^ CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE ■ Cornell University Library F 612B6 H89 + History of Blue Earth County and biograp 3 1924 028 912 925 olin Overs DATE DUE S£f J^A^^fiOaafl:^ jSfS f^ ^ - iflftft 1" GAYLORD PRINTED IN U.S.A. -^^ Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028912925 o^ //^-c_y A-c^ HISTORY OF Blue Earth County Bv THOMAS HUGHES LIFE MEMBER OF MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ITS LEADING CITIZENS Chicago Middle West Publishing Company Publishers h o -i/S i> 'i" T'i A f^ '? The development of the historical drama of ilinnesota discloses Blue Earth county rising with distinct individuality from its legendary past to splendid con- formity with the ideals and institutions of the Twentieth century. The unfold- ing of the potentialities of this rarely favored region has been marked by as ter- rible and vivid experiences as ever accompanied the substitution of a superior for an undeveloped race^ and few communities grown from the travail of the border have more dearly purchased the right to prosperity and peace. "Whatever concerns mankind is of interest to me/' is a slogan by no means I'cstricted to the editorial sanctum, but largely is it the impelling impulse to historical composition. Facts alone do not comprise history, any more, than bricks represent the fulfilled dream of the master arcliitect. Thus the ruling motives have been, first, the hope of attaining a high standard of historical ac- curacy, and secondly, the desire to retain, as far as possible, vital human interest. It is realized that impartiality and catholicity of spirit are of paramount im- portance, and that freedom from prejudice is the best preventative against a reversal by posterity of the Judgment of our time. These precautions, rigidly ob- served, assured the utterances of Diodorus, the first Eoman historian, permanent authority and remembrance. Men of action, character, and profound purpose have carved the contour of this narrative. What our eyes behold is a dramatization of their characters, their souls flung forth in form and color. Of those whose courage and sacrifice awoke tlie dormant wilderness, whose crude interests comprise the cabin age, whose plows broke the primeval soil, whose firearms disturbed the awful silences, — we speak with reverance and gratitude. If we have aught of prejudice or favor, it reaches to the rugged sons of toil whose unerring, prophetic vision led them to the unhindered distances of Blue Earth county. Interestedly, and with due appreciation of the suffering, which he both en- dured and inflicted, of the inevitable appeal to all that was baneful and venge- PREFACE ful in his nature when driven from lands occupied for centuries by his dusky sires, we toucli in memory the blanket garb of the fast disappe.uing Eedman, we vizualize his wig"wam, his dances, his trails and traditions, and share with you the whimsically pathetic legends of a picturesque and nature worshipping people, dethroned from supremacy by the sweep of progress, and left in out of the way ]")laces to moralize upon the mournful fate of nomadic, non-agricultural and non-productive peoples. The story of tlie rise and fall of nations as ol localities teaches that human nature everywhere at foundation is much the same; that no race, no nation, no individual even is ideally good or totally bad; that the Past always has been a Golden Age to the pessimist, the Future always Utopian for the dreamer, and that broad optimism regarding the Present — a belief that on the whole conditions are about as good as the time pennits — is unquestionably tl.e safest philosophy. i\ssurance seems justified that the lessons of this history will be felt by its readers, and we greatly mistake tlie purpose of our story if it does not make for broader views, greater tolerance, truer humanitarianisiti, higher ethics, — personal and communal, — and for better citizenship in the broadest meaning of that term. Said Scliiller. the great Teuton, out of the fulnesse of profounder knowledge and larger experience than falls to the lot of average human kind — "Had I be- gun earlier and spent thirty 3'ears in studying history, I should be a far different find much better man than I now am." CONTENTS CHAPTEE I. Blue Earth County — Aboriginal Days 1 CHAPTEE II. Indian Lenfends of Blue Earth County ^ CMAPTEE III. French Exploi-cis — !.<> Siiciir and His Copper Di=coverv — Indian War> . . . l"i CHAPTEE lY. Explorations ot Carver, Long, Featliei-stnnhaugh and (itliers — First Stinni- bcat Excursions on tlic Minnesota '^'j ( HAPTEE Y. First Settlement in Blue Earth County .>•! CHAPTEE YI. Events in Mankato in the Suuiiin'r of 18.")'2 39 CHAPTEE YII. Blue Earth County Created— Its Prior Political History 43 CHAPTEE YIII. Loss of Territory — \\'innrliago Eesorvatinn — Events of IS-").") 50 CHAPTEE IX. Tlie Jfapleton and Welsh Cnlnnii's — and Other .Seltlements of l.S-")r; (i!i CHAPTEE X. The Inkpadutah ]\Iassacre of 1857 81 CHAPTEE XL Events of 1858 — Tlio Five Million Loan Bill — Division of County into Town- ships 95 CHAPTEE XII. Events of 18G0 and 1861— Beginning of the Civil War and First Enlistments. 103 CONTENTS CHAPTER XIII. The Great Sioux Massacre of 1802 — The Mankato and South Bend Com- panies at New Ulm Ill CHAPTBE XIV. "Mankato Home Guards" — Surrender and Trial of the Indians — The Hang- ing at Mankato 125 CHAPTEE XV. Legislative Aid for Settlers— Events of 18G3 and 1864 137 CHAPTEE XVI. Closing Events of 1864 — Murder of the Jewett Family 147 CHAPTEE XVII. Events in Blue Earth C'nunty After 186-') Peace Eeigns, Wheels of Progress put in Motion — First Eailway 159 CHAPTEE XVIII. Events of Early Seventies — "Winona and Wells Eailways Eeach Mankato .... 1C9 CHAPTEE XIX. TJie Grasshoppers— Events of 1876-7— The Winter of 1881-2 and the Big Flood 183 CHAPTEE XX. History of Minnesota A^alley — Events of 1884-G — Building of the Court House ; 193 CHAPTEE XXL Cannon Valley Eailway — The Alliance Movement — Government Building at Mankato 205 CHAPTBE XXII. Events of 1893 to 1898— Chinch Bugs and Drouth— The Spanish War 211 CHAPTBE XXIII. Mankato's Golden Jubilee — Eecent Events — The Conclusion 219 CHAPTEE XXIV. TOWNSHIP HISTOEIES— Beauf brd Township 234 Butternut Valley Township 226 Cambria Township 328 Cereeco Township 233 Danville Township 235 CONTENTS Decoria Township 240 Garden City Township 347 Jamestown Township -43 Judson Township 353 Le Eay Township 355 Lime Township 359 Lincoln Township 260 Lyra Township 201 Mankato Township 265 Mapleton Township 371 McPherson Township 374 Medo Township '. . . . :277 Pleasant Mound Township 279 Rapidan Township 281 Shelby Township 284 South Bend Township 291 Sterling Township 294 Vernon Center Township 398 Legislative Members 302 District Judges 303 County Oaicers 303 Population of Blue Earth C'nunty for Ten Census Years 306 Public Charity 306 Bridges of Blue Earth County 307 School Statistics 308 Biographies 311 IN DEX ALLIANCE (Farmers)— 190, 191, 106, 207. AMBER CANE— 98, 148, 187. AMBOY— Founding of, 187, 287— First Newspaper, 195, 289— School House, 19.5, 212, 290— Farmers Co-operative \^'areliouse, 190 — rre>byterian Church, 212, 2SS — ifethodist Church, 216, 288 — German ."\Iethodist and Evangelical Churches, 289 — Depot and Mill Burned, 212— New Mill of Peterson & Fuller, 212, 290— Hail Insurance Co., 213— Banks, 216, 290— Amboy Herald, 217, 289— Water Works, 218, 290— Other Events, 193, 196, 206. APPLES— 98, 108, 215. ATTORNEYS, County— 48, 99, 100. List of 305. AUDITORS, COUNTY— List of 304. BABCOCK MILL PRECINCT— 48. BANDS— 186, 196, 205, 208. BANTfS- 165, 174, 196, 220, 222. BEAUFORD— Called "Winneshiek" 97, 224— Organized and Named, 160, 224— Postoflfices in, 165, 193, 224, 225— History of, 224, 226. BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION— 174. BELLEVIEW POSTOFFICE— 178. BENCH AND BAR— 95, 102, 105, 171. BENNETT AND BURGESS FAMILIES— 78. BOARD OF TRADE— 165. BONDS— 97. BOOKS— By Blue Earth County Authors— 212, 217, 221. BLUE EARTH COUNTY— Created and Prior History and Limits, 4.3— Organization and First Officers, 48 — Boundaries Curtailed, ."in —First County Offices, 60 — Various Settle- ments of in ],S55 05 — Receivers Lime and Jamestown, 77 — I'irst County Building, 95 — Liquor Licenses First Granted, O."!- Divided into Towns, 96 — First Issue of Bonds, 97 — First Board of County Supervisors, 98 — Early Assessed Valuation, 99 — Villages of in 1859, 101 — County Commissioners Af;ain, 10.3 — Question of Removing County Scat, 100— Productions, 142, 1(14, 167, 178, ISO— As Seen in 1867, 162— Court House and Jail, 1C3— Poor Farm Bought, 164— Bridge over Blue Eartli at Mankato, 169— First Becomes Solvent. 172 — ^The Nationalities of, 170— Eiirthquake, 186 — Map of, 188 — Briek House on Poor Farm, 193 — New Court House, 197 — New Jail, 212 — Territorial Society, 214 — Drj' Years, 217. BLUE EARTH CLAIM ASSOCIATION— 36. BLUE EARTH RIVER— Location and Name, 2. BRIDGES— 66, 90, 169, 220. 307. BUILDINGS, COI'NTY— 77, 163, 197. BUILDING ASSOCIATION— 190, BURNS CLUC-Orpnnized— Meetings of, 173, 185, 206. 211, 212. BUTTERNUT VALLEY— Precinct of, 79. 230— Organized and Named, 96, 162, 230— Cambria severed from, 163— Postoffice, 212, 231— History of, 226-228. CAMBRIA (Creek)— 3. CAMBRIA (Town)— First Settlers, 62— Horeb Church, 74— Mill, 92— Indian Raids into, 119— Organized and Named, 163— Station, 216— History of, 228, 233. INDEX CANDY FACTORY— :>11, 213, 215, 210. CARVER, JUXATHAX— 2o. LATEURILLAES— 185, 200. CEMENT, STANDARD— 104, 217, 221, 203. CEXSUS— 104, 213, 306. CERESCO— Precinct of, 91— Organized and Named, Olj, 104, 233— Storm in, 189— Postoffice,- 205, 234— Cliee-e Factory, 218— History of, 233, 235. CHARITY. PUBLIC— 30(i. (HINfH BCi;'^— 200, 212, 215. CI-HJRCITES, (Mankato)— 52. 62, 63, 161, 164, 173, 190, 105, 214, 217, 220-2— Danville, 196— (Smith's Mill), 212— (Aniboy), 210— (Lake Crystal), 212, 21(i— (Mapleton), 219— See, aKi), Town Histories. Cn'IL UAR— Ft. Ridgely Troops, 100— First Enlistments, 106, 107, 108— Aid Society, 100— Recruits of '02, 109— Ordered Sonlh, 142— Last Recruits, 145, 148— Quota of Each Town, 15!) — Rosters of Soldiers (see Township Histories). CLIFTdN HO.USJi:- 104. COBB, BIG— 3. COBB, LITTLE— 3. COLORADO BEETLE— 105. COJL\IERCIAi> SCHOOLS— 200, 208, 221. COilJJlSSlONEltS, COVNTY- First, 48, 51, 103— List of, 303. CORONERS— List of, 305. COCRT— 48, !I5, 102, 107, 180, 206, 208, 214. COURT, DISTRICT— List of Judges, 303— List of Clerks, 304. COURT HOUSE (County)— 107— (U. S.), 209. CRYSTAL LAKi:- 50, 98. CRYSTAL LAKE CITV— 91, 138. DAIRY— 174. 1,00. 1114, 195— Creameries, 193, 207, 208, 215, 216. DANVILLE— First Settlers, 75— Called Jackson, 96— Changed to Danville, 98— Churches in, 106— Cieamery and Store, 214— History of, 235-240— Haunted Wind Mill, 230. DECORIA— Named, 07. 2-!0— Organized, 164— Postoffice, 105— Hall, 211— History of, 240-243. DIPHTHERIA AND SMALL POX— 186. UOTY, GOV. JAMES D.— 30. DRAIN TILE— 104. EAGLE LAICE (Village)— 172, 173, 178, 181, 180. EAGLE LAKE (Lake)^ 207, 208, 214, 217, 250, 257-25S. EARTHQUAKE— 186. ELECTION- 48, 58, 67, 76, 92, 102, 141. ELECTRIC LIGHT— 205, 100, 100, 174, 180, 212. EUR]':KA— 50. EVANS, D. C. AND LYMAN MATTHEWS— 40, 50. lA'ICTION, FLRST— 41, FAIR, COUNTY— 101, 105, 160— Blue Earth Valley, 189, 195— Southern Minnesota, 206, 221— Street Fairs, 216— Other, 196. FARMERS INSniANCE COMPANIES— 190, 200, 214. FARilERa INSTITUTES— 195, 107, 207. FARM ilACHINERY— 178. FEATHERSTONHAUGH'S EXPEDITION— 28. FIVE JIILLION LOAN BILL— 95, 186. FIRE COMPANA'— 104, 210. FIRE, PRAIRIE— 66, 188— Incendiary— 214, 215. INDEX FLOODS— 108, 160, 178, 183, 190. FORT KIDGELY— 45. FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS— 100, 104, 109, 141, 171, 180, 185, 195, 205, 208. FREMONT TOWNSITE— 75. FREMONT, GENERAL J. C— Explores Coujity, 30, FRENCH TRADERS— 27. FURS— 103, 107. (lAliDEN CITY (Town)— First Settlers, 55, 65, 247— Called Watonwan, 60, m', 143, 246— History of, 246-250. GARDEN CITY (Village)— St.irted and Called Fremont, 75, 247— lirowth of, 76, 91, 99, 101, 101, 162, 180, 190, 214, 215, 217— Incorporated, 218— Sec History Garden City, 247-249. GERMANS- Accident to First Comers, 37— Colony From :\Io.. .'>()— Early Settlers, 40, 62, 78, 179, 225, 233, 238, 242, 259, 280, 283. (iERilAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY— 190. GERMAN CATHOLIC CHI'UCII- History of, 217. (aXSENG- 107. GOOD THUNDER- 172, ISO, 208, 211, 212, 2lS, 221. 203-26.J. GRAHAM AND LAIDLOWS EXPEDITION— 20. GRANGE— (See Patrons of Husbandry.) GRASSHOPPERS— 92, 148, 160, 178, 180. HARMONIA— 175. HAUNTED VALLEY— 7. HAINTED \VINDMnj:.— 239. BILTON— 162, 196, 275. HISTORY OF MINTSTESOTA VALLEY— 193. HOG CHOLERA-187. HONK HONKA— Stoi-y of, 274. HOP CULTURE— 163, 172. HOSPITALS— 206, 214, 210, 221. INDIANS — Habits and Customs, 5, 104 — Legends of, 7 — Skeletons of, 17 — Sioux Reserva- tion, 45— First Troubles \\"ith, 35, 36, 41, 51, 55— A\'innebagoe>, .19, 63, 04, 69, 142, 241, 244 — (See "Inkpadutah Massacre" and "Sioux iNIas^acre") — Rcdigious Awakening of, 135 — Ordination of Joseph Renville, 154. INKPADUTAH JIASSACRE— Causes, 81— ilurders at Okoboji and Spirit Lak.', 82— Jackson, 83— Mankato Company, 84^0ther Incidents, 85-89, 101, 104. INSURANCE COMPANY, FARMERS— 190. IRISH— 179, 245. JACKSON, HENRY— 33. JACKSON (LAIiE)— 217, 294. JAMES AND YOUNGER BROTHERS— 185. JAJIESTOWN- Loss of, 59— Regained, 70— First Settlers, 79, 244— Howes Mill, 92— Created and Named, 96, 243— Volkville, 188— Indian Murder, 244^History of, 243-24C, JE\"\'ETT, A. J.— Murder of, by Indians, 149. JOHNSON, P. K.— 33. JUDSON— First Settlers of, 56, 61, 253— First Church in 68— Old Village of, 77, 91, 98, 162, 253— Organized, 96— Fort at, 140— Station of, 216, 255— Bridge, 220— History of, 253-255. KASOTA— 45. LABOR UNIONS— 196. LAKE CRYSTAL— Founded, 169, 250— Newspapers of, 193, 206— School House, 193, 205, 219-MilIs, 194, 206, 212, 218— Fire at, 20.5— Other Events, 194, 206, 212, 216, 218, 219, INDEX 220, 221— History of, 250-252. 1.ANDS— Preemption, 53— Survey of, 57— Payment Forced, 105— Homestead Act, 109, 169— Winnebago Lands, 140, 159, 163. I.EECH, SAMUEL— 37. LEGENDS— Haunted Valley, 7— Devoted Father, 9— Dirge of Maiden, 11— No Soul, 11. LEGISLATURE— List of Members, 302. LE HTLLIER— Fort of, 16— Townsite of, 90, 101, 293. LE RAY — First Settlers, 78, 250 — Organized and Named, 103, 255 — South Tier of Sections Added, 143— History of, 255-258. LE SUEUR, PIERRE OtlAS.- Discovers Copper on Blue Earth, 15— Ft. LeHuillier, 16— Journal of, 20. LE SUEUR (River)— 3— Gold Found on, 208. LlBRAl^r, PUBLIC— 212, 217. LIME— Loss of, 59— Regained, 70— Named, 96— Organized, 97— History of, 223, 259. LINCOLN— First Settlers, 65, 260— Part of Cereseo, 91— Named, 96, 97, 260— Made a Sep- arate Town and Renamed, 160— Iceland, 164— History of, 260-261. LITERARY AND MUSICAL SOCIETY— 58, 68, 178, 181, 186, 195, 247, 287. LITTLE COTTONWOOD RIVER— 3. LIQUOR AND INDIANS— 41, 68. LIQUOR LICENSE— 95, 213. LONG, STEPHEN H.— Expedition of, 27. LOON (Lake)— 147— P. 0., 164. LOWELL, NEW— 160. LURA (Lake)— 294. LYNCHING— Of John Campbell, 151— Of Campbell and Liscom, 161. LYRA— First Settlers, 57, 161, 261, 262— Called Tecumseh, 97, 262— Organized and Re- named, 160, 262— Other Events in, 162, 217, 221— History of, 261-265. MACK, C. C— Murder of by Indians, 144. MePHERSON— First Settlers, 57, 274^CaUed Rice Lake, 67, 97, 274, Organized and Called McClellan, 141, 275— Name Changed, 148— History of, 274-277 (See "Winnebago Agency" and "St. Clair.") MADISON, (Lake)— 243, 193. MADISON LAICE (Village)— 195, 196, 207, 208, 211, 212, 213, 214, 218, 245, 246. MAIL— (Routes), 51, 57, 70, 79, 80, 90, 99, 105, 109, 160, 170— Free Delivery in Mankato,205 —Rural Free Delivery, 217, 218, 220, 221. MANKATO (City)— Founding of, 33— Name, 36, 2— Early Events of, 37, 38, 39, 44, 45, 46, 47, 51, 49, 54, 58, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 77, 90— First Newspaper in, 90— First Attempt at Village Incorporation, 95, 97 — Early Lawyers of, 95 — Village Charter, 265 — City Charter, 164, 265— Other Early Events, 96, 99, 111, 143, 161, 159, 160, 162, . 165, 166, 171, 127, 173, 174, 178, 179, 180, 186- City Hall and Hubbard Mill, 186— Bridge, 188— Municipal Court, 191 — Cement Works, 194 — Wholesale Grocery, 195 — Street Railway, 196, 213— Daily Paper, 205, 211— Free Delivery, 205— Saulpaugh, 206— Public Library, 212, 217— Other Events of the Eighties and. Nineties, 190, 191, J94, 195, 196, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219— Golden Jubilee, 219— Later Events, 220, 221, 222— Lists of Mayors, Postmasters, School Buildings, School Superintend- ents and Normal School Presidents, 265— History of, 265-271. MANIiATO CITY— 44, 45. . jMANKATO (Township)— Election Precinct, 48— Organized, 90, 143. MANKATO HOUSE— 41, 03, 190, 207. MAP OF COUNTY— 188. MAPLETON (Township)— 73, 75, 103— History of, 271-274. INDEX MAPLETON (Old Townsite)— 73, 92, 138, lie', 223, 271. jUAPLETON (JJLONY— 70, 71. JIAPLETON (Village)— Founded, 172, 272— Incorporated, 180— The Enterprise, 195, 206— Waterworks, 200— Fire, 213— Hill, 219— Other Events, 181, 188, 193, 194, 197, 214, 220— History of, 272 and 273. MARRIAGES, FHIST IN COUNTY— 40. MEDICAL SOCIETY— Organized, 148. ilEDO— Named, 97, 141, 277— First Settlers and Organization, 141, 277— Little Cobb P. 0., 181— iiedo P. 0., 278— Murder of Mrs. Gilbert, 185, 278— Hanson's Store, 190— Pemberton, 223, 279— History of, 277-279. MENDOTA AND BIG SIOUX JIILITARY ROAD— 47, 62, "66. MIDDLETOWN— 295, 224. MILITIA — Mankato and Garden City Companies, 99, 174 — At Winnebago Agency, 101 — (See, also, "Sioux Massacre"), 137— Co. F., 193, 212— B.md, 196, 205— Co. H, 215, 218, 220 — Ro'-ters of Citizen Soldiers in Sioux ilassarre. 113, 123, 123, 137. MILLS — Van Brunt, 54 — Lyons, 54, 291 — Evans and Price, 68— Hoxie & Conklin, 70 — Garden City, 70— Lay and Seward & Co., 90— Butterfield, 91— A'ernon, 92, 159— Shel- byville, 92— Howes, 92, 244— D. P. Da\is, 92— Middlebiook Bi-os., 142 -Bierbauer & Eockey, 142— Eapidan, 147, 211, 210— Hilton, 147— Capwell & Co.. l.iO- On Cobb, 159— Burgess, 169— Red Jacket, 100, 190— llegele & Henline, 160— Woolen, 164— Folsoni, 164 — Woodham & Burgess, 173 — Spickernian, 295— Doty, 295 — Champion, 286 — Wool- land jMill, 280— Linseed Oil, 17-1, 208— S;iw .Mills in the Seventies, 181— Boegen, 185— White Star, 185- Roller Process, 189— Jlapleton, ISO -Cable, 189, 217, 219- Lake Crystal, 194, 206, 212— Amboy, 212. BULLING INDUSTRY— 189. MINNEOPA— Name, 4— First Settlers on Creek, 03— Townsite, 172— Well, 206, 293— Park, 221, 293. .MINNESOTA RIVER— Name and Origin, 1— First Steamboats, 31, 37— Name Changed, 39— Bridges on, 188, 220. :\IODERN \\'OODMEN— 213, 216. ilONTEVIDEO— 92, 299. MORELAND'S CLAIM— 69. MORSE illNERAL SPRING- 206, 258. NEWSPAPERS- Independent, 90, 100, 104, 134, 141— Union, 141, l-'iO, 180, ISO, 188— Free Press, 188, 190, 142, 193— Dail>- Free Press, 205, 218— Record, 100, 104, 106, 188— Re- view, 170— Daily Review, 211, 217— Garden City Ilerahl, 164— People's Journal, 170— Beobachter, 178 — Golden Prize, 181 — Eagle Lake Independent, 186 — ^lapleton Mes- senger, 188 — Censor, 189 — Winnebago Agency ^Tcssenger, 190— flarden City Messenger, 190— lake Crystal Union, 19.3— Public Spirit, ISS, 194-Ainboy Ne^-s, 195— Enterprise, 195— Third District Messenger, 195— Register, 195, 196— Post, 190, 210, 221— :\nvror, 200— Mankato Herald, 206— ilinnesota Horseman, 207— Good Thunder Herald, 208— Amboy Herakl, 208, 217— Journal, 208— Breeze, 208, 213— Morning News. 213~:iIirror, 213— Star, 214— Vernon Center News, 214— Eagle Lake News, 214, 217— Progress, 217— Bulletin, 217— Madison Lake Tribune, 220, 446. NEW ULM— 67. NICOLLET, JEAN N.— Explorations of, 28— Description of Blue Earth, 29. NORMAL SCHOOL— 101, 165, 178, 211, 212, 216, 222. NORWEGIANS— 179, 186, 227, 242, 261, 278, 283, 297. OLD SETTLER SOCIETIES— 165, 171. 205, 212, 214, 216, 218. OWEN, DR. D. D.— Survey of 30. PACKING HOUSE— 209. INDEX PARKS— 205, 221. PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS~142, 181, 195, 218, 220. PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY— 177, 180, 185. PEilBERTON— 222. PENICAUT'S NARRATIVE— 18. PERCH CREEK— 3. PIONEERS— Trials of, 64. PLEASANT MOUNIJ— Name, 279— Attached to Shelby, 79— Fiist Settlers, 279— Called Otsego and Willow Creek, 90, 279— Organized, 100, 280— Storm, ISS— Fair, 188— P. 0. in, 279, 281— Other Events, 20(1— History of, 279-281. POINT PLEASANT— 193. 1-OLITICAL CA?ilPAIGNS— IS, 70, 92, 99, 102, lOi;. 105, 148, 160, 104, 169, 174, 188, 195, 190, 197, 207, 211, 212, 213. POOR FARM— 1(>4, 193— Ovei-ecrs of, 305. POPULIST PARTY— 213. POST OFFICES— 50, 1C5, 1G9, 172. 178, ISl, 185, 193, 196— List of, 164, 205. POWELL, B-EX. J. W.— 70. PROBATE JUDGES— List of, 304. RAILROADS— St. Paul and Sioux City. 91, 143, LV), 105, 106, l(i9, 213— Winona and St. Peter, 109, 172— Mankato & Wells, 169, 177, 180, 189— Blue Earth Branch, 177, 187, 287— Mankato, Austin & St. Cloud, 193— Cannon Valley, 193, 195, 205, 216, 218— ilil- wankee Extension, 220 — Alphabet, 221. RAPIDAN— First Settlers, 57, 00, 281— Moreland's Water Power. 09— Named De Soto, 97— Townsite and Name, 147- Name Changed, 148, 282— Postoffice, 169, 183, 208— Olson Store, 190— Mill, 195, 207, 208, 211, 216— Other Events, 102, 212, 215, 217, 218— History of, 281-284. REGISTER OF DEEDS— List of, 304. REFEREE IN BANKRUPTCY— 216. RICE LAKE— Precinct of, 60, 57, 60, 274. ROADS— To the East, 39, 40— Reno's, 47, 02, 60, 101— Improvements, 101. ROOT, NOBLE G.— Murder of by Indians, 143. liURAL FREE DELIVERY- 217, 218. 220, 221. SAULPAUGH HOTEL— 200. S(;H001.S, PUBLIC— 47, 49, 53, 00, 07, 08, 77, 90, 99, 103, 104, 147, 149, 161, 16.3, 106, 173, 175. 180, 190, 2flS, 209, 212, 215, 308. SER:\I( )N. FIRST— 40. SHELBY— First Settlers. 01, 70. 28-1 — Precinct, 74— Organized and Named Liberty, 96, 97— Named Shelby, 98, 283— Other Events, 188, 189— History of, 284 to 291. SHELBY CENTER— 280. SHELBYVILLE— 70, 92, 102, 285. SHERIFFS— List of, 304. SINTOMNIDUTAH- 51, 81, 87, 88. SIOUX MASSACRE 1862— Beginning of, 111— Relief of New Ulm, 112, 113— Battle of New Ulm, 114 — Situation in Blue Earth County, 114, 115, 116 — New Ulm Refugees, 117, 118 — ;\Irs, Hanington and Lake Shclec Refugees, 118 — Soldiers, 118 — Raids into Cambria, 119 — "Butternut Valley Guards," 123 — "Frontier Rangers" and "Mankato Home Guards," 12.5 — Wood Lake, Camp Release, Conviction of Indians, 126 — Execution, 127 to 130 — Religious Revival. 13.5 — Departure of Sioux, Legislative Relief, Militia Act, Roster of Companies, 137 — "Knights of the Forest" and Removal of Winnebagoes, 138 — Military Expeditions and Indian Raids, 140 — Damage Claims, 141 — Murder of Mack and Root, 143 — ^linute Men, 145 — Murder of Jewett, 149 — Lynching of Camp- INDEX bell, 151 — rursuit of Other Murderers and Their FaCe, ).34, 158 — Sialp Bounty and Bloodhounds, 157, SOU — Military Defense, 158 — Sentences of Condemned Indians Re- mitted, 161. SLEEPY EYE— 35. SMITH'S iflLL— 160, 104, 212, 258. SOLDIERS AID SOCIETY— 100. SOUTHERN' .MINNESOTA UNTIVEKSIT'i"— 90. SOUTH BEND (Village)— Founding of, 40— Event, in, 54, 01, 03, 07, 08, 80, 00, 91, O.i, 101. 104, 214, 215, 217, 201. SOUTH BiCND (Township)— Precinct, 57— First Settlers, 60— Fir..^t Events in, 58, 201, 202— Zion Church, 91— ilade a Town and Boundary, 0(>, 143— Other Events, 100- Hi-^tory of, 291 to 20-1 (See, also, "Minneopa.") SPANISH WAR— 215, STAGE LINES— 57, 90, 105, 109, 100, 170, STEAMBOATS— 31, 37, 38, 39, 40, 45, 47, 49, 53, 54, 79, 90, 97, 100, 103, 108, 109, 141, 143, 148, 101, 103, 170, 172, 173, 190, 214. STERLINTI— First Settlers, 66, 294— Prairie Fire, 66— Called Mapleton, 90— Called Sterl- ing, 103 — Anniversary Xorwegian Church, 208, 219, 207 — Congi-egational Church, 193, 296— History of, 294 to 298, also 195, 223, 224, STERLING CENTER— 211, 223, 224, 295. ST. CI.AIR— Named, 196— Paper, 2)4— Bank, 221— Incorporated, 222, STORMS— Wind and Hail, 173, 188, 214, 279 -Shoh and Blizzard, 50, 174, KiO, 180, STREET RAILWAY— 196, 213. SUMNER, CAPTAIN E. B.— 30. SUNDAY SCHOOLS— 46, 147, 180, 187, 215. SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS— List of, 305. SliRVEY, GOVERNMENT— 57. SURVEYORS, COUNTY— List of, 305, SWEDISH SETTLERS— 56, 179, 201, TCTI ANK ASK A ( Creek ) — 4 5 , TEACTIERS, INSTITUTE— 147, 149, TELEGRAPH— 166, TELEPHONE— 189, 194, 213, 214, 215, 21(j, 218, 220, 221, TEMPERANCE— 186, 189, 190, THOJISON, REV, JAS.— 52, 53. TIVOLI— 78, 97. TOWNS— Created and Named, 90, 98, TREASITRKRS, COUNTY— 304, TREATY OF TRAVERSE DES SIOUX— 32, 43, TURNER ASSOCIATION— 96, 171. UNDINE REGION— 1, 29, 36. VALUATION, ASSESSED— 68, 77, 99, 142, 178, 180, VAN BRITNT'S ADDITION TO 5IANKAT0— 40, VERNON— 00, 91, 92, 162, 195, 299, VERNON CENTER- Named, 96, 98, 300— First Settlers, 00, 298— :\lynia P, 0,, 178— Edge- wood, 187, 195— Newspaper, 214— Other Events, 216— History of, 298 to 302. \\'ARR1';N'S addition to :MANKAT0— 46, 104. ^VASHINGTON (Lake)— 243, 211. WAT0N\^'AN (River and Town)— 3, 05. 00, 70, 91, 138, 143, 162, 246, 249. \\'ELLS— 180, 206, 207, 293. WELSH— 61, 63, 65, 73, 74, 181, 211, 212, 214, 221, 227, 229, 254. INDEX WHEAT RAISING— 167. WILLOW CREEK—S, 98. WINDMILLS— South Bend, 160, 291— Shostag, 239. WLNNEBAGO (Indians)— 59, 60, 97, 99, 100, 105, 106, 116, 138, 139, 142, 241. WINNEBAGO AGENCY— 60, 62, 101, 162, 190, 196, 274, 276. WINNEBAGO RESERVATION- 59, 105, 140. WINTER- Cold, 68, 70, 105, 108, 160, 163, 170, 174, 183, 190, 214^MiId, 34, 50, 95, 99, 103, 141, 143, 148, 172, 186, 215. WISE, JOHN C— 100, 217. WITA (Lake)— 259. WOOD INDUSTRY— 179, 207. WOODLAND SEMENARY— 147. Y. il. C. A.— 221. E RETT A The letter "n" after the page numbers below is used to designate the first column and the letter "b" the second column of each page. We have noted quite a number of minor errors, but where the error does not interfere with the meaning we shall not attempt here to make corrections. Piige 25 For first head line read "Explorations of Carverj Featherstonhaugh and Others" and in second head line instead of "Mississippi" read "Minnesota." Instead of "Mrs. J. LuUsdorf," read "Jlr,-,. G. Lulsdorff." Instead of "Western" read "Westerner." Instead of "was left" read "was let." Instead of "1885" in head line of Chap. VIII read "1855." Instead of "Blossbury" read "Blossburg." (Third line from bottom) add after "Shelby," "Vernon, Ceresco." Instead of "Berlin house" read "Berlin home." Instead of "hospital" read "hospitable." Instead of "Watonwan County" read "Watonwan CDUutry." Taj'lor's store started about 18(10 and Middlebrook mill in 1857 Third line from bottom, instead of "out" read "our." Head "The Indians on the bluff watching." Read "or political preferments" instead of "of." (16 lines from bottom) instead of "best" read "last." Add to roster of soldiers "William Morgan, Co. F, Heavy Art." Insert in list of postmasters name of "Ray J. Straw," who served about a, year — ending June, 1905. Add to roster of soldiers : Henry . Borgmeier, Co. B, Mt. Rgs. and Nathan Howland, Co. H, 4th Inf.; transfer names of Henry Robertson to the Jamestown roster and James Gilfillan to Le Ray. Instead of "Winneshiek" read "Tecumseh." Instead of "Geo. Doty" read "Hiram B. Doty." Instead of "1886" read "1866." Instead of "Vincent ^Vessels" read "Albert A. Wessells." Instead of ".school house in section 7," read "school house in section 18." and 295 b. Instead of "Independence" read "Providence" or "Jackson Lake" Creek. Rage 41 lu rage 44 b. Rage 51 a. rage .59. Piige 61 a. Rage 74 b. Rage 75 b. Rage 84 a. Page S7 a. Page 9-2 a. Page 108 b. Page 121 a. Page 141 b. Pa ge 158 b. Page 232 b. Page 254 a. Page 259 b. Page 202 a. Page 2(i;j a. Page 271 b. Page 271 b. Page 271 b. Pages 1 204 b, BLUE EARTH COUNTY COURTHOUSE. CHAPTER I. BLUE EAETH COUNTY— ABORIGHSFAL DAYS. Conspicuous upon the map of the Northwest is the great bend of the ilinnesota, and the fact that the Blue Earth river here empties its waters gives further prominence to the spot. Indeed, a map of this territory fifty years ago had but little delineated upon it, save rivers and lakes, and, as water then afforded the principal means of transportation and furnished the chief mo- tive power for manufacture, it is no wonder the homeseeker of the period should have been at- tracted to so favorable a locality. At this remarkable bend, in the very heart of Southern Minnesota lies the County of Blue Earth. Its name is derived from the noble stream which flows through its center, and which, with its many tributaries spreads like a branching tree covering the whole county with a net work of rivers and creeks, so that Nicollet, the French scholar and explorer, designated it the "Undine Eegion." No county in the State has as many rivers as Blue Earth. With two exceptions only, each of its twenty-three townships has one or more rivers or good sized creeks within its borders. These streams comprise the Minnesota, Blue Earth, Watonwan, Le Sueur, Maple, Big C()bb, Little Cobb and Little Cottonwood, together with Min- neopa, Cambria, Perch and Willow Creeks, and a great number of smaller brooks. Each of these water courses, as it meanders in its deep cut valley far out across the prairies, bears along its bluffs long strips of fine timber, which afforded the settlers in the early days abundant building material, fencing and fuel. On the edges of these timber belts the log cabins of the pioneers found shelter from the wintry blasts. All these rivers, especially the Blue Bartli, Watonwan and the Le Sueur, were also well adapted for the development of water powers, and their banks were lined during the first two or three decades after the advent of the white man with sawmills and grist mills. These num- erous water channels, also, drain the land, di- versify the soil, and give the country a most pic- turesque appearance, thus ministering to both the physical and esthetic needs of man. The Minnesota is the largest stream in the county and for over eighteen miles forms its northern boundary and for five miles further its western boundary after the river's abrupt northern bend at Mankato. It is one of the most ancient rivers of the state and traces of it? primeval bed, cut deep in the stratified rocks of "The ages before man" are pointed out by geolog-ists at Mankato and elsewhere. Then ctime the glacier period and buried this portion of our state — river and all — under from one- hundred to one-hundred and fifty feet of silt. When the lofty mouutains of ice had retreated cur river began excavating through the debris in quest of its ancient bed. A great inland sea covering the Eed Eiver Valley and extending far into Canada, known to geologists as "Lake Ag- aisiz" became its source. A majestic stream it must have been in those days of old, as it swept on its course half a mile or more in width. Y^^^at we now call the "second iench" was then its ordinary bed. The bluffs of the Minnesota and the Mississippi at their union near St. Paul match, forming one continuous valley of like dimensions, while the channel of the Mississippi above, is wholly dissimilar and insignificant by comparison, showing that the main river once flowed by way of the Minnesota. In time Lake Agassiz broke through its northern barrier and was drained into Hudson ha}', and the new river then formed, we call today, "The Eed Eiver of the North." Thus deprived of its main source, the Minnesota, as well as that portion of the Mississippi, which formed its continuation as one great river, soon shrank to a fraction of its former size and grandeur, and we have our mod- ern riparian system. "Minnesota," is the Sioux or Dakota name HISTOEY OF BLUE EAKTPI COUNTY. of the river, given it centuries ago by the warlike aborigines, who lived, hunted and fought along its banks. It is a compound word — "Minne" meaning "water" and "sota," gen- erally translated "sky tinted.'' Scholars dif- fer as to the real meaning of "sota." Eev. S. E. Eiggs, the great Sioux missionary and author of the "Dakota Dictionary" and the explorer Peath- crstonhaugh say the w^ord means "clear" and cite the word "Kasota" as proof, which they say means "Clearing-" or "to clear off" as where land is cleared of timber or brush. The French explorer J. W. jSTicollet, a very careful scholar gives 'loleared" as a more literal moaning and as his authority states that the I'rench voyagers, who were as familiar with the Dakota tongue as the Indians themselves, so rendered it, and that the Sioux word for 'T)leared eye" was "Ishta-sota." Schoolcraft claims that the word means '"bluish gray;" others declare it to mean "whitish, cloudy or turbid." Eev. G. H. Pond, a noted Sioux missionary and an ex- cellent authority on the Sioux language, main- tains that the word is best rendered, "sky tinted" and that it refers to that peculiar whitish tint of our Minnesota sky. Dr. J. P. Williamson, who was the first white boy born in our Min- nesota valley and who has spent all his life as a missionary among our Sioux Indians and re- cently has published an English Dakota Dic- tionary in a recent letter says, "The Minnesota river they (The Sioux) called Wah-Kpa Minne- sota "The River of Sky tinted water," and in his dictionary he renders the word "clear sky" as "Kasota." Evidently the name was given to the river by the Indians because of the minute particles of whitish clay found suspended in its waters, which therefore are not transparently pure nor yet muddy, but tinted like our clear skies. The Chippeways who dwelt among the somber pines of the north called it "Askiibogi-sibi" (green leaf river). The French, who were the first white people to discover the river and for nearly two centuries used it in their commerce with the natives, named it the St. Pierre, some think after Le Gardour De St. Pierre, one of their military officers and explorers, but others claim it was after Le Sueur, whose christian name was "Pierre." This name Anglicized as, "8t. Peters," was continued by us until 1854. In 1853 the Legislature of Minnesota at the instigation of Martin McLeod, then a member, sent a mem- orial to Congress praying that the ancient name of the river be restored to it. Moved by this ipquest and the personal solicitation of General Siljley, then our delegate in Congress, the Com- mittee on Territories through its chairman, Stephen A. Douglas, recommended the change, and on May, 1854, the river was rechristened, the "Minnesota." As to the important part this ancient river played in the discovery and devel- opment of our county will appear elsewhere in this history. The river next in importance as to size and value in the history of the County is the Blue Earth. Since steam has usurped the place for-' merly held by water in the transportation and manufacturing industries of our land, both rivers have lost much of their former prestige in the commercial world. Perhaps the historian of the future, when electricity has supplanted steam, will have to assign to this stream, with its magnificent water powers, the economic superior- ity. It is distinctively the river of our county, flowing through its very center, and fittingly bestows upon it its name. This appelation is a translation of the Indian name of the river, "Mahkato." "Mahka" is the Sioux for "earth", and "to" for "l^lue" or "green." Samuel J. Brown, the son of Major Joseph Brown, by a Sioux mother, who has been born and brought up among Sisseton Sioux of this locality, stoutly maintains that there is a nasal in the \vord and that the true pronunciation and spell- ing of the word is "Manka" and not "Mahka" and he is corroborated by three other educated Sioux half breeds: William M. Eobertson, Smi- ley Sheperd, and Thomas A. Robertson. Cer- tainly no better authority on the Dakota than these four men. This difference may be due to dialectic peculiarities of the various tribes. The name was given to the river by the Indians because of a very peculiar bed of greenish clay, found in a limited quantity upon its banks, about four miles from its mouth. This clay was very highly p'rized by the Indians as a HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. pigment with which to paint themselves. They imagined that it possessed a peculiar virtue to protect them from the missels of their foes. The French called the stream the '^'"erde" or "green" river. In view of the color of the clay this is a more accurate rendering of "To" than the English word "Blue," though both are tech- rically correct, as the Sioux language makes no distinction between the two colors. The Blue Earth is a very crooked stream, al- most doubling upon itself ever and anon. It also abounds in rapids and often has abrupt banks — "cut banks" the Indians called them. Its main western tributary, the Watonwan, empties into it not far from the center of the county. This river has preserved its ancient Dakota name, the meaning of which now is some- what uncertain. Some derive it from "Wata" (a canoe) "wan" (See), others say it comes from "Ton wan" (to see into or through) and may refer to the clearness of its water or to tlie outlook afforded by the great prairies which border it. Still others claim "Waton" (bait) "Wan" (where we get) is the true meaning. Perch creek is a tributary of the Watonwan and flows into it from the south, after traversing about fifteen miles through the Townships of Pleasant Mound and Ceresco, in the southwest corner of Blue Earth County. It is the outlet of Perch Lake, which lies just beyond the county boundary. The origin of the name is unknown, possibly a translation of the Indian name. The lake and creek -appear with their present name on Nicollet's map, published in 1843. Willow Creek is another stream, which drains the southwest part of the county. It flows a little east of north through the towns of Pleas- ant Mound and Shelby and empties into the BJue Earth. Its name was given it by one of the first settlers mainly because 'of the number of willows growing upon its bank, and probably in part, in memory of one of the many streams of the same name found in the Eastern States. The main tributary of the Blue Earth from the east is the Le Sueur river, rising beyond the cast line of the County, it crosses that line near itf, center and flows westerly until it empties into the Blue Earth about two miles and a lialf above its mouth. Its "present name was given it by Nicollet and other early map makers in honor of the French explorer, Jean Le Sueur, who in irOO built a fort at its mouth. On the earliest French maps it is designated as the "St. Remy " and the "St. Henry." Its Indian name is unknown, except that its upper half is called the "Chankasna" (shaking wood) on Nicollet's map. The jMaple river flows northward through the center of the county and empties into the Le Sueur about four miles above its mouth. The Sioux called it the "Tewapa-Tankiyan" (Big Water-lillyroot) river. It was first called "The JEaple" Ijy the United States surveyors in 1854. The Big Cobb rises some distance beyond the southeast corner of the county and flowing north- westerly, mingles its waters with the Le Sueur about a mile above tlie mouth of the Maple. The Indians knew it as "Tewapadan" (Little Lilly root river). The earliest designation of the stream as "Big Cob," is on the plats made by the government surveyors in 1854. A branch of the Big Cobb, which unites with it in the north- east corner of Beauford Township, was chris- tened on the same government plats, 'TJittle Cob." Later the spelling in case of both rivers was changed to "Cobb." In the extreme northwest corner of the county two streams empty into the Minnesota within about eighty rods of each other, known as "Cambria Creek" and the 'Tjittle Cottonwood." The latter has its source in the northeast corner of Cottonwood County, and flows easterly clear across Brown County and a small corner of Blue Earth. Its name is a translation of the old Indian name "Waraju" as is also the Big Cottonwood. Near the mouth of the Big Cotton- wood tliere used to be a very fine grove of large cottonwood trees and it is from this grove the Indian name was derived. The Little Cottonwood, also, has groves of the same species of trees, but whether it was from this fact, or because the two rivers ran parallel, in near proximity, and were quite similar in many characteristics, that the Dakotas called tliem by the same name, cannot now be deter- mined. Cambria Creek was so named by Henry Hughes in the latter part of the sixties after the town through which it flows. Its Indian HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. name is unknown. It is about six miles in length. Minneopa Creek is the outlet of Lilly and Crystal lakes, and flows into the Minnesota a rriile or two above the Blue Earth. It is about six miles in length and has on it the famous waterfalls which are responsible for its name. It is the only body of water in the County be- sides the Minnesota and the Watonwan, which still retains its Indian name though a little ab- breviated. The full Dakota name was Minne (water) inne (falls) nopa (two). As the name indicates there are two falls. The first or upper one is from six to eight feet in -height, and about six rods below this comes the main falls, about fifty feet high. These picturesque falls with the wild, romantic scenery about them, have each year for the past half century, attracted hund- reds of sightseers, and, since the establishment here of a state park in 1905, the place has be- come a great resort for picnics and pleasure parties. ' The county also has a number of very fine lakes. None of them are large and yet the mean- dered lakes of the county occupy about 14,000 acres of its territory. Lake Madison is the lar- gest and most important with an area of nearly two thousand acres. Lura and Jackson lakes in the south part of the county are next in size, comprising ten to twelve thousand acres apiece. Then comes Loon and Crystal lakes in the north- west part of the County. The County is exceptionally well timbered. The bulk of its northeast portion was embraced in that great forest area of the State known as the Big Woods. As already stated, each of the many rivers and creeks extend along belts of fine timber through all the prairie regions, while the lakes are enclosed in beautiful groves. When the white man first came to this undine region the great forests were unbroken. Cottonwoods, alms, black walnuts, butternuts, grew abundantly in the valleys — many of giant size. While the hillsides and uplands of the forest region were thickly covered with basswood, elm, oak, hickory, hackberry and soft and hard maple, often of lordly dimensions. Along the outskirts of the forest grew large groves of graceful poplars. In the openings along the valleys and here and there along the edges of the upland woods, were found the plum tree groves filling the air with sweet perfume in the spring and laden with luscious fruit, red, white, yellow and speckled, in the autumn. Two or three varieties of the wild gooseberry, raspberry, elderberry, currants, grapes and many other wild fruits were abund- ant. So rich was the native flora of the county that several chapters might be devoted to it. The natural fauna of the county, too, is too lui'ge a subject for me to more than barely mention. Until little over a hundred years ago the bufi'alo for centuries unknown used to roam in vast herds over the county, and their bones even now are frequently found, buried in river sands or boggy swamps. Some ten or twelve years ago, when a period of unusual drought revealed the bottom of a part of Swan Lake, a few miles north of this county, the skulls and bones of several hundred of these animals ■\rere discovered, victims doubtless of some great animal tragedy in the long ago. Perhaps the ice broke under their combined weight, or maybe they were crowded into the boggy lake in a great stampede from some prairie fire. When Le Sueur in 1700 established his fort at the mouth of the river, which now bears his name, his men were able to kill four hundred buffaloes in a short time and they constituted the main sustenance of the garrison. Before the advent of the white settlers these ancient herds of the western prairies had been driven by hunters far toward the setting sun. Only once or twice was a stray straggler seen in the county by the pioneer. The moose and the elk in the bygone centuries were common in the woods and valleys of the county, but they also had disappeared before the coming of the white man. Beavers, also, were numerous in all the lakes and streams and their dams may still be traced in many places. When Le Sueur was here building his frrt in the winter of 1700-1, he purchased of the Indians, of this locality three hundred beaver robes of nine skins each. Long before the ar- rival of the first immigi-ants these animals were also extinct. Deer, however, were quite plenti- ful long after the settlements of the whites had began, so also were the wolves and foxes. An HISTOKY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. occasional black bear was, also, found. The red and white squirrels, the raccoon, the mink, the muskrat and many other small animals were found here by the whites in great numbers. Jjucks, geese, prairie chickens, pheasants, pig- eons and birds without number filled the forests, kkes and prairies, and remnants of the wild game of the country can still be found. No county in the state excelled Blue Earth in its abundance of animal or vegetable life. The soil, with ^■ery limited exceptions, is a ht,avy bla-ck loam with clay subsoil. There is very little sandy ground in the county and but small areas are flat and boggy. As a rule the land gently undulates affording excellent drain- age. Inexhaustible quarries of stone, adapted for building and for lime and cement, are found ill the vicinity of Mankato, and beds of clay suitable for brick and pottery are abundant in the same locality. A ledge of brown magnesia stone is capable of a very high and beautiful polish and it was recently used in wainscoting the interior of the new magnificant State Capi- tol with charming effect. The earliest inhabitants of the county known to the whites were the Sioux or Dakota In- dians. These aborigines had a tradition that a few centuries ago the lowas and Omahas occu- pied all of the Minnesota Valley. They were constantly at war with them and bloody raids were common from time immemorial. The Sioux then lived around Mille Lac and Lake Superior. With the aid of firearms, which they obtained from the French traders, the Sioux finally succeeded, after a desperate struggle, in driving both lowas and Omahas out of the Minnesota and Blue Earth Valleys and occupied tliis wealthy region for their hunting grounds. The date of this occupation of the county by the Sioux was, as near as it can be fixed by tlieir traditions, about the first of the seventeenth century. When Le Sueur visited the county in 1700 he seems to have found the Sioux then in occupation. The Sioux or Dakotas, who were the only aborigines known to the whites, were divided into roving bands of hunters. Most of those, who claimed Blue Earth County as their usual hunting ground, belonged to the Sisseton branch of the nation. When the white settlers first came to the County the Indians claimed Sleepy Lye, whose principal village was usually located on Swan Lake in Nicollet County, as their head chief. An Indian chief, however, has very little au- thority. Government and law with them are in the most rudementary state. For the most part in our Sioux communities each person was a law unto himself. They seldom congregated in large villages, but usually went in small groups of four or five families, associated to- gether for mutual protection, each group having some person, who seemed better adapted than the rest to take the lead and was therefore made a sort of sub-chief. The real power, however, remained in the hands of the warriors, and no important move could be taken without a coun- cil of all the braves. They had no fixed habitation, but lived in conical tents or teepees, which during the sum- mer, they constantly moved from place to place as they wandered far and near in quest of game. The winters were spent in some wooded valley, \i'here there was shelter and fuel. The bottom of the teepee would be banked about a foot to keep out the wind and frost. A fire was kept burning in tlie center and a hole was left open at the apex, where some of the smoke escaped. C'ccasionally a bark hut would be erected. Ow- ing to their utter improvidence in making pro- vision for the morrow, the Indians often suf- ficed from hunger during the long cold months of winter. Sometimes a few bushels of wild rice and roots would be laid aside against such evil days. During the summer months, how- ever, when berries, roots and game were abund- ant, they led a free and happy life. They were not at all particular as to their food. They ate all kinds of animals and every part of them. Muskrats, wolves, a dead horse or cow, and no matter how putrid the flesh might be, they ate all with a relish. A fat dog was considered a great delicacy and formed the principal dish at their great feasts. The buf- faloes were the principal game of the prairie Indians, and it was the custom of the Blue Earth County tribes to go on one or more buf- falo hunts each year. In the spring they flocked HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. into the great hard maple groves of Maakato and vicinity and gorged themselves sick on maple sugar, of which they were very fond. They were not over cleanly in its manufacture and frequently tossed their muskrats, and turtles, and ducks just as they were killed into the boiling sap to cook. The Dakotas, however, were not devoid of many virtues. As a rule they did but little in- jury to the settler or his property. Wholly unaccustomed, as they were, to any restraint of law, and feeling aggrieved by the aggressions of the white men upon their ancient domain, it is to their credit that they were seldom guilty of any special crimes. They were hospitable but expected everybody else to be the same. I'hey had very little conception of the right of personal property. If anyone had anything more than he needed to satisfy his present wants, it was considered the proper thing to divide it with any who lacked. In their religious views, like all ignorant and heathen people, they were quite supersti- tious. Every tree and stone and grassy knoll, and river and lake they imagined to be the abode of some spirit. An Indian would come across a stone or tree in his path, and would decorate it with a fillet of grass, and would offer a little tobacco or perhaps a bird or dog to the spirit, which lie supposed lived there. The mounds at the mouth of the Blue Earth they regarded as the habitations of some gods, and they were called "Wauk-en-teepee," "The houses of the gods." Their method of burial was to wrap the body in a robe or blanket and lay it on the lower branches of some spreading tree, or on a scaffold constructed by laying a few poles on some forked posts. After the flesh had decayed, tJie bones would be gathered, and a mound would be erected by the squaws carrying earth in baskets and piling it over them. These m.ounds often attained to the height of eight or ten feet, and were usually put in prominent places, on the top of a hill, or on the crest of some high bluff. This was done that the friends of the departed might have his grave in sight, as it was supposed every deceased person had two souls, one of which tarried in the vicinity of the grave, while the other departed to the happy hunting ground. Although the Indians made their homes in this county for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, yet within a year after their departure no trace of their long occupation could be found, save an occasional burial mound, a flint arrow head or stone hammer head picked up at rare intervals from the soil. Their wigwam architecture they carried away with them, their agriculture never exceeded a few hills of com planted by the squaws in some river bottom. Their transportation facilities consisted simply of a dug out canoe on water, and, on land, two slender poles, the front ends of which were fastened one on each side of a wolflsh looking dog or shaggy pony, while the rear ends drag- ged upon the ground, carrying bundles of house- hold goods and the smaller papooses. Their literature was confined wholly to oral traditions and wigwam stories, but without the written page, these all perished with the telling, save an occasional fragment picked up by some white trader or missionary. Some of these bits of Indian lore, which have specially to do with Blue Earth County, we shall consider in our next chapter. CHAPTER II INDIAN LEGENDS OE THE BLUE EAETH. The art of the story teller was well developed and much in vogue among our Sioux Indians. The frequent feasts and the long winters, when the people were confined to their wigwams, stimulated greatly the growth of this kind of entertainment. A good story teller was ever in gj'eat demand and in high honor and this en- couraged the cultivation of his talent. Very few of these Indian tales have been saved, but the few we have show how rich the treasure must have been. The country of the Blue Earth was ever a favorite haunt of the red man. Its abundant fruits and game, its va- ried and charming scenery and, because of these, its many memories of a happy and hoary past, all tended to make it rich in legendary lore. Only a few of these wild tales from the wigwam have I been able to glean. The shades of oblivion had long buried the great bulk of them in the ashes of the Sisseton camp fires, cold now on the banks of the Mahkato for many a year. The first story I shall give was orig- inally translated into a civilized tongue by an old French voyager and is entitled: THE HAUNTED A'ALLEY. A few miles south of Mankato there is a beautiful valley located in the angular piece 01 land formed by the confluence of the Waton- wan and Blue Earth rivers. Its romantic posi- tion and beautiful scenery impart to it an in- describable loveliness. It nestles mid lofty hills covered with sturdy oaks, "'Monarchs of the For- est," which shade it from the summer's heat, and shelter it from the wintry blasts. In its center a transparent lake mirrors the beauty of its wooded banks, almost everywhere heavily fes- tooned with vines of the Wahoo and wild grape. A small sparkling stream, the outlet of the lake. gently meanders through lovely groves, until it reaches and is lost ia the turbid waters of the Watonwan. Springs of the purest water gush licre and there from the hillsides. The Indians told of dark deeds done in this valley and dared not go near it, as tradition said no one had ever returned ahve who had dared to enter its enchanted bounds. Spirits of warriors clothed in bodies of mangled flesh and covered with ghastly, gaping wounds were seen by those belated in the chase, who happened inadvertently to pass by its dreaded boundaries, and many a warrior told of hearing awful and unearthly moans and shrieks from those, who had entered it against the will of the great spirit, while huge specters of smoke and lurid flame were seen to issue from it. War Eagle was a young and mighty chief of the Sissetons, who dwelt ia the rich country at the great bend of the Minnesota, by the mouth of the Blue Earth. In the chase and on many a battle field he had disting-uished himself far above all the mighty men of his tribe, for he was powerful of body and stout of heart. In the great councils of his nation, his manly form towered a head taller than all the great war- riors and his advice never went unheeded. He was indeed, the idol of his tribe. All sang his jiraises and many a maiden had cast longing eyes at him and many a dusky mamma had schemed and planned ia vain to catch him for her daughter. He, however, was of a melan- clioly disposition and would not wed. He was fond of wandering alone in meditation, and the solitude of the forest was his favorite haunt. Here his keen eye and quick brain had ac- quainted him with all the secrets of nature. He reveled in her beauty and rejoiced in her mysteries. One day in the heat of the chase he pursued a deer into this enchanted valley without realiz- HISTOEY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. ing where he was until in its midst. Capti- vated by its beauty, he dismissed every super- stitious fear, and concluded to make this vale his place of refuge from those who were trying to force him to wed a girl he did not love. Many a day he spent in this delightful spot, musing alone in its peaceful solitude. One day a young brave came breathless into the village which lay near the confines of this valley with the startling intelligence that a war party of their dreaded foes the Chippeways were camped on the plateau near the mouth of the Blue Earth. The village which but a few moments before, was the very picture of tran- quility was suddenly transformed to the wildest commotion. The women and children ran hither and thither in a panic of fear. The men has- tily decked themselves for war, and hurried to the council lodge. Soon a band of chosen warriors issued forth led by War Eagle, their trusted chief, who was anxious to avenge the death of a very dear friend, who but a fort- night before had been waylaid and killed by some prowling Chippeways, while hunting in the valleys of the Little Waraju, or Cottonwood river. The warlike expedition was not long in reach- ing the neighborhood of their deadly enemies. Crawling stealthily up through the bushes which skirted the sides of the table land on which their foes were encamped they got within a few rods of their tepees. They soon discovered that they outnumbered the Chippeways more than four to one. In view of this fact, and of the further reason, that it was hardly yet past the hour of noon, it was determined to attack at once and not wait for a daybreak surprise, after the usual mode of Indian warfare. It was a dtsperate fight. The Chippeways were all tried warriors, and dearly did each brave sell his life on that bloody field. One Chippeway chief at last only remained, but though all his friends had fallen, he still stood lilfe a rock in front of his wigwam, hold- ing alone the whole Sioux tribe at bay. The slain lay about him in heaps, but his great strength and courage seemed yet unabated. At last a crowd of Sioux warriors made a rush upon him and although half of them fell be- neath his mighty blows, still, by their over- v/helming numbers, they were on the point of wrenching his scalp from his head, when War Eagle who had watched with admiration the • chief's splendid valor and had been won by it, rushed in between him and his foes and com- pelled his brother Sioux to desist. As the Chippeway chief arose it was to wit- ness some of the Sioux dragging from his wig- wam his only daughter, a beautiful maiden of tender years, for whose life and honor he had fought so desperately that day. Turning, how- ever, to his noble benefactor he committed his daughter to his care, and with stately tread walked into the neighboring woods and disap- peared. The Sioux warriors glared like wolves at his retreating form and were greatly chagrined and displeased to have their foe thus escape, but none dared openly to oppose the will of War Eagle. But their hearts were ugly toward him, and as they mourned in the scalp dance their many friends and relatives slain, it made them foel still uglier. War Eagle took the captured Chippeway mai- den in accordance with her father's request as his portion of the booty, and the famous young chief, who had rejected all the fair daughters of his own tribe, was at once smitten by the great beauty and charming ways of this alien girl. He brought to her the choicest game of the forest, and waited upon her as upon a princess. His affections met with a hearty response on the part of the maiden and they were very happy together. The treatment War Eagle gave the maid, so different from that due a slave, still further aroused the jealousy and hatred of his tribe, and in a secret council it was determined that the beautiful young Chippeway must die. The plot was to assassinate her while her lover was away on a hunt, but War Eagle returned much sooner than was expected, and just in time to save his fair bride from the cruel hands of the savage executioners. Quickly burying his toma- hawk in the skulls of four of them, he seized his beautiful wife and fled with her to the en- chanted valley, near whose dread border no pur- si.er or avenger of blood dared venture. Here HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. for many moons they lived most happily to- gether. The forest game had here, also, found an asylum and was much more abundant than elsewhere. So the young brave and his fair bride did not lack for food. One day, however, War Eagle pursued a deer some distance into the forest beyond the confines of his valley, and being discovered by his foes, an ambush was quickly made for him, and he v.'as smitten by a shower of arrows, two of which pierced his heart. He fell with a shriek, which reached the ears of his young bride, and in a few moments she was by his side, but it was too late to bid his manly soul adieu, he had gone to the happy hunting grounds. Bending over liis majestic form — majestic even in death — she drew from its sheath his sharp hunting knife and, plunging it into her own fair bosom, she fell dead upon the body of her noble lover. After this the enchanted valley became more "Waul-iin" than ever to the Sisseton Da- kotas. The next story I shall give is partly at least historical — the scene being laid since the found- ing of Fort Snelling, and the principal charac- ters were well known personages, some four score years ago. Indeed the entire tale may be the romance of a real life, for the true story of many a life is stranger than fiction. The tale may be entitled : THE DEVOTED FATHER. About the beginning of the last century there lived at the mouth of the Blue Earth a noted Indian chief, named Ahkitchetah-dutah. His village was among the principal ones belonging to the powerful Sisseton tribes, who called themselves the Miakechakesa and who inhabited the country at the great bend of the Minnesota, and the valleys of the Blue Earth. Ahkitchetah-dutah was possessed of very strong affections, and these were bestowed upon a maiden of his tribe, who was distinguished hy her comeliness of person and sweetness of mind. His young wife, however, died when their only child was an infant. This great sorrow ever after clouded the life of the chief and he never remarried. His whole soul was now wrapped up in his only son, Mahzah Kootay. The child grew into young manhood, and be- came a leader among the young braves of his \illage. In the summer of 1819 Mazah Kootay, accompanied by a number of other young braves, went out upon the plains to hunt buffalo. Wlien in the vicinity of where Council Bluffs now stands, they fell in with some designing traders, who sold them liquor. In some drunken brawl our young brave and another young Indian shot and killed one of the United States soldiers, and then fled home to the valley of the ]\Iinne- sota. The government at once demanded the sur- render of the murderers from the Indians and withheld the payment of all annuities to them until the demand was complied with. At last upon the ad\ice of Colin Campbell the trader, the Sissetons decided in a council held at Big Stone Lake, that the two }oung men, who ad- mitted th(5ir guilt, should surrender themselves to the government for trial. Accordingly Mah- za Kootay and his companion, attended by a number of their friends and relations, repaired to Fort Snelling to comply with the decision of the council. Ahkitchetah-dutah, the aged father, was over- whelmed with grief and went with the party determined to offer himself as a substitute for his son. ^\'hen within a mile of the fort the party halted, and the old chief and the two young brakes painted themselves black, stuck splinters of wood through their arms at the elbows to show their contempt of pain, had their hands fastened with thongs of buffalo hide, sang their death dirge, and, bidding their companions farewell, marched into the . fort on November 12th, 1820, flying a British flag, which was given them in the late war. Col. Snelling, who was in command of the fort, had a fire built ui the middle of the parade grounds, and the British flag publicly burned with due ceremony. The earnest appeal of the old chief to be substituted in place of his son, however, was rejected by the officer, but he was held for some time as a hostage, while the two young men were sent under military escort to St. Louis for trial. Here they were detained in prison for some months, but no witness being 10 HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. found against them, they were finally released by the officials, their case being dismissed for want of prosecution. While on his way home, however, he hap- pened to run across the path of the deadliest enemy a Sioux Indian could meet, in the per- son of the old Indian fighter, John Moredock. Many years before, when Moredock was a young man, all his folks had been butchered with all the horrors of Indian cruelty by a party of Sioux Indians, as they were coming up the Mississippi river in a flat boat. Crazed to des- peration by this awful deed, John Moredock sv?ore a terrible vengeance upon the whole Sioux nation. Not satisfied with killing all the mur- derers, he made it the business of his life to kill every Sioux he could find. An unerring n^arksman, and the most desperate fighter in all the west, he was for years the terror of all the Sioux tribes. Mazah-Kootay was coming through a piece of timber when he met the old hunter. In a raoment each man was behind a tree and watch- ing his opportunity. Moredock put his hat on tJie end of his ramrod and reached it out just a little, when instantly Mazah Kootay put a ball through it, and Moredock fell with it as though killed. The Indian rushed up immed- iately to scalp his victim, when he suddenly arose and shot him dead, and Moredock added one more scalp to the scores he already carried. Ignorant of his true fate, Ahkitchetah-dutah looked in vain for the return of his son. The whites assured him that his son had been, re- leased by them, but the old chief would not be- lieve them; he was firmly persuaded the pale faces had killed him and his grief was pitiable. "When Major Long explored the Minnesota river in 1820 he did not dare visit the mouth of the Blue Earth, because of the disaffection of the Indians there, due to the sorrow of their chief. The chief finding his grief unbearable devoted himself to death, after the Indian fashion, and lived alone, away from his tribe, in the hope someone would kill him, but the wild beasts avoided him, and the scalp hunting Chippeways fled from him. One day a band of twenty young braves of his tribe was formed to go to the famous pipe- stone quarry. The country was known to be infested by prowling bands of the Saques and Foxes, who had long been at enmity with the Sioux. Ahkitchetah-dutah went with this band and on the journey hung behind in the hope he might be killed, but to no avail, for no enemy appeared. Having reached on their homeward journey a valley of the Watonwan, about four miles above its confluence with the Blue Earth, they camped for the night. As they were so near home their usual vigilence was relaxed. At day break next morning they were awakened Ijy a volley of bullets, and five of the Sioux fell dead. This was Ahkitchetah-dutah's .oppor- tunity and, seizing his arms, he rushed forth to meet the charge of the enemy alone and slew four of them before he himself fell, riddled with bullets. This sudden and desperate act of the old chief disconcerted the Saques and Poxes in their charge, and gave the _ Sioux a chance to rally and to drive their enemy back. The Sioux then dug rifle pits with their tomahawks and knives and thus entrenched fought heroic- ally, and finally beat off the Saques and Foxes, vvho outnumbered them three to one, but who had been disheartened by the desperate valor of Ahkitchetah-dutah. We are apt to thinlc of the Indian as only a blood thirsty savage delighting in the torture of his enemy, or girdled with gorey human scalps, indulging in the horrid rites of the war dance. He hardly ever appears on the stage of our national history, save in the role of some ter- rible massacre. Then the last and most im- pressive view the early pioneers usually have of the Indian is with scalping knife and toma- hawk, killing the women and children along the frontier. There is no question, but that the Indian, like all savages, was prone to follow the war- path and that his methods of warfare were sliockingly bloody and cruel. Our red man was, however, possessed of many noble virtues and some high ideals, and it is partly because they reveal this better side of his character, that I insert these glimpses of his home life. It will be noted that like most tales of the wild, each has a tragic note. mSTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 11 THE DEATH DIRGE OF A DAKOTA MAIDEN. Hapan was a beautiful Dakota maiden, the belle of lier tribe who lived at the mouth of the Mahkato river. Many had been the suitors for her hand, but she disdained to notice any of them, except young Chaskay, a valiant young brave. He was a splendid specimen of physi- cal manhood, tall, straight as an arrow, and a perfect athlete. His quick piercing eye, high forehead and classic face betokened the highest intelligence and, though he was but a youth, liis fame already as an orator and wise advisor was great in the councils of his tribe. None swifter than he in the chase, none more skillful than he in the great ball games, none stronger or braver than he on the warpath. Chaskay and Hapan had been lovers from their childhood and were never happy save when together. But a great war party had left the village two weeks before to go against the Chippeways, to avenge the blood of a number of relatives and friends, ^(■ho had been waylaid and murdered while hunting beyond Swan Lake by a skulking band of this ancient foe. With this party had gone young Chaskay as its head war chief. Tender had been tlie parting between him and Hapan, and it was with a mingled feeling of dread apprehension and loving pride the maiden had watched her lover's departure on that fateful morning. At the head of the long column of noble warriors he had marched with stately mien down the beautiful valley of the Minne- sota. But the week before, the remnant of this strong band of warriors had returned, most of them covered with ghastly wounds. Our war- riors approach having been discovered by some of the enemy's scouts, an ambush had been made for them by an overwhelming force of the Chip- peways. Terrible had been the struggle and awful the carnage. With desperate valor Chaskay had fought and it was not before he had laid low many of his enemies, that he was finally over- powered and slain. The awful news pierced Hapan's heart like an arrow and for several clays she brooded over the melancholy event in sullen silent agony. But one morning the slum- bering village, which nestled in the low land near the mouth of the Mahkato was startled by the sad, plaintive notes of her death song. Upon the top of a tall oak, which topped a rockj- pi-ecipice just back of the village, she sat decked in all her bridal garments. The words of her death dirge were these: "Wicanripi rota hiyeye Koda, he opa hiyaye Mix owapa. Which translated read as follows: My friend has gone His road is the Milky A^'ay, The same road I will travel. As slie finished her song she east herself down from the dizzy height upon the stones below, and her soul sped to join her lover in the happy spirit land. The last of tliese Indian tales which were in any way connected with our county is a folk lore story. It was translated into English at the instance of the Sioux Missionary, Dr. Wil- hamson, by one of his converted Indians and preserves many of the Dakota idioms. THE LEGEND OF NO SOUL. (A Dakota Folklore story.) Once on a time there lived in the valley of the Minnesota a father who had twelve sons. In front of the lodge grew a number of fine oak trees, while just beside it there gushed from the foot of the bluff a beautiful spring of water, which the cold of winter or the summer's drouth never efiected. It was a charming spot, slieltered from every storm, and the luxuriant verdure of summer v:as always fresh and decked with such a profusion of flowers that the eye of the beholder was fascinated. But Wishwee, the oldest son, wa.?, not satisfied with the hunt- ing grounds of his fathers' and concluded to go out into the world to seek his fortune. So he came to his father and said : '"Father, I am tired of viewing always the same scenes and wish to go out into the world and se-e other nations and other lands, that I might know how they prosper. Wilt thou give me the 12 HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. beautiful black horse that thou didst receive from the great chief of the West for my jour- ney i*" To this the father answered, "My son, tJiou hast ever been very dear to me and since thou hast decided to travel into distant lands thou mayest take the beautiful black horse, but remember this if thou desirest him to go very fast or carry, thee over any obstacle in the road never strike him more than once and he will never fail thee." To which the son replied, ■'Your words, dear father, make me glad, and 1 shall heed thy advice. As long as yonder spring is clear thou wilt know that I am alive, but if its limpid waters shall become troubled and muddy then thou wilt mourn me as dead." It was a glorious morning in the moon of the corn planting, when Wishwee started on his journey mounted on the beautiful black horse. As he was leaving the wigwam door his father handed him two bottles of wine, which his old grandmother had made from the juice of the wild grapes she had picked in the far off haunted valley. After he had traveled a long way, beyond the farthest point ever reached by the buffalo hunters of his tribe, he came to a large path called the "Difficult Way," and at once determined to see what was at the ottier end of it. As he journeyed along this road he came suddenly to a rocky precipice, which lay straight across his path. Remembering what his father had said, he gave his horse only one cut with the whip, and he scaled the perpendi- cular height with a bound and stood on the other side. Here he espied an old woman, who just then was cleaning some deer skins beside Ler lodge. As he was passing, she called to him and said, "My grand child, though thou be on a journey and in haste, come into my wigwam and partake of a little food and then pass on." "Yes, grandmother," answered Wishwee, "I am very glad of thy invitation, for I am very hungry." So he alighted from his horse and supped with her. When he was about to de- part, the old woman asked him "Whither art thou going, my grandchild?" Wishwee an- swered, "Grandmother I have grown up without seeing other lands, and other people, and now I go out into the world to seek my fortune." Whereupon she replied, "Well hast thou done. my gTandchild, but this road thou hast taken ii3 well named the 'Difficult Way,' so be wise, my son, and heed the advice thou shalt receive on thy journey." So Wishwee proceeded on his way. After he had gone some distance he came suddenly to a great slough, so vast, he could not see across it, and so miry, a waterfowl could not wade in it. Along the edge of this slough were strewn thick the bones of horses and their riders, who had attempted to pass through it. It was called the We We Tanka, The Bad Swamp. Wishwee paused for a time perplexed, but finding no way to pass around this terrible slough, he headed his horse straight for its midst, and gave him one blow with his whip. Swift as the wind, with mighty bounds that scarce touched the surface once, the noble animal carried his rider safely over the im- passable swamp. On the farther side our trav- eler found an old man, who called to him to pause a few minutes and sup at his lodge. After they had eaten together the young man said to his host, "Grandfather, thou hast made me very happy by inviting me to dine with thee. Wilt thou not partake of a drop of this wine I have?" and he handed him one of the bottles his father had given him. After the old man had drank tv/ice of the wine, he became very talkative, and he told the young man all his secrets. "My fron," said he, "When thou goest hence thou wilt soon come to the Hill Beautiful. From the moment that comest in sight hasten thy horse with all speed and beware that thou dost not stop or look behind thee until thou hast reached the summit for if thou tarriest or lookest behind thee a single instant before ar- riving on the summit, then thou will surely die, but after the highest point is attained, thou mayest check thy speed and look behind." Thus spake the old man and the young man again proceeded on his way. After some time the top of the Hill Beautiful loomed up in the distance. The moment Wishwee saw it he gave his horse one cut with his whip and sped along the road like the- wind. Soon he heard some- one coming behind and tempting him to look back, but he remembered the old man's advice and hurried on faster than ever. Then the tempter began to taunt and tease him saying, HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 13 "See this young man is blind in one eye. Look, one of his legs is shorter than the other. His mouth, too, is twisted." Though greatly exasperated by these words the young man checked himself and pressed on with the ut- most speed with his eye fixed on the top of the hill straight before him. Gaining tire sum- mit at last he reined in his horse and looked behind. There in the road panting for breath stood the largest and most fierce mountain lion he had ever seen. Almost dead with running the lion came and lay down near Wishwee and said: "Young man, thou art very wise and brave, and hast arrived at the top of Hill Beautiful without looking back, and thereby thou hast overcome me, and henceforth I am at thy service. On the road thou are traveling there is another hill called the High Hill. "AATien it comes in sight beware that thou dost not look behind before reaching its summit, for the moment thou dost, thou shall surely die, but when thou hast come to the top thou may- est look behind.'' The young man had not gone very far when in the distance he perceived the top of the High Hill. Immediately he gave liis horse one cut M'ith his whip and he darted forward like an arrow, but soon again from behind came the shouts of someone following making all manner of noise, and calling him all manner of names to induce him to look back, but he had a firm pur- pose and heeded not the voice of his pursuer. When the top of the mountain was reached a monster white wolf, the fiercest Wisliwce had ever seen, came panting and lay down by his side saying: "Thou hast conquered me, and henceforth my powers are thy powers." IFore- over the Big Wolf said: "Before thou reachest the place which thou art going to another moun- tain must be passed called the "Last Moun- tain," when it comes in sight then hurry on as fast as thy horse can carry thee, but beware on the penalty of thy life that thou doest not look behind, until the summit is reached." So the young man pressed forward on his journey. He had not gone far before the top of Last Moun- tain came into sight and quickly he struck his liorse one blow with his whip and off he flew lilce a fla-sh of lightning. Soon he heard some one following close behind him again, calling to him to stop and look at the wonderful things in his rear. Becoming desperate, his pursuer taunted him as being a coward, but Wishwee was fixed in his purpose, and no blandishment, curiosity or fear could turn him aside until the top of the mountain 's\'as reached, when a great eagle fell at his feet exhausted crying, "Thou hast gained tlie victory over me, henceforth my powers are thy powers." Furthermore the great eagle said, "^Mien thou hast gone hence on thy A\-ay thou \\-ilt come to a large town called the 'A'illage of Weeping.' In that town somethings Avill befall thee. At tlie entrance of the village lives an old woman and thou must go to her teepee and it will be told thee what has be- fallen the town." After journeying some distance the young man arrived at the Big Village. The inhabi- tants of which neither laugh or make merry, and the faces of all are painted black. For a time Wishwee paused at the entrance of the vil- lage gazing in amazement at its sad appear- ance, then noticing an old woman standing by the door of lier wigwam nearby he approached her and inquired, "Grandmother, why is it that in til is great village everybody looks so sorrow- ful?"' "My son," answered the old woman, "Art tliou a mere stranger and has not heard of the terrible thing which has happened here? 1'he chief of this village has four fair daugh- ters, but yesterday about noon one who is called 'Xo Soul' made a sudden raid upon this place and carried away two of the maidens. It is on this account that the people are all so sad." "Grandmother," asked the young man, "did'st til on see this No Soul?" "Yes, my son," re- plied the old woman, "he has the form of a very gi-eat grizzley bear. From the time the world was made no one has been able to kill this bear, and indeed he can not be killed, and hence he is called No Soul." "Where doth he live?" cp.eried the young man. "He lives." said the old woman, "a long, ways from here in a- big ii:ountain. He said moreover, that in six days he would return and carry off the chiefs other two daughters. Wherefore the chief is very much alarmed and has said to his people, who- ever kills No Soul, shall have both my remain- 14 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. iug daughters for wives, and many a brave vrar- rior has placed himselJ; in readiness to fight the monster when he returns." When the young man heard this his heart was stirred within him, and he asked the old woman to take good care of his horse as he must go and see the chief. He found the old chief stretched upon the floor of his teepee, sorely lamenting the fate of his daughters. Wishwee told him not to weep and that he would see him again in twelve days. The young man then immediately departed in quest of the mountain where No Soul lived. Arriving there he found a v^ry large cave, standing at its mouth he called : "No Soul, have mercy upon me, I have come to see your house which I hear is finely constructed." Whereupon a very large and fierce looking bear came rushing out and with a growl like the rumble of distant thunder he said : "Wonderful this ; no one dared ever before to come near my house and such an example will I make of thee that no one will ever venture here again.'' "Stay a moment No Soul," said Wishwee, "I understand you are fond of wine. I have some very choice vintage with me. Ere we engage in combat let us drink a little to make our hearts strong," and he offered to No Soul hif; second bottle of wine. The monster swal- lowed it all at one gulp, but no sooner had he done so than he began to be very communica- tive and he revealed the secret of his life and said : "If I should be killed and ripped open a fox would leap out, and if the fox should be killed and ripped open a bird would fly out, and if the bird be killed and ripped open, a very fine white egg would be foiind, and if that should be taken up yonder to the brow of that high precipice, a door will be found entering into a vast golden chamber, where my real self dwells, and should I there be smitten on the bi-east with the eg?, then would I die." Then Wishwee challenged No Soul to a com- bat and he became very furious, but the young man called to the great mountain lion, whom he had met on the Hill Beautiful, and im- mediately he was transformed into the great lion and fought with No Soul and overcame him and with his powerful claws he ripped him open. Immediately a fox leaped out and disappeared in the brush, but Wishwee called upon the big white wolf of the High Hill, and he was at once changed to his form and pursued the fox and overtaking him slew him. When he had ripped open the fox, a bird suddenly flew out and disappeared quickly among the trees. Wish- wee then called to his aid the great eagle of the Last Hill and immediately v/as transformed into his shape. Sweeping down on his strong pin- ions be soon captured the bird, and ripping it open found the smooth white egg. Taking the egg he mounted to the brow of the high clifE and found the entrance to the home of No Soul. Inside he found the monster stretched upon the floor of his golden chamber in much distress and smote him at once upon the breast with the white egg. No Soul imme- diately rolled over dead. Hearing a moaning noise in a distant recess of the cave, he fol- lowed it, and there bound and shut into a dark hole he found the chief's two daughters still alive, reserved for a great feast No Soul ex- pected to hold that very night. The joy of the maidens at their unexpected deliverance was Fiost affecting. Bearing them one at a time on his eagle wings, our hero descended to the foot of the high cliff and thereupon assumed his own form. Boundless was the rejoicing at the old chief's -pillage when Wishwee arrived with the rescued maidens. In accordance with his jKomise the chief offered the young man his four daugh- ters for his wives, and they were all yery beau- tiful, but Wishwee said he only wanted the youngest, Wehakay, for she far excelled the other tliree, and the hearts of the two young people had been united from the first. When the mar- riage festivities, which were most joyous and elaborate were over, Wishwee returned home with his beautiful bride to the lovely valley of the Minnesota, to the pleasant hunting gfound cf his fathers, where among their many descen- dants the memory of Wishwee's bravery and Wehakay's charms will never be forgotten. MANKATO IN 1866. CHAPTER III. FRElSrCH EXPLOREES— LE SUEUE AXD HIS COPPEE DISCOVEEY— INDIAX WAES. The French were probably the first white men tci set foot on Blue Earth Countj^ soil. Which one of them had the first honor is unknown, some think that the French hunters and traders, Groseilliers and Eadisson, visited this locality in I'iGO. The French fur trade of that early period had many daring spirits, whose wonder- ful stories of adventure and disco^'ery were never written, and it may be one of these un- known heroes was the first to view the country of the ]\rahkato. The first known to ha^•e come to the region now' embraced in Blue Earth County were Le Sueur and Ins followers, who arrived here in September, 1700. Pierre Charles Le Sueur had come into the present boundaries of ^Minnesota r.s early as 1683 at least, and had spent seven j-ears at various times hunting and trading among the Sioux. We know that he then spent part of the time with Perrot in the vicinity of Lake Pepin. We also know that during this visit among the Sioux, he discovered the bed of gTcen clay, found upon the Blue Earth' river, about a mile above the mouth of the Le Sueur, and that he took a sample of it with him to France, where it was assayed in 1696 bv Le Huillier, one of the king's officers, and evi- dently pronounced to be copper. Whether Le Sueur had personally inspected this bed of clay, and selected the sample himself before he took it to France is not certain. The probability, however, is that he had, but it may be, as stated by some that he obtained his sample and in- formation as to the extent and location of the bed or mine from which it had been taken, from an Indian, who carried lumps of the green sub- stance in his medicine bag. In the summer of 160,5 Le Sueur had taken a Sioux chief, named Tioscate with him from ]i!innesota to Canada, who was the first of that nation to see a civilized country. There is rea- son to believe that Tioseate's home was at the moutli of the Blue Earth, as his relatives were found there in large numbers five or six years later. This indicates that Le Sueur was then personally Jamiliar with the Blue Earth coun- t]-v and the people who dwelt there. Perhaps his object in taking the chief with him to Can- ada was to cultivate his friendship, with a view to the advantage such a friendly relation would mean, when he came to open his mine. The un- fortunate young chief, however, sickened and died after a few days at Montreal. Confirmed by Le Huilliers tests in his be- lief that he had discovered a very valuable cop- ])vr mine, Le Sneur became enthusiastically in- sistant to develop his rich find. Through the aid of relatives, who had much influence at cf urt, he finally secured a commission to work the mines in 1696, While crossing the ocean, the vessel in Avhich he sailed was captured by the English and he with the rest of the crew were carried prisoners to England. On his re- lease and return to France he secured in 1696 a second commission to work the Blue Earth mines, but was deterred by various obstacles from carrying out his project until 1700. Prom a letter written August 30th, 1703, by La Motte Cadillac, in command of the French post at Detroit, we learn that not the , least of these obstacles was due to the disturbed relations, then existing between the Sioux and their old ene- mies the Sacs and Foxes of Wisconsin. The latter had been in alliance with the French for many years and furnished them with a very lucrative trade. With the fire arms obtained 15 16 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. from the traders, the Foxes and their allies had guined a great advantage over their foe, which advantage they were anxious to retain. Some of the French traders were beginning to discover how rich the Sioux country was, especially in beaver and bufEalo, and were anx- ious to open trade with them. The Foxes and their allies, however, were much opposed to such a project as it would furnish their enemies with firearms, and all the other superior weapons and goods of the white men. The French now tried another tactic, and got these ancient foes to make a compact of peace. The Foxes and their allies acted in good faith in the transac- tion, but the Sioux made it an opportunity for treachery. Under pretense of ratifying the treaty a large number of the latter paid the Foxes and Miamis a visit and were right roj^- ally feasted and entertained by them, and it seemed as though the tomahawk had really been buried. The Sioux then left for home appar- ently well satisfied with the good treatment they -had received. Thinking now that there were no foes to dread, and supposing that their visitors were well towards home, the principal village of the Miamis was resting heedless of any danger, when the perfidious Sioux, having str'althily returned at night, fell upon them sud- denly at day break and killed three thousand of them. This great slaughter and outrageous treachery made the Poxes and all their allies furious in their rage, and a war of extermina- tion against the whole Sioux nation was inau- gurated. The French authorities could not af- ford the ill will of the Wisconsin Indians, among whom most of their trading posts were located, nor the loss of prestige, which the ccuntenancing of such perfidy would invite, and hence they were obliged to forbid any trade with the Sioux under heavy penalties. But the trad- ers, who roamed through these remote regions, paid but indifferent attention to any official order, and continued to traffic with the Dakota tribes along the Mississippi and Minnesota. This involved them in trouble with the Foxes, Miamis and other enemies of the Sioux, and robberies and hostilities were frequent. These events occurred just about the time Le Sueur first obtained his commission to work his Blue Earth copper mine, and helps to explain some of the difficulties and dangers he met. Le Sueur finally reached Biloxi near the mouth of the Mississippi with thirty miners in De- cember, 1699, and started up the Father of Waters about April, 1700. By June of that year the expedition had reached Tamarois, a trading post a short distance below the mouth of the Missouri. He left this point July 12th,. in a felucca and two canoes with nineteen men, mostly miners. On the way they fell in with various Canadian hunters and traders, who joined them until by the time they reached the mouth of the Minnesota, on September 19th, ihe expedition numbered twenty-eight persons. On September 30th, 1700, they arrived at the mouth of the Blue Earth and ascended it t» the mouth of the Le Sueur, which they named the "St. Eemi" or "St. Henry." Here, on the mound just below the Jimction of the two rivers they erected two or three log cabins and enclosed them with a palisade of poles. The place was called Port Le Huillier in honor of the French officer, who had assayed the sample of green clay for Le Sueur. While the French miners and carpenters were building the fort, the Canadian hunters, who had joined the ex- pedition by the way, hunted the buffalo on the adjacent prairies and soon had enough meat cured to supply the garrison over winter. Penicaut, a ship carpenter, whom Le Sueur had taken with him to mend the boats and do other carpenter work, states that they killed four hundred buffaloes, which statement seems rather strong. Prom the same authority we learn that the winter was rather severe. To persons who were accustomed to the balmy air of France and New Orleans, a Minnesota winter ^vould very naturally seem a little bracing. Then we must concede to Penicaut the poetic license due to an old seaman recounting twenty years Inter, the marvelous adventures he had met in a new and far distant world. The next spring Le Sueur took twelve of the miners and four hunters with him about a mile and a half up the Blue Earth from the fort, to open up what he then supposed was a copper mine. This mine was' evidently the bed of green clay from four to ten inches thick still found in the HISl'ORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 17 bluffs of the Blue Earth near the north line of section twenty-eight of South Bend township. The clay has no copper in it, but its peculiar bluish green color is due to a tincture of iron. In twenty-two days Le Sueur had over 20,000 pounds of it dug out, and selecting 4,000 pounds of the best, he loaded this into his shallop and carried it to the fort at the mouth of the Mis- sissippi. What became of it afterwards is not known. He also carried with him a very valu- able cargo of beaver and other furs, which he liad obtained from the Indians. Le Sueur left twelve men at Fort Le Huillier in charge of D'Eraque, one of the Canadians who had Joined his party. These remained at the fort until the spring of 1703, when a war party of the Foxes and Maskontens, then at bit- ter enmity with the Sioux and therefore opposed to the establishment of this fort, as we have seen, made some hostile demonstration in its vicinity, and caused its rather sudden evacua- tion. Penicaut, who had left the spring be- fore with Le Sueur and hence was not personally present and probably did not know the partic- ulars connected with the abandonment of the fort simply states that in the spring of 1703, "D'Eraque and his twelve comrades had re- turned to Mobile and reported that they had been attacked by a band of Foxes and Mas- kontens, who had killed three Frenchmen, who were working in the woods about two gun shots beyond the fort, and that being out of ammuni- tion he had cached the goods and abandoned the post." In July, 1907, a rather interesting discovery of seventeen headless skeletons was made on the farm of one A. Mitchell, in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section thirty-three of South Bend township. The bodies had all been laid out, white man's fashion and buried two or three feet deep in dug graves on the top of a small natural mound or knoll. The soil -consisted of loam, gravel and clay. At the northwest base of the knoll lay a grassy swale of several acres. Originally the knoll had been covered with timber and thick brush, and the forest continuing eastward from it to the Le Sueur. The mound is sit- uated about a mile and a half southwest of the site of old Ft, Le Huillier and on a very an- cient Indian trail, which led from the Big Woods and the ilinnesota valley, through Man- kato, along the foot of the Walker hill, down til rough the Eed Jacket valley and by the site of the old fort, crossing the Le Sueur just above its mouth, and passing up the opposite bluff followed in a southwesterly course the dryest land by the knoll in question and emerging from the timber a short distance beyond. Thence it continued in southwesterly course over the Blue Earth, Watonwan, and the boundless prai- ries to the mouth of the Big Sioux river. The burial must have occurred long before the ad- vent of the white settlers in 1853, as all traces of the graves had been obliterated. The In- dians of the locality, also, must have forgotten their existence, as they made no mention of them to anyone. All of which indicates that the tragedy connected with those bones was very ancient. The headless conditions of the skeletons and the two flint arrow heads with broken tips found with the bones, point quite conclusively to Indians as the authors of the bloody deed. The laying out of the bodies and their burial in dug gro/ves is fully as conclusive evidence, tliat the interment was the work of white men. The Indians never buried in this manner and had no implements for the purpose. Prior to the advent of the white settlers there were no white persons in this locality, except the French occupants of Ft. Le Hviillier. History states that during the occupation of this fort a most hitter warfare was in progress between the Foxes and their allies and the Sioux and that in the spring of 1703 the former made a hostile raid to the vicinity of the Fort and that they killed three French men, but how many of their Sioux foes, if any, they killed is not stated. From these and other known data, it is quite probable that the tragedy connected with the skeletons found on the Mitchell farm dates b;ick to the spring of 1703. The only conclu- sion, which fits all the facts is that at that time a large war party of the Foxes and their allies crossed the Mississippi and following the us- ually deserted prairies south of the Big Woods, stole up unobserved to the neighborhood of Ft. Le Huillier, with intent to wreak vengeance on 18 PIISTOKY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. their old enemies, tlie Sioux, and at the same time brealc up tlie fort,- which was affording their foe the benefits of trade with the whites. Taking advantage of the mound now on the Jlitcliell farm with its thick In-usli and timber and the grassy swale beside it, they made here an ambush on the old well beaten trail, which led from the fort and the Minnesota valley to the great j^outhwcs^t. In due time a long, lino of Dakota braves accompanied by some of the voyao-ers attached to the traders at the fort, came winding their way along the path. As they were passing over the mound the silence was suddenly broken by blood curdling war whoops, liursting from a liundred savage throats, and a deadly shower of arrows, mingled with a few bullets, smote them from every side and seventeen, jDerhaps more, fell in the trail. The rest fled through the woods in dismay back to the fort. It took the Foxes but a few moments to rush upon the fallen victims and with their sharp knives cut off their heads to carry back to their Wisconsin villages as gorey and ghastly ti'ophies for the scalp dance. The news of the terrible tragedy soon reached the fort and caused the wildest excitement. Armed with their guns a portion of the garrison went out to view the scene of the carnage. Prompted by dictates of humanity and of their religion, the miners, who had but recently come from civil- heA Prance, procured their picks and shovels a ad buried the bodies. The Indians were hu- man beings and the French doubtless had known most of the dead intimately for nearly two years and it behooved them to give their red friends the rite of a christian burial at least. Then if among the slain were three French voyagers, it gave an added- reason for the burial. Terrified by this bloody massacre and having but little ammunition, the garrison at once cached what goods they could not carry and evacuated the fort, passing hastily down the river to Mobile. The adventures of these first white settlers in Blue Earth County over two hundred years ago are full of interest. Our information is derived fj'om two main sources. One being the extracts copied from the Journal of Le Sueur, the leader of the expedition, by Bernard de le Harpe in his "History of Louisiana." Le Harpe was a French oifieer, who about two hundred )ears ago wrote a liistory of the old French province of Louisana in which Blue Earth County was then situated. It was \\ritten in French and remained unpub- lished for over a hundred years. Unfortunately the Journal of Le Sueur, from which these ex- tracts were taken, has been lost. Our other source of information is a little French book entitled "The Eelation of Penicaut.'' As we stated before Penicaut was a shipwright, who accompanied Le Sueur on his expedition to the Blue Earth. He remained at Ft. Le Huillier only one winter and then returned to the Lower ilississippi. Twenty years later he visited France tn receive medical treatment for his eyes. While these stories of his adventures in the new world excited so much interest, that they were re- duced to writing at Ms dictation, the manu- script remained at Paris unpublished for one hundred and fifty years, but in 1869 it was bought by ilr. SpofEord, librarian of Congress, and printed in a small volume. The portion of Penicaut's book relating to Le Sueur's expedition to the Blue Earth we will give entire. PENICAUT NAEEATIA^E. Having ascended the St. Peter (Minnesota) river forty leagaies and finding another river on the left falling into it he continues, "We call- ed this Green River, because it is of that color by reason of a green earth, which loosening itself fiom the copper mines, becomes dissolved in it and makes it green. A league up this river we found a point of land a quarter of a league dis- tant from the woods, and it was upon this point that M. Le Sueur resolved to build his fort, because we could not go any higher on account of the ice, it being the last day of September, when winter, -which is very severe in that counti-y, has already begun. Half of our people went hunting, whilst the others Morked on the fort. Wc killed four hundred bufEaloes, which were our pro- \isions for the ^vinter, and which we placed upon scaft'olds in our fort, after having skinned and cleaned and then quartered them. We also made cabins in the fort, and a magazine to keep our goods. After having drawn up ottr shallop with- in the inclosure of the fort, we spent the winter in our cabins, HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUATTY. 