USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 1 > Part 54
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
After about five years in other fields of labor, he again ascended the tripod, and took charge of the "Elk River News," in November, 1879, a seven column folio, which he at first enlarged to an eight column folio, and again to a six column quarto, as it is now published.
CHARLES H. MITCHELL, physician and surgeon, was born in Princeton, Illinois, on the 2d of May, 1854. After passing through the usual prepara- tory and collegiate courses, he graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa. Came to Elk River in 1878, and has since been in the netive practice of his profession.
ALFRED MERRIFIELD, a native of the state of Maine, was born in Angust, 1835. He came to Minnesota in 1862, and has resided in Sherburne county ever since. He has been employed in the pineries and on the river most of the time. In 1874, he bonght a farm on seetion thirty-one, Elk River township, and now resides there. Mr. Mer- rifield was married to Miss Harriet A. Lovett, of his native State. Their children are, Lora E., Aliee M., Elwin S., Weston G., and Minnie B.
WILLIAM B. MABIE, a resident of Elk River sinee 1855, was born in New York State, in the year 1826. The first few years after coming here, he was employed in a chair factory, after which, he opened a general store and carried it on for abont two years. Since that time, his ocenpation, when not engaged in public duties, has been varied. Hle was Register of Deeds from 1867 to 1877, and Clerk of the Court from 1872 to 1877, and has also filled the several offices of Justice of the Peace, Chairman of the board of Supervisors, and County Commissioner. Mr. Mabie was married to Miss Dimick, of New York. Their children living are, Esta, Levi, Nellie, and Dora.
JAMES 11. Mus, one of the most respected pioneers of Elk River, was born in Essex county, Vermont, on the 9th of March, 1798. He was reared on his father's farm until fourteen years of age, when he went to Portland, and entered his uncle's store, as a salesman. After several years experienee behind the counter, he left his unele nad engaged in mercantile business on his own account, doing business in Portland, Brunswick, und Bangor, m.til 1840, when he returned to his nativo place. In 1846, he set out for the West, and arriving in Beloit, Wisconsin, again embarked in the mercantile line, which he continued mtil his retirement in 1880. From Beloit, he came to St. Anthony, Minnesota, in 1854, and two years
later, went to Faribault, and thence in 1867, to Elk River, where he still resides, n hale old man, in his eighty-fourth year. Mr. Mills was married in 1827, to Miss Naomi C. Webster, of New Hampshire, and hand in hand they yet travel to- gether, nearing the shore of the bright beyond. They have been blessed with four children; Susan, who married George C. Albee, and was left a widow, on the 10th of June, 1865, Edward P., Octavia A., and James B.
EDWARD P. MILLS, son of the subject of our last sketeh, was born in Vermont, on the 15th of June, 1831. Came to Beloit, Wisconsin, with his parents, and remained until 1851, when he came to St. Anthony, Minnesota, taught school during the winter, and in the spring of 1852, engaged in mercantile business at that place, which he con- tinued until 1855. Then went to Faribault, and remained until his removal to Elk River in 1868. Bonght a half interest in the lumber and flouring mills at this place, from his brother, J. B. Mills, and has contiuned the business ever since. His sister, Mrs. Albee, owned the other half, but sub- sequently sold it to William HI. Houlton, and the firm has since been Mills & Houlton. Mr. Mills was married in October, 1855, to Miss Stata M. Sanborn. Their children are Johm S., Harry D., Mary, and Frederiek.
JAMES B. MILLS was also born in Vermont, in the year 1838. Came west with the family, and remained with them most of the time until 1857, when he went to Glencoe, Minnesota, and two years later to Breckenridge, where he remained nutil 1861. Then went to Otter Tail City, nnd was employed in the land office one year, after which, he came to St. Cloud, which was his home for seven years, a portion of the time being en- gaged in the transportation business. In 1869, he enmo to Elk River, but having previously dis- posed of his interest in the mill business here, as mentioned in a previous sketch, remained but a few years only, going to Texas, where he was en- gaged in stock raising and also carried on a har- ness shop, until 1880, when he returned to Elk River. Mr. Mills soon opened a harness shop at Upper Town, which he still contimtes.
