The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 62

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 1246

USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 62

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John M. Greenman, for several years judge of probate of Mower county, was born in Steuben county, New York, April 15, 1837, son of Henry G. and Mary B. (Maxson) Greenman. He graduated from the Allegany College, at Alfred, Allegany county, New York, the institution being at that time known as the Alfred Academy. After graduating, he came west in 1852,

579

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

and taught school two years in Milton, Wis. In 1856 he located in Olmsted county, this state, and combined farming with the practice of law, having in the meantime been admitted to the bar. In 1863 he went back to Milton, owing to failing health. In 1870 he came to Austin, in which town he has since lived. Hle at once took up the practice of law, served as city attorney several terms at different times, and from 1880 to 1884 was county attorney. In 1902 he was elected judge of probate and served from January, 1903, to January, 1911. Judge Greenman is a Republican, a Mason, and a member of the B. P. O. E. and the M. W. A. He was married October 24, 1858, to Elizabeth Sturdivant, daughter of Peleg Sturdivant. This union has been blessed with three children. Henry and George are dead. Fay W., who was born in May, 1878, is a prominent attorney in Austin, now associated with his father in the practice of law, the firm being styled Greenman & Greenman. Henry G. Greenman was born in New York state, and married Mary B. Maxson, who was born in a lighthouse off from Long Island. They came to Wisconsin in 1852 and spent the remainder of their lives in Milton, in that state, Henry G. dying in 1863, and Mary B. in 1886.

Matthew Gregson, now deceased, for many years a prominent miller of Mower county, was a man of upright and honest dealing, one in whose integrity and honor his fellow citizens had the most implicit trust. He was born in Lancashire, England, in November, 1838. In 1856, accompanied by his sister, he crossed the ocean and located for a few years in Illinois with a sister, who had pre- viously taken up her residence there. He next went to Minnesota, and lived for a short time in Freeborn county, but having reached the county during a rainy season he was unfavorably impressed with the weather, and returned to Illinois. Later he went to Kansas, to Pike's Peak and to Missouri. Then he went south, and enlisted at Vicksburg in the Confederate army, serving under Bragg, Beauregard, Johnson and others. When Rosecrans was advancing on Tellehoma, Tenn., Mr. Gregson refused to retreat with his regiment, and was captured by Union troops belonging to McCook's corps. He remained a prisoner four months, and was then paroled in November, 1863. In the spring of 1864 he returned to Mower county and engaged with his brother in the milling business south of Austin. He remained in this concern until 1869 or 1870, when he engaged for a short time in the mer- cantile business in Austin. The next spring he leased the Austin mill and operated it until his removal to Ramsey. In 1872 he erected the Ramsey mill and remained its owner and proprietor until the time of his death, in October, 1900. The subject of this sketch was married January 3, 1866, to Sarah G. Otter, who was born in Madison, Ind., in 1839. This marriage resulted in eight

580

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

children : Louisa, Anna, George, Wallace, Clara and William. Mary and Frank are deceased. The mother of this family died September 15, 1882.

Wallace Gregson, of Austin, who makes a business of electrical construction and supplies, was born in Austin on September 23, 1871, fourth child of Matthew and Sarah Gregson. After his father's death he continued to operate the Ramsey mill for a time and then disposed of his interests to J. H. Meyer & Brother, the former being now the sole proprietor and owner of the mill which now has a capacity of seventy barrels a day. Mr. Gregson then took up his present business. He married Edna G. Carll, daughter of Freeman A. and Eliza E. Carll, and they have two children, Doris and Wallace C. Mr. Gregson is a member of the Masonie order, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery and Eastern Star. Mrs. Gregson is a member of the Eastern Star.

Freeman A. Carll, a well-known citizen of Lansing, was born in Lyons, Wayne county, New York, in 1842, son of Benjamin and Martha Ann (Hamlin) Carll, both parents being natives of the town of New London, Me. The parents came west in 1863, and located in Lansing, keeping the hotel three years, after which they purchased the Timothy Andrews farm in Udolpho. Freeman A. enlisted in the 2nd Minnesota Cavalry, November 1, 1863, and was discharged December 5, 1865. After leaving the army he located on a farm, and now has a well-tilled place in Lansing township., He belongs to the Masonic order and to the G. A. R. The subject of this sketeh was married to Eliza E., daughter of Augustus and Elmira "(Crouch) Carll, and five children blessed their union : Louis R. (deceased) ; Edith I., now Mrs. G. W. East- man, of Austin; Edna G., now Mrs. Wallace Gregson, of Austin ; Lindorf P. and Ernest W., living in Lansing.

