The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 77

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 77

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James K. Sayles was born in Pennsylvania and married Lu- cinda B. Brown, a native of New York state. In 1868 they came west to LeRoy, in this county, and one year later to Austin town- ship, where James K. purchased 160 acres and combined black-

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smithing with farming until his death, January 24, 1881, his wife following him to the grave, July 2, 1896.

C. L. Schroeder, retired farmer and former county commis- sioner, now living in Grand Meadow village, was born in Ger- many, Nov. 21, 1844, son of Carl and Jeanett (Schaffer) Sehroe- der, who brought him to America in 1849. After a short stay in Milwaukee they went to West Bend, Wis., where they located and went to farming. There Charles L. was reared. In 1864 he went to Missouri and remained a year, coming a year later to Minnesota. In 1867 he came from Winona to Racine and bought a farm. Here he carried on general farming until 1900, when he moved to the village of Grand Meadow. While in Racine, Mr. Schroeder was township treasurer and supervisor and school clerk and treasurer for several years. In 1880 he was appointed county commissioner to fill a vacancy, and was then elected to a full term, thus serving until 1885. He was married in 1874 to Lizzie Christgau, daughter of Mathias Christgau, and this union has been blessed with six children: Clara and Albert died in infancy ; Alma, Cora, Enna N. and Erwin C. Alma is the wife of C. J. Donaldson, of Seattle, Wash. Mrs. Schroeder died April 8, 1898.

George M. Shortt, cashier of the State Bank of Brownsdale, was born in Winona county in 1862, son of Martin and Matilda (Norman). Shortt .. He attended the district schools, and the State Normal at Winona, learned telegraphy and entered the railroad.service, being agent and operator for the C., M. & St. P. twenty years. Was elected cashier of the Bank of Brownsdale, then a private bank, in 1905. When the State Bank of Browns- dale was organized in 1908 he retained that position, and his integrity and honor, as well as courtesy have been an important factor in the success of the institution. Mr. Shortt has allied him- self with the Masons and the A. O. U. W. He married Etta J. Sanborn, daughter of John and Mary (Cheesebro) Sanborn. They have two children, Marie M., aged twelve years, and Dorris M., aged four years.

Martin Shortt was born in Montreal, Canada, of French extraction, and married Matilda Norman, a native of Boston. After their marriage they lived in Bakersfield, Vt., and later came to Winona county, Minnesota. Martin enlisted in the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, did valiant service, and died in Andersonville prison, September 15, 1864. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living: Eunice, Elizabeth and George M. Eunice is the wife of Albro Danforth, and Eliza- beth married Charles Johnson.

Nicholas M. Smith, president of the village of Adams, was born in Baaden, Germany, December 6, 1841, son of Xavier and

MR. AND MRS. C. L. SCHROEDER.

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Tressa (Meyer) Smith. Ile came to America in 1854 with his father and brothers, Thomas and Charles, first locating in Pough- keepsie, N. Y. After a few months, Nicholas came to Lee county, Illinois, accompanied by his father. His father later went back to Poughkeepsie, stayed a year, and subsequently rejoined Nich- olas in Lee county, where he purchased forty acres and farmed five years. Xavier the father and Nicholas the son then came to Mitchell county, Iowa, being followed the following year by the mother and other children, and here Xavier purchased a quarter section. There they farmed until the mother, wife of Xavier, died, and then the farm was sold. Nicholas at this time received from his father an eighty-acre farm in Adams township. After working the farm for two years he sold it and purchased a farm in Mitchell county, Iowa, where he carried on farming until 1892, when he came to the village of Adams and retired. In addition to his present office, Mr. Smith has done public service as a town- ship supervisor while in Mitchell county. He married Elizabeth Blake, daughter of John A. Blake, and this union has been blessed with five children: Alice, the wife of John H. Krebsbach ; Annie, the wife of Michael Krebsbach ; William and Fred (Twins) ; Mary, the wife of Michael Nockels.

Stanley W. Stephenson, of Dexter, manager of one of the eighteen elevators of the LaCrosse Grain Company, of which his father, Martin Stephenson, is president and manager, was born in Brownsdale, this state, September 14, 1887. He attended the Brownsdale schools, and when sixteen years of age entered the grain business under the tutelage of his father. Mr. Stephenson belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and to the Austin Royal Arch Chapter.

