USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 31
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JAMES HIBBARD, a native of New York, was born in the year 1828. In 1850, he went to Can- ada, and farmed for seven years, then moved to Wright county, Minnesota, and located on a farm in Silver Creek township. After farming till 1874, ho moved to Clearwater and engaged in the livery business, which ho still continues. He married Miss Eveline Foster, and they have four children; Edgar, John, Jennette A., and Louisa.
WILLIAM J. KIRK, a native of Aroostook county, Maine, was born on the 28th of August, 1826, at- taining manhood on a farm, and learning the har- mess making trade. In 1854, he went to Illinois, remaining one year; then went to Minneapolis Min- nesota, for one year; then to Clearwater in the spring of 1856, engaging in the livery and car- penter business for two years, after which he en- gaged in the manufacture of harness till 1879. During this time he bought the ferry of J. F. Folbert, and controlled the same till 1880, when he Hold it. He also owns a farm in Clear Inke,
Sherburne eounty, where he has lived for the last twelve years. He married Miss Amy Stevenson, of Clear Lake, in July, 1860. They have two ehildren; William H. and Mary A.
SAMUEL KIRK, a native of Bangor, Maine, was born on the 16th of June, 1831. He was raised on a farm, and learned the harness making trade at Woodstock, New Brunswick, which he followed for eight years; then went to Wilmington, Will county, Illinois, where he worked at his trade for two years; then eame to Clearwater, Minnesota, in 1856. Here he engaged in carpenter work and teaming for two years, and in 1858, engaged in farming, living in the village for one year, after which he moved to his farm in section eleven, where he now resides. He married Miss Maria Baskervill, of New York, on the 11th of July, 1859. Their children are, William J., Ella M. and Effie B., twins, and Samuel B.
ROBERT A. LYONS was born in Ohio, on the 22d of August, 1844. He came to Minnesota with his parents in 1856, who settled in Lynden, Stearns eounty. He worked on the farm until twenty years of age, and then for two years, was employed in the transportation business from St. Cloud to Fort Abercrombie, and the next five or six years were spent in running a ferry on the Mississippi river. In 1869, he moved his family from Lynden to Clearwater, and the next year, took the mail contract trom Clearwater to Clear Lake, ruming a stage to connect with the trains. In 1880, he purehased and now owns a half interest in the ferry at Clearwater. Miss Louisa J. Meacham, of How- ard Lake, became his wife on the 9th of May, 1872
JAMES MAXWELL, deceased, was born in Scotland, in the year 1821. He emigrated to America in 1842, locating at Springfield, Otsego county, New York, for four years; then returned to Scotland for one year, after which he came to America, lo- cating at Litchfield, Herkimer county, New York. He was employed on a farm there till 1857, when he came to Clearwater and bought a farm in sec- tion twenty-three. He married Miss Christina Connell, of Scotland, on the 18th of November 1849. Their children are, Mary A., Margaret A., Katie C., James A., Julia E., Lottie M., and Dena I. Mr. Maxwell died on the 4th of April 1872.
ISAAC E. MERRILL was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in the year 1840. When he was a small boy, the family moved to Jefferson county, where he participated in the labors of the farm till he left the State. He came to Minnesota
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
in 1867, and located on a farm in section eleven, in the town of Clearwater, Wright county, where he still resides.
SELAH MARKHAM, a native of the state of New York, was born on the 9th of April, 1813. He grew to manhood on a farm, participating in its labors imtil 1838, when he went to Meffenry county, Illinois, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits till 1854, and removed to Clearwater, Minnesota, taking a claim on section seven. He was the first to open a farm and build a house in the town, in the fall of the same year. In 1857, went to Cannon Falls, Goodhue county, remaining seven years; then returned to Clearwater, engaged in the manufacture of wagons, and adding a gen- eral blacksmith department, which he continued for some years. In the meantime he conducted a farm, to which he has given his entire attention sinee closing his shop. Mr. Markham was County Commissioner und Assessor before the town was organized. lle married Miss Imneinda Ince, on the 25th of October, 1835. They have ten ehil- dren; Homer, Ursula, Martha J., Manville,' Anna F., Rozela T., Alfred, Willie, Minnie, and George L.