Joseph S. Bevier was born in Union township, Rock county, Wisconsin, March 11, 1847, son of Franklin Bevier, and Sarah Cole, his wife. He received his education in LeRoy, to which town he came in 1856 with his parents, and after school took up farm- ing with his parents, at the same time learning the broom-making trade, working at that trade more or less for ten or twelve years, using his father's home-made machinery. Subsequently he spent some time in Kansas, and a few months in Pope county, Minn., but later returned to the old farm. In 1887 he moved to Seattle, but on account of his father's failing health, he returned to LeRoy in October, 1888, and four years later moved on his father's farm, remaining there till 1909, when he purchased a home in the old village of LeRoy. Ile is a Mason and a Republican. Mr. Bevier was married August 26, 1880, to Josephine Sweet, and they have one adopted daughter, Mildred, who is the wife of George N. Sitts, of Portland, Ore.

MR. AND MRS. J. S. BEVIER

581

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Franklin Bevier, one of the pioneers of LeRoy, was born in Binghamton, N. Y., December 15, 1805. His grandfather on the mother's side, Captain Joseph Leonard, was a native of Ver- mont, and were pioneers in Broome county, New York. His father was a native of Holland, and came to America when quite young. When the subject of this sketch was seventeen years of age, his father died, and the care of the family devolved upon him. Pre- vious to this he learned the blacksmith trade, and soon after engaged at that work, with his oldest brother, Zenus, remaining a resident of Broome county until 1843, when he went to Illinois, and lived there three years, after which he went to Wisconsin and settled near the present site of Evansville, Rock eounty. He bought land, and erected a frame house, which he opened as a tavern. This was before the days of the railroad, and the tavern was on the Sugar river road from Mineral Point to Janesville, a route much traveled in those days. While proprietor of the Prairie House at Wiseonsin he was engaged in the manufacture and sale of brooms, making his own machinery and acting as his own salesman. He managed his tavern under the name of Prairie House, in company with his younger brother, Henry, until 1854, then sold and moved to Green county, and located in the town of Dayton, remaining there two years. In 1856, with his family, he started for Minnesota. After eleven days they arrived in town- ship 101, range 14 west, now known as LeRoy, and here Mr. Bevier purchased a elaim and pre-empted the land, erecting build- ings and bringing the place to a high stage of cultivation, among other improvements being a fine stone house, which still delights the eye of the passers by. Franklin Bevier was joined in marriage to Sarah Cole, in 1845. She was born in the town of Coventry, Chenango county, New York, April 6, 1820. They had eight children: Joseph S., of LeRoy; Frederick G., deceased; Polly Araminta, now Mrs. W. W. Sweet, of LeRoy; Franklin J., de- ceased ; Henrietta E., deceased; Theodore, who died at three years of age, and Flora, who died in infancy. Mr. Bevier died in 1894, and his wife died in 1909.

Charles F. Cook, state senator from Mower county and former mayor of Austin, was born in the city where he still resides, December 24, 1866. The public schools of Austin afforded him his early education. these advantages being supplemented with a course in the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. His first practical business experience was in his father's hard- ware store. In 1888 he went west to Seattle, Wash., where he remained two years, elerking in a hardware store. After return- ing to Austin, he engaged in the insurance business, in which he has continued to the present time, being now president and man- ager of the Austin Mutual Hail Insurance Company, of Minne-

583

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

sota. In polities he is an independent Democrat. He was alder- man from the first ward of Austin two years and served as mayor from 1903 to 1906. In November, 1910, he was elected to repre- sent Mower county in the state senate, and his record has justified the confidence of his fellow citizens. Mr. Cook belongs to the B. P. O. E., the M. W. A., the C. of H., the K. of P. and the Austin Commercial Club, being one of the first organizers of the latter society. In 1885 Senator Cook enlisted in Co. G, Second Infantry, M. N. G., and has been captain since 1906, having received his commission from Governor John A. Johnson. Much credit is due him for the high standard of excellence and discipline which he has enforced. The subject of this sketch was married April 8, 1896, to Julia E. Wood, of Berne, N. Y., and they have two boys, Jolın Alden and Charles Carpenter. The family faith is that of the Congregational church.

