The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 98

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

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he had a stage coach imported from Concord, N. H., at a cost of $1,000. After selling his stage route he opened a store in the old village of LeRoy, and when LeRoy station was opened he moved his place of business to the new location. On January 19 a year and a half later his store was burned, entailing a loss of $13,000, with only $2,000 insurance. This caused him to sell some of his land for the purpose of rebuilding at once. He successfully con- tinued in this business until 1898, when he retired from active life. He has since spent his time in retirement, making his home in a beautiful residence in LeRoy which he erected. Aside from his mercantile business he dealt largely in farms and real estate, and also did a large stock and grain business. He was instrumental in the organization of the First State Bank, of LeRoy, and later became its president, holding that position until failing health caused his retirement from same. The subject of this sketch was married August 18,1858, to Eliza A. Bishop, who was born May 16, 1839, at Conneaut, Ashtabula county, Ohio, daughter of William and Lucy Bishop, natives of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes have seven children: Carrie M. is now Mrs. Charles Webber, of Austin ; Hattie E. is now Mrs. Horace Dubendorff, of California ; Lillie B. is wife of John Stephan, merchant and postmaster at Waltham; Alice A. is now Mrs. Fred Hall, of Parsons, Kan .; Albert J. is cashier of the First State Bank, of LeRoy; Iva A. is now Mrs. Frank Thornhill, of Spring Valley ; Bessie is now Mrs. Robert Woodburn, of Hampton, Iowa. The members of the family are highly thought of in the respective communities wherein they have made their homes.

Hoyt A. Avery, a leading dentist of Austin, was born in Ripon, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, August 20, 1856, son of Alonzo and Elizabeth (Gleason) Avery. He was brought by his parents to Mower county in 1859, and went with them to Roch- ester, in Olmsted county, in 1863. There he spent his boyhood and attended the public schools. In 1876 and 1877 he attended the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, taking a dental course. Afterward he came to Austin, where he had previously worked a few months, and purchased the dental office appliances and busi- ness of Dr. John Rabe. Since then he has successfully practiced his profession here, winning wide favor by his skill and geniality. Dr. Avery has served as alderman of the city of Austin from the second ward two different terms, and has just started on his fifth term as a member of the Austin board of education, of which body he has been president for several years. The subject of this sketch was married December 29, 1881, to Florence N. Judson, and this union has been blessed with four children: Everett J. lives in Chicago. Margaret R. lives at home and teaches art in the Austin schools. She graduated from the Austin high school,

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studied under a private tutor two years, and then attended the School of Applied Art for Women at New York city. Elizabeth S. lives at home, and Kenneth R. lives in Argentine Republic, South America. The family faith is that of the Congregational church. Dr. Avery owns a stock farm of 480 acres in Oakland and London townships, which he personally supervises, although he has a local manager. On this place he makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred registered Percheron horses for the market.

Alonzo Avery, a pioneer, was born in New York state July 14, 1830. He married Elizabeth Gleason, a native of the same state, and together they came to Wisconsin, locating first in Green Lake county. Later they went to Ripon, in Fond du Lac county, in the same state, and in 1859 came to Mower county. Here they homesteaded land in Grand Meadow township, and remained there till 1862. In 1862 Alonzo Avery joined the Union army and served in Company C, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He was orderly sergeant, and received his discharge in 1865. He then returned to Rochester, in Olmsted county, and there farmed until 1899, when he removed to Humbolt, Iowa. After his wife's death, in December, 1901, the subject of this sketch moved to Fremont, Mich., where he purchased city property and where he now resides at the good old age of eighty years.

Jesse M. Larrabee was born in Ypsilanti, Mich., April 7, 1840. The first twelve years of his life were spent in his Michigan home, at the end of which time he moved with his parents to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he received his early education in the district schools. He further advanced his studies by four terms in the Durand Seminary, after which he entered the Bryant & Stratton Business College, graduating in 1863. After leaving Chicago Mr. Larrabee moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and engaged in bookkeeping until 1865, subsequently moving to Ossian, Iowa, and engaging in the grain business. In May the following year he moved to Conover, Iowa, where he continued in the grain business until 1867. In August of that year he came to LeRoy, of which village he was designed to become so promi- nent a citizen. Here he built the first grain warehouse in the new village, buying the first load of grain that came into LeRoy. In 1874 he engaged in the drug business on the corner of Main and Broadway, which business he conducted with success, in connec- tion with his grain business, until the time of his death, February 21, 1907. In 1886, in connection with his other interests. he engaged in the lumber business, which he successfully continued for a period of three years, after which he sold to D. C. Corbitt. Mr. Larrabee was a member of the Masons and of other fraternal organizations.