THOMAS C. PourER was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of April, 1826. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, acquiring, in the meantime, the trade of shoemaker. When he was twenty-one years old, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and after working at his trade a short time, embarked in a steamboat for the Upper Mississippi. Arriving at St. Paul, he started for Fort Garry with an ox-team, being thirty-five days on the road. He spent the winter with his brother, who had a trading post at that point, and the fol- lowing June, returned to St. Paul. Went again to Fort Garry in the fall, and during that winter, (1848 49) was engaged in selling goods to the soldiers and others at the fort. In June, 1849, he went to Dakota Territory, and spent the summer trading with the Indians. Returning to St. Paul, he engaged in the transportation business between that place and Crow Wing, and in the winter of 1849 50, located at Little Falls, and was engaged in the himber business there for two years. The next two years were spent in the transportation of goods from St. Paul to the upper country, and in 1853, he took a claim on seetion thirty-five, in the present town of Clear Lake, Sherburne county, being one of the pioneers of that locality. On the 8th of March, 1855, he selected the claim in Clear- water township, which has been his home ever
since, moving thereto the following year. Mr. Porter is one of the representative men of Wright county, and has held a number of county and town offices. He is now a member of the State Legislature. Mrs. Abigail P. Camp became his wife in the fall of 1856. They have one dangh- ter, Maud J., born in 1862. Mrs. Porter was the first white woman to reside in Clearwater, being housekeeper at the Hotel, for the town-site company.
GEORGE O. PRATT was born in Afton, Chenango county, New York, on the 17th of May, 1843. He took an active part in the labors of the farm till he attained manhood. At the age of twenty, he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh New York Volun- teer Infantry, serving about two years, when he was transferred to the Fifteenth New York Heavy Artillery, serving for two years more. After re- eciving his discharge, went to Michigan and farmed for about two years, then moved to Clearwater, Minnesota, and located on sections ten and four- teen, where he still resides. He married Miss Mi- nerva Merrill, of Michigan, in April, 1866. Their children are, Clara, Jesse P., Bertha M., and Emile G.
HARRISON J. RANNEY, a native of Ashfield, Franklin county, Massachusetts, was born on the 4th of March, 1824. He was raised on a farm, following agricultural pursuits till twenty-five years of age. Then went to Arkansas, engaging in mereantile business for four years; then moved to Michigan, engaged in farming for four years, and in mercantile business for five years; then eame to Clearwater, Minnesota, and has been in the employ of Samnel Whiting as a salesman ever since. He married Miss Helen McConnell on the 10th of January, 1856. They have three children; Frank H., born April 15th, 1857; Fred A., born May 29th, 1859; and Minnette, born March 13, 1861.
SIMON STEVENS, a native of Lower Canada, was born in May, 1827, where he resided, working on a farm till 1850, when he came to Minneapolis, Min- nesota. The first winter he engaged in cutting wood on Nicollet Island, and the following sum- mer farmed on the town site of Minneapolis, ent- ting hay where the Nicollet House now stands. 'The following winter was spent in the pineries on Rum river. In 1852, he, in company with Calvin 'I'nttle made a tour through some of the neigh- boring districts, and made a claim at the outlet of Lake Minnetonka. Here they built a saw mill,
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525
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
and operated it jointly till 1854, when Mr. Ste- vens sold his interest to his partner, and worked for him the following year. In the spring of 1855, he came to Clearwater, and in company with Messrs. Webster and Farwell, pre-empted the land on which the village of Clearwater now stands; built a log house, platted the village, kept the first hotel, and burned the first lime kiln in the town. In 1858, he moved to his present farm on section thirty-five, and has lived here ever sinec. He married Miss Kate C. Cole, of Canada, on the 24th of December, 1857. They have had four children, but two of whom are living; Henry A., born on the 6th of March, 1858, and Charles M., born on the 8th of July, 1861.
ROBERT SHAW was born in Ohio, on the 16th of October, 1836. He learned the shoe making trade in youth, and came to Clearwater, Minnesota, in 1857. He has been employed at his trade and controlled a general boot and shoe establishment ever since. He married Miss Sarah J. Johnson, of Ohio, on the 16th of Angust, 1856. They have one child, Willis A., born on the 6th of February, 1860.
Cyrus Sarra, a native of Wayne county, New York, was born in the year 1830. His father was a merchant, and Cyrus helped in the store till he left his native State, on the 6th of May, 1856. Mr. Smith came to Clearwater, Minnesota, soon after leaving New York, and loeated on sections twenty-one and twenty-two, in Clearwater town, and still resides on the old homestead. He was one of the first to settle in the town, and has been a member of the board of Supervisors most of the time since. He married Miss Sarah W. Long- worth on the 23d of August, 1860. They have four children; Frank L., Mary L., Caroline C., and Octavia L.
