The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 87

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

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John McBride, an honored resident of Windom township, now deceased, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1829. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and at nineteen years of age, in 1848, he came to America, locating in Pennsylvania, near Phila- delphia. Later he went to lowa. There he remained until 1865, when he came to Minnesota, and located in Windom township, Mower county, where he purchased the northeast quarter of sec- tion 1, on which wild prairie land he conducted general improve- ments, erected buildings and carried on diversified farming. Later he added 160 acres in section 6, Marshall township, making in all a fine farm of 320 acres. He made a specialty of raising grain and high grade stock and continued as a hard working farmer until about 1900, when he rented his farm, later, in 1902, pur- chasing a home in Rose Creek, to which village he moved, and spent the remainder of his days in well deserved retirement. Mr. MeBride was a member of the school board, a Democrat and a Catholic. He died at his home, January 1, 1904. The subject of this sketch was married February 14, 1857, at Galena, Ill., to Mary Furlong, born in County Tipperary, Ireland, September 28, 1833. She came to America in 1852 with her parents, William

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and Sarah (Carter) Furlong, landing in New York, January 13. Later she went to Illinois with her parents, was there married, and came to Minnesota with her husband. Mr. and Mrs. McBride were the parents of eight children: Charles is married and lives in North Dakota, having a family of four children : Mary, Grace, Elizabeth and George. Sarah A. married Thomas Skahan, of Windom township, and they have two children, William and Erma. James A. is married, lives in Weyburn, Canada, and has six children : Deney D., Arthur, Leo, Herbert, Dorathy and Aaron. Katherine A. married Leahy, of Windom township, and they have seven children : Mary, Madeline, Joseph, John, Ambrose, Raphael and Norbert. William is married, lives in Washington, and has four children: Loretta, Esther, John and William. John J. is married, lives at Vienna, S. D., and has three children: Mary, Francis and Cicily. Mary R. died March 1, 1904, leaving two children : Mary M. and John E., who were taken by the grand- mother, with whom they lived until they again took up their home with their father in 1910. Margaret A. married M. P. Reagen, of Windom township.

Harry G. McKee, retired blacksmith of LeRoy village, was born in the old village of LeRoy, May 26, 1858, son of Elijah McKee, the pioneer blacksmith of Mower county. Harry G. was reared in the village of LeRoy, entered his father's shop and learned the blacksmith business in all its details, conducting the establishment alone after his father's death. In 1909 he retired, and is now living in his pleasant home in the village of LeRoy. Mr. McKee is a Republican in politics, and has served on the village council. He is also a member of the M. W. A. Mr. MeKee was married December 25, 1880, to Edith Bowen, daughter of William and Mary (Ross) Bowen, the former of whom was killed in the Civil war and the latter of whom died in 1897. Mrs. MeKee died December 9, 1897, leaving three children. Bessie E. is a teacher in Seattle, having graduated from the LeRoy high school. Raymond L. Brown is the husband of the second daugh- ter, Eula L. Floy, the youngest daughter, is studying domestic science in the Minnesota Agricultural College at St. Paul. It is worthy of note that Mr. MeKee's property was swept away by the cyclone of September 21, 1894.

Elijah F. McKee, the pioneer blacksmith of Mower county, was born in Pennsylvania, and reached Mower county February 22, 1855, being married in the old town of LeRoy, July 2, 1857. to Mary E. Taylor, who arrived in the county in 1856. February · 26, 1855, he opened the first blacksmith shop in the county, in section 36, in what is now LeRoy township. April 13 the same year he moved to the old town of LeRoy and built a blacksmith shop, continuing the business of smithy for the remainder of his

JOSEPH M. MAXFIELD.

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life. He died September 29, 1897, and his wife is still living at the age of seventy-four years. In the family were six children : Harry G., Winfield, dead ; Clark, Carrington, N. D .; Frank, Seat- tle; Margaret, Montana, and Lillie, now Mrs. George Magee, of Seattle.

Joseph M. Maxfield, retired grain buyer and farmer, now liv- ing in LeRoy village, was born in Wayne county, New York, February 24, 1844, son of Joseph and Artimisia (Munson) Max- field. He came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1855, and to LeRoy in 1862. After completing his education, he farmed eleven years, and then became a grain buyer and sold goods for Frank Avery. Then he engaged in the livery business with his brothers until 1904, when he retired. Mr. Maxfield owns his home in Le- Roy village, a quarter section in Howard county, Iowa, and sixty-two acres in Mower county. He has been justice of the peace many years and constable for five years. He is a Repub- liean, a Knight Templar, and a Presbyterian.

