The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 99

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

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E. C. Dorr, for six years mayor of the eity of Austin, now living in retirement with his son in the village of Dexter, Minn., was born in Columbia county, New York, November 4, 1835, and

EDWARD C. DORR.

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received an academy education. At the age of twenty-two years, in 1857, he came west to Minnesota, and was located in Olmsted county at the outbreak of the Civil war, during which conflict he served two and one-half years in the medical department of the provost marshal of the first district of Minnesota. In 1866 he came to Austin, and engaged in the drug business until 1898, when he sold out his interests to K. O. Wold, who had been his partner for many years. He still calls Austin his home, however, and owns two residences and a store building in the city. After selling out his store he served two years as deputy revenue col- lector and three years as internal revenue agent. While at Austin he served on the board of education eight years. He is a Mason and a member of the G. A. R. The subject of this sketch was married to Emma L. Smith, who died December 12, 1907. They were the parents of three children : Marie E., now deceased ; Marjorie E., now Mrs. Hans E. Enes, of Henderson, Minn., and Edward W., druggist and postmaster of Dexter.

T. M. Hagerty, for fourteen years clerk of Bennington town- ship, is one of the progressive and popular men of the community. He was born in Houston county, Minnesota, September 15, 1861, son of William and Sabina (Reilly) Hagerty, natives of Ireland. He received his education in Houston county, and came to this county with his parents in 1877, engaging in farming with his father until his father's death. Then until 1894 he was in part- nership with his brothers in farming the family acres. In that year the property was divided, and T. M. selected the 240 acres in Bennington township, where he erected a fine home and build- ings, and where he now carries on general farming, making a specialty of raising Polled Angus cattle. Mr. Hagerty is an independent voter, and in addition to the office mentioned above has been assessor of Clayton township eight years and clerk of his school district a number of terms. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of C. and the M. W. A., and is a stockholder in the hall of the latter society at Grand Meadow. The subject of this sketch was married May 22, 1895, at Grand Meadow, to Julia Duggan, born in Houston county, Minnesota, December 24, 1865, daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Welch) . Duggan, natives of Ireland. This union has resulted in three children: Sabina Margaret Lneille, born February 2, 1898; Julia M., born No- vember 15, 1903, and died March 7, 1904, and Mary F., born February 24, 1906.

William Hagerty was born in Ireland and married Sabina Reilly, a native of the same place. They came to America in 1848, and William werked in the mines of Pennsylvania and Ohio until 1854, when he came to Minnesota and took a homestead in section 17, township 102, range 4. He broke and developed this

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land and followed farming until 1877, when he came with his family to Mower county, purchasing three farms of 240 acres each, two in Clayton and one in Bennington. These farms he conducted with the assistance of his sons until his death, May 14, 1885. His widow died February 8, 1911.

Daniel Duggan was born in Ireland and married Margaret Welch, a native of the same country. They came to America in 1848, lived in Houston county until 1877, and then came to Mower county and purchased 160 acres in Clayton township. In 1881 they retired and moved to La Crosse, where Daniel died October 29, 1907, and his wife September 29, 1907.

Jacob S. Bowers, deceased, was for many years an honored resident of Lyle township, where his integrity and honor will long be remembered. His friends mingled high respect with their intimate liking of the man, and his influence was ever for the good. His was a life well spent, and his duty in earth's battles were faithfully performed. He was born in Canada, December 28, 1829, where he received his early education and grew to man- hood, learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed in con- nection with conducting a sawmill. May 15, 1849, he married Elizabeth Quickfall, born in Lincolnshire, England, February 7. 1829. She came to America with her parents at two years of age, locating in New York state, where they remained for six years, after which they removed to Canada, where she was educated and grew to maturity. In 1860 Mr. and Mrs. Bowers came to the United States and located in Lemar, in the northwestern part of Missouri, remaining until the following spring, when they moved to Fayette county, Iowa, two years later going to Osage, Iowa, where they remained for eight years, after which they came to Minnesota and located in Lyle township, Mower county, where Mr. Bowers purchased 200 acres in section 17. Like the other arrivals of that period, he broke and improved the land and brought his farm to a high degree of excellence, at the same time following his trade as a carpenter. He died May 17, 1908. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowers were born seven children: Norman S., the oldest, died at Superior, Wis., December 15, 1909 ; Mrs. Hanna L. Haney was born in May, 1852; Harriett E. was born in June, 1854, and married M. E. Varco; Milton E. was born in August, 1856; Charles was born August 8, 1858; Alberta was born in March, 1864, and married B. V. Wilder; Wilhelmina M. was born in May, 1867, and married F. Hotson. Mr. Bowers was a Demo- erat and a Mason, and was buried with Masonic honors. Mrs. Bowers, who is past eighty-two years of age, is a remarkable example of all that is sweet and beautiful in old age. Aside from a disabled hip, as the result of an accident, she is sprightly and