DEROY SHAw was born in Washington county, Minnesota, in the year 1856. His father, James Shaw, came to Clearwater in 1857, and located on a farm in section eight, and followed farming till his death in 1875. His son Leroy has come into possession of the old farm, and lives there at present.
SEYMOUR SMITH, a native of Lower Canada, was born on the 24th of December, 1829. He at- tained manhood on a farm with his parents, and engaged in mercantile business for five years prior to leaving his native country. He came to Clear- water, Minnesota, in 1857; conducted a farm one year; then went to Neenah, now St. Augusta,
Stearns county, for one year; thence to Clear Lake, Sherburne county, for two years; then, in 1861, returned to Clearwater, where he has since lived on seetion seven. He married Miss Elizabeth Big- gerstaff, in 1861. They have three children; Jen- nie C., Mary 11., nud Hellen E.
PHILIP SCHWAB, a native of Germany, was born in the year 1830. He emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1834, locating in Penn- sylvania. At the age of twenty, he went to New Orleans, engaged in a tan-yard one year; then to St. Louis, Missouri, in a drug store for two years. He then came to St. Paul, Minnesota, and was en- gaged in varied callings till the Rebellion broke out, when he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, serving three years. After receiving his discharge, eame to Rockford, Wright county, and was in the mercantile business for two years; thence to Minneapolis one year; thenee to Clearwater, and engaged in the grocery trade for seven years, when he engaged in the drug busi- ness, which he still continues. He married Miss Hattie Hleberling on the 9th of October, 1869. They have four children; Lizzie M., Charles D., Edward P., and William G.
WILLIAM VORSE, a native of the state of New York, was born in October, 1808. He was one of the early settlers of, Clearwater, coming in 1855, and locating on Fish creek, in section seven, where he lived six years. He then moved to the village of Clearwater, and engaged in the manufacture of wagons, having learned the trade in youth. He married Miss Lois Heart, of Westfield, Massachu- setts. They have one son; Charles H.
CHARLES H. VORSE was born in Illinois, on the 24th of March, 1846. At the age of sixteen, he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Volunter Infan- try, serving three years. After being discharged, learned the wagon-making business, which he con- tinues to follow. He has had a shop of his own for the last three years. Married Miss Ella Bor- genrief December 25th, 1869. They have two children; Lois M. and Nellie.
WILLIAM W. WEBSTER was born in Canada East, in April, 1832. He was engaged in farming and merchandising prior to coming to Minnesota, in 1857. He then came to Clearwater, and worked one year for the town-site company; then clerked in a store and dealt in eattle and humber till 1861, when he went to St. Anthony as agent for the Freight and Transportation company for some time. He then enlisted in the Third Minnesota
526
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
Volunteer Infuntry, serving till December, 1864. Then returned to Clearwater, und was out of bus- iness for about two years on account of ill-health; then clerked for some time, and has since con- dueted a general store on his own account. IIe married Miss Melvina Woodworth in September, 1861. They had two children; William F. and Charles H. His wife died in the fall of 1868, and he married Miss Lney C. Walker, in August, 1872. They have two children; Wallace and Anna L.
JARED D. WHEELOCK, a native of Montpelier Washington county, Vermont, was born on the 28th of September, 1820. He received his early education at home, and subsequently attended lec_ tures at the Medical College at Woodstock, Ver- mont. He commenced the practice of medicine at Greensboro', in 1843, where he continned for two years; then went to Stowe and practiced till 1855, when he moved to Clearwater, Minnesota, taking a claim on sections one and two, where he engaged in farming and practicing. He was the first phy- sician in Wright county; the first Justice of the Peace in the township; and also Chairman of the first board of Supervisors; Town Treasurer at tho same time, and long a member of the School Board. During the war, was Surgeon of the board of en- rollment of the second distriet of Minnesota, having his headquarters at St. Panl. He married Miss Mary Robinson, of Stowe, Vermont, on the 18th of January, 1845. They have two children; Isabel M., born on the 17th of November, 1849, and Fan- nie L., born on the 3d of January, 1864.
HORACE WEBSTER, a native of Canada East, was born on the 6th of July, 1828. In 1849, he came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and engaged in lum- bering for two years. In the spring of 1852, went with Simon Stevens to Minnetonka, and thence to Clearwater and assisted in platting the village, building a hotel, etc. In 1857, located on sections one and twelve, where he still resides. He married Miss Marinda Pease, in 1854. They have three children; Mary M., George N., and Fred.