PETER MORUER, a native of Germany, was born on the 1st of Jannary, 1852. He learned the tailor's trade in his native country, and came to Amerieu in 1871. After spending n few months in New York, came to Mineapolis and remained one year. The next throo years wero spent in
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Chicago and eastern and southern cities, working at his trade. In 1875, he returned to Minnesota, and after remaining three years at Hastings, came to Elk River and opened his present merchant tailoring establishment. Mr. Mocger was married in 1875, to Miss Lena Schreimer. Their chikl- ren are, John, Clara, and Earnst.
JAMES MOORES was born in Canada East, in the year 1844. He came to Minnesota in 1869, and selected a farm of eighty acres on section twenty, Elk River township, where he now resides. He was married in 1869, to Miss Sarah England, of Canada. Their children are, Eddie H., Lavinia C., Margery E., and Annie M.
DAVID MOORES was also born in Canada East, his birth dating on the 28th of September, 1839. Came to Elk River in 1869, and bought a farm on seetion thirty-one, where he has since lived. Mr. Moores was married to Miss Eliza J. Frazer, of Nova Scotia, and they have four children, Lizzie, William, Sherman, and Bertie.
JOHN QUINCY A. NICKERSON, Treasurer of Sher- burne county since 1876, and thirty-two years a resident of Minnesota, was born in New Salen, Franklin county, Maine, on the 30th of March, 1825. After receiving sneh training as the com- mon schools afforded, he finished his education at the Charleston and Corinth Academies in his na- tive State, and subsequently taught school three winters. In 1849, he came to Minnesota, and after spending four years at St. Anthony, came to Elk River, and has resided here ever since. Mr. Nick- erson, in company with B. F. Hildreth, purchased the only house in Elk River, and converted it into a hotel; it has been enlarged several times, but has done service as a public house, under the su- pervision of our subject, for over a quarter of a century. He also opened a farm the same year, which he still owns, besides several hundred acres sinee added. In 1856, he bought the general store of Mr. Brown, who had started it the year before, and after two years, sold it to his brother, H. O. Niekerson. He was also engaged in the humber business until 1870. In 1853, he was appointed first Postmaster at this place, and has held a nm- ber of county and town offices since. Mr. Nick- erson was married on the 3d of October, 1852, to Miss Julia A. Farnham, also a native of the " Pine Tree State." They have had six children, five of whom are living; Clara Adelia, Abbie D., Edith A., Emma J., and Clifford F.
ALVA H. NICKERSON is also a native of the state of
Maine, born in the year 1849. When he was three years old, the family came to Minnesota, and after living a short time in what is now Livonia town- ship, Sherburne county, removed to Elk River, where they now reside. The subject of our sketch grew to manhood in this county, and was employed about the mills most of the time until 1877, when he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty aeres, located in section thirty-three, Elk River township, where he now lives. Miss Cora Whittemore, of Temple, Maine, became his wife on the 21st ot September, 1880.
HENRY O. NICKERSON is a native of Franklin county, Maine, and came to Elk River, in May, 1854. He was employed about the Elk River House and farming for a time, after which he en- gaged in mereantile business. In the spring of 1862, he removed to Livonia township, and resided on a farm there until 1878, when he returned to Elk River. He has'resided here ever since, though still carrying on the farm. Mr. Nickerson's wife was Mary Barnard. They have four children, Mary E., Freddie W., Harry, and Alice.