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bright, retaining all her faeulties. She reads without glasses and keeps well abreast of the times in every way.

Martin B. Johnson, a respected and substantial resident of Grand Meadow, was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, October 28, 1837, son of William and Mary (Keefe) Johnson, natives respectively of England and Wales. Martin came to Mower county with his parents and brother, John L., in 1855, and settled in Brownsdale. August 19, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army, and served in Company C, Ninth Volunteer Infantry, became corporal and was bass drummer for the regiment, serving until the elose of the war, when he was discharged at St. Paul, in August, 1865. He then returned to Mower county and took up land in Udolpho township, where he engaged in farming for five years. Then he removed to Brownsdale. Soon afterward he was appointed deputy sheriff, and served for fourteen consecutive years under R. O. Hall, H. B. Cory, Allan Mollison and Nicholas Nicholsen. He also engaged in the land and collection business with E. J. Stimson for fifteen years at about the same time. In March, 1908, he moved to Grand Meadow. Mr. Johnson was married September 19, 1861, to Mary A. Hines, of Red Rock township, who died April 3, 1909, leaving two children: Albert, of Grand Meadow, and May, who keeps house for her father. Mr. Johnson is a Republican in politics and a member of the G. A. R. post. He served continuously as marshal of Brownsdale from 1875 to 1908, with the exception of five years. He is now justice of the peace. For five years he served in the lower house of the Minnesota legislature in an appointive position. He has also served in many other positions of publie and private trust and honor.

Thomas A. Hotson is one of the venerable and honored citizens of Mower county, ripe in years and wisdom, and filled with that tolerance and gentleness that time alone brings to the noble souls of the earth. His good wife has proven an able helpmeet, and hand in hand they are spending the late afternoon of life to- gether, loved by all who know them. Mr. Hotson was born in Norfolk, England, December 16, 1829. When twenty years of age, in 1849, he was united in marriage with Esther Guttridge, who was also born in Norfolk, England, April 6, 1829. They remained in Norfolk until 1854, when they left the bonny shores of England and eame to America, sailing from Liverpool, October 6, and landing at New Orleans, after six weeks and four days' passage. They first located in St. Louis, where he was engaged in a rolling mill for a short time ; thence going to St. Clair county, Illinois, where he purchased an interest in a briek yard, which he operated for one season. After this he engaged in farming in St. Clair county, Illinois, until 1862, when he came to Mower county,

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and purchased 160 acres of wild land in section 10, Lyle town- ship, only four acres of this land being broken, and preemption shanty erected, which constituted the improvements at the time of purchase. He broke and developed the rest of this land, bring- ing it to a high degree of cultivation, erecting a fine house and outbuildings. On this farm he has since continued general agri- cultural operations. Mr. and Mrs. Hotson have been blessed with six children: Atkins, Thomas, Fred, William, Emir and Emer.

Fred Hotson, third son of Thomas A. Hotson, was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, March 15, 1859. He came to Mower county with his parents at three years of age, and here received his education, remaining with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he purchased a 175-aere farm, on seetion 16, Lyle town- ship, where he has erected fine buildings and improved the land, and now earries on general farming. He was married September 25, 1888, to Wilhemena M. Bowers, and they have two children: Mae E., born December 11, 1889, a teacher; Vance B., born September 23, 1890, who is at home on the farm with his father. Mr. Hotson is a Republican and belongs to the Masons and the M. W. A.

Herman T. Julson, an industrious farmer of Grand Meadow township, was born in Wisconsin, July 5, 1872, son of Ulriek and Rachel Julson. He lived with them in Wisconsin and Iowa, and came to Grand Meadow township with them in 1876 as a boy of four years. Here he was reared to agricultural pursuits and attended the public schools. He now owns the old homestead of eighty acres in seetion 36, and also eighty aeres adjoining in section 35. Here he successfully earries on general farming in a scientific manner. He married Ida Olson, daughter of Nels Olson.