Andrew Mahoney was born in Ireland and married Dora

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Boyd, a native of the same country. They came to America at an early day and located in Wisconsin, from which state Andrew enlisted in the Civil war, serving three years and three months in Company D, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. During this period he was wounded in the eye by the explosion of a shell at the battle of Beverly Ford. After being treated in a hospital for a time he was discharged and returned to Wisconsin. In 1865 he came to Mower county and purchased eighty acres of land in section 8, LeRoy township, to which he afterward added other property in sections 7 and 8. This land he broke, grubbed and cultivated, and laid the first stone wall in LeRoy. He fol- lowed farming until his death, October 1, 1902, and since that date his widow has taken up her home in LeRoy village.

Gilbert Mahoney was born in LeRoy township November 12, 1869, and received his early education in the schools of district 59. After attaining the years of manhood, he spent one winter in Mississippi, and upon his return purchased eighty acres in section 17, LeRoy township. later purchasing eighty acres adjoining, making a quarter section in all. On this he has carried on gen- eral farming, and has erected some excellent buildings. He has a modern place, and prides himself on his beautiful lawns and clean roadways. At the present time he is erecting a large upright barn, 36 by 48 feet. In addition to farming, Mr. Mahoney has interested himself in cement work, and is a great believer in that substance as a future substitute for wood and stone. He manu- factures cement fence posts, and it is worthy of note that his invention of a cement culvert has been so highly satisfactory that over seventy-five have been placed in LeRoy township, and other towns are adopting the same method. Mr. Mahoney is a Re- publican in politics, and has served in several public offices, including the positions of supervisor three years and town chair- man five years. He was married March 8, 1894, to Anna Thomp- son, and this union has resulted in seven children, Nellie, Esther, Emily, Harland J., Eva, Raymond A. and Nina. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian church.

F. L. Hill, now deceased, was a substantial farmer of Red Rock township, and his death was a distinct loss to the com- munity. He came to Mower county in the middle eighties, and farmed until his death, May 29, 1909, at the age of forty-nine years. He was married in 1883 to Julia Bain, born in Marquette county, Wisconsin, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Safford) Bain. Five children were born to this marriage, Elizabeth, Ida, Maude, Howard and Lester B. Elizabeth is the wife of George Retting and Ida is the wife of James Leslie. Mr. Hill was a member of the A. O. U. W. at Austin.

Arne Anderson, a well-liked farmer and threshing machine

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operator of Racine township, was born in Norway, June 15, 1865, son of Hans and Osabel Anderson, who brought him to America in 1867. The family landed at Quebee and then came to Wis- consin, where they remained two years. Later they came to Adams township, in this county, and here Hans worked on the railroad four years. Then Hans purchased a farm in Marshall township and there farmed until his death, in 1910, his widow, the mother of Arne, still making her home in that township. Arne was educated in the country schools, and assisted his father on a farm until twenty-three years of age, at which time he started in life for himself by working out three years. Later he rented land eight years. Then he bought land in Marshall town- ship where he lived. Subsequently he bought and sold land in Marshall, Clayton, Racine and Sargeant townships. He now owns 326 aeres in seetions 5 and 6, Racine township, 120 acres in Pleasant Valley. He has followed general farming and stock raising and has made a specialty of threshing, having owned in turn five different steam outfits. Mr. Anderson keeps fifty head of Shorthorn eattle for dairy purposes and sells cream to the Grand Meadow creamery in which he is one of the stock- holders. He also has a fine drove of swine, and keeps a dozen horses for farm work and driving. He has been manager of the Farmers' Threshing Company for six years. The subject of this sketch is an independent voter, was supervisor of the town of Clayton two years and a member of the school board of his dis- trict for six years. He was treasurer of the Bear Creek church four years. Arne Anderson was married in 1894 to Milia Bohn, of Grand Meadow, and they have six children : Harry, Theodore, Arthur, Melvin, William and Myrtle.