19 When we were working on our fort, in the beginning, seven Fi-eneh traders of Canada took refuge there. They had been pillaged and strip- ped naked by the Sioux, a wandering nation living only by hunting and rapine. Amongst these seven persons there was a Canadian gen- tlemen of M. Le Sueur's acquaintance, whom he recognized at once and gave him some clothes, as he did also to all the rest, and whate%'er else was necessary for them. They re- iriained with us during the entire winter at our fort, where we had not food enough for all, except the flesh of our buffaloes, which we had not even salt to eat with. We had a good deal of trouble the first two A\'eeks in getting used to it, having diarrhoea and fever, and being so tired of it that we hated the very smell. But little by little our bodies got adapted to it, so well that at the end of six weeks there was not one of us that could not eat six pounds of meat a day and drink four bowls of the broth. As soon as we were accustomed to this kind of living it made us very fat, and there was then no more sickness amongst us. When spring arrived we went to work on the copper mine. This was in the beginning of April of this year, (1701). We took with us twelve laborers and four hunters. This mine was situated about three quarters of a league from our post. We took from the mine in twen- ty-two days more than thirty thousand pounds weight of ore, of which we only selected four thousand pounds, of the finest, which M. Le Sueur, who was a very good judge of it, had carried to the fort and which has since been sent to France, though I have not learned the result. This mine is situated at the beginning of a very long mountain ■\\'hich is upon the bank of the river, so that boats can go right to the mouth of the mine itself. At this place is the green earth, which is a foot and a half in thick- ness, and above it is a layer of earth as firm and hard as stone, and black and burnt like coal by the exhalation from the mine. The copper is scratched out with a knife. There are no trees upon this mountain. If this mine is good it will make a great trade, because the mountain con- tains more than ten leagues running of the same ground. It appears, according to our observa- tions, that in the very finest weather there is continually a fog upon this mountain. After twenty-two days' work we returned to our fort, where the Sioux, who belong to the nation of savages who pillaged the Canadians that come there, brought us merchandises of furs. They had more than four hundred beaver robes, each robe being of nine skins sewed togeth- er. ]\I. Le Sueur purchased these and many other skins which he bargained for in the week he traded with the savages. He made them all come and camp near the fort, which they consented to very unwillingly; for this nation, which is very numerous, is always wandering, living only by hunting, and when they have stayed a few days in one place they have to go off more than ten leagues from it for game for tlicir support. They have, however, a dwell- ing place, where they gather together the natural fruits of the country, which are very different from those of the lower IMississippi, as for in- stance cherries which are in clusters like our grapes of France, cranberries which are similar to our strawberries but larger and somewhat sfjuare in shape, nuts, cliokeberries, roots which resemble our truffles, et cetera. There are also more kinds of trees than on the lower part of the river, as the birch, maple, plane, and cotton- wood, which last is a tree that grows so thick that there are some that are fifteen feet round. As to the trees called maple and plane it is usual at the beginning of ^Farch to make notclies in them, and then placing tubes in the notches cause the liquid to run off into a vessel placed below to receive it.^ These trees will flow in abundance during three months, from the begin- ning of IMarch to the end of "May. The juice they yield is very sweeet. it is boiled till it turns to syrup, and if it is boiled still more it becomes brown sugar. The cold is still severer in these countries than it is in Canada. During the winter we passed in our fort we heard the trees exploding like nui^ket shots, being cracked by the rigor of the cold. The ice is as thick as there is water in the river, and the snow is condensed in it. Bv the month of April all this snow and ice lies on the ground to the depth of five feet, which 20 HISTOlJy OP BLUB EAllTH COUNTY. causes the overflowing of the Mississippi in the spring. About the beginning of winter in this country, that is to say in the month of September, the bears climb trees that are hollow and hide them- selves inside, where they remain from six to seven months without ever leaving, getting no other nourishment during the winter than by licking their paws. "When they enter they are extremely lean, and when they go out they are so plump that they have half a foot of fat on tbem. It is almost always in the cottonwood or cypress that the bear hides himself, because these trees are generally hollow. In hunting them a tree is placed leaning against the tree where the bear is and reaching up to the hole by which he entered. The hunter climbs by this leaning tree to the other one, and throws into the hollow some pieces of dry wood all on fire, which obliges the animal to come out to save himself from being burned. Wlien the bear leaves the hole of the tree he comes down backwards, as a man would do, and then they shoot him. This hunting is very dangerous, for though the animal may be wounded sometimes by three or four gun shots, he will still fall upon the first person he meets, and with a single blow of his teeth and claws will tear you up in a moment. There are some as large as carriage horses, so strong that they can easily break a tree as thick as one's thigh. The nation of the Sioux hunt them very much, using them for food and trading their skins with the French Canadians. We sell in return wares which come very dear to the buyers, es- pecially tobacco from Brazil in the proportion of a hundred crowns to the pound, two little horn handled knives or four leaden bullets are equal to ten crowns in exchange for their mer- chandises of skins and so with the rest. In the beginning of May we launched our shal- lop in the water and loaded it with this green earth that had been taken out of the mines and with the furs we had traded for, of which we brought away three canoes full. M. Le Sueur, before going, held council with Mr. D'Eraque the Canadian gentleman, and the three great chiefs of the Sioux, three brothers, and told them that as he had to return to the sea he desired them to live in peac« with M. D'Eraque, whom he left in command of Fort L'Huillier, with twelve Frenchmen. M. Le Sueur made a considerable present to the three brothers, chiefs of the savages, desiring them never to abandon the French. After this we, the twelve men whom he had chosen to go down to the sea with 'him embarked. In setting out M. Le Sueur promised to M. D'Eraque and the twelve Frenchmen, who remained with him to guard the fort, to send up munitions of war from the Illinois county as soon as he should arrive there; and which he did, for on getting there he sent off to him a canoe loaded with two thousand pounds of lead and powder, with three of our people in charge of it. In this same time il. D'Iberville had sent a boat laden with munitions of war and provisions, to M. de St. Denie, commanding the fort on the bank of the Mississippi. They found there i\I. D'Eraque, who had arrived with the twelve Frenchmen, who remained with him at fort L'Huillier. He came shortly after in the same boat to Mobile, where M. D'Iberville, was, whom he saluted, and reported to him that M. Le Sueur having left him at the fort L'Huillier, had promised him, in parting, to send him from the Illinois country, ammunition and provisions, and that having looked for them a long time without hearing any news of them he had been attacked by the nations of the Maskoutins and Poxes, who had killed three of our Frenchmen whilst they were working in the woods but two gun shots beyond the fort; that when the savages had retreated he had been obliged, after having concealed the merchandises he had remaining, and seeing that he was out of powder and lead, to abandon the fort and descend with his peo- ple to the sea." Because of their special connection with Blue Earth County we also take from Le Harpe's his- tory those extracts from Le Sueur's Journal which pertain to Ft. Le Huillier. LE SUEUE'S JOUENAL. "After he entered into the Blue river, thus named on account of the mines of blue earth found at its mouth, he founded his post, situated in forty-four degrees, 'thirteen minutes, north HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. latitude. He met at this place, nine Sioux who told him that the river belonged to the Sioux of the west; the Ayavios, (lowas) and Otoctatas, (Ottoes), who lived a little farther off; that it was not their custom to hunt on ground belong- ing to others, unless invited to do so by the own- ers, and that when they would come to the fort to obtain provisions, they would be in danger of being killed in ascending or descending the rivers, which were narrow, and that if they v/ould show their pity, he must establish himself on the Mississippi, near the mouth of the St. Pierre, where the Ayavois, the Otoctatas, and the other Sioux could go as well as they. Having finished their speech, they leaned over the head of Le Sueur, according to their custom, crying out. "Oueachissou ouaspanimanabo," that is to say, "Have pity upon us.'' Le Sueur had forseen that the establishment of Blue riv- er would not please the Sioux of the oast, who were, so to speak, masters of the other Sioux and of the nations which will be here- after mentioned, because they were the first with whom trade was commenced, and in conse- quence of which they had already quite a number of guns. As he had not commenced his operations only v/ith a view to the trade of beavers, but also to gain a knowledge of the mines, which he had pi'eviously discovered, he told them he was sorry that he had not known their intentions sooner; and that it was just, since he came expressly for them that he should establish himself on their land, but that the season was too far advanced for him to return. He then made them a present of powder, balls and knives, and an armful of tobacco, to entice them to assemble as soon as possible, near the fort which he was about to construct; that when they should be all assem- bled he might tell them the intention of the king, their and his sovereign. The Sioux of the west, according to the statement of the eastern Sioux, have more than a thousand lodges. They do not use canoes, noi cultivate the earth, nor gather wild rice. They remain generally in the prairies, which are between . the Upper Mississippi and ilissouri rivers, and live entirely by the chase. The Sioux generally say they have three souls, and that, after death, that which has done well goes to the warm country, and that which has done evil to the cold regions, and the other guards the body. Polygamy is common among them. They are very jealous, and sometimes fiight in duel for their wives. They manage the bow ad- mirably, and have been seen several times to kill ducks on the wing. They make their lodges of a number of buffalo skins interlaced and sewed, and carry them wherever they go. They are all great smokers, but their manner of smoking differs from that of other Indians. There are some Sioux who swallow all the smoke of the tobacco and others who, after hav- ing kept it some time in their mouth, cause it to issue from, the nose. In each lodge there are usually two or three men with their families. On the 3d of October, they received at the fort several Sioux, among whom was Wahken- tape, chief of the village. Soon two Canadians arrived who had been hunting, and had been roblDcd by the Sioux of the east, who had raised their guns against the establishment which M. Le Sueur had made on Blue River. On the 14th the fort was finished and named "Fort L'Huillier" and on the 22nd two Cana- dians were sent out to invite the Ayavois and Otoctatas to come and establish a village near the fort, because these Indians are industrious and accustomed to cultivate the earth, and they hoped to get provisions from them and to make them work in the mines. On the 2ith, six Sioux Oujalespoitons wished to go into the fort, but were told that they did not receive men who had killed Frenchmen. This is the term used when they have insulted them. The next day they came to the lodge of IjC Suettr to beg him to have pity on them. 1'Jiey wished according to custom, to weep over his head, and make him a present of packs of beavers, which he refused. He told them he v^'as surprised that people who had robbed should come to him; to which they replied that they had heard it said that two Frenchmen had been robbed, but none from their village had been present at that wicked action. Le Sueur answered that he knew it was the Jlendeoucantons and not the Oujalespoitons; "but," continued he, "you are Sioux; it is the HISTOEY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. Sioux who have robbed me, and if I were to follow your manner of acting, I should break your heads; for is it not true, that when a stranger (it is thus that they call the Indiana who are not Sioux) has insulted a Sioux, Mendeoucanton, Oujalespoitons or others — all the villages — revenge upon the first one they meet?" As they had nothing to answer to what he said to them, they wept and repeated, according to custom, "Ouaechissou, ouaepanimanabo ;" Le Sueur told them to cease crying, and added that the French had good hearts, and that they had come into the country to have pity on them. At the same time he made them a present, saying to them, "Carry back your beavers and say to all the Sioux, that they will have from me no more powder or lead, and they will no longer smoke any long pipe until they have made satisfaction for robbing the Frenchmen." The same day the Canadians, who had. been sent off on the 32nd, arrived without having found the road which led to the Ayavois and Otoctatas. On the 25th Le Sueur went to the river with three canoes, which he filled with blue and green earth. It is taken from the hills near which are very abundant mines of copper, some of which was worked at Paris in 1696 by I/Huillier, one of the chief collectors of the kind. Stones were also found there which would be curious, if worked. On the 9th of November, eight Mantanton Sioux arrived, who had been sent by their chiefs to say that the Mendeoueantons were still at their lake on the east of the Mississippi and they could not come for a long time; and that for a single village which has no good sense, the others ought not to bear the punishment; and that they were willing to make reparation if they knew how. Le Sueur replied that he \7as glad that they had a disposition to do so. On the 15th the two Mantanton Sioux, who had been sent expressly to say that all of the Sioux of the east and part of those of the west were Joined together' to come to the French because they had heard that the Christianaux and the Assinipoils were making war on them. These two nations dwell above the fort on the east side, more than eighty leagues on the Up- per Mississippi. The Assinipoils speak Sioux, and are cer- tainly of that nation. It is only a few years since they became enemies. The enmity thus originated: The Christianaux, having the use of arms before the Sioux, through the English at Hudson's Bay, they constantly warred upon the Assinipoils, who were their nearest neigh- bors. The latter being weak, sued for peace, and to render it more lasting, married the Christianaux women. The other Sioux, who had not made the compact continued to war; and seeing some Christianaux with the Assini- poils broke their heads. The Christianaux fur- nished the Assinipoils with arms and merchan- dise. On the 16th, the Sioux returned to their village, and it was reported that the Ayavois and the Otoctatas were going to establish them- selves towards the Missouri river, near the Maha, who dwell in that region. On the 26th, the Mantantons and Oujalespoitons arrived at the fort; and after they had encamped in the woods, Wahkentape came to beg Le Sueur to go to his lodge. He there found sixteen men v/ith women and children, with their faces daubed with black. In the middle of the lodge ^^'ere several buffalo skins, which were sewed for a' carpet. After motioning him to sit down, they wept for the fourth of an hour, and the chief gave him some wild rice to eat, (as was their custom) putting the first three spoonsful to his mouth. After which, he said all present were relatives of Tioscate, whom Le Sueur took to Canada in 1695, and who died there in 1696. At the mention of Tioscate they began to weep again, and wipe their tears and heads upon the shoulders of Le Sueur. Then Wah- kentape again spoke, and said that Tioscate begged him to forget the insult done to the Frenchmen by the Mendeoueantons, and take pity on his brethren by giving them powder and balls whereby they could defend themselves, and gain a living for their wives and children, who languished in a country full of game be- cause they had not the means of killing them. "Look," added the chief, "Behold thy child- ren, thy brethren, and thy sisters; it is to thee HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. ■rA to see whether thou wishest them to die. They will live if thou givest them powder and ball; they will die if thou refusest." Le Sueur granted them their request, but as the Sioux never answer on the spot, especially in matters of importance, he • went out of the lodge without saying a word. The chief and all those within followed him as far as the door of the fort; and when he had gone in, they went around it three times; crying with all their strength, "Atheouanan" that is to say, "Father, have pity on us." (Ate unyanpi, moans "our father.'") The next day he assembled in the fort the principal men of both villages; and as it is not possible to subdue the Sioux or to hinder them from going to war, unless it be by inducing them to cultivate the earth, he said to them that if they wished to render themselves worthy of the protection of the king, they must abandon their errant life, and form a village near his dwelling, where they would be shielded from the insults of their enemies; and that they might be happy and not hungry, he would give them all the corn necessary to plant a large piece of ground; that the king, their and his chief, in sending him, had forbidden him to purchase beaver skins, knowing that this kind of hunting separates them and exposes them to their enemies; and that in consequence of this he had come to establish himself on Blue river and vicinity, where they had many times assured him were many kinds of beasts, for the skins of which he would give them all things necessary; that they ought to reflect that they could not do without French goods, and that the only way not to want them was, not to go to war with our allied nations. As it is customary with the Indians to ac- company their word with a present proportioned to the affair treated of, he gave them fifty pounds of powder, as many balls, six guns, ten axes, twelve armsfuls of tobacco and a hatchet pipe. On the 1st of December, the Mantantons in- vited Le Sueur to a great feast. Of four of their lodges they had made one, in which was one hundred men seated around, and every one his dish before him. After the meal, Wah- kentape, the chief, made them all smoke one after another in the hatchet pipe which had been given them. He then made a present to Le Sueur of a slave and a sack of rice, and said to him, showing him his men: "Behold the remains of this great village, which thou hast aforetunes seen so numerous! All the others have been killed in war; and the few njen whom thou seest in this lodge, accept the present thou hast made them, and are re- solved to obey the great chief of all nations, of whom thou hast spoken to us. Thou ought- est not to regard us as Sioux, but as French, and instead of saying the Sioux are miserable, and have no mind, and are fit for nothing but to rob and steal from the French, thou shalt say my brethren are miserable and have no mind, and we must try to procure some for them. They rob us, but I will take care that they do not lack corn, that is to say, all kinds of goods. If thou dost this I assure thee that in a little time, the Mantantons will be- come Frenchmen, and they will have none of tliose vices with which thou reproachest us." Having finished his speech, he covered his face with his garment, and the others imitated him. They wept over their companions who had died in war, and chanted an adieu to their country in a tone so gloomy that one could not keep from partaking of their sorrow. Wahkentape then made them smoke again, and distributed the presents, and said that he was going to the ilendeoucantons, to inform them of the resolution, and invite them to do the same. On the 12 th, three Mendeoucanton chiefs and a large number of Indians of the same, village, arrived at the fort, and the next day gave sat- isfaction for robbing the Frenchmen. They brought 400 pounds of beaver skins, and prom- ised that the summer following, after their canoes were built and they had gathered their wild rice, that they would come and establish themselves near the French. The same day tliey returned to their village east of the ilis- sissippi. CHAPTER IV. FEATHERSTONHAUGH SUMMER'S EX- PEDITION— FIRST STEAMBOAT EX- CURSION ON THE MISSISSIPPI. After the adventures of the intrepid Le Sueur a long period of silence fell upon the country of the Blue Earth. Doubtless the region was occasionally visited by some of the bold French voyagers, who swarmed everywhere over the northwest in those days in the interest of the fur companies, but they have left us no record. Along toward the end of the first week in December, 1766, a venturous Connecticut Yan- kee, named Captain Jonathan Carver, bent on an exploring tour of the western wildes, passed up the Minnesota, by the mouth of the Blue I'^arth, in an Indian canoe, with one or two In- dian guides in his company. How far he as- cended the river is not very definitely known. Some think it was to a point opposite the mouth of the Big Cottonwood. He himself states in his book that the distance from the mouth of the Minnesota to Carver river was 40 miles, and from there to the mouth of the Blue Earth another forty miles, and that the total distance he ascended the river was 200 miles. This would make the place where he met the large camp of Indians with whom he spent the win- ter, somewhere between Granite Falls and Lac qui Parle on the north bank of the river. The chart he drew indicates the spot to have been in that vicinity as well as the number of days hfc spent on the Journey. Though it was the ?th of December when he reached the Indian village still the river was free of ice. Indeed, it seems to have been a very mild and open wmter. In commenting on the weather Carver says, that there was very little snow all winter and that it did not seem to him as cold as the New England winters. He, also, states that the Indians claimed that this was an average win- ter, and that the fact that they had no snow shoes, showed that the snowfall was generally hght. During his five months sojourn among these Sissetons, he went on frequent hunting trips, but what explorations he made into the coun- try of the Blue Earth we are not told though we gather that he made some. He was evi- dently much impressed with the beauty of the locality from the word pictures he drew of its fine scenery. "The river St. Pierre, which runs through the territories of the Naudowessies, flows through a most delightful country, abounding with all the necessaries of life that grow spontaneously, and with a little cultivation it might be made to produce even the luxuries of life. Wild rice grows here in great abundance; and every part is filled with trees bending under their loads of fruit, such as plums, grapes and ap- ples; the meadows are covered with hops, and many sorts of vegetables, whilst the ground is stored with useful roots, with angel- ica, spikenard, and ground-nuts as large as hen's eggs. At a little distance from the sides of the river are eminences from which you liave views that cannot be exceeded even by the most beautiful of those I have already de- scribed; amidst these are delightful groves, and such amazing quantities of maples that they would produce sugar sufficient for any number of inhabitants. "Near the branch which is termed the Mar- ble river is a mountain, from whence the In- dians get a sort of red stone, out of which they hew the bowls of their pipes. In some of these parts is found a black hard clay, or 25 26 HISTORY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. rather stone of which the Naudowessie make their family -utensils. This country likewise abounds with a milk white clay of which chinaware might be made equal in goodness to the Asiatic; also with a blue clay that serves the Indians for paint, with this last they contrive by mixing it with the red stone powdered, to paint themselves of diSerent colors. Those that can get the blue clay here mentioned paint themselves very much with it particularly when they are about to begin their sports and pastimes. It is also es- teemed by them a mark of peace, as it has a resemblance of blue sky, which with them is a svmbol of it, and make use of it in their speeches as a figurative expression to denote peace when they wish to show that their in- clinations were pacific toward other tribes, they greatly ornament both themselves and their belts with it." Another long silence ensues and in May 1820 two Scotchmen, named Graham and Laidlow, from Lord Selkirk's Colony at Pem- bina, who had been down to Prairie du Chien to purchase seed for the Eed river settlements, whose fields had been devastated by grasshop- pers, passed in three Mackinaw boats up the Minnesota. The boats were loaded with two hundred bushels of wheat, one hundred bushels of oats and thirty bushels of peas, and pro- pelled by six men on each boat with long poles. Along bcth sides of each boat a foot board was placed, and the men ranged in order upon .these boards three on each side. Each in turn would walk to" the front of the boat, plant his pole in the bottom of the river and push the boat ahead walk- ing as he did so along the foot board un- til he reached the rear, where he would pick up his pole and return to the head of the boat and repeat the process. For over a hundred years this method of navigation was common on the Minnesota and other western streams. Ixearly always the boatmen were French voy- agers, who by practice had special skill in this work. It was their custom to sing as they handled their poles, and often in those days of the fur trade the echoes of the Min- i:esota valley were awakened by the melodies of old France. In the present instance the crews pushed their freighted boats up the Minnesota into Big Stone Lake, hauled them on rollers across the portage of one and one- half miles into Lake Traverse and thence de- scending the Sioux Wood river and Eed river to the Pembina country where they arrived June 3rd, 1820. Here they sold their produce at a good price and the crews returned on foot as far as Big Stone Lake and thence in canoes down the Minnesota and Mississippi to Prairie du Chien. Charles St. Antoine, who in 1856, lived near Xorthfield, Miinn., was one of the number. In further evidence of the use made of our wa- ters in those early days, and the skill display- ed by the French voyagers in their navigation, we are told that in the early part of the eigh- teenth century La Framboise and his voyagers, after spending the winter trapping and purchasing furs along the upper Des Moines, dragged their boats across a portage of a mjile and a half only, between the waters of the Des Moines and the waters of the Watonwan, and descending the latter stream to the Blue Earth, found their way into the Minnesota and Mississippi with their cargoes of peltries. This portage from the Des Moines into the Watonwan was in the vicinity of Windom, into a lake called by the Indians, Tchan-shetcha (Drywood Lake), which formed the source of one of the f(irks of the Watonwan. The portage seemed to have been noted enough to find a place on Nicollet's map, which indicates -the use made of the Watonwan in the traffic of the fur traders. Some years ago as a farmer named Kem- nitz was excavating for a barn at the foot of the bluff Just across the river from the old village of South Bend he discovered the stone foundaljion of some ancient building. It was buried three or four feet under ground and large trees had grown over it. Evidently there had been an excavation made into the bluff and the rear wall built five or six feet high and about forty feet long against the bluff and two lateral walls about 24 feet long . erect- ed for the sides. The inner surface of the stone had been dressed and the wall laid HISTORY OF BLtJE EAETH COUNTY. 27 in mortar. A superstructure and front of and taste yet the French readily adopted all logs had been doubtless used to complete the the squalor and roughness of barbarism. Their building. This log part had probably burnt, ambition was not to lay the foundations of as the inner surface of the stones had been a home, but of a fortune. They came not to blackened by smoke and glazed by heat, and possess the land, but its spoils. They found a most of the rear wall had fallen in. A pile vald country, with wilder inhabitants, and left of ashes, some clam shells, and what seemed both unchanged. They sojourned in the land to be an liron poker, which crumbled when a hundred and fifty years and then suddenly touched, were found inside. Probably this the land knew them not. Another people with was the site of some ancient trading post a different purpose discovered the same wil- dating back one hundred and fifty to two derness and it disappeared. They looked the hundred years. There is no record or tradi- same savagery in the face and it vanished, tion of anv such post in this vicinity, but the and the old order quickly gave place to the ruins remain to tell the only tale of a business new. These newcomers have known the land hard- venture of some white man iin the long ago. ly fifty years, but the impress they have made From these glimpses into this western wil- upon it cannot be effaced in a thousand years, derness by the Blue Earth during the century It is to the coming of these miracle workers of and half prior to the advent of the settlers modern civilization — ^these invincibles of a vital we find that it was not wholly untouched Christianity that we now turn, by the foot of the pale face. On the contrary In the summer of lft23 ilaj. Stephen H. that hardy race of French traders and voy- Long of the U. S. Army made an exploring agers hunted and trapped in these forests and trip up the ilinnesota river to its source, valleys and plains for ages before the coming under directions of the secretary of war, and of the modern agriculturist. In daring, en- his notes were published in the government durance and resourcefulness these Arabs of reports. He was accompanied by Prof. Wjil- our northern frontier could not be surpassed, liam Keating of the University of Pennsyl- Their lives were a succession of adventures and vania, who wrote a book giving a full account replete with herolism. Quick, yet cool, fear- of the expedition, which was published in two less, yet cautious, affable yet stern, they were volumes in 1885 at London. In the same ex- well fitted to meet the savagery, which sur- pedition also came an eccentric Italian, J. C. rounded them. Deprivations and hardships Beltrami, who, also, wrote an account of the never dulled their ardor or dissipated their trlip in French, which was published in New light heartedness. With merry Jest and song Orleans. This expedition and the various books they cheered the gloom of the evening camp written about it, attracted wide attention to fires, and the weariness of the long pull the Minnesota Valley. The expedition, how- against the current or of the heavy load across ever, did not touch Blue Earth county, but the portage. They built no permanent abodes purposely avoided it by a portage over land but roamed over the great commons of nature from Traverse Des Sioux to Eed Stone be- at their will. In their day, these experts of cause of the hostility of the Indians about the the wilderness, made not only the Minnesota, mouth of the Blue Earth, inspired by the sad but the Blue Earth and all its tributaries fate of their chief Mazakoota. highways of their commerce. History, how- In 1835 an Englishman, named Geo. W. ever, has preserved but few annals of these Featherstonhaugh, who had been commissioned Nimrods of the West, and hence we must pass U. S. Geologist by Col. J. J. Ahert of the them by, and come to the real forerunners of bureau of Topographical Engineers, made an our modern civilization, the explorers, who exploring trip up the Minnesota valley. In attracted the attention of the home seeker to the Company was Prof. William W. Mather, the country. a native of Connecticut, then a scientific in- While retaining a certain native politeness structor at West Pdint, but later state geolo- 28 HISTORY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. gist of Ohio. A man of great scientific ability, principally as a geologist. Two works were published as the fruit of this expedition. One an official report pub- lished by the government in 1836 and the other entitled "A Canoe Voyage up the Miin- naj'-sotar" published in London in 1847; both of which helped to call attention to the coun- try. In the latter work Featherstonhaugh speaks of a trip he took up the Blue Earth to investigate the copper mine of Le Sueur. As this portion of his narrative pertains to Blue Earth County, it has a special interest to us and we give it in an abridged form. "September 22nd, (1835) soon after 8 A. M. we came to the mouth of the Mahkatoh or 'Blue Earth Biver.' This was a bold stream, about 80 yards wide, loaded with mud of a bluish color, evidently the cause of the St. Peter's being so turbid. It was not far from the mouth of this river that M. Le Sueur was asserted to have discovered in 1692 an immense deposit of copper ore. No traveller had ever entered the river to investigate his statement; I therefore directed the head of the canoe to be turned into the stream. Having ascended it about a mile, we found a Sisseton family established with tlieir skin lodge upon a sand bar. These people constantly asserted that they knew of no re- mains of any old fort or stone building in that part of the country. Whilst we were negotiat- ing this exchange, it began to snow for the first time this autumn. Pushing on, we passed a singular conical grassy hill on the right bank, which commanded all the vicinity, and appeared to be a likely situation for the site of Le Sueur's fort. About twelve, we came to a fork or branch coming' down on our right, about forty-five yards broad, and we turned into it, having a well wooded blufl! on the right bank, about ninety feet high. We had not proceeded three-quarters of a mile when we reached the place which the Sissetons had described to us as being that to which the Indians resorted for their pigment. This was a bluff about 150 feet high, on the left bank, and from the slope being much trodden and worn away, I saw at once that it was a locality which for some pur- pose or other had been frequented from a very remote period. We accordingly stopped there, ■\\rhilst I examined the place. "As soon as I had reached that part of the bluff whence the pigment had been taken, Le Sueur's story lost aU credit with me, for I ii'Stantly saw that it was nothing but a con- tinuation of the seam which divided the sand- stone from the limestone, and which I have be- fore spoken of at the Myah Skah, as contain- ing a silicate of iron of a bluish-green color. "The concurrent account of all the Indians we had spoken with, that this was the place tlie aborigines had always resorted to, to pro- cure their pigment, and the total silence of everybody since Le Sueur's visit respecting any deposit, of copper ore, in this or any other part of- the country, convinced me that the story of his copper mines was a fabulous one, most probably invented to raise himself in impor- tfince with the French government of that day. Charlevoix having stated that the mine was only a league atid three-quarters from the mouth of the Terre Bleu, made it certain that I was now at that locality, and the seam of coloured earth gave the key to the rest. Le Sueur's account of the mine being at the foot of a mountain ten leagues long, was as idle as the assertion that he had obtained 30,000 pounds of copper ore in twenty-two days, for there is nothing like a mountain in the neighborhood. The blufi, to be sure, rises to the height of 150 feet from the river; but when you have, ascended it, you find yourself at the top of a level prairie. Finding the copper mine to be a fable, I turned niy attention — &c., &c." In 1838 Jean N. Nicollet, a fine scholar, and the most accurate and thorough of all the ex- plorers of the Northwest, after whom Nicollet County is named, visited Blue Earth County. He came in the employ of the U. - S. Govern- ment to gather material for a map of the upper Mississippi region, and the famous explorer, soldier and statesman. General John C. Fre- mont was commissioned as his special assistant. A number of specialists were, also, attached to the expedition. They made quite an extended tour of the county to explore its many rivers and lakes, so that they might be properly delin- eated on the proposed map, and Nicollet was HLSTOEV OF BLUE EAETH COFXTY. 29 careful to note their Indian names. A number of astronomic observations were taken at dif- ferent points to determine the longitude and latitude, and the elevation above the sea. At the mouth of the Blue Earth, on the Le Sueur in McPherson, on the Cobb in Beauford or Medo, on the Maple in Lyra, on the Blue Earth in Shelby and Vernon Center, in Pleasant Mound, on the Watonwan in Garden City, and doubtless at other points in the county, these scientific measurements were made, and the di- rections of the rivers and the general topography of the country noted. The flora of the region was gathered, and the geology inspected, and every matter of special interest investigated and reported. Xicollet was particularly impressed by the great number of streams tributary to the Blue Earth and his fine poetic fancy suggested the fitting name of "Undine" for this land of rivers, after the famous German romance of Fouque. We quote from Nicollet's narrative a short passage regarding the country of which Blue Earth County is now the center. "Among these that which appeared to me the most favorable, is the one watered liy the bold Mankato or Blue Earth river, and to which I have given the name of 'Uiidine region.' The great number of the navigable tributaries of the Mankato, spreading themselves out in the shape of a fan; the group of lakes surrounded by well-wooded hills ; some wide-spreading prai- ries with fertile soil ; others apparently less favored, but open to .improvement the whole to- gether bestow upon this region a most pictures- que appearance. It was while on a visit to lakes Okamanpidan and Tchanhassan (Little Heron and Maplewood lakes), that it occurred in me to give it the name tliat I have adopted, derived from that of an interesting and roman- tic German tale, the heroine of which be- longed to the extensive race of water-spirits living in the brooks and rivers and lakes, whose father was a mighty prince. She was, moreover, the niece of a great brook (the Mankato) who lived in the midst of forests, and was beloved by all the many great streams of the surround- ing country, etc, etc. "The Mankato becomes navigable witli boats within a few miles of its sources. It is deep, with a moderate current along a great portion of its course, but becomes very rapid on its ap- proach to the St. Peter's. Its bed is narrowly walled up by banks rising to an elevation of from sixty to eighty feet, and reaching up to the uplands through which the river flows. These banks are frequently cliffs, or vertical escarpments, such as the one called by the Sioux, "Manya Kickaksa," or "cleft elevation." The breadth of the valley through which it flows is scarcely a quarter of a mile. The latter, as well as the high grounds are well wooded; the timber beginning to spread out on both shores, especially since they have become less fre- quented by the Sioux hunters, and are not so often fired. But the crossings of the river are hard to find, requiring to be pointed out by an experienced guide. I have laid down on the map my route over the Undine region, and the geographical positions of the crossing places will be found in the table at the end of the report. "On the left bank of the Mankato, six miles from it^ mouth in a rocky bluff, composed of sandstone and limestone, are found cavities in which the famed blue or green earth, used by the Sioux as their principal pigment, is ob- tained. This material is nearly exhausted, and it is not likely that this is the spot where a Mr. Le Sueur (who is mentioned in the narra- tive of Major Long's Second Expedition, as aJso by Mr. Featherstonhaugh) could, in his tl'ird voyage during the year ITOO have collected his four thousand pounds of copper earth sent Ijy him to France. I have reason to believe that Le Sueur's location is on the river to which I have affixed his name, and which empties into the Mankato three quarters of a league above Fort L'Huillier, built by him, and where he spent a winter. "This location corresponds precisely with that given by Charlevoix, while it is totally inappli- cable to the former. Here the blue earth is abundant in the steep and elevated hills at the mouth of this river, which hills form a broken country on the right side of the Mankato. Mr. Fremont and myself have verified this fact — he during his visit to the Le Sueur river, and I upon the locality designated by ilr. Feather- stonhaugh, where the Dakotahs formerly as- 30 HISTOEY OF BLUE BAKTH COUNTY. sembled in great numbers to collect it, but to which they now seldom resort, as it is now com- paratively scarce — at least so I was told by SJeepy Eye, the chief of the Sissetons, who ac- companied me during this excursion. "As I did in the case of the red pipestone de- scribed above I will state the mineralogical char- acter of the Indian blue earth or clay. It is massive, somewhat plastic, emits an argillaceous odor when breathed upon; color bluish green; easily scratched with the nail, when formed into hardened balls. The acids have no action upon it; it is infusible before the blowpipe, but loses it.-- color and becomes brown. This color is due tc the peroxide of iron which it contains in the proportion of ten per cent at least. It con- tains no potash and but a small proportion of lime. It is a very different mineral from that described by Dr. Thompson under the name of pipe-clay." General Fremont speaks of their visit to the Blue Earth country and gives a glimpse of the party at work in the following extract we take from his "Memoirs:" "The Traverse des Sioux is a crossing place about thirty miles long, where the river makes a large rectangular bend, coming down from the northwest and turning abruptly to the northeast; the streams from the southeast, the south and southwest flowing into a low line of depression to where they gather into a knot at the head of tliis bend, and into its lowest part as into a bowl. In this great elbow of the river is the Marahtanka, or Big Swan Lake, the summer resort of the Sisseton Sioux." After describing their camp at the mouth of the Big Cottonwood he proceeds, "We were occupied quietly among the Indians, Mr. ISTicollet, as usual, surrounded by them, with the aid of the interpreter getting them to lay out the form of the lake, and the course of the streams entering the river near, and after repeated pronunciations, entering their names in his note book ; Geyer, followed bv some Indians, curiously watching him while digging up plants; and I more numerously attended, pouring out the quicksilver for the artificial horizon, each in his way busy at work; when suddenly every thing started into motion, the Indians running tumultuously to a little rise w^hich commanded a view of the prairie, all clamor and excitement. The commotion was caused by the appearance of two or three elk on the prairie horizon. Those of us who were strangers, and ignorant of their usages, fancied there must be at least a war party in sight." He further states, "AVhile Mr. Nicollet was oc- cupied in making a survey of the Le Sueur river, and identifying localities, and verifying accounts of preceding travelers, I was sent to make an examination of the Mankato or Blue Earth rivers, which bore on the subject he had in view." The results of this expedition were incor- porated by Mr. Nicollet in a very interesting and instructive report, which was accompanied by a large and most valuable map, the most complete and accurate of the upper Mississippi country, which up to that time had been pro- duced, and for years was the basis of most maps of the region. General J. K. Warren, a high authority, declares it to be; "One of the greatest contributions ever made to American geography." It probably did as much as any one thing in directing the attention of settlers to the Blue Earth region. Many of our pioneers attribute their coming to this part of the land to this map. In July, 1841, Gov. James D. Doty of Wis- consin, while negotiating a treaty with the In- dians at Traverse des Sioux, made a visit to the country of the Blue Earth to which he refers in a report the fojlowing year in these words: 'TTou are aware that at the mouth of the Mahkato river there was, a hundred years ago, a copper smelting establishment erected by a Frenchmen. I visited the ruins last summer. There is no. doubt in my mind that extensive beds of copper ore will be found in the valley of the Minisoto," etc. We wonder what the governor really saw to make him believe that they were the "ruins of a copper smelting es- tablishment," or to make him so sure that there was copper in the country. Early in October, 1844, Captain B. V. Sum- ner and Lieut. J. Allen with a company of dragoons from Fort Atkinson, while on an ex- pedition to Lac qui Parle to arrest some Indians, who had murdered three cattle drovers, passed HISTOKY OF BLUE BAETII COUNTY. 31 tlirough Blue Earth Count}', cutting a road for tlieir supply wagons through the timber, fol- lowing an old Indian trail from the present town of Decoria to where now stands the city o'f Mankato. They descended" into the valley over Bunker hill and camped one night near the south end of Front street. They passed down the valley to the crossing at Traverse des Sioux. In two or three weeks they returned by the same route with four or five Indian prisoners, but they did not prove tj be the real guilty ones. The following June therefore, Captain Sumner led a second expedi- tion over the same road. Henry M. Eice was sutler to these military campaigns. Seven years later the first settlers at Mankato discovered this old militar}' road and used it for a time. Be- side it in the timber the)', also, found a broken and abandoned military wagon. During 1847-50 a geological survey was made of the IMinnesota and Blue Earth rivers under direction of Dr. D. D. Owen. IMost of the work in Blue Earth County was done by Prof. B. F. Shumard. Extended reports of these surveys were published by the government. The year 1850 was mainly noted in the history of our ccmmonwealth because of its steamboat excur- sions up the Minnesota river. Prior to this year no steamer had ever ascended our sky-tinted river more than a few miles above its mouth. It was supposed to be unnavigable except for irackinaw boats and Indian canoes, especially beyond the Eapids at Carver. In the latter part of June, 1850, a big freslict occurred in tliC river just as the Anthony Wayne, a Mis- sissippi boat, in charge of Captain Able, ar- rived at St. Paul. The Wayne was a fairly good sized, side-wheel boat and had an excursion aboard of seventy persons from St. Louis. They ■s^ere a jolly crowd and had brought with them a string band from Quincy, Illinois, to help enliven the trip. Seeing so much water in the ^rinnesota, someone suggested an excursion upon it with the Wayne. After consultation with river pilots, who had been up the ]\Iinnesota in Mackinaw boats, Captain Abies concluded to make the venture. The people of St. Paul gen- erally took a great interest in the project through the efforts of Henry L. Tilden and David 01m- stead, and a purse of $225.00, to defray the ex- penses, was quickly raised. So on Friday, June 28th, 1850, the Anthony Wayne with over 150 of St. Paul's most prominent citizens and their seventy St. Louis guests on board, turned her prow up the unknown waters of tlie ilinnesota. At Fort Snelling the military band joined the jiarty. The day was [)erfect, the scenery, adorned with the luxuriant vegetation of the season was mag-nificent. The boat went as far as the rapids and returned to St. Paul by night without a single mishap. The success of the trip, the beauty and fertility of the great valley surpassed all expectations. Other boats grew envious of the sudden popularity of the Wayne. Two weeks later, another steamer, the ISTominee, thinking she could do as much and n:ore than her rival, got up another big ex- cursion and ascended not only to the rapids,, but through them, and having planted her shingle two or three miles above them returned in tri- umph. The Anthony Wayne, not to be outdone by the "Xominee" got tip another monster ex- cursion and on Thursday, July 18th. ascended the river to the big bend, a mile or two below the city of ]\Iankato. Animated by a spirit of emulation, Captain ^I. K. Harris of the 'TTan- kee" concluded to out do all the other boats. With the help of Colonel Goodhue and others hf, got up a big excursion party and on July S2nd, started up the now famous river. At Fort Snelling the military band was taken on board to help entertain the gala crowd. The "Yankee" had the advantage of being a smaller boat than the other two, and was a stern wheeler. Passing the shingles of the three former excur- sions, she arrived on the third night with her tlirong of sischtseers opposite the present village of Judson. The want of provisions, the excessive heat — 104 in the shade — and the pestiferous at- tacks of myriads of mosquitoes finally on the morrow induced our explorers to turn back. At noon they tarried a few minutes at the mouth oP the Blue Earth, where they found a log trad- ing post, belonging to H. H. Sibley in charge of a Frenchman. It stood at the base of Sibley 5[ound — at its northwest corner. Some of the party picked up a small lump of ligTiite coal from among the bed of pebbles found at the HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. junction of the rivers. The Frenchman as- sured them that a few miles up the Blue Earth there was: a vein three or four feet thick of the same substance. Perhaps he inferred so from the Indian name "ila^yasapa'' (Black Banks) ap- plied to the mouth of the Blue Earth in dis- tinction to Mayaskadan (white banks) the In- dian name for the mouth of the Minnesota, or it may be this coal mine lies buried in the same lost moiTutain as Le Sueur's copper mine. These excursions fully demonstrated the navi- gability of the ilinnesota, and the hundreds of people who had participated in them were all completely captivated by the beauty and fertility of the country, and went everywhere proclaiming it. St. Paul went wild about it. Her papers were full of glowing accounts of its wonderful wealth and splendor. Her citizens could talk of nothing else and every home seeker and fortune hunter was immediately inocculated with the idea that here was the land of promise. Having spied the land and found it so good and so accessible by boats, the white people became anxious to go in and possess it, and the result was the great event of the following year, namely : the treaties of Traverse des Sioux and ilendota. By these important treaties, negotiat- td in Jul}- and August, 1851, the Sioux or Dakota Indians, transferred to the whites all of }linnesota. south of St. Cloud and Morehead and west of the Mississippi, taking in also portions of Iowa and of South Dakota — an empire in area — an Eldorado in wealth and a Paradise in beauty. Xo sooner was the treaty signed than set- tlers began to pour into the country, and the winter of 1851-2 witnessed the founding of many townsites along the Minnesota valley. Most of the proprietors of these towns were citizens cf St. Paul, and were thus most advantageously located to direct the tide of immigration toward their new possessions; for St. Paul then was the gateway of Minnesota. Shakopee, Le Sueur, Traverse des Sioux, St. Peter as well as Man- kato and other valley towns of that date were so founded. CHAPTER V. FIEST SETTLEMENTS. IN BLUE EAETH COUNTY. Among the excursionists on board the "Yan- kee" in 1850 were two, who were specially impressed by the country at the mouth of the Blue Earth. They were Henry Jackson and Parsons King Johnson, both prominent residents of St. Paul. Mr. Jackson was a native of Virginia where he was born in February, 1811. When a young man he went to Texas and in 1836-7 served as orderly sargent in the Patriot war. Soon after this he returned to the states and located at Buffalo, New York. Here in May, 1838, he married Angelina Bevins and moved the same spring to Green Bay, Wis., and thence in a year or two to Galena, 111., where he engaged in business. In June, 1842, he and his wife landed at the present site of St. Paul where there was hardly a habitation in which they could find shelter for the first night, which chanced to be dark and rainy. Soon he purchased of one Ben. Gervais three acres of land bounded at present by Bench, Eobert, Third and Jackson streets and erected the first house with a shingled roof ia our capitol city. In this building he con- ducted the first store, the first hotel, the first post office and the first court in St. Paul. He was appointed postmaster in 1816, though he liad acted in that capacity for some years prior. He was elected a member of the Wisconsin As- sembly, while St. Paul still pertained to that 9tate, and later he was a member of the first territorial legislature of Minnesota. He also served on the first town council of St. Paul. A strong character, able, energetic, self reliant, e^er ready for any new enterprise — such was Henry Jackson. Mr. Johnson, his brother-in- hiAv, was a A'ermont man by birth, and a tailor by trade. In the spring of 1837, on attaining his majority he came west, and located first at liockford. III, then at Prairie du Chien, whence h.e came to St. Paul in the spring of 1847, and boarded for some time with Henry Jackson. In j\[ay, 1850, married Laura Bivens, a sister of Mrs. Jackson. He had been a member of the first territorial legislature of Minnesota. Genial, witty, companionable, he made friends wherever he went. While better educated and more re- fined and even tempered than Jackson, he lacked the latter's push and energy. This with his dis- inclination to selfish advantage and acquisition, and his convivial habits, which he shared with his friend Jackson, and with too many of the pioneers of his day, hindered his accumulation of much property. His happy, contented and peaceable disposition, however, insured him more enjoyment and length of days than wealth could have done. jMany are the stories told of his wit and humor. Space forbids the narration of more than two to illustrate his characteristics. It was in the antibellum days, when politics ^vere intense and their discussion often rufEled the temper. A big hurley stranger of English descent had drawn Johnson into a hot dispute over some question of disagreement between the two nations. The Englishman challenged John- son to fight him. After both had reached the street and taken off their coats Johnson with the gravest expression of countenance said to bis antagonist : "Stranger, before we engage in this first encounter let us sit down a bit and sing a hymn, omitting the first and last stanzas." The ridiculous suggestion broke up the fight, and the Englishman departed with his wrath badly punctured. It was the fifth of July in the days when 33 34 HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. Mankato was a -village and Squire Johnson sat on the bench of justice. Two women walked into the court room and one of them related most vividly, how her husband in attempting to cele- brate the great day of American Independence, had grossly overdone the matter, much against the peace and dignity of the State of Minnesota, as was evidenced by certain scratches and bruises exhibited by the wife. "P. K." as Johnson was familiarly called listened patiently to the wom- an's harrowing tale of the breach of the law, but the court had not recovered fully from the effects of his own celebration, and was aware of his inability, after looking earnestly at the wom- an a minute or two he asked, "Are you a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church?" Surprised and angry the woman sharply retorted "ISTo, I belong to no church. What has that to do with getting a warrant?" Johnson gravely replied, "Madame, I am very sorry, but the day after the Fourth my Jurisdiction is limited to the Pres- byterian church." The women expressed their opinions of the court in language quite vigorous and left in a hufE. Such were the two men, who in January, 1852, at Jackson's store in St. Paul were dis- cussing earnestly the proposition of locating a townsite at the mouth of the Blue Earth. Fin- ally on Saturday, the 31st day of January, 1853, having hired two wood choppers, named Daniel Williams and John James, and a team- ster, named Louis DeMoreau, to carry the men with the goods and provisions, they started for the site of their future city. Jackson and Johnson led the way in their cutter, while the rest of the party followed in the Frenchman's sleigh drawn by two Indian ponies. With the company went W. W. Paddock to view the coun- try. Winter, which the week before had sent the n^ercury thirty degrees below, had suddenly lost his grip, and the weather was balmy as April. The snow had mostly disappeared and the pro- gress of our travelers was slow and tedious. The first night was spent with the old Indian interpreter, Hugh Quinn, just above Fort Snell- ing. The second night they lodged with Tom Holmes, who had just built the first log cabin on the present site of Shakopee. Holmes had great expectations for his town. He said St. I'aul might make quite a city were it not so near Shakopee. The third night found our friends at the trading post of Nelson Robert, a mile or two below the present site of Belle Plaine. Here Jackson was taken sick and early next morning returned in the cutter to St. Paul. The rest of the party pressed on in De Moreau's sleigh, and camped the fourth night, where the city of Le Sueur now stands. Here Messrs. C'athcart and Christie, were in the act of laying out that townsite, and they were greatly exercised by the advent of John- son's party, fearing they had come to jump their valuable claim. Late at night the entire Le Sueur company each armed with a gun paid our tired travelers a visit, pretending they were just returning from a hunt, when in fact their object was to learn with what intent the new comers had arrived. Having learned this the Cathcart-Christie party departed, but lest there might be treachery, since it was plain that the spot they had chosen was sure to be the site of the biggest city west of Chicago, they spent the rest of the night staking out lots and build- ing log shanties. Unmindful of the trepida- tion their presence was causing, and of the fu- ture greatness of the spot on which they camped, our friends rose early next morning and by noon Traverse des Sioux was reached, then the principal point in the, Minnesota valley, where six months before had been held the great Sioux Treaty. David Faribault and Alexander Gra- ham had Indian trading posts here, and Nathan Myrick had opened a more pretentious store the previous November in charge of his brother, A. J. Myrick. Here, too, were the three neatly painted mission buildings of the American Board, and a few log houses, giving the place an air of civilization. After dinner our party proceeded as far as Joseph Provencelle's trading post, which stood about where the St. Peter Asylum is now lo- cated. Joseph or "Joe" as he was generally called was the son of the old Traverse des Sioux trader, Louis Provencelle (or "Le Blanc" as he was nicknamed) by an Indian mother. He had married a daughter of Sleepy Bye, the noted head chief of the Sissetons. The river had to HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. be recrossed near Joe's cabin, but the recent thaw would not permit it that afternoon, as there was a rod or two of clear water on each side of the river. The night was therefore spent at Joe Provencelle's cabin. By morning our friends were able to cross the river on the fresh ice, but it was only to find their pro- gress arrested by a more serious obstacle. The Kasota plateau that winter was covered by a vast Indian camp. Hundreds of Indian dogs signaled loudly the unwonted approach of the whites and soon the Indians, men, women and children, came pouring out of their teepees to see what the commotion was about. Chief Sleepy Eye with a number of his braves went to meet our travelers and demanded the pur- pose of their visit. Upon being told, the old chief declared that his young men would not permit the whites to settle at the mouth of the Blue Earth, as it was the key to their best hunting grounds, and »there was located one of their principal sugar camps. To the argument that the Indians by the recent treaty had sold all these lands to the whites, Sleepy Eye replied • that they had not yet received their money. Every argument and appeal failed, and it looked as though the enterprise would have to be abandoned. Johnson's Yankee wit finally hit upon a new tact. Seeing that their recent host, Joe Provencelle, had come over to learn the cause of the trouble, and knowing him to be the chief's son-in-law, he called him to one side and explained to him that because of the poor sleighing, they would be obliged to divide their load and he wanted Joe to get his horse and sleigh and carry a portion of it in case Sleepy Eye would let them proceed.. He told Joe then what they would pay him, a most tempting price. Having thus got Joe Provencelle inter- ested on the side of the whites it did not take long for him to arrange things between his father-in-law and them. A few provisions in hand delivered and an order on Jackson for a barrel of pork satisfied his red majesty and John- son and his party were allowed to proceed, l^he order for pork referred to was not presented for a year or two, but one day an Indian brought it to Johnson at" Mankato, and it was honored. With Joe Provencelle as guide and helping transport the luggage, our travelers reached the mouth of the Blue Earth that after- noon, being Thursday, February 5th, 1853. Their first night in their chosen locality was spent on the east bank of the Blue Earth at the south foot of Sibley mound. Sibley's trading post and the Frenchman in charge of it had both disappeared from the other side of the mound, but on top of it about where the flagstaff now stands Mr. Sibley had caused the sides of a log shanty to be erected, with the view of claiming the location for a townsite. Just south of the mound where the race track is now situated was a fine meadow in which a very small stack of hay had been cut. The forenoon of the next day was spent by Mr. Johnson and his companions in exploring the land adjacent to the mound for the best loca- tion for their future city. Classic in many an Indian legend and French adventure was the ground they traversed. Just west of the Blue Earth was the site of an ancient Indian village, where the old chief Mahkato, had held sway. Here was the home of Akich-etah-dutah, whose sad tale of paternal love is worthy of immor- tal song. Here the Indian maiden Hapan, had poured out her lament and life for her unfor- timate lover. Here had lived the Indian chief Tioskate, who in 1695 had accompanied Le Sueur to ^lontreal and died there, after twenty- two rlavs illness; and here, five years later, Le Sueur had met sixteen of his weeping relatives. Here Wahkentape, another Sioux chief, had en- . tertained Le Sueur and his followers, at many a feast. Two and a half miles up the Blue Earth was the site of old Fort Le Huillier, built by the French in the autumn of 1700, while prospecting for copper in the clayey hanks of the river and where to this day the goods and the tools of the garrison are cached. Near by are the beds of bluish green clay, famed as a sacred pigment among all tlie aborigines, and which gave the river and our county their names. Investigation disclosed the fact that the lands immediately adjacent to the mouth of the Blue Earth were subject to overflow in high water, and hence not adapted for the location of the future city. Finally a narrow strip of prairie 36 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. laying between Warren Creek and the stone quarry bench was selected. A beautiful spot it was, covered with tall dead grass, which waved in the breeze like a field of ripe grain, and interspersed here and there with clumps of brush and small trees. On one side the river swept in a grand curve affording a convenient boat landing, just above high water mark, while on the other side the great forest climbed in terraces the high bluff and thence stretched for miles, unbroken in its vastness, towering in its majesty, and impressive in its solitude. In the edge of this forest was a pond fed by a number of springs, which gushed from the foot of the bluff. A grove of tall graceful poplars encircles it, mingled with a tangle of willows and vines. At the south end of this pool, be- side a huge fallen tree, near the present site of Masonic hall, the first camp was pitched on the sixth of February, 1853. After hauling together a few logs, De Moreau and Paddock returned with the team to St. Paul, leaving Johnson, Williams and James to fashion the first cabin. No great architectural skill was displayed in its construction. A low log shanty, twelve feet square, plastered with black loam, gathered from some half thawed gopher hills, roofed with bark and floored with mother earth, it stood on the rear of lot 4 block 6 of Man- kato, about midway between the State bank and Patterson Wholesale block. A single opening in its easterly end served the double purpose of door and window. One day after the sides of the cabin had been raised, and while Johnson was inside of the enclosure cooking a savory mess of pork and beans for dinner over a camp fire, an Indian accompained by his young son called and de- manded food. As Johnson's supply of provisions were almost exhausted, owing to the heavy toll paid to old Sleepy Eye and Joe Provencelle, and there were no more nearer than St. Paul he was obliged to refuse. The Indian was a very large and ugly looking brute, who bore a hard name. Seeing Johnson was alone and unarmed he at once became insolent, and draw- ing a long sharp knife, motioned that he would cut the white man's throat. Johnson was just grabbing a big hickory poker from the ground for defense, when the boy, who had climbed to the top log of one side of the cabin for a look- out, saw Williams and James coming and quickly signaled his father and both beat a very hasty retreat. Wliile Johnson and his companions were erect- ing this first building in the city of Mankato and the County of Blue Earth, Jackson and a number of friends at St. Paul were booming the country of the Mahkato and its future metropolis. On February 14th the Blue Earth settlement Claim Association was organized there, with ten members, namely: Henry Jackson, P. K. Johnson, Daniel Williams, Col. D. A. Eobert- son, Justus C. Eamsey, J. M. Kastner, D. F. Erawley and William Hartshorn. A stock capi- tal of $1,000.00 divided into ten equal shares was subscribed for the enterprise. The honor of christening the new city was accorded to Mrs. P. K. Johnson and Mrs. Henry Jackson, who selected the name "Man- kato," upon the suggestion of Col. Robertson. He had taken the name from Nicollet's book, ill which the French explorer compared the "Mahkato" or Blue Earth river with all its tributaries, to the water nymphs and their uncle in the German legend of "Undine." Through some strange misunderstanding of the text, he thought the name to be that of a German water spirit, when in fact it was the Indian name of the Blue Earth river. Though in a way unin- tentional, no more appropriate name could be given the new city, than that of the noble river, at whose mouth it is located. The morn- ing after forming the claim association and the naming of the new city. Col. D. A. Robertson, Henry Jackson, Evans Goodrich, John S. Hinck- ley, with one or two others left St. Paul by team to visit the new settlement and carry pro- visions for it, which they knew from the mes- sage brought back by Paddock and De Moreau must be sorely needed. The morning before the arrival of this party at the new town, the last morsel of food had been eaten, and Johnson had gone on foot as far as Kasota in quest of help, when he met his old friends bringing the long expected supplies. Sixteen days now were spent by this conipany inspecting the new town and exploring the sur- HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. rounding country. Then Robertson/ Jackson, Johnson and Hinckley returned to St. Paul leav- ing Williams, Goodrich, James and one or two others to hold their new possessions. On the JOth of February Evans Groodrich staked out northeast of the townsite, a claim of 160 acres, on a part of which is now situated Dukes Addi- tion to Mankato. John James and others, also, located claims just north of the new town. On March 13th, John S. Hinckley paid the new settlement a second visit, in company with one Henry D. J. Koons and both after locating claims, entered into the employ of the claim company for a time. Much interest was now taken at St. Paul, in the Blue Earth Country, and it formed the main topic of conversation. Five Germans rigged up a boat with a mast and sail intending to ascend the Minnesota to the land of promise. They were Jacob Guen- ther, Peter Frenzel, Philip Krummel, — Stultz and Joseph Weinheimer. The latter was the stepfather of Charles and Louis Graf, now of Mankato. On the 8th of April, after the ice had left the river and while the water was still over the banks, they loaded their baggage and provisions into the batteau and started on their journey. When they had proceeded about fif- teen miles, their sail caught in an overhanging limb and the boat was suddenly capsized and the five men were precipitated into the swift, icy current. Their cries for help were heard by some Indians in the vicinity and all saved, but Weinheimer, who was swept away and drowned. All the baggage and provisions were lost ex- cept one gun, which Guenther hung to with one hand, while he clung to the upturned boat with the other until rescued. After the body of their unfortunate companion had been re- covered and buried, the remaining four, noth- ing daunted, procured fresh supplies, and reached Mankato on foot before the last of May. Pleased with the country they all located upon claims near the townsite. Colonel D. H. Robertson was a very promi- nent character in St. Paul at that time and was the editor and publisher of "The Democrat," the most influential paper in the territory. Being a member of the townsite company he gave much publicity to the Blue Earth region in his paper, and the influence which he and Henry Jackson exerted in behalf of the new settlement was of great value. Largely through them the steamer Tiger was induced to make a trip to Mankato, where she arrived on April 23rd, 1852, with a number of settlers and a quantity of goods and provisions. Both Robert- son and Jackson held licenses to trade with the Sioux, and the latter brought with him on this first boat a small stock of Indian goods, to start a trading post in charge of Mr. Johnson. On 1he 28th of the same month the Tiger left St. Paul for her second trip up the Minnesota, crowded with passengers and freight, mostly for Mankato. The townsite company had some weeks prior purchased and sent up to be used in developing their property a span of mules, relics of the Mexican war. The logs were hauled for three or four small cabins, a boat landing constructed, and the brush cleared. Jackson had brought with him on the first boat, as em- ployees of the company, a Mr. Blair and Mr. James Rablin. On the second boat Mrs. James Rablin arrived, being the first white woman to settle in Mankato, or even Blue Earth county. The second cabin on the townsite was erected on block three (3), about one hundred feet north of the Hubbard Flour mill and about the same distance west of Front street. It was bailt with more care than the first. In size about 13x14 feet, and high enough so that a man could stand upright in it, without hitting his head against the joists. It had a window and a door, and a roof of slabs or clapboards. Mr. and Mrs. Rablin were put in possession of tiiis second shanty, and here about the entire population of Mankato boarded during this first summer. About the 30th of May the Tiger arrived at Mankato on her third trip, bringing a number of passengers and another quantity of freight. Among the passengers at this time came Gen- eral Samuel Leech, a man of some prominence and means of Warsaw, Illinois, who had been the first Receiver of the Stillwater Land office. He was so favorably impressed with Mankato and its surrounding country that he bought the 38 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. interest of Daniel Williams in the townsite com- In May of this year the company had their pany, paying $200.00 therefor. He proved a town surveyed and platted by S. P. Polsom, a valuable acquisition to the embryo city. civil engineer of St. Paul. CHAPTER VI. EVENTS AT MANKATO IS THE SUMMEE OE 1853. During the spring of 1852 most of the land lying in the valley of the Minnesota, between Mankato and Kasota, was staked out into 160 acre claims and occupied by settlers. On the first of June two young men of St. Paul named Josiah B. and Henry S. Gump had located on 160 acres next adjoining the townsite of Man- ki'.to on the northeast, where are now situated Mankato city and the stone quarries. Before they had hardly completed their log cabin, on the 26th of the same month the Gump boys sold their claim to a very prominent real estate man of St. Paul, named Henry McKenty. On the 8th of this same June the name of the river which heretofore had been the "St. Peter" was officially changed by act of Congress to the "Minnesota." The bill was introduced by Hon. Stephen A. Douglass as chairman of Committee on Territories, and was in response to a mem- orial for the change which the Legislature of Mianesota had sent to Congress. The real in- stigators of the change, it is claimed, were Martin McLeod and H. H. Sibley, who were familiar with the ancient Indian name, whose poetic meaning and euphony they admired. The Tiger after her third trip, having with- drawn from the Minnesota trade, the Black Hawk was induced to enter it. She left St. Paul on her first trip on July 3rd, 1852, with forty passengers aboard, fifteen of whom were booked for Mankato. Among the latter was Colonel D. A. Eobertson. Near the Carver Eap- ids they passed a keel boat carrying up the ma- chinery for J. W. Babeock's saw mill at Kasota. The boat reached Mankato on the morning of July 5th, Just as the young town was recovering from its first celebration of Independence Day. There had been a large attendance at this jubilee of native Americans, from the villages of Sleepy Eye, Bed Iron and Suntu mahnaduta. P. K. Johnson mounted on a dry goods box had read the immortal Declaration, and made a spread eagle speech, all of which has been duly inter- preted by Evans Goodrich to the copper hued democracy about them. In those pioneer days, however, the arrival of a steamboat was a greater event than any Fourth of July, no matter how glorious. Though a thunder shower was in full swing, when the Black Hawk approached the Mankato levee and, the deep tones of her whistle startled the echoes far and near, it did not deter a single person v/ithin a radius of three miles from being pres- ent at the landing. The occupants of every shanty and every wigwam were there, a motley, eager throng. Colonel Eobertson remained for some days at the new town exploring the country around it, and consulting with its resident proprietors as to ifc-i welfare. One immediate need, to which attention was then particularly drawn, was a highway to the east over which emigrants might come into the country. Only a week or two before six emi- grant families from Dubuque, Iowa, had come in their wagons, drawn by oxen across the coun- try. They struck the Decoria prairie, but missed the old dragoon road and, in the bewilderment of people who are lost, took a westerly course, and after infinite trouble and vexation crossed the net work of deep ravines formed by the Big Cobb, the Maple and the Blue Earth rivers and reached the present site of South Bend, whence they were obliged to cross the Blue 39 40 HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COTJNTY. Earth a second time to get to Mankato. The Kooky Mountains could hardly furnish a rougher, wilder bit of country than that which they traversed, and to say that they had a strenuous time is putting it mildly. The party spent a few days at Mankato recuperating and while there plowed a garden for P. K. Johnson and one or two others, probably the first plowing in Blue Earth county. They finally located upon claims near Kasota, During his Mankato visit Colonel Robertson met there John M. Norecong, who, with two others, had been sent by the colony at Rolling Stone near Winona, to spy the land, with a view to locate a highway from there to a point on the Minnesota at or near the mouth of the Blue Earth. They met with no obstacle until they struck the Big Woods in the vicinity of Waseca. When they became hopelessly entangled in the labyrinth of swamps and lakes forming the headwaters of the Le Sueur and Cannon rivers, between Smith's Mill and Elysian. Mr. Norecong finally reached Mankato, while his two companions found themselves at Traverse des Sioux. Colonel Robertson now concluded to accompany Mr. Norecong in his quest for a feasible highway route in and out of Mankato to the east and south. One of the mules be- longing to the townsite company had died, some claimed he had been carried away by the mos- quitoes. So Robertson packed on the remaining mule a camping outfit and some provisions, and on July 10th started on foot with Norecong by the old dragoon road. Cfossing the Le Sueur they soon reached the Decoria prairie and, turn- ing eastward by the way of McPherson and Wilton, discovered a very practicable wagon route to any point east or south. As Robertson wished to return to St. Paul, they followed the valley of the Cannon in a northeasterly direction and after eight days of adventure and hardship they reached St. Paul. As a result of this exploration Messrs. Reed, Thompson and Kennedy about a month later, under a commission from the State Legislature granted the previous winter, with the aid of a corps of surveyors and assistants, laid out a public highway from Reed's Landing at the foot of Lake Pepin to Mankato along the route suggested by our explorers. A little later a road was established from Winona, which entered Mankato by the same route through Wilton and tlie present village of St. Clair, and for more than twenty years thereafter the principal travel to and from Mankato and Blue Earth County east was along this route. Speaking of this visit in the "Democrat" Robertson stated that he foimd some thirty settlers located upon claims around Manltato and that a number of Germans had settled in the timber back of the town. On the 12th and again on the 21st of July, the Black Hawk left St. Paul for her second and third trips to Mankato, carrying thence each time many passengers and much freight. On the 20th of the same month the Tiger re- turned to the Minnesota and made her third trip to Mankato. With six boat arrivals at her wharf the very first season, Mankato and the country in her vicinity received quite a boom. During the summer (185^) P. K. Johnson built for himself on lot 1 block 14 of Mankato a comfortable house of hewn logs, into which he removed his store. His stock of goods com- prised as advertised in the "St. Paul Democrat," "clothing, crockery and groceries." Later in the fall Henry Jackson erected a good house of hewn logs on lot 5 of block 14, which he occupied with his family the next spring. The same fall Colonel Robertson had a log store building put up on lot 4 block 15, the interior of which was finished by Hiram J. Puller on his arrival in November. Here Evans Goodrich presided over a stock of Indian goods furnished by Robertson, and performed besides the duties pertaining to his various avocations of real estate dealer, surveyor and Justice of the peace. Early in October of this same year, James Hanna, George Maxfield, Milton Hanna, James Maxfield and Wesley Maxfield located claims of IGO acres each near the Le Sueur on the highway just laid out by Messrs. Reed, 1'hompson and Kennedy, and then returned to tlicir homes in Licking County, Ohio, for their families. Besides those already named the year 1853 witnessed the settling at Mankato or im- mediate vicinity of M. H. Bergholz, John Sehroe- HISTOBY OF BLtTE EAHTH COtJNTY. 