwood county and took up a claim of 160 acres in section 12, Sheridan township. There they built a log cabin, in which they were still living at the time of Mr. Holton's death. There were eight children in the family, of whom four are living: Lawrence, Charles, Michael and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Thos. Kirby of Sheridan township. Lawrence Holton completed his education in Wisconsin and when he came to Redwood county with his parents took up a claim of 160 acres in section 14, which is now part of Sheridan township. During succeeding years he built a frame house and made many other improvements. He still owns the original tract of 160 acres and has added to it from time to time until he now owns 560 acres. Actively engaged in farming until 1903, he then retired and spent some time in traveling over the United States, visiting many of the larger cities and finally returning to his home, where he lives quietly with his daughter Catherine, who keeps house for him. Mr. Holton is said to be the oldest settler now living in Sheridan township. He was ac- tive in its organization and was instrumental in having it named Sheridan, in honor of Gen. P. H. Sheridan, of Civil war fame. In politics Mr. Holton is a Democrat and has held several local offices. He is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Holton was married, October 1, 1871, to Annie McDonnaugh, who was born in Ireland and died August 3, 1872. He was married, secondly, January 15, 1873, to Mary Davey, who was born in Ireland in 1847 and came with her widowed mother to this country in 1865, they locating in Rhode Island, where Mr. Holton met and mar- ried her. Her father had died in Ireland and her mother subse-
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quently died in Rhode Island. Mrs. Mary Holton died October 4, 1903. Mr. Holton has had the following children: Elizabeth, now Mrs. J. A. Jackson of Redwood Falls; Anna, now Mrs. M. J. Mullen of St. Paul; Catherine, a school teacher who lives at home; Agnes, who lives with her sister Anna at St. Paul; Josephine, residing at St. Paul; Bridget B., deceased, and Michael, deceased. Catherine graduated from the St. Joseph's Academy at St. Paul in 1899 and from the Mankato State Normal school in 1903. She taught in district No. 193, Sheridan township, two years, and one year in Jackson county, and was then principal of the Sea- forth schools for four years. The next two years were spent by her in district No. 12, Sheridan township, and the following two years in district No. 11 in the same township.
James Longbottom, a retired farmer of Seaforth, was born in Ontario, Canada, December 3, 1857, son of James and Ann (Adamson) Longbottom. James Longbottom, the father, was born in Leeds, England, February 1, 1819, and died August 18, 1904. He was a contractor and builder and came to America in 1844, locating in Ontario, where he lived until 1869. Then com- ing to Redwood county, Minnesota, he homesteaded 160 acres of land in section 8, Vail township, in which he was the second white settler. He built the first house in the Watson addition to Redwood Falls in 1869, and the Delhi mill in 1871. His wife, Ann Adamson Longbottom, was born in Leeds, England, in 1825 and died in June, 1889. Her marriage to Mr. Longbottom, which took place in 1844, resulted in ten children, three sons and seven daughters. James Longbottom remained at home until twenty- two years of age and then, in 1879, bought 160 acres in section 6, Vail township. After living there until 1898, he sold his farm and bought 160 acres in section 8, Vail township, which he still owns. In 1910 he moved to Seaforth. He has served on the township board one year, was assessor one year and treasurer of the school board of district No. 65 for five years. He was also mayor of Seaforth one year, served on the council three years and was marshal two years. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., of which he is noble grand, and has held all the chairs in the A. O. U. W. Mr. Longbottom was married September 23, 1880, to Itasca Bundy, who was born November 26, 1858, daugh- ter of Chauncey and Eliza (Fay) Bundy. Chauncey Bundy, who was born November 9, 1820, and died in 1907, was a pioneer of Rice county, Minnesota, and subsequently a farmer of Vail township, Redwood county. His wife, born April 16, 1829, died November 27, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom have the following children: Clara, born September 2, 1883, who is the wife of P. J. Schmitz, a farmer of Vail township, and has two children, Eunice and Roy; Mabel, born November 1, 1889, who is now the wife of Ed. J. Guenther, a merchant of Edgeley, N. D.,
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GEORGE H. JOHNSON AND FAMILY
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and has two children, Duane and Elwood; and Edna, born Feb- ruary 12, 1897, residing at home.
Simeon Stevens Goodrich was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, August 14, 1831. In 1854 he came to Minnesota and was married to Chloe T. Salisbury at Rochester, Minn., in 1857. He enlisted in Company F, Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, August 14, 1862, and served as second principal musician until his discharge. Going south with his regiment, he took part in several important battles. During one charge a shell exploded so near him that he was rendered unconscious. He escaped wounds, but for some months suffered from the effects of a severe sunstroke. In 1867 he came to Redwood county as a pioneer farmer and settled in Redwood Falls township. At a later period he moved to Redwood Falls and engaged in the grocery business. He was totally blind the last ten years of his life, this affliction being due to the hardening of the nerves. Mr. Goodrich died October 31, 1913, at the good old age of eighty-two years. His widow and one daughter, Lela, who is unmarried, still reside in Redwood Falls.
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Harmony B. Johnson, a hero of Fort Ripley, was born in Essex county, New York, and there grew to manhood. In the fifties he came west and located in Dakota county, this state. September 25, 1861,, he went to Fort Snelling and enlisted in Company C, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and with that regiment was sent against the Indians. At Fort Ripley, while carrying an important dispatch he was thrown from his horse, receiving injuries from which he never fully recovered. In his youth he had become an expert snare drummer and was thus enabled to cheer many a long weary march and many a dismal hour in camp. Discharged for disability May 19, 1862, he re- turned to Dakota county. From there he came to Redwood county in 1884 and bought 160 acres in the northwest quarter of section 27, Sheridan township. Here he became a prominent citi- zen and served for some time as township treasurer. His death, December 22, 1896, was sincerely mourned. Harmony B. Johnson married Fannie S. Atwood, who was born in New York State, and came to Dakota county and to Redwood county with her husband and now lives at Seaforth.
George H. Johnson, financier, farmer and man-of-affairs, was born in Dakota county, this state, November 28, 1862 son of Harmony B. and Fannie S. (Atwood) Johnson. He was reared in his native place and in 1884 came to Redwood county with his parents living with them for several years on section 27, Sheridan township. By hard work and saving habits, he was enabled, in 1892, to purchase 160 acres in section 29 in the same township. Three years later, in 1895, he moved on to this place. In 1900, however, he moved to the village of Seaforth, where he has since
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