Jens P. Anderson, a well known farmer of LeRoy, was born in Denmark, May 1, 1852, son of Andrew Christianson and Anna E. Jenson, both natives of Denmark, the former dying in 1867 and the latter in 1878. Jens received a good public school education in Denmark, and there grew to manhood. At the age of twenty- seven he crossed the briny deep, and landed in New York July 26, 1879, coming directly to Clayton township, Mower county, where he worked out for a year and a half. Then he rented a quarter seetion in Clayton township, and in 1886 purchased it. Here lic continued to carry on general farming many years, repairing all the old buildings and erecting new ones, adding to his land from time to time until he owned 440 aeres all in one farm. In 1898 he sold a part of this land, and exchanged the remainder for his present farm of 120 aeres in sections 34 and 35, LeRoy township. Aside from this he also owns a fifty-acre farm in section 29, which he rents. While in Clayton township Mr. Anderson served as road overseer and on the school board, of

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which he was treasurer. He has been twice married. His first wife, Mary Larson, whom he married February 20, 1875, passed to the great beyond December 14, 1893, leaving five children : Annie, now Mrs. Iver Uglum, of Clayton township; Ella, now Mrs. Peter Hanson, of Marshall township; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Simon Boe, of Clayton township; Etta, who lives at home, a graduate of LeRoy high school, and Mary, of Clayton township. May 5, 1897, Mr. Anderson was married to Mrs. Sarah (Bowden) Hague. She was the daughter of Ernest and Betty (Hague) Bowden, natives of Derbyshire, England, who came to America in 1857 and located in Lowell, Mass., the father dying January 10, 1879, and the mother February 14, 1907. John Hague, first hus- band of Mrs. Sarah Bowden Anderson, died December 30, 1893, leaving one son, Roy W., who now lives with his mother and step- father. Jens P. and Sarah Bowden Anderson have been blessed with two bright children, Florence and Alice, both of whom are at home and attending school.

William E. Daily, merchant of Dexter, of which village he is at the present time serving as mayor, was born in this county, having first seen the light of day November 13, 1868, son of Ziba and Jane C. (Vargeson) Daily. William E. attended the district school, and remained on the home farm until seventeen years of age, at which time he entered the employ of C. Smith & Son, to learn the trade of tinner. Two years later he entered the employ . of E. S. Fonda, hardware dealer at Staceyville, Iowa. After three years at this work he went to Sutton, and purchased grain and managed a creamery in connection with conducting a general store ten years. In 1900 he came to Dexter and purchased the S. A. Sorenson stock of hardware. In the fall of 1910 he bought :out Reed & Noyes, and combined it with his former line. His business now consists of hardware, farm implements, furniture and harnesses, all under one roof, his establishment being the most extensive of its kind in Mower county. Mr. Daily served as treasurer of his school district seven years before assuming his present position. He is past master of Dexter Lodge, No. 253, A. F. & A. M., and is a past worthy patron of Dexter Chapter, No. 175, O. E. S. The subject of this sketch married Mattic Penney, danghter of William and Hannah (Halsey) Penney, and to this union have been born four children: Marguerite, Alice, Florence and William E., Jr. Mrs. Daily was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, August 24, 1866. Mr. Daily is a stockholder in the First State Bank, of Dexter; manager and stockholder of the Dexter Telephone Company, of Dexter; president of the Dexter Commercial Club, and is also interested in other enterprises. His home in the village, which he purchased from Peter Vandenover, is a model of comfort and convenience, and in addition to this

W. E. DAILY'S RESIDENCE.

GEORGE I. DAILY AND FAMILY.

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he owns nine lots about his home and three lots elsewhere in the village.