41 der, John Trenhauser, Ephraim Colej Lewis H. YVinsloWj Minard Mills, James Hanna and many others whose names we did not learn and others v/ho did not remain but a short time. About December, 1853, the townsite company contracted with Windslow to build a large frame hotel, the same afterwards known as the "Man- kato House." He sublet the contract to Minard Mills, who during the winter got ready most of the frame work, and on March 14th, 1853, moved with his wife (afterwards Mrs. J. LuUs- dorf) to the new town and occupied the second claim shanty, recently vacated by James Rablin. In February, 1853, Eobert Wardlaw with his half brother, William Wood, arrived with a small stock of goods, having come upon the ice of the Mississippi and Minnesota all the way, in a two horse sled, from Dubuque. For a short time they occupied the first claim shanty, which M. H. Bergholz had purchased the previous July, but on the return of the owner in the spring, Mr. Wardlaw removed with his store to a claim shanty he had bought of Eablin below town, at the mouth of the ravine, which still bears his name. Connected with this removal occurred the first case of eviction in Blue Earth County. "WTien Wardlaw first arrived in Man- kato he had letters of introduction from friends in St. Paul to Evans Goodrich, and the latter received him into his cabin. Soon thereafter Goodrich and Wood took Wardlaw's team to St. Paul after a load of goods, half for Goodrich and half for Wardlaw. Goodrich had left Ward- law in charge of his store and left him a price list of the goods and of furs so he might trade with the Indians. A band of Indians happened to come down from the west with a lot of furs and instead of trading with Goodrich's goods, Wardlaw opened up his own stock and traded with them. When Goodrich returned and dis- covered this, a quarrel resulted between him and Wardlaw, and the latter had to seek new quarters. In the fall Bergholtz, owner of the lirst claim shanty, went to St. Paul for the vanter, leaving the key of his cabin with Mr. Johnson. Wardlaw now coaxed Johnson to let him into Bergholtz shanty, which he finally did on the promise that he would vacate same at once when the owner returned. Bergholtz got back three or four weeks- later and found his cabin occupied by a stranger, who refused him admit- tance. He went to see Johnson about it, but Wardlaw declared he had no other place to go tu, and therefore could not vacate; that he was entitled to a reasonable notice before he could be forced out. Johnson reminded him on what condition he had been let into the building, and that he might have built a cabin of his own had lie made the effort. Wardlaw declared he intended to hold the fort and would fight if necessary, pointing to a couple of pistols in his belt. Johnson now went after Jim Eablin, a dare dtvil fellow, who enjoyed a fight better than anything else under the sun, unless it was a drink of whisky. Bergholtz, Johnson, Goodrich and Eablin now proceeded to evict Wardlaw. The latter saw them coming and locking the cabin door, stood in front with two revolvers to await the attack. Eablin picked up a fence rail, and, while the others were parleying with Wardlaw, he broke in the cabin door with a single blow. Seeing his bluff would not work, V.'ardlaw declared he did not wish to live among such lawless people, and he moved into a tent he had brought with him. A few days later he bought Jim Eablin's claim and moved upon it as before stated. Another episode of that first winter will help to illustrate life in our new town. Minard Mills- had been up and down the river with a pony and sled trading with the Indians. One day in February, 1853, he drove up to the levee at jMankato with a load of goods, on top of which in plain view was a five gallon keg of whisky. The Indians soon caught sight of the keg and began gathering around the sled. Several of the savages had a desperate craving for liquor and when inflamed by it were wholly unmanageable and dangerous. Johnson saw there was trouble brewing and after a few words with Mills seized the keg, which fortunately was nearly empty, and took it to his shanty and hid it under the counter. It would have been wiser to have emptied the liquor on the ground, but perhaps the whites deemed it too precious for 42 HISTORY OF BLtTE EARTH COUNTY. that. The Indians soon came to Johnson's cabin and demanded the liquor. Being refused two of them sprang over the counter and seized the keg and carried it off in triumph. Noah Arm- strong, who was clerking for Johnson^ started to draw a knife, but was cautioned by Johnson to desist. Luckily there was not enough whisky to make any Indian drunk. The Indian chiefs came to town to complain about the whites letting their young men have liquor, which was contrary to law. It cost the Mankato traders ten dollars worth of goods to pacify the chiefs, so they would not make com- plaint to the government. CHAPTER VII. BLUE EAETH COUNTY CEBATED— ITS PEIOR POLITICAL HISTOEY. On Februajy 14th, 1853, Congress ratified the important treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota, whereby the Indian title to all lands in Blue Earth County and in all the state west of the Mississippi and south of St. Cloud and Morehead was extinguished. On March 5th, 1853, the County of Blue Earth was created by ah act of the Territorial Legislature, it embraced all of the State of Minnesota south of the Minnesota river, except the counties of Wabasha, Dakota, Goodhue, Eice, Scott, Pilmore and that portion of Le Sueur which lies east and north of Wi - Wi Creek op- posite St. Peter. Truly our county at birth was of goOdly size and fair to look upon. No land on earth more richly endowed in productive qualities. None more full of promise to the homeseeker. It may be well to give the political history of our county to this point. The first civilized nation to claim its soil was Prance, and we have seen how Le Sueur in 1700, by permission of the French government built Port Le Huillier in our county and prospected for copper. French traders also carried on a brisk trade in furs with the Indians of our county in those days of long ago. In 1763 the French at a secret treaty sold their old Louisiana Territory, to which our county belonged, to Spain. The matter was kept a secret for some time and Spain did not take possession until 1769. The Spanish domi- nation however, was very feeble and did not ef- fect the northern end of the territory in the least. It is not probable that a single Spaniard even saw the portion of the territory embraced in the present state of Minnesota. October 1st, 1800, at another secret treaty Spain sold back to Prance her Louisiana Territory, and our county became a part of the dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte. It did not so remain but a short time, for Napoleon, fearing that the territory might fall a prey to Great Britain, on June 30th, 1803, sold it to the United States. It continued under its old name of "Province of Louisiana" until March 26th, 1804, when by Act of Congress, the portion now embraced in the present State of Louisiana, was created into the Province of Orleans, and the vast remainder, of which our county was part, was designated "District of Louisiana" and attached to the Ter- ritory of Indiana for administrative purposes, with seat of government at Vincennes on the Wabash. On June 4th, 1813, the District of Louisiana was erected into the Territory of Mis- souri. We remained a part of Missouri until June 28th, 1834, when all the lands west of the Mississippi and north of the Missouri river became a part of the Territory of Michigan. Here we continued until April 10th, 1836, when the territory of Wisconsin was created, of wliich we were made part. Here we belonged until June 12th, 1838, when the Territory of Iowa was formed and we were included within its boundaries. Here we came very near finding our permanent home. At the convention which met October 17th; 1844, to form a State Con- stitution the proposed north boundary adopted for the New State was a straight line from the mouth of the Big Sioux Eiver to the mouth of the Blue Earth river and thence down the Min- nesota river to its mouth. This took in nearly all of Blue Earth County. Congress, however, was unwilling to allow 43 44 HISTOEY OP BLtTE EAETH COUNTY. Iowa so much territory^ as it wished to reserve enough to form another northern state. So thu bill for its admission was amended fixing vhe line between ranges 29 and 30 as its west b< undary and the Minnesota river as its north boundary. This put the whole of our county into Iowa, forming its northwest corner. The people of Iowa were much dissatisfied with this abridgment of their territory and the position of Des Moines, with reference to the long narrow strip proposed, was unfavorable for retention of the capitol. When therefore the amended bill came back to the people for ratification it was defeated by a small majority. A compromise was at last effected and Iowa finally admitted on March 3rd, 1845, with its present boundaries. The land to the north and east of the Mississippi of which our county was part, was thus cut ofE from any government. On the admission of Wisconsin May 29th, 1848, as a state, the portion of our state lying between the St. Croix and the Mississippi was also left in the same condition. The initial iiieeting, for organizing the two remnants thus severed, into a new territory, was held at the trading post of our old friend Henry Jackson, ai St. Paul in July, 1848, which was the first public meeting held in Minnesota. Pinally through the efl:orts of H. H. Sibley an act of Congress was passed on March 3rd, 1849, creat- ing the Territory of Minnesota. Thus after being outside of the pale of gov- ernment for four years to a day we were restored again to an organized state. The further changes in the political annals of our county, after its creation as a separate municipal body, will ap- pear more properly as we proceed with our narrative. The winter of 1852-3 was quite cold and tlie snow deep. The spring freshets conse- quently were high, and the Minnesota in tlie early part of April was over all its banks. The first boat for Mankato was the Greek Slave, ■(vhich left St. Paul on the 4th day of April. She was a newly built side wheeler, with pow- erful boilers, a fine cabin, and well equipped for passengers and freight. Her captain and owner was Louis Robert, destined to become one of the most prominent river men in Minnesota. On this her first trip the Slave carried in addi- tion to a big load of freight, 150 passengers, many of whom were bound for Mankato, and the Blue Earth country, where on April 7th, they arrived. Another new boat to enter the Minnesota river trade this spring was the Clarion. She was a small boat of seventy-two and one-half tons burden, owned by Captain Samuel Humbertson. She at once began making trips to the Blue Earth country. Early in April, 1853, Edwin Perkins of St. Paul was appointed the first Eegister of Deeds of Blue Earth County, and on April 14th, he recorded his first deed in the new county. It seems, when appointed to the office, Perkins intended to locate immediately at Mankato City, a new town which Henry McKenty had just laid out on the stone quarry bench, as a rival to Mankato. The recordtug of the plat of this new townsite was one of Per- kins' first ofl^icial acts. Plenry McKenty was an eccentri.c character, with much of the typical western in his make- up, a mixture of energy, daring and bluster. Since purchasing his claim the previous sum- mer, he had been greatly bothered by claim jumpers, and had been obliged to buy out suc- cessively three of four different claimants, and ]:is patience was completely exhausted. So when he came up on the first boat in the spring of 1853, he was armed with two big revolvers and brought with him a coffin, with the avowed pur- pose of taking the next jumper back in it. As yet the government had made no survey of the ci/untry and there were no definite lines to go by, and much confusion resulted as to boundar- ies of the various claimants. To avoid any such difficulty as to his claim, McKenty had posts eight to ten feet high planted at its four cor- ners, with a number of posts almost as large put at intervals to mark the lines. Mr. Mc- Kenty being in the real estate business at St. Paul and a great hustler, worked up quite an interest in his townsite, and the sale of lots in Mankato City during the spring and summer of 1853 was vei-y brisk. About May, Edwin Howe HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 45 opened a hotel there, which he called the "Man- kato City Hotel." It was a fair sized log house but quite bare of furniture. Each guest as a rule had to provide his own bed and bedding. There were no partitions. The men slept in the attic and the woman down stairs. The first blacksmith shop in ilankato or even Blue Earth County, was started by Josiah Keene in "j\Ic- Kenty's Town," as ilankato City was then gen- erally called. A native of Maine, young Keene had arrived at the new townsite almost at its birth. He was very fond of music and spent about as much time with his violin as with his anvil, for cus- tomers were not numerous. The original townsite of Jlankato in the meantime had been growing. On Itarch 14th, 1853, Minard Mills had brought his wife (after- wards Mrs. Lullsdorff) to the new town and es- tablished there his home. He began prepara- tions at once for the erection of a frame ware- house at the south end of the levee, just a few feet south of where tlie city hall now stands. The river at that time was situated about the rear of that building. Mr. Mills had the frame of his warehouse up and the structure ready for shingling, when on April IGth, James Hanna and George Maxfield with three or four of their oldest sons arrived. Both had very large fami- lies of sons and daughters, nearly all full grown, tv,'enty-six souls in both families, ilessrs. Hanna and Maxfield were perplexed to find immediate shelter for their large households, the balance of whom were waiting at St. Paul. ]\rr. Hanna, therefore, bought the warehouse of Mills, and he and Maxfield hastily completed it, and occu- pied it with their families. Two main events in the history of our state in 1853 were the removal of the Sioux to their aLcneies and the establishment of Fort Eidgely, about forty miles above Mankato, on the Min- nesota. All the material and supplies required for the fort and about half of the garrison had to be transported by boats up the Jlinnesota. I^he West Newton secured the contract for car- rying the troops and their baggage, and about the last of April she, together with the Tiger and Clarion, each having two or three barges in tow loaded with lumber, passed by Maukato on their way to the new fort. A letter written under 'date of April 29th, 1853, on board the West Newton gives many interesting glimpses of the country and its people. Among other things it tells of the Indians gathering from the eugar bushes into Traverse des Sioux and Man- kato, many of them very sick from gorging themselves on maple sugar; it speaks of meet- ing at Traverse, George McLeod, who had just ai rived from Lac qui Parle in a huge canoe twenty-four feet long by forty-four inches wide, made from a single cottonwood tree, in which he had brought forty bushels of potatoes, be- sides a crew of five men; Kasota then was in Blue Earth County, and our correspondent states tljat J. W. Babcock had just started his new saw mill on Tchankaska (AVood tying) creek, two weeks before. It had an overshot water vi'heel for power, a muley saw, and its capacity was about 8,000 feet of lumber per day. Ka- sota townsite was then full of great expectations. A railroad from Dubuque was headed straight for the town and was sure to reach it by next summer. There was no other place where a railroad could conveniently cross the Minnesota river. There was no question, but here was ,t;(iing to be the second largest city in the Min- nesota valley. Second of course to Traverse des Sioux, which was then generally supposed to have the lead for the first place. Our cor- respondent seemed to have been carried away with such delusions until he reached jMankato City. But ^\'hen ilcKenty and his boomers had showed him the prospects of the city whose foundations were literally on the rock, the scales fell from his eyes, and he was completely dazzled by its future magnificence. On May 4th, the Mankato Townsite company cnncelled the contract they had made the pre- vious November with Lewis F. Windslow, to build the Mankato House, and Samuel Leech n-as appointed to superintend its construction. During the winter, Minard Mills, who had a subcontract from Windslow, had the sills and most of the frame hewed from the native forest and hauled on the gnmnd. General Ijcech now had most of the mill work for the building done 46 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. at^ St. Paul and shipped same with the pine lumber necessary and some workmen by boat to Mankato. The building was raised on July Gth, and enclosed and doors and windows hung that season and the stairway built. It was a two story frame thirty-two feet by twenty-four feet with a one story- wing sixteen feet by twenty-four feet, and stood where the present Xational Citizens bank block stands on corner of Front and Hickory streets. It was a very pretentious building in its day, and for many years was the center of much of the public activities of both city and county. The spring and summer of 1853 were ex- ceptionally wet and cold. On May 12th there was a big snow storm, which covered the ground six to eight inches in depth, and sundogs were visible. On May 27th, Henry Jackson located in Man- kato with his family, occupying their new log house on lot 5 block 14. About the same time the Hanna and Maxfield families arrived and took up their abode in the new frame structure at the south end of the levee. These two fam- ilies had been religiously trained in their Ohio home and about June 3rd, 1853, Mr. Ilanna started a Sunday school at his home, the con- duct of which devolved mostly on his energetic daughter, Sarah J. Hanna, afterwards Mrs. J. Q. A. Marsh. This was the first service of a religious character in the county. The Sunday school was kept up thereafter with fair regular- ity and was the precursor of the present Pres- byterian Sunday school of Mankato. Of late years there has been some diversity of opinion a-- to who preached the first sermon. "When the question was asked in a lyceum at Mankato in 1857, it was answered without a dissenting voice that a Rev. Brown, a Presbyterian preacher from Cleveland, Ohio, was the man. This ver- dict, rendered at a time when people ought to have known the fact, has generally been ac- cepted by a majority of the old settlers. The main doubt arises from the fact now known, that a Rev. Brown, a Presbyterian minister from Cleveland, Ohio, a returned missionary, who came to Minnesota in quest of health, visited Mankato and preached at Mr. Hanna's house, but the date was October 16th, 1853, and we also know that two sermons at least had been preached before that date. Mrs. John Q. A. Marsh, who as teacher in the Sunday school and leader in the choir, was present and had a part in all the religious meetings of that year in the Mankato settlement, thought that Rev. Brown paid Mankato two visits, one in the spring and the other in October, or that the Rev. Brown who came in the spring was a brother of the Rev. Brown who arrived in October. In the summer of 1853, Rev. Chauncey Hobert was commissioned by the M. E. Church to visit the various towns of the Minnesota valley and secure building sites for M. E. chapelg. In his note book under date of July 3rd, 1853, he tells of visiting Mankato and preaching there at Mr. Hanna's house, the first sermon heard in the new town. In his memoirs Rev. Julius S. Webber, a Baptist minister, states that he vis- ited Mankato on September 25th, 1853, and preached the first sermon there at Mr. Hanna's home. Mrs. 0. Pitcher, a daughter of T. D. Warren, is very positive that Rev. Norris Hobert preached the first sermon on June 12th, 1853. It is quite probable that Mrs. Pitcher's memory has got the two Hoberts mixed, and that her recollection relates to the visit of Rev. Chauncey Hobert referred to above. About the first of June of this year Thomas D. Warren and George Van Brunt arrived at jMankato, followed by their families a few days later. They ' located on seven forties of land claimed by the old townsite company, being the land now covered by the Warren and Van Brunt Additions to Mankato. Henry Jackson brought suit, against Warren for jumping his land be- fore Squire Mills. This was probably the first law suit in Blue Earth County. The action was never pressed, as there were no lawyers to carry it on, and it soon was abandoned. On June 11th, 1853, the first marriage in Blue Earth County was solemnized before Squire Jiills at Mankato, the contracting parties being Jacob Guenther and Christiana M. Wischmeier. The bride came to Mankato with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fronert from Milwaukee, where she and the groom first met. HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 47 The only other marriage recorded in the coun- ty for this year was that of Hazen Moores to Mrs. Ellen Larkin, which occurred at Eed Wood on November 22nd, 1853, and at which the noted Sioux missionary, Dr. Thomas S. Wil- liamson officiated. Eed Wood then belonged to our county as we have seen. This Hazen Moores was a famous character whose adventurous life was spent among the Indians and traders of the Minnesota valley during the first half of the last century. The Minnesota continued navigable during the whole summer of 1853 and several boats made regular trips to Mankato. On her trip of June 29th and again on July 6th, the Clarion left St. Paul with 150 passengers on board each time. The other boats engaged in the same trade this year were the Tiger, Black Hawk, Greek Slave, West Newton, Humbolt, lola and Shenandoah. In all there were forty-nine arrivals from the Minnesota at the port of St. Paul this year. 01' the multitude of homeseekers, who thronged these boats, or who on foot or by team followed tlie rough Indian trails, Mankato and the Blue Earth country received their share. With the Warren and Van Brunt families came Marshall T. Comstock and James Jlcilurtrie. In June Clements Kron and Hoxie Eathburn arrived with their families. About the same time came Dr. Jeffrey T. Adams, the first physician to locate in Blue Earth County. He was followed July 14th, by the first lawyer, J. McMahon Holland, who brought in his pocket a commission from the Governor appointing him the first County Attorney. Among many other arrivals of 1853, vc have not yet mentioned were : Dr. James W. Heath, Michael Kaufman, Henry J. Sontag, John Brules, George W. Lay, Henry Goodrich, Blassius Yobst, Michael Syler, John Schroeder, James M. Ayers, George W. Cummings, George II. Marsh, Jared Lewis, Henry Goodrich, John C. Taylor, John Henderson, Basil Moreland, 0. C. Eedfield, Benj. Fritz, Bernhard Bruggernian,- Joseph Frounert, Levi Kotthoff, Martin ]\Iettler, John Fresholtz, Byron W. Comstock, B. W. Stannard, James Talmadge, Max Freudle, Chris- tian Eoos, Uriah S. Karmany and John Fres- holtz. The Legislative Act creating the County of Blue Earth authorized the Governor to ap- pciint the first officers. We have already noted the appointment of Eegister of Deeds and Coun- ty Attorney. Edwin Perkins after serving two months concluded not to move to Blue Earth County and about June 1st, 1853, P. K. John- son was appointed Eegister in his place, and the office removed from St. Paul to Jlr. John- son's home in Mankato. Early in July a school was started at Man- kato with twenty-four scholars, taught by ]Miss Sarah J. Hanna (the late Mrs. John Q. A. Marsh.) It was held in a room built as a wing to the frame warehouse, which Mr. Hanna had finished as a dwelling, and which wing T. D. Warren had occupied for a short time as a store. During the same month Captain Eeno v/ith a corps of United States engineers surveyed through the county a military road, which Con- gress had ordered to be laid out and constructed between Mendota and the mouth of the Big Sioux river. The survey was begun at the Big Sioiix end and followed in the main the In- dian trail. It entered Blue Earth County near its southwestern corner, east of Perch Lake, and traversing Pleasant Mound and Ceresco in a nrrtherly direction it passed to the west side of Perch Creek near the Thurston farm and crossing the Watonwan above the mouth of that creek near the present bridge and thence keep- ing in the general direction of the North Bluffs of the Watonwan and west bluffs of the Blue Earth it continued in a northeasterly course t]:rough Garden City and South Bend Town- sliips, following quite closely the present Garden City and Mankato road. The first survey from Garden City to Mankato followed the old In- dian trail which crossed the Blue Earth near the Eapidan Mill and the Le Sueur near its mouth and thence to Mankato by the Eed Jacket val- ley, but this route was so rough that it was abandoned, and the way by Welsh Lane, Pigeon Hill and Village of South Bend adopted instead. From i^Iankato the survey followed practically the present highway to Kasota and thence by what was known as the Dodd road through the Big Woods. The laying out of this military 48 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAKTH COUNTY. road was quite an event in the history of the cept three counties in the Eed river country, coimty, because it made communication with St. which comprised the Third District. This put Paul much easier, and by bridging the Blue Blue Earth in the Second Judicial District, over Earth made the country to the west more ac- which Judge Cooper of the Supreme Court was cessible. appointed to preside. Eirst term for Blue Earth In July the Governor appointed James Hanna County was appointed for the first Monday in and John S. Hinckley of Mankato and Joseph October of that ■ year, and annually thereafter. W. Babcock of Kasota ■ as the First Board of Accordingly on October 3rd, 1853, the first term County Commissioners. This board first met on of the District Court ever held in Blue Earth August 6th, 1853, at the house of P. K. John- County convened at the Mankato House. As son in block 14 of Mankato and organized by there was no business to transact, it adjourned electing James Hanna chairman, and P. K. the same day. Johnson, Clerk. They also divided the county On August 37th, was held the first political into two election precincts, all south of claim caucus or convention in the county. It convened of James Eablin being designated, "Mankato at Mankato for the purpose of nominating can- precinct," and all north, "Babcock's Mill pre- didates for county ofl'ices. Minard Mills was cinct," with place of election for last precinct made chairman and J. McMahon Holland see- in J. W. Babcock's house and for the former retary. Dr. P. P. Humphrey was the nominee pi-ecinct, the New Hotel. The judges of election for Judge of Probate, J. McMahon Holland for for Mankato precinct were: Henry Jackson, District Attorney, Basil Moreland for Sheriff, Edwin Howe and Jacob Guenther; and for Bab- I*. K. Johnson for Eegister of Deeds, Hiram cock's Mill: Eeuben Butters, C. C. Mack and Puller for Treasurer, and Ephraim Cole, Jos- Dr. P. P. Humphrey. The first grand and petit eph W. Babcock and Jacob Guenther for County jury for the county were also, drawn at this Commissioners. On September ISth, a special session, and comprised the following persons: meeting of the County Commissioners convened Grand juroi-s: Lewis P. Windslow, P. K. John- at P. K. Johnson's house. At this meeting son, Evans Goodrich, Philip Krummel, Minard Basil Moreland was appointed the first County Mills, Edwin Howe,- Josiah Keene, James Eablin, Treasurer and Thomas D. Warren was made William Wood, Eobert Wardlaw, George C. Justice of the Peace. At the third meeting of C'lapp, John Henderson, Hiram Puller, Thomas the Board held October 3rd, the salary of J. Lemaraux, Joseph Prounert, John B. Harrison, McMahon Holland as County Attorney was fixed Jared Lewis, Dr. P. P. Humphrey, C. C. Mack, at $100.00 per annum. James Eablin and Eeuben Butters, James Lindsley, Charles Pettis, Jared Lewis were also appointed Judges of John C. Durham and Philip Snider. Petit Election for Babcock precinct instead of Mack Jurors: George M. Van Brunt, Thos. D. War- and Humphrey. On October 11th occurred the ren, Marshall T. Comstock, M. Gruntry, Eph- first election held in the county at which Man- raim Cole, George Maxfield, Basil Moreland, kt.to precinct cast twenty-one votes, and Kasota Henry Goodrich, Clements Kron, Michael Lea- precinct ten votes, making thirty-one votes in land, Jeffrey T. Adams,' I. S. Lyons, M. H. all in the county. The county officers elected Bergholtz, John ScliToeder, John (the mason), at this first election were: Sheriff, Basil More- Jacob Guenther, Peter Lano, Charles C. Pettis, land ; Treasurer, Hiram Puller ; Eegister of Charles Kirtmacher, Thos. Sparhawk, William Deeds, P. K. Johnson; Judge of Probate, Min- Ehodes, and John Gerheim. ai'd Mills; District Attorney, Henry Jackson; By an act approved March 5th, 1853, the Coroner, Philip Krummel; Surveyor, Daniel L. Legislature divided the territory into Judicial Turpin; County Commissioners, Ephraim Cole, Districts. All counties east of the Mississippi Joseph W. Babcock and Jacob Guenther; As- formed the First District, and all west of that sessor, Joseph Prounert. One freak of this first river were included in the Second District, ex- election was the selection of Henry Jackson (who £^ HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 49 did not pretend to know anything about law) as District Attorney by 22 votes to 3 votes for J. McMahon Holland, the only lawyer in the county. Holland -was so disgusted with the re- sult that he soon quit the country. Most of the county officers elected were democrats and yet party politics does not seem to have cut much figure. On the vote for Delegate to Congress, H. M. Eice, then democratic nominee, received seven votes to eleven for Alexander WilMn, the Whig nominee, in Mankato precinct; while Kasota gave nine votes to Eice and one for Wilkin. In the fall of 1853 James Hanna erected a frame dwelling on lot 5 block 13 of Mankato, just in the rear of where now stands the First National Bank building. Until the opening of the Mankato House, Mr. Hanna's home be- came the usual stopping place at Mankato for strangers other than Germans, while the latter generally made the log cabin of Clements Kron their hostelry. In the same fall Basil Moreland put up a frame building on lot 2 block 6 of Mankato. It had its side to Front street and was partitioned into two parts. The northerly half was used for church, lyceum, Sunday and day school, and public purposes generally, while the southerly half generally served as a dwell- ing. Under date of November 23nd, 18.53, P. K. Johnson writes to a St. Paul paper: "Mankato has about 20 families and the precinct about 100 voters. There are about twenty buildings in the village, among them is a good hotel 50x30 with wing. The village has a school with 24 jrapils, taught by Miss Sarah J. Hanna. Tt also has: one minister (old school Presbyterian), two lawyers, one saddler, two tailors, one mill- wright, two stores, two hotels. Four miles away on the Le Sueur a saw mill has been nearly completed, owned by George Van Brunt. There are carpenters, masons, plasterers, etc., here. A new town called South Bend has been laid out across the Blue Earth, and eight miles further is Eureka, where there is a good saw mill." The Eureka referred to was a paper townsite which Hiram Caywood had laid out just across the river from the present townsit« of Judson, but South Bend belongs to our county and its history. At La Crosse, Wis., there resided in 1853 a prominent Welshman named David C. Evans. In the spring of that year, when in the real e&tate office of Colonel T. B. Stoddard, his at- tention was called to the great bend of the Min- nesota as a strategic commercial point and he concluded to visit it. On the 26th of July Mr. Evans started to spy the country. On the way he fell in with General Lyman Matthews, who had come from the blue grass region of Ken- tucky. They spent a day at St. Paul, then a village of a few shanties, and went to see the great falls of St. Anthony, and found upon the land now occupied by the city of Minneapolis only a single white man, Colonel John H. Stev- ens, who had built a squatters shanty close to the falls, but was in daily apprehension of being driven off by the military at Fort Snelling, as a trespasser. At St. Paul Evans and Matthews met Captain Samuel Humbertson. (No native American, having any opinion of himself, came west in those anti-bellum days, whose rank was less than "captain." Our captain's title was not derived from any military record, however, but from the fact that he owned and operated the boat "Clarion," which did such valiant ser- vice upon the Minnesota in those early days.) On his trips to Fort Eidgely the captain had discovered an excellent boat landing at the mouth of a dry ravine, through which ages ago, the Blue Earth had found its way into the Minnesota, but which now was a mile above the mouth of that stream. So impressed was he ^s'ith the advantages of the spot as a townsite that on his last trip he had left there a pile of boards for a shanty, with his nephew, Thomas Lameraux, in charge, while he got up a town- site company at St. Paul. His enthusiasm soon induced Evans and Matthews to Join the en- terprise, and up the Minnesota they all went in the Clarion. It was the 1st day of August when they reached 'TBabcock's Landing," near Kasota and the river was getting low, so they had to tie up the boat there and proceed the rest of the way on foot. Besides our two friends and the captain, the company comprised Alden 50 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. Bryant, clerk of the Clarion and John Mann, it? engineer. They found Tom Lemeraux and the pile of boards holding possession of the coveted site. On the bench above they also found I. S. Lyon and family, who had arrived from Iowa a day or two before in a covered wagon, or "Prairie Schooner" as the vehicle was called by the pioneers. Lyon was at iirst taken into the townsite company, making the sixth member, each having an equal share. At the suggestion of Mr. Evans the prospective city was called "South Bend" from its position at the great bend of the river. On Saturday, August 6th, 1853, was built for Mr. Lyon on the table land east of the village site, the iirst log cabin. Mr. Lyon brought with him the first cow west of the Blue Earth and on this day was done the first churning, the be- ginning of the great dairy industry of today. On the 7th day of August most of our townsite proprietors footed it back to the Clarion, and thence returned to St. Paul and their various homes, to get ready to move at once to the new town. The death of his father at Palmyra, Ohio, delayed Mr. Evans several weeks in his return. He, however, sent Owen Herbert, to South Bend in August to look after his interests while he followed in ISTovember. On the 33nd of the same month Mr. Evans went to St. Paul after D. T. Turpin, a civil engineer, to survey and plat the new townsite, which survey was completed the 2nd of December. The weather had been exceedingly pleasant all this fall, and on the last day of the survey there was no. frost in the ground. Even on Christmas day, when a party of Mankato people came up to visit South Bend, the ice on the Blue Earth was not strong enough to cross. By the first of January, 1854, however, there was a change in the weather program, and for six weeks a very cold spell was experienced. About this time the provisions at South Bend got very low, and none to be had nearer than St. Paul, one hundred miles away. Mr. Evans had bought a span of horses of Captain Hum- bertson, which, by the way, were the first, and for two years the only, horses west of the Blue Earth. It, therefore, devolved upon Mr. Evans to take his horses and sleigh after the needed supplies. With deep snow on the ground, drifted in places to, mountain heaps, with the mercury down to the twenties, and the danger of being" caught in a blizzard without a road or human habitation, the journey was anything but desirable. It took Mr. Evans eleven days to make the trip, and the hardships attending it were the severest he experienced in all his life. On the evening of January 34th, he was over- taken by a terrible storm, far away from any house, and soon lost the road. The deep snow, the blinding storm, and the bitter cold gave no hope of escape. He could not see a rod away. He had no idea of the points of the compass, night was approaching, the howling blizzard seemed to be closing in on its prey. Unhitch- ing his team he made the best shelter possible for them behind the sleigh, and put before them all the fodder he had. "With a few sticks of wood he managed to kindle a small fire, and sat down beside it not expecting to see the morrow. He soon fell into a stupor, from which he awoke to find his fur cap laying on a few coals before him, apparently intact, but on touching it with his hand it fell to ashes. This aroused him from his lethargy, and the storm having fortu- nately abated, he took courage, and with head tied up in some flannel shirts he had bought at St. Paul, he eventually managed to reach Shakopee, where he and his team were hospi- tably cared for at the hostelry of the old pioneer, Joe Reynolds. The next morning Mr. Evans resumed his journey and after three or four more days of struggling with snow drifts, he finally reached the famine stricken city at the bend. The winter, however, was very short. Towards the last of February the weather grew very warm, and a thunder storm on March 1st, took away all the snow and broke up all the rivers. After this so mild was the temperature that Mr. Evans had no need to shelter his horses, but left them out to pasture day and night. By the 4th of April the sndces and mosquitoes were out. Before we pass to the events of the spring of 1854, let us return to the settlement east of the Blue Earth, About December 15th, 1853, the HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. r.i postoffice of Mankato was created, and P. K. Johnson appointed its first postmaster. Soon thereafter the contract for carrying the mail from St. Paul to Mankato once a week was left to George H. Marsh to hegin July 1, 1854. Until that date the mails came when the boats ran, or when some one happened to call for them. About December 30th, 1853, Theron Par- sons and son, L. P. Parsons, arrived at Man- kato, having come by team all the way from Illinois. At Hastings they stopped at a hotel kept by Eev. Jonathan Morris, a noted pioneer Campbellite preacher, who afterwards founded Morristown, Eice County, Minnesota. Eev. Mor- ris accompanied Mr. Parsons on a visit to Man- kato, and on January 1st, preached there a sermon long remembered by the pioneers. Mr. Parsons purchased the Chris Eoss claim, a portion of which was afterwards laid out as "Parsons Addition to Mankato," and moved to his new home in April, 1854, with his family. The Indians who made their home about the mouth of the Blue Earth were divided into two bands. One under the chieftainship of Sin- tomnidutah, and the other under a half breed, called "Frenchman." The latter was married to a sister of the other chief, but they did not live very happily together. Late in the fall of 1853, Frenchman accused his wife of being un- faithful to him. Her friends claimed he did tliis for an excuse to marry a younger squaw. According to the Indian law the punishment for adultery was to cut oflE the end of the nose, and Frenchman and his followers were in favor of law enforcement in this case. The squaw fled to her brother for protection. His village then stood on the table land in West Mankato. Frenchman and his warriors pursued her thither, and demanded that she be delivered up to them. This was refused and the Frenchman's band fired into the teepees, and a battle was precipitated. Most of Sintomnidutah's warriors happened to be away on a hunt and he was not able to cope with his opponent. In the fight one of his warriors was killed and another dangerously Mounded. As it was in the dusk of evening he and his sister managed to escape into the brush and fled to a cave beside Minneopa Falls, which ever after bore the name of "Sintomnidutah's Cave." Here they kept concealed for two or three days until the chiefs warriors returned from the hunt. He then sallied forth at the head of his warriors to avenge his sister's wrongs and his own, and chief Frenchman was obliged to flee to the whites at Mankato for protection, where he stayed for some time, until a truce was arranged between the two bands. The wounded Indian from Sintomnidutah's band was also taken at once to the whites at Mankato for medical aid, and he stayed with Drs. Heath and Adams all winter, being about the only patient the doctors had, and was healed of his wounds. January 32, 1854, occurred the first meeting of the new Board of County Commissioners, the first board elected by the -people. Ephraim Cole was chairman and J. W. Babcock and Jacob Guenther were the other members. At this meeting a .resolution was passed making Mankato the county seat. During this month the small Mankato set- tlement had a narrow escape from an Indian m^assacre. In the autumn the chief Sintomni- outah had purchased twenty-five dollars worth of goods of T. D. Warren, and hypothecated his crop of wild rice for the payment, which was to be made from the first annuity money. This money, however, was spent for something else, and when winter brought hunger to his wigwam, the chief began calling for his rice. Warren in- formed him he could get it as soon as he paid the debt and not before. The chief said he had no money, and, therefore, could not pay, but that his squaw and papoose were starving, and so must have the rice. The chief carried a fine rifle, which had the reputation among the Indians of always hitting whatever it was aimed at, and Warren proposed to give him the rice and five dollars to boot for the gun. Sintomni- dutah agreed to this, but when he and his brother and their squaws came that evening to get the rice, they pretended to have forgotten the rifle, and said they would bring it next morning. Warren was too shrewd for such a trick, and in- sisted they could not have the rice until the 52 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. gun was brought. Sintomnidutah was a tall, well proportioned Indian, with head and fea- tures resembling those of Henry Clay. Be- sides being quick witted he had great reputation for strength and bravery, and was an ugly an- tagonist in a fray. On the supper table lay a Itng bladed knife. Seizing it like a flash, the chief brandished it over his head and declared h' would have his rice, whether pale face was willing or not, and started to climb into the attic where it was stored. Warren was a large, athletic man, who knew no fear. Instantly he grabbed the chief by both wrists, and shaking the knife out of his hand, shoved him out through the door with a parting kick. The Indians at once took their departure and noth- ing more was heard of them for several days, when Tom Lemeraux, who was accustomed to visit the Indians, came to Warren's cabin one night with the intelligence that he had just been to the Indian village; that the warriors were holding a war dance and the squaws had warned him away, saying that the braves were very ugly towards the whites and had determined to kill them all in the morning. Warren simply laugh- ed at Tom's story. Next day about nine o'clock in the forenoon, however, the people of Mankato were surprised and startled to see some forty Indians, all armed and decked in war paint and feathers, march up Front street in single file. The settlers hurried from their cabins to inquire the meaning of this unwonted savage demonstra- tion. The school children saw the strange pro- cession as it passed the school room in the Moreland building, and followed with childish curiosity. Straight to Warren cabin, which stood near Dr. Harrington's present residence, grimly marched the line of warriors. Warren and a young man, named George Oummings, were chopping firewood by the door when the Iiidians approached. Cummings dodged into the house and he and Mrs. Warren seized a couple of guns. Warren faced the foe like a lion and demanded the why of their coming. The laconic word "rice" was the only answer as the braves formed in two lines, one on each side of the path leading to the door. Not seeing the chief at once, Warren demanded where he was. Down at the further end of the two lines Sintomni- dutah stepped out into the path in all his regalia of war. Instantly Warren seized a large sled stake, and, marching straight down the path between the two lines of armed savages, he faced the chief and demanded the gun. Sin- tomnidutah eyed his antagonist keenly for a moment, then turning the barrel of his gun up- side down he emptied the contents into the palm of his hand, and showing Warren the half dozen ugly slugs, which had formed the charge, he said, "White man, these were intended for you, but your heart is brave." So saying he replaced the charge and fired it into the air and handed the gun to Warren. Warren's cour- age was all that saved him and the other set- tlers of Mankato that day. Had he shown the slightest fear the massacre planned would have taken place. The Indians always reverenced courage as something supernatural, and a true ejhibition of it seldom failed to call forth their respect. Some twenty or more settlers had now gathered, most of them fairly well armed and a determined lot of men. So if the Indians had begun the fight, it would not have been wholly a one sided affair. Warren paid the chief at once the five dollars, and hitching his oxen, hauled the rice down to his lodge, and peace and good will prevailed once more. On February 25th, 1854, Rev. James Thom- son, a Presbyterian minister, arrived, having come all the way from Wabash, Indiana, on horseback. He was the first minister to locate in the county, and the next day being Sunday, he preached his first sermon at the little room in the Moreland building, where Miss Hanna had her school and where the Sunday school was kept. After the sermon Rev. Thomson had all who were members of the Presbyterian church rise and make a sort of church covenant to- gether. There were seven persons who arose as follows: Mr. and Mrs. James Hanna and two of their children, Mrs. George Maxfield and Mr. and Mrs. George Clapp, who lived on a claim in Kasota township, and whom Eev. Thomson had met on the road the day before and invited to the meeting. "Father Thomspu," m be was generally HISTORY OP BLUE EASTH COtTNTY. 53 called, came of a distinguished family of preach- ers, educators, and authors. His father and three of his brothers were ministers, two broth- ers were professors in Wabash College, and one brother was the famous Dr. William M. Thom- son, the author of "The Land and the Book." Father Thomson had organized the first Pres- byterian church at CrawfordsvUle, Indiana, and had taken the most active lead in the founding of Wabash College. His whole life was domi- nated by one ambition to found a great religious college in the west. Wabash College did not satisfy him, and hence he started for the Blue Earth country in Minnesota, haviag a great scheme on his mind. This was to find a town- ship of the choicest farm land and purchase it entire from the government, then get up a col- ony of select Presbyterian people, to whom the lands were to be sold at a fair profit, this profit to be the endowment of the school. Thus a financial and moral support would be afforded the young institution, which would insure its success. So reasoned Father Thomson and as a precedent he pointed to Galesburg College in Illinois. That first Saturday night at Mr. Hanna's house he explained his mission to Mr. Hanna and Major Murphy, then superintendent of the Sioux Indians in Minnesota, who hap- pened to be stopping there over night. Mr. Han- na thought that the best land had already been taken, for in those days prairie land away from the timber was considered uninhabitable. The Major suggested a still more fatal objection to the plan, which the reverend gentleman had not thought of, namely: That the government was not selling land any more in large tracts, that the only way in which land could be se- cured at that time was under the "Pre-emption Act," which did not permit more than 160 acres to be sold to one person. Though greatly dis- appointed in not getting his township of land and being able to carry out his original plan. Father Thomson did not abandon his dream of founding a great college at the big bend of the Minnesota and he concluded to locate at Mankato. Mr. Hanna assured him that small tracts of land, suitable for a college, could be found and showed him a lithographed map of Mankato, on which a big college building was already pictured. The Major showed him a big lump of excellent coal, which someone had just found that afternoon upon the Blue Earth, and spent half the evening dilating upon the importance of the find, and the discovery was heralded iu the state papers. It was afterwards proven that the coal had been taken from Josiah Keene'a blacksmith shop and deposited where found, by some wag. February 27th Rev. M. N. Adams, then col- porteur of the American Bible Society, and pastor of the Presbyterian church at Traverse des Sioux, held at Mankato the first meeting in the interest of the Bible cause. Father Thomson had met him at Traverse des Sioux the previous Saturday and arranged for the meeting. Rev. Thomson in a few days bought the claim of Evans and Henry Goodrich, where Dukes Addition is now located, for $800.00 and sent for his family who arrived the foUowiag June. On April 3rd, 1854, the County Commission- ero organized the county into two school dis- tricts: District No. 1 to comprise the voting precinct of Mankato and District No. 3 the precinct of Kasota. The excellent stage of water maintained ia the Minnesota river during 1853 had greatly encouraged steamboat men. Captain Humbertson during the winter disposed of his "Clarion," and had built in its stead a much lurger and finer boat, which he called the "Min- nesota Belle." On the third of May the cap- tain started up the Minnesota with his new boat. On board also were Lewis Branson, Henry Shaubut, John Barnard, Luther Bar- rett and many others destined for the Blue Earth country. The little freshet caused by the melting snow had occurred early in March and there had been no spring rains. On reaching the rapids near Carver, on the fourth of May, the Belle got stuck on the rock and every effort to get her over it proved futile. The captain was so disgusted with his failure that he never attempted to navigate the Minnesota again. Most of the passengers managed to reach their des- tination by team or on foot, but aU of those bound for South Bend located elsewhere except 54 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. Matthew Thomson. Lewis Branson, a lawyer from Indiana, Henry Shaubut, Adam Froendle and a number of others settled at Mankato. In a few days after his arrivel Henry Shaubut pur- chased from the Mankato Townsite company, tlirough General. Leech, the Mankato House. ll had cost the company about $3,500.00 but Mr. Shaubut got it for $1,200.00. He had the lower story plastered and completed during the summer, and the wing part was occupied by Eevw Thomson and his family until the fol- lowing spring, when Mr. Shaubut brought his family to Mankato and took possession of the , building. Along about the middle of May there was some rain, which raised the river sufficiently, so the steamer "Globe" was able to reach Man- koto, on May 30th. She was the first boat that seasouj and about the last, for the water in the river soon fell again. Eight glad were the people -at Mankato to see the boat, for their provisions were about exhausted and nearly all the inhabitants had been living on fish alone for weeks. Among' the 'Globe's' passengers was John Q. A'. Marsh, who brought with him a stock of mer- chandise, which his brother George H. Marsh had ordered the 'previous fall. The two brothers opened a' store at once in the Hanna building, which was the first store ' in the county having other than Indian' goods. A month later they moved" the store to their own building on lot 5 block 16, where they conducted a general store for years. ' ' On the 4th of May, 1854, a, second term of the District Court was held in Colonel Eobert- son's store building. Hon. A. G. Chatfield pre- sided, Basil Moreland was sheriff, ajid Jeffrey T. Adams clerk. This year witnessed, a number of cabins added to Mankato as well as to farm settlements to the north, east and south of it. At South Bend D. C. Evans erected quite a pretentious three story log house, the rear of the lower stories extended into the bluff, on the side of which it was built. Matthew Thompson, Elijah K. Bangs and John Barnard were among the new arrivals at the townsite. Joshua Barnard hdd located there some months before. On the west half of section 34 in Mankato township George Van Bnmt had in 1853 dis- covered a good water power on the he Sueur, and during the winter with the help of M. T. Comstock and James McMurtrie, he had a dam constructed and timbers hauled for a sawmill. By July, 1854, the mill was completed and began the manufacture of lumber, a much needed com- modity. This same summer George W. Lay be- gan the erection of a saw mill at Mankato, but tor some reason he failed to get it into workiug order for a year or two. On Minneopa Creek I. S. Lyons, "Buckskin Lyons," as the old set- tlers called him from his peculiar costume, put lip a small saw mill, which he began to operate on the 8th of August. It stood just above where the present New Ulm road crosses the stream. From a census taken at the time and pre- served in his diary by D. C. Evans , the Town- ship of South Bend on August 8th, 1854, had: -'J'ive "houses, 1 six lamilies,- comprising twenty- . six souls,, one span lof horses, four yokes of oxen, - six cows, and two dogs. , On September 23nd, 18S4, a plat of the/ ■ tpwjisite was recorded, in 'y/hich D. ,C. Evans, Lyman Matthews, Samuel -IIumbertson,i/Alden -Bryant •ai;4 'M. ThompsOjU ' appear i as' I proprietors. ■ .:,' ., ij iii . In July John JooBf and. his. Son-in-law, Grif- fith Jones, from nfear : Oshkosh, , Wis., visited ■South Bend! Township J and rlooated claims on Eush Lake, to which- on August. 17th,, they re- moved with their families. -About -the first- of , April of this I same , y^ar S. Titus : Mills, started from his home in Lakfe. County, 111., in a:coveTed -wagoui-drtiwn by i two .yokes of- > Dxen,i hound for the Blue,- Earth '.country. , i -He . took - with , him thirty , head of cattle and one horse and had a man !to help drive them. After many adven- tures : and hardships- .he -.reached Mankato about the first of June. Mrs. Mills and the children started about a month later with Theron Par- sons and family and came by the ordinary steamboat route. She reached Mankato about as soon as her husband. Mr. Mills bought of George Cummings of Mankato a claim, he had HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 55 just taken and built a small log cabin upon, at the east end of Mills lake, and on July 1st, moved his family thereon, being the first per- manent settler of Garden City Township. To illustrate one special annoyance, which every pioneer of that day experienced from the Indians, and to show as well the mettle of the women of that period, I will quote from a pa- per Mrs. Mills prepared for an old settlers gath- ering, this incident: "Provisions of all kinds v/ere- very high. Mr. Mills paid $1.50 a bushel for some corn. He kept it in sacks in one cor- ner of our cabin. The Indians saw it and came every day begging for it. At last they became so persistent we told them it was for our own use we had got it, and could not let them have it. One day Indian men, squaws and papooses crowded in and filled the room full. They ap- peared very merry, laughing and gabbleing among themselves. Soon I noticed their atten- tion was directed to the corner where the corn was and I knew they were helping themselves tn it. I was" alone with my little child and what could I do with so many of them. When they began to go out I saw some of them had corn in their blankets and let them go without saying anything. But one squaw had such a big load, it was more than I could put up with. 1 took hold of her blanket, and gave it a sud- deii jerk, which loosened it and the corn fell tp the floor. I told her to put it back in the sack and she said no, and I closed the door and gave her to understand it must be put back before she could go out. The others laughed at her and helped her put it back, but, oh, how mad she was! I gave her a few ears and told her to go, and that was the last I saw of her." About the same time, or it may have been a i'ew weeks later, two young men from Vermont, named William and Edward Washburn, located claims in the Haunted Valley at the mouth of the Watonwan, in Garden City township. Early in the fall of the same year, came Charles Gilchrist, Edward Thompson, George Lamberton, Orin J. Westover and Edson Gerry, all young men, and located claims in the same town along the Watonwan. About the 1st of May W. E. Eobinson and S. H. Thorne left their homes in Tompkins County, N. Y., to seek their for- tunes in the west. Thorne went to visit his brother-in-law, Calvin Webb, in Iowa, while Eobinson went to his brother-ia-law, L. 0. Hunt, in Wisconsin. Since the cession of their lands by the Sioux, Minnesota was everywhere talked about as ofiering the best opportunity to set- tlers. Messrs. Hunt and Eobinson concluded to visit the Blue Earth country, where they ar- rived early in Jidy. Both were favorably im- pressed and made up their minds to locate here at once. Eobinson wrote to his family and to Mr. Thorne about the decision he had come to, and Mr. Thorne induced Calvin Webb to sell his Iowa claim and go with the rest to Minnesota. The Eobinson family joined the Hunt family in Dodge County, Wis., while the Thorne family went to Calvin Webb's home near Davenport, and all were to rendezvous at La Crosse on August 1st, 1854. Writing of the journey Mrs. Thorne says: "So we procured our camping outfit in Davenport and shipped most of our goods by boat to St. Paul. Our boat was de- tained four days at Galena, waiting for. pas- sengers overland from the west, so when we ar- rived at La Crosse, we did not meet our friends. We went up the river a few miles above Winona, and then started for our overland trip, very much disappointed that we did not meet them. We left the river, and it took all the forenoon to get up the bluff. When all the teams had reached the prairie we camped for dinner, our first meal on the boundless prairie. While we were preparing the meal, Mr. Webb and Mr. Thorne cui the bark from some trees nearby and wrote our names and date. After we had traveled about an hour we no- ticed a horseman following us on the gallop, and halted for him to come up. It proved to be Mr. Eobinson. They had found our campfire and our names and he had hurried after us, whUe the rest were cookiag dinner, and we were very happy to be together. We had no roads to follow, only the compass ■ to guide us. We had not expected to be more than ten days on the way, but we found all the marshes and cieeks full of water, and every river a raging torrent, so that it took us nearly six weeks. 56 HISTOEY OF BLtJE EAETH COUNTY. Our stores of bread and cake and such things soon disappeared. Once we traveled two days and came back where we camped 'the first night. That is only one of the many adventures we had. For over three weeks we never saw an- other human being, except two Indians, who visited our camp one night. We had no vegetables. ALL we had was some dried fish and salt meat and what bread we could bake before the camp fire, and many times we held the umbrella over it while it baked. We frequently saw elk and deer and plenty of wild fowl, but our hunters never could get near enough to kill any of them. When everything was done for the night, before we sought our beds spread on the earth under the canvass we always sang: "Forever with the Lord, Amen, so let it be. Life from the dead is in that word. Tis immortality. Here in the body pent Absent from him we roam. But nightly pitched our moving tent A days' march nearer home." Well at last we reached the Blue Earth river, just above the mouth of the Le Sueur and we had no way to get across. So some of our m.en swam across and went to South Bend, and Armstrong and Lemeraux came over with a boat and helped us. It took about all day Sat- urday, and we could not get to South Bend until Sunday morning, September 13th, and a very sorry looking crowd were we. D. C. Evans kindly welcomed us and let us have a part of his new house, and we were happy to be under a roof once more. We thought our troubles were over, but alas we had only begun our frontier life, and the many trials and privations we had to endure seem now almost incredible. Mr. Thorne took a claim on Crystal Lake, Mr. Webb located in Judson Township, and Mr. Hunt and Mr. Eobinson after settling for a few weeks in Eapidan, removed on November 1st to the banks of Lake Crystal." Early in 1853 the Eureka Townsite and Water Power company was organized, with Hir- am Caywood as the prime mover. A townsite was laid out, called "Eureka" near the mouth of Swan Lake Creek, in Nicollet County, and dur- ing that summer a saw mill was erected by Mr. Caywood on the creek. This at once attracted some settlers to the locality, as the townsite was widely advertised. A few of these located on the Judson bottom, on the Blue Earth County side of the river, as early as 1853. Eev. John Tidland and family, and John Eandahl, were of this number. During 1854, John Goodwin, William Irving, Chester D. Hill, Eobert Pat- terson, Gustav Johnson, Peter Olson, Charles Youngberg, John Beckman and Fred and Frank Winnestrand joined the Judson settlers. Near the little town of St. Charles, Mo., not far from St. Louis, a number of German farm- ers had settled. The land was quite hilly and ill adapted for agriculture. Two of the colony went across the Mississippi into the Illinois country to purchase a threshing outfit in the spring of 1854. The rich farming lands they saw there opened their eyes to the poverty of the soil they had chosen at St. Charles, and they went home and stirred up the community to the folly of remaining in such a barren spot, when the country was full of good land. Af a conference held, it was decided to send one of their number as a spy to discover the best land. A young German of good judgment and educa- tion and thoroughly reliable, named Nicolas Uhle, was hired for $35.00 per month and ex- penses and sent out on the important mission. He went through Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and up above St. Paul on the Mississippi. Then he came up the Minnesota to Mankato and put up with Clements Kron. The next morning after his arrival he called on Mr. Kron for his bill and paid it. He remained in the locality two or three weeks, making daily ex- cursions into the country. He would tell no one of his mission, and the Germans at Man- kato were quite puzzled to explain his mysterious coming and going. He finally returned to St. Charles with a full report of all the lands he had seen, but his recommendation was to the country about Mankato in Blue Earth County. The report was adopted and the following persons made ready at once to go to the prom- HISTORY OF BLtJB EAETH COtTNTT. 57 ised land: Michael Hund, Philip Hodapp, Peter Schulte, David Heidwinkle, and Frank Bortmeir with their families, and Henry Vahle and Leo Lamm, both ithen unmarried. Young "Uhle was, to his great disappointment, denied the privi- lege of going with the colony, as his parents just tiien summoned him back to Germany. This band of German emigrants reached Mankato on October 14th, 1854, and settled in Lime and Mankato Townships, where they and their de- scendants became prominent residents. Nearly all of the fathers and mothers, however, have gone to their reward, after rendering splendid service to their church and community. The year 1854 saw the beginning of settle- ments in Eapidan, Lyra and McPherson. Basil Moreland made a claim of 160 acres in section 7 of Eapidan covering the finest water power on the Blue Earth. In April, Oliver J. Roe and John N. Dodgson made claims in the same town. In August Isaac Andrus and Truman P. Andrus located upon farms along the Maple in sections 11 and 12 of the same town, while Williston K. Greenwood claimed on the Blue Earth adjoining Basil Moreland in section 7. In the fall of this same year Noble G. Eoot moved with his family to a claim he had made on the Maple adjoining the present vUlage of Good Thunder on the south in sections 9 and 10 of Lyra. On October 11th Barnabas W. Simmons took possession with his family of 160 acres in section 33 of Lyra. In November of this same year Charles Mansfield and Ansen AV. Callen located upon claims on the east bank of -Rice LaJvC, in McPherson Township on sections nineteen and twenty. On July 1st, 1854, George H. Marsh began his contract with the government for the trans- portation of the mail once a week between St. Paul and Mankato. The first trip he made on foot as far as Traverse des Sioux and thence down the river in an Indian canoe. A horse and light wagon were procured for the return trip and used for a time; but soon two horses \vere used and a covered rig to carry passen- gers and light freight. Within about a year the service was increased to twice a week, then thrice a week, and finally daily and the south- ern terminus removed to South Bend. To have a regular mail service even once a week was a wonderful convenience to the settlers in their iso- lation. No need then for any postoffice or let- ter boxes, for on mail day every resident in the settlement was on hand long before the arrival of the post, and all postmaster Johnson had to do, after opening the mail bag, was to call the names and each person was on hand to receive his mail. If any one failed to respond Mr. Johnson would put the letter in his pocket and look him up, for there must have been something serious the matter with him. The first assess- ment ever made in the county occurred in 1854. A most important event for the settlers of Blue Earth County in 1854 was the government survey of the land. Until this time no settler cculd tell much about the boundary of his claim. Surveyors would mark out 160 acres of land for a settler, but with no township or section lines to go by, no one could well describe it, or know how much of it he could hold when the survey was made. The original townsite of Mankato was platted from a survey made before the government lines were run, and the whole is tied to a stake on Main street near the Saulpaugh, where the survey started. AU the settlers had to readjust their farms more or less when the survey was made. The government surveyors began their work on the county about July 1st, 1854, at its southeast corner, and worked north and west. They first ran the township and range lines, and then subdivided the town- ships into sections. The work occupied all that summer and fall, and was not fully completed until the following spring. A number of per- sons connected with this survey located at Man- kato this same fall. Prominent among whom were L. G. M. Fletcher, John T. Everett and Henry Humphrey. Others who settled in Manka- to this same fall are: William P. Coffin and Joel Cloud, (who during the winter ran a small store in the Hanna building on the levee), Daniel T. Bunker, S. M. Walker, Adam Freun- dle, Geo. A. Clark, Morton Lafiin, B. W. Stan- nard, Antoin Jacoby, Jacob and Henry Sontag, Columbus Ballard and many others. On the 3rd of July, 1854, the election pre- 58 HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COtJNTY. cinct of South Bond was created, embracing all the county -west of the Blue Earth river. The second election in the county occurred on Octo- ber 10th, 1854. That in South Bend precinct was held at the house of D. C. Evans, with L. Matthews, ISToah Armstrong and D. 0. Evans as Judges of Election and I. S. Lyons as Clerk I'lve votes were cast at this precinct, forty-five at the Mankato precinct, and thirteen at Kasota j)recinct, maldng fifty-three votes in all. Daniel T. Bunker was elected sheriff over Edwin Howe, Vtho on the resignation of Basil Moreland liad been appointed to the office on September 4th. Minard Mills was elected Judge of Probate; James Thomson, County Treasurer; D. C. Evans, County Commissioner, and E. Goodrich, Sur- veyor. On September 9th, 1854, John Lyons, son of I. S. Lyons died, and was buried a little Avest of the present Minneopa Cemetery. He was about twenty-one years old and of a very amiable character. His death was the first among the settlers west of the Blue Earth. The funeral services were held out doors in a grove, and Eev. James Thomson on this occas- ion preached the first sermon west of the Blue Earth. The first birth among the settlers west of the Blue Earth was that of Elsie J. (now Mrs. Bailey) daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Thorne on the banks of Lake Crystal on De- cember 13th, 1854. The winter of 1854-5 was quite severe, with deep snow and, as none of the settlers were very well housed or clad, it entailed no little suffering and hardship. Deer and all kinds of game were plenty, but the cold and snow made hunting a very arduous sport. P. K. Johnson bought of the Indians and set- tlers during the winter five hundred deer pelts, killed around Mankato, showing something of the number of that kind of game. In spite of the cold, the poor houses, the poor clothing, the poor food, the isolation, and the many hardships and deprivations, the peo- ple were mostly young and strong and enjoyed their frontier life. A lyceum had been started in Mankato as early as the winter of 1853, in which all took great interest. It had closed in the spring in a blaze of glory with a grand exhibition. The Lady of the Lake was drama- tized, there were songs, recitations and comic farces. John E. Harrison, Minard Mills, Josiah Keene and Miss Hanna and others were fine singers. Josiah Keene made a great hit as a colored man, wearing a pair of cow hide boots, he had borrowed of General Matthews. The General was quite a large man and his feet were massive. He had these boots constructed ample enough to fit over his other shoes, and truly they were "Great." It toook some ^plo- macy on the part of the managers to keep good old Father Thomson from not being over much shocked by such levity, especially when Keene added some lively tunes on his ungodly fiddle to his other antics. But one or two good religious songs, sang in the minor key brought the old gentleman to, and all went home happy. The winter of 1854-5 saw the lyceum more flourish- ing than ever, because of the added numbers. There were learned addresses, fiery debates, and iiispiring songs, the echoes of which lingered in the souls of our pioneers for many a_ day, and broke the monotony of the wilderness life. "TV CHAPTER VIII. LOSS OF TBREITORY— WINNEBAGO EES- EEVATION— EVENTS OF 1885. Never did a year open more auspiciously for our county than 1855. The streams of immi- gration, now at flood height, all tended. to the Llue Earth country; capital was seekiag there for some of its best investments; and tiie na- tural wealth of its soil was budding everywhere with the assurance of abundant fruitage. But just as sometimes happens with our Minnesota weather; the morning opens splendid in promise, bright, clear and balmy, when suddenly the entire heavens are overcast, and the splendid promise of the morning is lost in a dull, damp desolate day. So that even the beauty of the morning is only remembered as a "weather breeder." So the exceptional bright prospects of our county were doomed to a sudden and unexpected eclipse. On February 20th, 1855, the Territorial Leg- islature, which heretofore had been so lavish to the county in matter of territory, now, when it was ready to use it, changed its attitude. On .the ;east,- south and west the present boundaries ■R ere adopted, while on the. north the entire township: of Kasota including also the present township of Lime and Jamestown were taken from Blue Earth and added to Le Sueur county. But this was not the worst. Seven days after the , passage of this bill by our Legislature, a treaty was negotiated on February 37th, 1855, by a few Winnebago chiefs, who had been taken to Washington for the purpose, whereby these Indians ceded their reservation on the upper Mississippi and were given iastead a reservation in Blue Earth and Waseca Counties, thirty miles long east and west, by thirteen miles wide north and south. The north line of this reser- vation was to pass through the juncture of the Le Sueur and Blue Earth rivers. This point it is claimed had been falsely represented to Con- gress to have been twenty miles distant from Mankato. The portion taken from Blue Earth County embraced the whole of McPherson, Medo, Beauford, Decoria, Lyra and Eapidan and the south tiers of sections in South Bend, Mankato and Le Ray, six townships and a half of the very best farm lands in the county, — about one- third of its total area, — taken from its very heart and given to the Indians, while two full town- ships and a fraction were cut ofE from its north- east corner and given to Le Sueur county. All there was left of our once magnificent fine county was a thin shell embracing at its center a big Indian reservation. In those days before there was a telegraph or even a railroad news traveled slowly. Our people heard of their loss of territory by hand of the Legislature, however, a month or more before the news from Wash- ington. The delegation of Winnebagoes, who had accompanied General Fletcher, their agent, to Washington comprised three chiefs namely: Winneschiek or Waunk-annchakugah (the Com- ing Thunder), Hoonch-ha-haykah • (Big Bear), and Hoonkhonokah (Little Priest), and three braves. These returned to St. Paul with Gen- eral Fletcher by April 20th, and at once pro- ceeded with him to the Blue Earth country, to inspect their new reservation and to accurately fix its boundaries, for the matter had been left somewhat to the agent. On arriving at Mankato about the last of April, General Fletcher em- ployed Evans Goodrich, the County Surveyor, to run the lines of the reservation. The people raised the most vigorous protests against these confiscations of their territory. They were the 59 60 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COTTNTY. main topics of conversation all that year. On the 3nd of June a mass meeting convened at Mankato to protest against the Indian reserva- tion. Theron Parsons was chairman and Eo- bert Wardlaw, Secretary. Speeches were made by: Isaac Andrus, Basil Moreland, Lewis Bran- son, P. K. Johnson and others. Resolutions were passed protesting against the taking of their homes away from the settlers, against the putting so many savages as a menace to the lives and property of the adjacent white settlements, and against the taking so much territory from civ- ilization, and the county of Blue Earth for the perpetuation of savagery in its midst. A com- mittee was appointed to present the memorial to Governor Gorman. But all was to no avail so far as the Indian reservation was concerned, for their cry for redress was too feeble to be heard in Washington. About the middle of June the entire Wimnebago tribe, over two thousand strong, broke upon Mankato like an avalanche. Some came up the river in bark canoes, others came upon ponies and dog carts, and still others on foot, and were piloted out to their reserva- tion. General Fletcher fixed upon the spot where now stands the village of St. Clair as the headquarters for the tribe, and here he had his own house and the government houses and stores erected, and the place was designated the ''Winnebago Agency." In following the advent of the Winnebagoes into the county we have omitted many other lesser events, which we now will return to chronicle. The office of sheriff in those early days was. not as much sought for as in subse- quent years. Daniel P. Bunker as sheriS elect should have taken office on January 1st, 1855, but he sent his resignation to the County Board instead and Edwin Howe, who had served under appointment during the latter half of 1854, was re-appointed for 1855; and on February 21st, Lewis Branson was appointed County At- torney. The County Commissioners for this year were Bphraim Cole, Chairman, D. C. Evans and Joseph W. Babcock; but, by cutting Kasota from the county of Blue Earth, Mr. Babcock was legislated out of office on April 1st, 1855, and the county had to get along with two com- missioners for the balance of the year. Since the spring of 1854 most of the county offices had been located in the Moreland building on lot 3 block 7, where most everything of a public nature was conducted. Here Father Thomson preached twice every Sabbath; here Sarah J. Marsh, and, after her. Miss Mary Ann Thomson tfiught the day school, here was held the lyceum and debating society. On top of the building Father Thomson had rigged a large dinner bell, he had brought with him from Indiana, to caD the people to church. This bell during the hot summer months, when routed from their beds by mosquitoes, the young men used to ring at midnight to the great annoyance of the rest of tiie town. On January 5th, 1855, South Bend was or- ganized into a separate school district, designated No. 3 and it was reported that there were eighty persons between the ages of four and twenty- one in Blue Earth County aside from Kasota. Even the snow and cold of winter did not stop immigration altogether. About February 10th, John A. Jones, David J. Lewis and Evan J. Lewis arrived in South Bend from Emmet, Wis., having made the journey mostly on foot. They, found claims in the vicinity of South Bend and, after building temporary cabins, returned early in March to Wisconsin after their families and neighbors. In March, William P. Coffin and Joel Cloud located upon section five of Eapi- dan. Francis Veigh, David B. Backus and Frank Obale also took claims early in the spring in Rapidan. This was before they had any knowledge of the Winnebago reservation cover- ing these lands. In the early spring Mankato and vicinity bad a small Indian scare. Messrs. Callen and Mansfield, who had been domiciled on claims by Rice Lake, came hurrying into town one day saying they had been attacked by Indians. A company was formed and started for the seat of trouble. On the Le Sueur they met an Indian lad, about eighteen years old named "Joyce," who was quite friendly with the set- tlers and a favorite among them. The whites asked him about the matter and he burst into a big laugh, and explained how he had been HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 61 out hunting with other Indians on Eice Lake. 1'hat in some way he got separated from his com- panions and to signal them had fired his gun three or four times. Thus ended the scare and the company marched home. Before navigation had fairly opened in the spring of 1855, hundreds of settlers were pushing VTestward. Some came by teams but the great majority journeyed on foot. On the 18th of April Humphrey Jones, Thomas Y. Davis, Wil- liam C. Williams, William Jenkins, Ed. Pierce, John Watkins, William Jones and Anthony Howells arrived at South Bend from Ohio and Illinois and soon located upon claims in the northwest corner of Judson. When they came the ice was yet firm in Lake Pepin, though the river, both above and below, was open and the boats running. They with hundreds of others walked from the foot of the lake to its head a distance of thirty miles, to catch a boat at that point for St. Paul. The water in the Minnesota continued very low during the spring of 1855, and few boats were able to ascend be- yond the rapids at Carver, until the June rains. John Menne and John Pohl reached St. Paul from Dubuque, Iowa, in April before the ice was out of Lake Pepin. Meeting John Fresholtz at the capital city, they were induced to come to Mankato and take up claims in its vicinity. On the 17th the first boat passed through Lake Pepin. On board came Edward Brace, who with a companion footed it from St. Paul to Man- kato, and that fall took a claim near Jackson Lake. He was the second settler in Shelby. Norman Jackson who had been obliged to aban- don his claim in Lyra because it was on the Winnebago reservation, preceding Mr. Brace as first settler of Shelby only by a few weeks. About the middle of April Evan D. Evans arrived at South Bend with his family from Blossbury, Pa., and on the 27th of the same month came Evan Evans (Pant) and John Jones (Maes Mawr) from Waukesha, Wis. April 22nd was held the first prayer meeting west of the Blue Earth. The place was the cabin of John Jones (Oshkosh) on Eush Lake and those present were: Mr. Jones and family, William C. Williams, William Jenkins, Humphrey Jones, Thos. Y. Davis and others of their party. April 39th the first prayer meeting in South Bend village was held at the home of D. C. Evans, then occupied by Evan D. Evans. The service was partly in Welsh and partly in English, both nationalities being present. Those taking part were Evati D. Evans, Owen Herbert, Joshua Barnard and Evan Evans (Pant). A Sunday school had been held the preceeding February, when D. C. Evans, Joshua Barnard, Owen Herbert, John A. Jones, David and Evan J. Lewis with others would gather on Sundays at Mr. Evans' house, and read chapters of the Scriptures, each com- menting and questioning upon his own verse after the Welsh method. Mr. Barnard, a re- ligious man, who thereafter became an efficient minister of the M. E. Church, usually began those Bible studies with prayer. None of South Bend pioneers at that time had much musical ability, so Mr. Barnard, who had learned to play the violin in his youth, would lead the sing- ing by first thrumming the tune over on an old bass-viol, then all joined in with lusty voices. On the 5th of May Edward Thomas Sr., ar- rived with his family from Pomeroy, Ohio, and on the second Sabbath of that month was started the first regular Sunday school in South Bend, with Dr. E. Thomas as superintendent. Dr. Thomas was, also, a music teacher, and he sup- plied the village beyond the Blue Earth with their lack in this line. He had the whole com- munity soon organized into singing classes. May 21st, Thos. M. Pugh and Thomas Phillips reached South Bend from Dodgeville, Wis. They made the journey from Shakopee on foot in company with two Germans. Failing to reach a house by night, they had to lodge under the twinkling stars. The four laid down in a row, on a blanket, Pugh on the outside, and being tired, soon fell asleep. Towards midnight Pugh was awakened by the loud howling of the wolves in the surrounding forest. After listening a while to their dismal cries, at times sounding viciously near, he began to think his outside position not the most desirable. Next to him lay a sleek fat German and getting up, Pugh crawled in on the other side of him, saying as he pushed the Teuton outward, "The Dutch- 62 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. man first Mr. Wolf." The early settlers well remember how numerous the wolves were dur- ing the first few years, and how they made night hideous with their howlings. As a rule they were a small harmless kind, though, and so timid as to be seldom seen by day, and with the settling of the country they almost entirely dis- appeared. The foreign elements which came to Blue Earth County in its pioneer days were not only tJirifty and honest but as a rule devoutly relig- ious. The majority of the Germans belong- ed to the Catholic faith, and soon aifter their arrival they began to long for the worship of God after the custom of their fathers. As early as December 30, 1854, a few of the faithful oiies gathered at the log hotel of Clements Kron tj consider the founding of a Catholic congre- gation at Mankato. Among those present were: Micheal Hund, John Bruels, Philip Hodapp, Peter Schulte, Frank Borgmeier, David Heid- winkel, Peter Frenzel, Carl Prohnert, Anton Jacoby, Blasius Yobst, Clements Kron, Henry Sontag and Henry Vahle. In the spring of 1855 a church building lot was bought of P. K. Johnson for $300.00. The first mass in the county was read by Father A. Eavaux, the In- dian missionary, on February 2nd, 1855, at the log cabin of Micheal Hund, where the worthy father was stopping over night. With the Win- nebagoes came to the county a number of white employees connected with the agency. Most of these were of French extraction and largely Catholic in religion. Many of the Indians, also, belonged to that faith. In the latter part of June, 1855, Bishop Jos- eph Cretin drove by team from his home in St. Paul to visit his Mankato flock, and on June 24th, 1855, celebrated the first public mass in Blue Earth County. It was held at a log cabin donated for the service of the church by Michael Hund, and located about a mile east of the present Mankato church on the Agency road. I'his service was a privilege greatly enjoyed by the Catholic brethren and they gathered from the Winnebago agency and from all parts of the county to hear the good bishop. He encouraged the Mankato congregation to build a church and a building committee was appointed, of which John Bruels was secretary, and subscriptions obtained, and by the 22nd of July the work on the foundations of a stone church were be- gun. Ludwig Volz had the contract for the stone work and Gottfried Eobel for the lumber. Among the baptisms administered on this visit by the bishop were, Joseph Kron, the first white male child born in Mankato, and John B. Hodapp, now and for many prior years the City Eecorder of Mankato. About the first of August the very Eev. Francis De Vivaldi, apos- tolic missionary to the Winnebago Indians, held services at the agency. In the train of the Winnebago Indians came a few men, who at once took a prominent place in the business affairs of the county. Among these were Isaac Marks, Asa White and Henry Foster. The last two located at the agency, but Mr. Marks opened a general store at Man- kato, and for years the firm of White and Marks was the most prominent emporium of ti'ade in the county. In the spring of 1855 the U. S. government advertised for bids to construct the military road, surveyed by Captain Eeno in 1853 between Mendota and the Big Sioux river. Three contracts were let covering the portion of this road between South Bend and Mendota, and two went to Captain William Dodd of St. Peter, who on June 14th began work with sixty men and eight or ten yokes of oxen. The construction of this important high- way greatly aided travel between our county and St. Paul. About June 1, 1855, Morris Lewis and David A. Davis, located claims in the present town of Cambria and on the 12th of the same month, John E. Davis and family arrived, having come in a covered wagon from Illinois. He was the first actual settler in that town. He was soon followed by John Nicholson and family and George Gilley and family. In July, David J. Davis, David J. Williams, David Y. Davis and others located in the same town, then known as the Cottonwood settlement. A Welsh preacher, named Eev. Eichard Davis, whose home had been at La Crosse, had done much to arouse the interest of the Welsh people in South Bend and Blue Earth County by ar- ticles in the periodicals of that nationality. In HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 63 July he removed to South Bend being the first minister to settle there. In June, John A. Jones, Evan and David J. Lewis returned to South Bend bringing their families and a num- ber of their neighbors. Of this colony were, be- sides the families named Evan H. Evans, Hugh Edwards, William J. Roberts, John Pugh, Sr., Griffith Eoberts, Eobert R. Williams, Thomas J. Jones (Bryn Llys), and David Evans, all from Emmet near Watertovra, Wis. They came across the country by way of La Crosse and Rochester in eleven covered wagons with their families, household goods, farming implements and cat- tle, making a great company, so that David Lyon of La Crosse told D. C. Evans, who hap- pened to be there a few days after they passed, that there were thousands of them. They were six weeks making the journey. A religious peo- ple, too, were they, who in all their weary journey did not forget the worship of God a single Sunday. Crossing the Mississippi oppo- site La Crosse on Saturday, they halted over the Sabbath, May 34, 1855, and had Eev. Rich- ard Davis come across in a skiff and preach to them there in the wilderness. This was the first Welsh sermon in Minnesota, and probably the first west of the Father of Waters. Near the Straight river they were overtaken by a detachment dfi several hundred Winnebagoes from Wisconsin, on their way to their new res- ervation in Blue Earth County. The sight of KO many savages and the thought that they were to be such close neighbors, rather intimidated our immigrants and they halted some days in doubt whether to advance, retreat or go elsewhere. The majority concluded to go ahead and the others soon followed. Arriving at the top of the Main street hill overlooking Mankato, they adopted a novel method of letting their loads down the steep bluff. A number of trees were chopped down and one hitched behind each wagon. They answered the purpose of brakes most successfully. This colony located along Minneopa Creek. On June 24, 1855, Rev. William Williams, a Baptist preacher from Big Rock, 111., visited South Bend and preached there the first Welsh sermon in Blue Earth County. About July 8th, Eev. Richard Davis removed from La Crosse to South Bend and was the first Welsh minister to settle in the county. On the 1st of August, 1855, he organized at his own cabin in South Bend village the first Welsh church in the county. It was an Union church with five deacons and forty-three members. Rev. R. Davis was pastor; Edward Thomas, Sr., Secretary, and the Deacons were: Evan H. Evans, Evan Evans (Pant), William R. Price, William J. Roberts, and Edward Thomas, Sr. As far as known this was the first regular church in the county. Reg- ular Sabbath services were held thereafter at South Bend village. On August 31st, 1855, the First Presbyterian church of Mankato was formally organized by Rev. James Thomson at the Hanna residence, in the rear of the lot now occupied by the First National Bank. The following seventeen per- sons, each bearing a letter from an eastern church comprised the charter members of the new church: Maria H. Thomson, Juliet Thom- son, Mary Ann Thomson, William H. Thomson, Amos D. Seward, Henry Schuler, Jonathan B. Stanley, Nancy Hanna, Margaret Ann Hanna, Sarah Jane Hanna, Cornelius Vannice, Susan Vannice, George C. Clapp, Marietta Clapp and Sarah Maxfield. A. D. Seward was chosen elder and was the only church officer elected for years. At the Methodist Episcopal conference held in June, 1855, Rev. Lewis Bell was ap- pointed to have charge of preaching stations at ]\rankato, Le Sueur, Traverse des Sioux, Shako- pee and Henderson, making quite an extensive parish. He preached his first sermon at Man- kato on July 1st of that year. On the evening* of July 4th, 1855, the open- ing of the Mankato House was duly celebrated with a big supper and ball to which the settlers gathered from far and near, and a royal time was had. About August 1st, the Sioux Indians gave their new neighbors, the Winnebagoes, a great reception feast at Mankato, which in number of guests and the demonstrations held, far outdid the opening of the white man's wigwam. The streets, the woods, and the river literally swarmed for several days with these dusky denizens of 64 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. the wilderness. Their e&stumes, consisting al- most wholly of paint and feathers, were gorgeous. Their principle gathering place was in Warren and Van Brant's Additions. Four or more of the largest teepees were joined together to form the feast lodges. The sound of the tom toms and dance songs was scarcely hushed day or night. Our old settler friend, \Y. P. Coffin, re- members coming to Mankato during the days of this feast from his Eapidan claim. As all the pio- neers well recall, cattle were much afraid of In- dians, and would scent them from afar and run from them. Mr. Coffin had a pair of very young steers and the smell and. sight of so many Indians had put them in a quiver of ex- citement and terror. A mischievous young buck noticing the frantic behavior of the oxen slipped o-i his blanket and, with a yell that might have split Gibralter, smote them on the back. A modem runaway on Front street would have been a tame affair compared to what that thor- oughfare then saw, and it took Mr. Coffin a long time to find his oxen and wagon again. In those early days the Indians were very numerous in the land and were regarded with much dis- trust and fear by the settlers before they became used to them. Frequently a number of dusky braves, much to the terror of the women and children, would come to a cabin, peer in at the window or door, walk into the room unbidden, and drawing their blankets about them, sit on the floor in a row against the wall, smoking their long stone pipes in silence. Then rising, by signs and Indian speech they would beg for something to eat, which usually would be given them if there was a morsel in the house, in order to get rid of them. After a while every settler provided himself with a good savage watch dog, which from religious veneration, the red man seldom killed. When on a drunken spree or when holding their wild dancing feasts, the Indians were very noisy and demonstrative, and often in the weary watches of the night would the poineers shudder as he heard the tumult of their revelry. One beautiful night in July, 1855, as Humphrey Jones, Thos. Y. Davis, Owen Eoberts and Morris Lewis were sitting in their newly finished cabin in the northwest corner of Judson, they were startled by the most blood curdling yells and shrieks and pounding of drums and firing of guns in the direction of an Indian camp, situated in the edge of the timber about a quarter of a mile distant. Eunning out they could see that the whole village was in the wildest commotion. Men and women running, leaping and yelling like raving demoniacs, and beating upon kettles and Indian drums, with a hubbub like pande- monium. Our friends, newly arrived from the coal mines of Ohio, spent a night of terror in their hut, expecting every moment to be mur- dered by the savages, who, all night long with unabated fury continued their hideous riot. Carried by the breeze the noise ever and anon seemed to approach close to the, cabin, then it would recede again. When morning came at last all was quiet and peaceful, and our four friends found their scalps had not been dis- turbed. During the day an Indian boy, dis- posed to cultivate the acquaintance of the pale- faced strangers, paid them a visit, and of him they inquired the cause of the night's uproar. "Sick; so big" (measuring with his hand about two feet from the floor), was the laconic reply. They finally understood that a papoose had been taken very ill during the night and the savages thought that the Evil one was prowling around trying to steal its soul, and the noise was made to scare him away. Another obnoxious occupant of the land, more numerous than the wolves or Indians, and much more aggressive in their hostility, were the mosquitoes. N'one but the oldest pioneers can form any idea of what a plague these pests were in the early days. The rank grass of the prairie, encircling so many lakes and sloughs, and the thick underbrush of the forests, with the many bogs, brooks and rivers, bordered by dense thickets, seemed a very paradise for these blood-thirsty little vampires. Should it be cloudy, one could hardly endure them during the day; but when evening came, the atmosphere was alive with them, a million to every cubic inch, and as ferociously hungry as though they had fasted for a year and a day. The rude huts of the settlers, without the many protecting 14 14 s Q o I — I w :^ o frj HISTOKY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 05 devices, which invention and money furnish to modern life, afforded but little shelter against this annoying foe. Thus amid Indians, wolves, mosquitoes and wild nature in general, our sturdy pioneer be- gan the work of bringing the savage Wilderness into civilized subjection. A great work too it- was, much greater than we of today can ever appreciate. No houses, no lumber, no fields, no .fences, no farming implements, no seed, no schools, no churches, no highways, no bridges, no mills, no money, no food, no towns wherein to buy the necessaries of life, and no railway to bring in a few hours these things from afar; but with a slow ox team plodding through the tall grass of the prairie and the thick tangled underbrush of the unbroken forest, now fast in some bottomless slough, and having to carry on his back the load and the wagon out by piece meal, now descending at the peril of his neck into some ravine, and again with much labor climbing the steep precipice out of it, here having a narrow escape from drowning in at- tempting to ford a river, there almost dashed in pieces by the upsetting of the wagon over the precipitous edge of some narrow hillside trail, ever from one adventure and peril to an- otber, on the long, long journev of one hundred miles to St. Paul after a little flour and pro- visions. Three week? are spent in going^ to this nearest market and back, without shelter from summer's heat and rain, and from winter's cold and stormy blast. TTp mav Tierish in the snow and storm, his family in the little bark roofed shantv mav perish from cold and hnnsrer. Then when in response to their hard toil the (rround bejran to vield her increase and their flocks to multiplv. there was no market for their little surnlus and for manv a year all their labor and sacrifice Yielded but scant reward. All honor to the sturdy nioneer! Wortbv are thev of lone remembrance! "NTohlv thev suffered, bravely they stma'a'led in the strife with savage nature and savage men. ninched bv novertv, around under the heal« of one advprsitv after another: vet with heroic faith and fortitude thev faced each foe ; and one hv one ere scarce the battle ceased, they fell covered with the scars of toil and hardship, leaving to us who follow the fruits of their glorious victory, in happy homes, fields smiling with cultivation, cities bustling with trade, churches, schools, manufactories, transportation facilities, a com- monwealth rich and prosperous. The modern pioneer preceded by railroads, telegraphs and all the modem conveniences, knows little of pioneer life fifty years ago. The year 1855 saw a number of settlements started in various parts of the county. We have seen how the Germans were occupying the tim- ber farms of ilankato and Lime Township, how the Welsh colony from Emmett, • Wis., took pos- session of the county along Minneopa Creek, while Welsh immigrants from Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania settled along the timber of the Minnesota in Judson and Cambria. Be- sides those we have already named, Eev. William Williams, a Baptist preacher, settled with his family on Judson Bottom. David T. Davis and family, Henry Hughes and family, Evan .T. Davis, and many others settled in Judson and Cambria this year. Just across the river from Judson village located David J. Williams (Bradford) and Evan Bowen and families. Later they moved into Blue Earth County. We, also, noted how the previous year settlers had located along the Maple in Eapidan and near the junction of the Watonwan and Blue Earth. The year 1855 saw a number of ac- cessions to the settlements on the Watonwan and the claims adjacent to that stream taken as far as Ceresco and Lincoln. Among the settlers of that year to locate in Garden City were: William P. Thompson and family, John C. Thompson and family, Joseph Derby and family, John Derby and family, John B. Skin- ner and family. James Gale and family, Edsort Gerry, Mr. Esmond, Georg-e Atwell. Gehiel Abar, David D. Hunter and family, Ithimer Town and family, Abraham Lvtle and family. J. H. Greenwood and Warren Greenwood. In Ceresco, Fellows D. Pease and William D. Gray had located in the summer of 1855, on the north side oi the Watonwan, a little above the mouth of Perch Creek. Mr. Gray kept a small store of Indian ffoods. In October of the same year A. B. Barney and D. K. Shaw made claims in 66 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. Ceresco, while Charles Barney at the same time settled in the northwest corner of Ver- non Township. Other settlers who located in Vernon this year were Isreal Wing, James Taylor, Marquis L. Plumb, Eobert Marley, Zenas Scott, George M. Keenan, Joseph W. Darling, John A. Darling and Thos. Doke. These settled along the Blue Earth. In Shelby, besides Korman W. Jackson, his son Eli N. Jackson, son-in-law, Hiram Luddington, and Edward Brace, who made claims by Lakes Ida and Jackson, a number of people located this year along the Blue Earth. Among these were : Tobias Miller, John Doke, Wrn. Clark, Sanford Allen, Kasper, Geo. J. and Simon HofEman, Chas. C. Mack and Jesse Jdack, Eudolph, Jo- seph and William Crandall. In the summer of 1855, Verpucius A. Highland became the first settler in Sterling. He and his family drove across the country in a covered wagon, from Illinois, and located on sections three and four. He had brought with him a fine drove of cattle and the balance of the summer was largely taken up in putting up hay for the coming winter. As all hay in those days had to be cut with a scA-the and gathered with a hand rake, it was not an easy task to provide food enough for a herd of cattle to last a long Minnesota winter. Mr. Highland had finally got his hay all put up in stacks near his cabin. On the l-ith of October, the smoke of a big prairie fire rose in the southwest in the vicinity of Jackson Lake. The wind was blowing a hard gale from that direction and the grass was like tinder. Soon the hurricane of flame and smoke came leaping and bounding across the prairie straight for the Highland home and haystacks. Fortu- nately between them and the oncoming wave of fire was a strip of breaking. This bit of plowed land parted the wall of flame and it swept swiftly by on either side, lashed to fury by the wind, and leaving a trail of black de- solation behind. But the grass was so dry and abundant that a fire now began working in from both sides in the rear of the plowed land, and every effort to extinguish it proved futile, and in a short time all that remained of the stacks of hay, which had cost such labor and on which so much depended, were three or four ash heaps. After a desperate fight, the cabin was saved. Mr. Highland made a heroic struggle to save his cattle by procuring food for them wherever he could, but many of them perished. In those days when the vast illimitable prairies were covered with a rank, thick herbage, which in the many sloughs grew to the height of eight to twelve feet, a prairie fire in the fall of the year, when all was dry, was most dangerous. Driven by the high autumnal winds amid such abundant combustible material, nothing could stay its fury. With the roar and speed of the hurricane it sped over the plains, grand, ma- jestic and terrible, like the burning of a thou- sand Eomes, and struck terror into the heart of the pioneer. Many a poor settler suffered from its rage. His fences, his sheds, his stacks of hay and grain, and sometimes his little cabin home and all, would in a few moments be swept away by this besom of destruction, leaving him and his family and stock stripped of every- thing against the winters cold and hunger. Every autumn the smoke of these fires would darken the sun, while nightly the sky would be lit by their glow. Far off on the distant prairies night after night the long seried ranks of shin- ing flames could be seen. A beautiful picture, when the danger was eliminated, and one that haunts the memory of many a pioneer. On August 20th, 1855, the election precinct of Eice Lake was created comprising all of the county lying south of the Le Sueur and east of the Maple rivers. Chas. Mansfield, A. W. Callen ■ and Joseph L. Alexander were appointed its first election judges. On the same date the precinct of Watonwan was also formed, with Chas. Gilchrist, Orlin J. Westover and S. Titus Mills as Election Judges. It had for its boun- daries the Maple river on the east, the county lines on the south and west, and the Town- ship line between 107 and 108 for its northern limits. On this same 30th of August occurred the second opening of bids for construction of the Big Sioux and Mendota road. The largest bid was for the construction of a bridge over the Blue Earth river between Mankato and South Bend, It called for a structure eighty feet long HISTOEY OP BLUE BAETH COUNTY. 