ISAAC WHITNEY was born in Canada, on the 9th of March, 1830. He went to Franklin county, Vermont, when a young man, learned tho black- smith trade, and worked ut the business till 1880, when he moved to Clearwater, Minnesota, where he continues his chosen business. He was one year in the Twelfth Vermont Regiment during the wur. He married Miss Julia Draper, of Sheldon, Ver- mont, on the 26th of December, 1859. They have three children; Lovi R., Lucy O., and Flora M.
WILLIAM P. WEST, a native of Lewis county, Kentneky, was born on the 23d of October, 1842. At the age of thirteen, the family moved to Pope county, Illinois. In the spring of 1862, William enlisted in the Sixty-second Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, serving four years. In 1866, he went to Washington county, Illinois, and was engaged in farming two years; then in 1868, moved to Lyn- den, Stearns county, and took a homestead on sce- tion eight, where he lived till 1876, when he sold out and came to Clearwater, locating on section fifteen. He married Miss Martha J. Moore, of Jefferson county, Illinois, on the 24th of May, 1866. Their children are, Frank A., Annie M., Harry C., Rose, and Walter G.
FRANKFORT.
CHAPTER CXXIV.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT ORGANIZATION-SCHOOLS-RELIGIOUS-AGRICUL- TURAL STATISTICS -- BIOGRAPHICAL.
This town lies in the eastern portion of the county, and has an area of abont 28,000 acres, 3,693 being under cultivation. Along the Crow river, which forms the eastern boundary, the sur- face is quite broken, and the soil light and sandy, but the interior of the township is quito pro- duetive.
The first permanent settler in this town was Thomas Dean, a native of New Brunswick, who settled on his present farm in scetion nine in July, 1854. He was followed the next year by Henry Aydt, a native of Germany, who settled on section thirteen and still lives there. James Dixon, n na- tive of Ireland, also came in the spring of the lat- ter year and settled on his present farm in section thirty-two.
William Elliot settled on section twenty in the spring of 1856, and was soon followed by others. Many Americans were among the first settlers, but the last twenty years have witnessed the arrival of u large number of Germans, the majority now being of that nationality. The population, ne- cording to tho last eensns, was 868 persons.
The little village of St. Michael's is situated at the corners of sections eleven, twelve, thirteen, and fourteen, and contains one church, hotel, black- smith shop, two stores, schools, ofe.
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527
FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP.
There is also a little village, called Hanover, in section thirty-six, in the southeast corner of the township. It is on Crow river, and has a saw mill, hotel, blacksmith shop, and general store.
The town was organized and the first election held on the 11th of May, 1859, but the first town records were not preserved, thus rendering it im- possible to give, with any degree of accuracy, the early political events.
The township is divided into five school dis- tricts, with a neat school house in each. There is also a religious school at St. Michael's, taught by the Sisters of Charity.
The agricultural products of Frankfort, accord- to the report of 1880, were: wheat, 40,472 bush- els; oats, 22,278 bushels; corn, 23,496 busliels; barley, 641 bushels; rye, 10 bushels; potatoes, 8,223 bushels; cultivated hay, 148 tons; wild hay 1,465 tons; wool, 2,877 pounds, and butter, 16,700 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
FRANK T. AYDT is a native of Baden, Ger- many, born on the 18th of December, 1840. His father came to America in 1850, and the family, the following year. They located in Minnesota, and in 1865, came to Frankfort. Finally, our subject started in general merchandise business in St. Michael's, and has a stoek of about $3,000. Owns four and a half acres in the village and two hundred just outside. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors, and for fourteen years has been Postmaster. Mr. Aydt was united in marriage with Miss Mary Engel, a native of Wur- temberg, Germany. They have had eleven chil- dren; nine are living, six girls and three boys.
JAMES DIXON was born in Ireland, in March, 1823. llis mother died when he was one year old, and at seventeen, he removed to Scotland, where he was employed on farms for about two years. Then, for three years, he was farming in Eng- land, and after visiting his native place a short time, he came, in April, 1855, to America. Was engaged in Westchester county, New York, for some time, and then came to Minnesota; pre- empted land in Frankfort on section thirty-two, and at present has over five hundred acres of land, on which is his residence. Miss Sarah Cochran, his wife, was born on the 5th of October, 1833, in Ireland, where she resided until coming to Amer- ien, in 1817, the marriage taking place in 1854. They have seven children; Mary, John, Thomas, Elizabeth, William James, Andrew, and Robert.
The oldest daughter is married to John Forsythe, and resides in this place.