Robert Dickens, a pioneer, now deceased, was born in New York state, went to Pennsylvania, and there married Sarah Babcock, a native of the latter state. They came to Minnesota in the closing months of the war, and purchased 160 acres in Red Rock township, the traet being at that time all wild land. On this piece of land they farmed until 1873, when they sold the farm and purchased 100 acres in Grand Meadow township, where they remained until their death.

Colman E. Dickens, cement manufacturer of Austin, was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1861, son of Robert and Sarah (Babcock) Dickens. He came to Mower county with his parents, was reared on farms in Red Rock and Grand Meadow townships, and at the age of sixteen entered the employ of the C., M. & St. P. as a section hand. In 1893 he came to Austin and engaged in the cement business, which he has since successfully followed, doing all kinds of cement contracting and manufactur- ing all kinds of cement building material as well as cement hitch- ing and fence posts. It is worthy of note that nearly all the cement sidewalks for which Austin is justly noted were laid by Mr. Dickens. The subject of this sketch belongs to the E. F. U. and the Maceabees and attends the Seventh Day Advent church. Ile was married October 25, 1884, to Lucy Gould, who was born near Preston, in Fillmore county. This union has been blessed with two children, Claude E. and Edith F. Claude E. was born at Dexter, November 15, 1887, and is engaged in business with his father. Ile married Mabel Henderson, of Brownsdale. Edith F. was born November 5, 1891, and married William Coogan. The family residence is pleasantly located at 409 Oakwood street.

F. J. Field, for many years a respected agriculturist of Lansing township, deserves a place in the history of the community as one who unostentatiously went his way from day to day, following

CHARLES F. COOK.

WILLIAM M. FRANK

583

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

his allotted walk in life with honesty and integrity, doing that which he believed to be right, and meting out exact justice in all his dealings. He was of sturdy old Green Mountain stock, born in Panton, Addison county, Vermont, in July, 1826. In 1852 he located in Fall River, Columbia county, Wisconsin, and was there married to Franees Hobart, a lady of excellent qualities and accomplishments, daughter of John and Eunice (Needham) Hobart, who brought their three children, Martin, Susan and Frances, to the west at an early day. In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Field came to Lansing, and here Mr. Field carried on farming opera- tions until his death in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Field had three chil- dren. John is dead, and Hixon M. and Elizabeth M., the latter of whom was for several years a successful school teacher, live at home with their aged mother.

William M, Frank, banker of LeRoy, was born at Ft. Snelling, Minn., May 9, 1866, son of Hon. John Frank, of LeRoy township. After receiving a thorough public school education, he attended the Shattuck school, at Faribault. After this he went to New York city, where he worked in a real estate office for a year. Then he secured a position with W. H. Goadby & Co., Wall street bankers, retaining this position two years. Then he returned to Minnesota, and entered the bank of Glencoe, as bookkeeper, remaining for a period of two years. In 1885, with Hon. M. H. Dunnell, he started the bank of New Rockford, becoming its cashier, and remaining two years. He then took a position as cashier for the Powers wholesale dry goods house, in St. Paul, with which concern he remained four years, after which he came to LeRoy, and in 1894 accepted a position as assistant cashier of the First State Bank, in which capacity he remained for a period of seven years. At the end of that time he started the Citizens' Bank of LeRoy, becoming its eashier. This bank in 1904 was merged in the First National Bank, Mr. Frank retaining the position of cashier to the present day. He is an independent voter, a member of the Episcopal church, a thirty-second degree Mason, and a member of the I. O. O. F. and the B. P. O. E. He has served as village treasurer of LeRoy, his term of offiee extend- ing from 1897 to 1903. Mr. Frank is a popular citizen, and well thought of in the community, extending to the patrons of his bank every courtesy and favor consistent with sound banking prin- ciples.

William A. Clay, now deceased, was at one time an Austin lumberman. He was born in Maine, in 1827, and there married Sarah Douglass. He came to Stillwater in 1856, and engaged in lumbering in Washington county, owning a large mill. In the middle sixties he engaged in the lumber business in Austin. Afterwards he again returned to Stillwater, and was interested in

584

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

lumbering and surveying the remainder of his life, dying Mareh 3, 1896. His wife died at Willow Creek, Wis., October 26, 1895.