07 by sixteen feet wide, consisting of five spans, to be completed by May 1st, 1856. This im- portant contract went to S. J. Frazier of St. Anthony, who sublet much of it to T. D. War- ren of Mankato, and work was started during the fall and continued during tlae winter with a large force of men. The frame work of the bridge was all completed before the spring freshet, and the floor and railings put in place soon after. This was the first bridge of any importance constructed in Blue Earth County and was a great convenience to the settlers. It cost the government $10,000. On the 9th of October, 1855, was held the third election in the county. The main ques- tion, which concerned Blue Earth County, was how to regain the territory, which Le Sueur had taken from it tlie previous winter.' The majority were of the opinion that P. K. John- son was the best man to send to the Legisla- ture for the purpose, because of his acquaintance at St. Paul and elsewhere through the terri- tory at that time. He was accordingly elected with this special commission. For County com- missioners, Theron Parsons was elected for the three year term and A. W. Callen for Babcock's unexpired term of one year. Mr. Callen hav- ing moved away never qualified, and on April 7, 1856, William E. Eobinson was appointed to fill the vacancy. The board consisted in 1856 of: Theron Parsons, Chairman, D. C. Evans and (after April 7th,) William E. Eobinson. The other officers elect were : Sheriff, Francis Bunker ; Eegister of Deeds, George H. Marsh ; County Treasurer, John 0- A. Marsh ; Judge of Probate, Minard Mills ; Surveyor, Basil l\Ioreland. At this election Mankato cast 86 votes. South Bend 31, Watonwan ?2, Eice Lake 27, making a total of 186 votes in the county. On August 2, 1855, the County Board had received a petition signed by Philander Prescott and many others asking for the establishment of two vot- ing precincts, one at the Upper, and the other at the Lower Sioux Agencies. As these pre- cincts were beyond the limits of Blue Earth Countv the Board doubted its iurisdiction in the matter and postponed action. On the twenty-seventh of the same month a petition was received from twenty-four legal voters of Brown County, asking for an election precinct to comprise the territory between. Blue Earth Coun- ty and the Sioux Eeservation and laying south of the Minnesota Eiver. This petition, though relating to a matter beyond the county's boun- dary, was granted. New Ulm was designated as the place at which the election should be held and August Kisling, Fredrick Bebberke, and Albert Behnke were appointed Judges of Election; and Henry Behnke was made Jus- tice of the Peace and Ludwig Myer, Constable. At the October election both the New Ulm and Lower Sioux Agency precincts cast theii* ballots for the Territorial and Legislative can- didates, which were canvassed among the Blue Earth County precincts. There were 45 votes at New Ulm and 24 at the Lower Agency. They did not vote for any county official. The Autumn of 1855 saw the building of the two first school houses in the county, one at iiiankato and the other at South Bend. Both were rude log structures, but they answered the purpose in those early days. As there was no school tax raised for the purpose, the buildingf? were almost wholly erected by voluntary con- tributions. John S. Hinckley donated one lot and the Mankato Claim Company gave an- other for the site, being lots three and four in block thirtjr-eight of Mankato. Father Thom- son and A. D. Seward took the lead in the erection of the building. Some were in favor of building a church, which could be used for school purposes during the week, but the ma- jority favored the construction of a school house, which could be used for a church on Sunday. All worked with a will and the building was completed by the first of November. It was constructed of logs hewn on one side, which were laid to face inward. Its size was 24 feet bv 30 feet. It had a door in the middle of the south end and there were two windows on its east side and two on its west side. The ladies of the Presbyterian church had formed that summer an aid society and had collected a few dollars from suppers. These were ex- pended in buying- window curtains and a stove for the new edifice, costing about twentv-five dollars. Hardly had the building been com- pleted, when it was dedicated by a mass meeting 68 HISTOKY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. to protest against the selling of liquor to In- dians. A. D. Seward was chairman, and Henry Jackson, secretary. Speeches were made by Lewis Branson, Eev. Thomson, General Flet- cher, the "Winnebago Agent, and others. Eev. Thomson, Theron Parsons, George Maxfield, Samuel Kitchen and John S. Hinckley were appointed a committee on resolutions. It seems that a number of Winnebagoes had been to town and, getting drunk, had painted the village red. A sober Indian was not a desirable person, but a drunken one was a hun- dred times worse. Liquor seemed to fire all their fiendish propensities. The law was quite strict against selling any intoxicants to Indians, but there had been some flagrant violations, which had stirred the people up. On the mor- row after this meeting the people turned out en masse and broke up all the liquor shops in town and poured the liquors into the streets. For a brief period there was law enforcement at Mankato, but when the storm of righteous indignation was over, poor Lo moistened his tongue in fire water as before. The school house, soon after the exciting scenes ' of this reform were over, was put in charge of L. G. M. Fletcher, the first regularly emplo^^ed teacher in the county. The district only had $70.00 in its treasury. With this it hired Mr. Fletcher for two months at $35.00 per month, but he was so interested in the work that he donated his services for an extra month. There were thirty-seven scholars enrolled in this first regu- larly organized District School of the County. The South Bend school house was started early in September, with Evan Evans (Pant) and William Francis in charge of its construc- tion. Through lack of funds it was not com- pleted until early in the winter. Like the Man- kato building it served for educational and hall purposes during the week, and on Sunday it answered for a church. This school house was situated near the present residence of D. P. Davis in South Bend. The first school in South Bend had been taught during the sum- mer of 1855 by Mrs. Joshua Barnard at her own home. A short term was held during the win- ter, with Edward Thomas probably as teacher. A literary and debating society was organized early in the winter at South Bend, which met regularly at the school house. D. C. Evans or Eev. Eichard Davis usually presided. It was a live organization in which every important question was discussed, with perhaps more earn- estness than learning. But the whole country was interested, and came many miles with their ox teams, through snow, cold and darkness. Preaching services and Sunday schools were regularly observed there on the Sabbath. Dr. Edward Thomas held singing schools there, also, and the deserted village of today was then a very live place. In the fall of 1855 D. C. Evans and W. E. Price erected a saw mill at the village, which they began to operate on the twenty-third of the following February, to the great convenience of the settlers in that vicinity. In connection with the saw mill they ran one set of burrs for grinding corn. On the 5th of February 1856 a post office was estab- lished at South Bend, with Matthew Thomp- son as postmaster. In the Judson, or "Eureka" settlement as it was then called, Eev. Jenkins while on a visit on October 14th, 1855 organized a Congrega- tional church with thirteen members at the log cabin of John Watkins. Their names were John E. Davis and wife, David T. Davis and wife, William Jones and wife, David J. Williams and wife and daughter, Hannah, John Watkins and wife, Owen Eoberts and William C. Williams. On February 21st, 1856, Eev. E. Steele Peake, missionary for the Minnesota Valley of the Episcopal church, conducted the first service for that denomination in the county, at the Mankato log school house. The assessors returned the total personal pro- perty of the county for 1855 at $40,000.00. The weather was very fine in 1855 until about the 18th of December when there was a sud- den change to snow and cold and the year closed wHh a big blizzard. The balance of the winter was quite severe with much snow. CHAPTER IX. THE JVIAPLETON AND WELSH COLONIES AND OTHER SETTLEMENTS OF 1856. Claim jumping was one of the great evils of pioneer life. No neighborhood was free from it and nothing seemed so effective to stir up the baser passions of men. Friends were made bit- ter enemies. Communities, churches, societies of every nature, and even families were disrupted by the bitter dissensions engendered. Both the country and the villages suffered from the rav- ages of this pernicious evil. Mankato was par- ticularly troubled by it and titles there were unsettled for years. We have already seen how the ownership of the old Mankato Claim Com- pany began to be disputed as early as 1853 by Warren and Van Brunt. Later, rival townsite companies were formed, who questioned the old company's right to any of the land. Various private individuals took possession of any un- occupied lots they could find. Years of litiga- tion followed in which the old company , for the most part were successful, but their victory proved a very barren one in a financial way. An important step in the final settlement of titles at the county seat, occurred on January 25th, 1856, when Hon. A. G. Chatfield as Judge of the District Court entered the townsite for tlie old company, under the occupying Claim- ant's Act. Under the entry a patent was issued en August, 1857, by the government to the judge in trust for the occupants of the several lots in the townsite. The fight against the location of the Winne- bagoes in the county was still kept up during the winter of 1855-6, and numerously signed petitions were sent to the State Legislature to induce it to send a memorial to Congress in the matter. The settlers who had located upon lands within the reservation limits, before the coming of the Indians, still clung to their claims. All their protests and memorials how- ever, were of no avail and some abandoned their farms in the fall of 1855, while in the spring of 1856 all the rest were obliged to vacate their homes and move off the reserve, except Isaac Andrus and Truman Andrus, who made so vig- orous a fight that the officials did not evict them until the spring of 1857. Twenty-one home- steaders in all were thus driven from their claims. Nearly all had comfortable log dwell- ings, outbuildings and few acres of land plowed and fenced into fields. Soon after their vaca- tion the Winnebago chiefs went into occupation of these buildings and the squaws planted corn in the fields. The government finally paid the settlers for their improvements. The Van Brunt saw miU was within the reservation, and was appropriated for the use of the agency. Mr. Van Brunt had died in January, 1856, but his heirs were paid for the mill in December, 1858. Basil Moreland was the only settler whom the government did not settle with. He had located in the spring of 1854 on the Blue Earth rap- ids, just above the present Eapidan Mill, which was considered the most valuable water power in the county. He had built a good house, and in 1856 tendered the government pay for the land. This was refused because it was part of the Winnebago Agency, and Mr. Moreland evicted in the fall of 1856. The government was willing to pay him for his improvements, but nothing for his land, with its valuable water power. Mr. Moreland it is said had been offered $25,000.00 for his claim, and while in posses- sion of the Indians, the government was offered $1,000.00 a year for a thirty year lease of the big water power. Hence, Moreland thought it very unjust to be deprived of so valuable a pro- perty without any compensation, and hence re- fused any offer of settlement for his mere im- provements. In the fall of 1861 he managed to legain possession of his claim in spite of the Indians Agent. In 1862 he came very near getting a patent for his land. Caleb Smith, the Sec- 69 70 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. retary of the Interior, had ordered it granted, diana. The plat has one block marked "Rail- and the patent had actually been issued and way station grounds," another block is designat- sent to the local land office for delivery, but ed 'School house square," while a tract of 12.57 J. P. Usher, the new Secretary, who had been acres is labeled "Shelbyville Park." Rev. 1st assistant under Smith, and on the resigna- Powell started a small store on his townsite tion of his chief had been appointed his sue- during the summer. Eobert Shannon built a cesser January 8th, 1863, recalled it before it log hotel and George Marsh opened the first reached Moreland. Moreland, however, remained blacksmith shop there at the same time. A post on his claim until a year or two after the de- office was established later in the year with parture of the Winnebagoes in 1863. On the Eev. Powell as first post master. The new sale of the Winnebago lands in 1864 this tract town prospered well for a few years, and we wiU was included, but no one cared to bid much have more to say of it later. A large number for it, as all believed Moreland's claim to it of settlers made claims in Shelby during the would be held valid. Willard & Barney bought year. Tilton 0. Allen and his cousin Zoeth it finally with other land for only $1,212.00 Allen, made claims near Shelbyville on April and got the patent for it. Just fifty years after 12th, and during the same month came Albert his first entry upon the land, Moreland was M. Stephens, William J. Chamberlain and Ar- awarded $2,213.00 by the government in set- del D. Pinkerton. Other settlers of Shelby this tlement of his claim, which he had prosecuted year were Horace Kinney, George Quiggle, Lewis most of his life. He was then an old man and Hosea S. True, Milton T. Walbridge, Or- living in Southern California. lando and Eichard B. Smith, Bennoney Far- But to return to the events of 1856. On ley, John L. Samson, William Gregory, Henry February 23rd of this year a meeting was held 11. Case, Asa P. Jacobs, Milton Eoss, Francis at Mankato to agitate the question of a mail H. Seward, William and George H. Bobbins, route between Mankato and Winona, and re- Anthony Eitterbush, Magnus Eice, Noble G. solutions were sent to Washington requesting its Eoot, Abbington Parrett, John McCabe, Edmund establishment. On February 28th P. K. John- Kingsland, Alexander Kennedy, Chas. P. Hutch- son succeeded in having the Legislature pass an ins, Josiah N. Cheney, Eeuben Barrot, Levi Act restoring to Blue Earth county the south Calhoon and many others. About the same time half of townships 109 in ranges 25 and 26, be- Eev. James Hindman, Hiram Biglow, Chas. ing the territory comprised in the present Wheaton, John Kimble, Thomas J. Thorp and Jamestown and Lime. The act took efiect the some others settled over the line in Pleasant first of the following June and fixed perma- Mound. The year 1856 in fact saw all the de- nently the northern Jboundary of the country. sirable claims along the Blue Earth river and In October, 1855, Eev. John W. Powell, a Jackson lake in Shelby taken. Methodist minister from Shelbyville, Indiana, In the winter of 1854-5 a school teacher, located in Blue Earth County, being about the by the name of Murphy, living in New York first preacher of that denomination in the set- City advertised in a paper a call for a meeting tlement. He was put in charge -of classes at to form a colony to locate on western farms. Mankato and South Bend and at Eureka and A number of persons responded to this call and Dakota in Nicollet County. Besides minister- an organization formed entitled the "Minnesota ing to the scattered flocks of these four com- Settlement Association.'* A. Murphy was elected munities, Eev. Powell found time for other mat- president, William Wilde,, secretary, Ezra L. ters. Soon after his arrival he made a claim I'erguson, Corresponding secretary and A. A. on the west half of section thirty-five, in the Wessels, Treasurer. A fee oif $10.00 was present township of Shelby. Early in April, charged each member when Joining. The bene- 1856, he had- this surveyed and platted by A. fits assured him in return consisted of: cheap D. Seward into a Townsite, which he called transportation west; an opportunity to pre-empt "Shelbyville," after his old home town in In- 160 acres of the best farm land; one lot in the b^^gii^ ;5a«MH'^i?i^ ^^"g°i:.?«"vj_'-.'-?^ HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUIv^TY. 71 townsite, which was to be platted in the midst ol the new settlement^ which was certain of being a big town; and having a well settled com- munit}' at once, instead of the isolation inci- dent to the ordinary pioneer life. Mr. Murphy had organized a similar colony before, and therefore had experience, besides a natural gift in that direction. During his summer vacation he made a trip through the west in quest of a suitable location. He reported in favor of Southern Minnesota, but did not determine upon the particular locality. During the winter of 1855-6, it was found that Robert Taylor, who had become a member of the Association, was but recently returned from Southern Minnesota, where he had in 1852 planted the "Rolling Stone Colony" above Wi- nona. He was at once delegated to proceed to Southern Minnesota, and spy out the best loca- tion for this new colony. He went to the Crow iiiver country first and was inclined to take the colony there for a time. Then he came to Blue Earth County and with the aid of L. G. M. Fletcher, who had helped make the survey, stlected the lands along the ilaple river and around Lura Lake, in Sterling and Mapleton Townships, where as yet there were only two or t]iree settlers. These were all in Sterling, and comprised, besides V. A. Highland, his two brothers-in-law, Barnabas W. Simmons and Hor- ace M. De Wolf, who were located just north of Sterling Center. They were all originally of New England stock, and Simmons had located first on October 11th, 1851, just across the line in Section 33 of Lyra. Mr. De Wolf came to Sterling in 1855 and claimed in sections 9 and 10. In the fall of 1855 a Dr. Hiram Harrington had made a claim in section 22 of Sterling and put up the logs for his shanty and gone back to his old home in Iowa for the winter. He re- turned to his claim in the spring and lived there for a time. Through its advertising the colony had at- tracted much attention and its membership was drawn from nearly all the northern states though the majority were from New York. From a list preserved by Gilbert Webster, the last sec- retary of the Association, it seems there were 239 persons entitled to the benefits of the so- ciety (see foot note for names). The main Minnesota Settlement Association known as the Mapleton Colony, which came to Mapleton, Blue Earth County, Jlinn., May, 1856. The officers were: Robert Taylor, President and Pioneer; Wm. Wilde, Secretary. MEMBERS. C. H. Andrus. E. C. Andrus. J. D. AUwood. A. B. Bunn. R. E. Bannon. James Barker. Thos. Blair. J. Bodwell. S. Y. Bogart. J. S. Bard. P. Bodine. E. Brown. P. H. Behring. Thos. Brown. F. W. Buckingham. D. H. Burleigh. J. Belden. Geo. Baldwin. C. Benny. A. W. Birge. T. Brown Jr. J. Bogga. A. Bain. John Blair. G. W. Colon. Ammi. Coy. W. Curtis. H. L. Conklin. W. M. Clinton. J. Camack. D. H. Carpenter. P. M. Curtis. H. D. Copley. J. B. Crosby. J. Cook. J. Culver. 0. Case. R. A. Carpenter. S. G. Campey. H. F. Cook. S. J. Camps. G. W. Colon. J. Canlon. J. Corbit. A. L. Clough. C. H. Gushing. G. Conger. James Cornell. C. Conley. J. W. Cracken. J. G. Christie. R. Canfield. R. V. Coy. Joseph Dobie. John Dawson. L. Deming. L. Dudley. J. H. Dickerman. J. Dixon. E. Dixon. A. C. Doolittle. B. Durkee. J. H. Dunnell. R. Dooley. G. W. Ewing. J. M. Eibert. T. Elliott. G. Eagen Jr. J. H. Evans. E. P. C. Fowler. Dan. Foley. E. L. Furgeson. J. B. Fitzgerald. T. W. Planner. D. Frisbie. D. W. Fox. G. P. Fox. W. Faber. R. Fowles. Carlos Fogg. C. L. Francis. A. D. Foy. L. A. Fleming. A. T. Fowler. Alex. Gregg. W. George. H. J. Goode. J. A. Gibbon. A. Galloway. Robt. Goodyear. Allen Gibson. C. W. Goodrich. H. P. Gardiner. L. G. Hoyt. Thos. Hill. J. D. Hamm. Wm. Howe. R. 0. Humphrey. R. Hutell. J. P. Harrington. A. Hollyer. V. Hoffman. J. E. Harboe. J.^. Hamilton. Wesley Hindman. J. Heald. M. B. Haynes. Geo. Hart. J. Hemperly. J. M. Hitchcock. B. H. Hunt. E. Horton. V. Hoffman. J. L. Hart. S. E. Hicks. O. C. Healey. R. S. Jones. E. Jennings. J. Jordan. A. P. Jacobs. N. Jackman. John Johnson. E. E. Johnson. S. J. Jones. W. Jennings. R. A. Judd. HISTORY 0'^ BLUE EAETH COtTNTY. body of the colony left New York about the middle of April, 1856. They contracted with the railroad to carry them to Dunleith, op- posite Dubuque, Iowa, for $11.75 apiece for adults and half that price for children. There were six carloads of people, and their baggage filled six other cars. Dunlieth was then the nearest point to Minnesota reached by the rail- road. Our colonists crossed the river to Du- buque, where a meeting was held to explain away some misunderstanding-s, which had risen between some of the members and the ofEicers. A grocery association was also formed here, which purchased $2,000.00 worth of provisions. Committees were appointed to secure wagons and other farm implements for such of the colony as wanted them. Many of the colonists especially from Illinois, Indiana and Iowa made the trip overland with wagons and stock. The main body of the colony, after completing all necessary arrangements at Dubuque, embarked on the City Belle for St. Paul, and thence to Mankato on the Eeveille. The latter was a good sized boat for the Minnesota, still it was well crowded, since the party numbered over 300 persons, men, women and children. A St. Paul paper of that date states that there were 350 adults and 90 children in the party. Early on the morning of Monday, the 5th day of May 1856, they landed in Mankato, the largest company of immigrants, which had arrived at one time in the state. Luckily they were not de- pendent on the accommodations of the village, which were far too limited for such overwhelm- ing numbers. They had brought with them sev- eral tents, which they pitched along the levee. Soon after their arrival one of their number named Wall, died, and was buried near the river bank below Main street. Like most all the rest of the company he was a young man, who had come west to seek his fortune. Years later the river cut into the bank, exposing his coffin, and the remains were removed to the old ceme- tery below town. After spending a few days awaiting their conveyances our colonists started for the promised land, which Mr. Taylor had se- lected. They followed the old trail by the site of Ft. Le Huillier, but there was a freshet tu the Le Sueur river so the teams could not ford it. A number of the men crossed in canoes and con- tinued their journey on foot carrying their bedding and provisions on their backs. Pass- ing through Eapidan and Lyra and using the cabins of the evicted settlers for stopping places, they reached Mr. Highland's home, on the south boundary of the reservation, on the sec- ond day. They gazed with longing eyes upon the beautiful country they passed through, but it all belonged to the wards of Uncle Sam. At last, however, they had reached their land of T. Kragin. A. D. H. Kemper. Silas Keenan. D. B. Kent. J. E. Le Cavellier. W. H. Leonard. T. B. Louder. S. Loomis. D. Loekwood. G. H. Lawrence. M. Leonard. H. Lee. J. W. Lane. E. X). Loveland. C. A. Lane. J. W. Mead. A. Murphy. D. Meredith. James Morris. John Morris. J. Mitchell. J. Mounds. J. Malett. L. Mathrop. F. Y. McNamee. Ira Merrill. James Monroe. A. W. Miner. G. H. Moore. A. Menzias. G. Miller. John W. ileek. John McCormack. H. V. McNeal. Wm. Norton. B. G. ISfevill. J. Odell. H. Parker. J. Phillips. Gilbert D. Pitts. W. G. Pike. J. Pope. John Price. L. E. Pinney. J. G. Parker. G. B. Quigley. J. S. Robertson. J. Robertson Jr. B. F. Read. C. Ronald. J. M. Rockefeller. S. Mc. Reynolds. H. N. Rust. B. S. Read. 0. B. Marsh. A. Mead. C. N. Rockwell. J. L. Sanborn. A. S. Smith. E. Smith. J. Sherman. D. Stell Jr. J. Southwick. Fred. Strong. H. Stangnett. S. S. Saxton. J. H. Smith. H. G. Smith. C. Selden. B. H. Seabering. J. L. Samson. G. 0. Saxton. L. Sutherland. A. Stevens. S. E. Standish. J. E. Smith. W. D. Stewart. W. H. Shelby. B. W. Todd. Robert Taylor. B. Tuesdale. Isaac Tabor. M. Thompson. S. H. Thomas. C. E. Tuttle. W. H. Tate. C. H. Thayer. W. R. Targee. L. H. Tyler. Wm. Twaits. Z. C. Tabor. J. Tillinghast. F. R. Tenny. L. Willard. J. L. Wilde. Wm. Wilde. C, C. Watts. W. Whitmore. H. C. Welsh. Gilbert Webster. T. H. Whitiker. C. A. Williams. W. A. Ward. G. L. Wentz. W. C. Whipple. John F. Williams. E. L. Wilde. H. J. Wakefield. J. Wilson. B. Wilcox. M. Witmer. A. A. Weasels. EISTOEY O'E' BLUE EARTH COUlsrTY. Promise. All that fair and fertile region along the Maple and about Lake Lura, South of the Agency line^ was the rich inheritance they had been seeking. Through the aid of L. G. M. Flet- cher, who had accompanied them for the pur- pose (as he had been on the government sur- vey), they blocked out the land into claims of 160 acres each. Only 65 claims could be found having the required amount of timber. Three of the head ofEicers were allowed the first pick. The rest of the claims were numbered and di- vided by lot, but as there were 139 persons pres- ent entitled to claims, more than half the tickets were blanks. The result was great dissatisfac- tion. Many who drew good claims were young men without families, whose only purpose was speculation, while many heads of families drew blanks. A general row followed and much claim jumping. Most of the disappointed scat- tered, some went into the timber country near j\lankato, others crossed the line into Faribault County and elsewhere, while quite a number re- turned home disgusted. The northwest quarter of section seven of Mapleton and the northeast quarter of section twelve of Sterling were chosen for the townsite, which was surveyed and plat- ted July, 1856, by M. B. Haynes, a young civil engineer, who was a member of the colony. It was named "Mapleton" after the ilaple river. The plat was signed by Eobert Taylor, James Cornell and John Mund as proprietors. The town lots were divided among all the members by a drawing. Nothing came of the townsite project, and the land was jumped in a short time by two enterprising claim hunters. In April, 1856, Uriah Payne had located a claim in Sections seven and eighteen in Mapleton township, probably the first claim taken in that town. He then returned to Wisconsin to prepare for moving to his new home. There he fell in with a colony of settlers from Fond du Lac, who were drifting westward in quest of new homes. They were Ira Annis, wife and five children and ]iis sister now (Mrs. J. W. Sprague) , Azra Annis and wife, Asa P. Sherman, wife and two child- ren, E. B. Hall, wife and one child, Eussell Franklin, wife and one child, Charles Durkee and Jonathan Holbrook. The company, includ- ing Mr. Payne and his three sons, comprised 25 souls, and were conveyed in six or seven covered wagons, all but one, drawn by oxen. As the colony had no special destination, Mr. Payne piloted them towards his claim on the Maple. At Owatonna a halt was made, while a few of the men went forward with Mr. Payne in a light wagon, drawn by the only span of horses in the company, owned by Ira Annis. After view- ing the country on the Maple all were well pleased with it and returned after their fami- lies. The party finally reached the Maple on June 20th and settled in Mapleton and Sterling. They were soon joined by Joel Holbrook. This company observed their first Independence day with a celebration at their tent. Guns were fired. Captain E. B. Hall delivered an oration, and the best dinner possible was served. Emil Bue- card and family, also, settled in the present town of Mapleton the same summer. In the counties of Jackson and Gallia, Ohio, there was a large ^^^elsh settlement, which had emigrated mostly from Cardiganshire, Wales. They were mostly farmers, but their Ohio loca- tion was ill adapted for that calling, as it was a very rugged and sterile country. Iron ore was discovered in. the hills and a number of the farmers united into a company under the name of "Jefferson Furnace" to manufacture iron. In those anti-bellum days ihere was little demand for iron, and our farmer stock holders saw no dividends, and were becom- ing doubtful if they ever should see any of the capital they had invested, as the company's in- debtedness amounted to $75,000.00. They had read Eev. Eichard Davis communications in the Welsh ■ periodicals regarding the fertile farm lands of Minnesota. Edward Thomas of South Bend had lived among them for a time, and his personal letters increased their interest in the new Welsh settlement in Blue Earth County. On October 8th, 1855, a delegation of six per- sons arrived at South Bend from Jackson, Ohio, to inspect the country. Their names were David P. Davis, Sr., John I. Jones, Thomas Jones (Cooper), Eichard Morgan, Evan Williams and James Morgan. They were greatly pleased with the beauty of the land and the fertility of its soil. After investing in some lots in South "f^?nd for fear they would be aU gone by spring, 74 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. they returned after their families, and to bring a favorable report to their neighbors. The re- sult was that by the spring of 1856 a large number of Welsh people from Jackson and Gal- lia Counties were ready to emigrate. They started in April, from Portsmouth, Ohio, down the Ohio river and thence up the Mississippi to St. Paul on the steamer "Granite State."' They reached the latter place only a few hours later than the Mapleton colony, but were obliged to tarry there three or four days before they could get a boat up the Minnesota. They finally bar- gained with Captain Samuel G. Cabbell to take them in his boat, "H. T. Yeatman." The colony numbered 121 souls and with their baggage made a fair sized load. The Yeatman was a stern wheeler, rather large for the Minnesota river, and this was her first trip on this stream. Though the water was high the boat had much difficulty in making ihe many sharp curves. Her smoke stacks were knocked down by overhanging trees, and her sides scratched, so her progress was necessarily slow. At last the tired passengers were all landed safely at the South Bend levee on Saturday the 10th of May, 1856, almost one month after leaving their Ohio liomes. The hospitality of the village in spite of all prior preparations was taxed to the limit, to accommodate such a crowd. Three or four fam- ilies occupied the log school building, and every house and shanty was packed to the attic. They were a religious people who had not failed to observe a single Sabbath on their long and weary journey. The first Sunday after their ar- rival, an open air meeting was held in a grove beside a small pond called "Llyn Tegid." Kev. Eichard Davis preached, and the hymns of old AVales were sung with much zest and gladness in this God's first temple. Most of the workmen employed on the govern- ment bridge, just completed over the Blue Earth, were young fellows from St. Paul and else- v/here, who had no intention of taking claims in Blue Earth County. Hearing that a b^'g Welsh colony was due in South Bend in a few days, they concluded that here was a fine opportunity for speculation in land. They accordingly scat- tered through the country and took possession of every desirable tract of land they could find and, when the colonists arrived, they asked them $300.00 per claim for their right. The Welsh ■s\'ere anxious to settle in one neighborhood so as to secure the religious and social privileges to which they had been accustomed. Weeks were spent by them tramping over the country look- ing for suitable claims, but between the squat- ters and the Indians the desirable land had all been appropriated. About one fourth of the colony at last went to Le Sueur County and took claims there in Sharon and Cleveland Townships. The squatters at last began to get impatient, as they had no thought of even filing on their claims, and they sold for whatever they could get. Our colonists now settled mostly in the vicinity of South Bend and Minneopa Creek, and in Cambria Township. Among the latter were Dr. David Davis, and his sons Da- vid, John and Peter S. Davis, Darid P. Davis, Sr., and his sons Daniel, John, David and Eben P. Davis, David Price and family, John Walters and his sons, John, Stephen, and David Wal- ters, and his sons-in-law, William P. Jones and Thos. D. Lloyd, and Eichard Morgans and his sons, James, Isaac and William Morgans. Among those who located in the vicinity of Minneopa Creek were : Isaac Woods, and his son Walter A. Woods, Evan Williams and his son, William B. Williams, Thomas J. Jones, (Cooper) and his son David J. Jones, and John I. Jones, and his family. About July 1st, 1856, Eev. Jenkin Jenkins ar- rived and located in Cambria Township, then call- ed the Cottonwood Settlement, and took charge of the Congregational church. Practically all the colonists from Jackson and Gallia Counties, Ohio, were Calvinistic Methodists, and on July 3rd, a church of that denomination was organized in Cambria, at the log cabin of David P. Davis, by Eev. Eichard Davis, with about 22 members. It was called "Horeb" after a church to which most of the membership had belonged in Jackson. On July 7th, 1856 a new election precinct was organized comprising the territory now embraced in the Townships of Shelby and Pleasant Mound and Koble, G. Eoot, James McCannahan and A. B. Parrot appointed Judges of Election; A. B. HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 75 Parrot, Justice of the Peace, Wm. A. Clark, Constable, and Horton Nelson, Eoad Surpervisor. It was named "Shelby" at the suggestion of Eev. J. W. Powell after "Shelby, Indiana." On July 9th, 1856 the seventh election precinct in the county was created, called "Mapleton," after the Maple Eiver. It embraced the present Townships of Sterling, Mapleton and Danville and its first ofEicers were: Judges of Election: Vespucius A. Highland, James Cornell and 0. E. Marsh, Justices of the Peace, Robert Tay- lor and Albert A. We>isells, Constables, John Dixon and James Dobin, Road Supervisor, Wm. Wildes. The same territory was on the same date made into a school district and numbered 5. The year 1856 saw the coming of the first set- tlers into the present town of Danville. Hector Sharp is generally accredited to have been the first settler. He located in section 27 in Jlay, 1856 and a month later came Nicholas J. Kremer, who had been living at Wabasha, Minn., about a year, and with him came Francis and Bernhard Phillips, George Mosser and Mi- cheal Schaller. The Phillipses and Mosser were from Erie County N. Y., while the Kremers were from Fon Du Lac, Wis. They built their first cabin in Danville together in June 1856, on the Phillips claim in section thirty-four. Francis Phillips, Sr., Joined them about the first of September, and John Kramer, Sr., and his wife and their three sons, Peter, J. P. and John arrived in October. All lived in the same cabin for a short time. In October came also William Larabee and his son, Samuel Larabee and wife and four children. During the same summer and fall came Isaac Sherman, Nelson Gray, Stephen. Kelly, Noadiah W. Towne, Ahijah H. and Amos Chambers, John and Josiah Rogers. All these located along the Big Cobb river, which passed diagonally through the town of Danville, and is fringed with a narrow belt of timber. On a former page we spoke of Edson Gerry m.aking a claim on the Watonwan in the fall of 1854 in company with George Lamberton, Ed- ward Thomson and others. This claim has quite a history, a brief outline of which we shall now give. Mr. Gerry was a native of the old Bay state, but in 1854 resided at Berlin, Wis. He was a music teacher by profession. The claim he took in Blue Earth county was the Northwest quar- ter of section twenty-six of Garden City, town- ship, the site of the present village of that name. He put up a log claim shanty near where the Baptist Church now stands. Finding there were a number of excellent water powers on his claim he conceived the idea of founding a city thereon and utilizing the water power for mills and factories. He also procured to be entered by third parties two other quarter sections adjoining on the east and south, which he paid for and had con- veyed to him later. In the spring of 1855, he built a log house on the claim in the Northeast quarter of section twenty-six, which had been preempted by him in the name of Elizabeth Olds, and broke quite a tract of land. This sujnmer occurred the first known cyclone in this locality. It unroofed his house and uprooted a strip of large oak timber across his claim and along the Watonwan. As he had used his pre- emption right in Wisconsin, Mr. Gerry knew he could not hold, or prove up on his original claim himself. So in the fall of 1855 he re- turned to his Berlin house and procured a mul- atto named, Nelson W. Askins, a musical ac- quaintance of his at Berlin, to go with him to Garden City and make the necessary filing and payment to secure a patent for the land, and then on January 23, 1856 had Askins convey the title to Gerry's brother-in-law. Rev. Anthony Case, a Baptist minister, then of Fox Lake, Wis. At this time there resided at Boston, Mass., one Samuel M. Folsom, who had been engaged in a large mercantile business, but had re- cently failed. His stock was sold by the trus- tee to one Farnsworth, who was friendly to Folsom, and the latter managed thus to save a few thousand dollars from the wreck of his fortune. Early in 1856 Mr. Gerry happened on one of his trips to meet Folsom, who pre- tended to be quite a capitalist and manufac- turer. The two men soon entered into a ver- bal agreement, whereby Gerry was to cause to be deeded to Folsom a three fifth interest in his townsite on the AVatonwan in consideration of the latter putting in several thousand dollars capital for its development. Accordingly Mr. Folson 76 HISTOEY OF BLtJE EAETfl COUNTY. took possession of the claim early in June 1856, and on the 15th of that month had Mr. A. D. Seward survey and plat the land into a townsite, under the name "Fremont." This plat was signed by Anthony Case as nominally the sole owner. Hardly had the town been platted when Benjamin H. Seabujy brought a few groceries in a covered wagon and opened the first store there in a tent. In a few days he sold out to Josiah N. Cheney, Lyman C. Harrington and Emery Z. Harrington, who were originally from the same place in Vermont, and had been in the mercantile business together at Manitowac, Wis. This business they had just disposed of be- fore coming to Fremont in June 1856. Cheney stayed in charge of the new store, while the Plarringtons returned to Manitowac to bring the families and goods to their new home on the Watonwan. Lyman C. Harrington and his wife's brother, William H. Watts, drove across the country in a wagon from Manitowac to Fiemont, where Harrington and Cheney en- gaged in business for a number of years. The Harringtons were brothers of Dr. Harrington of Mankato, and L. C. Harrington and Cheney ivere brothers-in-law. About the middle of September Mr. Folsom began the construction of a mill dam across the Watonwan, but did not put up the mill until the next year. In the fall of 1856 Eri P. Evans, a Boston acquaintanije of Folsom, whom the latter induced to join him in this Western enterprise, removed to the new town and at once began to take active part in its development. He started a small store, had a postofEice created at Fremont, and himself appointed as its first postmaster. The same fall witnessed the build- ing of another mill dam on land adjoining the Townsite on the west. John Dilley, George W. Atwell and Jehiel Aber were the parties inter- ested in this enterprise. Others who located in Fremont in 1856 were Amos Warner, J. H. Preston, John B. Skinner, Jeduthan P. and Al- bert M. Kendall, James G. Thompson and others whose names we did not learn. The first religious service in the present town of Garden City was conducted in the log cabin of Edward Thompson, early in the spring, of 1856, by a Methodist preacher from Kasota, named Eev. Theophilus Drew. This cabin of Mr. Thompson was built by him on his claim in 1854 and was close by the village of Fremont. It was known in the early day as the "Boarding House" where many young unmarried men made their home. It was prominent in all the early history of the village and community. A Sabbath school was organized at this house early ia the fall of this year with fifteen scholars. E. P. Evans was its energetic superintendent. In Oc- tober Eev. Case paid the townsite a visit, and during his stay of three or four weeks held regu- lar preaching services. The same fall Eev. B. Y. Coffin preached to a few settlers at the cabin of S. T. Mills. The first move in an educational way was a petition to the County Commissioners for a school district, which was granted on Oc- tober 20, 1856, to embrace the following terri- tory: Commencing at the northwest corner of section 18, 107, 28, thence east six miles, thence south four miles, thence west six miles, thence north four miles. It was designated No. 10. In the fall of 1856 the first school was taught by Thaddeus Wright in the cabin of Edson Gerry. About this time a school meeting was held at the house of J. C. Thompson, when it was determined to erect a log school house in the vil- lage. This was finished during the winter, and the first school taught in it by John S. •Daggett. The first saw mill on the Watonwan was built in the fall of 1856 by Neri P. Hoxie and Erastus Conklin, on the site afterwards occupied by the Butterfield Mill. James H. Greenwood and J. Williston Greenwood helped to construct and operate this mill. Beside it the following summer was built the first bridge over the Wa- tonwan. Other settlers of Watonwan Township (now Garden City) in 1856 were Frank and Eeuben H. Thurston, Patrick Eooney, James Glynn, and many others. At the general election, held on October 14, 1856, Blue Earth County cast 227 votes, divid- ed among the seven precincts as follows: Man- kato 113, South Bend 41, Watonwan 13, Ma- pleton 6, Eice Lake 19, Shelby 13, Judson 22. Politically the county went Eepublican for the first time in its history by a small majority. HISTOKY OF BLUE EAETH COUXTY. Mankato and Eice Lake remained strongly Democratic, but all the other precincts cast al- most an unanimous Free Soil vote. Dr. P. P. Humphrey, (Republican) of Kasota received 37 majority for Senator, and S. Kenworthy, of Le Sueur, and E. Iv. Bangs, of South Bend, (both Eepublicans) received fair majorities for the Legislature, but as the district included a number of other counties they failed of elec- tion. A. D. Seward, (Eep) won as County Trea- surer over J. Q. A. Marsh (Dem) by only six votes, while E. Howe (Eep) beat L. Branson (Dem) for District Attorney by only two votes. William Sargent (Dem) for Eegister of Deeds, E. D. Bruner (Dem) Probate Judge, Francis Bunker (Dem) Sheriff, George W. Cum- mings (Dem) Clerk of Court, were appar- ently elected without opposition. Mathew Thomp- son (Dem) of South Bend and Eobert Patter- son (Eep) of Judson were chosen County Com- missioners. Thus far the County possessed no jail or county building of any sort. Offices were rent- ed at Mankato in such vacant buildings as could be found. The townsite proprietors had donated on their plat an entire block for such buildings, but as yet it Avas covered by its original forest. We have seen how the County Commissioners as early as March 6th, 1854, had designated this block 50 of Mankato as the location of the future court house by resolution, but no move looking to the actual use of the spot was made until July 10th 1856, when a resolution was passed by the Board to erect a court house and jail. At their meeting of Oc- tober 21st, 1856, it was determined to abandon the building of the court house '^because of the lateness of the season," but, because of "ur- gent necessity," it was decided to proceed with the building of a jail at once according to the specifications given. The contract was, on ITo- vomber 1st, 1856, let to Francis Bunker, the Sheriff, for $900.00, and this first county build- ing was duly completed and accepted by the board on January 7th, 1857. The jail was 12-20 feet on the inside and 10 feet high. It was built of hardwood timber, hewed eight inches square, mth floor and ceiling of three inch oak plank. It was divided into two cells by a three inch oak plank partition. A door of the same material opened into a hall 4x6 feet, and a door from this hall led to each cell. At the farther end 01 each cell was a small iron grated window and a grated window was put into the partition. In front of the jail proper ^Aas erected a frame building 12x14 feet and of same height as jail. This building was plastered and painted and di- vided into three rooms, a bed room, pantry and sitting room and kitchen combined for use of the jailer. The valuation of the personal property in the county as returned by the assessors in June, 1856, was $141,377.50 and the tax rate was fixed at 214 per cent. We have already noted how the various com- munities were beginning to bestir themselves along educational and religious lines. On April 8th, 1856 School District No. 4 was created embracing the present toM'ns of Judson, Cam- bria and Butternut Valley. July 9th of the same year the territory covered by the present towns of Sterling, Mapleton and Danville, was set apart as School District No. 5. On October 6 the present town of Cambria was divided into three School Districts, two of them num- bered six and seven, and the other left undesig- nated. On the same date the west half of Lime was made into District No. 8, and the South two miles of Judson and the north two miles of Garden City into District No. 9. On October 20th v/e saw the organization of the Fremont or Garden City District as No. 10, and on the same date School District No. 11 (Shelbyville) was created, with the following boundaries :- commencing at the northeast corner of section thirteen of Shelby Township, thence west six miles, thence south four miles, thence east six miles, thence north four miles. Mankato and South Bend were the only points in the county in which schools were actually kept in 1856 as far as known. On December 10th, 1856, Judson Townsite was platted by Eobert Patterson and John Goodwin, according to a survey made by An- thony D. ]\rcSweeny. The proprietors were Baptists, and named their prospective city, as well as the township, after the missionary hero of their church. Before the close of 1856 set- 78 HISTOKY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. tlements had been started in every township in the county, where settlers were permitted. The big Indian reservation was, however, forbidden territory, into which no white man could enter. The Germans continued to come in large num- bers into the village and township of Mankato and their vicinity. Among the number were: Stephen Lamm, Henry Himmelman, Wm. and Jacob Bierbauer, Mathias Ulman, Gottlieb Schmidt, Henry Guth, J. William Hoer, George Peter Hoerr, H. L. Gude, John A. Arnold, Henry Mohr, Jacob PfafE, Frederick Heinze and his sons : Theodore, Eobert G., Charles A., Frederick E., and Ferdinand G., Philip Mueller, John Eausch and his sons Jacob and Joseph C, Henry Schwarble, Anton Schipple, Joseph Krause, Jacob Traub, Henry Heinzman, Ur. A. G. Dornberg and a host of others. Besides the prominent Germans mentioned the village of Mankato added to its citizens this year a number of men, who were destined to play a very impor- tant part in its future development among whom were : John A. Willard, Aaron K. Diikes, John J. Shaubut, Father Y. Sommerisen, Dr. Wm. E. McMahan, Isaac Marks, (who located at the Agency the year before, but this year opened a store at Mankato) Dr. Wm. F. Lewis, Dr. M. 0. Wickersham, Clinton B. Hensley (the first editor). Dr. Eeuben J. Sibley, James E. Tinkcom, Daniel H. Tyner and William Irving. South Bend, also, received an important acces- sion this year, in the firm of Bxstrom and Brown from La Crosse. The Tivoli neighborhood, on the line between Mankato and Le Eay Town- sliips, began to be settled this year. In April, 1856, came Moses 0. Bennett and his brother- in-law, Hollis Whitney, from Kenosha, Wis. Mr. Bennett was a man above the average in ability and force of character. He also was the father of a large family of grown up sons and daugh- ters, most of whom settled in the same neighbor- hood. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett removed to their new home in June, and with them came their son-in-low. Captain Euegg and wife. Their sons Nathan and George Bennett came by team across the country. In October of the same year ar- rived their other children; Edward, Charles, Lewis, Levi, Caroline (Mrs. Harvey) and Adna (Mrs. Ciarpenter). With them also came Hollis Whitney and family, Henry B. Lane, wife and mother, David Davis and wife and son, Thomas E. Davis, and Mr. and Mrs. George Corp and three children. These journeyed from Wisconsin in seven covered wagons, spending five weeks on the road. Mr. Corp, being a blacksmith, located at Winnebago Agency, but the rest settled in the vi- cinity of Tivoli. Mr. Bennett was soon impressed with the need of a saw mill in his new forest home, and concluded to erect one as soon as possible. He accordingly began the construction of a dam on the Le Sueur that fall. About the same time came Captain X. W. Dickinson and family and located on Hoosier Lake in Mankato Township. Another important acquisition to this neigh- borhood was the Burgess family, who arrived in the fall of this same year and settled just across the line in Le Eay. John F. Burgess was a man of ability and character and had a large family of grown up children, who made claims in the same vicinity. He was a member of the Christian church and his son, William Burgess, often preached for that denomination. During the summer of 1856, Eev. Elias Clark, a young Congregational minister from Berkshire County, ilass., took up a claim near Tivoli. He had in- tended to start a Congregational church at Mankato, but found the field occupied by Father Thomson, a Presbyterian (the Home Mission- ary Society of both churches then being united). The Bennetts and their many relatives and neigh- bors in the Tivoli neighborhood belonged to the Congregational faith, having come originally from near Oberlin, Ohio, and Eev. Clark might have been of service to this new community, but very unwisely he at once incurred the en- mity of Mr. Bennett and his family, by jumping a claim the old gentleman was trying to hold for one of his boys, then on the way from Wis- consin. After a few months Eev. Clark de- parted for a new field, but kept his claim for laany years. Besides the Burgess, Davis and Lane families, the country now embraced in the township of Le Eay saw a number of worthy people locate within its border. Among these were: George A. and Michael Beiries, Alexander and James Doughlass, Michael D. McNamara, William Morris, George Chapman, Eobert Has- HISTORY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 7Q lip, Alyin P. Reynolds, August Glockzin, Con- rad Schogel, Wm. Gilfillan, Patrick Madigan, Joseph Schlingerman, George P. Lill and many others, whose names we have not learned, or who only stayed a few months. Jamestown, also had a large influx of settlers during this same year. It is claimed that John Heron was the first settler in this township locating in the fall of 1855, near Lake Wita. Others say Enoch G. Burkhurst and Henry "W. Hodges were the first and that they came in 1S.").J. All three families must have come in 1855 or at least very early in 1856, but Heron seems to have located in Lime. On May 16th 1856 the families of Albert A^olk, Charles Doran and Lawrence Bryne took claims in the vicinity of Lake Wash- ington. The same year came the families of Law- rence, Patrick and Margaret Smith. In Sep- tember came Alvin P. Davies and family. Oth- ers who settled in Jamestown this year were: James P. Ballatine, a school teacher after whom Lake Ballantine was named, Patrick Mullen, Timothy, Thomas, John and Michael Murtaugh, Bowater Summer, Hiram Wentworth, Solon Webster, James P. Westlake, John Spencer, Abner Shearer, John and Owen ]\Ieigen, Pat- rick McGrath, Dennis L. Maher, Andrew C. Powble and Paul Pasnacht. About the same time Samuel Kerlinger and i\Iicliael B. Parrel with their families made their homes in the same locality. In fact, there ^-as hardly a claim in or near the timber in Blue Earth county, outside of the Indian Agency, which by the end of 1856, had not been taken by some settler. The year 1856 had been fairly good for steam- boat trafl'ic on the Minnesota. There had been 207 arrivals from that river at the St. Paul levee, an increase of ninty-eight over the pre- vious year. The boats engaged were the Equator, Reveille, Globe, Wave, Minnesota, Clarion, Time and Tide, Berlin and H. T. Yeatman. These boats made Mankato on the majority of their trips and many went as far as Ft. Eidgely and some to Yellow Medicine. The transportation of goods and supplies by the gn\-ernment to the Indian Agencies and Port Ridgely had greatly stimulated the steamboat business on the ilinne- Bota. This increase of trade and traveling facil- ities, together with the money brought into the country for payment of annuities and pur- chase of furs were about the only benefits to the settlers from their Indian neighbors, while the disadvantages were many. The winter of 1856-7 was a memorable one in the history of the country, and the impression its rigors made upon the settlers of Minnesota, then poorly sheltered, poorly clothed, and poorly fed, has not been entirely effaced to this day. The winter of 1855-6 had been quite long and severe, but it fell far short in length, depth of snow, intensity of cold, and frequency of storms, to this its successor. It began in the latter part of October. On December 1st, 1856, one of the "svorst snow storms ever known in our north- west set in, and continued without any abate- ment for three days and nights, until the ground was covered to the depth of two feet or more, on an average. ^Vfter this, one snow storm followed another in quick succession, while the blizzards filled the time between. The snow lay piled in mountain heaps; many of the big drifts being fifteen to twenty feet in depth. The snow and cold continued through all of April. Even on May 9th, there was a hard snow storm and the cold so great that sun dogs appeared. During all of May and paiily into June the fnow clung to some hillsides facing north, and even in July remains of huge drifts were found in deep, wooded glens, secluded from the sun. No wonder the settlers thought the Minnesota winters were long and cold, and that their dread fell upon the whole country. On January 6th, 1857, the election precinct of Butternut Valley was created, comprising the present towns of Butternut Valley and Cam- bria. Since July 1st, 1856, a mail route had been established between Port Snelling and Sioux City, and a contract to carry a bi-weekly mail between the two points made with George H. and John Q. A. Marsh of Mankato and J. W. Babcock of Kasota. Hoxie Rathburn one of the first settlers at Mankato, was employed by them for the hard and dangerous duty of mail carrier. About Christmas 1856 he was overtaken by one of the blizzards of this terrible winter and perished near the Des Moines in Jackson County. 80 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. Mail service over these inhospitable plains had to be suspended the balance of the year. The mail between Mankato and South Bend and St. Paul had been increased to a tri-weekly ser- vice;, but the storms of this winter interfered gTeatly with its regularity. Early in 1857, the question of a mail route between Mankato and New Ulm began to be agitated, and the Legislature was induced to memoralize Congress to that effect in February. ^lORTOX S. WILKIXSOX. CHAPTER X. 'HE INKPADUTAH MASSACRE OP 1857. A terrible winter and an extremely late, cold spring were not the only evils in tlie annals of our county, which characterized the year 1857. Its months of March and April gave the settlers their first genuine Indian scare and brought them in close touch with the horrors of an Indian massacre. In the Winter of 1853-4 a Sisseton subchief named, Sintomnidutah (Eed-all-over) with his mother, wife and two or three children had been foully murdered by a disreputable white whisky trader named Henry Lott, a few miles north of Algona, Iowa. Lott and his son, who had partic- ipated in the bloody affair, fled to California, and were never punished. Whether this Sin- tomnidutah was the same chief noted in con- nection with early settlement of JMankato may be doubted, but there is strong ground to believe that he was. His name and the name of his son, Joshpadutah (usually called "Josh") are the same. The description given in each case of the chief's personal appearance and character, tdly very well. Each is spoken of as a large stately Indian of commanding presence, possessed of a bold aggressive spirit and much opposed to the coming of the Whi'te men upon his hunting grounds, so much that he was nicknamed "The Il'ater of the Paleface." The fact, also, that the Jlankato chief and his hand claimed northwest- ern Iowa and southwestern Minnesota as their special hunting groTinds, and the tradition that the last known of the chief Ijy the whites was, that he was going into Iowa to hunt, as well as his sudden disappearence, add to the plausi- bility of his identity with the victim of Lott's vengence. Attached to Sintomnidutah's wild band in a way was a renegade subchief of the Wahpekutas, named Inkpadutah (Eed End). The latter, with two or three companions of lUce desperate charac- ter, had been expelled from their native band, who lived on the Cannon Eiver, for the murder of their chief. The fugitives first went to A'ermil- lion river in South Dakota, but later seemed to Iiavc joined themselves nioi-e or less to Sintom- nidutah's band. Ties of marriage and, some say of blood, existed between them. After the chief's death Inkpadutah seems to have aspired to the chieftainship, and a few of the most lawless of the band joined themselves to him. The Indians v\'ere very angry at the murder of ■ their chief, and did not believe the whites made much effort to apprehend the murderer. Inlqjadutah, being naturally of an ugly, revengeful disposition, was especially bitter, and his followers shared his ■\enom. The rapid appropriation of their hunt- ing grounds by the whites was another cause of their hate. During the summer of 1856 six or seven families, who had mostly come original- ly from Howard County Ind., settled on Lake Okoboji, the most southerly of the group of bikes usually called "Spirit Lake," from the largest of their number. About the same time a townsite company from Eed Wing, Minn., laid out ,1 town on the lake and built thereon a log trading post, which was in charge of three or four young men. The same summer another small group of settlers located on the Des Moines, in the vicinity of the present village of Jackson, Minnesota : and William and George Wood had laid out a townsite in their midst, and opened a store there and were enjoying a good trade, especially with the Indians. Both colonies were very remotely situated from other uhite settlements, and were an invasion into tlie ven' heart of Inkpadutah's hunting grounds. It is said that Eed End with his band were camped in the fall of 1856 for some time near ;\Iinneopa Falls, and that they went thence to- vrard the Sioux City countrv. Brutish and l>lood thirsty by nature, and tlieir innate ugliness inflamed by the circumstances just mentioned 81 82 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. they were ripe for mischief. The terrible winter had driven most of the game from the coun- try and hunting was almost impossible. Their evil tempers thus made more desperate by cold and famine, it needed but a small excuse to kill and plunder the hated paleface, whom they imagined were the ca.use of their woes. They reached the Okoboji settlement on the 7th of March 1857 and the next day the trouble occurred. Just how it started, perhaps will never be known, but the Indians claimed it arose from an attempt to steal some hay from a settler for their ponies, and that in the quarrel the settler was shot. Having a taste of blood the savages, like wild beasts, thirsted for more. The settlers were in their several cabins, scattered some distance apart, in the timber about the lakes, and had no suspicion of danger. There were only twelve to thirteen warriors in Inkpadutah's band at this time and if the settlers had re- ceived warning, so they could mass their force or been on their guard, they might have defend- ed themselves and families with ease. But as it happened the Indians went to each cabin in force and pretended to be friendly. The fact that they had guns roused no suspicion, as they always carried them. Taking the man wholly off his guard they would shoot him first and then butcher the women and children at their leisure. Any person, who attempted to go from one house to another, was shot from ambush. By this treacherous means on the 8th and 9th of March the red fiends slaughtered the entire settlement on Lake Okoboji, men, women, and children, except two or three of the men, who happened to be away after provisions, and three young women, Miss Abbie Gardner, Mrs. Alvin Noble and Mrs. Joseph Thacher, whom they carried oif as captives. In all thirty- three persons were butchered at Lake Okoboji. After spending two or three days and nights in dancing, feasting and all manner of wild or- gies, the murderers gathered such plunder as they wished from the cabins and, loading the three captives, the squaws and the ponies there- with, they moved northward. On the banks of Spirit Lake proper, on March 13th, they came upon the cabin of a young couple named Marble, who had located there the fall before. Three or four of the Indians went to -the cabin and pre- tended to be friendly, until the proper opportuni- ty came, when they shot Mr. Marble and carried away his wife as their fourth captive. Thence they proceeded to Heron Lake, Minnesota. The terrible tragedy at Lake Okoboji was soon discovered by Morris Markham, a young trapper, who immediately carried the news to Springfield. The settlers there gathered at the log house of one J. Thomas for mutual pro- tection, and on March 18th dispatched two young men, Joseph B. ChefEins, whose home had been at Mankato, and Henry Tretts, to Port Eidgely for help, where they arrived the next morning. Captain Bernard B. Bee with forty-eight men were detailed at once to go to the scene of trouble. By noon they were ready to start. Joseph La Fromboise went as guide, and Judge Flandreau, then Sioux Agent, and Philander Prescott volunteered to accom- pany the expedition. The snow lay upon the ground in a great mass, covering it to a depth of two or three feet on the plains and ten to fifteen feet in the hollows, and it was beginning to get soft. Had the soldiers been then equipped and trained for Indian fight"ing, they might have made a bee line over the prairie to Spring- field and reached there easily in two days, fol- lowing the tracks of the messengers. But heav- ily accoutred as they were, and obliged to carry their ammunition and baggage in cumber- some wagon trains, it was wholly impracticable. Hence they were obliged to follow the only tra- veled road, which led down the Minnesota to South Bend. They reached the latter place on Saturday night, March 21st, and spent the next day there resting and gathering supplies. Thence they proceeded by way of Lake Crystal and by the evening of the 24th reached Slocum's home on the Watonwan. Here all semblance of a track ended, and -a few rods beyond was an immense snow bank, which it took the entire force all of the next day to cut through. In the meantime Inlcpadutah sent two spies to Springfield from his camp on Heron Lake. They found the Wood boys at their store, heed- less of danger as they gave no credit to Mr. Markham's story. They sold the two spies a large quantity of ammunition against the protest of HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 83 the settlers, at whose fears they laughed. The settlers eontiinied to congregate at the Thom- as cabin, except one Josiah Stewart, who with his family had returned to their own cabin. On March 26th, Inkpadutah and his bloody band appeared at the Springfield settlement. They enticed William and George Wood out of their store, and treacherously shot them both, and then plundered and burned the store. Under pretense of wanting to buy a hog, they induced Mr. Stewart to walk out of his cabin into an ambush where he was killed and then murdered the wife and children, except one boy, who managed to hide. The settlers gathered at the Thomas house were eagerly looking every moment for the return of the messengers with the soldiers from Fort Eidgely. Little Willie Thomas, ten years of age, saw a man coming down the road, whom he took to be Henry Tretts, and he ran to the house saying Henry was com- ing. The people rushed out to meet him. It proved to be a ruse to get the settlers out of the house. An Indian dressed as a white man, pretended to be coming down the road. As soon as the whites were fairly outside the door a volley from a dozen Indian rifles, from behind the neighboring trees, was poured into them. Little Willie fell dead, but the rest all got back into the house and barricaded the door. It was then found that Mr. Thomas had been shot in the wrist, David Carver in the side, and Miss Swanger in the shoulder. The savages kept shooting at the house, and the whites fired back from port holes made between the logs. The fight continued until night, when the Indians gave up the battle and returned, loaded with booty from the store, to their camp at Heron Lake. In all seven persons had been killed and three wounded at the Springfield settlement. The very day this attack occurred Captain Bee and his command left Mr. Slocum's residence, in Lincoln Township. After the most toilsome march, cutting their way through the deep snow, and constantly having to extricate their teams from the drifts, wet to the skin from the melting snow during the day, their clothes frozen stiff about them at night, they arrived on the night of the third day, at a point on the Des Moines eight miles north of Springfield. Here a half breed from Traverse Des Sioux, named Joe Coursalle, had a small trading post. He told them that Inkpadutah had wiped out the settle- ments at both Spirit Lake and Springfield, and that he was then camped at Heron Lake, hav- ing in his possession four women captives, a large number of horses, and a great quantity of plunder. Early next morning Lieut. Mur- ray with 23 men, mounted on all the horses and mules available, were dispatched ia pursuit of the murderers. They found the camp and a large amount of booty, but the imps of the evil one had fled, dragging with them the poor captives. The soldiers made no effort at further pursuit, either because they were tired out and thought further chase would be useless, or because they were afraid to encounter so desperate a foe. After returning to the main command, Lieut. Murray was dispatched, on March 30th, with a mounted detachment towards Spirit Lake, to scout for Indians and bury the dead in that set- tlement, while Capt. Bee, with the rest of his command, proceeded to Springfield. The news of these terrible massacres spread like fire through all the settlements of southern Minnesota and northern Iowa and, greatly aug- menting in terribleness as it went, created a panic of fear everywhere. There were thousands of Sioux Indians then in this section of our territory, and bands of them were encamped in almost every precinct of Blue Earth county. In the wild excitement, which prevailed, every- one of these were under suspicion, though in fact wholly innocent and even ignorant of any hostility whatever. A mile or two northeast of Madelia, almost touching the western line of Blue Earth County, are a group of small lakes with some timber. Here five or six Indian fam- ilies were camped, engaged in fishing, oblivious of any hostile intention, near a cabin occupied by Theodore Leisch and Philip Schaffer. In the same grove a little to the north lived Mr. Bisier and family and north of him Mr. Boechler and family. A few more settlers lived, also, in the near vicinity. Hearing of the massacre these people became uneasy at the mere presence of Indians, and to their heated imagination every move these red neighbors made was sus- picious. At last one or two families conclud- 84 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAKTH COUNTY. ed to take refuge at the home of Isaac Slocum, whose cabin was somewhat larger than the ordi- nary, and had a group of log buildings about it, consisting of a blacksmith shop, granary and barns. It was: the usual stopping place on the road between Springfield and Mankato, and hence was the place where news from the outside world and especially from the seat of trouble, would be first heard. This movement was a sig- nal for a stampede of all settlers around these lakes, and along the Watonwan near Madelia, then called "Wacapa." Most of these gathered at Slocum's house and each had a tale of dark suspicion against the savages camped by the lakes. A stockade of logs was built around the Slocum house and guard kept. Fortunately a couple of sleighs, loaded with groceries and provisions for the Wood Bros.' store at Jackson, had got stuck in a snow bank near Slocum-'s house shortly before the Indian trouble, and were still stored at this hospital home. These were appropriated by the settlers and, with the beeves killed, kept them from hun- ger. On April 9th Joseph Cheffins arrived on his way to Mankato from Jackson^ whence he had accompanied the military. Fresh from the scenes of the massacre, his vivid description of the horrors he had just witnessed at Jackson and Okoboji did not tend to quiet the nerves of the settlers. Excited by their fears they gave exaggerated accounts of the conduct of the Indians in their vicinity, which showed conclusively, as they thought, that mischief was brewing and that an attack might be expected from hundreds of savages any moment. A most urgent appeal for immediate help was dispatched to Mankato by Mr. Cheffins, which was delivered the following night. There was great excitement at the county seat on Mr. Cheffins arrival. It was the first real account of the awful tragedy, which had reached our county, and its extent and the details of its horrors told by an eye witness created uni- versal fear and consternation. A large dinner bell, which hung in a frame over the Mankato House, was rung as for fire to call the people together. A mass meeting was hastily convened at the log school house, where an anxious throng of people soon gathered. Terror and excitement ran high, and men, women, and children came rushing to hear the latest news. Mr. Cheffins was the center of interest and he was put under oath by John A. Willard, as Notary Public, and testified in detail regarding the massacres at Springfield and Spirit Lake, and told how the settlers around Madelia had been driven from their homes by the hostile demonstrations of large bands of Indians in that vicinity. That a massacre was likely to occur any day. That the settlers were mostly gathered at Mr. Slocum's house and were beg- ging for help as the savages outnumbered them ten to one, and were well armed. Speeches were made, and fifty to sixty persons volun- teered to go at once to the defense of the Watonwan settlers. These volunteers agreed to report at eight o'clock next morning at the Mankato House with guns and ammunition ready for action. A messenger was also dispatched on a mule that night to Fort Snelling to request military aid. When morning came (Saturday, April 11th) about thirty-five persons answered to their names, the rest failed to show up for various reasons. About ten o'clock A. M., the companv started on foot through the mud aind slush of melting snow. They were a motley crowd, armed with rifles and shot guns. Some had powder horns or flasks of every design dangling from their necks. Some were rigged in the stvle of west- ern hunters, with bright colored shirts, and a belt full of pistols and knives; one had cut his coat away after the style of the dress imiform of an old country soldier, and wore a sort of military hat turned up in front. Besser and Chism were the only two mounted. They wore military gloves and boots and had bright col- ored scarfs tied across their shoulders and breasts. While hardly any of them had much military knowledge or discipline, yet they were all brave men. They neglected in their haste to take any rations or blankets and hence were ill prepared for a long and hard campaign. When the Blue Earth bridge was reached the company halted and elected the following officers : sci-i ooi- Mou^e zi A ^ M^oiSoiM <-«Ke ^ c t^ HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 85 Captain, Dr. Wm. F. Lewis. First Lieutenant, E. D. Brunei. Second Lieutenant, Frederick Ayres. Orderly Sergeant, W. S. Sargent. The . other members of the company as far as we could learn their names were : John Hodgson. Emerson Hodgson. Joseph Hodgson. Charles Barney. George Peter Hoerr. George Becker. Uriah Karmany. Byron Comstock. John C. Jones. James T. Besser. Louis Wagner. John B. Guthrie. Chism. Otto. Clinton B. Hensley (Ed. Mankato Independent). Henry Humphrey. C. C. Whitman. Perry Franz. Stanley Johnson. Stephan Kissinger. Elisha Hill. Jason F. Wickersham. George Rose. Brewster. MciluUen. Herbert N. Bingham. Geo. W. Curtis. It was late in the afternoon when the com- pany reached the log house of W. E. Eobinson at Crystal Lake. Here the few settlers of the vicinity had gathered for mutual protection and built them a rude fort. Thither Calvin Webb had been carried, on his sick bed, and died the next day. Thence he was borne to his burial by the men only, all armed with guns. The Mankato Company had intended to pass the night at the Eobinson house, but soon after their arrival Tom Lameraux returned from a visit to Sloeum's place with the alarming news, that some thirty or forty Indians, decked in war paint, had just been holding a big war dance close by Slocums' house, and the, settlers there were expecting to be attacked any moment. Captain Lewis then called for Volunteers to proceed at once. Though wet and tired every man stepped into line, except one, who had joined them at South Bend. They pressed hurriedly on over the ten additional miles to Sloeum's where they arrived about dusk. Their coming was a welcome relief to the terrified settlers. The Sloeum residence was a three story log structure including a side hill base- ment. The settlers had been busy all day building log breast works and stockades about the house. Guards were stationed in these for- tifications all night, and, when not so employed, the men slept on the floor of the third story, and in the barns. The women stayed up all night to bake and cook. In accordance with the plans of the previous night, the Mankato company rose early, and by four o'clock in the morning had eaten their breakfast, and started for the Indian camp by the Leisch cabin, four miles away, with intent to surprise and capture the savages. Under guidance of one of the settlers they reached the lak«s at early dawn. As they were hurrying across the prairie they had noticed in the dim light objects hovering ahead of them, on the horizon line, evidently Indian spies. Two swift runners were called for. Whitman and Kissinger volunteered and dashed ahead like deer, but the Indians were swifter than they. On reaching the nojost easterly of the group of lakes, the company was divided into three squads. Six men under Lieut. Ayres took the lake on the east, Lieut, Bruner with fifteen men followed up the westerly lake, while Capt. Lewis with the main body marched through the timber between the two lakes. This center column soon came upon eight teepees, but all deserted. The desertion must have been very recent though, for the fires in them were burning brightly and Indians could be seen skulking through the brush and behind trees. I'tiree Indians attempted to cross the east lakej on a couple of ponies, but the ice was too slip- pery and the ponies fell, so they retreated again into the timber. Lieut. Ayres and his six men were on the ice of the lake running towards the Indians. Capt. Lewis noticed the peril they were in from such an exposed position, and signaled them to join the main column in the timber, which they did with alacrity. Fir- ing was now heard on the left wing. Brunner's men had come upon a number of Indians, and both sides had opened fire. Henry Humphrey and Chas. Barney could speak some Sioux, and they called out to the Indians that they did not intend to do them any harm and the Indians stopped firing. But Perry Franz and one or two others were so excited and officious, that they 86 HISTOEY OF BLUE BAKTH COUNTY. disregarded all orders and kept blazing at the Indians. Thereupon the savages retreated hur- riedly over a small ridge and disappeared. The whites had now united their force and were discussing the advisability of following the enemy, when the latter returned largely re-en- forced and opened a brisk fire upon them. A ball struck Becker's gun-stalk, another hit a big powder Hask, which hung from the neck of Emerson Hodgson and grazed his fingers as it glanced, while a third passed through the upturned rim of Hensley's cap. The whites retreated a few steps into the timber, and got beliind trees, and for about half an hour both sides kept up a hot fire. The Indians then retreated across a small opening in the timber, where a grassy swale marked the outlet of one of the lakes, into a vacant house, and some thick brush beyond. One of their number had been shot in the arm. They now dared the whites to come after them. The young bucks stripped to their breech clouts yelled and danced all manner of antics just beyond the opening as they uttered their challenges. The whites, however, feared an ambush and concluded to return to Slocum's for more ammunition and re-enforcements. The retreat almost became a route as they ran over the prairie, strung out in disorder. As soon as the whites were gone the Indians hurriedly packed their effects and left for the north. The excitement now was at its height. The settlers in the extreme southwestern part of the county gathered into Shelbyville. Those living a little further down on the Blue Earth fortified themselves in Mr. Eeed's house, near the present village of Vernon Center. Those along Perch Creek and along the Watonwan, below the Slocum neighborhood fled to Garden City, where two forts were built one about Pol- som's log house north of the village and the other on the south of the river by Edson Gerry's house. Gerry had moved his first claim shanty from the village and put it up near his other house. The space between the two houses was now closed in by log walls and port holes made in them and in the roofs of the houses. Here an amusing incident occurred, though at the time it seemed serious enough to the persons involved. Two or three miles below the pre- sent village of Vernon Center, on the Blue Earth river, lived Dr. Arledge. Just below the house on the river bottom were camped a few In- dians making maple sugar. When the doctor heard of the massacres he and his family were greatly agitated and imagined they saw signs of mis- chief in the Indian camp. They wished to fiee to Garden City, but did not dare expose them- selves outside the cabin for fear of inviting an attack. The son, Alexander, a grown up young man, finally dressed himself in a blan- ket and, thus disguised, mounted on a pony and armed with his rifle, he hoped to pass the Indian camp without their knowing he was a white man. The previous fall Joseph McClanahan had located a claim in Shelby township and then gone back to Indiana. On this particular day he was returning to his claim and had reached Garden City. They told him of the Indian Massacres and urged him to stay there as there were Indians all about. He pretended to dis- believe the whole story, and thought he could get to his claim without trouble. The snow was still deep and melting, making the walking very hard. He had gone about two miles and a half, when lo ! and behold ! coming down the road toward him full tilt was a blanketed Indian, on a pony and waving a gun. It did not take McClanahan but a very small fraction of a second to wheel about and take to his heels. It was a fearful race. Young Arledge (for it was he) hallooed to try and stop him, but all McClanahan heard were blood curdling warhoops, and he ran all the faster. For two miles he - sped like a deer over that terrible road of half melted snow and then fell in a faint completely exhausted. Young Arlidge jumped from his horse and rubbed his fore- head and face with snow to restore him to con- sciousness. In his semi-delirious condition, McClanahan imagined he felt the cold steel of the scalping knife pass around his head. The men building the fort by Gerry's house were horror stricken to vritness such a bold, shocking murder committed before their eyes, and seizing their guns rushed up the road to the rescue. Fortu- nately Arledge managed to disclose his identity HISTOEY OF BLtJE EARTH COUNTY. 87 before they fired. McClanahan was so overcome by the fright and exlaaustion that he was con- fined to his bed for some days. The country was in a delirium of excitement and the wildest rumors were everywhere afloat. The Saturday evening after the Mankato Com- pany left for the Sloeum neighborhood, fleeing, settlers began pouring into South Bend and Mankato each vieing with the other in sensa- tional tales. The walls of the three story stone building of General Leech at Mankato were about completed. This was soon transformed into a fort by barricading with stone and plank the doors and windows, and cutting loop holes for shooting. A quantity of big stones were carried to the top, to hurl down on any assail- ant. This building and the log school house were packed with refugees, who slept in heaps on the floors. There were persistant rumors that there had been a desperate battle fought between the Mankato company and the Indians, and that many had been killed on both sides. Some said the company had been ambushed and annihilated. Later in the night the report came that all the settlers along the Watonwan had been massacred and that Garden City had been captured and burned. It seems a straw stack in that vicinity had been fired to light some refu- gees across the river. Later in the night a settler from the Watonwan county came hur- rying into Mankato with the news, that the Indians had taken Garden City and that he could see the flames of the burning town. That an army of nine hundred savages, all well armed were on the way to attack South Bend and Mankato and would be there in a few hours. The town was soon in a panic of fear. Front street was lined with the teams of fleeing settlers. Men hurried from house to house awakening the people and apprising them of the danger. The women and children cried. Nearly all who had teams started with their families for St. Peter. One man offered fifty dollars for a team to carry his family there. The Mankato House was the headquarters of the town, where the latest and most reliable news could be found. Henry Shaubut, Wil- liam Bierbauer and many others discredited most of the rumors, and urged the people to keep cool, until the reports were verified. A sort of reign of terror prevailed all that night and few people slept at Mankato, South Bend or Garden City. Sunday morning a company of thirty-eight volunteers arrived from St. Peter under Captain WilUam B. Dodd. They were joined by Daniel Tyner and two or three others from Mankato and by T. M. Pugh and others from South Bend, and proceeded at once in teams to re- enforce the Mankato company at Slocums', where they arrived late that afternoon. Two mounted men were sent from Garden City to Mr. Slo- com's house to learn the news. When near the house some of the young men fired their guns and the two scouts beat a hasty retreat and re- ported that the Indians had taken Slocum's house and murdered all the settlers. Most of the Garden City people removed to Mankato during this Sunday. On Monday the Mankato and St. Peter companies scoured the valley of the Watonwan in quest of Indians but found none. At the mouth of Perch Creek they dis- covered the recent camping place of a chief called Sintomnidutah. He and his band had been in the habit of camping here. They found a large log trough, into which the Indians had gathered the maple sap at their sugar making. On it were a pair of snow shoes pointing south- east, a small bundle of bones had been tied to a tree above them, and in the ashes was buried a round stone painted red. The message was intended to read: "AU-over-Eed camped here. The food being exhausted, he has gone south- east to look for game." The next day a company of thirty or forty volunteers from Traverse des Sioux under George McLeod as captain having gone east of Garden City came upon the chief in a valley of the Blue Earth, called "Castle Garden," and chased him and his band back across the Waton- wan. When the first onslaught was made upon them the Indians ran across a plowed field. So hot was the pursuit that one old squaw fell ex- hausted, and a small, half starved pony, failing to keep up the pace, was abandoned. The route was, also, strewn with Indian household goods and cooking utensils, which the panic stricken redmen had thrown away in their flight. Some HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. of these and the pony the doughty white war- riors carried off as trophies of tlieir victory. In South Bend village a palisade fort made of plank and logs from the saw mill^ was con- structed around the house of John Williams^ and a volunteer company organized to guard the town. In the Judson neighborhood a fort was built from the saw logs at the McNutt mill, just across the river from Judson village. A volun- teer company was organized, with Mr. Bean of Nicollet as captain. Two lines of pickets were maintained, one on the high bluffs overlooking the river, and the other near the fort. When doing gTiard duty H. Caywood saw a blanketed Indian skulking through the brush in the dim morning light and promptly put a bullet through him. The shooting created a panic of excite- ment in the fort for they thought surely the savages were upon them. When the garrison had plucked up enough courage to go and look for the dead Indian, they found in the brush Caywood's old white mare wounded. About six miles north of the McNutt fort old cliief Eed Iron was camped with a number of his braves by Swan Lake. Captain Bean led his company against these Indians to drive them away. When near the village. Gust Tidland and David Dackins, who could speak some Sioux, were sent ahead to confer with the Indians. Eed Iron and his followers disclaimed any thought of hostility to .the whites, and had no knowledge of the Spirit Lake murders. If their presence was disturbing the white man they would depart. In a few days they withdrew to their reservation and the settlers breathed easier. The settlers, who had located in the present tovm of Cambria, also had some exciting exper- ience. The Indians who had been attacked by the Mankato company near Madelia, passed through this settlement on the night of the 12th of April, and pitched itheir wigwams on the Little Cottonwood, ^about two miles west of the Blue Earth county line. < On April 14th a volunteer company of thirty or forty Welsh and German settlers, under the leadership of Eev. Peter S. Davies, met at the home of Mr. Lipp and marched against them. Near the Indian camp stood the log cabin of a German bachelor, named J. Brandt. There were indications that the house had been plundered, but Mr. Brandt could not be found. Some of the Germans were inclined to attack the Indians at once, but cooler heads saw the danger of such a proceeding. The Indians outnumbered the whites nearly two to one, and were well armed and good shots. Only a few of the whites had good rifles and many were only armed with pitchforks, or long poles with scythes lashed to their top. John S. Davis, Samuel D. Shaw and J. Fessenmeyer vvere deputated to confer with the Indians and learn their intention. The rest of the company lay concealed behind a long wood pile and in some brush, ready in case of any emergency. As a signal of danger the deputation were to fire a gun. The Indians declared they were friendly and peaceable and had no sympathy with Inkpadutah whatever. While the confer- ence was in progress Mr. Fessenmeyer's gun -srent off accidentally, and immediately from be- hind the wood pile and brush leaped about forty pale faces and, with demoniac yells, came rush- ing down upon the Indian village, brandishing their guns, pitchforks and scythe-tipped poles. The surprised savages, bucks, sqiiaws and pa- pooses, lit out for the tall timber as fast as their moccasined feet could carry them. It took the most prompt and energetic action on the part of the three deputies to stop the mad charge and restore order. The Indians assured the v/hites of their friendship and finally agreed to depart for their agency. Two days later the body of Mr. Brandt was found in the brush back of his cabin, with two bullet holes in his head, evidently having been murdered by the Indians, who had an old grudge against him. It was fortunate the murder was not discovered when the whites met the Indians, else more serious consequences would have re- sulted. After ^pending three or four days on the Watonwan the volunteer- companies from Man- kato, St. Peter and Traverse returned home. The next day after the Mankato company reach- ed home (April 18th), a young man brought v;ord to the county seat that Sintomnidutah's band had again appeared near Madelia, and HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 89 had killed a cow and committed other depreda- tions, and asking immediate aid. It may be All-Over-Eed did not appreciate the fun of be- ing chased by the paleface and the loss of his pony and household goods, or perhaps he had not had any meat to eat since he picked those few bones he hung on a tree at the mouth of Perch Creek, and was hungry. The Mankato company was just getting ready to return to the Watonwan and give the old chief another chase, when they heard the blast of a bugle north of town and saw a long file of soldiers approaching on the St. Peter road. \\'ith their bright uniforms, their guns glistening in the sun, and a large flag leading the column, they pre- sented a fine appearance. They proved to be the long looked for regulars from Fort Snelling, who had been sent for the week before. The)- were in command of a Col. Smith, a very de- liberate and crusty old soldier. It had taken him five or six days to reach ilankato from Fort Snelling, and Avhen Dr. Lewis went to tell him of the recent call for help from the Watonwan settlers, he gruffly told him to put the request in writing. After camping in front of the Leach building until the following Mon- day, the colonel led his force of 160 men to the relief of the Watonwan settlers, but he found no Indians. Perhaps they got tired of waiting for him. The military tactics of that day were too dilatory and cumbersome for Indian fight- ing. All-Over-Eed would have starved to death if he had stayed in the same place, until the palefaces got ready to fight him. When the excitement was at its height it was reported at Faribault, Shakopee, St. Paul and other towns that Mankato and St. Peter had been captured, and burned by a horde of Yankton and Sisseton Sioux, nine hundred strong, and that the savages were sweeping down the valley, killing and burning every- thing before them. At Faribault General Jamoe Shields raised a ^'olunteer army to go to the rescue, but dispatched a friendly Indian rimner to verify the report, while he was getting ready. The Indian returned next day with dispatches contradicting the rumor. At St. Paul much excitement prevailed. A volunteer company was organized, guards stationed and fortifications made ready to repel the expected attack. In a few days it was evident that there was no real ground for such a scare. Xone of the 'Indians showed any hostile intention, other than Inkpadutah and his few followers. These mur- derers fled to the Sioux river, in South Dakota, and no effort was ever made by the military to pursue or punish them. The whites seemed perfectly impotent in any effort to apprehend an Indian on the plains. The red devils soon killed in a brutal manner two of their women captives, Mrs. Thacher and ilrs. Xoble. The other two. Miss Gardner and ilrs. ^larble, were ransomed by some - Christian Indians, who had been sent for the purpose from the mission sta- tion of Drs. Eiggs and Williamson, and restored to their friends. The government tried to com- pel the other Indians to capture Inkpadutah and his band, by refusing to pay them their annuities until they delivered up these murderers. It was a foolish and unjust move, which only re- sulted in mischief. Little Crow and a number of other Indians finally undertook the task and, after an absence of some days, returned with a fishy story, how they had come upon the bad Indians by a certain lake and, after a hard fight, had killed a number of them. Though Vv'hoUy preposterous in every detail, the sti n-y got the Indians their rations. During the sum- mer a son of Inkpadutah ventured to visit the Indians at the agency. His presence was re- ■vealed to the military and he was killed, when attempting to get away. No other member of Inkpadutah's cut-throat gang is known to ha\e received punishment. The people .soon returned to their homes and various avocations and, be- fore long, the Indians mingled witli the settlers as before, and the late unpleasantness was prac- tically forgotten. Militia companies, however, were formed during the summer at Garden City, and on the Watonwan near Madelia; and guns and accoutrements were furnished J:hem from the territorial armory. At Garden City an armory hall was constructed for the use of the company. Between the Indian scare, the unprecedented cold, backward season, and the money panic, the year 1857 was quite unfavorable to much immigration or material prosperity of any sort. 90 HISTOKY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. Blue Earth coimty, however, seems to have re- ceived quite an addition to its population and to have made substantial progress, in spite of the untoward conditions. The Minnesota was high and the traffic on the river was very brisk all summer. Boats were arriving almost daily at the Mankato and South Bend wharfs. Some- times as many as four boats arrived at the for- mer place in one day. During the season there were 293 boat arrivals at St. Paul from the Minnesota. The year before there had been 316 arrivals. The boats who paid Mankato the most frequent visits in 1857 were: The "Jennette Eoberts/' "Isaac Shelby, Medora," "Prank Steel" and "Time and Tide," all good sized boats. At Mankato the big three story stone business block, begun by General Leach the previous fall was completed. A similar stone block was erected this same year by White and Marks. These two fine buildings were for many years the most imposing structures at the county seat. About the middle of May a Mankato resident found sixty-three new buildings then in process of erec- tion. By the first of November there were in Mankato by actual count 90 business houses, in- cluding stores, shops and offices. A good steam saw mill had been started here the year before by George W. Lay, and this year saw the erec- tion of the much larger steam mill of A. D. Seward, Josiah Keene and A. N. Dukes, co- partners as A. D. Seward and Co. It had a forty horse power engine, two upright saws and a lath and shingle mill attached. On the 13th of June, 1857, was issued the first number of the "Mankato Independent," the first newspaper in Blue Earth County. The proprietors, Clinton B. Hensley and Prank W. Gunning, brought their printing outfit with them from Kokomo, Indiana, and as an induce- ment $800.00 of printing was subscribed and paid for in advance by Mankato business men. Mr. Hensley was an able writer and his paper was a valuable acquisition to the county. The printing office was located first in a small frame building, erected for the purpose, on the corner of Walnut and Third streets. This location soon proved unsatisfactory and, on Oct. 1st, the paper was moved to the upstairs of a new store building, just completed by Messrs. Hubbell and Tinkcom, where the Patterson Wholesale Gro- cery now stands. By August 1st, 1857, there were tliree stage lines carrying mail and passefigers centered at Mankato; a daily line to St. Paul starting at South Bend, on which the fare was $7.00; a tri-weekly line passing through South Bend, Garden City, Vernon and Shelbyville to Blue Earth City, on which the fare was $4.00; and a tri-weekly line passing through Tivoli and Winnebago Agency and thence to Owatonna, on which the fare was $5.00. On July 38th, 1857, the County Commissioners let the contract for the erection of a county building on the court house block to Prancis Bunker and Isaac N. Britton for $1,500.00. It was to be 30x34 feet and constructed of stone with a fireproof stone vault 6x7 feet in the rear. At the same time a contract for building a board fence around' the block was let to the same persons for $335.00. The townsite of LeHillier was surveyed and platted in 1857 by Noah Armstrong, William J. McCaulay, John J). McCaulay, Chas. A. Chap- man, Ann M. E. DeWitt, Eobert C. Nichols, John Wilson, Sidney B. Hawley, William J. Sturgis, Isaac Day and George W. Nelson, and a two story stone building was erected by George M. Keenan in which he opened a hotel. This ancient land mark still stands a little be- yond the west end of the Blue Earth bridge. Adjoining this up the Blue Earth another townsite was platted by Thos. Eiley and Fred E. Eoelofson in September, 1857, called West Le Hillier. In June of the same year West Mankato was laid out by a large number of proprietors, most of whom were non-residents. The company built a saw mill on the Blue Earth. South Bend, also was in a most flourishing condition. Some twenty or thirty buildings were constructed this year. Among these was a large frame hotel, built by Matthew Thomp- son. The formal opening of this hostelry was duly celebrated by a grand ball, held on Decem- ber 31, 1857. S. Abbott & Co., were its first proprietors. A second saw mill was started in South Bend this year owned by Eev. Eich Davis and John Williams. The other mill owned by D. C. HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. 