Joseph Maxfield was born in Syracuse, N. Y., July 28, 1815, and was married September 27, 1840, at Wayne county, New York, to Artimisia Munson, born at Tulley, N. Y., May 12, 1820. In 1855 they located in Wisconsin, and in 1862 came to LeRoy township, where they purchased a farm of 150 aeres, which they broke and improved, adding other land until they owned 230 acres. In 1871 they retired and moved to LeRoy village, Joseph dying May 12, 1884, and his wife October 27, 1904. They were members of the Presbyterian church of LeRoy. Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield were the parents of six children. Glover lives in Mason City, Iowa ; J. M. lives in LeRoy ; Aldice died in September, 1903, at Corvalis, Oregon; Sarah is now Mrs. M. H. Miller, of Taopi, Minnesota ; Martha A. keeps house for her brother, J. M., at LeRoy ; Richard is a liveryman at LeRoy.

Nicholi Nicholsen, now deceased, was born in Norway, and came to America in 1868, locating in Austin, where he was em- ployed at varions labor, until his marriage, after which he en- gaged in the pump business, continuing until the time of his death in 1895. He was a consistent Christian, and a member of St. Olaf Lutheran church.

G. R. Nichols, a general merchant of Waltham, has built up a successful trade, the fact that until recently he was a farmer making him partienlarly adapted to keeping a store in the rural districts. He was born in Somerset county, Maine, March 26, 1866, son of Charles and Clara (Hill) Nichols. Charles Nichols was born in Maine, came west in 1869, and settled on a farm in Wałtham, where he lived until his death in 1900. His wife is still living. making her home with a daughter. The subject of this sketch remained on the farm until attaining manhood's estate,

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receiving his education in the district schools. He purchased the home farm, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1907, when he came to the village and engaged in his present business. He has been assessor of township and village for twenty years, and has performed the duties of that office to the general satisfaction of his fellow citizens. Mr. Nichols was married some years ago to B. Martha Kezer, daughter of Alvin T. Kezer, and to this union has been born one daughter, Bessie.

John E. Norris, lumber dealer of Lyle, was born in Lyle township, in March, 1872, and thus has the honor of being a native son of this county. His parents were John and Marie E. (Spears) Norris, of Scotch-Irish descent. John E. received his education in the schools of Lyle township and also at Old Otranto, in Iowa. He farmed with his parents for a time, and then with then went to North Dakota, where he and his father purchased a whole section of land. In 1905 they sold out, and John E., on his return to Lyle, purchased the lumber yards of L. W. Sherman. He has a large trade and is the only lumber dealer in the village. Mr. Norris is an independent voter, and while in North Dakota was chairman of the township board. He is now a member of the village council of Lyle, belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and the K. of P. and attends the Presbyterian church. He was married October 19, 1908, to Mary E. Roulston, of Oakland village, Iowa.

John Norris was born in the north of Ireland of Scotch par- entage, and came to America at the age of nine years. He lo- cated in Wisconsin, married Marie E. Spears, and there remained until 1868, when he came to Mower county and purchased 160 acres, also acquiring a similar tract in Freeborn county. From 1883 to 1890 he conducted the flouring mill at Old Otranto, Iowa, and then sold and went to North Dakota. About six years later he came to Lyle once more, his wife passing away in 1905.

Abe Olson, of Lansing township, one of the progressive farmers of Mower county, was born in Neury, Freeborn county, Minne- sota, April 9, 1859, son of Helge and Kari Olson, the former of whom, coming to America in 1855, was one of the first settlers in Freeborn county. Abe Olson was one of ten brothers and three sisters. He passed his early life on the farm, and came to Mower county about twenty years ago (1890). He now owns 180 acres of land, and has made his place one of the model farms of the township, his fine house, commodious and modern barns, and well-tilled acres being hard to excel. Besides carrying on gen- eral agricultural pursuits, Mr. Olson is a breeder of Belgian horses and owns some of the most valuable pieces of horse flesh in the state, having taken many prizes. He also makes a spe- cialty of breeding fine Jersey hogs. The subject of this sketch

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was married many years ago to Carrie Nelson, a daughter of Iver and Chersty Nelson.