Ulrick Julson, now deceased, was born in Norway, December 8, 1821, and was married there. In 1848 he came to America, being eighteen weeks crossing the ocean, and here took up the trade of farmer, although he had been a tailor in the old country. After living in Wiseonsin about twenty-five years he went to Iowa, and after staying there three years came to Mower county in 1876, and settled in seetion 36. As there was no building of any kind on the land at that time he lived six weeks with a neighbor named Harley Peek while he built a shaek for his family. Before the winter set in he had a frame house completed. Ulriek Julson died July 25, 1902, and his wife, October 2, 1902.

Isaac H. Every, retired farmer of LeRoy township and veteran of the Civil war, was born in Delaware county, New York, De- cember 18, 1837, son of Hiram and Hannah (Stoughenburg) Every. He received a public school education, attended the Delaware Academy one year, took up farming with his father and learned the carpenter's trade. December 18, 1861, he

ISAAC H. EVERY.

MRS. ISAAC H. EVERY.

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enlisted in the Union army at Delphi, Delaware county, and was sworn in at Newburgh, Orange county, New York, serving in the Eighth Independent New York Battery until the fall of 1864, when he was honorably discharged at Norfolk, Va., on account of ill health. He participated in all the battles of his regiment up to that time and was neither wounded nor captured, although his health was so impaired that he was able to do but little work for several years thereafter. In 1868 he came to Minnesota and for two years followed his trade, living in the village of LeRoy. At the end of this time he purchased 160 acres of wild land in Howard county, Iowa, from Henry Spencer, who had obtained it from the government. Mr. Every cleared and broke this land, erected some fine buildings and followed general farming, making a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle. In 1906 he rented his farm and purchased his present home of eleven aeres in seetion 34, LeRoy township, where he now lives. Before coming here Mr. Every served for several years as a member of the board of trustees of Oakdale township, Howard county. He also served on the school board a number of years. He is a staunch Republican, a member of the G. A. R. and a communicant of the Presbyterian church. The subject of this sketch was married October 30, 1867, to Esther A. Ferguson, born in Delaware county, New York, January 8, 1847, daughter of William and Nancy (MeArthur) Ferguson, the former of whom died in October, 1874, and the latter May 8, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Every were the parents of five children : Flora E., W. F., Arthur H., Martha M. and Minnie B. Flora E. was born October 30, 1869, married W. E. Dennis, and resides in Corydon, Iowa. W. F. was born April 11, 1872, and is now general claim agent for the Northern Pacific, with an office in St. Paul. Arthur H. was born JJuly 2, 1876, and is district claim agent for the Northern Pacifie, with an office at Glendive, Mont. Martha M., the twin sister of Arthur HI., was born July 2, 1876, married Dr. C. J. Maerchlein, and lives in Lidgerwood, N. D. Minnie M. was born September 29, 1879, and married Perry Hanson, a general merchant at Carver, Minn.

Jacob Every, grandfather of Isaac H., was an early settler of Delaware county, New York, and there built and conducted a saw, grist and flouring mill. Hiram Every, father of Isaac H., was born in Delaware county, and at the age of fourteen learned the miller's trade, which he followed in Delaware county all his days. He died in Delaware county in 1897, and his wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Stoughenburg, died in 1899.

George Howard has taken an active interest in public affairs, and is one of the successful and prosperous citizens of Lyle town- ship. He was born in Chautauqua county, New York, April 25, 1867, son of Addison and Adeline (Sprague) Howard. He came

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westward with his parents at ten years of age, receiving his education at the Woodbury school, Lyle township, and working on the farm with his father. After leaving school he became a partner of his father and his brother Charles, and the three con- ducted the farm until the father's death, in 1900, since which date he and his brother have continued to develop the place, adding acres and buildings. They own several hundred acres, including the home farm of 360 acres, and also other places. Mr. Howard has recently purchased a farm of eighty acres, to which he has moved, in section 33, his brother having retired and moved to the village. The home farm is in sections 29 and 32, and the other land the brothers own is mostly in these two sections. George Howard is a Republican in politics, and has served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Lyle township for twelve years, to the credit of himself and the honor of the community. He has also served as clerk of the Woodbury school for several years. He holds stock in the London Creamery in Freeborn county, and in the Lyle Telephone Company of Lyle. The subject of this sketch was married September 5, 1905, to Gertrude De Remer, and to this union four children have been born: Lon, Carroll, Asa and Charles. The family faith is that of the Methodist church.