91 Evans and W. E. Price, had added a run of stone for grinding corn, which, furnished the settlers of the vicinity their material for johnny cake and hasty pudding. About June 1st, 1857, Daniel Buck, then a young man fresh from the hills of Center New York, arrived at South Bend and opened a law office. On the 4th of June the village held a big celebration in honor of the beginning of the survey for the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Big Sioux Eailroad. The first stake was set with due ceremony by Judge J. Brayton of Ohio in the presence of a great crowd of people. J. B. Pish was at the head of the corps of engiaeers, who had charge of the survey. After placing the stake the crowd repaired to the banking room of W. J. McCau- ley. Paul P. Eckstrom, the foremost mer- chant of the village, presided and speeches were made by Messers. Bangs, Eodgers, Pish, Buck, Ben. McGiven, and J. T.. Williams. The volun- teer company, a relic of the recent Inkpadutah war, marched through the streets and fired salutes, and the festivities closed with a big oyster supper at Norcott's Hotel, the three story log building, which D. C. Evans had built. This survey was on the line' that was after- wards called the St. Paul and Sioux City Eail- way. So full of promise was South Bend at this time that Mr. Eckstrom platted a large addi- tion thereto, which was called after his name. In South Bend township a frame church was constructed about a mile west of Minneopa Palls, by the "Zion" Cal. Meth. society of that locality. Judson village was also flourshing. It Had a large saw mill on each side of the river. Cephas S. Terry and Thos. E. Coulson had good sized stores, and there were a number of shops and residences built there this year. John A. Tidland in July platted a large addi- tion to this townsite. In June of this year a new townsite was laid out on the farm of Hiram Yates, a Uttle south of Crystal Lake. The proprietors were John A. Willard, E. J. Sibley, Hiram Yates and Elias D. Bruner. It was called "Crystal Lake City." Though a number of persons with push and capital were interested, it failed to materialize into anything more than a paper city. At Garden City two saw mills were com- pleted this year, one by Messrs. Dilly, Warren and Capwell, and the other by S. il. Folsom, E. P. Evans and M. B. Boynton. The latter mill was provided with one run of stones for flour, and had a corn sheUer, corn mill, and shingle mill attached. A large hotel was also erected here during the summer by Messrs. Folsom and Evans, and the general store of Harrington & Cheney had been supplemented by one or two others. Further up the Watonwan, by Hoxsie & Conklin's mill, David P. Hunt, Neri T. Hox- sie and J. W. Greenwood, in August, 1857, laid out a town called, ''^Vatonwan," which made the third city platted in Garden City Township. Like Crystal Lake, it did not suc- ceed, and in February 1863 the plat was vacated. A post office was established here this year with J. H. Greenwood as postmaster. The Mill soon passed into the hands of Warren, Greenwood and Shaubut, who, in 1861, sold it to Butterfield & Wampler. Chas. P. Butter- field soon, however, became sole proprietor and his efficient management made the mill quite famous in that part of the county for many years. Between the mill, post ofliice, church and school house the place continued a local center until the present day. On July 8th, 1857 two new Election pre- cincts were created in the county, one desig- nated "Ceresco," after a town of that name in Wisconsin, whence the Porters and some others of the inhabitants had come, and the other "Vernon," after Mount Vernon, Ohio, the old home of Col. B. P. Smith, B. McCracken and others of its settlers. Ceresco precinct comprised the present townships of Ceresco and Lincoln, and its first officers were: Sheldon P. Barney, Isaac Slocum and Benjamin Pease, and the first elec- tion was appointed to be held at the house of William Wells. Vernon precinct embraced the present township of that name and its first officers were : Judges of Election, Horton W. Nelson, C. C. Mack and T. B. Northrup, Jus- tice of the Peace, Benj. McCracken, at whose house the first election was appointed to be held. Two rival townsites were started this year in A'ernon precinct. One was located on 92 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. the Blue Earth in sections thirty-three and twenty-eight and ealled "Montevideo.'' It was never platted, as a misunderstanding between the proprietors, Jonathan Leavit, Horton W. Nelson and George W. Nelson, soon arose, which lead to litigation and an abandonment of the project within a year. Jonathan and Caleb Leavitt and Jacob Taylor built a sawmill there, which they operated for a year and then removed it to Madelia, and Horton W. Nelson started to build a hotel. In those days a mill and a hotel were deemed indispensible for the proper iDCginning of any city. The other townsite was started further down the river on section 26 by the "Blue Earth Company." This organization was formed at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, with Col. B. F. Smith and Benj. McCracken as its principal promoters. In June 1857 they had their townsite sur- veyed and platted by il. B. Haynes. A saw- mill was erected, which was operated for some years by Messrs. Smith and Haynes. Another mill was built ten years later by Eeed & Mason, and a feed mill started by G. W. Doty. A post office was established with J. P. Dooley as postmaster and a store opened about 1858. Col. Smith also built a hotel there the same year. At Shelbyville there was considerable activ- ity. A large saw mill was erected there in 1857, by Henry Stokes and J. J. Porter, and a portable saw mill put up about a mile from the village by John Swearingen. A large hotel was built by Tilton 0. Allen and two stores, two blacksmith shops, a cabinet shop, and an M. E. Church and several houses were also constructed. On section five of Shelby another town was started by S. M. Polsom and others, but nothing came of it. The . plat of Mapleton townsite, which had been surveyed the previous July on the line between the present townships of Sterling and Mapleton, was not made until January, 1857. It was signed by James Cor- nell, Eobert Taylor and John Maund. No improvements were ever made on this land to give it an urban appearance, and it soon was jumped for claims. Eobert Taylor, however, in 1857, had a store, post office and hotel in his log house on the Maple. A little further down the river a blacksmith shop was started, and on the same stream Stephen and Elijah Middle- brook operated a portable saw mill. Between Lake Wita and Lake Washington on section 20, in the present town of Jamestown, a saw mill was started by A. F. Howes, which during 1857 was quite active. It stood in the midst of one of the finest black walnut groves in the country, which stretched from the north end of Eagle Lake to the county line. Another saw mill was started in the north- west corner of the county, on the Little Cotton- wood, by David P. Davis. Most of these mills had one run of stones attached for grinding corn. The milling industry, which had such a fair start in 1857, was destined to grow and for more than a quarter of a century was the chief manufacturing industry of the county. Both steam and watet power were used and, during the time stated, they furnished most of the lumber and flour used by the people. The great number of townsites started this year marks the climax of this craze in our county. On the first of June 1857, was held the elec- tion of delegates to the constitutional conven- tion preparatory to the admission of Minnesota as a State. Dr. W. E. McMahan was the repre- sentative elected from Blue Earth County. On October 13th occurred the election of State and County officers, when Blue Earth cast 1,131 votes. Of these H. H. Sibley the Democratic nominee received 594 and Alexander Eamsey, the Republican nominee 537. Mankato and Eice Lake were, however, the only two pre- cincts that gave Democratic majorities, the other eight precincts were Eepublican. J. T. Williams was elected Clerk of Court, being the only successful Eepublican on the County tick- et. E. D. Bruner was chosen Probate Judge, Stephen Lamm, Treasurer; Daniel T. Bunker, Sheriff; and W. S. Sargent, Register of Deeds. The year 1857 notes the first appearance in Blue Earth County of the grasshopper scourge, vfhich in after years worked such disastrous havoc. At this early date, however, there was not ijiuch to destroy except a few gardens, and the pest soon disappeared. But the pioneers of that day had other pests _ to contend with, the striped gopher, the pocket gopher and the blackbird HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COrXTY. 93 were then a plague in the land. The myriad the skj' black with their aerial maneuvers. Corn sloughs, with their tall reeds and grasses, had and potatoes -svere the principal crops of the been ideal nesting places for blackbirds for early settlers, and it was against tlicse that the countless ages and during the spring and fall devastations of these pests were directed, both the groves were musical with their voices, and at the planting and harvesting. CHAPTER XL EVENTS OF 1858— THE FIVE MILLION LOAN BILL— DIVISION OP COUNTY INTO TOWNSHIPS. At the first meeting of the County Commis- sioners for 1858 held on the 4th of January there was a change in personnel of the board and, also, in its policy on the liquor question. Norman L. Jackson of Shelby had been elected to suc- ceed E. Patterson, and Elijah K. Bangs of South Bend was chosen to fill the place of Matt- hew Thompson, resigned. This left Theron Parsons as the only member of the old board still in service. Heretofore the board had refus- ed to grant liquor licenses and Mr. Parsons was a strong teetotaler. At the meeting of January 6th a majority of the board voted to grant liquor licenses, and Mr. Parsons at once handed in his resignation in writing, giving as reason for his action, the determination of the major- ity of the board tO' issue such licenses, and asked that the same be inserted in the minutes where they stand to this day. On January 8th Sam- uel M. Walker was elected to fill the vacancy thus caused. The winter of 1857-8 was remarkably mild and open, which was greatly appreciated after the extreme rigor of the three former winters. On the 23nd of January it was so warm, that the editor of the Mankato Independent sat in his office writing all day without a fire and with- out a coat or vest. The rivers broke up for a time and on January 25th the ferry across the Minnesota at Mankato was carried away by the freshet. The first steamer did not arrive at Man- kato until the 22nd of March, but that was the earliest date a boat was ever known to ascend the Minnesota before or after. It was the Medora, with Capt. Chas. T. Hinde in command. The sound of her whistle was heard miles down the river, and the entire population of Mankato, men, women and children, were ready at the wharf to greet her with cheer upon cheer. In a few hours she was followed by the second boat, the Jennette Eoberts. On March 20th, 1858 South Bend village was incorporated with William E. Price as President, Paul Eckstrom as Clerk and C. Wliitford, Dr. Havens and Joshua Barnard as trustees. The same month the Legislature passed a bill to incorporate Man- kato as a village, but because of the absence of the Governor, it failed to receive his signature in time. Up to this time no railroad had been built in the State, and the people were ready to do most anything to secure this necessity of mod- ern civilization. Early in March a bill was passed by the Legislature authorizing the Gov- ernor to issue bonds, in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000.00, to aid in the construction of rail- roads. The bill, however, provided that the mat- ter be submitted to a vote of the people before it became effective. The Mankato Independent denounced the measure as a fraud from the start, and waged a bitter war against its adoption up to the special election, held April 15th, 1858. As a result Blue Earth County cast a major- ity of nearly 200 votes against the bill and was the only county in the State to give an adverse majority. The wisdom of this action became fully apparent shortly afterwards. A number of prominent lawyers began to lo- cate at Mankato in the winter of 1857-8, among whom were Willard and Barney, Cramer Burt 95 96 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. and M. S. Willcinson. On March 14th, 1858, a irumber of German citizens formed a company of state militia at Ulman'a Hall in Mankato. Joseph Guenther was elected captain and served about six months, when Matthias Ulman' suc- ceeded him in command. A Turners' Associa- tion was also organized by the Germans of that town about the same time with the following officers: President, Wm. Bierbauer; Vice-presi- dent, Jacob PfafE; First Secretary, Chas. L. Marks; Second Secretary, Henry Hartmann; Treasurer, M. H. Bergholtz; Turnwart, John C. Haupt; Tengwart, C'has. Heilborn; Librarian, Joseph Leibrack. This society flourished for many years and was the first and only one of the kind formed in the county. Wliile a number - of school districts had been formed over the county very few of them had begun actual work for want of funds, but taxes now began to come in. Log schools hoiises had been erected in most of the settlements and the people were anxious to begin educational work. On January 28th, 1858, the County Commis- sioners apportioned the school money as follows : Name of District. Xo. No. Scholars. Amt. Shelbyville ..". 11 62 $63.55 Butternut Valley (No. 10) . . . . 7 28 28.70 J. J. Lewis (Sterling) 14 21 21. .53 Judson ■ 4 50 51.25 Watonwan City 15 16 16.40 Garden City .' 10 58 59.45 South Benci 3 75 76.87 Campbells (Lime) ■. 8 49 50.22 Mill Creek (Minneopa) 16. 46 47. 15 Mapleton (Sterling) 5 55 56.37 Mankato 1 870 276.75 D. P. Davis (No. 11 Cambria) 6 27 27.67 Total - 757 $775.81 None of the schools received the money thus apportioned to then} for all of it, that was col- lected, was appropriated by F. Bunker, the Sheriff, and his bondsnien finally settled with the County Board by paying the same in county orders, which were not worth over fifty cents on the dollar. On the same day (January 38), the board redistricted the whole county (outside the re- servation), beginning at its northeast corner and numbering them in each township conseciitively westward to west line of county, thence south- ward to its south line, and thence east to the east line of Danville, making in all sixty-one school districts. In accordance with an act of the Legislature just passed requiring counties to be divided into towns instead of election precincts, the Board of County Commissioners on April 6th, 1858, pro- ceeded to do this with all the territory outside the Winnebago reservation. The name of each election precinct was applied to the towns in every case, but as there were more townships of land than election precincts a few new names were required. The names given were as fol- lows: Lime — Boundaries same as at present. Jamestown — Included Jamestown and LeRay ex- cept south tier of sections. Mankato — Same as at present except south tier of sections. South Bend — Same, except south tier sections. Judson^Same as at present. Butternut Vallev — Included Cambria and Butternut Valley. Ttitchfleld — Same as Lincoln. Watonwan — Same as Garden City. Montevideo — Same as Vernon. Ceresco — Same as at present. Otsego — Same as Pleasant Mound. Liberty — Same as Shelby. Mapleton — Same as Sterling. Sherman — Same as Mapleton. Jackson — Same as Danville. At this meeting a petition was presented, sign- ed by eighty-two residents of South Bend, re- questing the range line between 36 and 27 to be fixed as the east line of their town, instead of the Blue Earth River. This was opposed by Mankato and by most of the residents of the disputed territory. The board finally by a vote of two to one fixed the center of the Blue Earth and Le Sueur Rivers as the east boundary of South Bend. Some of the names given to the towns were not satisfactory and on April 16th, 1858, the Commissioners concluded to divide the whole county including the Winnebago Agency into towns and rename them all; The only change in the list above given was that the name of Ritchfield was changed to Fox Lake. It was intended that the name Fox Lalce should be ap- plied in town 106 range 39, as it was selected by John and Miles Porter, who lived there, after their old home in Wisconsin, while Ceresco was tc be applied to to-mi 107, where Isaac Slocum resided and was the name he had chosen after the Wisconsin town he had come from. But DANIEL A. DICKINSON. LEWIS C. BRANSON. MARTIN J. SEVERANCE. ERANKLIN H. WAITE. HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. the Commissioners, through some blunder, got the names transposed and they were never cor- rected. Another change in the' list was that the name "Vernon" was substituted for "Monte- video." These were two names of rival town- sites in the same township, ^ and the proprietors oC each were anxious to have the name of their respective city applied to the town, and Vernon won. The names added to the list were for the townships embraced in the Indian Agency and were as follows : De Soto — Now Rapidan. Decoria — Same as at present. Rice Lake — Now McPherson. Medo — Same as at present. Winneshiek — Now Beauford. Tecumseh — Now Lyra. On the same day Lime was set o££ from Man- kato as an independent town. Fox Lake was attached to Ceresco, Otsego to Liberty, and later Jackson was attached to Mapleton, and Eice Lake to Mankato for administrative purposes. The people were still agitating the removal of the Winnebagoes, and in February a joint re- solution to that effect was passed by both houses of the Minnesota Legislature and sent to Con- gress. In April of this year (1858), Moses 0. Ben- nett laid out a townsite close to his mill, near the center of the east half of section 25 of Mankato Township, which he called Tivoli. A Congregational church was organized through the efforts of Mr. Bennett with about thirty members, and a good church building erected upon a "fine plat of ground specially dedicated for the purpose, and which is now used for the school house site. The church was organized in winter 1857-8 by Eev. M. N. Adams. Eev. E. A. Bumham, the father of Capt. Fred Burn- ham the noted English scout of South Africa, used to preach at this church and at a church in Alma City for a number of years, and work- ed at the same time for Mr. Bennett at the mill. He was a young man then, and it was while living at Tivoli that he went down to Sterling and was married on July 3d, 1860, by Eev. J. E. Conrad to Eebecca, daughter of William Eussell of that town; and it was at a log cabin belonging to Mr. Bennett, that Mr. and Mrs. Burnham were living when their fam- ous son was bom. On April 15th, 1858, the village, or rather "Town of Mankato" as it was designated, held its first charter election, in spite of the fact that the governor had not yet signed the bill of Incorporation. The following officers were elec- ted: President, Alpheus F. Hawley,; Eecorder, David Lamm, Trustees, S. Hylan, Wm. Bier- bauer and Isaac Marks. The bill was after- wards approved by the Governor on June 11th, 1858. It seems after the court house square had been fenced, sonje of the residents in the vicinity found it convenient to turn therein their hor- ses, cattle, sheep and swine, and we find the County Board on July 8th, 1858, passing a resolution directing the sheriff to turn all such animals out. Prom the start the county had been "in a bad way financially, as there were so many things necessary, and but little taxable property. County orders were not worth over fifty cents on the dollar, and the county build- ings had not yet been fully paid for, and more were badly needed. An act was therefore passed by the Legislature and approved June 11, 1858, authorizing a loan for not to exceed $5,000 upon bonds drawing 12 per cent inter- est. As the County Commissioners were legis- lated out of office by this same Legislature, and a Board of County Supervisors substituted in their place, composed of the Chairman of each town board, it became necessary to pass a special act, continuing the Board of County Commissioners of Blue Earth County in being until September, 1858, for the purpose of issu- ing the bonds. On August 6th, 1858, the bonds were issued in amounts of $500, each drawing twelve per cent interest, but it took quite a time to get money on them, as the country had just passed through a severe money panic. These were the first bonds ever issued by the County. The summer of 1858 was rather wet and the navigation of the Minnesota was good. J. T. Besser kept a record of all steamboat arriv- als at Mankato during the season with names of boats and dates of arrival, which we still 98 HISTORY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. possess. From this it appears that the names of the boats and number of arrivals were: From below: Medora 7 Jennette Roberts 27 Time & Tide 20 Franklin Steel 35 Isaac Shelby ; 16 Freighter 14 Wave ..... ...;.... 8 Minnesota 3 Belfast . . ... .; . . . . . ;....... 1 Total 131 From above: Medora 2 Jennette Roberts 14 Time & Tide 2 Franklin Steel 4 Isaac Shelby ; 9 Freighter 11 Wave ...;.......' 4 Minnesota 1 Belfast 1 Total ,.....;,. 48 Total ' both 'ways '. 179 .Messrs. Cleveland and Bntterfleld bnilt two flat boats at M^nkato, the firgt of which, was launched on September 18th qf this year, but the. record of these flat boats were not kept by j..j-r. Besser. Mr. Woloben built a pleasure boat for the "Mankato Yacht Club," which was christened "Kate" and launched at Lake Crys- tal in June. This boat did service at a .big Independence day picnic, held in the grove by Lake Crystal on July 2nd. On September 14th, 1858 was held the first meeting of the Board of County Supervisors cf Blue Earth County. It consisted of the follov'ng per^oiis: James Shoemaker, Mankato. Samuel M. Valker, Mankato. Daniel Campbell, Lime. Timothy Sullivan, Jamestown. Lyman Matthews, South Bend. James A. Wiswell, Watonwan. Jasper C. Browning, Vernon. James Cornell, Mapleton. David Davi^, Butternut Valley. Robert Patterson, Judson. Rudolph Crandall, Liberty. Lucius Dyer, Jackson. , Mr. Walker was chosen chairman and Wilr Ham S. Sargent, clerk. Heret^^forp the Eegis- ter of Deeds had been the Clorx of the County Commissioners, but by the recent act tliC Board was authorized to select another person, and ihe name of the office was changed to "Councj Audii-or." PriJtieally the new Boiirrl consLsted of seven J-JepubJJcans and six Democrats. There were still some who wished to change their township namra and Messrs. Crandall, Dyer and Browning .were appointed a committee to consider these changes. On October 14th they recommended that Jackson be changed to "Danville," (a name suggested by Mr. Dyer after his old home in Vermont), "Vernon" to "Mt. Vernon," "Otsego" to Willow Creek" and "Liberty" to "Shelby." Most of these changes became necessary because the names had been appropriated by other towna in the state. The report was adopted with one exception, 'Ver- non" was changed to "Vernon Center," as both "Vernon" and "Mt. Vernon" had already been applied to other towns in the state. On October 16th, Joseph Titus was appointed coroner for the county. The rate of tax for county purposes was iixed at seven and one- half - per cent, and at the same meeting Chas. A. Chapman was hired to make copies of all the town plats in the county, which duty' he performed with excellent success. The crops of 1858 were fairly good in spite of the wet season. We note this year the first known raising of Amber cane in the county by Eev. Gunn in South Bend and James Miller in Shelby. It was generally considered by the pioneers that Minnesota was too cold for the production of apples. S. Titus Mills was among the first to demonstrate that this fruit would grow in this climate. He had an orch- ard planted on his farm by Mills Lake soon after his coming there in 1854. Eobert Good- year, also, was a pioneer in apple culture, and he did much to stimulate a taste for horti- culture among our early settlers. During the summer of 1858 an attempt was made to start an educational institution at Jud- son Village. A stock company was formed and $800. raised, which was applied to purchase a frame building of T. E. Coulson and a bright young Baptist preacher, Eev. J. E. Ash, and his wife, were put in charge. They had a number of scholars, but after a year Eev. Ash moved to Mankato and the embryo college failed, A number of private high schools were. CHRISTIAN CHURCH-SHELBY NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHORCH-AMMrf H.e.CHURCH-SHEl-BV ieiu' ^fb.round JUD50N m ■ ^^^ ^' ' i)uthBcnd M.E. CHURCH -AM eor SCHOOL HOUSE - AMBOy THE OLD STONE HOUSE -So.3END HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 99 also, started at Maiikato by J. E. Beatty, 0. 0. Pitcher, W. L. Coon, and others. This year Rev. Jas. Thompson, whose special hobby was education, got an act through the Legislature incorporating the "Southern Minnesota Uni- versity," and in September he was elected presi- dent; General J. E. Tourtellotte, Secretary, and on Nov. 10th a preparatory department was opened at Mankato with Rev: Hugh A. McKel- vey and wife as teachers. The school ran for just one term and then failed for want of funds. Reports from twenty-three public schools in the county showed 1,057 children of school age, and the school money amounting to $2,387.98 was apportioned to them. On Dee. 5th, 1858, a Baptist church was organized at Judson and at the same time and place was organized the "Minnesota Valley Bap- tist Association," to embrace Blue Earth, Nicol- let, Le Sueur and Waseca Counties. In the fall of this year the Farmers' Bank of Garden City was started by J. H. Dawes. Another bank started at Mankato, but neither were very substantial or did much real bank- ing business. On September 18, 1858 the Republican Con- vention met at Mankato and as list of dele- gates recalls so manv prominent old settlers we give it entire: Mankato, Cramer Burt, A. D. Seward, W. W. Clark, P. Wistar, J. C. Haupt, H. E. L. Gude and H. DuBuison; South Bend, B. Park Dewey, P. Eckstrom and T. M. Pugh ; •Tudson, Robert Patterson, Au?. Tidland and John I. Jones; Butternut Valley, John S. Davies, David J. Davies and Daniel L. Williams-, Ceresco, Isaac Slocum, James Wilson and Dr. J. 0. Tibil; Vernon, Col. B. P. Smith, James Oonnel and John A. Darling; Watonwan, Wil- liam Hanna, A. J. Jewett and John Dillev; Danville. Lucius Dver; Sbelbyville, Rev. J. W. Powell. R. Crandall and J. P. Stoek, Maple- ton; Rev. J. E. Conrad, Robt. Tavlor and John Henderson. At the election, held Octo- ber, 1858, there were over 1.000 votes cast in tbe county. The Republicans won bv a small marsrin and elected about half of the countv officers. To show the increase of propertv dur- ing first five years of, its history we give the assessed valuation of each year: 1853, $5,000.00; 1854, $37,529.00; 1855, $43,609.00; 1856, $141,377.44; 1857, $310,659.00. On January 5th, 1859, Mankato and South" Bend secured daily mail service to St. Paul for the first time. In February, 1859, there was much activity among the militia companies of the county. The Mankato Company received new arms and uniforms, and the streets of Mankato were enlivened by frequent drills under Captain Guenther. The Garden City Sharp- shooters re-organized under the new law, with T. E. Potter as Captain, and having sixty mem- bers, rank and file. On March 2nd, 1859 the Mankato Artillery Company was organized with the following officers: Captain, James Shoemaker. First Lieutenant, Sumner Hylan. iSeeond Lieutenant, Jas. B. Hubbell. Third Lieutenant, Edwin Bradley. First Sargeant, L. D. Patterson. Second Sargeant, Chas. A. Chapman. Third Sargeant, George A. Clark. Fourth Sargeant, Chas. Mansfield. Ensign. Joshua Wolahen. First Corporal, Fred C. Roosevelt. Second Corporal, T. C Bevans. Third Corporal, G. L. Turner. Fourth Corporal, L. C. Johnson. The rank and file numbered 40 men. During the winter large public meetings were held at Mankato, South Bend and Le Hillier to agitate the matter of removing the Winnebagoes from the county, and strong resolutions were sent to Congress asking speedy action. The cause which incited at this time the feeling against the Winnebagoes, and which perhaps stirred up the military spirit of the county', was the shooting in January, 1859, at the Town of Danville, of one John Bums by a Winnebago. Indian. It seems that Burns had been furnishing the In- dians on the quiet a little "fire water," and this was at the bottom of the trouble. The winter of 1858-59 was another very mild one. The rivers broke up in January and again about the middle of March. On the 24th of l\Tarch the new bridge across the Blue Earth at Vernon was swept away by the freshet, while the two new bridges at Garden City, as well as the one at Watonwan, barely escaped. Some of ilie settlers this year seeded as early as February and had good crops. On February 10th, 1859, 100 HISTORY OF BLUB EARTH COUNTY. the Board of Supervisors appointed John A. Willard, County Attorney at a salary of $300.00 per annum. At the town elections held in April, 1859, many new chairmen of Supervisors were elected and these met as a new Board of County Sup- ervisors on May 35th, 1859. The members of tJiis new board were: Lyman Matthews, chairman, South Bend. H. K. and C. S. Dunscomb, Mankato. Anthony J. Crisp, Judson. George Owens, Butternut Valley. John M. Mead, Ceresco. Theodore E. Potter, Watonwan. Thos. S. Hays, Vernon Center. Rudolph Crandall, Shelby. James Cornell, Mapleton. Timothy Sullivan, Jamestown. Lucius Dyer, Danville. Evans Goodrich, Lime. The majority of this board being Republi- cans, at their first meeting they appointed B. Parke Dewey, an active worker in that party, and a young attorney of promise, as County Attorney in place of Mr. Willard and fixed his salary at $200.00 a year; they also made the "Mankato Independent" the ofEicial county pa- per. On June 1st the Independent moved its office to the rear of the second story of the Tjeech building. Declaring it the ofEicial paper \!&s not a mere matter of form but rather get- ting things in order to welcome a rival. Poli- tics in those days were very intense and bitter. Mr. Hensley when he first Came to Mankato had intended to run his paper to accord with its name of "Independent," but the suction of the political current, as it approached the great cataract of the Civil War was too strong for a man of his convictions and temperament. He was an able, forcible writer and soon made his paper ring with Republican editorials. The more he pleased his Republican readers, the less his paper suited his Democratic patrons. The latter concluded after their defeat in the election of 1858 that if their party was to maintain its position in the county, it must have an organ of its own. The matter was discussed by a number of invited Democratic leaders at a m^eeting held at Mankato. Finally they suc- ceeded in inducing John C. Wise, recent editor of the "Superior City Chronicle," to come to Mankato and start a Democratic paper. He came early in June to look the ground over and, being favorably impressed, sent at once for his printing outfit, which arrived on the 34th of that month on the Jennette Roberts. This new Journalistic venture was christened "The Mankato Record" and its first issue, dated July 5th, 1859, appeared on the afternoon of July 4th, 1859, when a big celebration was booked, at Mankato. A cold rain neccessitated the post- ponement of the celebration to the next day. The New Ulm and Mankato bands, the Man- kato Rifles under Capt. Guenther, and the Turner Society were features of the parade. An oration by Senator Wilkinson and a picnic din- ner in the grove near Warrens Creek, were the tM'O other principal events of the day. The celebration gave the new editor a good opportunity to meet the people and become ac- quainted. The Democrats of the county could not have made a better selection to champion their principles than John C. Wise. Personally he possessed all the elements of a popular leader. Genial, kind, and warm hearted he made a host of friends among his opponents. His democratic ways made him accessible to everybody, no mat- ter what their station in life or their political views. This kept him in touch with all the people of the county and the events of their lives. In those days no country editor could afford to keep a reporter, but Mr. Wise did not need any. Everybody reported to him. He was a very ready and able writer, and his wonderful knowledge of men and events made his paper always one of the best and most influential of the country journals of the state. Hundreds of Republicans were constantly on its list of sub- scrihers. On April 15th, 1859, a treaty was made at Washington with representatives of the Win- nebago Indians, whereby they ceded the west two-thirds of their reservation in Blue Earth County and were to be allotted eighty acre farms in severalty on the balance of their land. Owing to the change of administration and the troublous times, which soon followed, the provis- ions of the treaty were never consummated. Navigation was fairly good on the Minnesota this year, though not up to the previous year. The Freighter, which arrived at Mankato, on HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 10 1 March 27thj was the first boat. In. the latter part of June^ during a period of high water, this boat ascended the Minnesota with intent to get into Big Stone Lake and, passing thence along the swale which connects that lake with Lake Traverse, got into the Eed Eiver. The scheme might have succeeded, but the crew got drunk at New Ulm, and before they sobered off, the freshet was over and their boat got stuck in the mud about two miles below the Big Stone outlet, where the keel remained for many years to commemorate the event. In all there were 103 boat arrivals from St. Paul and twenty- nine from the west, total 131, at the Mankato levee. The Franklia Steel made nineteen of these from St. Paul and eleven from the west, the Favorite forty-four from St. Paul and four from the west, and the Jennette Eob- erts 31 from St. Paul and 8 from the west. Besides the steamboats, the flat boats, built by Cleveland and Butterfield, called the "Minneopa" and "Victor," were operated for most of the season during low water. From newspaper reports of this year we learn that Mankato had a population of about 1,000. That it had nineteen stores, five hotels, two saw mills, to one of which (Seward Co.) a large grist mill was attached in December, five re- hgious societies, (Presbyterian, Catholic, Metho- dist, Baptist and Universalist), two newspapers, one or two brickyards and lime kilns. West Mankato possessed a good hotel and a saw mill. Le Hillier had a stone hotel, a good school, a lyceum, and several buildings. South Bend had a big hotel, two saw mills, five stores, two or three religious societies, and a population .of about two hundred and fifty to three hundred, Judson had a fine saw mill, two stores, an acad- emy, and some thirty dwellings. Garden City had a good hotel, two mills (the Yankee mill having three riin of stones and capacity for 1,500 bushels daily), two stores, a bank, a pub- lic hall, an armory, a post office, a school house, two religious societies, and a population of about one hundred and seventy. Watonwan had a mill and a good hotel, kept by D. D. Hunter. Vernon had two or three stores, a hotel, post office, two mills, one or two religious societies, and a population of about 100. Shelbyville pos- sessed two miUs, three stores, hotel, postoffice, an M. E. church, and a population of 100, Mapleton had a store and mill, and there were mills at varioTjis other points in the county, and a number of wooden bridges had been con- structed. This is only a birds eye glance over the county and is not intended by any means to cover aU. the industries of any village in detail. Prairie fires were very destructive in the fall at Shelby, Danville and other towns. In July, 1860, Wm. J. Dexter of Davis, Smith and Dex- ter, proprietors of "Bank of Fox Lake, Wis.," and of "Farmers Bank of Garden City, Minn.," opened a bank at Mankato. During this and the previous summer much interest was taken in Minneopa Falls. Artists from St. Paul, St. Anthony, and elsewhere vis- ited it and made pictures of it. Picnic parties from St. Peter, Traverse, Mankato and other points resorted to it. A military company was organized at Win- nebago Agency on Aug. 2, 1859, with Dr. Cole- man as captain and Asa White as first lieu- tenant. Originally there were thirty members which in a month increased to forty-eight. They were equipped with MLonie rifles and all neces- sary accoutrements from the state armory. On Aug. 3rd and 4th Major CuUen came to Man- kato and paid the voli;inteeTS, who had served in the defense of the frontier during the Inkpa- dutah massacre. Dr. Lewis' company received about $12.00 to $13.00 apiece. Congress had appropriated on June 14, 1858, $30,000.00, but $1,163.81 had been used in expenses of in- vestigation of causes of the massacre. The bal- ance was used in paying claims of volunteer expeditions, search for, and ransom of female captives, and loss of property. The aggregate claims reached $46,232.62 and of these $25,- 114.91 were approved by Major CuUen, and were paid pro rata. The home guard com- panies did not receive anything for their ser- vices. On October 7, 1859, was held the flrst fair in our county. The place was the farm of Miner Porter, which adjoined the village of South Bend. Daniel Buck, afterward Judge of Su- preme Court, but then a lawyer and postmaster at South Bend was the orator of the occasion. 102 HISTORY OF BLUB BAETH COUNTY. Messrs. Porter and Buck were rauch. interested in agricultural and horticultural matters and it •vvas mainly through their efforts that the Blue Earth County Agricultural Society was organ- ized, and this year its first fair was gotten up. The fall election of 1859 was very hotly con- tested throughout the state. The fact that the two great parties were about evenly balanced in our commonwealth and were sparring for every ad- vantage preparatory to the Presidential cam- paign, gave to this Minnesota election national interest. Both parties sent into the state their best speakers, a number of whom spoke at Man- kato. On the Eepublican side our people lis- tened to Hon. Frank P. Blair of Missouri, Carl Schurz of Wisconsin, and Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania, and fully equal to these imported orators, were our own. Gen. J. H. Baker and Morton S. Wilkiason. On the Democratic side Gov. A. P. WiUard of Ind., Hon. Chas. H. Larabee of Wis., Gen. James Shields, James M. Cavauaugh, Geo. L. Becker, of Minn., and Mr. lioth of Wis. The Democrats held their county convention at Besser's hall in Garden City. The list of delegates were: Mankato, Louis Stroaker, M. T. Comstock, S. M. Walker, Isaac Marks, James Besser and Clements Kron; Jamestown, T. Sullivan, Solon Webster and J. Meagher; South Bend, Benj. McGiven, Geo. M. Keenan, Wm. Hewitt and S. Farnham; Watonwan, J. Daggett, Jas. A. Wiswell, J. K. Mead and J. K. Capwell; Shelby ville, A. D. Pinkerton, John Dimond and Wash. Kaggerice; Mapleton, Moses Herman, Benjamin Corp and C. T. Francis; Danville, Nick Kremer, J. L. Sampson and Jas. Shoemaker; Judson, David Dackins, T. E. Coul- son and B. Comstock; Butternut Valley, Samuel B. Shaw, Peter McGivney and David P. Davis; Lime, Evans Goodrich, Michael Hund and Hiram J. Fuller; Vernon, Nathan Bass, L. F. True and S. Higbee; Ceresco, John Mitchell, John Porter and A. B. Barney; at large, Daniel Buck and J. Travis Eosser. At the election which occurred Oct. 11, 1859, the Eepublicans were victorious and for the first time elected their entire county ticket. D. C. Evans was chosen State Senator; Henry Stock, Eepresentative; Dan. Tyner, Sheriff; J. B. Hub- bell, Eegister of Deeds; and H. DuBuisson, Treasurer. The total vote of the county was 1,294. In December, 1859, Morton S. Wilkinson was elected to the United States Senate, the first and only resident of Blue Earth County ever chosen to that office. The bar of Blue Earth County, in 1859, contaiued a number of able attorneys. At Man- kato were: Wilkinson & Burt, Willard & Bar- ney, Eosser & Lobdell and Tourtellotte & Pitcher ; South Bend had Daniel Buck and B. Parke Dewey; and Garden City possessed James A. Wiswell and S. B. James. In those days the court met in some public hall at Mankato. Some- times in what was known as "City HaU" and sometimes in a hall in the Leech stone building. In spite of such legal talent the administration of justice had its humorous side in those prima- tive days. It is said on good authority that one of the first boards of County Commissioners tried a divorce case and rendered a judgment therein, before they discovered their want of jurisdiction. Once an assault and battery case was tried before Squire Pfaff of Mankato. The evidence was overwhelming against the defend- ant and his only excuse was that the complain- ing witness had called him a 'liar." After an hour's deliberation the jury brought in the ver- dict "guilty, provided the court will assess the fine at no more than five dollars." The attor- ney for the prosecution objected to that form of verdict and the jury were sent back to correct it, as they had nothing to do with the amount of the fine. After two hours' deliberation they returned into the court with the verdict of "Not Guilty." The complaining witness happened to be a German and the jury were afraid to trust Squire Pfaff as to the fine. A man's wife ran away to St. Peter. The husband went to see a Mankato justice, who promptly issued a writ of replevin, and armed with this legal document the constable brought her home. An attorney told the justice after- wards that he could not replevy a human being, "But" retorted the Justice "I did it." Many interesting reminiscences are told of our pio- neer courts, but we must not further digress. CHAPTER XII. EVENTS OF 1860 AND 1861— BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR AND FIRST EN- LISTMENTS. On January 4, I860, all of town 108 range 35, except south tier of sections, was separated from Jamestown and organized into a town by itself, under the name of Lake. On the same date the town of Mapleton was severed from the town of Sherman and made an independent town, under the name of "Sterling," and the name of the town of Sherman on petition chang- ed to "Mapleton." On the same date, also, it appears that there were 28 school districts in actual existence in the county, in which there were 1,165 pupils. At its session in March, 1860, the Legislature abolished the Board of County Supervisors and went back to the old plan of governing counties by Commissioners. Accordingly, at a special election held ia Blue Earth County on April 3, 1860, the following Commissioners were elected : Chas. Thompson, Chairman; Robert Taylor, W. H. Blackmer, J. M. Mead and R. H. Allen, all Republicans, and on June 6th, 1860, this board divided the county into five commissioner districts as follows : No. 1, Lime, Lake and Jamestown. No. 2, Mankato. No. 3, South Bend, Judson and Butternut Valley. No. 4, Ceresco, Watonwan, Vernon and Fox Lake. No. 5, Shelby, Sterling, Mapleton and Danville. June 5th, 1860, upon motion of Mr. Mead the County Commissioners in order to correct the error ia naming towns 106 and 107 in range 39, named the former "Fox Lake" and the latter "Ceresco" and thus the mistake was legally cor- rected, but as a matter of fact it was never done, for the old blunder continued in the record books of the county and finally prevailed. On June 8, 1860, the town of "Lake" had its name changed to "Tivoli," and on September 5th it was again changed on petition to "Le Ray." The winter of 1859-60 was rather open, ex- cept for a few weeks in the last of December and first part of January. By February the snow was mostly gone and some seeding was done in the latter part of February. On March 10th the rivers were clear of ice. On March 22 d the "Time and Tide" arrived at Mankato and South Bend, as the first boat of the season. As there had not been much snow the water was quite low, and navigation poor all summer. The larger boats could only reach Mankato a few days in April, and again for three or four days in June. A few of the smaller boats, like the "Little Dorrit," "Eloian" and "Albany," were able to ascend the river, except for a short period ia mid summer. The Albany was a new boat this year and built expressly for low water. The old settlers used to say that she only needed a light dew to run. Mr. Cleveland's two barges were, also, kept in constant opera- tion and did good service. A new bridge had been finished during the winter at Vernon, and another by Mr. McCarthy over the Le Sueur. In March a large black bear nearly seven feet in length was killed in South Bend township on the Blue Earth and deer were still very plenty in the woods. The fur trade of those days was a big item and as indicative of the number of wild animals still found ia the county, the one firm of White & Marks, at Mankato, bought and shipped during ten days in April the following furs : 2,150 muskrats, 130 minks, 19 coon, 21 beavers, 16 otters, 2 wolves, total value $750.00. This gives some faint idea of what the fur trade of the whole county would amount to in a whole year. Many a pioneer depended largely on this trade for much of his living. 103 104 HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. The census of 1860 showed the total popu- In the spring of this year the Pikes Peak lation of Blue Earth County to be 4,827, farms gold fever prevailed and a number of persons 491, manufacturing establishments 191. Prom in our county vrere effected. Among these were the census taken June 1st, 1860 the following 1). C. Evans, W. H. Shepard and others. A table regarding the population of Blue Earth few weeks experience worked a complete cure County may be of interest: and all were glad to return. Name of Towns ' No. Dwellings No. Families Males Females Total The Indians aS USUal in those days managed CerescT*.^.^.'!"''. 60 I llo llo 230 *« contribute their share to the exciting events Danville 40 38 90 67 157 of the period. Early in the sprine: a large Fox Lake 18 16 32 37 69 j. j! ii, a- j. • j. ±1 /^i • Jamestown 61 58 120 110 230 '^^^ V^^^J °f ^^ ^^°'^'^ ^ent agamst the Chip- Judson 55 52 132 102 234 peways on the upper Mississippi, and returned Lime 64 61 133 100 233 : ,/ .,, /^ , j , Mankato 404 376 830 731 1561 i^ J^^^y With a few scalps and seventeen lodges' Mapleton 84 81 174 140 314 of them camped where north Mankato now Shelby 75 71 159 157 316 ^ i, j ^ iv, -j. t, j xi_ • South Bend 115 97 238 ■ 214 452 stands, while another band of them pitched their Watonwan 93 93 209 184 393 teepees below Mankato. For several days and Vernon 108 104 24o 237 482 . , , ,, , ,, nights the people at the county seat were regaled Total 1,212 1,137 2,560 2,267 4,827 ^.ith the music of the tom-tom and scalp dance. At Mankato this year Warren's Addition was Early in June a war party of the Chippeways platted, a large stone church was erected by the thirsting for vengeance appeared on . the scene Catholic society, and a number of new stores and a skirmish occurred near South Bend. The and manufacturing enterprises started. In July squaws and papooses when the foe appeared fled of this year (1860) Henry Thoms opened at to the cabins of the settlers for protection like a Mankato the first barbershop in the county. Pro- covey of partridges before the hawk, bably after this the typical hirsute aspect of This year claims for damages resulting from the frontier among us began to disappear. the Inkpadutah war were proved before George About April 1st, the Mankato Hook and Lad- L. Becker as Commissioner and $16,679.97 paid, der Co., was organized at the city hall, — the first Fourth of July celebrations were held in 1860 fire company in the county. Among its first at Mankato, Winnebago Agency, South Bend, officers were: President, Edward E. Parry, Vice Vernon and Butternut Valley. At Mankato Pres. Z. Paddock; Secy., 0. 0. Pitcher; Treas., the program was in charge of the new fire corn- Isaac Marks; Board of Directors, James Shoe- pany, which appeared on the occasion in its maker, William H. Hodgson, W. Wycoff, Jas. B. new uniform of gray shirts, black pantaloons, Hubbell and Edwin Bradley. patent leather belts, and blue cloth caps, trim- In July 1860, the Independent and the med with gold lace and letters. Beside the Pecord were both changed from weekly to fire company, the Mankato Eifle Company under semi weekly papers. In October M. T. C. Capt. Ulman and the Artillery Company under Fowler bought of Capt. Joseph Guenther, the Capt.- Patterson were big features of the parade, building called Union Hall and converted it in- which was in charge of Col. Tourtellotte as to a hotel with the name "Clifton House." Marshall, Fred C. Eoosevelt, as Aid and Dan H. At South Bend the building of a steam grist Tyner as Assistant. Attorney Cramer Burt mill, then the largest in the county, by McCauley delivered the address. At Garden City Daniel and McNamara was the principal event of the Buck and General James H. Baker delivered ad- year. It was completed by October and did a dresses. flourishing business for a time. Miner ■ Porter The public schools of the county were now built on what is now the McConnell farm a well started. Log schoolhouses were the universal summer hotel which he called Minneopa rule in village and country, but soon good work House. It was surrounded with a profusion of was being done in these primitive educational shrubbery, trees and flowers and enclosed by an edifices. There were 1085 children reported in artistic fence with high arching gates. the public schools on the first of the year, be- HISTORY OF BLUB EARTH COUNTY. 105 sides the large number attending private high schools. In June of this year, Ira S. Smith was appointed the first County Superintendent, of schools. In those days there was no home- stead law, and the settlers had made all their claims under the preemption act, which re- quired a payment of $1.35 per acre to the government. In July 1860 the lands in Minne- sota were forced to sale, which meant that every settler must pay for his land within a given time or lose it. This produced conster- nation among all the settlers as all were very poor and interest rates were exorbitant, none less than 12 per cent and much going as high as 25 per cent. On the 24th of July, 1860, the settlers of Blue Earth county met at Mankato in mass convention, to protest against the undue haste of the government in crowding the pay- ment in so unseasonable a time, but it did not avail. The money loaners reaped a rich harvest and the settlers had to grin and bear it though a number of them in the end lost their farms. While the election of M. S. Wilkinson to the U. S. Senate lost to the Bar of the county one of its most brilliant members, the coming to Mankato of Judge Franklin H. Waite in the fall of this year, kept up its reputation. For what the Judge might have lacked in brillian- cy compared to Wilkinson, he more than made up in industry. On October 2nd and 3rd, 1860, the second county fair was held at Garden City. Judge Flandrau was the orator of the occasion. PoHtics this year was at a white heat in Blue Earth County, as elsewhere through the country. Republican clubs, Lincoln, and Wide Awake Clubs, and Democratic and Douglass Clubs were organized everywhere and liberty poles erected. The people were wild with enthusiasm. They argued, debated, orated, sang campaign songs, built log cabins, and carried fence rails on their shoulders. They hoorahed for the "Little Giant" and for "Honest Abe" until their throats were cracked. The Republicans won out in Blue Earth County electing aU their candidates, except the state senator for which oSice S. F. Barmey was chosen with the aid of Le Sueur County. In November of this year the VaUey Stage Co., began with relay of horses, to carry the mail through from St. Paul to Mankato in one day. The river closed on November 23nd, when the first snow fell. Up to this time the weather had been fine and farmers were able to plow. Crops had been fairly good over the county, but prices were very low. Wheat only brought thirty to thirty-five cents per bushel, pork about one to two cents per pound. Owing to the low stage of water the warehouses in South Bend and Man- kato had been left unemptied, and hence buy- ers could not purchase more. The winter was quite severe with a heavy fall of snow, which did not melt until the first week in April. The resulting fioods were the highest for many years. The Jennette Roberts was the first boat on April, 10th, 1861. The report of MaJ. Mix agent of the Winne- bago Indians for the year 1860 showed the total number of red men at this agency to be about 3,106, or nearly 400 families, of the number 706 were females and 878 children. About 200 resided oflE the reservation, mostly in Wisconsin. There were 1,600 acres of land cultivated that year by the Indians, fourteen families of them raised enough wheat and oats .for their own use. There had been 260 cases of small pox among them during the year, forty -three of which had proved fatal. The school at the agency had been in charge of Supt. W. E. Cul- ]en; two interpreters had been employed; 118 pupils enrolled, 62 males and fifty-eight females, F.nd the average attendance was 71 1-2. The branches taught were orthography, reading, writ- ing, arithmetic, geography and grammar. The girls were also taught house work. This gives us a glimpse of Indian Agency life in Blue Earth County. Many of its most prominent features, however, were not incorporated in the report. The number of gallons of whisky con- sumed, the quarrels between themselves, and between them and the whites, the stealing from the Indians by the whites, and from the whites by the Indians, the filth and degradation every- where. In March, 1861, the Winnebago Treaty made in April, 1859, whereby the Indians ceded the west four townships of their reservation and were to be alloted an eighty-acre farm to each family. 106 HISTOEY OF BLUB EARTH COUNTY. was ratified by the senate. General J. H. Baker, Mr. Walcott of Ind. and Mr. Sample of 111., were appointed to make the allotment of the farms, which they did during the summer of this year. It was found that there were 650 persons entitled to farms under the treaty. The num- ber of acres actually assigned to the Indians as farms were 45,787, and there was assigned for the use of the Indians besides 10,800 acres of timber land, and 8,800 acres of prairie. This only took up four townships of their Keser- vation in all and left six townships to be sold to white settlers, four and two thirds of which were located in Blue Earth County. Nothing further was done in the matter, as the delays incident to the distraction of the Civil War, to the objection of the Indians to such a radi- cal change of their ancestral rights and customs, and to the protests of the citizens, who wanted the Indians removed all together, postponed action until the great Sioux outbreak of the next year necessitated the abrogation of the whole treaty. During 1861 the agent's report showed the num- ber of acres cultivated by the Winnebagoes to have been 675; 300 plowed by the department and 475 by the Indians. One hundred and twelve acres were in wheat, forty-nine in oats, 440 acres in corn, twenty-two in potatoes and forty acres in beans. There were 129 pupils in the Indian schools. The election of Lincoln and the consequent change of administration, called forth a wild scramble for office among the Eepublicans. D. C. Evans was a candidate for the position of Agent of the Winnebagoes. Being a Blue Earth County man, where the Agency was located, and having, as State Senator, done valiant service for Senator Wilkinson, he was supposed to have the inside track, but he and all the other candidates from this county were doomed to disappointment, and St. A. D. Balcombe of Winona was appoint- ed. Dr. M. R. Wickersham was made Indian physician. J. B. Hubbell, also, succeeded Henry Poster as trader at the Agency. Mr. Poster, however, removed his store into Mankato town, just outside the Agency limits, where he con- tinued in business until the departure of the Indians. In April, 1861, Eev. John Kerns the pioneer M. B. preacher of the county was ap- pointed receiver of the U. S. Land office at St. Peter. The question of removing the county seat from Mankato to Garden City began to be agi- tated by some of the citizens of the latter place and a bill introduced in the Legislature this year to that effect, but it failed of passage. The firing on Pt. Sumpter, which heralded the beginning of the Civil War, created a profound sensation in Blue Earth County as elsewhere. On April 14, 1861, the steamboat Pavorite pass- ed down the river, with 80 officers and men of the regular army under Major Pemberton from Pt. Eidgely, whence they had been ordered south to help quell the rebellion. They were nearly all southern men and during the short time the boat stopped at Mankato, the people were greatlj disgusted with their outspoken secession senti- ments. The government paid the Pavorite $3,- 500.00 for transporting these secessionists to La Crosse, and as much more to carry them thence tc Washington, and then, almost to a man, they went into the Confederate army, and Major Pemberton became the noted rebel general of that name. On April 23, 1861, a company was enlisted at Mankato with N. W. Dickerson as Captain, Chas. Reynolds as first Lieutenant and J. E. Beatty as second Lieutenant. Sargeants, 1st, B. P. Dewey, 3nd, Thos. Quayle, 3rd, Daniel Ha- zen, 4th S. D. Parsons; Corporals, 1st, H. W. Lambert, 2nd, William H. Fleining, 3rd B. P. Williams, 4th, L. N. Holmes, Bugler, Ben M. Hazen. Capt. James Cannon who had belonged to tlie militia in New York acted as drilling officer. $1,000.00 was raised by subscription for the families of the volunteers. It only took three days to raise the company. About seventy-five of the men were from Mankato -and the re- maining 25 came from Garden City and Shelby. The evening before the departure of the com- pany for Port Snelling a public meeting was held at Masonic Hall, Mankato, to bid the boys God speed, and the ladies presented them with a large new flag. The next morning (July 4th, 1861) the company formed in line in front of the Leech building, and thence marched up HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. 107 Front street to the City Hall which stood about where the Hodson & Davy implement store is now located where they were met by a big pro- cession of Sabbath school children and a great crowd of men and women. Preceded by the band and the children in marching order, they were escorted on their way to Fort Snelling as far as where the Franklin school now stands. Here the children formed open ranks and sang while the soldiers led by Capt. Dickerson mar- ched between them. A few parting words from the good old pastor, Eev. Thompson, closing with a prayer. A neat copy of the Bible was handed to each soldier. Then came the final parting with many tears from father, mother, sister, brother, sweetheart, wife, children and friends and the brave boys in blue were off to the war, many of them never to return. This is but typical of thousands of similar scenes all over the land in those trying days of the great Civil War. We of today hardly imagine the terrible reality of those trying days. This first contingent for our great war failed to get into the first Minnesota regiment, as a company, but a number of individuals en- listed in it by joining other companies. Others entered the service later. Next day (April 16th) the Fanny Harris arrived from Fort Eidgely with Major Thos. W. Sherman and a portion of his command, the balance having gone on foot across to St. Peter. They were also, bound for southern battle fields. On April 26th the Favorite passed down the river with a company of Artillery in com- mand of Maj. Morris on their way to the seat of waf. Hardly 30 men were now left at Port Bidgely. Perhaps the first to enlist from the county was Ed. E. Parry who, on May 11, 1861, was commissioned 1st Lieutenant in 11th Regiment, Regular Army. George Evans of Gar- den City was -probably the first to enlist as a vol- unteer. He happened to be back in Boston on a visit when the war broke out and at once joined the 1st Massachusetts. At Mankato the stars and stripes was hoisted over both the Democratic and Eepublican head- quarters, and in every village through the county Union poles were raised with old glory flying from their tops. Everywhere Democrats and Republicans, men and women were fired with patriotic zeal for the union. In September a volunteer cavalry company under Capt. B. F. Smith, which had been re- cruited at Vernon, Garden City and Shelby, tendered its services to the g(Jvernor. This com- pany had been organized in the Armory at Garden City about the middle of May, 1861, as a home guard. Thirty-seven members were en- rolled at the first meeting and the following offi- cers chosen: Captain B. F. Smith, 1st Lieut. Dr. J. W. B. Welcome, 2nd Lieut. Nathan Bass; 3rd Lieut. W. H. MiUer of Shelby; Ensign J. A. Reed, 1st Sargeant, Edson Gary, 2nd Sar- gent, Marshall T. Fall; 3rd Sargeant, M. T. Walbridge, 4th Sargent, T. S. Hayes; 1st cor- poral, David Hamlin, 2nd Corporal John A. Darling; 3rd Corporal B. A. Cooper; 4th Cor- poral E. B. Evans; Bugler George Harriman; Secretary William H. Hills. About the first of June they received fifty sabers, belts, holsters, pistols, etc., from the state arsenal and spent much time in drilling. At Garden City there had been a flourishing militia company since the Inkpadutah war. Its captain at this time was one Rice. On September 28th Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Ray in behalf of the ladies of Garden City presented this com- pany with a fine silk flag in anticipation that their proffered service to their country would soon be accepted. On June 15, 1861, a war meeting was held at Shelbyville and another military company or- ganized, the officers of which were Captain H. W. Oilman, 1st Lieut. W. H. Blackmer ; 2nd Lieut. A. Miller; 3rd. Lieut. Daniel Fagen; and Orderly Sargent E. S. Knowles. On June 3rd, 1861 the first session of the U. S. Court was held at Mankato in the Masonic Hall. J. R. Cleveland was appointed its first U. S. Marshall. Besides the furs he captured the pioneer had another important source of revenue in the gin- seng root. The women and children claimed the right to this branch of industry fully more than the men. In those good old days it was no uncommon sight in the proper season of the year, to see bands of women and children with h"^ tied over their shoulders and armed with 108 HISTOSY OF BLUE EAUTH COUNTY. hoes, roaming the forests in quest of the Chin- efe drug. In 1860, 83,000 pounds were gath- ered in Blue Earth county, which at eight cents per pound netted the gatherers $6,640. The steamboat trade of the year was excel- lent. The Minnesota Packet Company put upon the river two of the largest boats that had yet navigated it, "The City Belle" and "The Fanny Harris." Among the other boats of this season were the Jennette Eoberts, Favorite, ' Eolian, Al- bany and Frank Steel. As indicating the progress of the country in horticulture it may be noted that Kobert Good- year, the principal gardener of that day had from 12,000 to 15,000 standard apple trees. The County Fair this year was held at South Bend. In the early part of the winter McCauley and McNainara leased their South Bend grist mill to a Mr. Pugh of Wisconsin, and took a lease short- ly afterwards from the "West Mankato Com- pany" of the steam saw mill owned by them and located near the Blue Earth river bridge. The great Civil War was now on in earnest and the music of the fife and drum resounded from one end of the country to the other. The fathers and the sons were enlisting and the moth- ers and daughters were busy day and night fit- ting out the soldiers with hundreds of things required for their army life". The whole land was ablaze with patriotism. The flag was every- where in evidence. Half the men you met were dressed in uniforms. Squads of men were drill- ing in every village street, and every country crossroad. Even the school children were in- fected with the war spirit and everywhere played soldiers. The men of Col. B. F. Smith's Cavalry Com- pany from Vernon were mustered in on Nov. 8th, 1861. Col. Smith himself was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd regiment. Wil- liam Smith was chosen 1st Lieutenant and Na- than Bass 2nd Lieutenant. At Mankato J. B. Tourtellotte raised another company, called the "Valley Shooters." The winter of 1861-2 was quite severe with much snow. Between February 28th and March 3rd, one of the heaviest snow storms in the history of the country occurred and the land was buried beneath mountain drifts. It took days for companies of men with ox teams, snow plows and shovels to open the roads for travel. The middle of April 1863 saw in every river a tremendous flood, and the bridges all over the county were swept away. The government bridge over the Blue Earth at Mankato was among the rest, and no bridge was left on this river in the county. The bridges on the Watonwan suf- fered nearly as bad. The bridge over the Le Sueur on the Agency road, which Mr. Mc- Carty had mostly built at his own expense, was swept away. The bridges in Butternut Val- ley, Shelby and Sterling were mostly destroyed. The mills of the county, also, suffered severely. The mill of Seward & Co., in Mankato, was in water to the roof. The Butterfield mill was swept away bodily, with the warehouses, wheat and flour. All the mills were greatly damaged. Lyman B. Stillson of Shelbyville, whose home was on the river bank, attempted to escape in a small boat with his wife and four children. When in mid stream the boat was capsized by the swift current and three of the children were drowned, and the father and mother and little babe barely escaped. Another incident, which might have resulted tragically, but which in fact had a ludicrous ending, happened in the same locality a few days later. It illustrates how close together some times the comical and serious events of our life come. A gentleman of Shelby attempted to cross the Blue Earth River during this flood in a dug out. When half way over J;he boat upset and the man swam to some willows, whose tops emerged a few feet above the raging waters. Despairing of help he divested himself of his boots and all his clothing and hung each gar- ment on the clump of willows. In the pocket of his pataloons was $25.00 in gold. He then swam to the bank of the river opposite from his home, as it was the most convenient and he hoped to find a boat there not far off. He had barely gotten to shore and was expelling the water from his nose, eyes and ears when down the river came a monster log and made straight for that willow bush on which hung out friend's apparel and his $25.00, and in a few seconds the bush, clothes, money, boots and all disappeared before his eyes with HISTOEY OP BLUE BAETH COUNTY. 109 the current. No boat could be found, and nei- May 27, 1862, the ladies of Mankato or- ther the cold water nor the cold air were specially ganized a soldiers Aid society, with Mrs. Judge congenial to our friend in his Adam-like cos- Waite as president, Mrs. H. Fowler, Vice Presi- tume. He finally managed to reach a settler's dent, Mrs. J. E. Cleveland, See}', and j\rrs. C. cabin and explained his embarrassing predica- A. Chapman, Treasurer. On June 5th this so- ment. Here he obtained some clothing and ciety elected permanent officers as follows: Presi- help to reach his home. ' dent, Mrs. D. H. Tyner; Vice Pres., Mrs. A. D. The first boat to reach Mankato this year Seward, Secy, Mrs. W. L. Coon, Treas. Mrs. was the Albany on April 13. There was a C. A. Chapman. Good work was done by it good stage of water nearly all summer and the to help the soldiers. On July 1, 1862, boats were kept busy. The arrivals at Mankato the first daily stage between Winona and Man- were, as follows: kato was started by the Burbanks Company. From Below ^* ^°°^ ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^° ^^^^ ^^® *^^P' ^^ Favorite 9 July 1863 we note that from Mankato the mail SieEoberts-:::::::::::::::::::::::;:::::;:: Is left for winona and aiso for st. Paui every Clara Hine 8 week day at 4 A. M. ; for Blue Earth City and Ari^r"'' 2 intermediate points three times a week at 6 G. H. Wilson 1 A. M., and for New Ulm once a week. Pour „ , J gg horse stages were used on the main routes. _ ' ' There were two or three other routes in the J^rom above: Jennette Roberts 8 co™ty, starting from other points. Favorite 1 On July 4, 1862 a big celebration was held Clara'^Hine '.'.'.'.'..'.'....'................... 1 ^^ ^^^ village of Judson. Cannon boomed, Pomeroy 1 processions of children and old people marched. J, + J 12 -A picnic dinner and addresses from Eevs. Stine, „ , , . 1 ■ ■, , T. S. Gunn and Jenkin Jenkins were the main- Period 'of navigation April 13 to July 20. P^^-^? °^ ^^^ program. As indicating the speed of the boats it is At Point Independence on Lake Lura in noted, that the Pavorite made the trip from Sterling another big celebration was held with St. Paul to Mankato in 19 hours including music and orations, and a big picnic dinner stoppages, and returned in twelve hours. Com- served by the ladies of Sterling and Mapleton petition between the boats cut the passenger to some five hundred people. At Tivoli Hon. rate to St. Paul to fifty cents for a few days J- J- Thornton spoke to an immense crowd and in June. By July over 62,000 bushels of a dinner was served. At Mankato Eev. Smith wheat was carried by them from Mankato orated. The Saxhorn band and the Sunday alone. The usual rate was five cents per bushel. School children were features of the parade. The passage of the Homestead Act greatly The patriotic spirit was intense in the land in stimulated immigration to our county in spite those days of the great war. During the latter of the drain of the Civil war. In June of this part of July and the first part of August, 1862, year a great many settlers located in Danville, there was great activity in fevery tovni in the ' Mapleton, Sterling, Ceresco, Lincoln and But- county to recruit men for the war to fill the ternut Valley. About seventy homestead loca- quotas called for by the government. T. S. tions were made on Willow Creek in our county Slaughter, Jerome Dane, John E. Eoberts, Gen- during the spring and summer. eral James H. Baker and many others were In April, 1862, Henry Shaubut, J. C. Eausch holding war meeitings in nearly every school and Col. S. D. Shaw were appointed to appraise house and church in the county, and hundreds the school lands of the county, which duty they of men were enlisted for the 7th, 8th and 9th performed during the summer. Minnesota regiments. CHAPTER XIII. THE GEEAT SIOIJX MASSACEE OP 1862- THB MANKATO AND SOUTH BEND COMPANIES AT NEW TJLM. On August 15th 1862 most of the re- cruits from Blue Earth County left their place of rendezvous, Mankato, for Ft. Snelling. So en- grossed were the people everywhere in the great war that they never thought of any peril at their own doors. They did not realize, when the soldiers, and the able bodied men of every community and all the implements of war, were being sent to the southland to save the Union, that they were leaving their own homes defenseless in the presence of a terrible danger. The Sioux Indians had been rest- less for some time. The encroachments of civil- ization on barbarism is ever attended with fric- tion. To see their lands being appropriated by the whites and themselves being driven out naturally stirred up their envy and hatred. Then the advantages which a stronger race is sure to take of the weaker one fell to their lot in the greed and dishonesty of the trader, the whisky vendor, and the gambler. Then the government did not live up to its promises, so that the Indian was not receiving the annui- ties due him, partly through the dishonesty of have been taken away, to wreck their vengeance, regain their ancestral home, and reap a wonder- ful booty, (for to the Indian the abodes of the whites were full of good things). Under the circumstances it needed but a spark to cause explosion, and on August 17th, 1862, that was furnished. Half a dozen hot headed young bucks, while at Acton, Meeker county got into a quarrel with a whisky trader and shot him and two or three of his family and returned that night to their relatives and friends on the agency. A hurried council of the lower Sioux bands was called at midnight, and early next morning the awful massacre began. Before noon the small village of government officials and traders designated the "Lower Agency," had been sacked and burned and its inhabi- tants butchered, and Captain Marsh with half the little Et. Eidgely garrison had been anni- hilated in an ambush, and before the sun had set on that awful day the carnage had spread over the country for many miles. The story of the massacre is not within the scope of this history except in so far as the agents, and partly through careless delays. The same pertains to Blue Earth County, payment due the Sioux in June 1862 had not The first news of the outbreak reached New been received on August 18th and the delav Ulm a little after the noon hour through some had caused the Indians great suffering and refugees. William W. Paddock happened to be hardships. With hundreds of ugly savages, there at the time and, finding a Erenchman whose chief glory was war, massed upon an going to St. Paul with an extra pony, he rode agency, all armed with guns and ammunition, with him as far as Nicollet, thence walked to to the use of which they had been trained from the farm of Evan Bowen, afterwards sheriff their youth, ill disposed towards the whites and of our county. Mr. Bowen hitched his team with an opportunity now, that all defenses to a wagon and drove Mr. Paddock through 111 112 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. .Tudson and South Bend to Mankato with the first report. The news was so startling that many at iirst would not believe it. Then there had been so many false rumors of Indian out- breaks that people were the more skeptical. Soon after Mr. Paddock had brought the re- port to Mankato the fire bell was rung and a public meeting was held to discuss the situa- tion. When the ISTew Ulm people realized from the fleeing settlers the reality and extent of the massacre, they dispatched three of their citi- zens in a light wagon to Mankato for help, where they arrived late in the evening, and made their report to the meeting. As many still doubted for want of definite information, it was decided to send five or six men to New Ulm to learn more of the particulars. Samuel Tate and- three or four others started soon after midnight. At day break James Shoe- maker and Dr. McMahan followed in a buggy. When the latter had gone just beyond Crisp's store in Judson, they saw some persons on horse- back coming toward them at full gallop and waving their arms. Fearing they might, be Indians Mr. Shoemaker and the doctor turned back and drove at full speed , to Crisp's store. The party proved to be Sam Tate and his com- panions. Near the Big Cottonwood they had met some refugees who had told them harrow- ing tales of what they had just seen and that the Indians were coming close at, hand killing and burning , all before them. Mr. Tate and his companions, were panic stricken, and were re- turning to Mankato as fast as their horses could take them. . A company had been partially recruited Monday .night at Mankato, Tuesday as one report after another reached our county seat, bringing more and more details of the dreadful tragedy, the people became thoroughly scared and began to realize how desperate the situation was. All labor ceased and. the anxiety was in- tense. Men and women gathered in groups to discuss the awful situation and to hear the latest loports. This was so all over the county. The farmers deserted their harvest fields and gathered, with their families into some one cabin in the neighborhood for protection, others hurried, to tlie nearest village to learn the latest news. At Mankato the day was spent in recruiting men for the company to send to the aid of New Ulm, and in gathering guns and ammunition. In the' evening another mass meeting was held at Higgins Hall and the organization of the volunteer company perfected. The momentous question was whether this company should go to New Ulm or stay to protect Mankato. Many advocated the latter course, claiming that their first duty was to protect their own families. The Winnebagoes were close to their doors and Tv^ere holding war dances and on the point of joining the Sioux in the outbreak. Every hour ^\■as bringing fresh rumors of the strange be- ll a\'ior of this tribe. Then there was noth- ing to prevent the . Sioux from passing by New Ulm after getting the armed men shut in there, and fall upon the defenseless women aijd children of Mankato and South Bend. On the other hand B. P. Freeman, John F. Meagher, William Bierbauer and others argued, that if all the towns simply attempted to withstand ihe Indians singly, they would be attacked one by one, and all would perish. That singly no town could stand such a force, and that thb only way the whites could hope to check the onslaught of the savages was to mass their strength against them, and that New Ulm, as the first frontier town, was logically the strate- gic point,, which the whites must hold . at any cost. Fortunately for our county and the state the latter argument prevailed, and the majority voted to proceed next morning to New Ubn. It was determined to start at four o'clock in the morning, but about midnight the mill of Seward & Co. took fire. The clang of the fire bell frightened the people greatly for every- body thought that the Indians had come. The men rushed for their guns, the women- and children cried in their terror and, even when it was discovered that the alarm was due to the mill being on fire, the people were afraid to go to it, suspecting that the fire had been set by the Indians as a ruse to draw them away from their homes into an ambush. So the mill burned to the ground with out much effort having been made to save it. There was not much sleep that night and by morning many of the people were too exhausted to take the oE> M flpT-STfoiv &c e-t oo U. HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 113 early start for New Ulm, and some, because of the pleadings of their terrified families, gave up going. Capt. Bierbauer and most of the company started soon after daybreak. Two or three hours later John F. Meaghsr, 0. 0. Pit- cher and others followed, riding as far as South Bend with the three New Ulm delegates, who had come for help the day before, and thence to New Ulm in a wagon with Morris Lewis of Cambria. The roster of the Mankato com- pany was as follows: Wm. Bierbauer, captain. John F. Meagher, first lieutenant. Henry Ruegg, second lieutenant. James Shoemaker, commissary sergeant. J. C. Haup, orderly sergeant. Henry Vahle, second orderly sergeant. Samuel D. ShaWj third sergeant. Leonard Johnson, fourth sergeant. Chas. Heilborn, first corporal. E. P. Freeman, second corporal. Petei Krost, third corporal. Benjamin Stannard, fourth corporal. James R. McMahan, surgeon. Privates : Andrews, George. Andrews, W. T. Andrus, Truman F. Andrews, F. M. Ash, F. M. Ash, Rev. J. R. Burgess, J. C. Bennett, Chas. Burns, Patrick. Bigler, Jacob. Bierbauer, Jacob. Blatt, Philip. Bandy, T. B. Bowles, James. Clough, M. Cheney, W. H. Cheney, B. F. Cheney, John W. Canfield, David A. Collins, A. M. Coffin, B. Y. Chilos, John C. Dole, Benedict. Davis, Thos. Y. Fassatt, John. Freundle, Adam. Fitterer, Theodore. Godfried, Chester. Gray, George. Haas, Joseph. Heinze, Chas. Houghton, Newell E. Hamlin, Micheal. Hunt, C. N. Jefferson, Adam. Jones, John C. Judge, H. L. Koek, E. J. iCron, Clements. T.auer, Wm. Lilley, Geo. Long, Wm. Lee, Lars. McMurtie. Hugh. Jlorris, Wm. Moser, Frank. Mycue, Elijah J. ISTicholson, John. Nicholson, Wm. A, Oberle, Xavier. Osterwald, H. Power, John. Pfaff, Peter. PhilippSj Anton. Porter, Geo. W. Porter, C. L. Porter, Dan. W. Plushy, John. Patches, David. Roberts, Geo. A. Reif, Emanuel. Roos, George. Roos, Chris.- Reiger, Thos. Rockey, W. fl. Soleate, Geo. Smith, Rev. A. G. Shaw. C. B. Shields, John. Tyler, Aaron. Tonner, Sarvais. Taylor, S. B. Tyner, Daniel H. Trask, J. W. T^lman, Peter. \'pigel, Chas. ^'an Patten, Alfred S. \\ agoner, Oscar F. Wiscaver. John. Wood, Alexander. White, Asa. Wigley, Richard. Many of above did not join the company un- til they reached New Ulm. Nearly all such were from elsewhere in the county than Man- kato, and some were members of the South Bend company, who had stayed at New Ulm, v,hen their company left, and then joined the Mankato company. A few members of the Mankato company returned with the South Bend company before the battle and their names dropped from the roll. Of this number were Henry Shaubut and 0. 0. Pitcher; others, like Father Sommereizen never joined. The good priest remained during the whole seige minis- tering the consolations of religion to the sick, the wounded, the dying, and the bereaved. Another company \\as formed at South Bend, which on this same Wednesday (Aug. 20) fol- lowed the Mankato company to New Ulm. The roster of this company has been lost and we can only give a partial list of its members, from the memory of two or three survivors. John Zimmerman, captain. D. C. Evans, first lieutenant. Jehile Cheney, second lieutenant. Some other members : Daniel Buck. John R. Roberts. Wm. J. Thomas. Ehen P. Davis. Wm. Jones. Hugh H. Edwards. Paul Eckstrom. Wm. J. :\IcCauley. jMiner Porter. David P. Davis. Edwin Parnell. John S. Davis. George Gilley. Joshua Wigley. Herman Hegle. John C. Jones. David T. Davis. John S. Jones. Hugh Edwards. J. W. Trask. Peterson. •T. Fessemeyer. Morris Lewis. Lewis D. Lewis. Lars Lee. Owen Edwards. Sleepier. Wm. D. Jones. David S. Davis. Samuel Foster. Rben P. Davis. Jonas Mohr. Chas. Tidland. Richard Wigley. Wm. R. Lewis. Wm. E. Davis. James Morgan. J. W. Trask. Alfred S. Van Patten. David Thomas. Edward Dackins. Benton T. Foster. David P. Davis, Jr. Wm. J. Jones. William Edwards. Richard Thomas. Peter Bandy. Wm. P. Jones. David J. Davies, Jr. Rev. Jenkin Jenkins. James Edwards. Seventy-three men in all. Many of above wore not residents of South Bend but joined the company in Cambria and at New Ulm, hav- ing gone there independently. The arrival of these two companies with two other large companies, one from St. Peter and 114 HISTOEY OP BLUB BAETH COUNTY. the other from Le Sueur, besides a large number of others, who came singly and in small groups from Blue Earth, Brown and Nicollet Counties gave New Ulm an army of three hundred and fifty to four hundred armed men, who under the generalship of Judge Plandrau, were sys- tematically disposed so as to make an efEective defense of the town. A few Indians had attacked the town Tues- day afternoon, but luckily Sheriff Boardman of Nicollet County with sixteen well armed follow- ers arrived just in time to help the New Ulm people repulse this first attack. The main at- tack was now expected every liour, but did not come, and the delay puzzled the whites. The South Bend company became uneasy for fear that the Indians had passed by New Ulm and, having formed a junction with the Winnebagoes, were now perhaps butchering their women and children, whom they had left at home almost defenseless. They accordingly on .Thursday afternoon returned home. The Mankato, St. Peter and Le Sueur companies remained and at last on Saturday (Aug. 23rd) the critical point in the Sioux war was reached. Heretofore most of Little Crow's army had been scattered over the country, killing and plundering the settlers. But at last all west of New Ulm had been completely devastated and Little Crow was able to concentrate his warriors into an army four or five hundred strong, and march them against the fii-st important village of the pale face. Could he take it, was the crucial question of that day, upon the answer to which depended ^he fate of most of the valley below. The battle began soon after 9 o'clock in the forenoon and raged all day until nightfall. The whites had concentrated their entire force within the four center blocks of town, building barricades ac- cross the streets and alleys with lumber, wood and boxes, while all the buildings outside ihis fortification, 192 in all, had been burned by the Indians or the whites. From first to last the Mankato company rendered efficient service. Time and again they repulsed the charges inade by the savage foe. In one of these onsets Newell Houghton of Winnebago Agency was kill- ed. Wm. Nickolson of Cambria was, also, killed and Benton T. Foster of Judson was mortally woujided, and died two days later. Among the iyounded were: Geo. Andrews, F. M. Andrews, Patrick Burns, Adam Freundle, Theodore Fit- tt-rer, and John Fassatt. Discouraged by their many repulses and find- ing the whites better fortified than ever, and fearning from their scouts that there was a great army under General Sibley coming against them, the Indians raised the seige Sunday mom- ing and retreated up the valley. The whites at first were puzzled by this move on the part of the savages and thought it might be a merf ruse to draw them away from their fortifica- tions. Let us now return to Blue Earth county. On Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 19th and 20th) the farmers all over the county abandoned their partly harvested fields, their stock and their homes and fled with their families to South Bend, Mankato, Garden City, Vernon or Shelbyville, "Puring the week a few of the armed men with guns, would steal back home to look after the stock or to get some food or cloth- ing for the family. Otherwise the whole country was deserted and the villages were crowded with refugees. In some cases a neighborhood of a dozen families would crowd themselves into one little log cabin. At South Bend rude barricades v/ere constructed about the center of town and the stone grist mill, the hotel, and every other building packed with the families of the fleeing settlers. The men were all pressed into service as guards and armed with such weapons as could be found. Those without guns were provided with axes or s.cythes. At Garden City, Vernon and Shelbyville companies of home guards were formed and means taken for de- fense. At Garden City a meeting was called the Tuesday morning after the outbreak and it was determined to send a squad of ten mounted vol- unteers to New Ulm to ascertain the truth about the matter. The party consisted of Bd. Potter, who was made captain, L. S. Terry, Sherman Finch, C. C. Wasburn, Bliphalet Smith, and five others. They reached New Ulm late that aft- ernoon just after the first attack on the town. The sight of the many mutilated dead, seven- teen in one room, brought in from the country, convinced them of the seriousness of the situ- HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 115 ation. The village was in the wildest ■ excite- ment all night. In the morning the guards would not permit our party to leave town. After consulting with those in authority two of their number were finally permitted to carry back the report to Garden City, but they were not oven permitted an escort across the Big Cotton- wood. Messrs. Terry and Smith were the two chosen for the dangerous mission. They reached Garden City by noon and the report they brought of what they had seen and heard in- duced many of the people of Garden City, Vernon and Shelby ville to leave the country. On Saturday, Aug. 23rd, the smoke of the burning buildings at Xew Ulm could be plain- ly seen miles away, and everybody thought the town had been taken and was being burned by the Indians. This created a panic at Garden City, and elsewhere and the main retreat be- gan. The place of rendezvous was on the site of Old Mapleton where a great camp was formed of all the people in the south half of the county. They did not all get to the rendezvous at once, but the people of one neighborhood would first flee in the morning to that next to them on the east or south, while those to the west and north would occupy their deserted homes by night. On Tuesday, Aug. 19th, a company had been recruited from Garden City, Vernon, Shelby- ville and Winnebago City, of which H. W. Holly of the latter place was made Captain and Dr. Welcome of Garden City Ist Lieutenant. M. B. Eaynes and Noble G. Boot of Vernon were mem- bers, but we have not been able to learn the names of the others. Each provided himself with a gun of some sort and a horse and all met on Wed- nesday at Winnebago City. Thence they started early the next morning upon a scouting expedi- tion to the west camping the first night in the vicinity of the present village of Sherburne, turning thence nortlicast they reached Madelia Friday night, where the people had built a good stockade. Next day they saw the smoke of the burning of New Ulm. By the time they reached Garden City they found it entirely de- serted. Passing on to Vernon they found its inhabi- tants gone but the rearmost portion of the Garden City refugees had taken their place and were occupying their homes. Many of the peo- ple did not stop at the big gathering place at Old Mapleton but passed on, some to Albert Lea, some to Owatonna, and others to Iowa and Wis- consin. The great bulk of the inhabitants how- ever, did not go further than this rendezvous. A stirring and picturesque scene was this great camp, especially towards evening. The wagons had been arranged in a great circle and inside big camp fires were built for cooking and warmth around Avhich were congregated the men, women and children. The great herds of cattle belonging to many households, agitated by the strange surroundings, kept up a constant bellow- ing. The news of the evacuation of New Ulm came nearly creating a panic among our refu-. gees. A meeting of the men was held at which the question of fieeing the country was warmly discussed. Finally MaJ. E. P. Evans volunteered to drive to Mankato, learn the exact situaition and bring back report at once. This was done, and the ^Major's report was so favorable, (the Indians had retreated from New Ulm ; Sibley with a big army was at St. Peter starting west against the foe; Dane's company was stationed at Lake Crystal;) that most of the settlers returned to their homes. At Mankato every man was mustered into service and pickets kept stationed around the town in every direction. The three story stone' liuildings of Leech and White and' Marks were well fortified by nailing four inch oak planks over the windows and cutting loop holes for shooting, barricades were built across the streets and along the levee with cordwood, salt barrels, dvygoods boxes, logs and planks. On Friday afternoon (Aug. 23) company E of the 9th Minnesota, 108 men, who had left Mankato just one week before to enlist at Ft. Snelling, returned. They had sealed order, which when opened directed them to seize at once all the horses they needed from the people. This they did and there was a lively time between them and all owners of horseflesh that afternoon. Hon. T. M. Pugh nf South Bend was driving down Front street in a buggy behind a fine horse and his best girl was sitting beside him. Jim Hoosier and two or three other soldier boys 116 HISTOEY OP BLUB EAETH COUNTY. he knew stepped out into the street to greet him, and before Mr. Pugh realized what was up, the horse was slipped out of its harness and gone before his astonished gaze, while he still sat in the buggy holding the lines. Some managed to hide their horses in the woods and brush, but the soldiers soon found enough to supply their need. Their -orders, also, directed them to take all the food, feed, and other things necessary and give the owners receipts therefore. This was a military necessity as the company had been rushed back without any supplies. As it was rumored that the Indians were burn- ing houses west of Lake Crystal, Lieut. Eoberts and forty-eight mounted men were dispatched thither that afternoon. They camped in a va- • cant house on the south shore of the lake for three or four days. On this same Saturday occurred as we have seen the battle of Kew Ulm. In the afternoon the smoke of the burning town could be seen from the northwest portion of the County, and by night the glare of the fire against the sky was plainly visible from South Bend, Mankato and even St. Clair and Mapleton. It created consternation everywhere for it was supposed that the Indians had captured the town and were burning it. It was a night that our old settlers will never forget. The excitement, the terror and the grief beggars description, for al- most every family had some relative or friend among the defenders of iSTew Ulm, and every- body expected the savage horde would attack them before morning. At the Winnebago Agency the excitement among the Indians and the whites had been intense since the outbreak occurred. A number of the Winnebagoes with Little Priest, one of their chiefs, were visiting the Sioux, when the massacre started, and there was strong suspicion that they took some hand in it. They returned Wednesday morning and were chased through Cambria and Butternut Valley by Wm. E. Lew- is, Lewis D. Lewis, James Morgan and one or two others, but finally reached the Agency that day, and greatly added to the agitation by their re- ports. Secret councils were held almost con- tinually to which no white men were admitted. Some of the older chiefs, who had friends among the whites, advised them to send their families away, as the young men were strongly inclined TO Join the Sioux. Everything boded mischief. They had organized a Soldier Lodge, which met in a large wigwam ma4e of mats weaved from rushes. Meetings were held here almost con- stantly, and none of the whites or half breeds were permitted to enter. The traders, Messrs. Hubbell and Hawley, on Thursday moming, upon the advise, of chief Baptiste, sent their families to Owatonna. On Friday, Aug. 32nd, Mr. Hubbell was dispatched by Mr. Balcombe, llie agent, to Wilton to get a company of citi- zens to come to the agency to help keep the peace. Col. Ide and a few others drove back at once with Mr. Hubbell. Others followed next morning until a company of forty or fifty were gathered there which had some quieting ef- fect on the Indians. Soon after the evacuation of New Ulm Capt. Edgerton arrived at the Agency with a large company of volunteers and the Wilton men returned home. Most of the Winne- bago chiefs and headmen, such as Baptiste, Big Bear, Co-No-Hutta-Kaw, Little Decoria, Tall Decoria, Young Frenchman and others remained faithful to the whites, but some of the chiefs, like Little Priest, Winneshiek, and Short Wing and a large number of young bucks were strong- ly inclined to join the Sioux, and undoubtedly would have done so, had the latter been success- ful at Few Ulm. On Sunday, Aug. 24th, Mankato and South Bend were put under marshall law, with Depu- ty U. S. Marshall G. K. Cleveland in command, assisted by A. N. Dukes and J. J. Porter as deputies. To stop the men from running away and leaving the country defenseless, no one was permitted to pass the guard line without a pass. F^our, meat, cattle, potatoes and all food com- modities were seized where ever found without pay to feed the people. The right of private property had to give way before the right of public necessity. The same Sunday morning (Aug. 24) Lieut. Eoberts dispatched James Hoosier, at his own request, to learn the condition of things at New Ulm. He arrived there safely just after the departure of the Indians. A company of seven- ty-four men from St. Peter, under Capt. E. St. HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 117 Julian Cox, and another company of forty-eight men from Henderson, under Lieut. Adam Buck arrived there, also, about noon. As there were only four blocks of the town left in which to shelter about 2,000 people, and the food supply was almost exhausted, it was determined to evac- uate the place next morning and take the peo- ple to South Bend and Mankato, where they could be fed and have more room. Hon. H. A. Swift and Mr. Ackerman of St. Peter arrived at Mankato at noon with the first message of the evacuation. They were soon followed by l)r. McMahan, who had been dispatched ahead to prepare a place for the fifty-two wounded persons from New Ulm. With the aid of A. N. Dukes and C. K. Cleveland the American House was secured for a hospital and hastily put in order for the purpose. All the people at New Ulm were notified Sunday afternoon to be ready by next morning to start for Mankato. Every team in town was put in requisition. Contrary to instructions the people piled all manner of household goods into the wagons, until there was no room for half the women and children, consequently the officers in charge were obliged next morning to dump from the wag- ons trunks, feather beds, furniture and all manner of goods into the street to make room for the sick, the wounded and those who could not walk. The road for two or three miles out of town was strewn with household effects thrown from the overloaded wagons. Before the expedition started all the stores were thrown open and everybody invited to take what- ever they wished, as it was supposed the Indians would return and plunder all as soon as the whites were gone. A number of the volunteers loaded themselves with these goods and after- wards becoming tired had to throw them away on the march. There were 153 wagons and about 2,000 people in line. All the able- bodied men marched under arms in their re- spective companies, some in front, some along the sides and some in the rear to guard the long train of non-combatants. Since both South Bend and Mankato were already crowded With refugees from the surrounding country, it was no small matter to find food and shelter for 2,000 more. Cattle were killed at South Bend and ilankato and the meat cooked in large kettles over camp fires. Barrels of flour were converted into bread by the women. It was late in the afternoon before the tired, hungry mul- titude arrived. The rear Guard, consisting of the companies of Lieutenants Cox and Buck and acting Lieu- tenant J. B. Swan, halted for the night at C'risp's store (where now stands the residence of Joseph Roberts) in Judson to guard the rear in case the Indians should follow the retreat. It was a very dark, rainy, cold night. About two o'clock in the morning