USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 36
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veying, from which he was diverted by the events of the late civil war, and at the time of the Sioux massacre, in 1862, entered the First Regiment of Mounted Rangers as a Sergeant of Company C; served one year, the period of enlistment, then re- enlisted in the Eleventh Minnesota Infantry, where he held a Lieutenant's commission in Company F', until mustered out with the regiment in July, 1865. He then returned to Monticello, and two years later engaged in mercantile life, to which the next ten years of his life were devoted. He next engaged in real estate, loan, and insurance business, still finding time to act well his part in local matters, and to assist in controlling the movements of the Republican party, of which lie is the acknowledged leader in Wright county. He has been twice elected to the State Senate, and during the first term introduced the bill which afterwards became a law, equalizing the salaries of county officers. He was also eleeted Represen- tative in 1878, and during his whole public life, has been prominent in reform measures, and has labored zealously for the benefit of his constitu- ency. In 1880, he was elected Auditor of Wright county, by the largest majority ever given a can- didate in the history of the county. In February, 1872, Mr. Stacy was united in matrimony with a daughter of John Granger, of Naperville, Illinois, who was a widow at time of this union.
HENRY STOKES, a native of England, was one of the first settlers of Monticello township. He and family located near Pelican Lake, on section thirty. Soon, three brothers settled in the same neighbor- hood. He married Miss Elizabeth Jeffreys; their children are, Charlotte, Charles, Elizabeth, Lonisa, George H., and Emma.
GEORGE H. STORES, a son of Henry and Eliza- beth Stokes, has been a resident of this town from boyhood. He married Miss Fannie Elletson, on the 25th of December, 1870. "They had one child, Harry. Mrs Stokes died in March, 1872. He married a second wife, Miss Mary Elletson, on the 16th of November, 1874. Their children are, Not- tie, Francis, and Louisa.
CHARLES SYDLINKER was born in Maine, on the 3d of December, 1838. He grew to manhood on a farm, enjoying the advantages of a country school. He came to Monticello township, in 1855, and became employed on a farm. In 1861, he en- listed in the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served three and one-half years. After return- ing from the army, bought one hundred and fifty
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
acres in section twenty-ninc, where he still resides. He married Miss Elnora Keen, March 20th, 1865. Their children are, Fred L., May D., George W., and Cecil.
JAMES STOKES, one of the first settlers of Monti- collo township, was born in England, on the 25th of May, 1830. He emigrated to the United States in 1851, stopping three years in New York State, butchering and farming; then abont two years in Iowa following the same business; then to Minne- sata, with a Government surveying party for eight months; after which he located on section twenty- five, near Pelican Lake, following farming, with the exception of three years that he was in the hotel business, until 1873, when he moved to Mon- ticello, and opened a meat market, in which busi- ness he still continues. He married Harriet Short in 1855. They have five children; Edwin, Clara J., Lilla A, Hattie M., and Incee D.
NORRIS REUBEN STOWELL was born near Port- land Maine, on the 20th of December, 1817. His parents moved to New Hampshire, where Norris R. lived till twenty-one years of age. Then engaged in coasting from Maine to Philadelphia. He went to the West Indies on a voyage, and in 1852, to California, for the purpose of gold-mining, but was obliged to return after one year on account of declining health. He came to Monticello, Minne- sota, in 1865, where he has lived to this writing. He married Mrs. Olive Hamlet in 1842. Their children are, Nicholas R. and Joseph N.
WILLIAM TUBBS, a native of Athens, Ohio, was born on the 4th of August, 1833. At the age of eighteen he left the parental roof, and for three years was on a trading expedition in the South. In 1856, he roamed over parts of the West; in 1858, was in the lumber eonntry of Minnesota; und in 1859, took a elaim in Isanti county, where he was County Anditor from 1860 to 1863. He then removed to Elk River, Sherburne conty, where he remained till 1870, and for four years was Auditor of that county. In the fall of 1870, he came to Monticello, and built the first flouring mill in the place, operating it for four years, and then was elected Auditor and served till 1880.
JOHN W. TENNISON, a native of Nova Scotia, was born on the 19th of November, 1838. The family moved to Canada in 1852, and in 1855, cuune to Anoka, Minnesota, where the subject of this Aketeli lived till 1876, with the exception of four years spent in the mines of Nevada. Up to this period of his life, he was chiefly occupied in
farming and lumbering. In 1876, he came to Monticello and engaged in a flouring mill for two years, since which time he has been doing a gen- eral merchandise business in company with R. B. Kreis. He married Miss Chloe A. Gould in 1869. Their children are, Mary F., Clara A., Edna E., and Lucia M.