Albert Swift, a prominent veteran of the Civil war, now living in Brownsdale, was postmaster of the village from 1891 to 1898. He was president of the village council two terms, recorder at various times for twelve years, and has been very active in G. A. R. affairs. He was instrumental in organizing the Henry Rogers Post, of Brownsdale, and mustered in the posts at Austin, Kasson and Grand Meadow. In 1882 he became the first com- mander of the Rogers post, and since then has taken a deep inter- est in its affairs, doing much work such as making ont reports to headquarters and other details, performing the duties of adjutant. Albert Swift was born in Chautauqua county, New York, Febru- ary 20, 1830, son of Samuel and Anna (MeArthur) Swift. He learned the earpenter's trade, and in August, 1862, enlisted in the Civil war, serving in the First New York Dragoons until July 11, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge at Clouds Mills. Va. At the close of the war in 1865 he located in Missouri, and in 1874 came to Brownsdale, where he has since

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resided. Ile married Ann J., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Bennett) Ray, and to this union have been born five children : Lillie, deceased; Ida L., deceased; Frank E., Edwin M. and Nina R., the latter a teacher in Gas City, Ind. Frank E. has for many year been in the employ of the Minneapolis & Sault Ste. Marie road. He lives at Sault Ste. Marie and runs a passenger train between that place and Escanaba, Mich. Edwin M. lives at Seattle, Wash., and is in the employ of the Seattle and Everett Traction Company. William Ray and his wife were natives of Dutchess county, New York, of English descent. Mr. Ray was treasurer and bookkeeper for one of the large foundries at Pough- keepsie, N. Y., and retained that position for many years. He died in 1841. His wife died in 1853. Samuel Swift died in 1859 and his wife in 1853.

Suwarrow A. Smith, treasurer of Mower county, was born in Spring Valley, Fillmore county, this state, March 28, 1859, son of John M. and Ann J. (Kingsley) Smith. He attended the district schools and graduated from the Spring Valley high school, after which from 1881 to 1902 he was engaged as a grain buyer in Austin. In the latter year he was elected to the county position which he has since occupied. Mr. Smith is a Republican in poli- ties, and belongs to the I. O. O. F., the B. P. O. E., the M. W. A. and the A. O. U. W. For four years he served as assessor of Austin. The subject of this sketeh was married October 24, 1883. to Cora G. Burleson, who died May 12, 1897, leaving four ehil- dren : Marion, Clinton, Louise and Philip W. The family faith is that of the Congregational church.

John M. Smith was born in New York state, and married Ann J. Kingsley, a native of the same state. They came west in 1856 and took a homestead in Fillmore county. where they resided until 1897, when they came to Austin, John M. dying in September, 1907, and his wife in September, 1905.

William W. Sweet, mayor of LeRoy, and for whom the Sweet Ilotel in that village is named, has been a prominent man in the county. He has been deputy sheriff, has served as assessor eleven years, was county commissioner ten years and chairman of that board one year. Has been president of the village council of LeRoy a number of terms. He was born in Binghamton, N. Y., May 23, 1844, son of Rowland and Patience M. (Cole) Sweet, who took him from his native place to Milwaukee in 1849. From there the family went to Aztland, Wis., where they remained one year, after which they removed to Union, where Rowland Sweet engaged in his trade as a shoemaker. In their declining years Rowland and Patience Sweet came to LeRoy and took up their residence with their son, William. William W. Sweet received a

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good common school education, and has spent his life in various pursuits, having engaged extensively in building and in the real estate business. He owns the imposing brick hotel that bears his name, and has other business interests. Mayor Sweet is a veteran of the Civil War, serving three years in the First United States Ben Davis Sharp Shooters. In 1864, after having participated in twenty-seven important battles, engagements and sieges, he was given an honorable discharge, and came home from the hospital, where he had been recuperating from his wounds. Mayor Sweet married Araminta Bevier, daughter of Franklin and Sarah (Cole) Bevier, the pioneers. To this union has been born one son, Frank W. Franklin Bevier, whose father was a Hollander, was born in Binghamton, N. Y., December 15, 1805, and came to Mower county with the earliest pioneers in 1856. Sarah Cole was born in Coventry, N. Y., April 6, 1820.