Anfend Olson, village marshal of Adams, and superintendent of the municipal gas and water plants, was born in Norway, March 23, 1866, son of Ole Johnson and Martha Thompson, his wife, natives of Norway, where the father died. Anfend re- ceived his education in the public schools of Norway, and eame to America in 1882, locating in De Forest, Wisconsin, where he worked out as farmer and stone mason, until 1893, when he came to Minnesota and purchased a farm of 120 acres, on section 6, Lodi township, which he improved and developed, erecting buildings and cultivating the land, still combining masonry and general farming until 1900, when he sold his farm, and for nine years devoted his entire time to the trade of stone mason. In July, 1910, he was elected marshal of Adams village, and superintend- ent of the gas and water plants. He is a Republican in politics, attends the Lutheran church and belongs to the Commercial Club. In addition to his present offices, he has served as a member of the village council. Mr. Olson owns a pleasant residence in the village of Adams, three lots in Minneapolis, and 100 acres of timber land in Aitkin county, this state. He was married October 26, 1896, to Carrie Munson, who died in 1897. Mr. Olson brought his mother to this country in 1885, and she still presides over his household.

Joseph Palmer, of Austin, now retired, a veteran of the Civil war, was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, September 25. 1830, and received his early education in the public schools of his native state. In 1856 he came to Illinois, and in 1860 to Fill- more county, loeating in Austin in 1875. He followed various vo- cations from that time until his retirement in 1908. In July, 1864, Mr. Palmer was drafted into the Union army and served in Com- pany B, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, six months, being discharged at Duval Bluff, Arkansas, in December, 1864, on ac- count of illness. For one term he served with credit as county treasurer of Fillmore county. He is a Republican in polities, a member of the Congregational church, and a good citizen in every respect. He affiliates with the G. A. R. and has the unusual record of having been a member of the I. O. O. F. for forty-four years. Mr. Palmer was married February 15, 1854, to Katherine Cole- man, who died July 1, 1897, leaving four children: Fred L., now of Iowa, born December 14, 1855; Clara B., born November 25. 1863, now Mrs. George Miller, of Minneapolis; Albert, born August 28, 1867, now of Chicago; and Eunice, born December 29, 1869, and widow of Thomas Floyd, who died November 14, 1889.

Harlan G. Palmer, one of the energetic young business men of LeRoy, was born in this village, March 19, 1885, son of George W. and Mary Palmer. He attended the village schools, and grad-

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uated from the LeRoy high school in 1903. Then he took a course in literature and arts at the University of Minnesota, and subse- quently returned to LeRoy and purchased the LeRoy Independ- ent, which he conducted for two and a half years. At the end of this period he sold to Ralph Prescott, the present owner and edi- tor, and took up his father's interests in the Palmer Lumber Com- pany, in which he has sinee successfully continued. Mr. Palmer is a Republican in politics, and has much faith in the future of LeRoy.

John Reding, assessor of the city of Austin, was born in Lux- emberg, Germany, March 15, 1863, the son of Peter and Mary Reding, who brought their family to America in 1869, and settled in Union township, Mitchell county, Iowa. Here Peter Reding farmed about eighteen years, and here his wife died, after which he moved to Adams in this county. John Reding remained on the old place and farmed for three years, then engaged in the hardware business, which he conducted for five years. He then again took up agricultural pursuits, and farmed four years in Union township, Mitchell county, Iowa. Then he rented the farm and moved to Lyle, Mower county, where he again engaged in the hardware business, at the same time conducting a farm near the same village. Six years later he moved to the city of Austin. Mr. Reding is still interested in farming, and is one of the stock- holders in the Austin Cement & Tile Co. Mr. Reding married Nellie Smith, daughter of Charles Smith, and they have three children : Marie L., Agnes V. and Esther E.

Ed. J. Show, a well-known citizen of Marshall township, was born in 1868, in the township wherein he still resides. His father, John Show, was a native of Norway, eame to America, settled in Wisconsin, and later moved to Mower county, where he pur- chased eighty acres in Marshall township. Ed. J. was educated in the public schools, and early in life began work as a farm hand. He later rented land, and then purchased eighty aeres where he now lives, making at the present time a specialty of dairying and grain raising. In 1902, the subject of this sketch married Tilda Lee, a native of Norway, and this union has been blessed with one daughter, a pupil in the public schools. The family worships at the Lutheran church.