one of the sentries no- ticed some object move in front of him in the tall grass. He challenged it, but instead of an- swering, it came straight toward him. He raised his gun and pulled the trigger but the rain had dampened the cap so it did not fire. A weak, trembling feminine voice fell on his ear beg- ging him not to shoot. It proved to be a poor \\oman, Mrs. Harrington by name, who eight days before had fled from her home on the Big Cottonwood, west of N^ew Ulm, with a num- ber of neighbors. The little company had been overtaken in the road by a band of Indians and nearly all murdered. Mrs. Harrington had jumped from the wagon, with her little babe, a year old boy, in her arms. An Indian bullet passed through her little child's hand, which v/as resting on her shoulder, and lodged in her own body. She ran into the brush and hid. Even the little babe was conscious of danger and kept as still as a mouse, though its little hand had been terribly lacerated by the cruel bullet. The Indians failed to find her. Since then she had spent the days hiding in bushes and swamps and the nights in wandering over the prairies trying to find some white settlement. She had subsisted on roots, berries and raw vegetables. Tliis Monday night weak from hunger, loss oi blood and pain, wet and shivering with the rain and the cold, and her clothes almost in shreds, her feet cut by the grass, and her baby sick and nearly dead from hunger and exposure, she had seen the camp fires and determined to approach them rather than perish in the slough, though she imagined they belonged to the In- dians. Her joy, when she discovered they were white men was most touching. The men kindly 118 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. cared for her and her babe, and next morning took them to the hospital at Mankato, and there the glad husband who happened to have been east when the massacre occurred, found them. The governor now commissioned Judge Plan- drau to the command of all the militia organiza- tions in Blue Earth County and points south and west with headquarters at South Bend. His principal office was in the hotel there. Commis- saries were maintained at South Bend, Mankato and St. Peter to feed the hundreds of fugitives there gathered. A. N. Dukes was quarter mas- ter for the first two or three weeks and after ])is promotion to the rank of Captain, D. H. Tyner was appointed with B. D. Pay as assistant in Mankato, and Geo. Owens in South Bend. Threshing crews were formed, who went out and threshed the stacks of grain, without asking the farmers leave, for all was under martial law. The grain thus secured was ground into flour to feed the people. There were some, even in such try- ing circumstances, who took advantage of the indulgence and generosity of the people as an occasion to gratify their thieving propensities. Silverware and other articles were stolen from hotels, and private homes by some dishonest miscreants, while others ventured back to jSTew Ulm at the peril of their lives and carried away wagon loads of the goods scattered by the road- side, but which did not belong to them. These instances of looting of property, however, were rare, though the confusion which then pre- vailed afforded everj' opportunity. On Tuesday (Aug. 36th) while Capt. Dane's company were still encamped at the Eobinson house near the outlet of Lake Crystal they dis- covered a wagon drawn by oxen coming from the west near Buffalo Grove. A detachment of soldiers mounted their horses and went out to meet it. The occupants proved to be refugees from Lake Shetec, Messrs. Everett, Hatch and Bently and a Mrs. Meyer and her four children. Mrs. Meyer had been carried from her home, on ■ her sick bed, and when opposite Few Ulm the previous Saturday her husband ventured into town to procure help, and, being hemmed in by the Indians, had failed to get out. After waiting a whole day for him the party concluded he must have been ' killed, and proceeded on their journey towards South Bend. They had reached Buffalo Grove, when they saw the sol- diers coming toward them on horseback, and took them at once to be Indians. Hatch and Bentley left the wagon and ran to the lake, where they hid in the grass. Mr. Everett had been severely wounded by the Indians and could not walk and Mrs. Meyers was too sick to rise from her bed, so the two with the children were left in the wagon. The fright threw the womaa into convulsions and it was some time before she and the two men in the slough could be made to realize that the soldiers were not In- dians, but white men. Mr. Hatch was also bad- ly wounded, though he was able to walk. AU were taken at once to the hospital at Man- kato, where Mrs. Meyers died the next day. The terrible hardships she had undergone proved too much for her enfeebled health. On Friday, Aug. 29th, Dane's company was ordered from Lake Crystal to New Uhn, which had been deserted since Monday. The town presented a most dreary and desolate appear- ance. The houses were all burnt, except a few in the center. The streets were littered from end to end with household goods and furni- ture, and here and there were the bloated car- casses of some fifty or sixty "horses and cattle, which had been killed in the fight, emiting a horrible stench. The barricades were, still standing across the streets, except at one place, where they had been thrown down to permit the besieged people to escape. Within these for- tifications little mounds of earth dotted the streets thick, under which in shallow graves lay the dead. The few buildings left had been all loop- holed for musketrj', and both barricades and buildings 'were splintered and riddled with bul- lets. Everywhere were evidences of the desper- ate conflict of Saturday and it was several days before the soldiers could restore the town to order. In the mean time Gen. Sibley had occupied Ft. Eidgley with an army of 1500 to 1600 men. But they were all raw recruits, who had received no military training, and armed for the most part with rejected muskets, which the government had sent north to be used in drilling new volunteers. On September 2nd, HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 119 1862j occurred the battle of Birch Cooley, when a burial detachment, which Gen. Sibley had sent out, was attacked by an overwhelming force of Indians about twelve miles west of Ft. Eidgely, but managed to hold their own in a terrible struggle, until relieved by re-enforce- ments from the fort. On the very day of this battle a skulking band of eight Indians killed some settlers near the present village of Courtland in Nicollet county and crossing the Minnesota passed stealthily through the north- western corner of Cambria township. Eben P. Davies, the son of David P. Davis, then residing on the Little Cottonwood in section nineteen of Cambria, had just put a span of colts into a pasture and was returning along the side of the fence, when he came upon an Indian lying in the grass. The Indian jumped up and made a grab for Eben's shoulder, but the latter dodged and ran for home. The Indian followed him a short distance, and then fired, the ball pass- ing through Eben's left arm between the wrist and the elbow. A stampede of the settlers, who had just returned to their homes a few days before, was prevented by the timely arrival in the neighborhood of a company of the twenty- fifth Wisconsin, which was on its way to New Ulm. It tarried over night in Cambria to pro- tect the settlers and aid them in searching for the Indians. No trace of the latter could be discovered, nor of Mr. Davis' two colts, which Eben had put into the pasture. The next day Col. Flandrau sent Capt. Rogers' company to New Ulm to relieve Capt. Dane's company, and the latter was stationed at Crisp's store in Judson. Why they were not stationed in the ^ore westerly settlement of Cambria, or But- ternut Valley as it was then called, is not apparent. The people of that neighborhood were accus- tomed to gather for mutual protection each night at the home of James Morgan, which stood across the highway from the school house of District No. eleven. Tuesday night, Sep- tember 9th, just one week after Eben P. Davis was shot, most of the families concluded to stay at home, as the soldiers that very day had made a thorough search of the town and had found no trace of Indians. A few came together as usual. These were the families of David P. Davis, James Edwards, Lewis D. Lewis and Richard Morgan; twenty-two per- sons, between men, women and children. David Price and family had come with their neighbor, James Edwards, but at the invitation of Thos. Y. Davis, they went to spend the night with him. His house (the present residence of Rev. Thos. E. Hughes) stood only about fifty rods to the north, on the other side of a little knoll. A number of the men gathered at James Morgan's house early in the " evening to talk over the news. Among others were John S. Jones, David J. Davis, and Henry 'Hughes. The latter spoke of an adventure he had just been through in looking for his cow on Cambria Creek near his cabin, a suspicious noise in the brush, as of persons moving away from him as he entered them in the dusk to look for the cow. Wm. Edwards told of seeing some men that afternoon down by the Minnesota, whom he was certain were Indians. Not much atten- tion was paid to these reports, as such stories were much in vogue in those days, for nearly every object a person then saw assumed the appearance of an Indian warrior. Except the twenty-two before mentioned all the rest of the neighbors soon dispersed to their homes. Next morning, September 10th, at break of day the people at James ^Morgans' house were awakened by the furious barking of dogs. Mr. Morgans opened the front, door and saw some person in the road in front of the house with a dog barking viciously at his heels. The party seemed to be dressed like a white man and had a straw hat on his head, but as he turned to look at the dog, Mr. Morgans recog- nized him to be an Indian, and called the atten- tion of Lewis D. Lewis, who had stepped to his side, to him. Mr. Lewis raised his right hand to shield his eyes as he peered in the direction pointed by Morgans. Suddenly a bul- let struck his hand, passing through its entire breadth a little above the knuckles and strik- ing against his forehead, fell to the floor. His hand had saved his brain. Another bullet came \»._izzing through a window, but though the room was full of people, it passed between them doing no harm. James Edwards had just 120 HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY, risen from the floor, where he had been sleep- ing, to reach for his gun, when a third ball came through another window, hitting him in the neck, severing the jugular vein. Without a word he fell dead across his bed on the floor, his blood spirting over all near him. The other men had now secured their guns and opened a brisk fire on the Indians and they quickly retreated into a cornfield across the road. D. P, Davis, Jr., thinks he hit one of them as he leaped the fence, but no marks of blood or otherwise could be found. As soon as the Indians were driven ofE, John P. and Henry P. Davis started for camp Crisp, six miles away, lor help. Wm. Edwards and D. P. Davis, Jr. followed in a short time on the same errand. Miss Mary Morgans, taking one of her brother's youngest children in her arms, started, also, for the camp. The others stayed in the house for a time, and kept watch from the second story win- dows. David P. Davis had been stacking grain the day before and had left his horses in the pasture, three quarters of a mile west of Mor- gan's house, over night. Not long after the attack a number of Indians were observed chas- ing the horses. They soon corraled them in a corner of the field, where they had made a pen with the wagons used in stacking. The Indians now congregated on a high knoll on the Daniel P. Davis farm to reconnoiter. There were about fifteen of them. After a short consultation the four mounted on the horses they had just caught and two on foot started down the hill eastward, in the direction of the Morgans house. Three or four went south, where they stole Eev. Jen- kin Jenkin's horses, and the rest passed beyond the hill to the west. The occupants of the Morgans house, seeing a portion of the Indians coming straight toward them, concluded -they were bent on another attack, and, as there were now only three men left with the women and children, all fled from the house. D. P. Davis Sr. hid in the corn- field, James Morgan in some stacks of grain, the rest ran down a small gully towards Cam- bria Creek. When about twenty rods west of the house the two Indians on foot turned to the left, into Thos. Y. Davis' field; the four mount- ed evidently to avoid the Morgans house, turned to the right into Henry Hughes' field, and passed down a branch of the same gully just mentioned and barely missed the women and children, who had just reached a clump of bushes at the junction, when the Indians passed within a few feet of them. Lewis D. Lewis, being unable to staunch the fiow of blood from his hand, had left the house about fifteen minutes before to try and reach Dane's camp at the Crisp store to secure medical aid. When nearing Bennett's Creek, about a mile away, he saw the Indians coming after him on the road at full gallop. He ran and threw himself into a clump of bushes near by. He found himself lying on the ground within a foot or two of a monster prairie snake. Lewis concluded to trust the snake, however, rather than the Indians and so lay motionless until the Sioux were gone; nor did his snakeship ob- ject to his den being made a city of refuge. The two Indians, who had turned into Thos. Y. Davis' field, went straight for his horses, which had been staked out to grass by the house. Mr. Davis thought they were soldiers, as they were dressed as whitemen, and ran out to stop them from taking his horses, but when he got close to them he perceived they wepe Indians. They had laid down their guns to catch the horses and therefore could not' shoot him. He turned quickly and ran to James Morgans house for help. To his surprise the place seemed deserted and no one answered his rap. The front door was locked so he went to the back door. Here the steps were covered with blood and a glance through the half open door revealed the bedding on the floor in the wildest confusion and soaked with blood, pools of blood, also, on the floor, and spirts of blood dripping from the walls. Mr. Davis did not tarry long near this chamber of blood, but made the swiftest run he ever made before or since, to the log cabin of one John Shield's, three quarters of a mile down the road. Mr. Shields was sick in bed, but sickness in those days was no excuse, and he and his family promptly joined Mr. Davis in an expedition into the woods of Cambria Creek. Emerging from the brush into the Mankato road about a mile below, they saw not more than ten rods ahead HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. 121 of them the four Indians, mounted on the D. P. Davis horses. The Indians glanced bacK over their shoulders at them but did not stop. Half a mile further on \Vm. P. Jones, Hugh li. William, Stephen and David Walters and Thos. D. Lloyd were approaching the Mankato road from Lloyd's house, in a wagon half filled with household goods drawn by oxen. The Indians caught sight of them and charged them full gallop, whooping and brandishing their weapons. The men scattered into the adjoin- ing cornfield except Stephen Walters, who mounted on a fleet mare belonging to Hugh Wiinams, attempted to out run the foe, which he might have easily done, but the savages dis- conserted him by their yelling and he jumped from his mare and ran into the brush. The Indians caught the mare and substituted her for the poorest of the four horses they had and after plundering the wagon of such things as they wanted, they passed on down the road towards Mankato. Leaving them for the present let us return again to the upper end of the settlement. David J. Davis' log cabin then stood in section seven- teen of Cambria, at the foot of the steep blufi, which skirts the Minnesota river bottom. A path led up this bluff, back of the house to the table land above, where was a cornfield. At day break, this morning, Mr. Davis' eighteen year old son, Thomas, went up the path to see if there were cattle in the corn. Just at the top he met two Indians face to face and turned to flee, but they shot him in the back, through the heart. The father yet in bed heard the shot and the piercing shriek* of his son. He rushed to the door half clad just in time to see his son fall and the two Indians standing at the top of the bluff. Mr. Davis seized his ax while his oldest son, David, who was an excellent shot, took his trusty rifle and gather- ing his other eight motherless children, most of whom were "quite small, he fled with them on the bluff watching, but not daring to- follow from respect to David's rifle. Thus they hasten- ed on through the tail grass, dripping with the cold morning dew, thinly clad and chilled to the bone, a distance of six miles to Camp Crisp, warning all the people they met. The weather was now getting quite chilly night and morning, but none of the settlers that morning had time to think of wraps, but all fled just as they were, many only half clad. John P. Davis, whom we mentioned leaving James Morgans' house, had caught on Bermett's Creek on old horse belonging to Eiehard Morgans, and thus had been enabled to reach the soldier's camp ten or flfteen minutes ahead of David J. Davis and children, whom he had passed on the road. That morning Eiehard Wigley, Wm. J. Eoberts, and John C. Jones had left camp Crisp with a threshing machine. On the knoll on the west side of Jonas Mohr's farm, in section 36, (now owned by Mrs. Eiehard Jones), they met David J. Davis and John P. Davis and other fugitives with news of the attack. John C. Jones had gone on an errand to the house of Morris Lewis about half a mile away from the road, leaving his partners, Eoberts and Wig- ley with the machine, waiting on the knoll for his return, and talking with the fugitives as they came. Mr. Mohr came up the road looking for his horses. After talking a few minutes about the awful happenings of the morning he started up the road to the west. In the slough west of the knoll J. W. Trask and John Page were making hay. Suddenly seven men on horse back were seen coming down the road full speed. As they wore straw hats and citizens clothes, the people were in doubt whether they were white fugitives or Indians. One of them turned aside to pursue Mr. Trask and they were then known to be Indians. Mr. Trask ran and jumped over a fence. The Indian fired at him hitting him in the wrist and then hurried back to join his companions. The other six Indians made straight for the machine. Wigley and Eoberts were unarmed and ran to hide in some sugar cane near by. Mohr had a Sharps rifle, and was a flne shot, but he ran back and passed the machine without firing, evidently trying to get home to protect his fam- ily. One Indian followed him past the ma- chine, and Slohr, seeing that he would soon over- take him, wheeled about to shoot, but the In- dian's gun went off first, the ball penetrating Mohr's forehead. He fell over backward and soon expired. In the meantime the other Indians cut 122 HISTOEY OF BLtTB EAETH COUNTY. the hajness ofE of one of Eoberts' best horses and took it in place of one of the poorest they had. Seeing a company of soldiers coming up the road at full speed, the Indians fled in hot haste for the woods near by. Four of them, in passing down the ravine near Morris Lewis' house, barely missed meeting Mr. Lewis and family, David A. Davis and family and David .J. Thomas who were coming with teams toward the road. The other three passed down the ravine by Geo. Owens' house, and Mr. Owens and his children scarcely had time to get out of their way into the brush and corn beside the path. Let us again return to the western end of the settlement. Early this same morning John S. Jones (Prairie), living on the northwest quar- ter of section 33 bid his wife and six children good-bye to go and help John Jones (Indiana) stack grain. In passing the westerly foot of tJie big knoll on the Daniel P. Davis farm, near Avhere the road from the south then met the east and west road from Horeb church, on the John Eees farm, he was killed and scalped. He was a brave and powerful man, and the grass around him bore evidence of a desperate strug- gle. His pitch fork was bent and bloody. Whether he slew or wounded any of his murder- ers will never be loiown. About an hour laterj as John Jones (India"'"-a) was busy stacking on his farm, about eight rods west of the Blue Earth County line, and John B. Shaw was pitch- ing to him from the load, a number of Indians came out of the brush near by, jumped over the fence and rushed towards the two men, firing their guns. Mr. Jones leaped from the butt of a stack, and then broke for a point of timber near by, the Indians chasing after him and shooting. This was the last seen of poor Jones alive. The following spring, (April 6th, 1863) when D. P. Davis was burning his meadow three-fourths of a mile west of Horeb church his bones were found in the edge of a slough. His shoe was found caught in the fence, where he evidently had crossed into the meadow in haste. Whether he was mortally wounded when run- ning for the brusli and had fled to this spot, a distance of two miles, before he fell exhausted ur whether he met other Indians near where he crossed the D. P. Davis fence, which wan with- in a few feet of where John S. Jones had met Ids death an hour or two before, will never be known. While the Indians were chasing Mr. Jones, Mr. Shaw laid down on top of the load to iivoid the bullets and the horses becoming scar- ed ran with him across a part of the field and until stopped by a fence in the edge of the timber. Mr. Shaw, seeing the coast was clear, slipped down from the load and getting into Die brush escaped. Evan Jones was out in the field loading when he saw the Indians after his father, and fleeing out upon the prairie, hid in the sloughs and could not be found for some two weeks. His relatives and neighbors search- ed everywhere for him, and he often saw them fj-om his hiding places, but always imagined them to be Indians. His excitable temperament and the hardships he endured almost unsettled his reason. He was finally run down by a volunteer company and restored to his friends. David Price and family went home early from 1'hos. T. Davis' home on that eventful morn- ing and finding that their neighbor, James Ed- wards and family did not return by nine o'clock A. M., Mr. Price went up to Morgans' house to see what was the matter. To his amazement he found the teams and wagons about the house just as they had been left the night before, but not a person in sight, and no response to his knocking at the door. On looking in through a window he saw that the beds and floor were covered with blood. In a corner of the room a quilt seemed to have been spread over some- thing. Entering by the back door he lift- ed a corner of this quilt, when to his horror he discovered the body of his murdered neigh- bor, Edwards. Lie imagined an Indian hid in every corner of the room and expected every nioment to feel the sting of the bullets. Beating a hasty retreat, he started on the run for the residence of Thos. Y. Davis, where he h.id pars- ed the night, but before he had gone more than a few rods he saw four men and two women hurrj'ing down the road on foot. They proved to be Eev. Jenkin Jenkins and wife, David Morris and wife, and Geo. and Neal Porter. He joined them and induced them to go with him to get his family. All the men had their guns. At Price's house the women and children were put into Price's wagon, which stood with the HISTOEY OP BLtTE EAETH COUNTY. 123 oxen already Mtelied to it at the door, and they started for Camp Crisp. They had barely gotten out of the portion of the valley of the Minnesota, known as the "Little Prairie," when the seven Indians, who had shot Mohr and Trask, came across it. On reachuig the Mankato and New I'lm road about a mile away on the upland, they met the first detachment of Dane's company. When they first saw them coming on the road, urging their horses to their utmost speed, they took them for Indians, and prepared to make as good a fight for their lives as they could. Their Joy when they proved to be sol- diers may well be imagined. Fifty rods southwest of the James Morgans house stood the log cabin of Henry Hughes. Mr. Hughes and his family were at home at- tending to their usual duties on this fateful 10th of September, unconscious of the danger all about them. Prom their hiding place in the woods of Cambria Creek the fugitives from Mr. Morgans' house could see the Indians passing back and forth not far from the cabin. Finally Eichard Morgans ventured over to warn them. The old man was bareheaded, barefooted and without a coat, and a pitchfork was his only weapon. Soon after the Hughes family had been gathered into the brush of Cambria Creek, with the refugees from the James Morgans house, the first detachment of soldiers arrived. When the cowering fugitives heard the noise of the horses hoofs coming towards them over the prairie, shaking the ground with their furious speed, they thought they were Indians and scattered further into the timber, but the assur- ing calls of the soldiers, many of whom had relatives among the fugitives, soon brought all back rejoicing. Just across the creek three mounted Indians were discovered coming down the road a little over half a mile away. The soldiers at once gave chase firing after them, but the Indians made good their escape into the timber of the Little Cottonwood, three quar- ters of a mUe beyond, though one of them drop- ped his blanket in the haste of his flight. Three detachments of Dane's company were sent after the Indians, between twenty-five and thirty in number, and drove them far into the west, along the prairies between the Little and Big Cottonwood rivers. The casualities of the morning on the part of the whites were five settlers killed and two wounded and about horses stolen. The bodies of the murdered men except that of John Jones, (Indiana) which could not then be found, were gathered and buried in Jerusalem Ceme- tery that afternoon. The surviving settlers now deserted their homes again for many weeks, staying in the vicinity of Camp Crisp and South Bend. On September 20tli, 186-2 tweuty-two inhabi- tants of tlie town enlisted for tliirty days as a militia company, under the name of "Butter- nut Valley Guards." Their muster roll was as follows : Captain, George ^\'. Porter, First Lieutenant, James Morgan. Second Lieutenant, Wm. P. Jones. Privates : Bavis, David A. Davis, Tlios. Y. Jenkins, Eev. Jenkin. Jenkins, ^Ym. E. Lewis, Morris. Lloyd, Thos. B. Morris, David. Owens, George. Price, David. Shields, John. Shields, Wm. Thomas, David. Thomas, Kice. Thomas, Thos. ^\'alters, David. \\ alters, Stephen. Williams, David J. \VilIiams, Wm. J. \Mlli;ims, Hugh E. The company were stationed at what was known in those days as the "Big Barn" on the farm now owned by David E. Bowen in the center of section twenty-eight of Cambria. Here they built a fort of logs and earth. The state furnished the company with arms, ammunition and rations and they rendered good service in protecting the frontier, caring for the stock and property left on the deserted farms, and cutting hay for winter. In spite of the hard- ships, perils and death about them this company did not lack of much enjoyment and fun. There were warm discussions of national and local questions, there were many quarrels, prac- tical jokes and Indian scares all mingled to- gether. Such is the buoyancy of human nature that even in the hour of calamity it will find crumbs of humor. So the settlers of Blue Earth county amid all troubles and trials of the Indian massacre found opportunities for mirth and merry making, and even to this day they enjoy narrating the many comical incidents of the good old time when they fought the In- dians. CHAPTER XIV. "JIANKATO HOME GUAEDS"— SUREEN- DEE AND TEIAL OF THE INDIANS— THE HANGING AT MANKATO. August 31st, 1862, Wm. Bierbauer raised a militia company -which was styled "Frontier Eangers." They were furnished by the state with Springfield rifles, ammunition, blankets, shoes, etc., and for forty days did service at Mankato, South Bend, and Madelia. The roster was as follows : William Bierbauer, Captain. J. E. Potter, First Lieutenant. James Shoemaker, Second Lieutenant. Samuel D. Shaw, First Sergeant. H. S. L^'tle, Second Sergeant. H. C. Ives, Third Sergeant. Hubert Brules, First Corporal. H. D. Orvis, Second Corporal. Privates : Andrus, AV. P. Eruner, Andrew. Burgmeister, H. Britton, F. D. Curtis, B. I. Chamberlain, J. H. Carr, J. G. Douglass, Fred. Davies, Daniel P. Fowler, F. H. Foster, Lawrence. Gessel, Jacob. Griffin, D. S. Hassel, Frederick. Hensley, C. B. Haas, Joseph. Hudson, J. Keenan, Geo. M. Loring, John F. Leich, Theodore. Mattox, Geo. W. ilallov, L. W. Jlarston, W. S. Xic'holson, John. Oberly, Xavier. Porter, E. D. B. Pichesrowce, George. Pierce, Parker. Pierce, Geo. Seward, A. D. Sabbath, George. Tate, Samuel. Vogle, Charles. AAhite, S. D. Whiten, Luther. Waite, Sydney L. On September 14th, 1862, "The Mankato Home Guards" were organized with John P. 3'Ieagher as captain. The service done by this company was confined to Mankato and vicinity, and in fun they applied to themselves the sob- riquet of "Bread Eaters." Its roster was as follows : John F. Meagher, Captain. Charles Heilborn, First Lieutenant. Benjamin Hotaling, Second Lieutenant. S.- F. Barney, Orderly Sergeant. Adam Jefferson, Second Sergeant. George Maxfield, Third Sergeant. Z. Paddock, Fourth Sergeant. il. T. C. Flower, Fifth Sergeant. J. F. Williams, First Corporal. G. S. Meacham, Second Corporal. Jl. Ullraan, Third Corporal. J. C. Haupt, Fourth Coi"poral. Ambrose Lorenz, Fifth Corporal. Leo Lamm, Sixth Corporal. AVilliam McGuinness, Seventh Corporal. John Froiset, Eighth Corporal. Privates: Ames, Charles. Androski, Rudolph. Ballard, Columbus. Branson, Lewis. Brown, Samuel D. Burrill, J. Brink, Samuel. Berghoff, Wm. Burrill, X. Britton, I. N, Burgess, J. L. Bunker, F. Bigler, Jacob. Boegen, Henry. Copp, Julius. Chapman, C. A. Durkee, Benjamin. Dunscomb, C. S. Draher, John. Draher, John, Jr. Fowler, Henry. Frenzel, Peter. Funek, Wm. F. Garlinger, J tike. Goodwin, John. Gunning, Frank M. Hodgson, Wm. A. Hoerr, Peter. Hoffman, George. Hoffel, Peter. Hartman, J. H. .Jaeobshagen, E. Johnson, P. K. Jones, John D. Kron. Clements. Kauffer, H. B. Kohler, B. Kellogg, L. T. Kraus, Joseph. Lorenz, John. Lamb, David. Lees, .John. Lailin, ilartin. Lamm, Stephen. Lentz, Peter. Lerlroch, Jacob. Lambrecht, August. Leader, Charles. More, J. H. iloher, Henrv. McDowall, Allen, iloreland, Basil. Moser, Frank. Jlargaff, August. Maxfield, George, .Jr. Mills, Minard. Oberly, Frank. Parsons. L. Pierce, T. T. Peart, Thos. Preal, F. Phillips, Antoine. Pease, F. L. Parratt, Wm. A. Roberts. Geo. A. Roos, George. Companies for home protection were also organized at Garden C'ity, Vernon, and Shelby- ville, but no rosters of them were kept. On Sept. 11, A. N. Dukes, was promoted from the position of quartermaster to the command of the post of ilankato and South Bend with the rank of Captain. On September 21, John Arm- strong, who lived just over the county line in 125 126 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. Linden township, was killed by a prowling band of Indians while picking plums near his house. His murder caused another scare among the settlers at Madelia and vicinity and Capt. Bier- bauer's company was dispatched to their protec- tion. On September 23, Col. Sibley with 1500 men met Little Crow with 800 braves at Wood Lake, , three miles east of the ford of Yellow Medicine river. It was the first real test of strength between the white men and the red men and was decisive of the war. The Indians fled leaving thirty of their dead on the field. The whites lost only four killed. The victory broke the courage of the Indians and made Sibley a Brigadier General. Soon after this battle the christian and friendly Indians who had opposed the war, managed to get nearly all the captive women and children away from the hostile bands and delivered them to the whites at Camp Release. There were ninety- one whites, and nearly one hundred and fifty half breeds rescued at this camp. The friendly Indians also surrendered themselves and among them many, who had taken more or less part in the massacre. Others were captured. In all about two thousand Indians and half breeds fell into the hands of the whites. Little Crow and most of the hostile bands fled into Dakota and thence eventually into the British posses- sions, where they remained, and whence for a number of years they kept up a predatory war against the whites. Among those who had surrendered or been captured, four hundred and twenty-five were suspected of having been implicated in the mas- sacre. These Gen. Sibley caused to be arrested and put in chains and a military court was created to try them at once. This court was composed of Col. Wm. Crooks, of the Sixth Regiment, Col. Wm. E. Marshall of the Seventh Regiment, Captain Grant and Baily of the Sixth Regiment and Lieut. Olin of the Third Eegi- ment. The court began its labors at Camp Eelease on September 30, and after convicting twenty-one adjourned until October 16th to allow time for more Indians to be brought in. After disposing of one hundred and twenty cases, the Camp and Commission on Oct. 33rd moved to the Lower Agency. Of the 425 arrested and tried, 321 were' convicted and of these, 303 were sentenced to be hung and the remaining eighteen to various terms of impris- onment. The horrible mutilations of the dead, the fiendish torture and outrages inflicted upon the innocent women and children and the bru- tal treatment of the poor captives had so exas- perated the whites that they thirsted for ven- geance. With the awful scenes they had wit- nessed fresh in their minds, it was impossible for white men then to judge an Indian impar- tially. The summary haste of the trials (from twenty to forty-two cases being disposed of in a day), and the fact that no Indian was given an opportunity to make any defense or even to know what he was accused of, made the proceedings of this tribunal much of a farce. Our modern courts spend twice to five times as long trying one murderer than that court spent trying 425. Many of the convictions were secured on the sole testimony of a colored man named, Godfrey, who had joined the Indi- ans' and married a squaw and by his own con- fession was one of the worst murderers . and villians among them all,, and whose own neck was to be saved in consideration of his testi- mony against the Indians. The otl^er convic- tions were obtained by some woman or child picking out this or that Indian and saying "he killed my husband," "he killed my parents." They doubtless thought so, but as a matter of fact he may have looked like him, for to a stranger all Indians look much alike. Doubt- less among the Indians convicted there were many who were guilty, but there is no question, but that there were many, also, who were inno- cent. Most of the guilty ones did not dare sur- render themselves to the whites, but fled with Little Crow into the far Korthwest. On November 7, 1862, the military Commis- sion having finished its duties, those acquitted, with the squaws and papooses, were sent to Ft. Snelling, where they were kept all winter, except forty or fifty squaws, who went with those adjudged guilty as cooks. The convicted ones were chained together and loaded into wagons and brought to camp Lincoln, which was located on the flat land in West Mankato wS(tl^,ig£ss»'^ 1 JiUBL'^"-~^~ 1 Jl^ii i u sterling, Horcb,' HOKCB CM CMORCM BLUE eflRTH R1U6B »■ ■SAUeM CO(\iSRe«AT10N*L CHllRtM-CAfOBmfl HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 127 lying between Front Street and the mound in Sibley Park. At New Ulm a mob rushed upon the Indians with clubs and stones and. in spite of the guards, a number of the Indians were injured. The German women, whose relatives had been murdered, were especially furious. Many of the settlers of Butternut Valley, Jnd- son. South Bend and other parts of the county were employed with their teams in transport- ing these convicts. The army and Indians made a train nearly two miles long. It was General Sibley's intention to have the 303 sentenced to be hung executed at once, but the religious sentiment of the east was so shock- ed by the idea of hanging so many human be- ings at once, especially in view of the provocation they had for the outbreak, that President Lin- coln was induced to interfere and ordered that none be executed until he had approved their sentence. General John Pope, who had been put in command of the Sioux Campaign, telegraphed back the names of the condemned Indians, a message which cost the government $400.00. President Lincoln replied by requesting that all the evidence upon which the Indians had been condemned be forwarded to him by mail. On receipt of the evidence the President turned it over to Geo. C. Whiting and Francis H. Buggies, two of his clerks, with . instructions to examine it and select forty of the worst ones. This they did, and on Dec. 6th, 1862, the President pigned an order approving the sentence imposed on these forty and fixing Friday Dec. 19th, 1862, as the day for the execution., The list thus se- lected by President Lincoln and the crimes for which they were convicted were as follows: (1). 0-ta-kla (alias Godfrey), A negro en- gaged extensively in the massacre, but on ac- count of turning states' evidence his sentence is commuted to ten years in prison. (3). Te-he-hdo-ne-cha (One who Forbids His House) Taking wlilte woman prisoner and ravishing her; and being otherwise engaged in the massacre. (3.) Ta-zoo alias Plan-doo-ta (Ecd Otter) Jl^urder of Patwell and ravishing a "\oung girl. (4). Wy-a-tah-to-wah (His Peoplo) Partici- pated in murder of Patwell. (5). Hin-han-shoon-ko-yas-ma-ne (One who walks clothed in an Owl's tail.) Jlurder of Alexander Hunter and taking jMrs. Hunter pris- oner. (6). Maz-za-boom-doo (Iron Blower) Mur- der of an old man and two children. (r). Wa-pa-doo-tah (Red Leaf). Shot a white man. (He was an old man, admitted he shot at the man through a window, but did not think he killed him. He also admitted he was wounded at Battle of New LHm). (8). Wa-he-hua (]\Ieaning of name un- known). Murder. (He claimed the witness lied, that he did not kill anybody, that if he had killed any white man he would have fled with Little Crow.) (9). Qua-ma-ne (Tinkling Walker), Mur- der of two persons. (Convicted on testimony of two German boys. He claimed the bo3's were jiiistaken as he was not at the place at all.) (10). Ta-tah-me-ma (Round Wind), Miwdcr and capture of women and children. (He was an old man, a brother-in-law of the well known Joseph Renville. He had been the public crier for Little Crow before and during the massacre, but after the battle of Wood Lake joined the In- dians opposed to the massacre, and was their public crier at Camp Release, when the cap- tives were delivered up. He was the only one of the forty, who had been at all in the habit of attending Protestant worship and on the Sabbath before he knew that he was one of those to be hung, he had professed repentence and faith in Christ and been baptized by Dr. Williamson. He had been convicted on the testimony of two Gorman boys, who said they saw him kill their mother. He strenuously denied the accusation. Dr. Williamson took up his case and on inves- tigation showed conclusively that the bo^'s were mistaken, for on the very day their mother was killed Round Wind was many miles away help- ing some whites to escape. Dr. Williamson sent this evidence at once to President Lincoln and a few hours before the execution he telegraphed a reprieve. The old man always attributed hi's rescue from the gallows as a direct interven- tion of Providence). (11). Rda-in-Yan-ka (Rattling Runner), Participated actively in the New Ulm battle. (He denied the charge but admitted he was 128 HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. opposed to the delivery of the captives to the friendly Indians) . (12). Do-wan-sa (The Singer). Murder of a woman in the Swan Lake neighhorhood and an attempt to ravish her daughter, who was Icilled by another Indian before he could accom- plish his purpose. (He admitted being present and that two men and two women were killed by his companions in his presence, but denied he took any part). (13). Ha-pan (Second Child, if a Son). Participated in murder of Patwell and took Miss Williams prisoner. (Admitted he was pres- ent when Patwell was killed, but claimed an- other Indian did the killing. Admitted he took Miss Williams as a prisoner.) (14). Shoon-ka-ska (White Dog) Leader in the ambush at Lower Agency ferry, when Capt. Marsh and half his command were murdered. (He claims his action on this occasion was mis- understood by the whites. That he was for peace and did not give the signal for the In- dians to fire on Capt. Marsh and his men.) (15). Toon-kan-e-chah-tay-ma-ne. (One who Walks by his Grandfather). Murder of a man in a wagon and participating otherwise in the massacre. (Claimed the killing in question was done by another Indian and that the only wrong he did was to take a blanket from one of the stores at the Lower Agency.) (16). E-tay-doo-tah (Bed Pace), Murder of Mr. Divoll and seven other white persons on North side of the Minnesota, and also the mur- der of another man and woman. (Denied the charge but admitted being present when murders were committed.) (17). Am-da-cha (Broken to Pieces) Tak- ing David Faribault prisoner and killing two persons at his house. (Admitted he went with hostile Indians and shot his gun off twice, but did not think he killed anyone. Took some goods from Forbes store.) (18). Hay-pe-dan (Third Child, if a Son) Cut Mrs. Thieler with tomahawk and engaged in Massacre. (Admitted being in three of the battles and firing his gun six times, that he captured a woman and two children, and that he stole two horses.) (19). Mah-pe-o-ke-ni-jin, (Who stands on the Cloud) Usually called "Cut Nose" from a dis- figurement of his nasal organ by an accident. Murder of Antoine Young and a white man and woman. He denied the charge but admitted to have fired his gun a few times. It was after- vrards proven that this old villain had killed nineteen women and children in a wagon by braining them with his tomahawk.) (20). Henry Milord, a half breed, partici- pating in the murder of a man and woman. (He was a bright young man, who had been brought up at the home of General Sibley. He claimed he was forced to go with the hostiles to save his own life. Admitted he fired his gun at a Avoman, but did not think he killed her.) (21). Chas-kay-dan (The first born, if a son). Shooting and cutting a woman with child. (Admitted being at Lower Agency when mas- sacre was in progress. That he went to Eed- Vv'ood with a friend and on the way they met Mr. Gleason and J\Irs. Wakefield and her child- ren, that his friend shot Gleason and that he saved Mrs. Wakefield and children.) (22). Baptiste Campbell, a half breed, mur- der of man and woman. (He was a son of Scott Campbell, who for many years was Sioux interpreter at Fort Snelling and a brother of John Campbell, who was later hanged at Mankato for the Jewett murder. He claimed to have been forced into the massacre by the soldier's lodge, but did not know that he had killed any- body, though he had fired hi^ gun a few times in two or three of the battles.) (23). Ta-ta-ka-gay (Windmaker) Murder of Amos W. Huggins. (He was only seventeen or eighteen years old, grandson of Sacred Walker, who took care of Mrs. Josephine Huggins and her children during their captivity. Claimed another Indian induced him to go with him to Huggins house. This other Indian shot Mr. Huggins and had escaped with Little Crow, but he admitted firing off his gun in the air. The probability, however, is that the other Indian was the most guilty, and that Windmaker died for his indiscretion in being in bad company.) (24). Hay-pink-pa (The Tip of the Horn) Murder of Stewart B. Garvie. (He had boasted before the hostile Indians in the presence of Godfrey that he had killed ilr. Garvie with a bow HISTOEY OP BLUE BAETH COUNTY. 129 and arrow. He claimed he had lied about it in order to throw off suspicion that he was friendly to the whites. The fact that Garvie had not been shot by an arrow at all confirmed his statement, and he probably was innocent of the charge, and was hung simply because he lied. Having a conscience free from guilt he trusted the Great Spirit to save him in the other world). (25). Hypolite Auge, a half breed, murder cf white man and woman. (He claimed to have been a clerk in one of the stores for a year previous to the outbreak, that when the out- break occurred the full bloods were very sus- picious of all the half breeds, that they were favorable to the whites and that to save their own scalps they had to pretend to be hostile, which was doubtless true. That he had fired at the body of a dead man in order to tell the 'Indians he had shot a white man.) (26). Na-pa-shue (One Who Does Not Flee) boasted he had killed nineteen persons. (Claimed he was forced into the war, but did not kill any-one.) (27). "\Ya-kan-tan-ka (Great Spirit) murder of white man. (Claimed he was present when some white men were killed, but he did not kill any, that the witness lied about him.) (38). Toon-kan-ko-yag-e-na-jin (One who Stands Clothed with his Grandfather.) Mur- der of white man at Big Woods. (Admitted being in battle of Birch Cooley and battle of Hutchinson, but did not know that he killed anyone.) (29). Ma-ka-te-na-jin (One who stands on the Earth) Jlurder near Xew Ulm. (Was an old man. Admitted he was at Battle of Xew Ulm, but claimed he had not used a gun for years, and had not killed anyone. His two sons had been killed in the war.) (30). Pa-za-koo-tay-ma-ne (One who walks prepared to Shoot) Participated in the murder of eight white men. (Said he was out with a war party against the Chippeway when outbreak oc- curred, and that it was over when he got back. That the commiss'oners misunderstood him; he Ciifl not kill any white man. When commissioners asked him if he was in a war party and had fired a gun and he answered "Yes" he meant against the Chippeway and not the whites.) (31). Ta-ta-hde-dan (Wind Comes Home) ;\lurder at Beaver Creek and capturing white woman. (Said the men of Eice Creek were au- thors of the outbreak and he opposed it; denied the charge against him.) (32). Wa-she-choon (Frenchman or White roan) ilurder of LeButt's son. (He was a full blooded white boy only sixteen years old, but his white origin was not known at the time of the hanging. He had been bom at a lumber camp upon the llississippi, and his parents had both died soon thereafter. Left thus an orphan l)abe in a lumber camp he was given to a squaw, who had brought him up as her own boy, among the Indians. He said he had nothing to do with the killing of white people, that he was to die for no crime, and was very much affected. The Indians afterwards admitted that he was inno- cent and his case was a sad one.) (33). A-e-cha-ga (To grow Upon) Murder of an old man and two girls. (Made no confession or denial.) (34.) Ha-ta-pin-koo (Voice that Appears Coming) Murder of man at Green Lake. (Said he had no gun, but that he had hit a man with a hatchet after another Indian had shot him.) (35). Chay-tan-hoon-ka. (The Parent Hawk) Murder at Beaver Creek (Said he was down at Ft. Eidgely and at Beaver Creek and took some horses, but did not kill anybody.) (36).- Chan-ka-hda (Near the Woods) Pres- ent when Patwell was killed, and saved Mary Anderson from death, after she had been woun- ded, and took her prisoner. (Admitted he took Mary Anderson, but it was to save her from be- ing killed by another Indian, who had shot her; thought it hard that he should be hanged for a good deed.) (37). Hda-hin-day (To Make a Eattling Noise Suddenly) Murder of two children. (Claimed he was north at time of outbreak, and did not return until it was over. Ad- mitted he was at battle 'of Wood Lake, but said tlie charge against him was entirely false.) (38). 0-ya-tay-a-koo (The coming People) Murder of Patwell. Admitted he was with the parties who killed Patwell, but denied the charge of striking him with his hatchet.) (39). Ma-hoo-way-ma (He comes for Me) 130 HISTOEY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. Murder at Travelers Home. (Admitted being out in one of the raids towards the Big Woods, and that he struck a woman with his tomahawk, who had been killed by another Indian, but declared he had killed none; was himself v/ounded.) (40). Wa-kin-yan-wa (Little Thunder) Par- ticipating in murder near Travelers Home of old man, two girls and two boys. (Denied the charge, said he was accused of killing Coursall's child, but the child was now living, he had done noth- ing worthy of death.) On receipt of the order for execution prepa- rations were made at once to carry it into effect. It was discovered soon that there was not enough rope in Mankato of suitable size and qual- ity and that it could not be gotten by the 19th, so a request -fras telegraphed to the President for a postponement of the execution for one week, which was granted. Let us now return in our history three or four weeks. About Oct. 10th, 1863, the 35th Wis., was sent to Mankato and its colonel, M. Montgomery, succeeded Judge Plandrau in com- mand of the military district of Southern Min- nesota, with headquarters at Mankato. In about three weeks he and his regiment were ordered South, and Col. Stephen Miller, of the 7th Minn., was appointed in his place. The people of Blue Earth and adjoining coun- ties expected that Gen. Sibley would hang the 303 sentenced to death immediately and the delay made them very impatient. About the , last of November, while the Indians were still confined at Camp Lincoln a number of Mankato citizens with a few from New Ulm and other adjoining towns formed themselves into a vigi- lance committee, and one night started out with intent to have the vengeance of the law inflicted-, forthwith. The authorities had discovered their design and when they reached the west side of the Van Brunt slough, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by a cordon of bayonets. Their ardor for hanging Indians took a very great and sudden chill and as soon as the oppor- tunity offered all made haste to reach their respective homes. On Dec. 3rd, a public meeting convened to urge thfe speedy execution of the Indians and resolutions were adopted to that ef- Early in December the Indians were removed from Camp Lincoln to log buildings that had been constructed for them, between the Leech stone building and the frame building, which then occupied the location of Fred Kron's pres- ent store. The original ordei" for the execution was signed by Col. Miller at St. Paul on Dee. 17th and brought to Mankato by a special courier, . who arrived about midnight. Copies were im- mediately printed at the Record Office by Mr. J. C. Wise, which were distributed the next morning to the various military posts in south- western Minnesota. It read as follows: SPECIAL ORDER NO. 11. HEADQUARTERS INDIAN POST, MANKATO, DEC. 17th, 1862. The President of the United States, having directed the execution of thirty-nine of the Sioux Indians and halfbreed prisoners in my charge, on Friday, the 26th instant, he having postponed the time from the igth instant, said execution will be carried into ef- fect in front of the Indian prison at this place on that day at 10 o'clock A. M. The executive also enjoins that no others of the prisoners he allowed to escape, and that they be protected for the future disposition of the Government; and these orders will be executed by the military force at my disposal with utmost fidelity. The aid of all good citizens is invoked to maintain the Jaw and constitutional authority of the land on that occasion. The State of Minnesota must not, in addition to the terrible wrongs and outrages inflicted upon her by the murderous savages, suffer, if pos- sible, still more fatally, in her prosperity and reputa- tion, at the hands of a few of our misguided, though deeply Injured fellow citizens. STEPHEN MILLER, Col. 7th Minn. Regt. Vol. Commanding Post. On December 33nd, the Post Adjutant, J. K. Arnold issued an order forbidding the sale or giving away of any intoxicating liquors to any soldier within a radius of ten miles of Mankato, and another order of the same date requesting Col. B. P. Smith of Mankato, Major W. H. Dike of Faribault, Hon. Henry A. Swift and H. W. Lamberton of St. Peter, Edwin Bradley and E. H. Dike of Mankato and Reuben Butters of Kasota, with such other good citizens as they might select, to act as mounted citizen marshalls . on Friday the 36th inst.. Col. B. F. Smith as - chief and the others as assistants. On this same date, Monday, Dec. 33nd, with the aid of Rev. S. R. Riggs, Maj. Joseph E. Brown and others, the 39 condemned men in- m STORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 131 from the other Indians, and removed to the rear room of the lower floor of the Leech huild- ing, where thereafter they were kept apart from the other Indians under special guard. Here at 2 :30 P. M. of this same Monday they were visi- ted by Col. Miller and his stafE, and their sen- tence and order for execution read to them, Eev. Eiggs, acting as interpreter. Col. Miller then spoke to them in substance as follows : "The commanding officer at this place has called to speak to you upon a very serious sub- ject this afternoon. Your Great Father at "Washington, after carefully reading what the witnesses have testified in you.r several trials, has come to the conclusion, that you each have been guilty of wantonly and wickedly murdering his white children; and for this reason has direc- ted that you each be hanged by the neck until you are dead, on next Friday, and that order will be carried into effect on that day, at ten o'clock in the forenoon. Good ministers, both Catholic and Protestant, are here, from amongst whom each of you can select your spiritual ad- visor, who will be permitted to commune with you constantly during the four days that you are yet to live." The Colonel also instructed Eev. Eiggs, to tell them that they had sinned so against their fellowmen that there is no hope for clem- ency, except in the mercy of God, through the merits of- the Blessed Eedeemer, and that he earnestly exhort them to apply to that as their only remaining source of consolation. The occasion, says John C. "Wise, who was a personal witness and to Avhom we are indebted for many of the facts, was one of much solem- nity. With the stoicism characteristic of their race, the Indians betrayed not the least emotion, but sat composedly, half of them smoking their pipes, during the entire interview. They lis- tened attentively and grunted their approval at the end of each sentence. Some of the half breeds could not wholly conceal their nervousness. Thirty-two selected Father Eavaux as their spiritual advisor and eight chose Dr. "Williamson. Dr. Eiggs, because of his position as government interpreter could not be selected. Tuesday, Dec. 23rd, they extemporized a wild song and dance, vrhich performance was ^ery wierd and solemn. 'A'ednesday afternoon each was permitted to see two or three of his friends and relatives from the main prison in order to bid them a final adieu. The interviews are described as very sad and affecting. Each had messages to send to their absent relatives. Those who liad wives and children were affected to tears when sending messages to them. In most cases the children nx're counseled to become Christians and to a life of good feeling towards the whites. In shak- ing hands with Eed Iron and Akipee, Tazoo said : "Last summer 3'ou were both opposed to the massacre, you lived in constant apprehension of an attack from those who were determined on an extermination of the whites. Many taunts, insults and threats were heaped upon you and your families, but you continued firm in your friendship to the paleface and counseled peace. "We now see the wisdom of your words." Some were wholly overcome by their feeling at the final parting, while others put on an air of indif- ference. A great many wrote letters to their relatives and friends which they sent by Father Eavaux, Dr. Williamson or Eev. Eiggs. The following letter was ■\\Titten by Eev. Eiggs at the dictation of one of the Indians and in his exact words and might do credit to any white man : XA'abaslia, you have deceived me. You told me that if we followed the advice of Gen. Sibley, and give ourselves up to the whites, all would be well, no innocent man would be injured. I have not killed, wounded or injured a white man, or any white per- son. I have not participated in the plunder of their property; and yet today I am set apart for execution and must die in a few days, while men who are guilty remain in prison, lly wife is your daughter, my children are your grandchildren. I leave them all in your care and under your protection. Do not let them suffer, and when my children are grown up >let them know that their father died because he .followed the advice of his chief, and without hav- ing the blood of a. white man to answer for to the Great Spirit. My wife and children are dear to me. Let them not grieve for me. Let them remember that the brave should be prepared to meet death, and I will do so as becomes a Dakota. Your son-in-law, RDA-IN-YAN-KA. In response to a petition signed by many citi- zens requesting that all saloons he closed for three days, including the day of the execuBon the day before and the day after, Col. ]\Tiller on Wednesday issued an order declaring martial law over all the territory within a radius of ten miles of his headquarters, and prohibiting 132 HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. the sale, gift or use of any intoxicating liquors, iacluding wines, beer and malt liquors, within that territory between the hours of three o'clock A. M. of Thursday, the 25th of Dec, and, 11 o'clock P. M., of Saturday, Dec. 27th, 1862, which was rigorously and effectively enforced. On Dec. 23rd and 21th a detachment of men under Col. Marshall were employed constructing the gallows. B. D. Pay as deputy sheriff as- sisted in this work. It was built on the levee directly across the street from the front door of the Leech building, about in the northeast corner of what is now known as Lot 18 of Wil- lard and Barney's Exchange, its northern side projecting probably a little onto the southeast corner of Lot 19 and its eastern side may have projected into the street two or three- feet. It was made of heavy, square, white oak timbers, and was twenty-four feet square. There were eight upright posts, each a foot square and 14 feet high, one at each corner and one in the cen- ter of each side, set into sills below,- and into plates a foot square above. A series of ten not- ches were cut in the upper edges of each of the four plates, making notched places for forty ropes in all, the notches being made to avoid any sharp strain on the ropes. This frame work was strongly mortised and pinned together and looked like the frame of an old-fashioned barn, without rafters. In the center of the enclosure thus formed a large heavy timber was set firm- ly into the ground, like a post, twenty feet high, the upper half of which was rounded and smoothed and a little smaller than the lower half. A ring fitted loosely about this rounded portion of the post, which could be moved readily up and down it. This was first made of iron, but that not being strong enough, a piece of stout cable was substituted. A strongly framed platform in the shape of a side walk about three to four feet wide and lying half within and half without the upright timbers, ran around the whole struc- ture, a plank of the covering being left out at the place where each of the eight posts projected tlirough it. This platform was so constructed that it could be moved up and down on these-^ outside posts. To this platform eight ropes were fastened which centered and were attached at their other end to the ring about the center post. The whole was so adjusted that when the I'ing was at the top of the center post the plat- form was suspended about five to six feet above the ground. To hold the ring in place, a strong rope was attached to it and passed over the top of the center post, and then brought down and securely fastened at its foot. The cutting of this rope would loosen the ring, and the whole plat- form would drop of its own weight at once. Forty to fifty soldiers were marched a few times on the platform to test it. On Christmas day Col. Miller issued the following order as to the execution : GENERAL ORDER NO. 23. HEADQUARTERS INDIAN POST, MANKATO, Dec. 25th, 1862. First: The officer of the day and officer of the guard will be relieved respectively by Capt. Burt and Lieut. Carter at 8:30 o'clock A. M. tomorrow. The present guard to continue on duty until relieved in the afternoon, Capt. Burt to direct that his detail be furnished with breakfast. Second: Capt. G. D. Redfield, provost marshal, will promptly exclude all persons from the room of the sentenced convicts at 7 o'clock, and having them un- manacled, with pinioned arms, and ready for execu- tion, will pass them through the guard room, and deliver them at the gallows to the officer of the day (Capt. Burt) for execution. He will see that the staples and manacles are preserved for future use. And that the prisoner "Godfrey" is duly returned to the old prison. Lieut. Carter, as officer of the guard, will at 9 o'clock close the door of the guard house, open the communicating door with the prison, allow no person except his guard to enter, and with the two reliefs, (who for the moment will stack their arms) will, under the direction of Capt. Red- field, conduct the convicts to the scaffold, between the two files of soldiers, which will be stationed on the route. Third: The officer of the day, Capt. Burt, will receive the convicts at the scaffold and supervise and conduct the execution. For this purpose he will detail eight men, one to each section of the platform, to act as executioners, and two men with axes to be ready for any emergency. When all is ready, he will give the order to Maj. J, R. Brown, signal oft'icer, who will beat three distinct taps upon the drum. At the third stroke, Wm. J. Duly, (mounted scout) will cut the rope. After the execution the officer of the day will, with his detail, collect all ropes and small fixtures of the occasion and deposit them carefully at these headquarters. He will of course, have all the ropes and necessary fixtures ad- justed previous to the execution. Fourth: Drs. Seignorette and Finch will examine the bodies and communicate the death of the pris- oners to the officer of the day. Fifth: Four teams containing shovels will be fur- nished by quartermaster Cutter, in which the bodies win be deposited by Capt. Burt's company (R. Minn. 7th), previous to which they will stack arms, and will, without their arms, act as a burial party. Sixth: The wagons containing, the remains and the above burial party will proceed under an armed es- cort, which will be provided, and enter the bodies of HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 133 the executed men. The whole to be under the com- mand of Lieut. Col. Marshall. By order of the Colonel commanding. J. K. ARNOLD, Post Adjutant. On the afternoon of this same Christmas, the squaws, who were acting as cooks, were permitted to bid goodbye to the condemned men, among whom a number had relatives. Though the parting was sad, there was not so much demon- stration of grief as the day before, for an In- dian thinks it very unmanly to show emotion before a woman. Father Ravaux and Dr. Wil- liamson remained with the condemned men all this last night. Father Ravaux was assisted by Father Sommereisen. Thirty-three of the con- victs, including the three half breeds, were bap- tised into the Catholic faith, and three, besides Round Wind who was pardoned, into the Pro- testant faith. The other two refused baptism. The good priests and Dr. Willamson worked hard and faithfully. The three half breeds were under 20 years old and dressed like white men, the rest wore the Indian garb and were mostly young men, though a few were old and grey haired. The White boy was counted among the full bloods as he was a Sioux in speech, dress and habits, having been so brought up from babyhood, and though his features were Caucas- sian no one then suspected his real origin. On the morning of the 26th, they sang their death song in Dakota, Tazoo leading, which was very exciting. At 7:30 A. M., all persons were excluded, except those needed to prepare them for execution. Maj Brown and Capt. Redfield superintended the affair. Their irons were Imocked ofE and thedr arms pinioned, elbows behind and wrists in front about six inches apart. I'his took until 9 o'clock. They went around sliaking hands with the soldiers and bidding them good bye. They were then put in a row around the room standing and chanting in the mean time one of their wild, mournful melo- dies. They were then permitted to sit with their backs to the wall a few minutes while Father Ravaux came in and read them a prayer in Dakotah. He then spoke to them, Baptiste Campbell acting as interpreter. The earnest words of the priest affected them to tears. Dr. Williamson, also, had a short heart to heart talk with them. Caps made from some unbleached muslin, found in their possession when captured, were now put on their heads, but drawn down only to the forehead. While Father Ravaux was still talking to them Capt. Redfield entered the prison chamber and whispered to him that all was ready. He communicated the fact to Henry Millord, one of the halfbreeds, and he repeated it to the others. Instantly all were on their feet and forming in single file, they marched quickly through the intervening room to the front door, headed Isy Capt. Redfield. Thence they passed between two rows of soldiers directly across the street to the gallows, followed by the gTiards, who had stacked arms, and the reporters. As soon as they caught sight of the gallows, they began singing their death dirge, keeping step to the music. Still following the lead of Capt. Redfield, they ascended the steps to the platform of the gallows and were ranged in their places by eight soldiers, two for each section of the gallows. After adjusting the nooses and pull- ing down the muslin caps, or sacks, over their faces, the soldiers walked down from the plat- form. In the meantime the Indians kept up con- tinuously their singing and dancing and some managed to clasp each other's hands. Their chant mainly consisted of the simple repetition in Da- kotah of "This is me." It was a wild, gruesome, .impressive scene. Thirty human beings, all but three dressed in Indian costumes, ranged round the four squares of the gallows on an elevated platform, with ropes round their necks, dancing and chanting a wierd, fantastic dirge. At the foot of the center post stood Capt. Duly with a sharp ax, ready to cut the rope, which held the ring from which the platform hung. The Captain's wife and children had been butchered by the savages at Lake Shetec, and he had asked the privilege of this important duty on the execution program. David J. Davis of Cambria, whose son had been killed, offered Capt. Duly $5»00 if he would resign the position in his favor, but he refused. Facing the four sides of the gallows in battle fcrray were the military. Two companies of the 9th Reg., 161 men, occupied the side toward the river, and three companies of the 6th Heg., 300 men, the side toward Front street, both in com- 134 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. mand of Col. Wilkin. On the North were 425 men of the 10th Reg. tinder Col. J. H. Baker, while on the south side were 425 men of the 7th Eeg. in command of Lieut. Col. Marshall. Back of the infantry to the north and south were drawn up three companies of the 1st Eeg., moun- ted Eangers, (273 men) in command of Maj. Buell, while Capt. White's mounted men (35 in number) performed patrol duty. In all 1419 soldiers were on the ground. For a portion of the time one company of the 7th and one com- pany of the lOth were detailed under Lieut. Col. Jennison to guard the prison yard. Be- yond the military wefs the populace, a great and motly throng of men, women and children, who had gathered into Mankato from a radius of fifty miles in their lumber wagons drawn by oxen. Many had been on the road all night. The weather was remarkably fine. There was scarcely any snow and the day was so warm that people went about in their shirt sleeves. In' those days the bed of the Minnesota river was situated about where the western two-thirds of the Saul- paugh Hotel now stands, and the scafEold stood so near its bank that there was hardly room for one line of soldiers. As the river was low there was a long sand bank in front of the levee. This was covered with spectators, and so was the opposite bank of the river, which then was no further than the east end of the present bridge. An artist from St. Paul attempted to make a photograph of the scene from an outside stairway, which led to the second story of John J. Shau- but's store, on the northwest corner of Block .14, but the cameras of that day were not well adapted for outside exposures, and the picture was very indistinct and blurred and none of them can now be found. More successful was the picture made by a special artist of Prank Leslie's magazine, prepared from pencil sketches drawn on the spot. As he could only draw a few of the main features of the "scene, and had to fill in all the details from imagination, the picture is far from being accurate as to such de- tails. The late John C. Wise had this picture lithographed in colors and it is now the only pictorial presentation of the event. Harper's weekly had a special artist on the ground, too, but his sketches were not as accurate as that of the Leslie artist. At 10 :16 A. M., everything being ready, Capt. Burt waved his sword as a signal to Maj. Brown, who gave three distinct taps on his drurh. At the last tap the props, which had been put under the platform as a pre- caution against accident, were knocked down and Captain Duly, then took his revenge. Through nervousness he failed on the first stroke, but a second blow of his ax severed the rope, and the platform fell with a crash. The doleful sound of the death dirge suddenly ceased and in its stead a great shout of exultation, rose from the spectators. This shout was started by a young soldier lad, whose father, mother, brothers and sisters had been butchered by one of these very Indians. Pointing his finger straight at the convulsing body of this Indian he gave vent to a shout of triumph, which was caught up by the crowd. Cut Nose, being a heavy person, .snapped his rope and fell partly down the river bank, but his neck was broken and he was dead when picked up, still the soldiers ran him up with a new rope. In twenty minutes the doctors pronounced all dead, and the four teams de- tailed for the purpose, drove to the scafEold, and the bodies were cut down and conveyed to their burial. A long wide trench had been dug in the gravel bed at the upper end of the levee between Front street and the river. Here they were interred by Capt. Burke's company, who acted as a burial party. The interment, however, proved of little value as the bodies were all exhumed that night and carried oil for dissection by various doctors of Southern Minne- sota. The execution passed off without the least disturbance. Though the feeling against the other condemned Indians was most intense, the vast throng behaved vnth perfect order and decorum. On December 20th, 1862, six days before the '.'.locution of the Indians, Chas. B. Hensley, the talented young editor of the "Mankato Inde- pendent," died. His constitution had never been robust. Soon after the Sioux outbreak he Join- ed a company of volunteers, who went with Gen- eral Sibley against the hostile bands. The hard- ships and exposures of the expedition gave him a hard cold, and he returned home sick, and quickly grew worse until the end. The winter HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 135 of 1863-3 was open and very mild, which prov- ed a great boon to the settlers and their stock ior the Indian trouble had given very little op- portunity to prepare for winter. Among the condemned Indians were many who had heard the teachings of the christian re- ligion for some years. Two of their number were professed Christians and members of Dr. Wil- liamson's church. Their names were Robert Hopkins Chaskay and Peter Big Tire. Neither were guilty of the charge of murdering the whites. In fact Eobert Hopkins had been one of the most active wSh John Other Day in res- cuing Dr. Williamson and his family and the other white settlers at the Upper Agency. When it was found that he was among the 303 con- demned to be hanged, the whites, whom he had rescued at the risk of his own life, made a most vigorous protest, which was sent to President Lincoln, and Miss Sarah J. Williamson wrote the president a personal letter in his behalf. As a result he was promptly pardoned. But he and Peter Big Fire had started a work among theii- fellow prisoners, which they counted more im- portant than their liberty. Under their lead a wonderful spiritual revival was started among the convicts. In their defeat by the whites the Indians seemed to regard their Gods as also defeated, and all their old superstition ov^j thrown. Their pride was broken and their con- fidence in themselves gone. The white man's civilization appealed to them as something worth having. It made him so superior to the Indian in power and in wealth. The God who gave him such mysterious advantages over the red man must be the great God, and they would worship him, too, and become like' the white man. They became anxious to hear about the Christ religion. On the Sunday after the execution Eev. Riggs preached to the prisoners in the prison yard. Three hundred dusky warriors, heavily laden with chains, standing in that open court, in the freshly fallen snow, listening intently to the preachers' words, is a picture worthy of a great artist. Dr. Williamson walked from his home in St. Peter once or twice a week all winter to preach to them. The Pond brothers, Samuel W. and Gideon H., came up from Shakopee to speak to them a few times. Eev. Hicks, the Pres- byterian minister at Mankato, addressed them two or tlii-ee times. Through the work of these good missionaries and especially through the ef- foi-ts of Eobert Hopkins and Peter Big Fire, the revival continued to grow, until in February it culminated in a regular Pentecostal time, and Dr. Williamson, Rev. G. H. Pond and Eev. Hicks baptised and received into church mem- biTship nearly three hundred of them in one day. This Feb. 3, 1863, was a day long to be re- membered in the annals of the Dakotas, as the day when they renounced savagery and enlisted under the banner of the cross. A most solemn and impressive service it was when each dusky warrior arose in response to his name, and ad- vancing, confessed his sin, swore allegiance to the King of Heaven and with uplifted hand and bowed head received the ordinance of Bap- tism. As the ministering missionary was famil- iar with the past life of each candidate, he could give each a charge suited to his needs. Instead of idle story telling, gambling and heathen dances, these wild men of the plains spent the whole winter in listening to the word of God, in confessing sin, in prayer and exhor- tation and in singing hymns. Mankato is noted in Sioux history not so much as the place of hanging as the place of the new life, where a nation was born anew in a day. That their conversion was genuine, their after lives fully attest. Among them was Eev. Arte- iiias Ehnameni, for many years the able and de- voted pastor of the Santee Church. Among them also was the father of Dr. Charles H. Eastman, the noted author and preacher, who after his release went in quest of his son to the wilds of western Canada and sent him to college. The many Christian homes they founded, the churches they established and the consecrated lives they led all testify to the magnitude and thoroughness of the Spirit's work at the Mankato prison. Their log Jail was transformed into a school room, and books were in great demand. Before spring most of these condemned men had learned to read and write. The revival spread to the camp at Ft. Snelling and many were there converted. This wonderful spiritual awakening in the Mankato prison is unique in Indian his- 136 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. tory. It originated largely among themselves. It affected nearly every one of the three hundred prisoners, and the sudden and marvelous trans- lormation it worked in the thought and lives of these savages v^as in their picturesque lan- guage "a great mystery/' indeed. The people generally, even at Mankato, were not aware of the tremendous change, which had taken place in the hearts of the captives, and so great was the prejudice against any Indian, that all their manifestations of conversion were looked upon as hypocrisy. To show how we of the Caucasiaii race, with all our boasted civilization, are not far re- moved from barbarism, with its thirst for blood, and revenge, when some great provocation comes to test us, one has but to notice the uncharitable conduct of many of our best people toward the Indian in those days. Too often the spirit of revenge drove out the spirit of Christ. The liouse of Eepresentatives of the State of Minne- sota, in January, 1863, passed, with only one dis- senting vote, a resolution requesting President Ijincoln to hang all the balance of the con- demned Indians at once, but the resolution hap- pily failed of final passage. Then so sane a man as Col. Pratt of St. Peter, because the good peo- ple of Boston and Philadelphia had dared to protest against the hanging of all the Indiajis, had a petition signed by 3,000 persons asking congress to locate the Sioux upon Boston Com- mon and the Winnebagoes in the parks of Phila- delphia, and sent the same to Congress. Mr. Wisa of the "Eecord," much to his credit, denounced the foolish act roundly and other editors of the State did the same. Men who knew the Indian character best, and whose Christian sympathies were broad, like Dr. Williamson, Eev. Eiggs, Father Eavaux and Bishop Whipple, were ready to see the good there was in the Indian and give him credit for it. The Indians were kept in chains, until their limbs were badly chafed. Eev. Eiggs was able to get the chains removed for a short time to let their sores heal, but such were the fears of the people, that the military were obliged soon to restore them. To men always used to the free- dom of the open air, the , constant close con- finement of so many of them in such a small pen began to tell on their health. During the last part of the winter thirteen of them died. On x\pril 22nd, 1863, they left Mankato on the steamboat Favorite and were taken to Davenport, Iowa. There were in the party 270 condemned Indians, forty-eight uneondenmed and fifteen, to twenty squaws. As they were passing Ft. Snel- ling, where their wives and children and com- rades were confined, they sang in their native tongue one of their favorite hymns to the tune of "Old Hundred": "Jehovah, have mercy upon me For thy own mercy sake, Thy loving kindness is very great Therefore place me in thy heart," etc. Their departure from Mankato was the last seen of the great Sioux nation in any numbers in Blue Earth county. A few of the hostiles made two or three raids thereto, but the land that heretofore had known them as a nation, time im- memorial, henceforth knew them no more, nor did hardly one of them see its face again for- ever. At Davenport they were confined in a military prison until the spring of 1866, when their sen- tences were all revoked. But in the meantime about one third of them had died because of their confinement. The remnant were talten to the new Sioux Agency in a barren district of Nebraska. Most of them however, renounced Agency life and government annuities and took claims in South Dakota, and adopted the ways of white men, and there many of their descendants still live on farms leading worthy Christian lives. CHAPTER XV. LEGISLATIVE AID FOE SETTLEES- EVENTS OP 1863 AND 1864. Immediately after the great massacre the gov- of the districts held their elections, but some neg- crnor convened the State Legislature in extra lected so to do. f^ession. On September 26th, 1862, a bill was The roster of the Shelby company has been passed appropriating $25,000.00 for the relief preserved. The captain received his commission of the refugees, hundreds of whom were widows on Febr. 7th, 1863, but the company was not and orphans, and others, who had lost their mustered in until the forenoon of June 8th, all, were also, wholly destitute. On the 29th 1863, when a big dinner was served in the door of September 1862, a Militia Act was passed by yard of Nathaniel Stevens to all the members, the same Legislature, which required every able According to the roster there were seven lumber- bodied male between the ages of 18 years and men, one artist, one mechanic and forty-three 45 years, with certain necessary exceptions, to farmers in the company. The muster roll with be listed in military companies for the defence age and rank was as follows : of the frontier. These lists were to be filed with ^S<^ ., ~ , jT, -, ■, 1,1 -I , Phineas Lattin, Captain 32 the County Auditors, and it was made the duty xilton 0. Allen, First Lieutenant 29 of the County Commissioners to divide their re- Albert M. Stevens^ Second Lieutenant 32 .. J. . , .... T ■ ■ John T. Shank, First iScrgeant 39 spective counties into military divisions, con- Enoch Marsh, Second Sergeant 28 forming as near as possible to township lines, i-i<-orge Boler, Third Sergeant 33 •L T • . , J. T J 1 i_ Robert Shannon, Fourth Sergeant 43 each division to form a company and to elect j^mes Lattimer, First Corporal 37 by ballot its captain, lieutenants and subor- Jfsse Thomas, Second Corporal 33 T , ™. ,, . „. , , Jesse JLack, Third Corporal 28 dmate officers, all superior officers to be ap- ^ath. Stevens, Fourth Corporal 39 pointed by the governor. In accordance with this ^- M. Nash, Fifth Corjioral 34 1,1 T7, ,, ^ , -r -.o^o H. A. Tiffanv, Sixth Corporal 25 inue Earth County was on January, 1863, Wm. Butterfield, Seventh Corpora! 35 divided by its county board into twelve military John Bare, Eighth Corporal 33 districts numbered as follows: Privates: Age No. 1. Mankato. Andrews, O A 23 -.J Andrews, Warren 31 JNO. 2. South Bend. Affolter, Rudolph 43 No. 3. Judson. Arlidge, Alexander 26 ■,-, ^ -r> Austin Patrick — JN 0. 4. Butternut Valley. Bagley, Alvah W 24 No. 5. Watonwan and Pox' Lake. c^'^'^'^^Pd " ™' ^ ^ No. _ 6. Vernon and Ceresco. Buckmister, George' .............................. 2^ No. 7. Shelby and Otsego. Baumgardner, John 38 HT n „. ,. ^ Case, E. L 46 JNo. 8. sterling. Case, Henry R 36 No. 9. Mapleton. Chapman, Darius N 40 vr„ in -r. -11 Childs, B. P — JNo. 10. Danville Ci-andall, Arthur 20 No. 11. Le Eay and Jamestown. Crandall, Wm 31 •vTn io T- Cooper, Geo. W 24 JNo. 12. Lime. Darling, L J 30 Darling, J. A — January 28th, 1863, was designated as the day Day, Pardon B 44 for each district to meet and elect officers. Most Dimo'nd, ° John 35 137 133 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. Age In March, dictrict No. 9 (Mapleton) was Farley, ^en^am'in' ''['.[[['.'.['. '^V^y^V^'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. ^ divided in tlie center, the east half attached to Gere, 'nsIsoii 43 Danville, and the west half to Sterling, and H eSan^" G^eorge ■•.;■.•.:;;•.■.■.;;;::::;;::::::;::;;:: 39 district x\ o. 3 ( judson) was divided and the west Hupt, W. H 34 half attached to Butternut Valley and the east Khlnf' "^iorlee '. ' ^ 30 ^^^^ *" 8°^*^^^ ^^^^- ^^ February 1862 Con- Marsh,' Geo. W — gress passed an act appropriating $300,000 to Aiii^^^' /" ^ 43 indemnify persons damaged by the Sioux War Miller' Tobias 32 and appointed Cyrus Aldrich of Minnesota, J. Purdy, Daniel 18 j,_ p^^.^^^. ^^ Wisconsin and A. S. White of Purdy, Solomon ■^o Roberts, Stephen S 36 Indiana as commissioners to pass on the claims. Eoss, Milton - Q^ Pebruary 28, 1863, the County Board Stevens, Levi — •' ' •" Taylor, C. L — vacated the old townsites of "Crystal Lake City," True"^' Benedior'^'^ ':'.'/".'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. ^ "Mapleton ^ and Watonwan City." March 14, Woodman, Sylvester 43 1863, a new mail route was established to run Young, G. G — horn Mankato by way of Madelia and Sioux The rosters of the other companies are lost. Falls to Ft. Randall Dakota Territory. A list of the officers has been kept in a few About January 1, 1863, a secert society called eases. The principal ofEicers were for instance "Knights of the Forest" was organized at a at Vernon Center: Lucius Terry, Capt., Theodore law office in Block 14 of Mankato. Its pur- Sowers, 1st Lieut., F. C. Mickerson, 2nd Lieut.; pose was to have both Sioux and Winnebago at Sterling, H. Miller, Captain; at South Bend, Indians removed from Minnesota. Sublodges Capt., B. Y. Coffin, 1st Lieut. D. D. Evans, were organized at Garden City and Meridan 2nd Lieut. Edward Jones;, at Butternut Valley, and perhaps elsewhere. Through the work of Captain, Jenkins Williams, 1st Lieut. David J. this society and the persistant clamor of the Williams, 2nd Lieut. David J. Davis, Jr. at Man- people all over the state, congress was finally krtto there were two companies, one composed induced during February and March 1863, to wholly of Germans of which Wm. Bierbauer was at pass acts for the removal of both tribes from first Captain, but in June, when Mr. Bierbauer was Minnesota to Nebraska and South Dakota. We promoted to be major of the Regiment, J. C. have already detailed the circumstances of the Haupt became captain, Phillip Hodapp, 1st departure of the Sioux. A number of the Lieut, and J. Wm. Hoerr 2nd Lieutenant. The friendly Sioux, though, were permitted to locate officers of the other Mankato company were: upon claims in the vicinity of the present vill- Captain, J. W. Batchelder, 1st Lieut. B. F. age of Morton. On April 25, 1863, two days Hotaling, 2nd Lieutenant Daniel Haire. The after the departure of the Sioux, the Winne- Danville and east Mapleton company did not bagoes were officially notified by their agent, elect officers until the fall, when Nelson Gray in a council convened for the purpose, of the was made captain. decision of the government, to remove them to a The regiment composed of the various com- new agency west of the Missouri. These Indians panics in Blue Earth County was designated were much opposed to the removal, and held a 20th Regt. Minnesota State Militia. B. F. number of councils to discuss the matter and to Smith was appointed Colonel, and Henry Shau- express their disapproval. Baptiste Lassallieur, but, Lieut. Colonel. The companies were drilled their head chief, said he had seen the country every few days and there were one or two drills and that it was cold and barren, without tim- of the whole regiment at Mankato. In Sep- ber and not fit for habitation. They blamed old tember of this year D. C. Evans of South Bend Chief Winneshiek for his persistant opposition was commissioned Brigadier General of Militia, to the recent treaty, • which gave them eighty Between the regular soldiers and the militia acres of land in severalty. On May 3, about companies the county presented for two or three forty of them attended by one Marcus Moore years a very military appearance.^ went to Wilton, where Judge Donaldson was HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 139 holding a term of court, and applied for Natur- alization papers, with intent to file on claims. The judge refused their application and the people had Moore arrested. Chief Winneshiek with 200 to 300 followers concluded to rebel, and retiring to Lake Elj'sian defied the authori- ties. This old chief was a strong character and the leader of the conservation party in the tribe, who were bitterly opposed to every inno- vation of civilized life, unless it may be whiskey. He always went clothed in Indian garb and generally carried an old spear rather than a gun. Because of his opposition to everything pertaining to civilization he had been deposed from the head chieftainship. The dishonesty of the whites, both in the distribution of government annuities and in sale of goods by traders, had much to do with fostering this ugly feeling among the Indians. It seems that in the distribution of the last goods sent by the government to this county for •the Winnebagoes, 1,420 blankets had been sent, but only 500 were delivered to the Indians; 1150 yards of blue cloth sent, only 275 yards delivered; 990 yards of gray cloth sent, only 330 yards delivered; 2756 yards of plaid linsey sent, none delivered; 28601^ yards of cloth sent, none delivered; foiir dozen plaid wool shawls sent, none delivered; three dozen extra blanket shawls sent, none delivered. The goods not delivered were estimated as worth $10,000. A citizen of Mankato told the writer of finding a line bolt of blue cloth above mentioned in an attic or shed and running a knife through it, so the thief might not profit by his theft. The authorities were not the only ones to blame, but many of the employees and others thought it no sin to steal from Indians. This is but a sample of what was being done at every Agency and at most every payment. Justus C. Eamsey, brother of governor Eam- sey, was appointed by the government as agent for the removal of the Winnebagoes. A camp was formed to receive them on the river bank, just back of the Hubbard Mill in Mankato, which was designated "Camp Porter," in honor of John J. Porter, who had been most active m their removal. The first installment of these Indians arrived on' May 5, and numbered about 100. The next day (ila}- 6) the 'Winnebagoes under Chief Winneshiek, killed two tSioux spies, who had come to visit them at Lake Elysian, and mutilated their bodies in a shocking manner. Another Sioux, who had married a A\'innebago squaw and had lived with the tribe all winter, left them saying he was going to tell the Sioux. They followed him to the Agency and Idlled him, also, and dismembered his body in a most horrible manner. They cut out his tongue and hung it on a pole, because he had said he would tell the Sioux. Another took his scalp and stretched it on a hoop attached to a pole, another took his head, another an arm. etc. The chief Little Priest cut off his finger nails with strips of skin attached and tied them about his ov/n wrists. A party of about twenty young bucks decked in paint and feathers, with virreaths of weeds and grass on their heads, brought the two Sioux scalps and the tongue, adorned with gay ribbons and fastened on poles, to JIankato with them and paraded along main and Front streets yelling and hooting to the accompani- ment of half a dozen Indian drums. This was done to curry favor with the M'hites and make them think they were the enemies of the Sioux. By May 9 the number of the Winnebagoes at Camp Porter had increased to over 800. On this date a company of soldiers were sent after chief Winneshiek and his party. On this date, also, the first detachment of the Indians took their departure from Mankato; 405 embark- ing on the steamer Pomeroy and 355 on the Eolian. On the first boat the war party with the two Sioux scalps embarked. They sat in a circle on the upper deck with the two scalps hung on poles in the center, pounding on their tomtoms and chanting a wild war song, their half naked bodies besmeared with mud and paint and their long unkempt hair full of grease and long feathers, a very picture of savagery, and thus they passed down the river. A great contrast were they to the conduct of the con- Terted Sioux. On May 10, 1863, 338 more Winnebagoes departed on the Pomeroy, and on the 14 of May about three hundred of Winneshiek's band left on the same boat. The balance of the tribe left in wagons on May 17 for St. Peter, where they took a boat. At Mankato there was much 140 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. rejoicing over their departure; cannons were fired and flags raised. Thus the last Indian left Blue Earth county and a new era dawned upon its history. Here- tofore with six- townships and a half of its Tery best territory in the hands of the Indians the county's growth had been seriously stunted, but now that this great hampering stone of savagery was removed its progress and prosperity were assured. Settlers began rushing into this rich vacant land at once, even before the govern- ment had time to bring it to market. During the fall and winter of 1862-3 ^ com- panies of soldiers were stationed over the county. At Mankato a number of companies were main- tained, because of the Sioux prisoners. At South Bend one or two companies were kept. At Tivoli Company B of the 7th Minn., Capt. Cur- tis was stationed as protection against the Win- nebagoes. At Judson village was Captain Dane's company (E of the 9th). At Garden City a company of the 10th, at Vernon another com- pany of the 10th, and at Horeb church, in the present town of Cambria a portion of Company K of 9th Minn. Early in April company B of the 9th was sent from Judson to St. Peter and thence to. Hutchinson, while company D of the 9th took their place at Judson. This company was noted for its skill in fort building. At Judson they constructed a very vmique sod fort the remains of which may still be seen about eighty rods northeast of the Railway station, tiudge Lorin Cray was a member of this com- pany. About midsummer the fort was aban- . doned, and the company sent to Martin County. Captain Sullivan's company, also constructed an excellent pallisade fort* at Vernon. In the spring of 1863 Gen. Sibley began concentrating the troops at Camp Pope, about twenty-five miles west of Ft. Ridgely, prepara- tory to a campaign against the hostile Sioux in Dakota, and during April and May most of the soldiers in Blue Earth County were sent hither. Mankato was made the base of military supplies and several hundred wagon loads of goods were brought there at once from the var- ious military depots in the valley. The summer was spent by Gen. Sibley in a formidable expedi- tion against the hostile Sioux through Dakota to tlie Missouri River. Other than impressing the Indian with the thought of how big a war party the paleface could get up, it did not accomplish much. Marauding bands of Indians made their appearance throughout the settlements, very early in the spring. On April 16, 1863, a small Scandinavian settlement on the south branch of the Watonwan, twenty-one miles beyond Made- lia, was raided by them, and Ole Erickson, a member of Co. E, ^th, Minn., Christopher Gil- brantson (a boy twelve years old), Gilbrand Palmer, Gabriel Erlingren and Ole Palmerson were killed; and Jas. Small of Co. E, 7th Minn., Mrs. Torgeson, Simeon Roland, wife and a child were wounded. All summer long Indians would be seen every other day, here and there along the frontier, and every little while some settler would be killed or his horses stolen, and the whole country was kept in , a ferment of fear and excitement continually, A line of military posts were maintained along the frontier from Ft. Ridgely to the Iowa line, and scouts kept daily going back and forth between the posts. But all did not avail, for the skulking savages would crawl easily through these lini's, hiding in the brush and tall grass. Every day or two some one saw, or thought ho saw, (which was just as good), Indians here and there in Blue Earth County. In Lime town, Jamestown, at the mouth of the Blue Earth, in LeEay, in Ceresco, at Vernon, in Cambria, South Bend, Shelby and elsewhere Indians were reported during the summer and the militia were kept busy. So unsettled were matters that very little farming was done in the County. When on one of these raids Little Crow was shot and killed on July 3, 1863, near HuiJiin- son, but this did not effect the raids, for the Indians are not dependent upon chiefs. It wa? a squad of Blue Earth County boys belonging to Co. E, 9th Minn., stationed at Hutchinson, who went after the body of Little Crow. About the middle of June 1863 E. P. Evans of Garden City, C. A. Warner of Chaska anS jMr. Thomas of Washington were appointed appraisers of the Winnebago lands. By the fw- visions of Law, 179 of the 334 sections in I'VPTiST Mission Chorck MftNKAVortuP. CHOKCH-UeCORiO 0(f6 TMd T@g«)(J^i^O[?)a ^ 6^^(s^&^(aT©s«^[6)(l(S@(^B^ a>l5T N253 'THe«0FFmflNfiC«O0l.-«fl«KiPTOtV»R^ HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 141 ir county were to be sold on bids, leaving- fty-five sections for preemption. The em-.