Andrew S. Slindee, who farms successfully on 120 acres in section 26, Marshall township, is a native born son of this county, having first seen the light of day in 1884 in the home of his father, Ole O. Slindee, who was born in Norway, and came to Mower county about thirty years ago. Andrew S. was educated in the county schools, and began work for himself at the age of sixteen. In 1910 he purchased his present place, where he carries on general farming, turning his attention largely to cattle, hogs and poultry. He is an independent Republican and a member of the Lutheran church. The subject of this sketch was married in 1907 to Sophia Huseby, daughter of A. A. Huseby, of Marshall township, and to this union has been born a daughter, Sylvia Angeline, and a son, Orville Sylvester, who died in infancy.

Orson R. Steffens, the efficient and genial local agent at Racine for the James A. Smith Lumber Company, of Osage, Iowa, which controls some fifty lumber yards throughout the country, and which has maintained a branch at Racine for nineteen years, was born in Sumner township, Fillmore county, Minnesota, March 26, 1875, son of Richard and Mercy M. J. (Hammond) Steffens. He attended the public schools and also taught in the county schools of both Fillmore and Mower counties, and worked on the farm of his parents until 1907 (this farm he now owns), when he assumed his present position. Mr. Steffens is a member of the M. W. A. Ile married Sadie E. Eppard, daughter of Philip M. and Lucinda (McQuillan) Eppard, and they have two children, Merwin and Alice E. Richard Steffens was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, and in 1838 located in Illinois. In 1858 he took up his residence in Sumner, Fillmore county, where he fol- lowed farming until his death in 1883.

. George T. Siegel, of the firm of Siegel Brothers, hardware

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dealers of Sargeant village, was born in Pittsfield, Mass., son of Casper and Margaret (Geitz) Siegel, and was by them brought to Mower county in 1877. He grew to manhood on section 24, Wal- tham township, received a good education in the schools of his neighborhood, and later took a three years' course in Minne- apolis. As a young man he entered the law offices of Empty & Empty, but after eighteen months, deciding that the voeation of a lawyer was not one well suited to his temperament, he returned home and assisted on the home farm for a while. Something over three years ago George T. and his brother Frank formed their present partnership and embarked in business. Their trade has grown rapidly, the brothers being known for their honest deal- ings and business sagacity. Mr. Siegel is a member of the Modern Woodmen.

Casper Siegel was born in Germany and married Margaret Geitz, a native of the same country. He came to America in the forties, landed in New York, remained there for a time and then went to Pittsfield, Mass., where he was foreman in a large mill. In 1864 he came to Mower county, looked over the farm land, then went back to Pittsfield, but in 1877 came again to Mower county, bringing his family with him and establishing his home on section 24, Waltham township, where he carried on farming and reared his family.

Samuel Swenson, merchant and postmaster of Elkton, and treasurer of the village, was born in Blooming Prairie in 1877, son of Magnus Swenson, a native of Norway. Samuel was edu- cated in the schools of his neighborhood, and at the age of twenty- five started in the mercantile business as a clerk in a hardware store in Gibbon, Minn., remaining in this employ three years. Then he came to Elkton and had charge of a lumber yard two years, after which he purchased a hardware store. In 1910 he purchased the general store from C. C. Hogen, and is at present conducting a successful business, carrying a large stock of first- class goods and enjoying the confidence of the people for miles around. Mr. Swenson is a Republican and a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen. He married Laura Hagen, daughter of D. Hagen, and they have one daughter, Mildred Pearl.

Nicholas Schuartz, a retired farmer of Windom, was born in New York city, in 1845, son of John and Katherine Schuartz, who were born in Germany, and after coming to this country in 1845 located in Washington county, Wisconsin, where they died, the father at the age of forty and the mother at the age of seventy. Nicholas received his edueation in the schools of Washington county, Wisconsin, and there grew to manhood. He was married March 10, 1871, to Mary Uschult, daughter of John and Mar- garette Uschult, and at onee after their marriage they came to

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Nevada and afterward to Windom township, where they have prospered and reared their children. Mrs. Schuartz died April 15, 1905. Of the five children of Nicholas Schuartz, one died at the age of eleven years. Those living are: George, John, Nick, and Charles, all farmers of Windom township. Mr. Schuartz has one sister, Katherine, living. She is the wife of Nicholas Giller, of Menominee Falls, Wis.