Louis A. Sherman, secretary and treasurer of the Gilbert Im- proved Corrugated Culvert Co., Austin, was born in Edgerton, Wisconsin, November 20, 1870, son of Loran W. and Kate (Wil- cox) Sherman. He was brought to Lyle, in Mower county, in 1871, and received his education in the public schools of Lyle, afterward taking a course in the Cedar Valley Seminary, at Osage, Iowa. After leaving school he worked at the lumber busi- ness with his father until 1906, when he engaged in the general

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merchandise business with I. F. and S. H. Dahl under the firm name of Dahl Bros & Sherman. In 1908, when the Gilbert Im- proved Corrugated Culvert Company was organized, he assumed his present position, coming to Austin in the spring of 1909. While at Lyle, Mr. Sherman was a member of the school board, as well as village recorder, and he still retains his interests in the Lyle Telephone Company. Since coming to Austin he has allied himself with the Austin Commercial Club. The subject of this sketch was married June 27, 1893, to J. Sophie Dahl, of Otranto, Iowa. This union has been blessed with three children: Lloyd H. was born March 24, 1894, and died April 12, 1896; Marion F. was born July 13, 1896, and Fayette W. was born October 24, 1900.

George Schmidt, a valued employe of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, who has worked his way up to passenger eenductor through sheer merit, was born at Kur-Hessen, Ger- many, August 18, 1841, the eldest of a family of seven children. George received a thorough training in the schools of Germany and remained in his native land until twenty-one years of age, when he crossed the Atlantic, locating in Ontario, Canada, for a time, and then passed over the border into Minnesota. August 12, 1867, he began his career as a railroad man, entering the shops of the Southern Minnesota railroad company, at Hokak, Minnesota, in which he spent three years as a machinist before becoming a fireman on the road. After four years of service in this capacity, he was badly injured by an accident caused through a washout and passed many months regaining his health, after which he resumed his former vocation as a machinist for a period of two years, subsequently returning to firing, and in 1880 was promoted to engineer in the freight service. Eight years later he was given his position as passenger conductor, which he still holds, being one of the oldest and most trusted employes on the southern Minnesota division, having endured through the various managements, and, being recognized as one of the most valuable men, was retained when the road became a part of the St. Paul system. In politics he is a staunch Republican. He is affiliated with the Masonie order as a Knight Templar, is a member of the Ancient order of United Workmen and of division number 101 of the B. of L. E. The Methodist church values him as a hearty supporter, and he is also a strong temperance worker. December 17. 1867, he was married to Anna Wetyen at LaCrescent, Minne- sota. who died in 1878, leaving four children: Elizabeth, who died in her nineteenth year; Angelica, now wife of Alfred Krieger, a elothing merchant of Montana; John II., a locomotive engineer, located at Ottumwa. Iowa; and Dora, now Mrs. W. L. Cowper, of Michigan City, North Dakota. He was married a second time to Catherine Wetyen, half-sister of his first wife.

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They have one child, Eva E., a graduate of Hamline university, now Mrs. A. G. Seullin, of Austin. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt have a very pleasant home at 207 West Water Street. John and Eliz- abeth Schmidt, parents of our subject, were natives of Germany, the father successfully conducting a tile manufactory at Kur- Hessen, being considered an expert in his line.

Arthur G. Scullin, mail clerk on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway line, and good citizen of Austin, was born June 5, 1875, in Oakland township, Freeborn county, Minnesota. After graduating from the Austin high school in 1895, he devoted the next three years to teaching school in Freeborn county, and then entered the railway mail service, at present being stationed on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, with a run from St. Paul to Decorah, Iowa. His political principles are those of the Republican party, and he is identified with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America. The Baptist church also claims him as a loyal attendant. June 20, 1906, he was united in marriage at Austin, Minnesota, to Esther Schmidt, born to George and Catherine Schmidt, May 3, 1889, at Hokak, Minnesota. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scullin: George S., born May 26, 1907; and Alta C., who was born April 27, 1909. George and Alta (Smith) Seullin, parents of our subject, were natives of Michigan and Pennsylvania, respectively. They were among the pioneer settlers of Freeborn county, settling on an eighty acre farm in Oakland township, in 1869, which the father operated up to the time of his death, January 27, 1899. The mother passed away March 26, 1907.

