USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 101
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E. D. AMES
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and participated in the many important battles in which the regiment was engaged. He reinlisted in January, 1863, and served in the same company until July 16, 1865, being mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and discharged with his regiment at Ft. Snelling. Then he returned home and farmed with his father until 1876, when he purchased the old homestead of 160 aeres in LeRoy township. This he has increased until he now' owns 320 acres in LeRoy township, as well as a half interest in a 400-aere tract in Wiseonsin. He now earries on general farming in LeRoy township. He is a direetor in the State Bank of LeRoy, in which he has served sixteen years, and he also has other business hold- ings. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the G. A. R., has served on the school board for many terms and has been clerk of his distriet for over sixteen years. The subject of this sketch was married at Austin, by Elder Parker, April 8, 1875, to Julia A. Bacon, born in Wiseonsin, December 6, 1850, daughter of Samuel P. and Elizabeth Bowen Bacon, who settled in LeRoy township in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Morse were blessed with seven children : Mabel E., Marion B., Milton A., Melvin E., Morton P., Minnie R. and Milo D. Samuel P. Baeon served in the legislature of Minnesota at an early day. In 1874 he and his wife moved to Texas and in 1875 to Kansas, where they both died.
Elihue Morse, the first settler in the north part of LeRoy township, was born in Litehfield, Litchfield county, Connecticut, October 14, 1803, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty-four he left home and located in New York state, where he was married in 1828 to Mary Stoddard, who was born in the town of Camden, Oneida county, New York, May 26, 1809. They lived in New York state until 1848, then moved to Whiteley county, Indiana, stayed there a short time, and then moved to Kosciusko county, remaining there until 1856. In that year they started for Minnesota with horse and ox teams, arriv- ing in Mower county after eight weeks' travel. Elihue Morse entered the northwest quarter of section 6, in what is now the township of LeRoy. He drove stakes in the ground and placed the wagon boxes thereon, thus forming a shelter in which he lived until fall. He then erected a log house with a stone fire- place, the chimney being outside. During the following winter he drew his provisions on a hand sled from Frankford, then a small trading post at a distance of thirteen miles. He improved his farm, and made his home there until 1876, when he sold to his son, Samuel E., and purchased a place in the old village of LeRoy. There he lived until 1883, when he and his wife returned to the old homestead to live with their son. The father died Deeember 6, 1887; the mother died in August, 1881.
James Magee, a well-to-do farmer of Lyle township, was born
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in the north of Ireland, August 1, 1839. After attending school he remained in Ireland until 1860, when he came to America and located in Wisconsin, engaging in farming ten years, after which he came to Mower county and located in Lyle township, where he purchased 160 acres of wild land in section 7, range 18, town- ship 101. This land he broke and improved, and erected some fine buildings, his farm now being in a fine stage of cultivation. In 1903 he erected a fine barn, 60x56. Mr. Magee breeds Short- horn cattle, and is now breeding in the Berkshire white hogs, following general farming. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Presbyterian church. He has always refused to serve in public office, although often urged to accept. He now owns 240 acres of land. Mr. Magee was married July 1, 1871, to Cassie Guy, and to this union have been born five sturdy sons : John; George, of Washington; Isaac and Joseph, who are on the home farm; Guy, who is clerking in a drug store at Lyle.
John Magee, eldest son of James Magee, was born in Lyle township, September 25, 1873, received his education in the Austin public schools and in an Austin business college. After this he returned to the home farm, where he remained until 1899, when he purchased 120 acres in sections 8 and 17, where he built his home, and now follows general diversified farming. He was married April 4, 1899, to Alma Dearborn, and they have one child, Myrtle, born December 14, 1900. Mr. Magee is a Repub- lican, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is serving his eleventh term as assessor of Lyle township, much to his honor and to the credit of the town.
John L. Neller was born in Baden, Germany, December 25, 1841. He came to America in 1852, and was married April 22, 1869, to Emma M. Stokes, born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, April 27, 1850. He came with his parents to Udolpho township, where they settled in 1856. Mr. Neller enlisted August 9, 1862, in Company C, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, until August, 1865; was taken sick at Mobile about the time Lee sur- rendered, from the effects of sunstroke, and remained there until the last days of February, 1866, from the effects of which he draws a pension. John L. Neller is the son of Francis A. and Magdalena (Miller) Neller, who came to America, bringing a family of seven children, viz .: Margaret, Sebastian, Johanna, John L., Martin, Sophia and August. The mother died in Udolpho in 1862. The father moved to Blue Earth county, where he died December 13, 1883. Sebastian lived in the township until the summer of 1864, when he sold out and went to the town of Medo, Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he died January 29, 1878. John L. Neller was on the town board from 1885 to 1893 and was assessor in 1879. He now lives in Austin.