J. C. Schottler, a successful farmer of Windom township, where he has a fine farm in section 30, consisting of 17634 acres. which he purchased in December, 1899, was born in Germantown. Wis., May 15, 1872, son of Nicholas and Anna (Regenfuss) Schott- ler, the former of whom came from Germany in 1846 and located in Germantown, Wis., where he now resides, and the latter of whom was born in Richfield, Wis., of German descent, and died June 13, 1908. J. C. Schottler was educated in the district schools and at Valparaiso, Ind., since when he has followed general farm- ing. He is an independent voter, is in favor of the entire prohi- bition of the sale of liquor, belongs to the Grange and attends the Catholic church at Austin. Hle was married June 24, 1901, to Katharine Mueller, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Thielmann) Mueller, the former of whom eame to this country in 1851 and settled in Germantown, Wis., and the latter of whom eame in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Schottler have five children: Julius, born Jannary 19, 1903; Edward, February 18, 1904; Agnes, August 3, 1905 ; Florence, August 31, 1907, and Marie, May 16, 1909.

F. August Smith, for fourteen years a member of the board of supervisors of Red Rock township, and for eight years chairman of that board, is a man whose affable manner, kindness of pur- pose, and honesty of heart toward all, has won for him the respect of the community wherein he lives. Ile was born in Racine county, Wisconsin, July 21, 1855, son of John and Mary Smith, both natives of Germany. John Smith, the father, was a cooper hy trade, and came to America about 1852, living both in Albany, N. Y., and Milwaukee, Wis., before locating in Racine county, Wisconsin, about five miles west of the city. He was killed in 1870 by a horse. Fredrick August, the subject of this sketch, remained on the home farm until thirty years of age, and then came to Minnesota, where he purchased a farm in the northeast quarter of section 35 in Red Rock township. He lived on this farm in a little red house, and at once set about making improve- ments. In 1895 he built the pleasant dwelling house where he and his family now reside. Mr. Smith married Bertha, daughter of Valentine and Wilhelmina (Miller) Zimmerman, and their chil- dren are: William, Charles, Alice, Mary and Arthur W. Alice married Henry E. Miller and they have one son, Lloyd.

William Todd, superintendent of the City Water, Electric and

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Power Plant of Austin, was born in Glasgow, Seotland, Septem- ber 1, 1857. When twenty-two years old he emigrated to the United States, first loeating in Iowa for a year and then removing to Austin, Minn., where he entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, with which he was connected until 1900, in the capacity of stationary engineer. Ile then took a position with the Austin city waterworks, and subsequently beeame superintendent of the City Water, Electrie and Power Plant, in which position he has shown himself an ideal public servant, having been largely instrumental in making publie own- ership in Austin an unusual sueeess. In polities, he gives his allegianee to the Demoeratie party. Numerous offices have been held by him in the Masonie order, such as past master, past high priest, past commander, and past grand high priest for the state of Minnesota. He is both a Knight Templar and a Shriner. The American Waterworks Association numbers him among its mem- bers. Mr. Todd's wife, whom he married in 1881, was formerly Elizabeth Morrison. They have four children : Jane C., Catherine R., Isabell A., and Elizabeth M. The family attend worship at the Presbyterian church. William and Katharine (Rae) Todd, parents of our subjeet, are natives of Scotland, which has always been their home. Nine children were born to them, five boys and four girls, viz .: William, the subject of this sketeh; John, rancher, residing in Spokane, Wash .; Jane, a resident of Rock- hampton, Queensland, Australia; James, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Thomas, of Glasgow, Seotland; Andrew A., farmer of Roekhampton, Australia; Christine, of Rockhampton, Australia, and Margaret, deeeased.

J. C. Taney, superintendent of the Austin Cement Company, was born in Covington, Ky., February 10, 1878, son of James and Naney (Kramer) Taney. He received his education in the publie schools of Indiana, and then learned the eement business, start- ig at fifty eents a day, and working his way up from water boy to superintendent of the United States Cement Company, at Sellers- burg, Ind. From his first engagement with this company until 1906, he remained in its steady employ, with the exception of two years, during which, being inspired with an ambition to be a physician, he joined the staff of an insane asylum, in Indianapolis. Two years of this, however, caused him to deeide that he was better suited for the eement business. In 1906 he eame to Austin and assumed his present position. He is a Demoerat, and belongs to the B. P. O. E., the I. O. R. M., and the F. O. E. The subject of this sketch was married October 20, 1909, at Austin, to Margaret C. Bechel, daughter of John Bechel. It is interesting to note that. J. C. Taney is a direet descendant of Hon. Roger Brook Taney, chief justice of the United States, who rendered the Dred Seott

WILLIAM TODD

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decision, and was secretary of the treasury in 1833, under Presi- dent Jackson, whose memorable influence on the finances of the country form a chapter in the story of the growth and develop- ment of the national government. John W., a brother of J. C., was for many years express messenger for the Adams Express Company, at Cincinnati, Ohio. James Taney was born in Ken- tucky and married Nancy Kramer, a native of Indiana. James was a cement worker and merchant. In 1884 he moved his family to Sellersburg, Ind., and after working in one of the large cement plants there as superintendent, joined with friends and formed what is now the United States Cement Company, and of which he is still general superintendent.