- rants continued to pour into the hmd froiu II sides. Some had houses ready built on leir wagons, which they occupied, while Ijreak- ig the land. The houses, which had been left t the Agency, were all quickly taken possession f, as were, also, the log cabins, which had been acated by the chiefs and halfbreeds. The settlers of Medo, at a picnic held in a rove on the banks of the Little Cobb, on July. , 1863, began to take steps to organize a 3wn. It was decided at first to call the town Oak Grove," but it was discovered that there fas a town of that name already in the State. )n August 21, this name was changed to "Cam- ridge." Again it was discovered that this lame, also, had been appropriated, and hence, fhen on Sept. 2, 1863, the County Commis- ioners came to formally organize the town, its Id Indian name of "Medo" (small potatoes) ras again adopted. On the same date the old own of Eice Lake was organized imder the [ame of MeClellan (after Gen. i^IcClellan). The first election in Medo was held Sept. 19, ,863, at the cabin of Hiram Stratton, when the ollowing persons were chosen its first super- isors: A. W. Barron, Chairman, S. B. Stebbins nd A. Bagley with Hiram Stratton as Clerk, ^he first election for the town of MeClellan was leld on the same date at the residence of Lucius )yer, when the following persons -n-ere elected : Supervisors, Asa White, J. Y. Colwell and jucius Dyer; Clerk, Henry Foster; Treasurer, I. 0. Bartlett; Assessor, Chas. Manaige; Jus- ices J. L. Alexander and J. W. Colwell, Con- tables Aaron Foyles and Alexander Payer. At he same time the two towns were made the 3th Militia District and each a separate school listrict. At the general election held ?s^ovember 3, 'ledo cast 10 votes, 8 Eepublican and two Demo- ratic; and ^MeClellan 28 votes, 15 Democratic nd 13 Eepublican. The total vote of the ounty was 1,139. Our County went Eepublican y about 250 majority, but the great fight was n the Legislative candidates. Blue Earth and je Sueur Counties being then united as one •legislative District. The Democrats won, J. J. 'orter defeating B. Y. Coffin for the senate, and Jas. A. Wiswell and colleagues being chosen Eepresentatives. The Commissioners appointed by the govern- ment to pass on the claims for damages by reason of the Sioux massacre met at ilankato from the 16th to the 24tli of July, 186:5. In all 2940 claims were filed, amounting to $2,600,- 000 and of these $1,3:)0,000 were allowed. As the appropriation was only $200,000, and all expenses had to be paid out of this, including a salary of $2500 to each Commissioner, and the friendly Indians had to be given quite a slice from it, the percentage paid to the claim- ants was quite small, and from fifteen to twenty-five per cent of this had to be paid to attorneys for collecting it. The great bulk of tiie settlers who were real sufferers, i-eceivcd but small compensation for their losses. Some few doubtless, whose claims were overstrong, may have gotten more than they desen-ed, but not so with the great majority. For while the meek may inherit the earth, they are not always so sure of getting their share of government boun- ties of political preferments. Fourth of July celebrations were held this year at Shelbyville, Crystal Lake and elsewhere. The Shelbyville one was most prominent with Judge ^Yilcox, J. S. Bachckler, Eev. J. C. Con- rad and Eev. Eichardson as speech makers. An open winter and dry summer were not favorable to a good stage of water in the river, and navigation was not as good as the year before. The Jcnnette Eoberts was the first boat on April 3, and she was met at the Man- kato levee by over 1,000 soldiers anrl citizens, who gvivc her a royal welcome, their cheers ei'ho- ing far among the hills. The main traffic was the transportation of troops and military sup- plies. Over 60,000 bushels of wheat were car- ried from Mankato alone. The Flora was a new boat in the trade this year. Since the death of ~SIt. Hensley in December, 1S62, the Independent had been without an editor. ^Ir. Gunning was a good printer, but not adapted for editorial work. John IST. Hall, who was then a very prominent and active leader in the Eepublican party, did most of the work. In July, 1863 the paper was sold to Chas. H. Slocum, who changed its name to 142 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. "The Union" and published his first issue under date of July 17, 1863. The last of May of this same year Mr. Wise of the "Record" purchased of the Baptist So- ciety a frame building they had been using as a church in block twelve, Mankato, which he occupied with his paper about the first of June. This location has ever since been the home of "The Eecord" and its successor "The Review." In the spring of 1863, the Catholic peo- ple of Mankato and vicinity began agitating the establishment • of a parochial school, and a society was organized, which by midsummer, had a membership of nmety. The initiation fee was $2.00 and the tuition price fixed at $3.50 a year. Through the untiring efforts of Father Sommereisen the Sisters of Notre Dame of Milwaukee, Wis., were induced to open a school that fall at Mankato. A portion of the church was fitted up for the purpose. So far the Protestants had no regular church building in Mankato. This year the Presby- terians began to urge earnestly the building cf a church edifice, and purchased the lot now occupied by the Security Flats for the purpose. This year Bierbauer and Eockey purchased the South Bend Flour mill and also the large sawmill on the Bhie Earth in West Mankato, the machineries of which they removed to buildings they had erected for the purpose on the corner of Front and Eock streets, in Man- kato, where they conducted an extensive milling business for years. On June 24th, 1863, the Mapleton steam saw mill of Middlebrook Bros, was burned, leav- ing that section of the county destitute of all mill privileges. On Aug. 1st, 1863, Wm. H. Blackmer of Shelljyville was appointed deputy Provost Marshall for Blue Earth County and on his enlisting in the army a month later J. T. Williams was made his successor. At this time the great civil war was calling for every efl'ort to save the Union. On the return of Gen. Sibley in September, 1863, the government ordered the 7th, 9th, and 10th, Jlinn., Eegiments South. There was gloom and sorrow in many a home over the parting and, not only because of the danger of southern battlefields to which the boys were going, but also, because of the danger to helpless wife and children, and aged parents left at home, ex- posed to the raids of the hundreds of skulking savages, still on the war path. On Sept. 30th, the ladies of Mankato pre- pared a big banquet for the soldiers before their departure. But the government was not satisfied with sending these regiments into the smoke of the great conflict but more men were called for, and the dread specter of those days, the draft, was hovering over every home, where there was a man or boy left. War meetings were held again this fall in every neighborhood through the county, and the towns whose quotas of enlist- ed men were not full, were making every effort to fill them and escape the draft. Doctors and lawyers agreed to give their services free, mer- chants offered barrels of flour to the families of such as would enlist. High School boys banded themselves to saw wood for the soldiers famil- ies. There were many enlistments made over the county, most of whom went into the second Eeg. Minn., Cavalry. Until late in the fall the government had sent no supplies to the new Winnebago and Sioux reservations, far out on the Missouri, and they had no food for the winter. James B. Hubbell of Mankato took the contract, and about the first of November, 1863, he started with a long train of supplies. The per- ils of winter storms and hostile Indians was so great, that many belonging to the military escort and teamsters furnished by the govern- raent. mutinied near Crystal Lake. The burrs were, taken off the wagon wheels at night and hid, and many men deserted. Mr. Hubbell, with his wonted push and energy, got a number of Blue Earth County farmers to help him and in spite of every obstacle delivered the supplies at their destination, an almost incredible feat. The adventures of this expedition read like a romance, but are outside this history. It is said the contractor received nine cents a pound for the transportation, amounting to about $54,000.00. The expedition made the distance of 280 miles in eighteen days. In 1862, Blue Earth County produced 73,- HISTOEY OP BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 143 511 bushels of wheat, 6,355 bushels of rye, 2,- G41- bushels of barley, 60,889 bushels of oats, 1,563 bushels of buckwheat, 101,423 bushels of com and 57,145 bushels of potatoes. In February, 1864, J. A. Wiswell had a bill enacted by the Legislature changing the name of the town of Watonwan to "Garden City.'^ A bill was, also, passed authorizing Blue Earth County to vote on the proposition to issue bonds to build the following bridges: $6,000.00 over Blue Earth at Mankato, $1,300.00 at Garden City, $1,200.00 at Vernon, $1,500.00 over the Le Sueur on Agency road. At the special elec- tion in April the measure was defeated by a vote of 382 to 306. The Legislature had, also, authorized Man- kato to issue $10,000.00 in bonds to build a new school house and the bonds were voted on April 2nd, 1864. During the winter of 1863-4 there was much excitement over the alleged discovery of coal on the Big Cottonwood by Prof. Eames, a geologist from Indiana. Th's in the summer of 18'64, brought on an epidemic of coal discoveries in Blue Earth County. There was, also, much talk in our county, and especially in Mankato, regarding the "St. Paul and Sioux City," and the "Winona and St. Peter" railways. During the summer survey- ing parties of these railways were at work in the county. In March, 1864, the County Commissioners attached the south tier of sections in Town lOS, Range twenty-five to LoEay and the south tier of sections in town 108, range twenty-six to Mankato, and in May the South tier of sections in Town 108, Eange twenty-seven were attached to South Bend and Mankato. On May 2nd, 1864, David Wilcox was appointed county Sup- erintendent of schools at a salary of $200.00 a year. The winter of 1863-4, after a few weeks of severe weather during the holidays broke up early and some seeding was done in February. A? there was but little snow or rain the river was rather low. The first boat at Mankato was the Jeanette Eoberts on April 16th. A new boat called "Mankato" was put on the Jlinnesota late this year. The citizens of the county seat were so pleased with the compliment done them in the matter of name, that they presented the boat next spring with a new $30.00 flag. The Eockey and Bierbauer new steam fiour mill be- gan operations in April. On January 15th, 1864, J. T. WilHams re- signed as County Treasurer and E. D. B. Por- ter was appointed in his stead, and on March 2fith J. J. Lewis of Sterling was appointed County Commissioner in place of Xelson Gray, who resigned. During May and June there was a great immigration into the Winnebago lands. In June, 1864, occurred the disastrous battle of Guntown, Miss., in which the 9th Minnesota suffered severelj^, causing great gloom and sor- row in many a Blue Earth County home as two or three of its companies had been largely recruited there. With the opening of spring in 1864, the In- dians began their raids into the settlements, mostl)' for the purpose of stealing horses. The friendly Indians laid much of the blame of these continued hostilities to false reports circulated among the Warring bands by a certain Indian named Enoch, to the effect that the whites had hung all the Indian prisoners. That the woods in the vicinity of Mankato were full of their skeletons. This so exasperated their relatives among the hostiles that they made these raids in quest of revenge. On May 18th, 1864, a hostile band raided a Settlement near Ma- delia and killed a boy named Jorgenson, and wounded a soldier. On May 31st a man named Dodge discovered an Indian in the woods near his home in South Bend, and with half a dozen soldiers of Company M. 2nd Cav., then stationed at South Bend village, he went in search and found him seated on a log smoking and one of the soldiers (a half breed Chippeway) shot and killed him. Almost ever\' week during the whole summer Indians were seen here and there along the frontier and a number of whites and Indians were killed. About four o'clock in the afternoon of Thurs- day, August 11th, 1864, ISToble G. Eoot, with his two sons, Edward, aged 13 years, and Isaac S., 11 years years old, was in his field in section four of Shelby stacking some oats. Two In- dians suddendly emerged from the timber near by and were upon him before he was aware of 144 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. their presence. The main purpose of the In- dians was to steal his horses, hnt Mr. Eoot was a brave man and faced the foe in defence of his property. One of the Indians immediately shot him in the breast inflicting a mortal wound. See- ing their father fall, the two boys slipped down from the load and ran for the brush. One of the Indians fired after them and hit Edward in tlie shoulder making a painful, but not very ser- ious wound. The savages then cut the horses loose from the wagon and mounting them hur- ried off to the west. Edward now came back to his father, whom he found still alive and con- scious, procured water for him and watched be- side him for an hour or two, until he died. Other members of the family rushed off to the neighbors for help. In the meantime the two In- dians crossed to the west side of the Blue Earth and were joined by five or six others. On the knoll of the old cemetery near the center of section six of Shelby they found some horses grazing, and, by means of a long rope held at either end by the two mounted Indians, they drove them toward a fence to coral them. On the forty acres just west of the cemetery Jesse Mack, James H. Hindman and Cornelius Pox were loading some loose grain, the former on the load and the two latter on the ground pitching. The Indians discovering they had a span of horses, started for them at once. The whites saw them coming and Hindman climbed upon the load, but before Fox could do so. Mack had prodded the team to a gallop, so he clung to the rear. It was a mad race across the field toward Willow Creek. In crossing a dead furrow Mr. Hindman was thrown clear off the load. He picked himself up quickly still clinging to his pitchfork and started to run, but when he got the dirt out of . his eyes, he saw that he was going towards the Indians. It did not take him- long to change his direction, but the Indians paid no attention to him, as they were after the horses. Mr. Mack finally won the race and hid his horses in a grove by Oliver Mather's house. He procured there Wm. McQueen's gun, with which to defend himself and team. The Indians in their chase after Jesse Mack discovered some- horses tied around the house of Gustavus McCollum on the south of northwest quarter of section 13 of Pleasaiit' Mound, on west side of Willow Creek. A num- ber of neighbors were gathered there for a so- cial time and a supper. When the Indians ap- l)eared on the scene there was a great scattering. Jesse Thomas got hold of an old rusty rifle, which would not go off, and by flourishing it managed to scare away the Indians, while he and his wife mounted their own horses and rode away. The In- ' dians managed to secure two or three horses here and hurried off to the south. About a mile up Wil- low Creek they spied Chas. C. Mack, usually called "Squire Mack," the father of Jesse Mack, cutting hay along the west bank of a small branch of the creek, near the west line of sec- tion 23, with a span of horses and a mower. Before he was aware the foe were upon him and shot him dead. The Hindman children, who witnessed the tragedy from a distance, said the Squire had quite a quarrel with the Indians be- fore he was shot. The horses ran a few rods until the mower was broken and then were cap- tured by the Indians. Each Indian being now supplied, with a horse they galloped off to the west. When they reached Mr. Hindman's house on the northeast corner of section 27 of Pleasant Mound, they stopped and broke into it just as the children escaped by a back door and hid in a slough near by. Mrs. Hindman had not re- turned from the McCollum quilting party. The Indians ransacked the house from cellar to gar- ret ; carried out the feather beds and emptied them in the yard; the flour they threw out with the feathers. They took the works out of the clock and carried them off as jewelry. They also appropriated whatever suited their fancy, and destroyed most of what they left. Mr. Hindman, whom we left making rapid progress from the Mack field after being thrown from the load am'ong the blood thirsty savages,' fled into the brush of Willow Creek. After following the head of the stream in the direction of his home about half a mile he ventured up on the bank, where there was a little clearing. There looking straight at him and only a few rods away were those same Indians. Hindman was too much astonished and out of breath to ■ run so he and the Indians stood facing each other. One of the savages drew a big knife- HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 145 and came straight towards him. He still had his pitchfork and promptly brought it to a charg- ing position. When within a few feet of the fork tines the Indian halted and he and Hind- man looked each other in the eye for a few moments. The Indian did not like the looks of the pitchfork and concluded to retreat and Hind- man came to the same conclusion and after he had gotten an opportunity to start it did not take him long to leave that neighborhood. He lied down the creek to the home of Mr. Mack, where he found his own pony, which he had rid- den there that morning. Mounting him he made all speed to his home which he reached after sundown. He found the house deserted and plundered. Eemounting his pony he started full speed down the road for the McCollum home. When he had gone a little ways his pony looked sharply to one side and neighed. Hindman peered in the direction indicated through the twilight and there not over 300 feet away were those Indians again. It is needless to say tha.4 the pony did not have time to either neigh or look sideways again for many miles. Proceeding westward they next broke into the home of Esv. tsaac Gardiner, a preacher of the United- Brethren church, who lived on the north- east quarter of section 20. Gardiner and his family fled from the house on the approach of the Indians and escaped southward. The In- dians carried off with them a lot of good cloth- ing they found here and continued their re- treat westward. The excitement in Shelby, Pleasant Mound and Vernon that night was intense. The set- tlers everywhere deserted their homes. Some fled to Shelbyville; others to "Vernon, where there was a good stockade built around the Smith Ho- tel, while others still gathered at Mr. Harriman's log house midway between the two villages. Early next morning the Shelby militia under Capt. Phineas Lattin, mounted and armed with condemned government muskets, started in pur- suit of the Indians. They found the body of Squire Mack and sent it back to Vernon. They, also, found the Hindman children, hiding in the slough hack of their pillaged home, where they had passed the night. From here westward by Eev. Gardiner's house and beyond the west line of the county, it was easy to fol- low the trail, as it was strewn with pillows, quilts and articles of clothing, which the sav- ages had dropped by the way. But far out in Watonwan County the trail was lost and, after continuing the pursuit beyond where St. James now stands, the militia returned. This same day messengers were sent to Mankato and to Fort Eidgely with news of the outrage. Capt. Smith with a squad of eight men of Second cavalry were dispatched from the fort at once. It is claimed Capt. Smith came up with the Indians late in the afternoon and had a brush with them; but they hid in the tall grass of a lake. As there were eight of them, the cap- tain concluded that discretion was the best part of valor, so let them go. Friday evening B. D. Pay was dispatched to St. Paul as a special envoy to Gov. Miller for military aid. This same Friday evening Major Ed. Bradley left Mankato with a company of mounted militia, who pursued after the Indians about 125 miles, but failed to overtake them. In response to Mr. Pay's appeal Gov. Miller dispatched twenty men of Company K, second Cavalry and twenty men of Brackett's Battalion from Fort Snelling to aid in the pursuit, but the Indians had made good their escape into the Dakota plains long before their arrival. Immediately after this raid companies of minute men were organized all over the county. At Mankato A. M. Collins was made captain, .1. C Haupt first lieutenant and W. J. Duly, second lieutenant of such a company. At Ver- non a company of twenty-two men was organized with A. D. Mason second lieutenant. At Shel- byville a lilce company was formed and at Gar- den City. Major Evans suggested the idea of getting twenty-five negro hounds to hunt the Indians with. On the 38th of August, 1864, the men who had enlisted from Blue Earth County in Com- pany C, 11th Minn., Vol., rendezvoused at Man- kato preparatory to their departure for Ft. Snelling to enlist. T. E. Potter of Garden City was made their Captain and James Can- non of Mankato- second Lieutenant. CHAPTER XVI. CLOSING EVENTS OF 1864— MURDEE OF THE JEWETT FAMILY. During the summer of 1864 Silas Kenworthy of a great educational university at Mankato, and his sons-in-law, H. Mendenhall and Jas. B. had built him a large frame house on the brow Swan, began the erection on the Blue Earth of of ' the high bluff overlooking the present St. the famous Eapidan Mill. About the same Joseph's hospital in Mankato. Here he opened time C. P. Cook, a nursery man of Garden City, a 3'oung ladies' seminary on November 1st, 1864. purchased a tract of land with a water power It was called ''Woodland Seminary," and mo- thereon lower down on the Blue Earth. Here deled after the plan of Mt. Holyoke seminary, he laid out a townsite called "Eapidan," after The instructors were Miss Angle Crosby, assistant, a stream in Virginia just then prominent in who was an experienced teacher, fine singer, the operations of the Army of the Potomac, good housekeeper and manager; Miss Eliza W. Thither he removed much of his nursery late Huggins and her sister Nannie, who had both that fall. During the same fall a saw and grist been in mission work among the Sioux and mill was fitted up and put into operation by were fine teachers, and Miss Belden, the music Aaron Hilton at Winnebago Agency. teacher. The curriculum included besides Eng- September 21st, 1864, the Sunday schools of lish, German and French, and the tuition ranged the county held a big picnic on the banks of from $7.50 to $13.50 per term. The parlor was Loon Lake. On October 25th the first teachers' seated and desked for .about forty pupils, the institute was held at the Farmers' Hall in Gar- next room had a piano and was devoted to den City, at which addresses were made by Eev. music study. There were about twenty-five Jas. Thomson, E. D. B. Porter and J. G. boarding pupils and eight or ten day scholars Craver. It may be of interest to give a list of in attendance. Each girl boarder brought her those present at this first public school insti- own food and was required to do one hour's tute, which is as follows : Eev. Jas. Thomson, work each day, and for that purpose the school Eev. I. Case, E. D. B. Porter, Jas. Miller, S. was systematically divided. Two girls were C. Clark, Dr. Welcome, Lem. Crane, Calvin to prepare breakfast, getting up at 4:30 A. M., Ellis, J. Bookwalter, J. E. Edsell, Edwin so the morning meal could be served promptly Craven, Carrie Pease, Clara JMcKenney, H. at six o'clock each morning; two were to clear Libbie Millet, Ella Clark, Emma Smith, Eliza- the table and wash the breakfast dishes, one beth Friend, Eliza A. Barney, Mary E. Jones, was to spend her hour sweeping and dusting, Nettie Hanna, Annie Patterson, Carrie Burgess, two prepared dinner and two washed the dishes Jennette Conklin, Florence Evans, Vernette after that meal, etc. Father Thomson was a Cram, Anna Parks, Hattie Eew, Emily Folsom, Puritan of the Puritans. He got up regularly Sarah A. Conklin, Isabella S. Burgess, Stella at 3:30 A. M., winter and summer, and all Sullivan, Prudence Degraff, Amanda Gail, Addie were to rise at 5 :30 A. M. After breakfast a Gail, Julia Marvin, Jennie Marvin, Ella Wei- half hour was devoted to morning worship, come, A. C. Barney, Secretary, and David Wil- The girls published a paper called the 'TVood- eox, President. land Lighthouse," which was issued every two Father Thomson, whose hobby ever since he weeks. Miss Huggins! health failing, she re- came to Minnesota had been the establishment signed after the first term, and was succeeded 147 148 HISTOEY OP BLUB EAETH COUNTY. by Miss Martha T. Eiggs, daughter of the noted missionary. A few of the girls, who attended this old-time seminary are among the honored matrons of the county, and love to tell of the good old days when they attended Woodland Seminary. After about a year and a half Father Thomson was obliged to abandon this educational project, because of the lack of funds and the failing health of his wife, and Wood- land Seminary was no more. The old building still stands on the brow of the blufE, now almost a ruin. This year (1864) we note the first recorded attempt to manufacture sorghum in the coun- ty by A. J. Crisp of Judson. Doubtless, others had started the industry before this, for in the early sixties it became quite common over the county. In the fall of this year the grasshoppers made their appearance in large numbers in the pres- ent town of Cambria, devouring all the late crops. The political situation in the fall of 1864 was as interesting as usual. There was a warm contest in the Eepublican primaries over the nomination for District Judge between Sherman Finch of Mankato and Horace Austin of St. Peter. • The convention was held at St. Peter and Mr. Austin won by one vote, and was elected that fall over Judge Branson, the Demo- cratic nominee. The Eepublicans were again successful in Blue Earth County. The news of the re-election of President Lincoln gave the Eepublicans great cause for rejoicing. The girls of Woodland Seminary, being great admirers of the War President, celebrated the event by a grand illumination of their building, which because of the conspicuous situation, was quite effective. Senator Wilkinson in his distribution of gov- ernment patronage had made many enemies in his own party. Not one in ten of the various applicants for office could receive appointments and the nine unsuccessful ones felt ugly towards him. Then the Senator, in spite of his great ability and integritj^, had one very vulnerable point. He was addicted to intemperate hab- its, which drove from him the support of many of the best people of his party. The result was that he failed of re-election, and a man of very mediocre ability succeeded him. Among the other events of 1864 was the building of the Presbyterian church, which was first occupied on November 37th, when the first sermon in it was preached by Father Thomson. On March 2nd, 1865, Mr. L. C. Harrington, then a member of the Legislature, secured the passage of a bill changing the name of the town of "McClelan" to "McPherson," in honor of the noted Union General of the Civil War, and also changing the name of "De Soto" to "Eapidan." The town of McClelan, being set- tled largely by people of the Democratic faith, made a vigorous objection to the change, but it availed not. The Eepublicans were in the ma- jority, and party spirit ran high in those days. During the winter Capt. Hugh G. Owens was busy recruiting a company for Heavy Artillery service in the war. In February, 1865, this company was mustered in, as Company F. On February 24, 1865, the first medical so- ciety was organized at the Mankato House by the physicians of Blue Earth and adjoining counties. The officers selected were: President, Dr. W. E. McMahan of Mankato. Vice-President, Dr. A. W. Daniels of St. Peter. Secretary, Dr. Wm. Frisbie of Mankato. Corresponding Secretaries, Drs. Weschke of New Ulm, and J. W. B. Welcome of Garden City. Comniittee on Constitution and Bylaws, Drs. La Dow of St. Peter, Frisbie and Zenopolski of Mankato, Welcome of Garden City, and Fran- cis of Sterling. The winter of 1864-5 was quite mild, with hardly any snow until March, when there was quite a fall. Between the snow and copious rains the navigation of the Minnesota was quite good in the spring and sunamer of 1865. The Mollie Mohler and Julia entered the river as new boats. Other boats engaged were the Albany, Mankato, Ariel, Stella Whipple, Lans- ing, General Sheridan and others. These boats brought up on their first trips over fifty wagon loads of goods for Garden City, Vernon, Shel- byville and other towns along the Blue Earth, which required mnch teaming. The boats car- HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 149 ried back with them over 145,000 bushels of wheat from Mankato alone. The public school teachers of Blue Earth county held another meeting of their new as- sociation at Mankato on April 19th, 1865, when the following officers were elected : President, Prof. J. G. Craven. Vice-Presidents, E«v. Thos. Marshall and Jas. A. Wiswell. Recording Secretary, Miss Carrie Pease. Cor. Secretary, Miss J. A. Parsons. Treasurer, Miss M. E. Walker. Editor, D. Wilcox. Associate Editors, E. Middlebrook, M. P. Hathaway, Miss E. L. Miller, Miss Anna Jenkins, Miss A. M. Crosby and Miss A. Per- rin. About thirty or forty teachers were in attendance. Andrew J. Jewett had for a number of years been a prominent citizen of Garden City, where for a time he had held the posi- tion of Postmaster. He was very active and energetic both in the local politics of the county and in business. The previous sum- mer he had purchased the northwest quarter of section thirty-three in Eapidan, built there- on a neat log house, and was living there with his wife, Harriet Jewett, their two year old son, William, and Mr. Jewett's parents, Mark Jewett aged seventy-three and Susan Jewett aged sixty-three, the latter being an invalid. With the family working at this time was a young man twenty years old named Chas. Taylor, a relative of the Jewett's, whose father, Moses Taylor, had been killed by a horse kick the year before, and whose widowed mother lived on the claim across the road from S. T. Mills in Garden City. Mr. Jewett was now about thirty-two years old and Mrs. Jewett about thirty, both in the prime of life. Mr. Jewett had a friend in the army, Mar- shall T. Fall, 3nd Lieut, of Co. B, Brackett's Battalion of Cavalry, who, about the first of April, 1865, sent Mr. Jewett some $500.00 in money to pay for a farm he had bid off for him at the second sale of the Winnebago lands, which payment it was expected would be demanded soon. It seems that in Com- pany A of the same regiment was a half breed Sioux, named John L. Campbell, a brother of Baptiste Campbell, one of the thirty-eight Indians hung at Mankato in 1862. He had got well acquainted with Lieut. Fall, having occupied the same tent, and knew of his send- ing the money to Mr. Jewett and where the latter was living in Blue Earth County. He had always borne a hard reputation and was accused of two or three murders among the Indians. Soon after Lieut. Fall had sent the money, Campbell deserted and came back to Minnesota. He repaired immediately to Ft. Ridgely and thence went west, where he met among the hostile bands some of his old Indian and half breed friends. Five of these he induced to join him in a raid into Blue Earth County, pretending he wished to avenge the death of his brother, and also holding out prospects of rich booty in horses and goods. The success of former raids, which had been made into the same locality, was also pointed out. Stealing cautiously by the lines of mili- tary posts, they arrived near the Jewett home on the evening of May 1st, 1865. The next morning at about half past six o'clock while the family were eating breakfast, the Indians came upon them suddenly through the east door of the cabin. There was another door at the North end of the cabin, and Mrs. Jewett snatched up her little boy and dashed out through this door, followed by her husband. Some of the Indians fired upon them and ]iursued them. Mr. lewett fell within four rods of the house with a bullet through ids breast. The wound was not necessarily fatal, but an Indian immediately struck him with his tomahawk over the right eye fracturing his skull and killing him instantly. His wife fell dead in the path about eight rods from the house with a bullet near the heart. The little child was struck a severe blow on the head and left on the ground for dead, ten feet from its mother. Twenty rods north of the house, in a small ravine in the timber, Chas. Tyler was chopping. Him they shot dead through the breast with a ball, a buckshot, and an arrow. Mark Jewett, the old gentle- man had apparently just pushed his chair back from the table when he was shot in the 150 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. forehead^ the ball coming out near the crown. An Indian had then dealt him two terrible blows with his tomahawk, one cut, a gash five inches long, extending from the top of the head to near the right ear, the second gash, about an inch forward of the other was about three inches long. Mrs. Jewett, St., had been tomahawked in bed. One of the savages had struck her with the back of his tomahawk on the forehead and nose smashing that part of her head in, and on top of her head, and on the right of her forehead were two fright- ful gashes made by the blade of the tomahawk. She must have been killed instantly. The In- dians then plundered the house and took a horse, which Jewett owned, and John Camp- bell secured the money. Taking the horse and other booty with them the Indians went diagonally across the Rapi- dan prairie in a northeasterly direction and entered the Le Sueur timber just north of a little ravine on the Gilbert Webster land in section eleven, where they built a fire and cooked their dinner. They were seen, when passing over the prairie, by a son of H. C. Eberhart while herding sheep and it may be by one or two other persons. Having no further use for his associates, Campbell left after dinner and took the road for Mankato, evidently intending to go to his mother's home at Traverse Des Sioux. His main object evidently had been to secure the money and he used his five Indian comrades merely as tools to help secure the booty, and to hide his crime, for he thought the whites, when they discovered the deed, would naturally at- tribute it to these, five hostiles. Why he in- duced his fellow Indians to make the timber and bluffs of the Le Sueur back of Mankato their hiding place, or under . what pretext he left them will never be known. Certainly no better hiding place could be found in the county, and moreover it was admirably situa- ted for carrying out the pretended objects of the expedition, to attack Mankato and steal horses. It is quite likely that the plan de- termined upon between Campbell and the other Indians was for him to go to Mankato as a white man, unarmed, and thus spy out the best way to make the attack and, also, learn where there were horses to steal. Wheth- er Campbell had any thought of carrying out such designs may well be doubted. It probably was only a way of getting rid of his Indian allies, now that his purpose with them had been accomplished. How his plans were foiled we shall see later. Mr. Harlow, a neighbor of Jewett heard the firing about six o'clock in the morning, but thought nothing of it at the time. About two hours later he went over to Jewett's home to bor- row a wagon. As he approached the house he came upon Mrs. Jewett lying dead in the path and a few feet from her lay the child unconscious, but breathing. Nearer the house, but to one side lay A. J. Jewett dead. In the house a fearful sight greeted him. The elder Jewett, lying in his blood on the floor with his brains oozing from the gashes in his head, but still alive. The elder Mrs. Jewett lying on the bed all covered with blood and her head and face smashed beyond recognization. The table set for breakfast, the chairs upturned, the chests, trunks, bureaus, cupboards and beds broken open, ransacked and contents scattered over the floor. The upstairs rooms showing llie same ransacking and confusion. Mr. Harlow did not tarry long amid these scenes of horror and death, but ran and told a Mr. Burgess, and a messenger was dispatched immediately to Garden City, four or five miles away, with news of the awful tragedy. Maj- or E. P. Evans was a brother of the elder Mrs. Jewett and, with a number of Garden City citizens, he repaired at once to the Jew- ett home, and the dead and wounded were carried to Garden City. The elder Mr. Jewett recovered consciousness for a short time the next morning. He said there were five or six Indians, in Indian costume, with guns and bows and arrows. He tried to tell more but could not be understood. He died on this second day. The child however, recovered and is now a resident of Mankato. B. D. Pay v/ho was then in the livery business at Man- kato, was returning home that morning of May 2nd, from Sterling, whither he had taken the Goff family. When passing not far from HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 151 the Jewett claim he met J. T. Williams and T. M. Pugh ia a buggy and shortly after this they were told of the murder. Turning back they . overtook Mr. Pay and informed him and then Williams having the swiftest horse hur- ried ahead to carry the news to Mankato. When Mr. Pay got near the north line of Ea- pidan he saw, some distance aiiead of him in the road, a man walking towards Mankato, but he soon disappeared behind a spur of tim- ber. As he was descending the hill towards John A. Jones he saw the man again walking through the woods parallel with the road. When Campbell (for it was he) reached John A. Jones' cabin, he turned in and asked for a glass of water. While Mr. Jones was after a fresh supply from a nearby spring, 0. W. Dodge rode up to inquire if the Mankato Company had just passed, and was telling Campbell of the murder, and on Jones return was relating the facts to him, also, when Camp- bell suddenly started down the road without wait- ing for his glass of water. This singular conduct, coupled with the fact that he was three- fourths Sioux and a stranger aroused Mr. Jones' suspicion and he communicated the same to Dodge and advised him to arrest him and take him to Mankato. Dodge turned back and putting spurs to his horse soon over- took Campbell and, after asking him a few questions, and receiving evasive answers, drew his revolver and put him under arrest and brought him to Mankato. He was taken to the Clifton House, where a crowd soon gath- ered and began plying him with questions. He claimed his named was Pelky, that he was a halfbreed Winnebago and had been working for some farmer. Isaac Marks knew him well, however, and told the people so. That his real name was John Campbell, and that his mother lived at Traverse des Sioux, and that he was a bad rascal. Campbell de- nied all this strenuously, and was such a good talker and appeared to be so straight for- ward, that the people were inclined to believe him at first. He called Mr. Flower and Mr. Pay to one side and told them he would show them some Indians if they would go with him. He was finally lodged in the county jail to await developments. Deputy sheriff, John Lor- ing, in the excitement, neglected to search him when putting him in the cell. A few Mankato citizens began investigating some of Campbell's stories and found many of ithem contradictory and false. That night a few persons took him out of the jail, put a noose about his neck and tried by torture to force confession out of him, but it did not avail, as his Indian nature was proof against any torture that might be applied. They then searched his clothing and found in his pocket a lady's white handkerchief, with the corner, where the initial of the name would naturally be, cut off and the towel still wet and having some blood on it. A piece of soap, a pair of Chippeway moccasins, a plug of tobacco, an old Jackknife and $5.00 in greenbacks were also, found. It was also discovered that he had two pairs of ladies white wool hose on his feet, and a pair of gents shoes that were not the best fit. They also discovered that he had on a broadcloth coat and a pair of new pants. These items of clothing were made into a bun- dle and sent that night by the hand of B. D. Pay to Garden City to be inspected by the relatives of the Jewett family. Mr. Pay stop- ped first at the Tyler home at the outlet ol Mills Lake. Eva Tyler, sister of the young man who had just been murdered with the Jewetts, had been working for the Jewetts until two days before, and was very familiar with their clothing. She described the coat before seeing it and her description tallied ex- actly, even to a certain small triangular rent ou the sleeve, which has been darned, and when the coat was shown her she identified it at once as the one her uncle, Julius Jewett, had brought with him from Boston and given to his father, the elder Jewett. She also rec- ognized the pants as the same her uncle had bought at Slocum's store in Garden City and given to his father but which he had never ^','orn. The stockings she identified as exactly like what Grandma Jewett wore, the shoes were just like the pair her uncle, A. J. Jewett, wore, and the towel exactly like one of the Jewett towels, but she remembered no special marks on these articles. Mr. Pay then went on to Garden 152 HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. City where Mrs. E. P. Evans identified both coat and shoes and Mrs. Benjamin Evans recognized the coat, shoes, and both pairs of stockings. Andrew had been over to their house the Sun- day before and she had joked him about wear- ing his brother's coat and having such square shoes. The pants she, also, identified as the new pair bought for Jewett, Sr., and the stock- ings belonged to Grandma Jewett, one pair of which, Mrs. Evans recognized as having been knit by the old lady, when on a visit to her home. The clothing having been positively identified as belonging to the Jewett family, Mr. Pay returned to Mankato by morning with his report. During this same night, while Pay was at Garden City, Peter Kelley, a frontierman, arrived at Man- kato from Eed Wood and said Louis Eoberts, the old Sioux trader and steamboat man, had sent word that Scott Campbell, a halfbreed Sioux trapper, had told him, that his brother, John Campbell, was heading a marauding band of Indians to steal horses and attack Mankato and to be on the lookout for them. Kelly knew John Campbell well and was at once taken to the jail and immediately identified him. Camp- bell now saw he could not hide his identity any longer and admitted that he was John Campbell and not Pelky, and that Scott Campbell was his brother and that his mother lived at Traverse des Sioux, near Myrick's store. Next morning when he found that the clothing too had been identified he told a new story to the effect, that he had been taken prisoner by a band of In- dians, while out near Pt. Wadsworth, on the Dakota line. He said there were nine bands of them, and he gave the number and leader of each band. That they came down to the Blue Earth river the day before. That about noon that day near the Jones' ford on the Blue Earth a number of Indians, who had been away from the rest since the night before, took his own clothes away from him and gave him in- stead the clothes he had on. That these In- dians were now hiding in the woods of the Le Sueur back of Mankato. That he had managed that afternoon to escape from them, but knew nothing of any murder. The excitement at Mankato, Garden City and all over the county was now intense. The identification of the clothing and the contradic- tory statements made by Campbell made it cer- tain to everybody that he was one of the mur- derers. Early Wednesday morning the people from Garden City, South Bend and all the surrounding country came pouring into Mankato until a crowd of 800 men had gathered in the vicinity of the Mankato House and the jail and it was evident from the temper of the mob that there was to be a lynching. Speeches were made by Daniel Buck, J. A. Willard, Eev. Adams and others on the street corners. Some advised strongly against lynching and wanted the law to take its course in the matter, others made fiery speeches in favor of hanging the murderer at once. He had showed no mercy to the Jewett family, why should any be shown him? These sentiments seemed to please the great ma- jority and cries of, "Hang the villain." "Get the rope ready" were heard everywhere. There was a general impression among the people at that time that Gen. Sibley sympathized with the Indians, and fears were entertained that, when he heard of the arrest of Campbell, he would send the military and take him to Pt. Snelling or elsewhere and that there was a chance of his escaping the gallows like most of •the other condemned Indians. Col. B. P. Smith, who was in command of the militia of Blue Earth County, in a speech declared he would not tolerate any lynching. That the accused must be regularly tried and convicted of murder by a jury before he could be hanged. The crowd would brook no delay and were afraid Gen. Sibley's soldiers would appear on the scene any moment and carry off the prisoner. As a compromise it was suggested to give him a jury trial at once. A meeting of the citizens was called to convene on the Court House block immediately after dinner. There was an im- mense concourse present. A court was improv- ished with S. F. Barney as Judge, J. A. Willard prosecuting attorney, and 0. 0. Pitcher attor- ney for the defendant. A jury -was chosen composed of the following persons: E. K. Bangs, Edward Nickerson, N. Woloben, D. S. Law, Abel Keene, Wm. Funk, A. Tyler, Chas. Wag- ner, A. T. Noble, J. C. Haupt, A. Thompson and E. H. Smith. The session was held in the HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COTTNTY. 153 open air about where the present county court house stands. The prisoner was brought be- fore his tribunal and plead "Not Guilty." His statement in brief was as follows: He knew nothing of the killing of the Jew- etts. He had been taken prisoner on the Sioux Coteau by hostile Indians and compelled to go with them. That they came down and cross- ed the Blue Earth River about three miles above the ford of J. A. Jones on Monday night (May 1), a party of 16 in all, where they camp- ed all night. At daybreak on Tuesday (May 2nd) three Indians started down the river, five of them went in the direction of where a mill is being built on the river, and the remaining seven started in an easterly direction towards the prairie. That he got away from them and came down the river to Jones' ford, which he reached in the afternoon. Before he could get across, the seven Indians, who had gone east towards the Eapidan prairie, came upon him and gave him a pair of pants, a coat and a pair of shoes, which they compelled him to put on. It was a halfbreed named Henry Roy, who gave him the pants and coat and a brother of standing Buf- falo the shoes. Roy was the only halfbreed among them. There are nine different bands, numbering five to sixteen in each band, all headed for the Blue Earth river with intent to attack Mankato from the rear and to steal horses. They made him do all their work and used him badly, and Tuesday morning was the first opportunity he had to escape. They had been eight days on the way. Had not heard of tli& murder until Dodge told him of it yesterday. He had enlisted in Co. D, 3rd Minn. Infantry, and afterwards in Co. A Braekett's Battalion, and had served nearly three years in all. Ad- mitted he had deserted from the army and was trying to get to Traverse des Sioux. He knew ihe clothing must have been stolen by the In- dians. The prosecution showed the conflicting state- ments Campbell had made. The night before he had not seen an Indian for over a year, that his name was Pelky, and that he was a half brother of John Pelky of Winnebago Agency, that he had clerked for H. M. Rice and others at Long Prairie, and many other statements, which were false in every particular. The clothes were fully identified as belonging to the murdered family. The Judge charged the jury directing them to give the prisoner the bene- fit of every reasonable doubt. The jury then retired and in half an hour brought in a ver- dict of guilty, with a recommendation that the prisoner be tried again at the regular term of the District Court, which would convene in about two weeks. Mr. Bangs as foreman of the Jury made a strong plea for the recommenda- tion. The crowd had the rope with them ready, and had waited thus long with much impatience. There was, however, a respectable minority, who were in favor of the recommendation and opposed to lynching. They tried to hold the others in check. But the personal friends of Mr. Jewett, and especially those who had been out and witnessed the horrors of the murder, were furious for immediate vengeance and with shouts of, "Hang him," from hundreds of throats they made a rush for the prisoner and began dragging him toward a basswood tree, which had a convenient limb, and which stood near the southeast corner of the courthouse square. The friends of law and order grabbed the prisoner, also, to take him to the jail. There was a wild tumultuous time for ten or fifteen minutes, one party pulling and struggling to get Campbell towards the jail and the other party dragging and pushing towards the tree about 300 feet away. It was a fierce struggle between determined men. Guns, revolvers and knives were drawn. For a time it looked like bloodshed between the two factions. The hang- ing party, being the most numerous, were finally successful, and seeing that resistance was useless tlie law and order party desisted for fear of a worse riot. A wagon belonging to Geo. Lam- berton of Garden City stood near by. This was run under the tree, the prisoner hustled in- to it, a rope adjusted about his neck, the other end tied to the limb above, and the wagon pulled away. In their haste they had forgotten to tie the culprits hands and he grabbed the rope above his head and began to call lustily for a priest. The wagon was pushed back un- der the poor wretch. Father Sommereisen el- 154 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. bowed his way through the crowd and climbing into the wagon requested a few minutes to talk and pray with liim. This was reluctantly granted and the good father employed the mo- ments given him in prayer and religious con- verse with the doomed man^, speaking with him in French. His hands having been securely pinioned and the time having expired, the wagon was again pulled from under the victim and he was hanged. In about fifteen or twenty minutes Dr. Zeno- polsky pronounced him dead. Father Sommerei- sen took the body, and in accordance vrith Campbeirs last request, sent it to his mother at Traverse des Sioux for burial. The murderer had also told the worthy fath- er where to find a roll of money, which he had hid in the bedding of his bunk at the jail. About $470 was found, evidently the booty for which he had committed the awful murders, and which finally brought him to his terrible doom. This was the first and only instance of lynch- ing in Blue Earth County, and that there was great provocation, which in those days of blood, seemed to demand speedy punishment for so heinous and horrible a crime, must be ad- mitted. Yet the ends of justice would have been much better served if the recommendation of the jury had been heeded. While these scenes were being enacted on the Court House square quite a difEerent scene was transpiring in the Presbyterian church just one block away. Here on this very day a synod of that denomination was being held, and in it another halfbreed Sioux was being ordained to the work of the Christian ministry. This was Eev. John B. Eenville, who from that day to this has been a faithful, consistent follower of the Christ, and an earnest able preacher of his gospel. At the opening of the synod, Monday night, Dr. Williamson in his sermon had dwelt at some length upon the wrongs done to the Indians. His words were true and well meant, but, as it happened, inopportune. The next morning occurred the Jewett murders, followed by the arrest of John Campbell, and on Wednesday the excited populace thronged the streets of Man- kato thirsting for vengeance. Garbled extracts of the sermon were talked over by the rabble and false reports circulated to the effect that the Indians, who murdered the Jewetts, had come down from Dakota with Dr. Williamson. All manner of wild and lying rumors about the good old man were told upon the street, and the mob were beginning to cry that they would hang Dr. Williamson, too. Before din- ner a committee of three prominent Mankato citizens went to the church, and calling the good old missionary to the door, explained the sit- uation, and advised him to leave town at once. The grapd, innocent, kind hearted old doc- tor thanked the committee, left the meeting and mounting his pony hurried to his home at St. Peter. On the afternoon of the day of the murder Major Evans organized a mounted posse at Garden City to pursue the Indians. Joseph Dil- ley, G«o. Heaton and Mr. Travis were members. They found where they had crossed the Maple liver, and where they had cooked one or two meals. An Indian blanket, a buffalo roTae, and some flour were found on the trail. The posse camped that Tuesday night on the trail. The next morning they found where the Indians had crossed the Le Sueur and two or three of them had gone down the river and the others up the stream. So rugged and wild was the country and so dense the forest, brush and vines that further pursuit on horseback was impossible be- sides being foolhardy, and the company returned home. Mr. Stratton and other settlers of Eapi- dan engaged to some extent, also, in the search. Within an hour after the news reached Mankato on Tuesday afternoon, Maj. Clark started for Garden City with twenty mounted men, and picketed the road from the village to Eush Lake all night. Militia men from South Bend, formed a line of pickets from Le Huillier to join Maj. Clark's line. Lieut. Mason, in com- mand of the Vernon Militia, established a pick- et line from Vernon Center to Garden City. The Militia of Sterling and Mapleton formed a long skirmish line and combed the timber and brush bordering the Maple river almost to its mouth. Saturday, May 6th, a detachment of Company F, 2nd Cavalry in command of a sergeant, went from Mankato in pursuit of the Indians. They \ ^ ^ ST.CLAIR.GOODTHUNDeR'"'«>BeLLei'ietD-- 1 HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. 155 followed the trail from near the Jewett home across the Maple and a strip of Prairie between it and the Mouth of the Big Cobb. The remains of a cow and sheep were discovered which the Indians had killed for food. The soldiers camp- ed on the trail Saturday night, and Sunday morning they discovered the Indian camp on the Le Sueur river about two miles from their own. Continuing the pursuit up tJie Le Sueur through the rough land and dense forest and brush one soldier, named James Jol- ley, who was a little in advance of his com- rades, saw an Indian, who shot at him. He re- turned the fire and the Indian apparently fell. When the spot was reached a large pack of cooked meat was found but no Indian. He pro- bably had merely dropped to the ground to avoid the bullets and sneaked away. The trail ■H'as followed about two hours up along the river bank. When searching for it in a bend of the river, the soldiers were fired upon from the op- posite bank. They returned the fire and saw a number of Indians skulking behind trees. The Indians fired another volley and this time a ball hit James JoUey in the left breast, just above the heart. He fell from his horse and raising himself partly from the ground, said, "Boys, I am shot," and then fell back dead. The soldiers now withdrew from their exposed position to a nearby thicket and the Indians fled further up the river. The death of their comrade discouraged the soldiers and, picking up his body, they strapped it upon his horse and brought it back to Mankato. This same day a company of volunteers from Mankato and Winnebago Agency were picketed along the Mankato and Agency Eoad. They heard the firing down the Le Sueur between the soldiers and Indians and knew from the sound that the latter were coming towards them. Some of them got scared and left, and the savages passed up through their line. Just across the Le Sueur on the Agency road was the cabin of A. Mc- Carthy. Mrs. George Bennett with her ten year old son, Frank York, had brought some food to the McCarthy house for the volunteers. B. D. Pay had been to the Agency with a message from Judge Buck, and on his return wanted to know where a certain squad, which had been stationed near ]\leCarthy's place, was. The York boy had mounted one of the horses belonging to the men and was riding it around. He offered to guide jMr. Pay and started along a path, which led east of the house through some brush to a tract of lo-w land. When descend- ing a short hill to this valley, they saw a man, dressed like a white man, walking through some brush and, mistaking him for one of the militia. Mr. Pay hollered to him to come up there. The man answered in English with a French accent and as he turned Pay saw he was an Indian or halfbreed and wheeled his horse round and galloped back. The Indians fired a volley at them and the boy's horse fell dead. The boy, after falling with his horse, jumped up and ran back some twenty rods to the house and at the door fell into his moth- er's arms and expired. A charge of buckshot had passed through his body. It was now getting towards dusk and further pursuit was abandoned that night. The Indians, disappointed and mystified by the failure of Campbell to return and, knowing that their biding place had been discovered, concluded it was high time for them to escape. To this end tliey tried on Monday night. May 8th, to secure some horses. On this evening H. C. Howard, who resided on his farm on the south bank of Loon Lake, took his family to Garden City, where there was a log fort for safety. A young man named Eobert Johnson, from Brooklyn, N. Y., was staying with the Howards at this time. He came with them to Garden City, but not being able to find any place to sleep, except on the fioor, he concluded to return to the Howard home, as he did not think there were any In- dians around any way. When he reached the house he was surprised to find the cattle running loose in the door yard. He, also, heard the colt in the stable call for its mother, who an- swered it from down by the lake shore. Some- thing was wrong, for everything had been safely shut up when they left. It was a moon- light night. He went into the house and got his gun, and then went to the barn and let the colt out. It seemed greatly excited and scared and kept close to Johnson, as he walked through 156 HISTORY OP BLtJE EARTH COtTNTY. the grove toward where he could still hear the mare whining for the colt. When he got to a little rise of ground, where he could see down tlie lake front, he saw a man trying to lead tlin mare over a ditch or small creek. She was un- willing to go and pulling back. Without realizing ills danger Johnson walked straight toward the man and shouted to him. The Indian (for such he proved to be,) seeing Johnson's gun, dropped the halter and ran behind an oak tree about fifty feet away. Johnson jumped on the mare and, as he started back, he glanced behind toward the tree and saw the barrel of a gun, pointed toward him, glisten in the moonlight. He rais- ed his own gun instantly, and the Indian and he fired simultaneously. Two or three other Indians, who were hiding behind trees, also fired at him, and one bullet struck his hand. Mounted on the frightened mare it did not take Johnson long to get beyond the reach of the Indian guns, nor did he stop until in Garden C'ity. It was now midnight, but the news he brought soon woke up the people and there was much excitement. As there were two or three fam- ilies staying at their homes that night in the vi- cinity of Loon Lake, it was feared they might be murdered. A mounted posse composed of H. C. Howard, E. P. Evans and three or four others volunteered to go to their rescue at once. They found them safe and unmolested, the Indians having retreated from the Howard farm east- ward to the Blue Earth river timber. The same night the Indians attempted to steal the horses of Carl Just in Rapidan, but before they reached the barn their presence was discovered by two fierce dogs. The appearance of Mr. Just with a gun together with the angi-y barking of the dogs finally scared the tliieves away. This same Monday, Major Clark, with a large posse from Mankato, had been scouring the woods of the Le Sueur in the vicinity of where Mr. JoUey was shot. The Indians saw that mat- ters were getting critical and that the sooner they got away the better for them. Two of them managed to steal a couple of horses in Shelby township and by daybreak Tuesday they started across the vast prairies for their fast- nesses in the far off Turtle Mountains. They had no fear but they could elude the white sol- diers, stationed in the frontier forts and there- fore journeyed leisurely. But since they came down to the settlements, something had hap- pened that they did not know about. For three years it had been clearly demonstrated, that a line of forts along the frontier with a squad of soldiers, galloping on their horses back and forth between them, about once a day, was no protection whatever from Indian raids. The wily savages could crawl undetected under the very shadow of these fortresses. Maj. Joseph R. Brown, Gen. Sibley and Maj. Robert D. Rose had in their charge a large number of friendly Indians and halfbreeds and appreciated fully their value as scouts in hunting other Indians. After repeated recommendations, the government at last gave heed to their advice. Accordingly in the Fall of 1864 Major Brown was authorized to enlist as many of these In- dians as he saw fit into the government service. Joseph Renville was appointed chief of scouts under Maj. Brown, and was to make monthly reports to Maj. R. D. Rose, a commandant of Ft. Wadsworth. In the spring of 1865 a number of lines of these scouts were put along the frontier. One of these extended from the Shyenne River to the James river and had seven stations in it, each station having from twelve to fifteen scouts in it. At one of these stations, was a scout, who was thereafter called; "One Armed Jim," and the incident which gave him the name is connected with the Jewett murder. About the 17th, of May, 1865, Jim mountd his pony and started on a scouting trip after din- ner. It was a bright clear day with a gentle breeze from the south east. He had only gone n mile or two from camp, when his pony began to act strangely. Jim at once concluded that there must be literally, "something in the wind." Tethering his pony behind a small knoll and plaiting a wreath of grass for his own head, he crawled cautiously to the top and scanned the prairies carefully for a time toward the south east as far as the eye could reach. He soon caught sight of small herds of buffalo moving westward, having evidently been disturbed by the scent of human beings to the eastward. It was th.e smell of the buffalo, which had dis- HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 157 turbed his pony. But what interested Jim was, the young bucks of the warlike Dakotahs, sud- who had disturbed the bufEalo. So he kept his denly became very unpopular and soon ceased eye fixed in the direction they were moving from, altogether and forever. At last he caught sight of five horsemen ap- On May 17, 1865, the Board of County Com- proaching along the distant foot hills. He con- missioners of Blue Earth county passed a reso- cluded they must be hostiles returning from a lution offering a bounty of $200 for every hos- raid and, crawling cautiously back from the tile Indian scalp taken in Blue Earth County, top of the knoll, he took his little pocket mir- which barbaroiis resolution continued in force ror and made signals with it in the sun to his until March 19, IST?, when it was repealed. Indian comrades. It was not long before three The county, however, was never called upon to of them responded. The four selected a spot make good its offer. where the trail, after crossing a small swale, The killing of his relatives and the failure iiseended out of it through a small gully and of the militia and military to apprehend the concealed themselves in some grass, which grew murderers, though they skulked around the a trifle taller than elsewhere in an angle of the neighborhood for a full week, induced Maj. E. gully. No one knows better than an Indian p_ Evans to push his scheme of getting blood- how to form a good ambush. With a fillet of hounds from the south, with which to hunt grass on his head and a string of grass down his prowling Indians. On May 27, the representa- back, he can lay on the prairie and be so con- tives of four counties met at Mankato to dis- formed in color and appearance to his surround- cuss the project and take action with reference ings, that one might pass within a few feet and to it. Those present were Andrew Hanna of never suspect his presence. In due time the five Blue Earth County, John Castor of Brown, Mr. hostiles came without a suspicion of danger di- Furber of Watonwan and A. L. Ward of Mar- rectly into the trap laid for them. Instantly at tin. It was concluded to procure bloodhounds a given signal the four scouts Jumped to their and eacli county appropriated for the purpose feet with a war whoop and fired at close range, the following amounts: Three of the hostiles fell dead and the other , T -, ., „ 1 ,, ■ , Blue Earth .$500.00 two were wounded and thrown by their horses, ixartin 400. 00 One of these two was quickly dispatched, but Brown 200.00 i.1 , , .,, T- 11-11 1 -1 T Wa.tomvan 200 . 00 the otlier, with Jim at his heels, ran like a deer to a pony, which had been tethered by one of E. P. Evans was appointed an agent to go the scouts near by. As the hostile was mount- south and buy the dogs. He started on June ing the pony Jim fired at him, but in the excite- 1st, and at St. Paul Gov. Miller gave him $100 ment he had overloaded his gun and it exploded, for the enterprise, and "The Press" $.50, and blowing off his hand and shattering his arm so it a few other prominent citizens contributed like liad to be amputated. The mare and colt belonging amounts. The Major spent three months and toMr. Jewett were recovered here and a lot of traveled 1500 miles, but could not find a single silverware bearing Jewett's initials and some cloth- bloodhound. He finally managed to get thir- ing which had been stolen from the Jewett teen fox hounds, with a little blood hound blood ™™^- in two or three of them. Six of these he sent So of the six Indians implicated in the Jew- by Capt. Potter from Tennessee in July and the ett murder, five met their just doom, and the other seven he brought with him in August to sixth would have done so were it not for the Mankato. The major filed an itemized state- bursting of Jim's gun. During the spring and ment of the receipts and disbursements con- summer of 1865 these friendly Indian scouts nected with the matter which is as follows: exterminated every party of hostile Sioux, which ventured near their lines, and raiding of the RECEIPTS, white settlements for murder and plunder, which From Blue Earth County $480.00 ■ , ,1 J! J ii, ■ i. i! From Martin County 200.00 ■■.or three years formed the mam amusement of y^^^ Watonwan County 150.00 158 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. Prom friends in St. Paul 386.00 the Indian scouts and blood hounds, three mili- From friends in Boston 10.00 , ,. ,,,.,11,1 ^^n r -.r tary lines were established by the loth of May Total $1,226.00 1865, for the defense of the frontier. The first DISBURSEMENTS. ^™^ extended from Eedwood by Heron Lake Paid for 13 dogs $325.00 t° Spirit Lake and had seven garrisons in it Paid traveling expenses of agent and trans- from ten to sixteen miles apart with 134 mount- portation and care of does 522.28 ^ , . t , -t ± n n ■ mi t t Paid salary of agent at $2 per day, 100 days 200.00 ed soldiers distributed therein. The second hne Paid expense of keeping dogs in Manltato be- extended from- Ft. Eidgely by Leavenworth, Money on 'n^d............................. 155!47 ^^^.ke Hanska, Madelia to Jackson, having eight garrisons and 146 soldiers distributed ' ■ therein. The third line was as follows : The dogs were divided six to Blue Earth M'ankato 40 soldiers. Loon Lake 11 sol- County, three to Martin and three to Watonwan diers, Garden City 20 soldiers, Vernon Cen- Counties. The other dog had escaped the first ter 21 soldiers, Winnebago City 21 soldiers, night they arrived in Mankato. The six dogs making five garrisons and 113 soldiers distrib- apportioned to Blue Earth County were kept uted therein. Then fifty mounted minute men at the expense of the county for a time by a were stationed in groups of five or six between Mr. E^Tggles of Vernon Center, who was a the second and third lines. In all 443 soldiers returned soldier and pretended to understand were stationed as guards in southwestern Minne- the management of that kind of dogs. They sota. Beside all this the militia companies in were tested in tracking a white man on foot, every town were kept on duty more or less, and again on horse back, and it is claimed the But as we have stated before, the raid led by test was successful. Then early in September John Campbell was the best ever made into there was a big scare over a report, that a party Blue Earth County. The Sioux war was now of Indians had been seen in the timber in practically over as also was the great Eebellion. Eapidan and Decoria and Capt. Davy started The year 1865, saw the end of both. For four after the enemy with a squad of men and the years the people of Blue Earth county had been hounds full tilt, but the band of painted sav- so absorbed in the two wars, and especially in ages with guns and tomahawks proved to be two the Indian war, that they had had no time to or three friendly halfbreeds digging ginseng attend to the arts of peace. Every man and with hoes. In fact, the Indian scouts on the boy, who was not carrying a gun on southern frontier under Major Brown and Eose never battlefields, was carrying one at home. For permitted the dogs a smell of a genuine hostile three years our people had been busy either SiouX. The hounds escaped one after another running away from the Indians or chasing and soon like the Indians disappeared from after them. The farm and the shop were de- Blue Earth County. serted for the camp and the fort. The people The Jewett murders stirred up all sorts of were learning war and not trade and the mus- measures for the protection of the settlers. Besides ket had taken the place of the plow. CHAPTER XVII. EVENTS IN BLUE EARTH COUNTY FROM 1865— PEACE REIGNS, WHEELS OF PROGRESS PUT IN MOTION. With the year 1866, a new period begins in W. Barney & Co., and the Mankato Linseed the history of our county. Secession and sav- Oil Works, by Anthony Phillips, agery are gone, peace, progress and prosperity Two railroads started this year in earnest take their place. The sound of the war whoop, towards Mankato. The Minnesota A^alley Rail- of fife and drum, of the firing of guns, of mourn- ,vay, built from Mendota to Shakopee. Its first ing for the slain have ceased, the sight of locomotive was named "Mankato." The Winona mutilated corpses, fleeing families, of marching and St. Peter Railway built as far as Kasson. soldiers, and of building forts have disappeared, Immigration into our county was very large and new sounds and scenes take their place, ^.j^jg yg^j,_ During June and July alone over It is to these new sounds and scenes that the g^gOO acres of land belonging to' the Winne- eoncluding chapters of this history will be de- ^^^^ Agency in Blue Earth County were sold ^oted. ^^ tlje St. Peter land office. On May 35, 1865 the "Mankato Union" was ^^^ ^^^ returning from the Civil sold by Charles H. Slocum to Wm. B. Griswold, ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ who until recently had been editor of the Val- , ,• 4. j i i ■ j; ■' homes, came crowding westward, looking tor ley Herald at Chaska. He was a man of fair , . n -m tti j.i j. • i -j. i_ . . claims and Blue Earth county received its share, abihty as a writer, but not brilliant or very ener- ^^ ^^^^^^ gg^^^ ^^^^ ^.^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^ getic or popular. His paper was on the whole ,j-i,i.i j.- n- f j. ° '^ '^ '^ ^ tendered to the returning soldiers of our county fully as good, if not a little better, than the , . ,• n 1, 1, m, v, + ■' o > J ^ ^jg reception and barbecue, ihere were about average country newspaper. In neatness of ^^^^^ ^^^^j^ p^^^^^^ ^^^ g^^^^^^ Wilkinson pnnting it was much above the average, for ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^-^^^ Geo. W. Neff, now of the "Lake Crystal Union" j^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ .^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^. who had special charge of this department was ^^^ ^^ ^^^^.^^^ furnished by each township in a printer of rare excellence. ^^^ ^^^^^^ f^,^ ^^^ (..^.j ^^^^ ^^-^^ ^^^^ ^^ In June of this year H. C. Capwell & Co., fQiiQ„g began operating their flour mill at Garden City. Mr. Hilton, also started, his flour mill at the Butternut Valley 22 Agency, which he had bought the year before. ^^^^^?° ^^ The same month Dr. Lewis and Basil More- Rapidan, Mankato, McPherson 247 land began operating their saw mill on the Cobb garden City 64 ° r a Jamestown 18 river. The same summer J. S. Burgess and Judson 31 Co., built a saw mill on the east line of Man- LeEay 15 kfflto Township, and Mason & Reed rebuilt the Medo 1 old mill which Col. Smith and Haynes had |^^P],^*^°° f^ erected in 1857, at Vernon, but which had been South Bend..........................!........... 44 burnt in May of this year. Sterling 43 .,,,,•',, ■ 3 .■ J. . , Vernon Center 48 At Mankato two industries of importance are started namely: The Novelty works, by C. Total 7ar 159 160 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAKTH COUNTY. The crops all over the county were quite good this year except in Butternut Valley and vicin- ity, where the grasshoppers swept everything before them. On Sept. 6, 1865, Town 105, range 29, which had heretofore been attached to Shelby, and had been known first as Otsego, and afterwards as Willow Creek, was created into a new town christened "Pleasant Mound," and the first town meeting was held at the house of H. G. Long- worth. On the same 6th day of September, town 107, range 29, which had heretofore been attached to Ceresco and known as Fox Lake, was by the county board made into a new town under the name of Lincoln, the first town meet- ing being held at the home of John W. Trask. On Sept. 7th the County Commissioners elect- ed E. D. B. Porter as Superintendent of the country schools for the year commencing Jan. 1, 1866. On the same date (Sept. 7th) the new Presbyterian church at Mankato was dedi- . cated. At the fall election this year the' main inter- est centered about the fight between Col. B. P. Smith and Eobert Eoberts for the office of Eegister of Deeds. Both had been candidates before the Eepublican County convention, but Col. Smith had finally won after a very bitter fight. Mr. Eoberts and his friends had their Welsh blood up and refused to abide by the decision of their party. He sought and obtained the Democratic nomination for the office and there was another hot fight. The Welsh were Eepublicans almost to a man, but the most of them bolted their county ticket this fall and the Democratic party, though in the minority, was able to elect a number of its candidates for county offices, but Col. Smith because of his ^.eat popularity came out victorious by a small majority. In October 1865, the postal money order sys- tem was first inaugurated in Blue Earth County at Mankato. On Dec. 11th and 12th, 1865 occurred a severe blizzard in which Thos. Lame- raux, an old settler of South Bend, and sev- eral others lost their lives on the western prai- rie. There was deep snow and much cold weather all winter, and many people froze to death, but not in Blue Earth County. In January, 1866, the weekly mail service from Mankato to Few Ulm was increased to a tri-weekly, for which Lewis D. Lewis was con- tractor. There had been for a long time a tri- weekly mail to South Bend, Garden City, Ver- non and Shelbyville, a weekly mail to Mapleton, Sterling and Liberty, also, to Cobb Eiver, Watonwan, Willow Creek and Pleasant Mound. There were, also, two daily mails to Mankato; one from St. Paul and the other from Winona by way of Winnebago Agency. In December, 1865, James P. Gail laid out the townsite of Lowell upon the Blue Earth Eiver, in section thirteen of Garden City town- ship. Mr. Dustin during the winter built a large flour mill at this point, which was oper- ated for several years. Nothing further came of the townsite. Geo. Marsh, also, completed a flour mill at Shelbyville. During the spring and summer the Eed Jacket mill was erected on the Le Sueur by Har- rington • and Scott, and soon became one of the most noted flour mills in the county. The same season Hegele & Henline added a grist mill department to their steam saw mill in Man- kato, and the old stone windmill was built and operated by Phillip Touner in South Bend. These mills as a rule gave about thirty pounds of flour, five pounds of shorts, and eight pounds of bran for a bushel of wheat. On March 13th, 1866, town 106, range 26, which heretofore had been called Winneshiek, was organized under the names of Beauford on petition of Chas. MacBeth and twenty-six others. The first town meeting was appointed to be held at the house of John Prey. On May 29th the town of Lyra was created on petition of M. L. Plumb and twenty-six others, the first town meeting to be at the house of L. Schroeder on the first Tuesday in July, but which was not held until September 22nd following. A big freshet early in April carried away a number of bridges and mill dams over the county, as was usual when there was deep snow the previous winter. The wooden bridges and dams of those early days could not stand much of a flood. On April 7, 1866 the matter of the perma- nent location of its fair grounds was deter- HISTORY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 161 mined by the Blue Earth Cmmty Fair Asso- ciation in favor of Garden City. Mankato made a strong bid for it and offered a bonus of $1,174; while all Garden City could raise as bonus was $818, but a twenty acre site could be bought at Garden City for $550 wiiile the same quantity of land at Mankato cost $1,000. About the 1st of May, 1866 President Johnson remitted the sentences of death in the case of the 173 Sioux Indians, who were yet alive at Davenport prison and they were turned over to the care of the Sioux Agency in Nebraska. On the 31st of May General W. T. Sherman arrived at Madelia on his way to Ft. Eidgely and an effort was made to have him visit Man- kato but he was unable to do so. The buffalo gnats were a plague in the land this year and some young stock were killed by them. The Legislature in the session of 1865 had authorized Mankato to issue $10,000 and Gar- den City $3,000 in bonds for the building of school houses in their respective districts, which bonds were voted and contracts let for the build- ings in the summer of 1866. Boardman and Wampler had the contract for the Mankato building, which is the original part of the present Union building. Until this structure was completed our county seat had no public school building, except the little log struc- ture of 1855, which had long been too small and dilapidated for use. So the school had been kept in halls, vacant stores, and any old place that could be got. The Garden City school house was built at a cost of $4,000.00. The Legislature of 1866, through the efforts of Daniel Buck, then State Senator from our county, passed an act locating the second state Formal school at Mankato, on condition that the village raised $5,000.00 as a bonus to be used in purchasing of a site and otherwise. On September 14th, 1866, a mass meeting met at the city hall in Mankato to devise means for raising the money, and a soliciting committee w-as appointed as follows: John J. Shaubut, John F. Meagher, H. Dubuison, J. Wm. Hoerr, David Wilcox, E. D. B. Porter, John E. Beatty, James Shoemaker, E. J. Marvin, John F. Hall, Eev. J. E. Conrad, and Daniel Buck. At Manliato the M. E., Baptist, Episcopal, and one or two other denominations built church buildings, this year. Mead and Lovejoy, who had been manufacturing cement brick at Gar- den City, started the same industry at Man- kato, but only made enough for the residence of Judge James Brown. Navigation was good for a short period in the spring, and then the river became too low for any but flat boats. Among the boats engaged in the trade of our county this year were: The Chippeway Falls, Mollie Mohler, Julia, Otter, Stella Whipple, Albany, Pioneer, Pearl, Cutter, Enterprise, Mankato, Hudson and. Flora. J\ corps of United States engineers, under Capt. Davis, were employed this year in making sur- veys of the Minnesota river, with reference to its improvement. It demonstrated among other things that in the distance from the mouth of the Yellow Medicine to mouth of the Blue Earth river a distance of seventy miles, the fall was twenty-eight feet. A survey of the Blue Earth showed an average fall of five feet to the mile. Progress was made this year towards road improvements in the vicinity of Mankato. Through the efforts of James Shoemaker the Glenwood ravine road was laid out and several hundred of dollars subscribed and expended in its improvement. Seven hundred and fifty dollars was expended in grading the Belgrade hill. The road up the Thompson ravine was, also, opened and graded. The year 1866, closed with a very belligerent feeling between Mankato and New Ulm, caused by the lynching on December 86th in rather a barbarous fashion of two Mankato citizens by a mob at New Ulm. The victims were Campbell and Liscom, two trappers, who in a saloon row killed a prominent resident of New Ulm. An excited mob soon gathered and took both men from the Jail, hung them and threw their bodies into the river, through a hole in the ice. For a few days the mob had full control of the usu- ally quiet German town and defied arrest, and things looked warlike. A number of deter- mined men under Capt. L. N. Holmes of Man- kato and the sheriff finally went to New Ulm and found and brought away the bodies of the 162 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. two men and obtained such, evidence as could be got regarding the affair. Arrests were made and the trials dragged in the courts for some years. One John Gut was convicted and sentenced to be hung, but, after a long legal battle, his sentence was commuted to imprisonment. The other ring leaders defaulted their bail and left the country. With the first of January, 1867, let us take a birdseye view of the county, as it appeared to two eye witnesses at the time. First comes Mankato with a population of about 3,300. It had about 305 frame, twenty-two brick, and four stone dwellings, fifteen dry goods stores, fifteen grocery stores, three hardware stores, five harness shops, four jewelry stores, two bak- eries, two printing offices, twenty-two restau- rants, eight cabinet shops, two chair shops, four ^''agon shops, four carriage shops, eight black- smith shops, two paint shops, two millinery shops, four cooper shops, one gun shop, two bar- ber shops, three grist mills, three saw mills, one fanning mill factory, one pump factory, two turning mills, one oil mill, four livery barns, two photograph galleries, five schools, two banks, six boot and shoe stores, ten doctors, seven law offices, five insurance offices, three drug stores, one bookstore, four butcher shops, eight hotels, one express office, twelve warehouses, one fire engine house, one hook and ladder company, one hose house, six churches, one pottery, one foun- dry, one barrel factory, one brewery, four brick yards, two lime kilns and one stone quarry. One thousand one hundred and fifty tons of freight had been received during the year 1866, and 4,700 tons exported. J. J. Thompson & Co. had a line of teams carrying every day to and from the railroad terminals. One hundred ninety-three reapers and mowers and nineteen threshers were sold at Mankato during the year. The fur trade footed up to over $15,000.00 and the mer- cantile trade to over $600,000.00. There were three daily mails, one to St. Paul, one to Winona and one to Blue Earth City, one tri-weekly mail to "New Ulm and one semi-weekly to Madelia. The lower story of the Union School building had been completed, five teachers were employed, and about 300 pupils attended the public schools. The Catholic school, in charge of the Sisters of ISTotre Dam, had four teachers and about 180 pupils, and there were a number of private schools. Mankato Township had a large grist mill at Eed Jacket, on the Le Sueur, and three sawmills, one at Hoosier Lake, one at Tivoli and one owned by Burgess & Co. South Bend village had five general stores, two hotels, one ?aw and grist mill combined, one saw mill, one shoemaker, one blacksmith, and one cooper shop. There were two church buildings in the village and another in the township. At Garden City village were: Garden City Mills, Harrington and Loveland proprietors, ca- pacity 450 bushels of wheat per day, new ware- house, which will hold 15,000 bushels, the Yan- kee mills, Quayle & Friend proprietors, 250 bushels' capacity, a planing mill, shingle mill and saw mill attached, one steam saw mill, owned by L. E. Potter & Bros., with capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber per day, three general stores, one drug store, one hotel, one real estate office, one millinery, one harness shop, one shoe shop, two wagon shops, two blacksmith shops, one cooper shop, one livery stable, four doctors, one dentist, a public school with 150 scholars, and Baptist, Presbyterian and M. E. Churches holding regu- lar services. Watonwan in the same township had the But- terfield Mills, and New Lowell had the Dustin Mill, with capacity of 350 bushels of wheat per day, a carding mill was also attached. Vernon contained a steam mill, hotel, church and three stores. Shelbyville, had a hotel, saw mill, three stores, church and blacksmith shop. Shelby. Center had a mill and a store. Sterling Town- ship had one store and two mills, a church and five school houses. Mapleton had three school houses, a store kept by Eobert Taylor, and a Free Will Baptist church organization. Lyra had one saw mill in operation and two other mills being built. Eapidan contained the large new flour mill of S. Kenworthy & Co., the saw mill of Eew & Heaton, and Lucius Dyer was building a saw mill on the Maple and, also, Simons & Mickle. -Judson had two stores, the Good- year nursery and a church. Butternut Valley con- tained a hotel, a church building and two church organizations, and two school houses. Hilton, (now St. Clair) had three stores, a hotel, HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 163 a saw and grist mill and a blaeksinith shop. Ad- joining it was Winnebago Agency, where the agenfs house had been converted into a hotel by J. C. Truman, and Henry Poster had a large store and postoffice. McPherson Township had another sawmill. Every town in the county had school houses and was dotted over with farm houses, of which the great majority were log buildings. Everywhere during the summer season the breaking plow ' was in evidence and the vast wheat fields were growing rapidly larger every year. The winters of 'this period were long and cold and the log houses and the clothing were none too warm. Few could afford fur overcoats or over- shoes, or an extra stove in the house. The shawls and Indian blankets, which were the fashion with the men in the antibellum win- ters had given place to the blue soldier overcoats with the cape and brass buttons stamped with the hilarious eagle. The great war debt was heavy on the people and the revenue collector was abroad in the land. Every deed, note, mortgage, contract and even match box and broom and every common house- hold utensil and store commodity must bear the government stamp. The lawyers, doctors, den- tists, etc., have to procure licenses. Then there were the spelling schools, the de- bating societies, the revival meetings and the go- ing to the post office. The winter of 1866-7 was very severe with much snow, and there was, a big spring freshet, with the usual damage to bridges and dams, especially on the Watonwan. On Fel). 12tb, 1867, the Legislature authorized the County Commissioners of our county to issue $10,000.00 in bonds to build a county jail, but provided that the matter of the location of the jail be submitted the voters of the county at the elec- tion to be held April 2, 1867. This provision was inserted at the instigation of the citizens ot Garden City, •\\-ho still cherished hopes of se- curing the county seat. The vote resulted in 1655 votes for Manl^ato and 783 for Garden City. The contract was let soon thereafter to Lewis J. Lewis and the building erected during the sum- mer and fall. The jail part was of stone and the sheriff's rooms and courtroom above of brick. On ilay 8th, 1867 the town of Butternut ^ 'alley was divided, all that portion located in Township 109 being, on petition of Geo. Owens and forty-three others, created into a new town, under the name of Cambria. The first town meeting was held as appointed on June 3rd, 1867, at school house in district Wo. 11. The matter of hop culture received consider- able attention this ^^ear and yards were plant- ed by Shoemaker and Shepard and Andrew Hanna in West Mankato, and by parties in South Bend and Eapidan. A bill v.'as passed by the Legislature in March appropriating $150,000.00 for the erection of three Normal school buildings, one of which to be at Mankato, but it was vetoed by Gov. Mar- shall and the Mankato normal building had to be postponed. A number of new school districts were cre- ated this year in the new towns on the Winne- bago Agency. On July 13th, 1867, several thousand acres of the Winnebago lands were sold mostly to speculators for bids ranging from $7.00 to $7.25 per acre. About July 1, 1867, a raft of 50,000 feet of saw logs were floated from Lake Elysian through its outlet into the Le Sueur river. At the present village of St. Clair a number of tlie logs got stuck and were sold to the mills there. Most of the black walnuts were taken through. The navigation of the Minnesota was quite good this year. The Mollie Mohlcr alone made over 90 trips to Mankato. The other boats employed were the Chippeway Palls, Mankato, Jennette Eoberts, Julia, Ariel, G. B. Knapp, St. Anthony Palls, Tiber, Flora, Clipper and Hud- son. On May the 10th, 1867, the JuHa struck a snag about two miles below Mankato and sank. John H. Barr and his two sons, George T. and John H., were among the passengers at the time. They were moving with their house- hold goods to Mankato. None of the passengers were injured, but a lot of merchandise and goods ■\vere more or less damaged. All efforts to raise the boat failed and she was dismantled and her hull still lies in the sands of the river. On June 9th, after a heavy rain, the Mollie 164 HISTOEY OP BLUB EAETH COUNTY. Mohler ascended the Blue Earth and the Le years. The winter of 1867-8 was another cold Sneur to the Eed Jacket Mill, which stood Just winter with abundance of snow, below the present bridge of the Milwaukee Heretofore Mankato had been divided into railway, and carried away a load of flour. two school districts, but the Legislature of this During this summer Jacob Bierbauer built winter merged the two districts and created the at Mankato a large there story woolen mill, united districts into an independent one. At which was operated for some years. the beginning of 1868 the total capacity of the The last of May, 1867, Edwin Howe and his grist mills of the county was 3,000 bushels of brother of West Mankato started a dairy and wheat per day, or 600,000 bushels per annum, his milk wagon was the first seen on the streets The capacity of the 'saw mills of the county of Mankato or in Blue Earth County. During was 50,000 feet per day or 15,000,000 per this year the German Lutherans of Mankato annum. The live stock statistics for a period built a frame church, the first church building covering seven or eight years were as follows: of that denomination in the county. The sum- Year. Horses. Cattle. Sheep. Hogs. mer of 1867 saw Goist and Heintzelman from 1860 182 960 100 612 ,,,., • , , ,1 e , jt J. I, • 1 1862 995 6,258 1,293 3,027 Illinois start the manufacture ol cement brick jgg^ j^g82 7^053 3,376 2,040 at Garden City, but they did not continue long. 1866 '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 2',714 8',227 lo',383 3',421 , ^ '' ... ,n 1867 3,380 8,89310,126 4,195 One A. J. Manley started a newspaper- there jggg 3g92 9^835 8,060 3,357 called the "Garden City Hetald," which tar- ried a little longer. There had been 166 boat arrivals by mid- On September 19th, 1867, the last town in s^^^nmer and there were many arrivals there- our county was created by the County Com- atter. missioners, on petition of Joshua Ady and This year the county had twenty-one post- others, and called Decoria, after three Winne- o^i^es named as follows: bago chiefs of that name. The first town meet- Beauford. Tivoli. in ,, T rn ^ • /-v i. i. Garden City. Crisp's Store, mg was held on the second Tuesday m October judson. Iceland. at the house of John Larkin. Mankato. Liberty. This fall the main political fight in the Ee- gherman. ' Shelbyville. publican convention was for the office of sheriff Butternut Valley. Vernon Center. , . T, rn 1 1 T 1 n J.1 -x- Garden Prairie. ^Vatonwan. between Dan Tyner, who had held the position f^^^^ Lake. Willow Creek. for some years, and Evan Bowen. The latter Mapleton. Winnebago Agency. carried the day by one vote and was elected '" ^'^ ™^' on the 5th of November. On March 24, 1868, the city charter of Man- In November of this year two new post- kato, which had been granted by the Legisla- ofEices were created, one called "Loon Lake," ture about a month previous, was adopted by a situated in Garden City town, with Mrs. E; vote of 315 to 31. James A. Wiswell was Oookson as postmistress, and the other called elected mayor of the new city, Jacob Pfaff, "Iceland," located in Lincoln township, with Treasurer; E. D. B. Porter, Eecorder; J. Wm. David Quinn as postmaster. On November 30, Hoerr and Wm. B. Torrey, Justices, and the 1867, the county purchased of Columbus Bal- city government went into effect on March lard its present Poor Farm, consisting of 160 31st, 1868. acres in section one of Eapidan. The price In March, Hiram Yates, who had been ap- paid was $3,300.00 and the special committee pointed the first superintendent of the new of the County Board who had charge of the county poor farm, took possession of the same, purchase were: Hanna, Evans, and Brown. taking with him the few poor people who were About Christmas, 1867, the Eolsom Mill, a county charge. The farm was then located about two miles below Garden City on the in the midst of a big forest and in one week Watonwan, was completed and began operation, nine or ten deer were killed in its vicinity. It enjoyed quite a custom trade for some But after the woods were cleared no better HISTORY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 165 farmng land could be found anywhere. Navi- gation was fairly good again this year, and the same boats were engaged as the previous season for the most part. As many as five steamboats a day sometimes arrived at the Man- kato levee. On May 4th, 1868, the First National Bank of Mankato was organized by James B. Hub- bard, Stephen Lamm, A. C. Woolfolk, J. F. Meagher, J. B. Murphy, J. A. Willard, L. C. Harrington, Daniel Buck, J. T. Williams, J. J. Shaubut, J. M. Thomson, J. A. James, A. T. Lindhohn and John N. Hall. Mr. Hall was made its first cashier. It was the first institution of the kind in the county. One or two private banks and state banks had existed before, but they were rather small. In fact, the people had had no special need of banks in those early days, for there was not much money. The new bank began business about September 12th. On September 11, 1868, a Board of Trade was organized by forty-three business men of Mankato, at the office of Payne and Hoerr. John H. Barr became its first president. The Minnesota Valley Eailroad and the Wi- nona and St. Peter Eailroad had been getting nearer every year to Mankato. The Valley road made a proposition to complete its rail- way into Mankato by December 1st, if a bonus of $15,000.00 in bonds, a right of way over 4th street and depot grounds between Plum and Elm streets were given it. The proposition was voted upon by the city on June 3rd and carried by a vote of 423 for to 142 against. In June, 1868, two new postofEices were created in Blue Earth County, one located on northwest quarter of section 28 in Decoria, designated "Decoria," and the other situated on the northwest quarter of section 13, Beau- ford, called "Perch Lake." In July of this year we hear of the first old settlers' meeting in the county. It met at the residence of John S. Hinckley in Mankato, and an Old Settlers' Association organized, with Mr. Hinckley as President, membership to which was eligible to only those who came to the county in 1854 or prior years. This year (1868) Miaer Porter greatly im- proved and beautified the grounds about his summer hotel near South Bend by planting groves, arbors and fiowers and building swings, walks, fancy gates and fences, and the place was designated "Minneineopa Park." For two or three years the Colorado beetle had been doing more and more damage each year to the potato crop. This year it was par- ticularly bad. As yet the people had not dis- covered the best means for its destruction. On October 7th, 1868, the first term of the Mankato Normal school opened in the base- ment of the il. E. Church at Mankato. The opening day proved stormy and only twenty- seven scholars were present. The second day thirty-five were enrolled. On October 36, the school was removed to the second story of the new brick store building of John J. Shaubut on the corner of Front and Main Streets. These quarters were 100 feet long by twenty-two feet wide, and divided into four rooms. There were forty school desks, fifty-two scholars en- rolled in the Normal department and sixteen in the Model. By the close of the first term there were ninety enrolled in both departments. Prof. G. M. Gage was its first president and Miss Susie Dyer (now Mrs. L. G. M. Fletcher) as first assistant. The second term opened at the same place with fifty-five pupils in the Normal department and twenty-four in Model department. Miss Emma H. Collins was added to the faculty as second assistant. The Legis- lature of 18G9 appropriated $30,000.00 for a Normal school building, and the corner stone was laid on June 19th, 1868, with appropriate Masonic rites by S. F. Barney, and an address by President Gage. The building and furnish- ings cost over $50,000.00 and an additional appropriation was made by the Legislature. The building was of brick, 126 by 116 feet, three stories high above basement, and embell- ished with two towers 120 feet high. It con- tained sixteen rooms. The architect was W. P. Boardman; contractor, Lewis J. Lewis; build- ing committee: Daniel Buck (member of State Normal Board), James Brown and L. C. Har- rington. On September 7th, 1870, the new building began to be occupied and in April, 166 HISTORY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. 