Addison Howard and Adeline Sprague, his wife, were natives of New York state, and came westward in 1877, locating in Lyle township, where they purchased 160 acres of land, in the south- west quarter of section 29. To this they made additions, and as the two sons, George and Charles, grew to manhood, they were taken into partnership. Mr. Howard died in 1900, and Mrs. Howard lived with her son, Charles, in the village of Lyle, until November 18, 1910, when she died. Mr. Howard was a man of sterling character, loving in his family and loyal to his friends.

John Mahoney, now deceased, was for many years a prominent farmer of LeRoy township. He came to LeRoy as a poor man, and by good management and hard work accumulated a hand- some property. He held the esteem of the community and was beloved for his many excellent traits of mind and character. He was born in County Cork, Ireland, November 15, 1846, youngest child of John Mahoney, the elder, who came to America in 1859, located in Mower county in 1866 and died in 1878. John, the subject of this sketch, came to America with his father at eleven years of age, living for a time in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and then coming to Mower county in 1866. He acquired the southwest quarter of section 7, LeRoy township, broke and im- proved the land, erected buildings and a fine home, increased his holdings from time to time, and carried on general farming until his lamented death, April 19, 1902, when he was killed by being thrown from a vehicle by a pair of runaway horses. Mr. Mahoney

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was well thought of in the community and was an enthusiastic member of the A. F. & A. M. at LeRoy and the commandery at Austin as well as of the Eastern Star. He was married April 15, 1877, to Sarah L. Smith, born at Yorksville, Pa., March 17, 1855, daughter of Charles and Fannie (Rawley) Smith, natives of Pennsylvania. They came west to this county in 1866, purchased 160 acres of land in LeRoy township, one mile west of the village, lived there a short tinie, and then sold out, immediately purchas- ing the adjoining 160 acres, where they erected a pleasant home and conducted general farming the remainder of their days, Charles Smith dying January 28, 1893, and his wife May 18, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of six children. James P. died at two years of age; Milton, Alvin, Lucy J. and Charles E. died within the same month, all of diphtheria. Mrs. Mahoney is the only surviving member of the family. To Mr. and Mrs. Ma- honey were born three daughters. Fannie E. is now Mrs. Adolph Bhend, of Le Roy township. She is a graduate of the Le Roy high school and before her marriage taught school. Mary E. graduated from the Decorah Business College, and is now an able stenographer in Mason City, Iowa. Iva R. lives at home and at- tends the Le Roy high school. Mrs. Mahoney still owns the old homestead of 240 acres aside from twenty acres of timberland. Since the death of Mr. Mahoney, she has rented the farm and pur- chased a fine residence in Le Roy where she now lives. She has taken great pride in the education of her children. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Mahoney were charter members of the Eastern Star at LeRoy, and Mr. Mahoney was treasurer of his school district for over thirty years.

George A. Lyman, a pioneer of Fillmore county, came to Frankford township with his family in 1905, and immediately became identified with the progress of this locality. He has already served as assessor two years and is much interested in the educational matters of his district. The subject of this sketch was born in Fillmore county, March 18, 1862, son of Abner F. and Ellen (Green) Lyman, the former a native of Northfield, Mass., and the latter of Ware, N. H. Abner F. Lyman came to Hartland, Wis., with his parents, was there reared, and in 1855 came to Fillmore county, where he passed the remainder of his life with the exception of a few years in Racine township, this county. George A. passed his early life on the farm, and attended the district school of Sumner in his native county. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits there until coming to Frankford township. He married Hannah, daughter of J. C. and Sarah J. (IIoff) Brush, the former a native of St. Albans, Vt., and the latter from New York state. This union has resulted in five chil-

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dren : Daisy E., Myrtle E., Verner G., Nellie M. and Glen A., who died at about two years of age, August 27, 1910.