Henry Taylor, one of the oldest residents of Mower county, has outlived four score and ten years, and is still hale and hearty and more active than many a younger man. He has seen life in three continents, Europe, Australia and North America. The sub- jeet of this sketch was born in Wesel, Germany, May 1, 1820, and received his edueation in the publie schools and at Wesel college, served one year in the standing army of Germany, and in 1844 went to Australia, where he engaged in the general mercantile business. In 1865 he came to America and located at Milwaukee, still engaged in the general mercantile business, in which he con- tinued for a period of seventeen years. During this period he owned several vessels on Lake Michigan. One, named from his daughter, Hetty Taylor, now lies at the bottom of that lake. In 1882 Mr. Taylor disposed of his business in Milwaukee and came to Mower county, purchasing a farm of 240 acres in section 30, Marshall township, where he engaged in general farming, until 1900, when he sold to his son, Dr. E. A. Taylor, who is a prominent physician of Raeine, Wis., still continuing, however, to look after the interests of the place for this son. After selling his farm, Mr. Taylor purchased a home in the village of Rose Creek, where he now lives a retired life. Ile is an independent voter and a mem- ber of the Congregational church. The subject of this sketch was married in Australia, June -, 1858, to Mary Addison, who died July 13, 1900, leaving one son and two daughters: Dr. E. A., of Racine; Hetty, who married James Ballweber, now of Minne- apolis ; Bena, who married William Ballweber, now of Jamestown, N. D. It is worthy of note that on his ninetieth birthday, friends and citizens of Rose Creek presented Mr. Taylor with a suitably engraved cane, commemorative of the event, the memento being highly prized by the recipient.

John A. Thompson, a veteran of the Civil war, is now living in retirement in Austin, enjoying the fruits of a long and well-spent life. He was born in Preston, Chenango county, New York, November 23, 1828, son of Robert and Dorothy (Skinner) Thomp-

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son, the former of whom, a farmer and blacksmith, was born in New London county, Connecticut. When John A. was eight years of age they moved to Addison, Steuben county, where he grew to manhood, learing the trade of carpenter and teaching school in Addison. Here he met and won his wife. He came west when twenty-six years of age and proved up his claim to a quarter see- tion in what is now Windom township. He was married by a Baptist clergyman near Addison, N. Y., April 30, 1857. In a few days they started for their new home in Mower county, going by rail to Dunleith, then up the Mississippi to McGregor, then by wagon to the town of Windom, where John A. erected the first frame house in the township and commenced improving his land. Here they started life together, and the years proved kind to them, bringing a large measure of happiness and prosperity as the result of hard work and self-sacrifice. During his early years here Mr. Thompson taught school winters and work at his trade, thus helping to erect some of the oldest buildings in Austin. During the Civil war the subject of this sketch enlisted in the army and served in Company C, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, first against the Indians and then in the South, after which he was mustered out with his regiment at Fort Snelling. Then he returned to his farm and attained prominence in the community. At the organization of the town of Windom Mr. Thompson was elected one of the first board of supervisors, and was chairman of the board for many years. He served as county commissioner for one term. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson continued to live on the old farm until 1891, when they moved into Austin, and their home has since been here. They are highly regarded for their many excellent and sturdy traits of character. They have helped materially in laying the foundations of our present prosperity and development. Mr. Thompson is a Mason and a member of the G. A. R. He and his wife have had eight children, of whom six are living: John A. Jr. Robert, Howard, Sylvester, Thaddeus, and Emily. Mary and Mora are dead. John A. Jr. is an assayer in Nevada. Robert, Howard and Sylvester are farmers. Thaddeus is a mail carrier in Austin. Emily married B. C. Man- chester and lives on the old homestead in Windom township. In 1907 Mr. and Mrs. Thompson celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. The affair was attended by the old soldiers, old settlers, Masons and the ladies of the Eastern Star, as well as by many other relatives and friends. The happy couple was highly eulogized and received many beautiful presents.

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 77

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