JOHN W. WALKER, a native of the state of New York, was born on the 13th of January, 1840. His father being a carpenter, John learned the trade while a boy. When sixteen years of age, he enlisted in the Sixth New York Heavy Artillery, serving for three years. At the age of nineteen, came to Minnesota, remaining at Silver Creek for one year, thenee to Monticello, working at his trade till this writing. He mar- ried Miss Hulda E. Ridley, of Silver Creek, on the 1st of September, 1867. Their children are, George W., Katie E., Nettie A., and John L.
MICHAEL WELLCOME, a native of Minot, Cum- berland county, Maine, was born in the year 1815. When he was nine years of age the family moved to Newport. His educational privileges were quite limited. At the age of twenty-three, he embraced the Christian religion, and at the age of twenty- four went into the mercantile business in the city of Hallowell, Kennebec county, Maine. At the age of twenty-five, was licensed by the Methodist Episcopal Church to preach the gospel. He trav- eled on a cirenit for five years, when he withdrew from the Methodist church. In 1846, he moved to Wisconsin, bonght a farm, continuing in the ministry, building up three large congregations, of which he was pastor for fifteen years. In 1866, he moved to Garden City, Blue Earth county, Minnesota. Here he organized a church, of which he was the pastor for five years. In 1873, was elected Presiding Elder for the district of Ottawa, by the Second Advent Church. In 1876, he moved to Monticello, and is now pastor of the Advent Christian Church of Monticello. In 1877, was elected Presiding Elder for the dis- triet of St. Paul by the latter denomination.
JOHN H. WILSON, a native of New York, was born on the 21st of May, 1834. When he was a small boy, the family removed to Canada, where he learned the blacksmith trade. In 1864, moved to Bay City, Michigan, where he engaged in Inni- bering for three years, then removed to Buffalo, Wright county, und was employed on a farmi, spending a portion of his time in Minneapolis, at his trade till 1877, when he moved to Monticello,
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MIDDLEVILLE TOWNSHIP.
, where he has sinee lived, engaged in the blaek- smith business. He married Miss Mary A. Ram- sey in September, 1855. Their childron are, Anna, Eliza, John, and Isabellu.
EDWIN E. WALDEN, u native of Connecticut, was born on the 21st of January, 1837. When the subject of this sketch had seen but four summers, the family moved to Worcester county, Massaehu- setts. Hero he learned the carpenter trade, and followed building till 1856, when he journeyed westward, loeating in Montieello, Minnesota. His farın is in seetion twenty-six, which occupies his first attention, working at his trade as eireum- stanees permit. He married Miss Mary A. Ross, of Mobile, Alabama, in 1869. They have three children; William L., Florence N., and Nellie.
JOHN WHITCOMB was born in Dixmont, Maine, on the 16th of September, 1830. He learned the carpenter trade, which he followed until he eame to Montieello in 1855. He located on seetion twenty-one, where he still resides. He married Miss Trene E. Howe, of his native State, on the 1st of January, 1859. Their children are, Delia E., Mary, John H., and Noyes H.
EMIL WETZEL was born in Baden, Germany, in the year 1844. He emigrated to America in 1869, spending one year in Chieago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. Cloud, Minnesota. In 1870, he eame to Montieello and engaged in the jewelry business, which he still continues. He married Miss Zoraide Hanaford in 1870. Their children are, Pansie, Arthur U., Emil, and Albert.
MIDDLEVILLE.
CHAPTER CXXIX.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT -- FIRST THINGS-ORGANIZATION -- SCHOOLS ---- AGRICULT- URAL STATISTICS-BIOGRAPHIIOAL.
Middleville lies in the southwestern portion of the county, and embraces an area of nearly 23,- 000 acres, 2,906 being under cultivation. The sur- face was originally covered with timber, but tho hand of civilization has removed many aeres of the primeval forest to give place to the golden fields of wheat and other grains. The North Fork of Crow river crosses the north half of this town in an casterly direction, and it is otherwise well
watered by the numerous lakes which dot its sur- face. Of these, Howard and Smith lakes are the largest, both lying in the southern part of the town.