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
William G. Pace, treasurer of Lyle township as was his father before him, comes of an old pioneer family, his father and mother both having come to Lyle with the earliest settlers. He is a native of this county, born on the farm in Lyle, where he now lives, March 19, 1881, son of Charles M. and Emma (Gekler) Pace. William G. received his education in the school district of which he is now treasurer, namely, district 57, and then entered the Southern Minnesota Normal College, graduating in 1902. Thus equipped with an excellent education he returned to the home farm, and purchased the homestead of 120 acres in section 22, to which he has since added eighty acres more, making a fine farm of 200 acres, on which he now conducts general farming. Mr. Pace has made extensive improvements on his land and buildings, and has taken an active interest in the wel- fare of the town. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and is now serving his fourth term as town treasurer. He is a member of the M. W. A .. The subject of this sketch was married December 31, 1904, to Elma A. Varco, of Austin township, and to this union have been born two children, Glenn E., born June 3, 1906, and Clarence N., born September 6, 1909.
Charles M. Pace, for many years treasurer of Lyle township and of school district 57, was born in Perry county, Ohio, son of William M. and Esther A. (Martin) Pace, the pioneers. He came to Mower county with his parents, here grew to manhood, and here married Emma Gekler, daughter of David Gekler, the pioneer. In 1902 Charles M. Pace and his wife went to Ward county, North Dakota, and took up a homestead where they still live.
William M. Pace was one of the pioneers of Mower county. He was born in Rehoboth, Perry county, Ohio, August 31, 1822, and there grew to manhood, attending school and assisting his father on the farm. When he was twenty-one years of age he rented a farm and commenced for himself. In 1856 he sold out and came to Mower county, locating in section 21, in the town of Lyle, where he lived for eight years, after which he moved to the south half of the southeast quarter of section 22, where he built a small frame house in which he lived for fifteen years. In 1878 he erected a fine dwelling, and later an excellent granary. Until 1864 Mr. Pace's nearest shipping point was at McGregor, a distance of 120 miles. Often Mr. Pace hauled wheat to Rochester with ox teams and sold it for fifty or sixty cents a bushel, camp- ing along the way, both hotels and money being scarce. In November, 1861, Mr. Pace enlisted in Company K, Fourth Min- nesota Volunteer Infantry, and served three years with the Army of the Potomac, after which he was honorably discharged. He was married May 22, 1844, to Esther A. Martin, who was an
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adopted daughter of Judge Robert Lyle, for whom the township was named. This union resulted in six children: Charles M., Emery N., Jane, Elizabeth A., Almira O. and Eveline. Mrs. Esther A. Pace died in 1866 and thirteen years later Mr. Pace married Mrs. Electa Graham.
David Gekler, an early settler, was born in Germany, August 2, 1825, and in 1854 came to the United States, landing in New York and settling in Utica. Then he went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and in 1857 located in Lyle township. He married Anna M. Sloderbeck, who was born in Germany in 1828, and the fruit of this union was eight children: Bennie, Emma, Mary, Catherine, Lorenzo, Christina, Lowena and Esther.
S. L. Quackenbush, an honored veteran of the Civil war, now residing in Frankford township, was born in Onondaga county, New York, May 12, 1842, son of Lambert and Emlie (Kathan) Quackenbush. The subject of this sketch was four years old when his parents brought him to Wisconsin, where he spent his boyhood and young manhood. At the age of twenty-two, in 1864, he enlisted in the Union army and served six months as a teamster. Before his term of service had expired, he was taken ill, and came home, afterward receiving his honorable discharge. Three years later, in 1868, he came to Frankford township, and settled in section 12, where he still continues to reside. He has never sought office, but for eight years yielded to the solicitation of his friends and honorably filled the office of constable. During his residence here he has become a substantial citizen, and his opinions are greatly respected by his fellow citizens. Mr. Quack- enbush married for his first wife Angeline M., daughter of O. H. Collar, and this union resulted in two sons, Elmer O. and William M. For his second wife he married Maria Sutton, daughter of Lemuel and Deborah (Laftin) Sutton.