John K. Syverud has a farm of 120 acres in Lansing township which he is industriously cultivating, being justly proud of his fertile acres, his well kept buildings and his sleek looking live stock. He has lived in Lansing township since 1881, is one of the leading members of the Lutheran church and a popular brother in the Sons of Norway. The subject of this sketch was born in Nor- way in 1856, the son of Christian and Martha Syverud, and in 1881 came to this country, arriving in Lansing after brief stops in Waukon, Iowa, and Fillmore county, Minnesota. In 1900 he went back to the old country, married Aegmepe Kopprud and re- mained there two years, returning to Lansing in 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Syvernd are the parents of four bright children: Carl, Clara M., Annie L., and a baby not yet named.

James Shepard, now deceased, was for many years a familiar figure in both Fillmore and Mower counties. He was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, September 29, 1831, and when but two years old was taken by his parents to Herkimer county. IIe spent his boyhood in the towns of Schuyler, Salisbury and Norway, and when twenty-one years of age came to Wisconsin,

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where his parents had located the previous year. After remain- ing there a few months, he followed his parents on their further migration to Allamakee county, Iowa. In 1854 he went to Illinois and was married in Kankakee county, in December, 1855, to De- sire Gates, daughter of Elijah and Rachel (Ferris) Gates. Mr. and Mrs. Shepard remained in Illinois about six months, and then took up their residence in Allamakee county, Iowa. In 1858 they started with teams for Minnesota and settled in the town of Beaver, Fillmore county, where Mr. Shepard entered 160 acres of land, in section 9, built a small frame house and improved sixty aeres. In 1866 he sold out and removed to LeRoy township, where he purchased a farm in section 16. At that time there was a log cabin on the place and but twenty aeres were broken. He later erected a frame house and suitable buildings, and continued to improve the land and carry on general farming until 1894, when he moved to the village of LeRoy and practically retired from active life. He died in July, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Shepard were blessed with six children: Frank A., living in Montana ; Lewis T., living at home; Emma, deceased ; Addie, wife of George Turner; George M. and Eliza J., wife of John Errington. Elijah Gates was born in Vermont and eame west in 1845, taking up his residenee in Lake county, Illinois. There he farmed for sev- eral years and then came to Beaver, Minnesota. Late in life Mr. Gates went to Kansas and took up a homestead, where he died.

John Stute, a farmer of Mower county, now living on the old home farm of 429 acres in section 35, Nevada township. was born in Monroe county, Wiseonsin, in September, 1866, son of Carl and Margarette Stute, and with them came to Mower county in 1873, settling on the farm where he has since lived. Mr. Stute is a Democrat in polities, and has been a member of the township board of Nevada for the past fourteen years. He is a com- munieant of the Catholic church, and he and his family attend the church of that denomination at Johnsburg. Aside from car- rying on general farming he makes a specialty of breeding cattle. He married Anna Landherr, daughter of Christ. and Emma Land- herr, of Nevada township, and this union has resulted in four children : Bernetta, Ardilla, Sabin and Magdaline.

Carl Stute, a respected resident of Nevada township, where for many years he was a successful farmer, was born in Prussia, Ger- many, January 6, 1837, and came to this country in 1864, being married near Buffalo, New York, to Margarette Schwartz, daugh- ter of John and Cathrine Schwartz, also natives of Prussia. After living for a time in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, they located in Monroe county, in the same state, and purchased eighty acres. In 1873 he sold out and came to Mower county, where he started farming. finally acquiring 429 aeres, which his son John now

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manages. Mrs. Carl Stute died in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stute were the parents of five children: John, of Nevada township; Henry, also of Nevada township; Augusta, married to William Baker, of Creseo, Iowa; Fred, a dentist of Elmore, Iowa; and Charles, who died in infancy.

Lewis Tow, who has charge of his father's extensive real es- tate interests in Mower county, lives in section 36, Windom town- ship, and although he has lived here but three years he has taken an active interest in the progress of the community. Being yet a young man, his friends prediet for him a successful future. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Benton county, Iowa, March 29, 1873, son of Lars and Julia (Strand) Tow. He received his education in the schools of Iowa, and has devoted his life to business and agricultural pursuits. Lars Tow was born in Norway and mar- ried Julia Strand. They came to America and after living three years in Illinois, located in Iowa, where they now live. Lewis Tow owns much land in Iowa, and 980 acres in Windom and Ne- vada townships, Mower county.

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 87

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