The first settlers in this town were August Enke and George Reinmuth, who came in April, 1856, and took claims on the north shore of Howard Lake. They erected their eabins, and soon after, brought their families to the new homes, and still reside there. J. L. King came in May of the same year, and also settled on the bank of Howard Lake, about a mile southeast of Reinmutlı. He still lives near the spot where he first settled. Henry Boam was the first settler in the northern part of the town, he having also made his elaim on seetion ten, in the spring of 1856. This is now one of the most populous towns in the county, the population, in 1880, numbering 1,174 persons.
The St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Rail- road erosses the southwest corner of the town, with a station at the little village of Smith Lake. This village began its growth soon after the rail- road passed through, and is one of the most pros- perous little towns in this part of the county.
Middleville was organized in April, 1858, and the first election held at the house of J. L. King, who then lived where the village of Howard Lake now stands, which is just aeross the south line in Vietor township. The first offieers ehosen were: Super- visors, J. L. King, Chairman, Edwin Brewster, and James Lobdell; Clerk, M. V. Cochran; Jus- tiees of the Peace, A. E. Coehran and Timothy Lowell; Assessor, George Doerfler; and Constables, C. Tanner and Abraham Freeman.
The present town of Vietor was u part of Mid- dleville prior to its organization in 1866.
The first school was held at Howard Lake, in the present town of Victor, a notice of which ap- pears in the chapter devoted to that town.
The first death was that of Miss Custis King, a daughter of J. L. King, who died on the 13th of June, 1869.
The first child born was Emma Enke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Enke, and now Mrs. Jones, of Howard Lake.
From the Agricultural Report of 1880 we glean the following as the product of the town for that year: Wheat, 36,292 bushels; oats, 10,351 bushels, eorn, 20,735 bushels; barley, 2,165 bushels; rye, 8 bushels; buckwheat, 46 bushels; potatoes, 4,580 bushels; beuns, 86 bushels; sugar-cane, 4,665 gallons; cultivated hay, 130 tons; wild hay, 1,193
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
tons; tobacco, 477 pounds; wool, 2,406 pounds; butter, 21,781 pounds; and honey, 474 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM RILEY ANDERS is a native of Fayette county, Ohio, born on the 25th of March, 1852. llo was reared to agricultural pursuits, and in August, 1879, came to Minnesota; rented a farm for one year, and in October of the following year purchased his present land. Miss Catherine Bowers, a native of Ohio, became his wife on the 8th of Jannary, 1873. They have four children; Arthur J., Charles W., America B., and an infant not yet named.
HENRY BOAM, the first settler in this town, was born in Grafton county, New Hampshire, on the 10th of November, 1810. When he was fourteen years of age his parents removed to New York, where our subject received his education and fol- lowed farming. In 1845, he moved to Huron county, Ohio, and was employed by a railroad company as station agent for a number of years. White out with Darling's surveying party in 1856, he pre-empted his present farm. During the Sioux war of 1862, Mr. Boam served for seventy days in what is known as the " Minnesota Seonts," for which he received pay. At the end of his term of service he returned to his farm at Middleville, and has since held the offices of Justice of the . . Peace, Town Clerk, Assessor, and Chairman of the board of Supervisors. Miss Amy Bibbins, a na- tive of Connectient, became his wife in 1830, and in December, 1848, died, and was buried in Hu- ron County, Ohio. She bore him eight children; two boys and one girl are still living. The maiden name of his present wife was Sarah Southard, a native of Vermont. Of five children, the result of this union, but two girls are living.
AARON E. COCHRAN, a native of Wetzel county, West Virginia, was born on the 7th of October, 1811. Ifis boyhood days were spent in Morrison county, Virginia, and on the 3d of July, 1856, he came to Minnesota, and located at Howard Lake. During the Indian outbreak of 1862, he was with a party under Captain Sturges, guarding the fron- tier. It was Mr. Cochran who found the Dustin family after their massacre. He came to the vil- lage of Smith Lake in 1876, in which he owns twenty-seven lots. Was married in 1831, to Miss Lavinia Inrtel, a native of Virginia. Of nine children, the result of this union, six are living, two boys and four girls.
JAMES Z. COCHRAN is a native of Davis county, Ohio, but when quite young, his parents removed to Wetzel county, West Virginia. In 1857, they enmo to Minnesota and located in the town of Victor, Wright county, where onr subject re- mained till culisting in the First Minnesota Mounted Rangers, Company C, under Captain IIenderson. Was with several scouting parties after the Indians, and mustered out, at Fort Snel- ling, on the 21st of October, 1863. He then came to Howard Lake and was engaged by the Government in carrying the mail, having five or six routes. After an engagement of about seven years in the latter business, he was dealing in real estate in St. Cloud, for a time. Came to his pres- ent home in the village of Smith Lake, in 1879, and has since been engaged in the real estate busi- ness. Miss Allie Denny, a native of Indiana, be- came his wife in 1875. They have three children.