William Franklin Clay, one of Austin's aldermen, has the excellent and unusual record of having been in the railroad service for over forty years. He was born in Gardner, Me., April 15, 1849, son of William A. and Sarah (Douglass) Clay. He came to Minnesota with his parents in 1856, and there received his education. He first started railroad work at Austin in 1868 .. After working about the station for a while he was appointed yardmaster, and later became a conductor. He was conductor of the construction train that was used in the building of the short line between St. Paul and Minneapolis, and for a number of years he was passenger conductor on the Southern Minnesota division. At the time of his retirement, in June, 1908, he had been in the employ of the railroad just forty years and eleven days. Ile is a member of the K. of P. and of the B. P. O. E., as well as of the Order of Railway Conductors. In 1910 he was elected alderman from the third ward. Mr. Clay is a Republican. By his first wife, Emma Fenton, he has two children : William D., now of Tacoma, Wash., and Hattie B., now Mrs. Bert Fitch, of Barber, Mont. By his second wife, Ida Bowen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, of Austin, he has had three children. Guy lives at home. Rex died from injuries received while in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, and Frank was drowned in the Cedar river while skating. The family faith is that of the Episcopal church.

John R. Blackmer, Jr., miller and poultry fancier of LeRoy, was born in Decatur, Mich., July 2, 1867, son of John R., Sr., and Catherine (Jewells) Blaekmer. He was brought to LeRoy by his parents in 1880. He attended school for a while, learned the plasterers' trade and then engaged in milling several years. He is now engaged in milling in LeRoy, where he does all kinds of grinding, handling graham, buckwheat, corn, etc. He also man- ages a small farm, and makes a specialty of Red Rocks and White Wyandottes, keeping over 500 birds and breeding them for the spring trade from February to June. Mr. Blackmer is an inde- pendent voter and is a member of the LeRoy board of education. He belongs to the Masonie order, the 1. O. O. F., the M. W. A., the Mystic Toilers and the Sons of Veterans. The subject of this sketch was married July 15, 1888, at LeRoy, to Nannie W. Pierce, daughter of G. W. Pierce, and to this union have been born four children : John R., Jr .; Nannie, wife of Milton A. Morse ; Ray- mond C. and Edith. The family faith is that of the Baptist church.

John R. Blackmer, Sr., was born in New York state, and mar- ried Catherine Jewells, of Philadelphia. In 1866 they located in Michigan, and in 1877 took up their residence in Lime Springs,

W. D. CLAY.

585

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Howard county, just over the line in Iowa. Three years later they came to LeRoy township, purchased a farm of 160 acres and carried on farming many years. Catherine Jewells Blackmer died in 1902, and her husband is now an extensive land owner in Nebraska. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served in Co. K, 12th Mich. Vol. Inf. It is interesting to note that George Jewells, father of Catherine (Jewells) Blackmer, was cashier of the First National Bank, of Philadelphia, for twenty-five years. Sylvester Wood, another ancestor of the Pierce family, on wife's side, was the first man to take a British prisoner at Lexington, Ky., in 1812.

Frank M. Beach, the well-known president of the First National Bank, of Lyle, was born in Lyle township, May 21, 1866, son of John and Catherine M. (Morrison) Beach. He received his education in the district schools of his neighborhood and in the public schools of Austin. In 1885 he started out in life for himself by going to Omaha, Neb., and entering the United States National Bank, as collector. There he remained until 1901, when he resigned the position of paying teller, to which he had been promoted, and came to Lyle. He assisted in the organization of the First National Bank, of Lyle, became its cashier, and in January, 1911, was elected to the office of president, which he fills to the great satisfaction of his patrons and the community at large. A few years ago he, with Augustus Vaux, established the Bank of Rose Creek, Mr. Beach becoming its president. Later the institution was sold to the Dean interests. Mr. Beach has been active in public and business affairs. He has been mayor three terms, a member of the executive committee of the Minnesota State Bankers' Association three years ; a member of the executive council of the First district group of bankers, being president of the same in 1909-10, and secretary and treasurer of the Lyle Cor- rugated Culvert Company, of Lyle and Minneapolis, in which capacity he is still serving. Mr. Beach is a Republican in politics, and his religious faith is that of the Congregational church. IIe was married September 28, 1897, to Zetta Churchill, of Omaha, Neb., daughter of A. S. Churchill, former attorney general of the state of Nebraska, and Lena Murphy Churchill. Mrs. Beach was born in Iowa, November 16, 1873, and to her union with Mr. Beach have been born three children : John C., August 6, 1900; Catherine M., July 6, 1905; and Marjorie, August 14, 1907.