George I. Daily, chairman of LeRoy township, was born on the farm where he now lives July 18, 1858, son of Ziba B. and Jane C. (Vargeson) Daily, the pioneers. As a baby he spent a year in Boone county, Indiana, but was brought back to this county and here spent his boyhood, attending the public schools and receiving instruction in farming from his father. After attaining the years of manhood, he spent three years away from home, first as surveyor along the Northern Pacific line and then as a clerk in the First National Bank, of Livingston, Mont. Sub- sequently he spent a season on the home farm, and then went to Clark county, South Dakota, where he preempted a quarter sec- tion and remained two years. After this he again returned to Minnesota, and purchased 200 acres in Oakdale township, Howard county, Iowa. To this he later added eighty acres, and on this tract of 280 acres he farmed some twelve years. After selling this farm he came to Mower county and bought 160 acres in Adams township. A year later he purchased a similar tract in Howard county, Iowa, and there remained a year and a half. Then he purchased 130 acres of the old farm in LeRoy township, and has since carried on general farming here. Mr. Daily is a Republican in politics, and is now serving his third year in his present office. Before this, he was supervisor for two years, and he has been a member of the school board many terms. He belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and to the M. W. A. George I. Daily was married April 16, 1888, to Adella McCulloch, born at Decorah, Iowa, April 17, 1865, daughter of John and Jenette (Garfield) McCulloch, early settlers of Winneshiek county, Iowa, the former of whom died December 5, 1906, and the latter No- vember 5, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Daily have six children, Leonard D., Melvin Z., Ethel, George B., Ruth E. and David I., all of whom, except the two oldest, are at home. Leonard D. is assistant cashier in the First National Bank, of Milford, Iowa, and Melvin Z. is bookkeeper of the First National Bank, at Montevideo, Minn.

Ziba B. Daily, now deceased, was for many years one of the substantial residents of LeRoy township. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in the town of North Morland, in what is now Wyoming county. Ilis grandparents were natives of Rhode Island, and his grandfather, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, received a land grant in Pennsylvania for valuable services rendered his country. When the subject of this sketch was seventeen years of age lie engaged with a tanner to learn the trade, engaging in that occupation until 1852, when he moved to Boone county, Indiana. In 1855 he continued his migra-

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tion, going by rail to Galena, thence by boat to Lansing, Iowa, and then overland to Waukon in the same state. In the summer of that year he started for Minnesota, in order to find a suitable place to locate. He came by stage as far as Caremona, Fillmore county, thence on foot to Chatfield, then via stage to Winona. From there he walked to Brownsville, and subsequently returned to Waukon. In September of that year he came to Mower county and entered a claim in section 34, in what is now known as LeRoy township. The ground was mostly covered with brush. The first winter he spent with a Mr. Armstrong who lived near. The following spring he built a log house on his claim, and lived therein until 1860. With the failure of crops he became dis- couraged and decided to return to Indiana, so with a sturdy pair of oxen and a wagon the family made the trip to Boone county, and there remained a year. In 1861 they came back to the claim in Mower county, and built a large log house which served as the family home until 1883. In that year he built a comfortable home which is still standing. Mr. Daily was married August 1, 1855, to Jane C. Vargeson, who was born in Sharon, Mich. Nine children blessed this union: Daniel Z., who died in 1888; George I., who is on the old homestead; John F., who died in 1899; Lewis M., a grocer at LeRoy ; Charles M., who farms in the old town of LeRoy ; William E., of Dexter ; Milton, who is a physician in Sioux City, Iowa; Otis H., who is in the hardware business in LeRoy, and Mertello D., of the old town of LeRoy. Mr. Daily was chair- man of the board of supervisors for many years, and also served in other positions of public and private trust and honor. He was a man of even temperament, and his extensive reading gave him wide information as to the progress of the world, both ancient and modern.

Hans M. Chrest, a highly respected citizen of Bennington township, was born at Tromso, Norway, December 26, 1850, son of Christian Hanson and Anna C. Nicholason. He received his early education in Norway, and there remained until fifteen years of age, when he came to America and located in Kendall county, Illinois, where he worked out for four years. Then he rented farms until 1872, and subsequently came to this county and pur- chased 160 acres in the southwest quarter of section 26. This land he broke and improved, erected a fine home and suitable outbuildings, and planted a beautiful grove of trees, consisting of evergreens, poplar and maple. On this place he now conducts general farming, making a specialty of Durham cattle and Nor- man horses. In 1909 he erected a new barn, 56x44. Mr. Chrest is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery and the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator, both at Ostrander. At one time he was secretary of the Lutheran church in his neighborhood,

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and he also served for several terms as treasurer of his school district.