Henry J. Lockwood, Jr., of Frankford township, is of that younger generation who combine the hardworking, industrious temperament of their predecessors with the intelligent and scientific understanding of agricultural conditions which has resulted from modern experiment and investigation. The sub- ject of this sketch is a native of Mower county, having been born on the farm where he now resides February 14, 1879, son of Henry J. Lockwood, Sr., now deceased. He received his early education in the district schools of his neighborhood and in the graded schools of Grand Meadow. Then he entered the agricul- tural school of the University of Minnesota, and was pursuing his studies there when he was called home by his father's death. He now has charge of the Lockwood estate consisting of 525 acres in sections 14, 22, 23 and 27, Frankford township, and carries on general farming on an extensive scale, making a specialty of Shorthorn and Durham cattle. Mr. Lockwood is an independent Democrat, and has served as treasurer of school district 19 for eight years. He is also a stockholder in the Exchange Bank, of Grand Meadow. The subject of this sketch was married September 2, 1902, to Julia Nelson, born in Grand Meadow, this county, February 27, 1880, daughter of Gilbert and Karen G. (Olson) Nelson, who came to America from Norway in 1870, located in Grand Meadow township and took up general farming, the father dying January 10, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood have two children: Katherine Claire, born August 8, 1905, and Charles Henry, born February 15, 1910.

Henry J. Lockwood, Sr., was one of the early settlers of this county, although not of the earliest. He was born of true American parents of French and English descent, who were among the first settlers of the country. His mother died when he was thirteen years of age, and being the only boy the duty of becoming bread winner for the family devolved upon him, the father being a cripple. Henry J. clothed and schooled his two sisters on his small salary of $12.50 per month for four years, or until they were old enough to work some. His "stick-to-it-ive- ness" and determination won for him the respect of men who helped him up the ladder, round by round. In 1858 he came from Ohio to Minnesota with a team and settled in Fillmore county, where he taught school winters and worked his farm of eighty acres in summer. In 1863 he went back to Ohio and married Kathryn Sharp, who with his sisters accompanied him back to this western home. When the Indians made trouble at New Ulm and at other places he applied for enlistment but was again rejected as on two other occasions when the calls were made for

H. J. LOCKWOOD

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volunteers at the beginning of the Civil war, on account of his having but one eye (the sight of the other being damaged by a cataract growth). He figured strongly in the political affairs of the township wherein he resided. In 1865 he bought a farm of 160 acres in Frankford township and moved onto it in May of that year. He served two terms as county commissioner and was always found ready to serve the best interests of the county regardless of threats or bribery, thus placing him in the ranks of those who do and dare. He was a strong and loyal lover of liberty and strove to serve his country. His opportunity came when the Spanish war broke out, and Jay, his second son, enlisted in Company G of the Twelfth Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers, the members of which were held at Chickamauga, for months. Jay became very sick, and as a father Mr. Lockwood kept his word. "Boy, I'll come when you need me," and he went despite the entreaties of his family. He nursed, waited upon, fanned and kept flies off the sick boys until the strength of his sixty-two years began to lag and he became a victim of the typhoid malaria and lived but one month after reaching home, dying with the full assurance that he had served his country. Word came from camp often, enquiring of "Dad's" welfare, for that is what they named him at the U. S. hospital. The sick boys would call and call for assistance and as a last resort call for "Dad," who never failed them as long as his strength remained. Though not rich he left a good farm of 525 acres as a result of the push and determination of a poor boy. He was an example of charity for his fellow man, and his straight, honest dealings in business and politics won for him the respect of those who were acquainted with him.

Ole Christenson Bratrud, who gave the land upon which the Norwegian Lutheran church is located in Bennington township, was born in Sigdal, Norway, on March 25, 1833, and came to America with his parents in the spring of 1848, spending seven weeks on the Atlantic ocean. He first located at Rock Prairie, Wis. In May, 1854, he was united in marriage to Ambjer Fin- neseth, of that place, and soon thereafter they came to Minnesota and located at Root Prairie, near Fountain. Here the family lived until the death of Mrs. Bratrud, October 27, 1872. To them six children were born, three of whom died quite yonng. Of the other three, Louis died at West Superior, Wis., in 1896, and Thollef died at Chester, Iowa, in 1905. The oldest, Christian C., resides at Sioux Falls, S. D., where he is vice president of the Sioux Falls Savings Bank and has twice represented his district in the state legislature. On June 1, 1873, O. C. Bratrud was united in marriage to Elsie Torgrimson, who survives him and is now living in St. Paul. This union was blessed with seven chil-

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 99

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