LYMAN DAYTON (deceased) was born in South- ington, Connecticut, on the 25th of Angust, 1809. At an early age, he left home and commenced the "battle of life." Going to Providence, Rhode Is- land, he engaged as clerk in a store, and re- mained until he commeneed business for himself at Pawtucket Falls, Rhode Island. His beginning was small, but in a very few years, he was known as one of the largest wholesale dry goods mer- chants of the East. The cares of business having affected his health, in 1849, he came to Minnesota, and located on Dayton's Bluff, St. Paul, and within a year, had purchased over five thousand acres of land, in the vicinity, a large portion of which is now inelnded within the city limits. He was the founder of the town which bears his name at the month of Crow River, where he ex- pended large sums of money to improve the water-power, and building mills and other build- ings. He was also the projector of the Lake Su- perior & Mississippi railroad, and was mainly in- strumental in securing for it an enormous state and congressional land grant of nearly two mil- lion aeres of land. From his own private means, the expended upwards of $10,000 in making the preliminary surveys of the road, and others reaped the benefit of his exertion and capital. He was the first President of the company, and held that position until his death, never asking compensn-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
tion for his services. His death occurred on the 20th of October, 1865, after a long illness from chronic gastritis, at his residence in St. Paul. Mr. Dayton was married on the 2d of January, 1831, to Miss Marin Bates, of Cranston, Rhode Ishind. They have one son, Sanmel C. Mrs. Dayton was again married on the 21st of March, 1873, to Michael Nell, and they now reside in Elk River.
ANDREW PETERSON, a native of Sweden, was born in the year 1841. Came to America in 1872, and after remaining one year in Douglas county, came to Elk River township, and settled on sec- tion twenty, where he still resides. Mr. Peterson was married in 1861, to Miss Johanna Anderson. Their children are Tilda, Angusta, Effie, Frank, Fred, and Otto.
EDGAR PHELPS was born in Canada, on the 28th of February, 1833. Came to Minnesota in 1865, and after a stay of seven months at Minneapolis, went to Chisago county, where he was engaged in the manufacture of staves. In 1868, went to Far- ibault, and thenee, after two years, to Otsego, Wright county, where he owned and operated a saw-mill for three years. In Jannary, 1874, came to Elk River and was employed in a saw-mill two years, but has since been superintendent of the Mississippi and Rum River Boom Company, above Dayton. Mr. Phelps was married on the 13th of November, 1861, to Miss Hannah F. Shelters, of Highgate, Vermont. Their children are, Char- lotte A., and Orlando I.
LORETTO POLLARD, whose birth-place is Sanger- ville, Piscataquis county, Maine, was born in the year 1840. His father kept a hotel, and Loretto was reared in that business, and farming. In 1866, came to Minnesota, and settled at Elk River, which has been his home ever since. First engaged in the cooper business, and after three years, was employed by William B. Eaton, cooper, whose business he subsequently purchased, and formed a partnership with a Mr. Featherston, which firm still continues the business. Mr. Pollard was mar- ried on the 29th of April, 1866, to Miss Hannah E. Nason, of his native State. They have one danghter, named Ellen L.
JOSIAH G. SMITH dates his birth at New Milford, Illinois, on the 4th of December, 1856. lle learned the jewelry trade in Rockford, and in 1878, came to Elk River, and opened a repair shop, which he still prosperonsly continues. Miss Mary Ballard, of Wisconsin, became his wife on the 15th of Jan- nary, 1877. Lora is their only ehild.
EDWIN H. STAPLES is a native of Maine, born on the 11th of July, 1848. Came to Minnesota in 1867, and located at Stillwater, where he was engaged in farming three years. In 1870, he came to Elk River, and since then has followed the ocenpation of miller most of the time. Mr. Staples was married on the 1st of Jannary, 1871, to Miss Esta Mabie, of Elk River. Their children are, Charles E. and Edna.