Frank H. Reed, for eighteen years justice of the peace in Racine township, is a prominent man in the community, and is an excellent citizen in every respect. The subject of this sketch is the son of Daniel and Phoebe Reed and was born in Jefferson county, New York, January 31, 1856. The family moved to Sheboygan Falls, Wis., in 1865, and there Daniel died some weeks later, his wife, Phoebe, still making her home there. Frank H. was educated in New York and Wisconsin, and graduated from the Sheboygan Falls high school. In 1875 he came to Mower county, and taught in the public schools, being at one time prin- cipal of the schools at Blooming Prairie in Steele county. Subse- quently he purchased eighty acres of land in section 28, Racine township, and on this tract he has since followed general farm- ing. IIe makes a specialty of raising Jersey cattle, and sells cream to the Racine Farmers' Co-operative Creamery, of which
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
he was one of the original stockholders. In addition to the office already mentioned he was town clerk four years, town assessor, and a member of the school board of district 33 for ten years. Being of a sociable nature, he has allied himself with the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. Mr. Reed was married October 12, 1880, to Anna Stewart, daughter of R. E. Stewart, of Racine. This union has been blessed with three children. Jesse is in Montana ; Daniel is at home, and Marie, for several years a school teacher, is now Mrs. Delbert Gordy. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Carl C. Skogstad, one of the supervisors of Frankford town- ship, is a native of Norway, born January 3, 1855, son of Chris- tian and Caren Skogstad, both of whom spent the span of their years in Norway. Carl C. attended the public schools in Norway, and in 1872 eame to America. For five years he did farm and saw-mill work in various places, and then came to Frankford township, where he worked out as a farm hand for seven years. In 1884 he purchased 160 acres of land in sections 8 and 17, developed the land, erected a fine home and the necessary out- buildings, and carried on general farming. He has recently sold ninety acres, leaving him seventy which he conducts with much suceess. He is a Republican and aside from his town offiee has been director of his school distriet for several years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery at Grand Meadow, and also has other holdings. Mr. Skogstad is a member of the M. W. A. and a communieant of the Lutheran church. He was married December 29, 1882, to Regnald Florrend, born in Norway, June 10, 1850, daughter of Olaf and Martha Steffens, who came to America in 1852 and in 1856 located in Frankford. Mr. and Mrs. Skogstad have three children: Clarenee was born April 11, 1883, and is a elerk in Grand Meadow; Otis was born October 10, 1886, and is a student at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn .; Cora M. was born February 20, 1889, and lives at home.
Simon E. Severson, for six years deputy sheriff of Mower county, and for fifteen years constable of Racine township, was born in Norway, February 10, 1860, son of Erick and Marie Severson, also natives of that country. In July, 1861, the family came to America, landed at Quebec, and made their way directly to Mower county. Here Eriek purchased eighty aeres of railroad land in Raeine township and raised grain. He still lives on his original purchase, his wife, Marie, having died January 27, 1907. Simon E. was educated in the country schools and until his marriage assisted his father on the farm, working out to earn such money as he needed for his personal wants. In 1901 he acquired forty acres in section 33, by inheritance, and to this he has added forty aeres more. On this traet he conduets general
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farming, raising the usual crops as well as Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He was married September 19, 1896, to Helen Halverson, and to this union has been born one daughter, Elise. The family faith is that of the Lutheran church.
William H. Spencer, assessor of the town of LeRoy for the past seven years, clerk of school district 21 for the past twenty- one years, and an earnest advocate of progressive and intensive farming, was born on the farm where he still resides in LeRoy township, May 26, 1857, son of William B. and Elizabeth (McGee) Spencer, who were among the earliest pioneers. He received his education in the district schools of LeRoy township, and after this engaged in farming in Otter Tail county for seven years. In 1885 he returned to his father's farm, and worked its 196 acres for two years, after which he purchased the place. Since then he has increased his holdings to 266 acres. On this farm he has continued to live, successfully conducting general farming on an extensive scale. He has erected a pleasant residence, and has some modern barns, in which are housed his high-bred pure- blooded Hereford cattle, of which he has a most excellent herd. Aside from his property holdings, he owns stock in the First State Bank, of LeRoy. Mr. Spencer was married May 8, 1879, to Helen E. Mason, daughter of J. M. and Margaret (Blackburn) Mason. This union has been blessed with six children: Orville, now of LeRoy township; Alma E., living at home ; Lura H., now Mrs. A. C. Brooks, of Austin township; Elmer W., of LeRoy township; Marcia B., of Postville, Iowa, now Mrs. H. L. Hauck; and Elsia I., living at home. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian church.