ELIJAH DOBLE is a native of Somerset county, Maine, born on the 2d of April, 1828. His native State claimed him as a resident till the fall of 1856, when he came to Clearwater, Wright county, and remained twelve years. Since March, 1868, Middleville township has been his place of resi- denee. He has devoted a portion of his time to his trade (carpenter), and owns three lots and a hotel in the village of Smith Lake. Mr. Doble served in a home company during the Indian out- break. Miss Cynthia Dayton, who was born in Nova Scotia, and when quite young moved to Maine, where she grew to womanhood, became his wife in 1853. This union has been blessed with four children, three of whom are living, two boys and one girl. The danghter is married, one son is employed on the railroad, and one on a farm.
HENRY H. GRAY ( deceased) was born near Ra- leigh, North Carolina, on the 23d of April, 1828. He received his education in the city, after which he tanght school for a few years. In 1861, re- moved to Indiana and located on a farm near In- dianapolis. After a residence of several years in the latter place, he came to Middlevifte township, and purchased a farm on section fourteen. In 1853, Mr. Gray was married to Miss Susan Whieker, who was also born in North Carolina. Six children were born to them, three girls and three boys. Two sons are married, one living at home and the other on an adjoining farm; the two oldest daughters are also married and live in this county. On the 9thof August, 1881, Mr. Gruy died and was buried at the Howard Lake cemetery.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
NATHAN H. KNOWLES was born in the village of Burlington, Vermont, on the 27th of March, 1818. When our subject was but an infant his parents re- moved to Canada, where he received part of his edu- eation. Returned to the States and entered a high school, first as a scholar, then became a teacher, after which he went to Philadelphia and studied medieine a few months. Then, returning to his native State, he took a thorough course, attending lectures in Castleton College, in Castleton, and gradimted in the class of 1865. In the same year, he came west, living in Iowa until coming to Minnesota a few years ago. Has been in the practice of his profession until within the last year when he was obliged to give it up on ae- count of ill-health. Since then, has resided on a farm in Middleville township. Mr. Knowles has been married three times. His present wife was Mrs. Mary A. Dix, a native of Illinois. They have five children living at home.
JOHN L. KiNa was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia, on the 19th of June, 1821. When he was but three years of age, his parents removed to Tyler county, Virginia, where John remained until coming west. In 1856, he located n farm on section thirty-five, Middleville township, and in 1876, moved to his present home in section thirty- fonr. Mr. King was among the number to afford assistance to the Dustin family at the time of the massacre. In 1849, Miss Mary Cochran, a native of Harrison county, West Virginia, beeame his wife. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living. The oldest danghter, Victoria C., mar- ried William H. Marsh, now deceased, and lives in Montrose. His son Cyrus M., was the first white male ehild born in this town, his birth dating the 2d of Angust, 1859. He graduated from the Howard Lake high-school in the class of 1878, en- tered as sub-freshman in the class of 1880, and is preparing to attend the State University at Mine- npolis. His son Octavins B. is farming near Wil- mar, and the remainder of the family are at home.
JOSEPH C. KIMBALL is a native of Somerset county, Maine, born on the 4th of February, 1832. At the age of sixteen years, he came to Winnebago county, Wisconsin, and was engaged in the lum- ber business and farming until coming to Mine- sota in 1860. Resided in Maine Prairie, Stearns county, then in Swift county, and in 1878, came to this place, where he has since resided. His mother, now eighty-four years of age, lives with him and keeps house. Mr. Kimball served in the
war, enlisting in Company G, of the Eleventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.
M. J. MORGAN is a native of Wetzel county, West Virginia, his birth dating the 5th of Jan- uary, 1837. He was reared to agricultural pur- suits, and came to Minnesota, locating in Water- town, Wright county, in November, 1868, and eame to Middleville township in 1875. Miss Mary D. Tomlinson, a native of West Virginia, born on the 17th of March, 1843, beeame his wife in 1861. Her mother, now seventy-five years of age, resides with them.