CHARLES F. STIMSON was born in York county, Maine, on the 19th of April, 1822. Came to St. Anthony, Minnesota, in 1848, and helped to get out the lumber that was used in building the first frame honse at that place. He was engaged in lumbering, in the pineries, on the river, and in the mills, until 1880, when he came to Elk River town- ship, and purchased the farm on which he now lives. This farm contains four hundred acres, located on sections ten, eleven, and fourteen, the dwelling being situated on the former. He was married in 1850, to Miss Olive Estes. Their ehil- dren are, Albert I., Ella F., and William F.
WILLIAM T. STRUBLE was born in New Jersey, on the 8th of April, 1837. When a young man, he learned the painter's trade, which has been his chief occupation through life. Came to Elk River in 1867, and has since devoted himself to his bus- iness, doing all kinds of plain and ornamental painting and paper hanging. Mr. Struble was married in 1864, to Miss Emma J. Drake, of his native State. Their children are, Emma, John C., Isadore T., and Anna I.
AMAZIAH TRASK dates his birth in Lincoln county, Maine, on the 28th of March, 1810. At the age of twenty-one years, he went to sea in the merchant service, following that occupation nine- teen years, sixteen of which he was master of a vessel. Hle then settled on a farm in Kennebec connty, his family having resided there since 1841, and followed the plongh ntil coming to Elk River, in 1866. During the first four years of his residence here, he conducted a stage ronte in company with H. P. Burrell, but since then, was in no active business until the summer of 1880, when he purchased the Sherburne Honse, and now manages it, in company with his son, Bradford R. Mr. Trask was married on the 28th of February, 1839, to Miss Abigail H. Reed. Their children are, William A., Bradford R., Smith S., and Es- telle E.
JAMES F. TAYLOR is a native of Michigan, born on the 8th of October, 1846. He was reared to
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BALDWIN TOWNSHIP.
agricultural pursuits, and, through life, has fol- lowed that occupation. Came to Elk River town- ship in 1879, and bought one hundred and sixty neres of land on section seven, where he now lives. Mr. Taylor's wife was Miss Mary O. Bunker, of Jackson county, Michigan. They have live chil- dren; Elmer A., Ida J., Lydin P., Emma, und Cora.
REV. MOSES 11. TARBOX, Pastor of the Free Bap- tist Church, was born in the state of Maine, in the year 1824. He early began preparation for the ministry, graduated at Waterville College in 1849, and at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1855. His first pastorate was at Lewiston, where he remained three years, then ten years at Bangor, after which he traveled on a cirenit three years. In 1871, he took charge of the church at Dover, thenee to Houlton and Burnham, remaining thirce years in cach place. Came to Elk River in March, 1880, and took charge of his present congregation. Miss Adrianna Weymonth became his wife in 1856; she died on the 12th of August, 1879, leaving five children; Mary 1., Orin C., Joseph C., Angusta W., and Adrianna G.
GEORGE B. UPHAM, Sheriff of Sherburne county since 1878, is a native of New Brunswick, born in the year 1818. He came to Minnesota in 1869, and after remaining in Minneapolis all winter, came to Elk River the following spring. The first six years were spent in the' employ of Horatio Honlton, in the manufacture of lumber, but since then has devoted his time chiefly to the sale of agricultural implements, and insurance. Mr. Up- ham was married on the 23d of November, 1848, to Miss Cecelia Spurr. They have nine children; Thompson, Edward S., Alice T., Mary L., George B., Cecelia S., Charles C., Bertha A., and Lonisa R.
NATHANIEL K. WHITTEMORE, M. D., was born at Temple, Franklin county, Maine, on the 1st of Jan- nary, 1848. His first course of lectures was taken at Harvard College, then two courses at Bellevue Hospital, New York, graduating in 1872. The following year he commenced practice in Elk River, and has remained here ever since. The Doctor is a member of the State Medical Society. Hle was married in November, 1874, to Miss Estelle E. Trask, of this village. Their children are Irna F. and Lee.