J. M. Mason was born in Vermont, and located in Wisconsin when twenty years of age. He married Margaret Blackburn, who was born in England, and came to America at ten years of age. In 1863 they came to Mower county and purchased land in LeRoy township, where they lived until 1876, when they moved to LeRoy village. J. M. Mason died March 5, 1887, and his widow now makes her home in LeRoy township with her son, Lucian J. There were four children in the Mason family : Lucian J., a farmer of LeRoy township; Samuel M., of Morgan Hill, Cal .; Elizabeth M., who died in California in December, 1905, and Helen E., now Mrs. W. H. Spencer, of LeRoy.
William B. Spencer, a member of the first elected board of county commissioners of Mower county, was born in Covington, Rhode Island, September 5, 1823. When nine years of age lie was taken by his parents to Deerfield, Rensselaer county, New York. Nine years later they went to Warren county, Pennsyl- vania, and there William B. was married October 11, 1842, to Elizabeth McGee, born in Warren, November 18, 1825. In 1855
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Mr. and Mrs. Spencer started for Minnesota. At Dunkirk they, with their team, embarked on boat for Toledo, there took the cars for Chicago, and then made their way by team to Lafayette county, Wisconsin. On this journey Mr. Spencer was accom- panied by his brother and sister as well as by his wife. After a rest of two months they started for Minnesota. The men were ill, and the wife and sister drove the teams. They came to the river at McGregor, pushed on to Mona, Iowa, and there Mr. Spencer left his family, and came to Mower county in search of a suitable location. He purchased a claim in what is now sec- tion 29, LeRoy, and then returned for his family. Upon their arrival here they moved into a log cabin, and lived in this until a farm house was built in 1857. At the first election for county officers, held in 1856, William B. Spencer was elected county commissioner, and held that office during the memorable county- seat contest. At the first town election he was made a member of the town board. In October, 1861, he enlisted and assisted Cap- tain Mooers in raising Company K, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, going with this company to Ft. Snelling as second lieutenant. During the winter he was taken ill, and this coupled with illness in his family caused his resignation. In 1862 he enlisted in Company M, First Minnesota Mounted Rangers, and was mustered in as first orderly sergeant, serving fourteen months with Sibley on the frontier. Then he returned to LeRoy and farmed until 1887, when he retired and moved to LeRoy village. His wife died November 4, 1906. Mr. Spencer now lives with his daughter, Elizabeth, in Ionia, Iowa. In the family were four children: Marcia, wife of L. W. Prosser, of LeRoy township; Henrietta, of Chicago; Elizabeth J., now wife of Dr. Deloss Hurlbert, of Ionia, Iowa, and William H.
Ole T. Sween, a well-liked farmer of Frankford township, was born in Norway, October 8, 1847, son of Thomas Olson and Ingar Olson, his wife. He received his education in Norway, and in 1856, at the age of nineteen years, came to America and located in Fillmore county, this state. In 1875 he came to Mower county, and with his father purchased land in sections 7 and 8, Frank- ford township. This farm they worked together until 1891, when the property was divided and Ole T. received the east half of the southwest quarter of section 8. Here he built his home and buildings, and started general farming operations, at which he has been most successful. Mr. Sween was married March 27, 1884, to Sarah Jorgens, who was born in Norway, July 25, 1850, and came to America in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Sween are the parents of three children: Thomas, born December 13, 1884; Ida J., born February 19, 1887, and Serena, born November 20, 1890.
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Thomas Olson was born in Norway and there married Ingar Olson. They came to America in 1866, purchased eighty acres in Fillmore county, this state, and there farmed until 1875. In that year they sold their place and came to Mower county, where Thomas with his son, Ole T., purchased 240 acres in section 8, Frankford township, and fifty acres in section 7. On the fifty acres he erected his home, and together with his son carried on general farming until 1891. Then he sold fifty acres to the Norwegian Lutheran congregation, and gave his daughter, Mrs. Olaus Finhart, eighty acres in section 8, taking a life lease from her, and living with her until his death, March 24, 1901.