JOHN S. PARKER was born on the 18th of Au- gust, 1836, in Warren county, Ohio. He remained in his native State until 1846, wlien he removed to Indiana, and was engaged in farming and in stock speeulation. Enlisted, in Indianapolis, in Com- pany B, of the One Hundred and forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Parker learned the carpenter's trade, at which he has worked about twenty years. Came to Minneapolis, Min- nesota, in 1866, and in March of the following year, to this place, locating a farm on section fourteen. Has been Town Supervisor a number of terms since coming here. Was married to Miss Martha O. Wieker, a native of Indian, in 1860. They have six children; four boys and two girls.
BARTON W. RICKERSON was born near Coving- ton, Kentucky, on the 8th of January, 1849. His parents eame to St. Paul, Minnesota, where our subject received his education. In 1861, they re- moved to a farm above Minneapolis, and four years later, to Middleville township, where they remained until within the past few years. The subject of this sketeh was with General Terry's expedition in Dakota, for the purpose of building forts, though they had several skirmishes with the Indians. After building forts at Devil's Lake and several other places, they returned to St. Paul and Mr. Riekerson went to Minneapolis, where he was employed in the mills for a time. He located his farm in this place in 1876, and has sinee made it his home. Was married in August, 1872, to Miss Mary Knowles, daughter of Dr. N. II. Knowles. They have three children; one boy and two girls.
EDWARD ROBERTS, a native of Ohio, was born about the year 1826. Was reared to agricultural pursuits, and also worked at the gunsmith's trade for a time. When he was fourteen years old, his parents moved to Grant county, Indiana, where
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
onr subjeet lived for about thirty years. In 1869, he removed to Miami county, Kansas, and lived until eoming to his present farm in 1875.' Mr. Roberts has been married three times; the maiden name of his present wife was Martha Ann McDon- ald, the marriage oceurring in 1867. She has borne him eight children, six of whom are living.
EPHRAIM STOUT was born in Randolph county, Indiana. His parents removed to Hamilton county when he was but five years of age. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and resided with his fa- ther until coming to Minnesota in 1865. For a time after coming to the State, he was engaged in Minneapolis at earpenter work. Purchased a farm on section four, Middleville township, on which he lived seven years, and after living in the village a time, eame to his present farm in the spring of 1876. Has been Treasurer of the town sinee his residence here. Miss T. Phenis, who was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, in 1840, became his wife in 1856. They have had five children; the oklest daughter was drowned in Crow river in Oc- tober, 1870. There are three boys and one girl living.
LEANDER WATSON was born in Virginia, on the 11th of June, 1842. He received his edueation in his native town, and resided in the State till he came to Minnesota, in October, 1865. He lived in Montrose for about a year before coming to his present farm, which is situated on section thirty. Before coming to this State, Mr. Watson served in the war, enlisting on the 4th of December, 1862, in Company B, of the West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. Was promoted to Corporal and mus- tered out on the 3d of April, 1864, at Wheeling, West Virginia. He was united in marriage with Miss Julia Ann Martin, a native of Indiana, born on the 31st of Angust, 1857. This union has been blessed with two daughters.
DANIEL A. WYMAN was born in Somerset eoun- ty, Maine, on the 16th of March, 1837. His father died when he was eleven years old, and at the age of seventeen, he went with a party to the coast of Africa, on a whaling expedition. After his return to this country, he resided in his native State, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until coming to the West in 1858. Located first in Chippewa county, Wisconsin, where he was in the lumber business. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, of the Eighteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and participated in many engagements. Was disabled for a time in consequence of a wound received by
a ball, which first struck a button on his eoat and thus lessened its force, which might otherwise have eost him his life. After a service of four years and two months, he was mustercd out at Camp Randall, Wisconsin, and was in the humber bnsi- ness till 1874. Then went to Florida, and for a few years, devoted his time to raising oranges, after which he visited the eastern States, and sub- sequently eame to this place, purchasing his pres- ent farm of N. C. Riekerson. Miss Melissa Jones became his wife in 1866. They have no children of their own, but have adopted one.
FRANKLIN.
CHAPTER CXXX.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT -- VILLAGE IIIS- TORY-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS -SOCIETIES-AGRI- CULTURAL STATISTICS -- BIOGRAPHICAL.
Franklin is the extreme southeastern town in Wright county, lying south of Roekford, and bounded east by Hennepin county, south by Car- ver eounty, and west by the towns of Marysville and Woodland.
The North Fork of Crow river forms the north- ern boundary line, while the South Fork enters from the south in section thirty-four, flows in a northerly course, varying to the east, forming the eastern boundary near the northeast corner, and uniting with the North Fork about two miles above the village of Rockford. The surface is uneven, and heavily timbered, and the soil a rich loam or clay, with elay subsoil.
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