CHARLES S. WHEATON, President of the Village Council, was born in Orange county, Vermont, in The year 1849. He came to Michigan in 1865, fitted for college at Kalamazoo, read law at Cassap- olis University, and was admitted to the Bar in Feb-
rnary, 1872. Then went to Syracuse, New York, and was admitted to practice at the Bar of that State the same summer, He then came to Minnesota, and was admitted to the Bar at St. Paul, in Ang- HA1, 1872. Came at once to Elk River, and has been in practice here ever since, filling the office of Judge of Probate, two years. Mr. Wheaton was married on the 30th of July, 1873, to Miss Sarah McClelland. Their children are, Myrtle P., Maud E., and May.
WILLIAM H. WOODCOCK is a native of England, born in the year 1855. His early years were spent in his native country, coming to Ameriea in 1880. After spending a few months visiting different parts of the country, in December of the same year, he came to Elk River, and has since been employed as salesman in the store of Horatio Iloulton.
HAURY H. WHEATON was born in Vermont, in January, 1852. When thirteen years old he came to Michigan, and after spending three years at school, went to Iowa, and was clerk in a store um- til 1874, when he came to Elk River. He soon formed a partnership with Mr. Norval, under the firm name of Norval & Wheaton, and engaged in mercantile business, which they still continne. This firm does an extensive business, the sales of 1880 amounting to nearly $20,000. Mr. Wheaton was married to Miss Mattie Boobar, the wedding taking place on the 9th of August, 1877.
BALDWIN.
CHAPTER LXVI.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT - ORGANIZATION - SCHOOLS - AGRICULTURAL STA- TISTICS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Baldwin is situated in the northeast corner of the county, and contains 23,040 acres, of which 1,453 are under enltivation. The population, according to the census of 1880, was 256.
The surface is undulating, and, with the excep- tion of the portions cleared for agricultural pur- poses, is mostly covered with brush and oak open- ings.
Rum river crosses the northeast corner of the town, forming some low bottom land, but with this exception, the soil is generally a light sandy loam. Battle brook waters the western portion,
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
entering the town on section seven and emptying into Elk Lake on section thirty. The latter lake is the only one of any importance in the town.
The first settler was Homer Hnlett, who located on seetion four, in 1851; he is now a resident of Becker township. H. P. Burrell made a claim in 1855, and in 1856, C. H. Chadbourne settled on section five, and is the oldest living settler in the town. A notice of him appears elsewhere in this volume.
Baldwin was organized by the Commissioners appointed by the Governor, on the 13th of Sep- tember, 1858, and named in honor of F. E. Bald- win, of Clear Lake, who acted in the capacity of Clerk of the Commission. It included all the territory now embraced in Baldwin, Blue Hill, and Santiago, and was reduced to its present limits by the organization of Blue Hill in 1877.
The first officers were: Supervisors, Martin Carter, Chairman, H. P. Burrell and L. Pratt; Clerk, Isaac C. Baker; Assessor, Justice of the Peace and Colleetor, C. H. Chadbourne.
When school district number seven was organ- ized, it embraced all of the present towns of Bald- win, Bhie Hill, and Santiago. A school-house was built on section ten, about 1862, and two years later, removed to section fourteen, its present loca- tion.
What is now district mumber ten was organized soon after the township came into existence, and a school-house built on the west side of section eight. School was kept in the territory now in- eluded within this district, as early as 1857.
Distriet number thirty was organized in 1877, and the first school kept in a granary. Their present school house, on section twenty-six, was erected in the spring of 1879.