Oscar H. Hovda, a progressive farmer of Clayton township, was born in the township of Racine, this county, November 22, 1862, son of H. O. Hovda and Betsy Hovda, natives of Norway. Oscar H. was educated in the schools of Mower county and took a year's course in the Wasioja Seminary, at Wasioja, Minn. Later he studied commercial law and bookkeeping at Darling's Business College, at Rochester, Minn. Then he returned to the home farm, and assisted his parents. In 1887 he purchased 240 acres in sections 11 and 12, Clayton township, and here he has since resided, raising grain and live stock. He breeds cattle now, but has had sheep and has been very successful with them. Mr. Hovda is an estimable citizen in every respect.
Herman O. Hovda was born December 15, 1836, in Norway. He came to America with his parents, Ole O. Hovda and Carrie O. Hovda, in 1852. After living in Wisconsin a time they came to Mower county in 1854, and settled on a homestead in section 1, Racine. To this farm Herman O. has added until he now owns 480 acres. He raises grain and live stock, and is a hard-working, successful man. Mr. Hovda is a Lutheran and votes the Demo- cratic ticket. Mrs. Betsy H. Hovda was born in Norway, August 27, 1843, and came to America in 1851 with her parents, Ole O. Simpson and Liva O. Simonson. After living in Wisconsin a time they came to Minnesota in 1854 and located in Mower county. She was married in 1861 to Herman O. Hovda. Twelve children have been born. Of these eight are living. They are: Oscar H. Hovda; Oliver H. Hovda ; Christine, now Mrs. O. John- son ; Herman H. Hovda ; Maggie, now Mrs. Henry E. Torgrimson ; Tilda, now Mrs. S. Arneson; Sever H. Hovda and Thanlow H. Hovda.
Ralph Prescott, editor and proprictor of the LeRoy Inde- pendent, was born in Postville, Iowa, May 3, 1875, son of A. R. and Lydia (Easton) Prescott. He attended the common schools of his native place and took courses in Grinnell College at Grin- nell, Iowa, and Valder's Business College at Decorah, Iowa. After this he learned the printing business with the Waukon (Iowa)
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Standard. Subsequently he spent a year in Sheridan, Wyoming, and after his return became associate editor of the Waukon (Iowa) Republican for a year. Two years as editor of the New Hampton (Iowa) Courier and four years as editor of the Hector (Minnesota) Mirror gave him a varied experience in newspaper work, and in February, 1908, he came to LeRoy and purchased the LeRoy Independent. Mr. Prescott was married May 28, 1901, at Lansing, Iowa, to Jennie Fellows, daughter of Judge L. E. and Sophronia (Reed) Fellows, carly residents of Lansing, Iowa. Editor and Mrs. Prescott are the parents of two children : Robert, born in 1902, and Ruth, born in 1903.
Lyman Allen Sherwood, now deceased, was one of the early clerks of court in Mower county. He was born in Somerset, Niagara county, New York, in 1833, son of Marston and Tryphena (Meade) Sherwood, descended from early New York and Ver- mont families. At the age of eighteen he left the farm, and for some years he and his brother instructed singing schools in vari- ous places. Later he came to Merton, Wis., and conducted a store until 1857, when he came to Austin and purchased property. A little more than a year later he took up his residence here. In December, 1862, he was married to Alta Isabella Albro, daughter of Martin Albro and Harriet Attillia Hutchinson, his wife. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and shortly after was appointed first lieu- tenant, and after nine months' service on the frontier, went south, and served nearly to the close of the war, returning on account of sickness. Upon his return to Austin he served as deputy provost marshal for this district. He served for some years as clerk of the court, as postmaster, and also in minor offices. He died in May, 1873, leaving besides his wife, four children : Gertrude M., now Mrs. S. D. Catherwood ; Lyman Allen, of Chicago; Ira Burt, of Austin; and Grace B., superintendent of schools for Mower county. Mrs. Sherwood (Alta Isabella Albro) was born in Roch- ester, New York, April 6, 1844, daughter of Martin Albro, who settled in Rochester at an early day and became a prominent official of that place. After the death of Martin Albro, his wife (Harriet Attillia Hutchinson) married Joshua L. Davidson, and in 1857 the family came to Austin. Mrs. Sherwood is one of the oldest settlers of Austin, and has taken a prominent part in all movements for the betterment of the city and county.
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