THOMAS DEAN, probably the first settler of this town, is a native of New Brunswick. He was en- gaged in his native place in farming and the Ium- ber business until the first of July, 1854, when he came to Minnesota and on the 20th of the same month, to his present farm, which was then in a wild state, but is now under good cultivation. On the 1st of November, 1857, he was married to Miss Lavinia Weaver, who is also a native of New Brunswick. Of seven children born to them, five are living. His oldest son, James Alfred, is mar- ried and lives on part of his father's farm.
WILLIAM ELLIOTT was born in tlic northern part of Ireland, on the 11th of March, 1834. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1852, when he came to America. Resided for two years in Orleans county, New York, and after traveling for about the same length of time, came to Minnesota in April, 1856, and the following August, pur- chased his present farm, but did not settle on it till 1858. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Com- pany A, of the first Minnesota Heavy Artillery, and served one year. Mr. Elliott had a brother who enlisted and was discharged the same time with himself, and another who was killed at the battle of The Wilderness after a service of two years. Was married in 1855, to Miss Anna Galliher, of Ireland. They have had three children; two are living, Wil- liam James and John.
JOHN FORSYTHE was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick, in 1846. At the age of fifteen years, he removed to Boston, Massachusetts, and to Chi- cago, Illinois, in 1866, thence to Milwaukee, Wis- consin, where he remained until coming to Min- nesota in 1869. Was for n time in St. Paul, then in Minneapolis, engaged in the lumber business. He cante to Frankfort in 1870, and the following year purchased his present farm, and since 1874, has resided here. Mr. Forsythe served a few months in the Government Artillery at Boston, during the Rebellion. Was married to Miss Mary L. Dixon in 1873. They have a family of three girls and one boy.
PETER HOLLAND is a native of Ireland, born in 1827. At the age of twenty-two years, he came to America, located in New Orleans, where he re- mained till 1855, and came to Minnesota. He was employed for several years by Frank Weizel in building a dam in Dayton, Hennepin county. Iu 1865, he enme to Frankfort and located his pres-
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ILISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. .
ent farm. Mr. Holland was united in marriage with Miss Ann Conners, of Ireland, the ceremony taking place in the state of Illinois. In March, 1870, his wife died. Of seven children born lo them, five are living.
VALENTINE HERMAN, a nalivo of Germany, was born on the 14th of September, 1823. Came to America in 1853, and for a few years was engaged at his trade, that of blacksmith, in Canada. Located his present farm in 1856 or '57, the railroad from Minneapolis to Clearwater running through it. Miss Bertha Hardt, of Germany, beeame his wife in 1857. They have one adopted son, named Henry.
JOHN WALLACE MORAW was born in 1826, in the province of New Brunswick, where he resided nutil twenty-five years of age. Then, after a res- idence of about five years in Maine, eame to Min- nesota in 1856. Was engaged in the lumber business at St. Anthony until 1861, when he came to his present farm iu Frankfort township. In 1849, he was married to Miss Margery Green, of New Brunswick. She died on the 2d of July, 1866. They had six children, four of whom are living.
TRAFTON G. RICKER, a native of Waldo county, Maine, was born on the 31st of December, 1833. In 1861, he enlisted in Company G, of the Ninth Maine Volunteers, and served three years and ten months. Was wounded while in service, for which he draws a pension. After his discharge he re- turned to Maine, where he was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Sturtevant. In 1870, they came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in March of the fol- lowing year, his wife died. They had three chil- dren, two of whom are living. In 1873, he cmmne lo Frankfort lownship, and has sinco resided on n farm. Was married to his present wife, Mrs. Catharine M. Johnson, on the 23d of December, 1872. Her father, now ninety-four years of age. lives on a farm adjoining her own home.
FRENCH LAKE.
CHAPTER CXXV.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT -- OR- GANIZATION - SCHOOLS- RELIGIOUS -- AGRICULTU- RAL STATISTICS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
French Lake lies on the west line of the county, and in the northwestern part, It has an area of
23,040 acres, 1,714 being under cultivation. The surface is undulating and generally covered with timber, the soil being a rich dark loam.
'The first permanent setller in this lown was Er- nest Howard, a ilive of Belgium, who settled here in 1857, and still resides here, his home being on section fifteen. Andrew MeDonald, a native of Nova Scotia, settled on his present farm in 1858. Michael C. O'Donohne settled on sec- tion ten about the same time and still lives there. According to the census of 1880, 589 persons re- sided in the town.
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