The products of Baldwin, according to the agri- cultural report of 1880, was: wheat, 7,194 bushels; oats, 2,609 bushels; corn, 11,385 bushels; barley, 15 bushels; rye, 1,195 bushels; buckwheat, 376 bush- els; potatoes, 725 bushels; beans, 64 bushels; cultivated hay, 53 tons; wild hay, 930 tous; wool, 142 pounds; bafter, 12,175 pounds; and honey, 1, t00 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM BROWN is of Scotch ancestry, and was born in Tyrone county, Ireland, on the 1st of June, 1828. When & boy, he went to Paisley, Scotland, and spent some time at the silk-weaver's trade. Returning to Treland, he served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, which occupation he fol-
lowed in his native country until 1853. Coming then to America, he resided a few years in New York City and Glen Falls, thence, in 1855, to Michigan, and one year later, to Minnesota. After spending one summer at St. Anthony, located on a farm near Princeton, Mille Lacs county, on which he resided until coming to his present home, in Baldwin township in 1861. Mr. Brown was mar- ried on the 7th of June, 1866, to Annie Hillis. The umion has been blessed with five children.
C. H. CHADBOURNE was born near the battle ground of revolutionary fame at Lexington, Mas- sachusetts, on the 17th of June, 1831. His early life was spent attending school, and working on his father's farm, until at the age of sixteen years, he left home and went to sea, following the life of a sailor for a number of years, the last four of which, he was master of a coasting vessel. In 1855, he came to Mmnesota, and the following year, located at Princeton, Mille Lacs county, where he kept a hotel a short time, but soon se- lected his present farm, and built his first claim shanty, on the 4th of July, 1856. Mr. Chadbourne las resided here ever since, and the primitive claim shanty has given place to a palatial country resi- dence, located on a farm of six Inindred and forty aeres of good farming land. This is the largest farm in the township, if not in the county. Mr. Chadbourne is one of the representative men of Sherburne county, the citizens of which have on several occasions acknowledged his superior judg- ment; he represented his district in the State Leg- islature, in 1874, and has been County Commis- sioner several terms, besides holding mmerons town offices. He was married on the 7th of June, 1852, to Deborah Crowell. They have had ten children, but five of whom are living.
MORRIS GUYETT is a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, and was born an the 6th of Sep- tember, 1814. He remained on his father's farm until about eighteen years of age, when he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits on his own accont, doing business both in New York State and in Canada, being located near the line. Ile then bought n farm in Canada, on which he resided twenty-five years. In 1865, he came to Minnesota, and settled on his present farm in Baldwin town- ship. Mr. Guyett was married on the 23d of De- eember, 1837, to Mrs. Mary Donglas, whose maiden name was Young. Of seven children born to them, six are living.
EDWIN E. GRANT dates his birth nt Medford,
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BECKER TOWNSHIP.
Maine, on the 6th of April, 1846. He came to Min- nesota with his parents in 1862, they settling in Richfield, Hennepin county. Edwin soon after commeneed working in Minneapolis, where he re- inuined until taking his present farm as a home- stead, in 1868. During the summer months, for the first three years after coming here, he drove a truck in Minneapolis. Mr. Grant was married on the 3d of April, 1869, to Miss Rachel Jackson. They have five children.
F. B. KNAPP was born in Windom, Vermont, on the 26th of November, 1852. When he was tour years old, his father died, and two years later, he went to live with his step-sister. In 1866, he came to Iowa, and thence, in 1870, to Minnesota, locat- ing on his present farm, where he has since lived with the exception of two years spent in traveling through the Northwest. Mr. Knapp is Chairman of the board of Supervisors, having held the po- sition for three terms. He was married on the 8th of June, 1878, to Miss Nellie Snow. They have two children.
M. C. SAUSSER is a native of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where his father and grand-father were also born; he dates his birth on the 18th of December, 1838. When he was about nine years old, his mother died and he went to live with an uncle in Berks county. At the age of fourteen years, he began to learn the harness maker's trade, at Pottsville, where he lived six years. He then went to Harrisburg, which was his home for a number of years, while he worked at different points. In 1876, he came to Minnesota, and car- ried on n harness-shop ut Princeton, Mille Imnes county, unlil removing to his present farm in Bald- win township, in The spring of 1881. Mr. Sausser was married on the 6th of February, 1861, to Miss Sarah A. Swiler. They have had nine children, six of whom are living.
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