John Beach, now deceased, was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county, New York, May 16, 1833, son of the Rev. Alanson Beach, and Sinai Tanner Beach, his wife. John moved with his parents to Sehoharie county, in his native state, and after seven years again returned to Albany county, where he grew to manhood. At twenty-one years of age he went to Green eounty, in the same

586

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

state, and took charge of his grandfather's farm there. In 1855 he made a trip to Iowa, but returned to New York state, remain- ing until the fall of 1856, when he came with his father's family to Mower county, Minnesota. Here he purchased land in sections 32 and 33, Lyle township, a portion of which tract he improved. Two years later he moved to his parents' homestead, where he lived until 1890, when he retired and moved to the city of Austin, where he died January 21, 1906. His wife, Catherine M. Morrison, whom he married September 3, 1856, died in November, 1896. Mr. Beach was a man of sterling qualities and was always interested in everything that was for the good of the community. His services for eight years as county commissioner gave general satisfaction. In the family were two daughters and one son: Mary A., Frank M. and Katie M.

Rev. Alanson Beach, now deceased, was one of that band of devout Methodist clergymen who did so much to assist in the progress of that denomination in this country. He was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county, New York, October 26, 1808. His early days were spent on the farm, his time being devoted to farm work, to teaching and to study. He was ordained to the Meth- odist Episcopal ministry at a meeting of the Troy conference, held at Schenectady, N. Y., May 15, 1833, Bishop Wangh presid- ing. He preached in several cities until 1856, when he came west and located on sections 32 and 33, in what is now Lyle township, Mower county. Then he went back and got his family, bringing them to his elaim in Mower county, one of the sons, Wilson, inak- ing part of the trip alone. Upon reaching Lyle township, they took up their home in a large log house with puncheon floor and a stone chimney. After a few years the family erected a fine frame house. Rev. Beach died July 30, 1877. He was very promi- nent in county affairs, was county commissioner for eight years, chairman of his township for many terms, and also served in other positions of trust and honor. He was married March 15, 1832, to Sinai Tanner, who was born in Albany county, New York, Feb- ruary 24, 1809. They had three children: John, Wilson and Zillah.

Americus V. Bacon, veteran of the Civil war and retired mer- chant of Lansing, was born in Wilton, Franklyn county, Maine, in 1839, son of Josiah and Jerusha (Gould) Bacon. Ile spent his early life on the farm, and at the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted in the 8th Maine Vol. Inf., and played low bass in the regimental band. In 1862 the band was discharged and he re- turned home, reinlisting in the 2nd Maine Cavalry, and serving as bugler in Co. F until the close of the war, returning home in December, 1865. In 1868 he came west and located in St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota, staying there thirteen years. During

587

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

this period he married Minnie L. Schenk, daughter of John and Minnie Schenk, of St. Charles, formerly from Lomira, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon came to Lansing in the spring of 1881, and Mr. Bacon took up the coal business, which he conducted for ten years, disposing of it at the end of that period. He then went into the lumber business, which he carried on until 1901. He now owns a farm about two miles ont of the village of Lansing. He has been a justice of the peace for several years, and is a member of the G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon have two children: Eleanor and Arthur J. Eleanor is now Mrs. Albert Schisley and has one son, Kenneth. Mrs. Bacon died in 1906 and in 1907 Mr. Bacon married Mrs. Grace M. Thorn, of Minneapolis.

Oliver J. Bemis, one of the earliest pioneers, came to Austin, from Maine, in 1855, pre-empted 160 acres near the present city, built a shanty and started breaking the land. The following year he sold this land and purchased a farm in section 11. Four years later he sold this place and bought a farm in section 3, Windom township; at about the same time starting, with his brother, George, the first shoe store in Austin. In 1859 he married Eliza- beth M. Vandegrift, a native of Philadelphia, and to them were born six children : Mary O., Edwin T., Charles H., Sarah, wife of Samuel MeMinnis, Frank C. and Howard J. Oliver Bemis was born in Paris Hill, Oxford county, Maine, April 20, 1829, and was taken by his parents to Penobscot county, in the same state, at two years of age. It was here that he was reared. When he was twenty-one years of age he located in Wisconsin, remained two years and then went to California. Starting from Rock eounty, Wisconsin, he went over the plains with ox teams, commencing his journey April 15, and arriving at his destination August 28. He engaged in mining in Sierra county, and remained there until 1855, when he returned to Maine via the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in Mower county later in the same year.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 62

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. Number of Pages: 1246

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 1246