Jacob Ericksen was born in Norway and there married Anna C. Nicholason, the widow of Christian Hanson. They came to America in 1875, located in Bennington township seven years, then went to Marshall county, this state, and took a homestead of 160 acres. Mr. Erickson died in July, 1907, and his wife is still living at the age of eighty-eight years. Christian Hanson and Anna C. Nicholason have three children : Hans M. Chrest ; Severt, deceased, and Christ A., who died in infancy. Jacob Erieksen and Anna C. Nicholason had four children: Hannah M., Jacob A., both deceased, and Christ E. and Donald N., twins, now of Marshall county.

Gilbert J. Gilbertson is one of the foremost men of Grand Meadow township, where he has resided since 1872. He is a pleasing gentleman to meet, a ready conversationalist and a man of considerable importance in the community. He was born in Norway, December 3, 1852, and came to America with his parents in 1853, settling near Madison, Wis. Two years later they moved to Bostwick Valley, La Crosse county, and there lived several years. In 1862 John Gilbertson, the father, enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, seeing much active service and receiving wounds which impaired his health for many years. In 1872 the family came to Grand Meadow township and settled in section 11, erect- ing a log cabin in which they lived for a time. Gilbert's early life was spent on the farm of his father, which in 1881 he pur- chased from his father, and where he now resides. He is now serving his fifth term as town supervisor, and has been school treasurer for many terms. He married Betsy Lewison, and they have seven children: Mabel, Clara, Arthur, Nora, Nettie, Muril and Elmer. Clara is the wife of Rudolf Mehl.

Stephen Harrison, a veteran of the Civil war and retired farmer, has lived in the village of LeRoy since 1894, and has identified himself with its official life. He was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1839, son of Samuel and Catherine (Fellows) Harrison, also natives of Pennsylvania. The family moved to Wisconsin in 1855, and there located on a farm, the father dying in 1873 and the mother in 1891. Stephen received his education in the public schools, and then followed farming with his father until 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he saw service ten months, being dismissed at the end of that time by reason of illness. He then returned home, and in the fall of 1864 went to Kenosha county, Wisconsin. In 1871 he came to Howard county, Iowa, purchased 160 acres of wild land in Oakdale town-

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ship, broke and developed the land, erected a pleasant home and suitable outbuildings, and followed farming until 1894, when he rented his farm and came to LeRoy, where the year previous he had built the first house in what is known as Sweet's addition; then returned to his farm and remained one year, after which he sold it and returned to his home in LeRoy, where he has since resided. He has been assessor of LeRoy township three years and has also served as clerk one and one-half years. In Oakdale township he served on the township board nine years and on the school board many terms. Aside from his real estate holdings, he owns stock in the LeRoy Telephone Company. The subject of this sketch was married August 21, 1864, at Lynn, Walworth county, Wisconsin, to Caroline E. Rowe, who was born in Onondaga county, New York, February 6, 1839, daughter of Lueien and Lucy (Stillwell) Rowe, natives of New York state, who were early settlers in Michigan. Lucien Rowe died in 1849, and his wife passed away in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have three children : Harvey W. has a small fruit farm just outside the city limits of LeRoy, and is the father of four children: Earl R., Harold O., Lloyd E. and Ethel A. Maurice A. farms in Chester township, Howard county, Iowa, and has one child, Geneva I. Florence L. is the wife of J. P. Jensen, and they have five chil- dren : Harry W., Arnold E., Benjamin A., Merrill F. and Florence Lauretta.

Edward W. Dorr, postmaster and druggist at Dexter, was born in Austin, Minn., May 17, 1877, youngest son of E. C. Dorr. He received his education in the public schools and in the Austin high school, afterward entering the Minnesota Institute of Phar- macy at Minneapolis, graduating in 1893. He was then matricu- lated in the Northwestern University, of Chicago, and graduated in 1896 with the degree of P. H. G. Thus equipped, he elerked in Minneapolis about three years, and in 1900 came to Dexter and started in the drug business for himself. A year later he was appointed postmaster and has since continued in this position, being ably assisted by his father. He is a Republican in polities, and has served as village recorder of Dexter, being at the present time the secretary of the Dexter Commercial Club. He is wor- shipful master of Dexter Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also affiliates with the B. P. O. E., the M. W. A., the B. A. Y., the Eastern Star and the Pilgrim Knights. The subject of this sketch was married November 29, 1899, to Lulu Frase, of Dexter, and two children have blessed this union: Edward M. and Velva C. The family faith is that of the Methodist church.

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 98

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