1871, it was fully . completed. The faculty in tlie fall of 1870 was: President, Geo. M. Gage. Teacher of Language and Literature, Miss Susie M. Dyer. Mathematics, Geography and History, Miss Jennie M. Hayden. IVLusic, fc). M. Weigel. Gymnastics, Miss Calista Andrews. Grammer and Model, Geo. A. Eerguson. Principle Intermediate Dept., Miss A. Ella Clark. Principal Primary (School, Miss Annie Y. Whittier. The number of JSTormal students were 136, of whom 38 were males and 98 females. The first graduating class in 1870 had ten members. In 1871, the INormal department had 198 pupils and the Model department 174, making a total O'i 372. The graduating class of June 1873, numbered 23. On October 3, 1868 the Valley Railroad (now called Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha) was completed to Mankato and the first train arrived. The first freight was shipped over it on October 8th and consisted of 200 barrels of flour from the Red Jacket mills. The regular passenger trains began run- ning on October 12, 1868, and the fare to St. Paul was $4.00. On October 29, the advent of the railway was duly celebrated at Mankato, by the citizens of that town and of the county generally. A banquet and an excursion to St. I'aul were the two principal features. For many years the people of Blue Earth County had longed for a railroad. The uncertainty of river navigation and its short duration made it impossible for the boats to handle the rapidly growing traffic. It was a great day for both city and county. The days of their isolation were past, their problem of transportation was solved, henceforth they were a living part of the great commercial world. ISTo wonder they rejoiced. With the railroad came, also, the telegraph and, by October 17, 1868, the North- western Telegraph company had its lines com- pleted and sent its first messages to and from Mankato, and our county seat was at last con- nected with the great civilized world by both rail and wire. In November, 1868, Mr. Wise sold the "Man- kato Weekly Record" to Orville Brown and J. T. Williams. For many years Mr. Williams was the principal politician of the county. Some called him the '"Political boss." He was very active, energetic and shrewd and knew every person in the county and knew how to reach men in a political way. He was a strong Repub- lican and an ardent admirer of Senator Wm. Windom. For some reason or other Mr. Gris- wold of the Union had fallen out with Senator Windom and his friend Williams. It was neces- sary that Mr. Windom should have a political organ in Blue Earth County; Williams, there- fore, negotiated for Windom the purchase of the Record. He then got 0. Brown, who was running the Faribault Republican, to dispose of that paper and' come to Mankato to take charge of the Record, which was changed from a Democratic to Republican paper. Mr. Wil- liams was quick tempered and when he had quarreled with a person he wanted that person to know it. Mr. Brown was a man after Wil- liams own heart for he had a special gift in the way of heaping coals of fire on an enemy's head, and keeping those coals good and hot. He was naturally an able and forcible writer on any topic, but in invective he was an expert, and his paper was always well spiced and gin- gered. With the last issue in November, Mr. Wise's connection with the Record ceased, and with the first issue in December the paper, which had been born and bred in pure Democracy, suddenly, under a new master was converted into a radical Republican. So abrupt was the transaction that some of the staid Democratic subscribers of the good old Bourbon variety, had to pinch themselves and feel of their pulses to make sure thej were not having a night-mare or something worse. The County by this time had been making considerable progress along educational lines. In 1868 there were eighty-one summer schools taught and the whole number of scholars was 2077. During the winter of 1868-9 the whole number of public schools was 68 and the num- ber of scholars attending 2093. There were 70 HlSTOllY Of BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 167 teachers employed, 45 of them males and 25 females. Two of the schools were graded, employing two teachers each. There were 115 organized districts in the county, and 23 new school houses built during the year, at an aggre- gate cost of $10,712.13. There were 77 school houses, one of brick, one of stone, thirty-four of frame and forty-one of logs. This does not include Mankato nor the private and parochial schools. Wheat raising was now getting to be the principal farm industry. In January about 'j0,000 bushels were marketed at Mankato alone. The fact was that Mankato was about the only market point for wheat in the county or even Southwestern Minnesota, being the head of transportation. Since the advent of the Eail- way in October 1868 to July 1, 1869, there had been shipped by it from Mankato 335,341 bushels of wheat and 20,769 barrels of flour, equal in all to 439,321 bushels. It was an every day sight in those days to see a line of fifty or sixty teams waiting their turn to unload at the elevator. The assessors reported 40,689 acres of land under cultivation in Blue Earth County in 1868, 25,566 of which were devoted to wheat, and the wheat raised in the county for that year amounted to about 550,000 hush- els. Between April 1, 1867, and April 1, 1869 there was manufactured at Mankato: Farming Mills 1,114 Horse rakes 172 Plows 704 Corn cultivators 100 During the same period there were imported and sold at the same place: Reapers and mowers 428 Seeders 443 which indicates how the county was growing in an agricultural way, as well as how Mankato was developing as a manufacturing center. The wool trade of Mankato for the spring of 1869, amounted to 43,640 pounds. Then the fur trade still continued considerable in spite of the settling of the county. The two principal firms at Mankato dealing in furs at this time were, Barkman, Eeid & Kellog, and Marks & Hollenbeck. Between March 1st and July 1st, 1869, these firms purchased the following pelts: Muskrat 213,350 Mink 1,205 Otter 97 Brown and red fox 975 Coon 600 Badger 375 Skunk 190 Lynx 25 The total value of all furs marketed at Man- kato in those four months was about $88,800. crtTHoi-ic c^^^JRo»-*-GooE>TMUN^e'^ ef»lSCO*»Al- CHU»=^CH ~ rHL>A)C>eR CHAPTER XVIII. EVENTS OP EARLY SEVENTIES— WELLS AND WINONA RAILWAYS REACH MANKATO. Showing somewhat the extent of the immi- gration, it may be noted that between May 19, 1866 and July 23, 1869, there had been entered at the U. S. land office with cash and land warrants ia Blue Earth County 4,963 acres and as homesteads 16,437 acres. This year (1869), the county bridge, 353 feet long, was erected over the Blue Earth at West Mankato. During this summer, also, the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad was extended from Mankato to Crystal Lake. Here a new town was laid out in May, 1869 by Lucius 0. Hunt and Wniiam R. Robinson and named "Lake Crystal." By the time the railway reached this point in September, quite a vill- age had sprung up, where two months before there was only a field to be seen. The Loon Lake Postofiice was discontinued and a new office established at Lake Crystal with Henry Humphrey as first postmaster on September 1, 1869. By December 1, 1869 we note that Lake Crystal possessed a grain elevator, a hotel, built by S. P. Oakley, a two story frame school house, 34x40, a two story frame store, built by Henry Humphrey and occupied with a stock of gro- ceries and drugs by Pomeroy & Wickersham, a store building erected by W. C. Davis and occupied by him with a stock of hardware, a building occupied by Davis & Dunn as general store, another building occupied by P. A. Lar- fcon with another general store, a harness shop conducted by Wm. Seeger, a cooper shop in charge of Dorwood & McKay, and a doctor's office. H. C. Howard, also, had just sold his flour mill at Shelby Center to Henry Day for $1,600 and his sawmill at the same place to Asa White and S. C. Hilton, who moved it to section three of Mc- Pherson, and had built him a home at Lake Crystal and opened there an agricultural imple- ment store. In short. Lake Crystal had grown in about four months from nothing to a bust- ling village of forty buildings and on February 34, 1870, was incorporated by the Legislature as a village. On July 3, 1869 the Republicans of Blue Earth County tried what was known as the Crawford plan of nominating their county offi- cers. This was really a priniar}- election method such as is now in vogue. It happened this year that the Republicans had nine candidates for sheriff and there were three to five candi- dates each for some of the other offices, and the persons who were nominated, only received one- fifth to one-third of the total vote. This caused great dissatisfaction with the Primary Election plan and it was abolished at an election held May 31, 1870, by a vote of 439 to 103. The Republican nominee for sheriff and some of the other nominees of that party for county offices were beaten at the polls. P. H. Waite of Mankato ran as an Independent candidate for Judge of the District Court at this election. Being a Democrat, he was endorsed by his own party, and elected by a good majority over Andrew C. Dunn the Republican nominee. About October 1, 1869, a post office was creat- ed ia the southwest corner of Rapidan with Dr. N. Bixby as postmaster. He, also, had to act as his own mail carrier. The Winona & St. Peter Railroad had now reached Janesville, and had its track laid to the east line of our county, and a village was laid out there called "Smith's Mill," one- half of which is located in each county. Back in 1857, the territorial Legislature had created a railway company called the "Minne- 169 m HISTOSY 01' BLtJE EARTH COUNTY. sota and Northwestern Eailroad company." ^imong the incorporators were Dr. Wm. E. McMahan and Basil Moreland of Mankato, Matthew Thompson of South Bend, and Pran- cis Bassen and Col. Wm. Pfender of New Ulm, and the road was to run from a point on the Iowa line via Austin, Mankato, South Bend, New Ulm, and Big Stone Lake, to the mouth of Sioux Wood Eiver. This charter was renewed by an act passed by the Legislature in March, 1867, and the route designated being the same practically as in the original bill, except that Geneva and Wilton were added to the points the road was to pass through. In March 1869, this act ' was again amended, to the effect that the line of the road should begin on or near the Iowa line, and run by Albert Lea to Man- kato and thence in the direction of Big Stone Lake to the western boundary of the State. The corporation was also authorized to construct a branch from Mankato to Blue Earth City and to change its name if it saw proper. This year James B. Hubble, John A. Willard and Clark Thompson took hold of the charter and deter- mined to use it to construct a railroad from Mankato by way of Good Thunder's Pord to connect with the Chicago and Milwaukee Eail- way at Wells. It was also planned to extend the road in a northwesterly direction later. Mankato and the whole county became greatly interested in the project. December 18, 1869, a mass meeting was held at Higgins Hall, Man- kato, to consider the project, and a resolution was passed in favor of granting the company a bonus of $65,000. On December 23, the com- mon council of Mankato voted to issue bonds to that amount, subject to the approval of the electors of the city, and an election was called for January 4, 1870. The vote resulted 464 in favor and 10 against the bonus. Janu- ary 13, 1870 Lime voted $4,000 bonus for same purpose by vote of 35 to 29. Beauford, Maple- ton, and Lyra voted $15,000 each and Mankato Township and Decoria $10,000 each. The road was begun in the summer of 1870, and com- pleted in 1874. May 25, 1869, Mr. J. C. Wise re-entered the newspaper field, bringing out on that date the first issue of the "Mankato Eeview." Mr.' B. C. Payne was at first associated with him as editor and proprietor, but after one yeax's experience retired. The paper was conducted as a Demo- cratic Journal and under the able management of Mr. Wise became very popular and influen- tial. The snow fall of 1868-9 was seven and one half feet and that of 1869-70 seven and one- sixth feet, which resulted in a good stage of water in the Minnesota each spring. The steam- boat trade therefore continued quite good in spite of tha arrival of the railroads. Many of the boats, however, withdrew. Among those who continued in 1869, were the Ellen Hardy, St. Anthony Palls, Jennette Eoberts, Otter, Mankato, and Pioneer. The Otter for two or tnree years made regular trips between New Ulm and South Bend, transferring at the latter place passengers and freight to the St. Paul and Sioux City Eailroad. The Otter at this time was owned by New Ulm business men. John Segar was her captain in 1870, and after- wards Boncoeur Subilier, both of New Ulm. In 1870, there were about eighty steamboat arrivals at Mankato. Among the boats engaged this year were the Otter, Mankato, St. Anthony, Tiger, Dexter, John C. Gault and G. B. Knapp. The total wheat receipts at Mankato up to Feb- ruary 1, 1870 from the 1869 crop amounted to 213,970 bushels, which indicates that there was considerable transportation to do. Early in March Dr. E. D. Buckner started a newspaper at Lake Crystal called the "Peoples Journal." On May 3, it merged with the "Gar- den City Herald," under the name of "Herald and Journal" and continued its place of publi- cation at Garden City, until August, 1870, when it was discontinued, and the press removed to Madelia. On March 4, 1870, the following mail routes existed in Blue Earth County, carrying mail to the postoffices named: (1) Prom Mankato by Tivoli, Winnebago Agency, Medo, Sherman to Minnesota lake, ser- vice semi-weekly. (2) Prom Mankato by Decoria, Beauford, Perch Lake and Garden Prairie to Minnesota ' Lake, service weekly. (3) Prom Mankato by Eed Jacket Mills, HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 171 ! 1 Castle Garden, Good Thunder Pord, Mapleton, to Minnesota Lake, service weekly. (4) From Mankato by South Bend, Garden City, Vernon Center, Shelbyville, to Blue Earth City, service six times a week. (5) From Mankato by South Bend, Lalce Crystal, Iceland, to Madelia, daily service. (6) From Mankato by South Bend, Judson, Butternut Valley to New Ukn, service sis times a week. (7) From Garden City by Watonwan, Wil- low Creek, Pleasant Mounds, to Eairmont, ser- vice twice a week. (8) From Vernon Center via Sterling Cen- ter to Mapleton, service semi-weekly. (9) From Winona via Spier (Eagle Lake) to Mankato, service daily. (10) From Wilton via Cobb river to Minne- sota Lake, weekly. In March, IS';*©, a number of Germans at Mankato organized a Turner Society, with forty members. The main object of the society was gymnastic exercise and social privileges. During the years 1869, 1870,-71 and 72 the old settlers held their reunions at Mankato. Fourth of July celebrations were held in various parts of the county. In 1869, Garden City had the principle one with Judge Austin as orator. In 1870, Winnebago Agency, and a grove near Mr. Taylor's store in Mapleton were the centers of patriotic demonstrations. During those years the Blue Earth County bar possessed an array of legal and forensic talent of great ability. Judge Waite, who had come to the county in 1860, and who recently had won fame in his legal battles in behalf of the city of Mankato to recover its streets, levees, and public grounds against private greed, which had appropriated them, and against the St. Paul and Sioux City Eailroads, who had attempt- ed to steal a right of way through the city without paying therefor, was now on the bench. As a lawyer he was a great worker, and ener- getic and persistent fighter, and as a judge he was able, honest and impartial. Daniel Buck, who had first settled in South Bend, but had recently removed to Mankato. He was an inde- fatigable worker. Impulsive, honest, earnest, determined, a firm believer in the right of his clients case, a strong man with the jury, he continued the Nestor of the Bar of our county nearly half a century. E. P. Freeman came to Mankato early in 1S62, a graduate of Yale Law school, having a good legal mind, well trained, a genial, kind hearted man, whom all liked. But he allowed politics and his social habits to interfere too much at times with his law practice. Served as County Attorney, as Legislator and as Receiver of the U. S. Land Office for many years. Judge Brown came to Mankato in 1865, from Indiana. He was a gentleman of the old school, medium sized, smooth shaved, with an erect, alert figure. Neat and professional in dress but not particularly stylish. Always polite and affable. Fond of classical learning and all educational matters. A good lawyer but lacking a little in depth and breadth. His partner James A. Wiswell located in 1857, in Garden City, removed to Mankato about 1854, and went into partner- ship with Judge Brown, and for many years t.ie firm of Brown & Wiswell were prominent among the Blue Earth County bar. He was not as polished or well educated as Judge Brown, but possessed considerable native abil- ity and was a man. of good judgment. He served the County as Legislator for several terms and the city of Mankato as its first mayor. 0. 0. Pitcher came to Mankato as an edu- cator in 1857, and after a few years entered the law. He possessed a good legal mind, and served as County Attorney and legislator, but was not a great trial lawyer, and after a few years retired from active practice. He took much interest in political matters. In 1870, Martin J. Severance removed to JIankato and at once took a leading place among the bar of the county. He had an impressive presence and splendid oratorical powers, which gave him strength before a jury. He was, also, well versed in the law and strictly honest and upright as a . man. At first he formed a co- partnership with Mr. Pitcher and later with D. A. Dickenson. Judge Dickenson opened a law office in Mankato in 1868. He was an able lawyer, a thorough gentleman, clean and upright. Among the younger men were, M. G. Willard who came to Mankato in 1868, and 172 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. devoted most of his attention to mercantile and real estate law. A. E. Pfau, began the prac- tice of his profession at Mankato in 1869, and was quick, witty and vigorous in the tria,! of his case, a popular young lawyer with the jury; and J. E. Porter, who came to Mankato in 1870, but was soon elected Judge of Probate and side tracked from the law. Such were the most prominent members of the bar in our county in the early seventies. A line array of men of splendid character and talent. Pour of whom became district court judges and two .-vive sat upon the supreme bench of the state. On May 29, 1870 Mankato had its first big fire, when five stores in block fourteen were wiped out. As indicating the speed of steam boats on the Minnesota it is recorded that on May 14, 1870, the Tiger made the distance from Eed Wood to Mankato in thirteen and one-half hours, being the quickest time it had ever been made. By August, 1870, the track of the Winona and St. Peter Eailroad was completed to Bur- gess' Mill (the present site of Eagle Lake), and on August 26, its first train, consisting of two passenger coaches, a baggage and mail coaches and three freight cars arrived at Mankato. On October 35, 1870, the completion of the road to Mankato was celebrated by a grand excursion and a big dinner, at which Judge Waite acted as toast master and speeches were made by Judge Wm. Mitchell, Judge C. H. Berry, Mayor Lee of St. Paul, D. Sinclair and others. In September, 1870, D. C. Evans and Elias F. Drake platted the townsite of Minneopa. The St. Paul and Sioux City road erected a grain elevator here, at which D. C. Evans acted as buyer. In the month of ISTovember alone he bought and shipped 19,600 bushels of wheat from this station. J Dean of Minneapolis opened a lumber yard here, and during the sum- mer the picturesque falls attracted picnic excur- sions from St. Paul, St. Peter, Mankato and a number of other places. This year the hop product of the Prisbie and Shepard yard amounted to 9,000 pounds and that of the Hanna yard to 7,000 pounds. On December 13, 1870, for the first time in the history of the county its treasurer was able to pay the jurors of the District Court in cash. Heretofore they and all creditors of the county had been paid in county orders, which were discounted at the stores, but at last our county had become solvent and has so remained ever since. The fall of 1870, was very fine and even wild fiowers were found on the prairie as late as December. About Nov. 1, 1870, the new post ofllice of "Speier" was established near the Bur- gess mill in Le Eay and Freeman A. Gate appointed postmaster. In October 1870, Mapleton station was sur- veyed on the line of the new Wells railroad and on January 21, 1871, a plat of the new town- site was made by David Smith (Owner of the land) and Clark W. Thompson, James B. Hub- bell, and John A. Willard, who as owners of the Eailway, had received each a one-fourth interest in the townsite. Arrangements were also made to lay out another townsite on the land of Levi Houk at Good Thunder's Ford, and a survey of this town was made in April, 1871, by Levi Hauk, Clark W. Thompson, James B. Hubbell and John A. Willard, and a plat filed in which the village was designated "Good Thunder." Imme- diately after the survey in April, John G. Gra- ham, who had been in business at Garden City, began the erection of a store building at Good Thunder. The carpenter work was done by Julius Webber, then a young carpenter at Gar- den City, but afterwards for many years the honored judge of the Ninth Judicial District, with home at New Ulm. Early in June, 1871, Mr. Graham moved his stock of general mer- chandise from Garden City to Good Thunder, and, a postofEice being established there about the same time, he was made its first postmaster. Before the middle of June two stores had been opened and a building for a hardware store nearly completed at the new town. Soon after the survey of Mapleton station in October, 1870, James E. Brown, who was in the mercantile business at Winnebago Agency built a store at the new townsite and began business^ there. In May, 1871, he sold out his business at Winnebago Agency and removed entirely to Mapleton, becoming its first merchant. HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 173 During the winter of 1870-71 wlieat went up to $1 per bushel to the great encouragement of the farmers. About April 1, 1871 the Blue Earth Valley Farmers' Club was organized at Shelbyville with following officers: President, Chas. Holgate. Vice-President, James Miller. Treasurer, C. Crocker. Secretary, David E. Cross. Corresponding Secretary, C. Crandall. In the fall of 1870, Eev. A. Council of the Christian Church started a college at ]\Iankato known as "Blue Earth College," which ran for i.bout a year. Eev. Council was a very capable and energetic young man, but in quite feeble health, and before the end of the school year, he was obliged to resign because of sickness, and his assistant, Hiss E. J. Dickerson, finished the first year of the school and then it had to be abandoned. In March, 1871, Mankato school District voted $10,000.00 bonds for the erection of a sec- ond school building, and the "Pleasant Grove" school house was completed that fall. At Man- kato in 1871, we also note the building of a fac- tory on 2nd street opposite the American House, for the manufacture of doors, sash, blinds, etc., by Wolfram and Pans; the building of a large brick residence by John J. Shaubut, which now forms a part of St. Joseph's Hospital; and the construction of the present large German Catholic Church. The laying of the corner stone of the latter building on .July 24th, was a not- able event. Bishop Grace officiated and there were grand processions in charge of Dr. Foil- man as Marshal, and impressive ceremonies wit- nessed by about 3,000 persons. The building cogt about $-15,000.00 originally. As long as the stage of water permitted the Pioneer and the Hudson were run between Man- kato and New Ulm and Epd Wood in connection with the Winona and St. Peter railway, and the Otter and the St. Anthony Palls in connec- tion with the St. Paul and Sioux City Bailway. As the river was low much of the summer, steam- hoat traific to St. Paul was largelv discontinued, and in two or three ye^rs craped altogether. The boats were unable with the uncertain stage of water -to compete with the railroads. On July 7, 1871, one of the worst hail storms that ever visit- ed the county swept over the townships of Cam- bria, Judson, South Bend, Butternut Valley, Lincoln, Garden City and portions of Jledo, work- ing wholesale destruction to over 10,000 acres of grain in our own county, besides the havoc done in Brown and Nicollet counties. Many of the farmers were left in utter destitution, with- out even bread or seed, let alone the wherewith to meet their obligations. All their hard labor for the entire year gone in a few moments. The farmer of those days had nothing to fall back upon if his wheat crop failed. During the win- ter of 1871-2 about 1,300 of these hail storm sufferers applied to the governor for aid to pro- cure seed wheat. The Legislature passed meas- ures for their relief and the County Commis- sioners of Blue Earth County were authorized to issue $5,000.00 in bonds for the aid of such sufferers in this county. The bonds, however, were defeated at the polls in March by a vote of 579 against to 531 in favor. Some of the towns, who had suffered no harm, with the selfishness too often witnessed in public mat- ters, voted almost solid against the proposition. At their meeting of March, 1871, the County Board had over 100 applications for aid from the hail sufferers and gave such assistance as they were able. Private subscriptions, also, did something to relieve the situation. Public char- ity is always grossly abused by the dishonest and unworthy, which thought doubtless influenced the vote on the bonds, yet the example of Him, "Who makes his sun shine on the just and the imjust" is the safest rule in cases of great pub- lic calamity and actual need. In the fall of 1871, Woodham and Burgess built a flour mill at the outlet of Eagle Lake. On January 25, 1872, the Blue Earth Valley Bums Club met at the house of James Ellis in Sterling and the good old songs and games of bonny Scotland were given a full test on the snowy banks of Lake Lura. The officers elect- ed for the coming year were : President, James Ellis. Vice-President, James Curry. Treasurer, John Johnston. Eecording Secretary. Chas. Sanborn. Cor. Secretary, Eobert Taylor. 174 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. The winter of 1871-3 had an abundant snow- fall, in some of the railway cuts it was twenty feet deep. The depth of the snow drove the deer from the timber back of Mankato and they were found at times in Van Brunt and Warren Additions. During the summer of 1871, there were a number of railway excursions gotten up by the churches of Mankato as a means of recrea- tion and of raising money. Some of the churches cleared $150.00 to $200.00 each on these excursions. The Citizens National Bank of Mankato was organized on the 28th of May, 1872. John P. Meagher was chosen President, J. P. Bishop, vice-president, and J. H. Ray cashier, and the following were made directors: H. Wolfram, Daniel Buck, J. W. Bishop, J. P. Meagher, M. Schwartz, J. A. James, Chas. Mansfield, J. J. Thompson, J. T. Williams, Wm. Thomas and Wm. Condon. On May 20, 1872, E. S. Eich started a cheese factory at Lake Crystal, a fore- runner of the great dairy industry, . which has later made such wonderful progress. On July 23, 1872, a German singing society known as the Harmonia, laid the corner stone of their new hall, which is the present opera house at Mankato. There was a procession of various lodges and clubs present. A. E. Pfau gave the English address and Prof. Neumeyer spoke in German. The building was finished this year and senator Wilkinson gave the dedi- catory oration on Christmas day. On the 13th of August, 1872, The Mankato Linseed Oil Co., was organized by John A. Willard, James B. Hubbell and E. D. Hubbard and the works at Mankato greatly enlarged. This company located flax mills at Lake Crystal and in Shelby to prepare the crude material for their Mankato factory. On June 4, 1872, the Blue Earth County Beekeepers Association met in convention at Eraser's Hall, Garden City, and stimulated the culture of the honey industry. A. W. Hawley, B. B. Parker, Edson Gerry, E. G. Eew, J. P. Purber and B. Coffin were among those who participated in the convention. On September 3, 1872, the Germans of Man- kato formed a new militia company, called "Na- tional Guards," with forty members, officered as follows: Captain, Leopold Pry. Pirst Lieut., H. Himmelman. Second Lieut.,. Chas. H. Otto. Pirst Sergeant, Gust Schildknecht. Second Sergeant, Geo. Schoiler. Corporal, Geo. Steins. At the November election, 1872, the Eepubli- cans and Democrats divided the honors. Among the democrats elected were Daniel Buck, for County Attorney, J. Wm. Hoerr for County Treasurer, and J. E. Porter for Judge of Pro- bate. Porter was a new man and running against David Wilcox, one of the best known men in the county, and under the circumstances Porter's victory was a great surprise. He won by four votes. Winter set in early in the fall of 1872, and the railroads had snow blockades about the first of November. Most of the farmers and the own- ers of horse flesh generally were, also, blockaded this winter, for the Epizootic everywhere was prevalent. As the winter progressed the snow became ever deeper and the temperature colder. The railroads in spite of every effort were block- aded for weeks at a time. The Winona & St. Peter road suffered particularly on the portion of their road between St. Peter and New Ulm, and its trains were hardly able to get to the latter place all winter and the mails had to be carried thither on sleighs. Two hundred shovelers were kept at work, but to no purpose, for what they cleared out one day would blow full the next. On Jan- uary 7, 1873, a terrible blizzard set in, which lasted for two days. It was about the worst known in the history of the country and many people were frozen to death, and Blue Earth county did not entirely escape. D. Kirk, a school teacher of Garden City, and a brother of David Kirk, afterwards county superintendent of schools, was caught by the storm away from home and perished. John Halverson of Medo was likewise caught and so badly frozen that his feet and hands had to be amputated. About seventy persons perished in the State and thirty- one were seriously injured. About 250 cattle and twenty-five horses were destroyed by the storm. Elsewhere in this volume will be found a table showing the growth of our public schools during the past forty-five years, prepared from, the an- HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 175 nual reports furnished the State Superintendent of Puhlic Instruction. Here will be noted the transition from the log school house to the frame and brick, the gradual substitution of female for male teachers, the advance in wages, and the increase in the number of scholars. All are items of interest and worthy of consideration. Statistics, however, do not reveal the real work of education, what advance has been made in methods of teaching, how much better educat- ed the youth of today are if any, compared with their fathers and mothers, who attended the schools of thirty and forty years ago, are ques- tions of more importance. The advantages of the present over the past pertain, however, more to the city and village than to the country school, for the latter continues much as of yore, except that the men teachers have disappeared and likewise most of the older scholars. Many of the latter now attend the high school of some nearby village or town. The primitive log schoolhouse, in which the only furniture consisted of a box stove in the corner by the door, a chair and cheap table at the farther end of the room for the teacher, and a few rude homemade benches ranged between for the pupils, have long since vanished. But the white painted frame struc- ture, with patent desks, a black board, a few maps and charts on the wall, and a globe and dictionary on the teachers desk, still remains, much as in the seventies. In this connection it may not be void of interest to take a mere glimpse into a number of the school houses of the county in the fall of 1872, with E. C. Payne, then County Superintendent, as he reported the same in the Eeview of that day. District ISTo. 53, Mankato Township, Teacher, Miss Mary Bailey, wages $30.00 per month, pu- pils enrolled forty-eight, present thirty-eight good frame building. District No. 3, Tivoli, teacher Miss Mary Maynard, wages $100 for three months, enrolled thirty-three, present twenty-one, need a new school house. District Fo. 72, Eed Jacket, teacher Lizzie Faddis, wages $30 per month, enrolled twenty- seven, present eighteen, doing good work. District No. 91, Eapidan, teacher Wm. Blain, wages $40.00 per month, enrolled thirty, pres- ent nineteen, a good school. District No. 16, Garden City Village, Primary Department: Miss Emma King, teacher, enroll- led thirty-two, present twenty-five, wages $30.; Intermediate Department; Miss Emma L. Wal- ker, teacher, enrolled 49, present forty-two, wages $30. High school, David Kirk, teacher, enrolled forty-three, present thirty-six, wages $45.00. School house large two story frame. District No. 107, Minneopa Falls, Miss Anna Jenkins, teacher, wages $40, enrolled twenty- five, present twenty, good frame building. District No. 5, South Bend and Judson, Wm, E. Davis, teacher, wages $45.00, enrolled 44, present 30, small frame building. District No. 17, Garden City Township, A. L. Pratt, teacher, wages $40, enrolled 32, present 28, good frame building. District No. 21, Garden City and Vernon, Miss Hattie A. Eew, teacher, wages $30, enroll- ed 40, present 32, frame building. District No. 26, Vernon Center Township, A. C. Harrison, teacher, wages $40, enrolled 26, present 18, good frame building. District No. 24, Village of Vernon, Merrit Turner, teacher, wages $40, enrolled 59, present 38, very poor frame building. District No. 123, Shelby, Miss Lou Evans, teacher, wages $28, enrolled 14, present 12, good frame building. District No. 46, Shelby, John Owens, teacher, wages $30, enrolled 19, present 14, good frame building. District No. 47 Village of Shelbyville, Miss Emma Merrill, teacher, wages $35, enrolled 30, District No. 117, Shelby, G. W. Dewn, teach- present 22, good frame building, er, wages $20 and board, enrolled 24, present 22, new brick building of good size. District No. 37, Pleasant Mound, W. H. De- graff teacher, wages $16 and board, enrolled 16, present 8, poor frame building. District No. 125, Pleasant Mound, Miss M. E. Aiken, teacher, wages $24, enrolled 15, present 8, new brick building. District No. 27, Shelby, C. H. Eadford, teacher, wages $45, enrolled 38, present 23, new 176 HISTOEY OF BLUB BAETH COUNTY. brick of good size, best school house in county outside of Mankato. District Ko. 90, Eapidan, Miss M. J. Plymat, teacher, wages $33, enrolled 23, present 17, good frame building. District No. 23, Vernon, A. M. Hannay, teach- er, school not in session that day. District No. 25, Vernon, S. N. Rose, teach- er, school not in session. District No. 72, Red Jacket Mills, B. 0. Stod- dard, teacher, wages $42, enrolled 42, present 29, stone building. District No. 79, Rapidan, R. A. Moses, teach- er, wages $40, enrolled 24, present 16, good frame building. District No. 141, Rapidan and Lyra, Miss J. A. Williams, teacher, wages $35, enrolled 10, present 7, good frame building. District No. 87, Good Thunder Village, 0. A. Benedict, teacher, wages $40, enrolled 43, present 26, rented room. District No. 98, Lyra, Miss Ida Long, teach- er, wages $25, enrolled 21, present 13, unfinished frame building. District No. 73, Lower Agency in MePher- son, Morris Wilkins, teacher, wages $40, en- rolled 52, present 37, good new frame build- ing. District No. 70, Upper Agency, McPherson, Frank Wilkins, teacher, wages $45, enrolled 47, present 28, poor frame building. District No. 96, McPherson, J. L. Burgess, teacher, wages $37.50, enrolled 22, present 16, log building. District No. 71, Medo and McPherson, David Eastman, teacher, wages $40, enrolled 49, pres- ent 28, poor log building. District No. 69, Medo, T. A. Leighton, teacher, wages $30, enrolled 27, present 18, poor frame building. District No. 58, Medo, B. F. Stedman, teacher, wages $36.25, enrolled 34, present 26, primitive log building, sixth term for this teacher at this school. District No. 61, Medo, James Patterson, teacher, wages $35, enrolled 40, present 24, good frame building. District No. 124, McPherson, Miss Eliza Wilson, teacher, wages $30, enrolled 19, pres- ent 20, good frame building. District No. 69, McPherson, Julius L. Daw- ley, teacher, wages $35, enrolled 26, present 20, good frame building. District No. 57, Medo, Mr. Abner, teacher, not in session. District No. 59, Medo, Miss Helen Comstock teacher, not in session. District No. 33, Sterling, Miss Abbington DeWolf teacher, wages $30, enrolled 26, pres- ent 13, frame building, out of repair, used to be for years one of the best districts, but had been weakened by loss of territory. District No. 102, Sterling, P. V. Goff, teacher, wages $40, enrolled 38, present 23, log house. District No. 36, Mapleton, Wm. Plymat teacher, wages $28.50, enrolled 21, frame build- ing out of repair. District No. 34, Mapleton, Miss Mary A. Dobie, teacher, wages $30, enrolled 40, present 20, large frame building. District No. 105, Mapleton Station, Miss Nettie Lambie, teacher, wages $35, enrolled 37, present 24, good frame building. District No. 30, Sterling, Miss Rebecca Dobie, teacher, wages $30, enrolled 50, present 33, large frame building. District No. 31, Sterling Center, Miss Viola Hill, teacher, wages $35, enrolled 36, present 25, very poor frame building. District No. 54, Sterling, Allen Benedict, ■Leacher, wages $40, enrolled 14, present 11, poor log building. District No. 102, Sterling, W. H. Butler, teacher, wages $38, enrolled 42, present 33, poor log building, one of best schools in county. District No. Il2, Shelby, Merrit Turner, teacher, good frame building, small school and backward. District No. 24, Village of Vernon Center, Miss Nettie M. Crane, teacher, good school. District No. 77, South Bend Township, Franklin Ensign, teacher, wages $35, enrolled 22, present 6, poor log building. The following districts were visited in June, 1873. We give first number of district, where located, name of teacher, number of scholars, enrolled, and lastly kind of school house: HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. No. 4, South Bend Village, B. Ferrick, $40, 40, good frame built last year. No. 133, Garden City, Miss Lulu E. Green- wood, $35, 14. No. 20, Butterfield Mill, Alice J. Crane, $27, 32. No. 14, Ceresco, Miss Lizzie J. Delany, $35, 26. No. 74, Ceresco, Miss Myra Sharratt, $25, 15. No. 83, Pleasant Mound, Mrs. J. B. Mc- Donald, $16.67, 35. No. Ill, Pleasant Mound, j\Iiss Abbie L. Price, $32, 18. No. 106, Garden City, Miss Mary J. Ply- mat, $30. No. 56, Mapleton, Miss Flora Annis, $19, 18. No. 35, Mapleton, Miss Maggie Hanna, $24 and board, 33. No. 95, Beauford, Miss Anna Uhleg, $25, 36, very poor log building. No. 89, Lincoln, Miss Lou Boughton, $30, 40, brick. No. 15, Lincoln, F. A. Mosher, $28, 25. No. 119, Lincoln, Miss Katie Meixell, $28, 24. No. 115, Butternut Valley, Miss Anna Lloyd, $38, 33. No. 13, Butternut Valley, Frank Piper, $30, 29. No. 144, Butternut Valley, Miss Mary C. Jones, $23, 45. No. 78, Butternut Valley, Miss Maggie Bow- en, $28, 38. No. 11, Cambria, G. H. Claggat, $35, 64, large frame. No. 99, Judson, Miss Lizzie Williams, $26, 39, frame. No. 85, Judson, Miss Tryphena Lewis, $28, 46, frame. During the winter of 1872-3 a large number of lodges of Patrons of Husbandry (or "Granges," as they were generally called) were organized all over the county. Major A. J. ilurphy was perhaps the most active in form- ing them. No society ever grew more rapidly among our people than this farmers' associa- tion. In a few months it had spread into every township and neighborhood in the county. On April 18, 1873, a council of the • Blue Earth County Granges met at Lake Crystal, and a series of market or fair days were estab- lished as follows : Lake Crystal in May, Gar- den City in June, Mankato in July, and Good Thunder in October. On July 4th of this year monster celebrations were held by these farmer clubs at Lake Cr\'stal and Mapleton. The lodges participating in the Lake Crystal pro- gram were : Lake Crystal, Madoc, Gopher, Albion, Watonwan, Lincoln, Winger, Garden City, Ceresco, Eapidan, Hebron, Eureka, Hes- peridan. Butternut, Castle Garden, Cambria, and Sterling. Between 1,000 and 1,200 mem- bers marched in the procession, all dressed in their regalia. This consisted of a Nankeen pouch or bag tied on the right side, a picture of a plow (the emblem of the order) on the flap, and beneath, the name and number of the lodge. A sash of the same material trim- med with red tape was worn across the breast, and in case of officers an initial letter indi- cating the position was worn on the sash. The lady members wore pretty white aprons and sashes, both trimmed with red tape, and gen- erally they were dressed in white. Each grange in the procession was headed by its officers and carried banners and flags appropriately in- scribed. Col. J. H. Stevens, editor of the "Farmers' Union," was orator of the day at Lake Crystal. At Mapleton the grangers were also out in force. About 1.200 to 1,500 per- sons were present there and Maj. A. C. Woolfork of Mankato delivered the address. The matter of building the two railroads, one from Mankato to Wells, and the other up the Blue Earth from Mankato to Blue Earth City, were very live issues again this year. On February 27, 1873, Lyra voted $15,000 bonus to the Wells road by a majority of one in a poll of 107. April 1, Mankato voted $70,000 in bonus to the Wells road and $35,000 to the Blue Earth City branch. April Srd, Maple- ton voted $12,500 bonus to the Wells Eailway. These amounts were in lieu of the former bonuses voted a year or two before, which had in some way fallen tliroup:]!. Beauford and ^^I.ankato townships defeated their bonus prop- ositions ; but this only resulted in a little more agitation and another election, when a favor- able vote was secured. 178 HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. The deep snow of the previous winter brought not the only fakir they met. There was the the usual floods in the spring and the mills "Norway Oats" man, the "Eed Osaka" and along the Watonwan and Blue Earth suffered "Lost Nation" wheat men, and this and that greatly, and many of the owners rendered al- potato wonder, which were worth a fortune most bankrupt by their losses. when bought, but of little value thereafter. About the first of June, 1873, a German But a worse foe was at hand than the Blue newspaper called the "Mankato Beobachter" Earth County farmer had ever met before. (Observer) was started by Ludwig Schramm. In August, 1873, the grasshoppers began to During the same month a new postoffice was rppear in the Northwest towns of the county established in McPherson, under the name of in large numbers and at once began their "Belleview" with J. D. Hawkins as postmaster, work of destruction. Much damage was done and the name of "Speier" postoffice changed to in these towns to late crops this year, but we "Eagle Lake," and H. Bosard, who kept a shall hear more about them later, store near the railway station of that name, ap- In September, 1873, an unfortunate trouble pointed postmaster. Another postofEice was arose in the Normal School over the action of established in December at Vernon Center by the board in superceding Miss J. A. Sears, who the name of "Mj^rna" with Thos. Perkins as had acted as superintendent for a year. Thirty- postmaster, service to begin January 1st, 1874. six students took Miss Sears' part and seceded Statistics gathered by the assessors showed from the school, breaking up its work badly, that in 1872 there were 3,166 farms in Blue Miss Sears was a very capable woman, and Earth County, 54,305 acres were sowed to had filled the position of superintendent with wheat, from which 949,318 bushels were pro- great acceptance, especially to the students, dueed, 16,081 acres to oats, which produced The latter, therefore, protested most vigorously 537,447 bushels, 7,393 acres of corn, which pro- against the action of the Normal Board in duced 390,394 bushels. Within the ten or fif- turning her down simply because she was a teen years just past great improvements had woman, and putting a man at the head. In been made in farm machinery. When the pio- those days the school had a large number of neers of our county began raising farm products voung men among its patrons, and amon^ all grain had to be sowed bv hand and cut with them some strong characters like C. H. Piper a cradle, then came the old hand rake reaper, and Frank Piper and a number of others. They and after it the selfrake reaper and the dropper, nossessed independent thought and were not By 1872 and 1873 other improvements came, afraid to stand bv their convictions. The most in the way of seeders for sowing, and harvesters of the bovs never returned to the Mankato to cut and bind the ripened grain, two men be- Normal, hut some got into business and others ing carried alon? with the machine to tie up went to Carleton College and other schools, the bundles. These labor saving contrivances The newly elected president of the Normal, enabled the farmers to greatly enlarge their Prof. John, thouarh he was in no way to blame, fields. A list of the reapinEc machines sold in found the position in which circumstances put our county in 1873 will indicate how extensive him rather awkward, and resigned after a few the competition in such machinery was. It in- years. eluded the McCormick. Marsh Harvester, Kirby, During the winter of 1873-4 a lecture course Excelsior Dropper, Massillion Harvester, Buck- was srotten up at Mankato. which brought eve, Osborne. Woods Peaners. Edwards, Esterlv. thither for two or three winters some of the Advance Harvester, J. P. Manny Peaper. and best talent in the country. Snrh stars as Hon. Madison Harvester. The debts incurred in buy- Geo. S. Boutwell. Mary A. Livermore, Men- ins: such costly machinery and the hazzards of delsohn Club of Boston, Wendell Phillips, and ■^heat raising drove many a venturous farmer Gen. Kilpatrick, who appeared the first season, en the financial rocks, hut others were more and Bavard Taylor, John 'B. Gousrh, Henrv fortunate. Then the lightning rod man was Ward Beecher, Eev, Edward Eggleston, Hon. HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUi^TY. 179 Henry Wilson, Carl Sehurz, Dr. John G. Hol- land, Helen Potter and others followed. During 1873 the Mankato Driving Park Asso- ciation was formed and secured grounds on the Brooks farm just north of Mankato, where the admirers of good horses had many a meet. The first directory of Mankato was published, also, this year. The Winona and St. Peter Eailway Company passed through the best tim- ber region in the county and the wood and lumber business of the road at once became an important factor. During January, 1874, 20,000 cords of wood were delivered along the line of the road. But we shall have more to say about this industry later. On Feb. 1, 1874, an important change took place in the affairs of the Catholic Church of Mankato. An agreement was entered into be- tween the church and the Jesuit Brotherhood, whose headquarters in this country is at Buffalo, N. Y., whereby the latter were put- in charge of the services of the church. The parish had grown too great for a single pastor, and it was a wise plan to put it into the hands of an order, who could supply all the men necessary to do the work properly. The people who settled our county were a re- ligious people and they built alters to the God of their fathers in every community. They were divided into many nationalities, and religious de- nominations, but on the whole all possessed the virtues of a noble Christian character. Our population as a class, both American and For- eign, was made up of the salt of the earth, men who feared God and worked righteousness. Of the many churches and schools they founded and built we shall speak more in detail, in the annals of the various towns. We may note, however, that in the early 70's the land had been mostly divided among the various tribes and national- ities'. The north half of the city of Mankato together with Mankato and Lime Townships, were settled almost wholly by Germans, mostly of the Catholic faith. Some Lutherans, Turners, Evangelical and Methodists were sprinkled among them, their numbers corresponding to the order named. In McPherson, Mapleton, and the north half of Beauford the German Catholics predomi- nated, with many German Lutherans among them and a few Methodists. In Lyra, Eapidan and Decoria the German Lutherans predominat- ed, but there was quite a number of German Catholics among them, especially in Lyra. Dan- ville was now fast becoming a German town. They were mostly of the Methodist and Luth- eran faith, but had a large and influential Cath- olic element in the southern part of the town. Pleasant Mound and the north half of Ceresco was, also, fast becoming a solid settlement of German Lutherans. The towns of South Bend, Judson, Cambria and the north half of Butter- nut Valley were occupied by the Welsh very early. Lake Crystal and Mankato also contained many of this nationality. They were mostly Cal- vinistic Methodists, a denomination nearly allied to the Presbyterians. This denomination had seven or eight churches among them, the Con- gregationalist two, and there were a few Bap- tist and Wesleyan families. The Norwegians were occupying the south half of Butternut Val- ley and the northwest portion of Lincoln, the west half of Sterling and some of the east part of Shelbj', the most of Medo, a strip along the west end of Eapidan, and the portions of Eapi- dan and Decoria, which lie in the vicinity of \he mouths of the Maple and Cobb rivers. Quite a number of them also reside at Lake Crystal and Mankato. They too are a very religious people and belong almost exclusively to the Lutheran faith and have many churches. Among them, as among the Germans, there are two synods of the Lutheran church, which nearly amount to two denominations. The old doctrine of the Free Will is really at the bottom of their differences. In the south- east comer of Lincoln and dipping over a little into Garden City a colony of Swedish Baptists had located. On the Judson bot- tom were a few Swedish Lutherans, while at the City of Mankato many Swedish people reside. The majority are of the Lutheran faith, but the Congregational, Baptist and M. E. have churches among them. The Irish took posses- sion of Jamestown, of the northerly portion of Ceresco, of the southwest comer of Lyra, a strip on the line between Beauford and Lyra and the northwest corner of DanviUe. Mankato contains, also, quite a number of the Sons and Daughters 180 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. of Erin; while McPhxerson and other towns have a few families. As a rule they are of the Catho- lic faith. In the eastern part of Sterling, and crossing the line into Mapleton and in Mapleton Village and with a few scattering families in Beanford, the trihe of Scotland might be found. Garden City, Vernon Center and Shelby were mostly settled by Americans and a majority of the other towns haJ more or less American set- tlers. These lines of demarkation between the various nationalities still remain quite distinct, but already intermarriage, the public schools, the press, the demands of business are beginning to beat down the lines of separation and before long all will be welded into a homogenous whole, the future American. During the early 70's there was much activity throughout the county in Sunday school matters, and conventions were held each year. A report, not far from being complete so far as the Eng- lish speaking schools were concerned, and cov- ering a few of the foreign schools, showed there were in the county, fifty-three Sunday schools, four hundred and forty-one officers and teachers and two thousand five hundred and sixty scholars. In March, 1874, the Mankato Woolen Manu- facturing Company was organized by Christian Eoos, Jacob Bierbauer, A ISTeumayer, Thos. Ben- nett and J. P. Meagher. The summer of 1874 was very dry and windy and many fires caused thereby and much &ax burned. The establishment of the oil mill at Mankato had greatly encouraged the production of flax all over the county. The grasshoppers were quite numerous this year in the northwestern portion of the county and fully half of the crops were destroyed by them. A severe hailstorm in June swept through Cambria, Butternut Valley and Judson and took about all the grasshoppers had not yet had time to finish. The grangers held another big celebration on July 4th of this year at Good Thunder, where Hon. William Windom was the orator. About the last of July, 1874, the first load of iron was received for the Wells road and the work of laying the track began. By September 29th, daily trains were running to Good Thun- der and on November 17, 1874, a celebration of the completion of the road to Wells was held. Other events of the year at Mankato were: The building of Turner's hall (afterwards called Union Hall and now transformed to the Hein- rich Hotel), and the sale of the "Mankato Un- ion" on September 11th by W. B. Griswold to J. K. Cleveland, and of the Beobaehter by Schramm to J. M. Broome of New Ulm. The city, also, entered in September into a contract with a Chicago firm, named Spangler, Marrs and Miller, to sink an artesian well four inches in diameter. The well was dug to depth of 2,204 feet and then abandoned. Had it been properly cased and cared for, it doubtless would have been successful. It was one of the deepest holes ever dug in the State, and was therefore of considerable interest to the geologist. The water rose in it within 71% feet of the top, but a leak occurred near this point. It cost the city $12,000 to dig it, and $1,568 was paid for the land, which today constitutes Highland Park. In June, 1874, Mankato voted $10,000 bonds to build the Eranklin school house. Garden City also built during the summer a new two story school building. The assessors returns for June, 1874, showed the following live stock statistics: Horses, 7,007; cattle, 16,065; sheep, 6,153, hogs, 5,186. There were 42,010 apple trees growing in the county and 820 bushels of apples raised and 5,980 pounds of grapes. In 1875 Blue Earth County ranked fifth in the State in dairy produce and was first in the production of honey, having 702 hives and 15,666 pounds of honey. It, also, raised the most com of any county, amounting to 457,991 bushels. At the November election Judge F. H. Waite, who had resigned his position as District Judge,- in order to run for Congress as an Independent candidate, was beaten by M. H. Dunnell, the Eepublican nominee, but by a majority of only 2,986, which was about one-third the usual fig- ure. D. A. Dickinson, the Eepublican nominee, was elected Judge of the District Court, over Daniel Buck. The Democrats succeeded in electing their share of the county officers. During 1874 ten new school houses were built in the county at a cost of $21,216, showing the growth of educational facilities. HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 181 The saw mill industry of the county was now nearly at its best. The great timber section covering its northeast quarter was full of saw mills. The Dickinson mill by Hoosier Lake, the Fredericks and Hodapp mill, and the Whit- rock mill in the vicinity of the poor farm, the Bennett and Harvey mill at Tivoli, the Morse mill on outlet of Lake Madison, the Woodham Mill, owned then by Burgess & Picket on the outlet of Eagle Lake, the Lamphear mill on In- dian Lake in LeEay, the Stokes mill at Smith's Mill, the Forster mill at north end of Eagle Lake, the Saylor mill in Jamestown, the Boegen mill at Mankato, the two mills at Winnebago Agency, one or two at Eagle Lake and many others that do not now occur to us were busy manufacturing lumber. Eagle Lake was now beginning to be somewhat of a village, the prin- cipal center of the wood and lumber business. In January, 1874, a newspaper was started there by A. H. Wheeler, under the name of "The Golden Prize" which ran for about a year and then was sold under the sheriS's hammer to Horace Cummins. In February, 1875, a new post ofEice was created at Mapleton station with the old pioneer, Eobert Taylor, as postmaster. Early in August another postofEice was created in Medo, called "Little Cobb," with Wm. Germo as postmaster. On March 1st, 1874, the Welsh held one of their big "Eisteddfod's" at Turners Hall, Man- kato. This is a literary and musical festival of a competitive character, usually held once a year. It had been held for two or three years before this. On March 17th, the Irish brother- hood celebrated St. Patricks day at Mankato with a good literary program. During this year the Catholics under the lead- ership of the Jesuit brotherhood, always active in educational work, built their fine school build- ing at Mankato. It is of brick, 150 feet long by 60 feet wide, and three stories high. It was completed by October 1, 1876, and dedicated with appropriate exercises by Bishop Ireland. SC800t-3>lST.NSlo9-RftPiO«N OJOODraeWS HftLL-RflPIDAW seRmflN t(JT«fcRfl« CHURCH-RftPlDflM Nonajeoiftri (.uthcraN church CHAPTER XIX. THE GRASSHOPPEKS— EVENTS OF 1876-7 —THE WINTER OE 1881-2 AND THE BIG ELOOD. Tiie winter of 1874-5 was yery cold with deep snow, and the high water in AprU again did great havoc to the water mills, especially along the Watonwan. The flour mills of Butterfield & Co., Capwell & Co., Quayle & Eriend, Willard & Rodgers, Hopkins & Dilly and others suffered several thousand dollars in damages. With . the opening of spring the grasshoppers began hatching in countless millions over most of the west half of the county and it was evi- dent that the crops in that section were again doomed. It was getting to be a serious question what to do to rid the country of this scare. On the 3rd of June, 1875, the County Commissioners met and passed a resolution offering a bounty of ten cents a quart for all grasshoppers caught and brought to designated places in each town to be measured and destroyed. The people went to work with a will, with all sorts of contrivances for catching the pests. The most common plan was to rig a large net with sheets tacked to a light frame work, which was pushed over the field by hand or dragged by one horse. The farmers found they had a snap. Some were making - over $30.00 per day. In three days over 4,000 bushels were caught and $14,000 had been paid out. Monday morning, June 7th, the County Commissioners were hurriedly called to- gether, for at such a rate the county would soon be bankrupt. The bounty was now cut one half, but the farmers were bringing in such an enor- mous quantity of hoppers, that the board was obliged on June 11th to cut the price to sixty cents per bushel, and on June 12 to withdraw the bounty altogether. In nine days the County had paid $31,255.66 for 15,766 bushels and eighteen quarts of grasshoppers. It was esti- mated that each bushel contained on an average 130,000 hoppers. The station at Garden City issued the largest amount of orders $5,727.78, the city of Mankato came next with $4,606.16, Judson $4,404.48, South Bend $3,916.75. James- town only paid out thirty cents, McPherson $6.38 and Beauford $1.10, showing the eastern towns were not much infected. At Mankato the place for receiving the grasshoppers was about where the city hall now stands. A large vat of boiling water was kept in readiness, into A\hich the bags-full of hoppers were emptied for their destruction, and their carcasses were then dumped into a long trench, which had been dug close by for their burial. In spite of this wholesale destruction of the pest, it did not seem to diminish their number in the least. Bounty or no bounty the farmers made a desperate and heroic struggle to save their crops. Trenches were dug about fields, which had not yet been infested, in the hope that the young hoppers could not pass over, a stream of tar was poured about them. Infected, fields were covered with a tliin coating of dry straw and burned, brine was sprinkled over them, a machine called the "hop- per dozer'' v,-as invented and put upon the mar- ket, and home made devises of all sorts were used and the insects caught and destroyed by the bil- lions, but all availed nothing. The very dust seemed alive with the pest. Rapidan called a lown meeting on June 35, and voted $1,500.00 to be used in the destruction of grasshoppers within its boundaries. But every effort was in vain, the larger part of the crops in the wes- tern half of the county were entirely destroyed. They completely covered every green thing. The trees were full of them, the very houses were plastered with them, one could not step anywhere without crushing them under foot, and they 183 184 HISTOKY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. would crawl into one's clothing. It was indeed an Egyptian plague. The chickens ate them but they affected the eggs, flavoring and discolor- ing them, the birds and the hogs also feasted upon them, but nothing diminishing their number. As the summer advanced they gained their wings and the air was full of them, some days almost hiding the sun. During the fall they laid their eggs far and wide over this and adjoin- ing counties. Many farmers plowed their fields and then dragged them thoroughly in the hope of destroying the eggs. The winter of 18'i'5-6 was rather mild and it was thought that the al- ternate thawing and freezing would have a bale- ful effect upon them. All winter long pans of earth were carried into the houses to experiment v/ith, but every test showed the pest to be as vir- ulent as ever. The counties of Kicollet, Brown, 'Watonwan and many others were devastated fully as much, and even more than Blue Earth. The Legislature in February, 1876, passed a bill ap- propriating $15,637.83 to reimburse Blue Earth County for bounty paid for destruction of grass- ho|)pers. Bills were also passed for the relief of the farmers in the matter of seed wheat. While most of the farmers seeded their land again, some refrained, deeming it useless. The grasshoppers were fully as numerous as ever dur- ing the summer of 1876, and nearly all of the west half of the county was devastated by them, as well as all the country to the westward. The people again waged a heroic fight in defense of iheir fields, but to no avail. Conventions and- town meetings were held to discuss ways and means for ridding the country of the terrible scourge. The preservation of the birds, the rais- ing of more chickens, the cultivation of a small red parasite, and the destruction of the eggs, were among the principal remedies proposed. October 10, 1876, the town of Shelby voted to tax each man three days work in plowing and harrowing the ground to kill the eggs. As indi- cating li'^w thick the grasshoppers were, a train on the St. Paul and Sioux Eoad on July 18, 1876, was stopped by them near Hersey in No- bles county, the wheels and rails had become so smeared by their bodies that they slipped and bad to be cleaned. Trains on the same road were stopped in Lime town in Blue Earth county by the same cause. The winter of 1876-7 was very mild again, and a number of farmers sowed their grain in February. Hatching grasshop- pers by the stove was the principal occupation of this winter to test the eggs, and to see if the young hoppers were as healthy as their pro- genitors and to discover how many a bushel of earth would produce. It is needless to say that the hoppers stood well in every test. In March, 1877, the Legislature passed a bill giving a bounty of $1.00 per bushel for grass- hoppers caught prior to May 25, fifty cents for all caught after that date to June 10, twenty- five cents thereafter to July 1, and twenty cents to October. Every township and village was, also, authorized to levy a tax for the de- struction of the pests, and every male inhabitant between the ages of twenty and sixty years Avas to be assessed by the supervisors one day's work for each week, for not to exceed five weeks, to be applied under the direction of the Path- masters for the destruction of the grasshoppers and their eggs. The work to be done much after the manner of our poll tax. The county was also authorized to employ persons having patent machinery for killing grasshoppers. $100,000.00 was appropriated to carry out the provisions of the act, and a bill passed authorizing a state loan for the purpose. Bills were also passed for the relief of grasshopper sufferers, who were un- able to pay taxes or pay interest on state lands. With the opening of Spring (1877) the grass- hoppers appeared as numerous as ever. In many places they were so thick that they might have been literally shoveled from the ground. Dry, warm, sandy soil was their preference. Many farmers desisted from sowing their lands, when they saw them hatching out again. The people though discouraged, still kept up the fight ivith ditches, wet ashes, and fire, gathering them in canvass hoppers, in nets smeared on the inside with tar, and with "Hopper dozers" (a contrivance made of sheet iron with tar inside). But all this did not seem to diminish the num- ber. The people in their bitter extremity ap- pealed to the Governor to proclaim a day of fast- ing and prayer and April 26, 1877, was duly appointed as such a day. The day was gen- erally observed. All business was suspended HISTORY OP BLUB EARTH COUNTY. Ib5 as though it were Sunday, and the people gath- ered in their churches throughout the land. Earnest appeals were made for Divine help by Catholic and Protestant alike. The Catholic church at Mankato prolonged the services for three days. Whether in answer to prayer or from natural causes, it is a singular fact that after this public appeal to the Almighty the grasshop- pers began immediately to be troabled. Disease broke out among them and many died, while others were stunted in their growth. There were a number of heavy rains, and on June 10, there was a heavy frost, all of which seemed lo effect the locusts unfavorably. They did not attack the gardens and fields with anythiug of their old time vigor, and as soon as their wings were developed, on June 23, and 35, 1877, the great masses of them arose high in the air and flew away, no one ever knew whither. The com- paratively few that remained, as their wings de- veloped, did likewise, until by July 1, nearly all were gone. Still on sunny days the air con- tinued full of stragglers, like flakes of snow in a winter storm the sky would swarm with them until August. Tor flve consecutive years many of the farmers of our county had lost nearly all of their crops, and for four years the most of the western half and portions of the eastern half had been completely devastated by this awful scourge. That their departure was a direct answer to prayer may not be positively affirmed, but neither can it be strongly denied. To say the least there was a singular coincidence between the day of prayer and the disappearance of the pest so soon thereafter. The going of the destructive hcrdes was a great relief to the im- poverished people, and with fresh courage they bravely went to work to retrieve their shattered fortunes. Going back to 1876, we note a few events in our history beside the ravages of grasshoppers. Two new postoffices were created, in the county this year, one in January at Rapidan station, with Noah Webster in charge, and the other in July at the home of Henry Stiemagle in Danville. On February 23, 1876, occurred the killing of Mrs. Jane Gilbert by Andrew Weston in Medo, which resulted in a hard fought murder trial in our court. Weston was finally convicted and sentenced to State prison. Duriug this summer the caterpillar pest ap- peared in the tiiuber area of LeEay, Lime, and Mankato Townships, and much of the foliage destroyed by them and some of the trees killed. They continued their devastations for two or three years. It being centennial year a big Fourth of July celebration was held at Mankato. The Old Sol- diers, the Mankato and Owatonna Fireman, The Danish, Swede, and Norwegian societies, were features, in the parade, and senator Wilkinson delivered the address. There was an immense crowd present. The people of Pleasant Mound and vicinity held a celebration of their own, at Wilder's grove, on Willow Creek. On September 7, 1876, occurred the Northfield Bank robbery by the James and Younger gang. Tiiese desperadoes had visited Mankato a few days before, with intent of looting one of its banks. In their retreat they passed through our county and were seen in ilankato Township by G. P. Hoerr and Sebastian Kopp. They cross- ed the Blue Earth river on the St. Paul and Omaha railway bridge at night, while a posse Ai'as guarding the wagon bridge, and it ^as main- ly through the efforts of Capt. A. J. j\[urphy of Lake Crystal, that they were finally captured near Madelia. In the fall of 1876, Henry and Fred Boegen enlarged their saw mill at the city of Mankato. In Mankato township Capt. N. W. Dickerson transformed his saw mill into a large new steam saw and grist mill, which under the name of ''White Star Mills'' rendered good service for some time. The Burns Celebration in Sterling, and St. Patricks day at Mapleton had now become fixed feasts, which were annually observed. While the grange movement was dying out elsewhere over the county, it still continued to flourish in Danville and Shelby Townships. The Shelbyville grange under C. W. Herrman, as master, and J. F. Stock, as secretary, and the Woodland grange under F. Berut as Master and J. A. Lattimer as secretary formed a trade un- ion and bought most of their goods at wholesale prices of Chicago and St. Paul houses, A. L. 186 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. Stephens acted as purchasing agent for a long time. The grange organization continued actiye in Danville, also, and monthly meetings were held at Mr. Thompson's home. They, also, were reg- ular patrons of the grange supply house of Chi- cago. During the seventies there was a strong tem- perance sentiment over most of the county. Good Templar lodges flourished in every village. The Red Ribbon movement started about 1877, and grew rapidly in favor. In those years "No li- cense" carried a number of times in Mapleton, Good Thunder, Winnebago Agency and Lake Crystal as well in Eagle Lake, Garden City and Vernon. In June, 1877, the proposition to settle the old State Railway bonds of 1857 was submitted to the voters. Our county had voted against the bonds originally and now defeated the settle- ment proposition by a vote of 2,259 to 511. In the fall of 1877 Mankato built its present City hall at a cost of $8,395.00. Masonic block at Mankato was also completed and the hall ded- icated. On September 1, 1877, Geo. W. Neff bought the "Mankato Union" of W. B. Gris- wold, and, about the same time, A. M. Morrison (then teaching school at Eagle Lake) and W. J. Clark purchased of Horace Cummins the printing outfit, which had belonged to Mr. Wheel- er and started the "Eagle Lake Independent," which was published for a short time. On November 1, 1877, within five minutes of the noon hour occurred the only earth quake shock ever felt in the county. The fall of 1877 ^\as extremely fine. Farmers were plowing on Christmas day, and even on December 29, a num- ber of neighbors in Jamestown made a plow- ing bee for a sick friend. The weather con- tinued very mild the winter through, with hardly any snow. Like many an open winter it was not very healthy. The small pox was quite prevalent over the county, but there were few fatalities, as the disease was very mild in cliai acter. Much more deadly was the epidemic of diphtheria, which swept over the county during this and the following winter, carrying away scores of children and youth. During 1879 there were forty-nine deaths from this disease in our county, in 1880 there were twenty-two, and in 1881, twenty-nine. On February 23, 1878, an act was passed by the Legislature incorporating the village of Mapleton, and David Smith, James E. Brown and L. Troendle were authorized to call the first corporate meeting. This was done for March 19, when the following officers were elected: President of Board of Trustees, Joel Gates; Trustees, Lucius Toendle, James McLaughlin and C. H. Wicks; Treasurer, Sherman Peet; Recorder, P. A. Foster; Justice, C. W. Smith; Constable, Henry Tenney. At the same time the village became an independent school dis- trict and built a new school house. An important event for the city of Mankato and our county was the erection by R. D. Hub- bard, Wm. Pearson and George M. Palmer of what is known as the Hubbard Flour mill, the ground for which was broken on April 22, 1878, and the mill completed October 1, 1879. During this summer (1878) John 6. Graham built at Good Thunder his hotel and hall. One who rendered good service in the develop- ment of band music in the county was Prof. Howe of Mankato. During the seventies he or- ganized bands at Mapleton, Good Thunder, Lake Crystal, Mankato and other points in the county, and did much in training the musical talent of our young men. Another musical genius, who helped to develop the skill of our young people in playing upon string and wind instruments was Wm. Matthews. Among those who did much in cultivating vocal music were: in the early period, Edward Thomas of South Bend, and Edson Gerry of Garden City ; and in the seventies. Prof. Brett, A. Neumayer and Wei- gel of Mankato. During 1878 there was much immigration in- to our own county, and the counties to our west. The grasshopper scourge had for a few years stopped entirely the tide of immigration, but now that this calamity was over the settlers came in larger numbers than ever before. Eleven Nor- wegian families located in Medo alone. It was no uncommon sight to see one hundred canvass topped wagons passing up Front street in one day. The spring and summer of 1878 were rather HISTORY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 187 wet, and this, coupled with the fact that the land had been given a long rest because of the grasshoppers, caused the grain to grow too rank and the crop this year was small in quanti- ty and poor in quality. In June, 1878, the Sunday schools of the southwest portion of the county held a union picnic at ShelbyvUle, and on July 4th, an old settler's picnic met in the grove of Erastus Eeed in Shelby. On July 30, 1878, a number of the Good Templar lodges held a large picnic at the Ellis grove in Sterling. These social functions indicate some of the things the people in the south part of our county were then interested in. During this and the following summer there was much talk and agitation over the proposi- tion of the St. Paul & Sioux City Eailway build- ing a branch from some point on their main line southward through Blue Earth City to the Iowa line. Mankato wanted this branch to start from her gates, and pass by the Eapidan water power, but the engineers' survey favored a route from Lake Crystal as much more prac- tical and economical, for the bit of country be- tween Mankato and the Eapidan Mills is rather rugged for railroad building. The proposi- tion to give this branch $10,000 bonus was defeated at an election held in Shelby on July 35, 1878, by a vote of eighty to twenty-five mainly because of the uncertainty as to whether the depot would be located at Shelbyville or elsewhere. After this the railroad authorities showed no great interest in the project during the rest of that fall and winter. But the peo- ple along the route became anxious, and in April, 1879, delegations of citizens were sent to interview the railway officials at St. Paul, from Garden City, Vernon and Shelby. The delegates from Garden City were: C. B. Frazer Eev. J. Eockwood, Hon. J. G. Thompson and T. B. Church; from Vernon Center, P. H. Tubbs, T. B. Francis, T. S. Hays, A. M. Han- nay, Peter Mertesdorff and A. C. Wilber; and from Shelby, Geo. Quiggle, Thos. J. Cross, I. H. Darling and John C. Noble. Prompt action on the matter of bonus was taken and on April 33 Garden City voted $13,500, by a majority of fifty-five in a vote of 307, Vernon also voted $10,000 by a vote of ninety-two to sixty-five. but the bonus was again defeated in Shelby by a vote of 130 to 53. This defeat was due to the same cause as the first. The road however, was built during the summer and fall of this year (1879) and completed the next spring to Elmore. The Commissioners appointed to ap- praise the damages for right of way were Clark Keysor, Henry Foster and James Miller. Early in August, 1879, Garden City was reached and the depot built. The railway crossed the Blue Earth river about a mile below the old town- site of Vernon and two new towns adjoining each other and a mUe distant from the old town, and on the opposite side of the river, were laid out in the fall of 1879 on the farm of Elnathan Kendall. One was platted by the railway com- pany in October, 1879, called "East Vernon Cen- ter" and the other platted on November 37th, 1879, by Elnathan Kendall, under the name of "Vernon Center." The name of the station was changed soon thereafter to "Edgewood" and again later to "Vernon Center." For two or three years there was a hot rivalry between the old and new town, but the location of the railroad had made the doom of the old town certain, and it only lived in a lingering way for some half a dozen years. The railway reached this place and built its depot there about the middle of September, 1879. The next station was put near the center of Shelby township about two miles north of the vil- lage of Shelbyville, upon land which the railway company had bought for the purpose of George Quiggle. At first the name of "Jackson Lake" was suggested, but when the plat of the town- site was made on October 31, 1879, it bore the name of "Amboy" after a town of that name in Illinois, from which its first postmaster and storekeeper, Eobert Eichardson, had come. As in the case of old Vernon, Shelbyville was thus dealt its mortal blow by the railway for which it had been praying so long. After a death strug- gle of two or three years it passed away and the place of this once thriving village now knows it no more. In the fall of 1878, the hog cholera made its appearance in our county, and later did great damage to the pork raising industry. The cultivation of Amber cane had been grow- k. i 188 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. iug in the county for the past fifteen years and A¥as now becoming an important industry. Its production continued to increase until the early nineties;, when it greatly diminished. Large cane mills were operated by T. E. Beeves and P. Stency, by Zimmerman and Compton and by Allen Moon, all of LeEay; by H. C. Howai-d and E. P. Evans of Garden City, by Geo.- Gilley in Cambria, by A. Anderson in Medo, and by many others over the county. Some mills made fro3n 200 to 300 gallons of syrup per day. The quality, was, also, very fine. In Jamestown the Volk Bros, were building up a large manufacturing plant. They first built a saw mill, stave factory, and store and in 1879 added a big furniture factory. The latter was destroyed by fire in February, 1880. In March, 1878, the Legislature authorized the issuing of bonds for the building of an iron bridge over the Minnesota river at Mankato. The city voted $15,000.00 in the fall of that year for the purpose, the county gave $10,000^ and the town of Belgrade $3,500.00. On October 2, 1879, the corner stone of the main pier was laid and the big bridge completed in the summer of 1880. Thus for the first time Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties were united. The cost of the bridge was $28,400.00, but extras connected with the approaches and gxading brought up the to- tal expense to about $30,000.00. Its total length is 810 feet. On October 15, 1878, was held at Garden City the first greenback convention in our county. Next year it met at Good Thunder and there were thirty-eight delegates present. During the summer of 1879 Warner and Foot of Chicago issued the first map of Blue Earth county, showing not only its physical and po- litical features, but every road, farm and build- ing with names of proprietors. It was a most excellent map, fairly complete, accurate, and beautifully printed, and is still much in use. On May 13, 1879 J. L. Barlow, who was con- nected with so many newspaper enterprises in the villages of our county, started a paper at Mapleton, called the "Mapleton Messenger." De- cember 4, 1879, John D. Quane started a paper at Lake Crystal, which he designated "The Blue Earth county Public Spirit." In November, 1879, Gen. James H. Baker purchased the "Mankato Union" and the Mankato Eecord, and consoli- dated them into a new paper, which he called the "Mankato Free Press," the first issue of which appeared January, 1880. The summer and fall of 1879 was very dry and prairie fires were very common all over the county, which resulted in inuch damage to some of the farmers. The years of 1879 and ].880 were noted, also, in our history for their severe storms of wind and hail. On July 3, 1879, such a storm passed through Ceresco, Lincoln, Garden City, Judson, Eapidan, Ver- non Center, Lyra, Decoria and Medo. In one spot of Judson this storm developed into a small cyclone, which struck the residence of Henry E. lioberts and completely demolished it. Fortu- nately Mr. Eoberts and his family escaped in- jury, though carried with the debris of their home for some distance and then dropped out- side in the yard. The next day another storm of like character swept through Pleasant Mound and Shelby. It unroofed the brick residence of Nathaniel Stevens and, wrecking a part of the wall, killed Mrs. Stevens. These storms worked great destruction to the crops all over the county. A partial estimate of the loss by towns was as follows: Beauford 500 acres, Ceresco, 2,500 acres, Decoria 1,300 acres. Garden City, 1,000 acres, Lincoln 200 acres, Lyra 1,200 acres, McPherson, 2,000 acres, Medo 2,500 acres, Eapi- dan 500 acres, Vernon Center 1,500 acres, total 13,200 acres. In 1880 the storms came about a month ear- lier and were therefore not quite so destructive to crops, but were more injurious to buildings than the storms of the previous year. On June 3, 1880, a severe storm of wind and hail struck LeEay, McPherson, and Medo. Two days later (June 5th) a storm, amounting to a tornado, passed over Mankato, unroofing the Normal school, the court house, the Catholic College, Norwegian Church, Christian church. Masonic Hall, City Hall and a great many business blocks and private residences. It also blew down the cupola of the Swedish church, and demolished ^ ^ ^ windows, chimneys, and trees without number. Very few buildings in the city but received more or less damage. The storm, also, badly damaged HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 189 a brick school house in Lime towB and did much injury in the country northeast of Man- kato. The same day another tornado entered Pleasant Mound at its Southwest corner and thence swept eastward through this town and through Shelby demolishing six school houses in its path and unroofing and otherwise injur- ing many private houses. A man named Newell, a widower, living at Pleasant Mound, saw the storm coming, and got into the house before the liurricane struck it. Feeling the building move with the wind, he grabbed his two little children in his arms and tried to open the east door, the opposite side from the storm, but the suc- tion of the wind was too great. The house top- pled over on its side, then rolled upside down. When Mr. Newell recovered consciousness, he Tfas lying under a sulky plow in the yard, with the two children unhurt still in his arms, but the house was gone, torn in pieces by the wind. He picked himself and children up and hastily sought shelter from the pelting rain and hail in n sheep pen near by. H. B. Perrin and family then resided on their farm in Pleasant Mound. When the storm came Mr. Perrin threw him- self against the door to brace it. A crash up- stairs warned him the windows there had blowed in, and a second later the roof went, and then the siding began tearing ofE and fly- ing away. Hastily leaving the fast disintegrating house Mr. Perrin and wife and children man- aged by clinging to each other to crawl into a root house close at hand. A man going along the road saw the storm coming and ran for shelter to the Kenney school house, but, being Saturday, found the door locked. He sought shelter in one of the outhous- es, but that soon was blown over. He then took refuge on the leeward side of the school house, but this building began to topple. There was BOW nothing else for our friend to do, but gird up his loins and run. As he sped with the storm he glanced back over his shoulder and saw the school house coming after him, tum- bling before the wind. Afterwards he used to tell with great glee of the time he ran across the prairie chased by a school house and two outhouses. These are a few of the many inci- dents serious and sometimes humorous of these storms. Among the school houses demolished vere the Perrin new frame school house, the Willow Creek, Lattin, -and Kennedy brick school houses and the Brownly log school house. In Ceresco the McAllen, Mead and Delvin school houses were more or less wrecked. It was very fortunate the storm occurred on Saturday, when tliere were no schools, else worse tragedies might have happened. The Kopieschke residence, in Ceresco, and the frame of the new Presbyterian church, at Amboy, were torn to pieces by the wind. A vast num- ber of houses and barns were injured all over the southwest part of the county and the dam-- ages incurred - aggregated over $30,000.00. About June, 1879, the people of Pleasant Mound and Shelby organized "The Blue Earth Valley Stock Association,'' which at first was merely intended to advertise a big Norman Per- cheron horse named "Colossus" and his progeny, but the event soon developed into a regular fair, a strong rival of the County Fair. These fairs were generally held at Wilder's grove, or at tlie farms of L. H. McKibben or J. D. Heritage. In March, 1880, the first telephone in the cow.nty was installed. It extended between the City Hall in Mankato and the Hubbard mill and the Mankato House. In November, 1879, the Minnesota Central Railway, (usually called the Mankato and Wells Eailroad) was sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway company, who assumed charge in January, 1880. During March and April, 1880, Red Itildion Clubs were organized at Mapleton, Good Thunder, Winnebago Agency, and Lake Crystal by Harry Hall of Michigan, which did consid- erable work along temperance lines. About May 1, 1880, a new paper was started at Mapleton called the "Mapleton Censor." The milling industry of our county continued active, but the tendency was to erect mills at railway points, and mills away from such points were on the decline. In July, 1880, the Hubbard Mill put in the roller process. In the fall of the same year ilr. Gates erected a new mill at Mapleton village. The Cable Mill in Lyra was now owned by Turner and Eedfearn. The Eap- idan Mill, the Garden City Mill, the Butter- 190 HISTOEY OF BLUB EARTH COUNTY. field mill, the Eed Jacket Mill, the White Star Mill, Eagle Lake mill, the Farmers Mill, Win- nebago Agenej' Mill, Dyer Mill, Vernon Mill, Sterling mill and three or four other mills were still running. All these were flour mills. The saw mills of the county at this period must haye numbered about twenty. On September 3, 1880 The Mankato Free Press appeared for the first time under the edi- torship of Woodward and Foss, who had suc- ceeded Gen. Baker as proprietors. The itinerary journalist, J. L. Barlow, moved his printing press to Winnebago Agency and issued a few numbers of his "Messenger" there, but by Jan- uary 6th, 1881, he was over at Garden City, issuing it as the "Garden City- Messenger." By March 1, 1881, the "Mapleton Censor" had been suspended. About October 1, 1880, Olaf Olson started a new store at what is now Eapidan station in connection with the post office and his wood business. About the same time John Hanson started a store at Little Cobb post office in Medo. On December 4, 1880, occurred the first big business failure in the coimty, that of Preal and Du Buisson and the mill company of Eocky and Company. The liabilities were over $46,000.00 and the creditors were largely Blue Earth County people, who could ill brook their losses. On December 31, 1880 the old Red Jacket Mill burned. At the time it was owned by Hillyer and Bingham of Northfield, Minn., and was insured for $10,000.00. It had been one of the most noted mills in the county, but because of its out of the way location and want of cap- ital it was never rebuilt. On January 31, 1881, the Mankato Mutual Building and Loan Associa- tion was organized at Mankato by a number of our county seat business men. It was the first organization of the kind in the county. The institution has helped build over 1,300 resi- dences and business blocks in Mankato, North Mankato and elsewhere in the county. The winter of 1880-1 was very long, cold and snowy. The snow came about November 2nd, and did not leave until about the 30th of April. The freshet, which occurred in the Minnesota about the last week in April was the biggest ever known in that river since the advent of the white settlers, and 1881 has ever after been known as the year of "high water." The river attained to the height of twenty-four feet above low water mark, while in 1858 and 1867, when it had risen the highest before, it was only twenty-two feet. On May 3, 1881, the sternwheel steamer "Mary Barnes" arrived at Mankato from St. Paul. It was the first boat to reach our county for four or five years. It was in charge of Captain Newton. In. the spring of 1881 the German Catholic Benefit society was organized at Mankato, which soon had over a hundred members. This society prospered and now has several hundred members. On March 3, 1881, a number of Sterling farm- ers organized an Alliance in the school house in District No. 102. It was among the first of that kind of farmers clubs in the county. About the last of the same month another Alliance was started at the Eed School house in Beauford. Other Alliances were formed during the year and the order began to take an active part in politics s,nd all matters looking to the betterment of the agricultural class. On June 6, 1881, the farmers of McPherson, Medo, Decoria^ and Beauford met at the village of Hilton (Winnebago Agency) and organized a. Farmers Mutual Insurance Company." Its first officers were President, J. L. Cook, Secy. Chas. O'Connor, Directors, E. B. H. Norton, J. D. Hawkins, Chas. O'Connor, F. W. Lassow, J. L. Cook and John Bestman. Heretofore fire in- surance in the county had been carried by big stock companies like the Fire and Marine of St. Paul, the Continental of Hartford, Conn., and similar corporations, and the insurance man was a familiar figure on our country roads. But this farmer's mutual insurance was the fore- runner of a new order of things. In a few years the old line companies had been supplant- ed by local mutual insurance companies. At our county seat during 1881, the Hubbard Mill was enlarged and improved and Grover C. Burt built a large three story brick addition to the Mankato House. On January 16, 1882, the Mankato Opera HISTOEY OF BLUB EARTH COUNTY. 191 House burned, but within a year was again re- built and remodeled. At a special session of the Legislature in 1881 a Municipal Court was established at Mankato and on January 13, 1882, 0. 0. Pitcher was appointed its first Judge and John B. Hodapp was its first Eecorder. In February Andrew Friend bought the Wil- lard or Capwell Mill, enlarged it to a 100 barrel capacity and installed in it the roller process. The Alliance movement had been growing rap- idly in the county during the past few months, and in March, 1882, nine Alliances, met at Good Thunder and formed an Union under the name of the "Blue Earth County Alliance." These nine were: Mapleton, Sterling ISTo. 20. Sterling No. 65, Beauford, Mankato Township, Decoria, Amboy, No. 68, Amboy No. 60, and Good Thun- der. The officers chosen were : Lvsander Cook, President; Peter McGrath, J. B. Emmerson, Joseph May, D. W. Evans, Joseph Bookwalter and Adam Arnold, Vice-Presidents, Capt. Geo. W. Haigh, Secretary; and J. S. Englerth, Treasurer. Another meeting was held at Good Thunder on June 3, 1882, when the following ten Alliances were represented by the persons named : Good Thunder, L. Cook, P. McGrath and G. Webster. Mapleton, W. G. Dailey and T. D. Dailey. Beauford, F. Childs, and L. F. Findley. Decoria, F. M. Currier and, Geo. Todd. Sterling, No. 20, M. M. Pratt and James Ellis. Sterling, No. 65, W. A. Grover, W. S. Al- drich and W. J. Mountain. Garden City, L. Cook, L. S. Terrj' and J. G. Thompson. LeEay, Ira B. Eeynolds. Judson, Eich. Wigley and John Edwards. Mankato, Geo. W. Haigh, Jno. Diamond and J. S. Englerth. Among the foregoing were several names who ^veve destined to play a prominent part in the advancement of the Alliance cause in our own county and the state. On July 4, 1882, the County Alliance held a big celebration at Good Thunder, at which Hon. S. P. Sprague, State Lecturer for the order, and Seth Bottomly of Fairmont were the lead- ing speakers. CHAPTER XX. HISTOEY OF MINNESOTA VALLEY- EVENTS OF 1884-6— BUILDING OF THE COUET HOUSE. With the year 1882 we note the advent of the of Amboy and Lake Crystal were put among first creameries into the county, an industry money order offices, October 11, 1882, occurred which in the near future was to convert our county from wheat raising to stock raising and butter making. C. G. Spaulding at Mapleton, J. H. Long and W. T. Mills at Mankato, H. C. Howard, and Marston Larson and Davis of Lake Crystal and S. H. Grannis were among the pio- neers of this new enterprise in our county. the first issue of "The Lake Ci7stal Union'- by Geo. W. Neff, who has edited and published the paper ever since. Mr. Neff had formerly published {he "Mankato Union" and was an ex- perienced newspaper man. About September 5, 1883, Mr. Woodward sold the "Mankato Free Press" to Lemuel P. In June, 1882, "The History of the Minnesota Hunt, a young man of good abiUty and great Valley" was published. The book contains a energy. Without much personal magnetism or fairly good history of our county among a popularity and with but little capital at the number of others. On July 23, 1882, the 25th start, Mr. Hunt has managed by push, enter- anniversary of the organization of the Sterling prise and good judgment to build up one of the Congregational chuch was observed. Eev. J. E. best publishing plants in the state and his paper Conrad being the principal speaker. was always newsy and readable and enjoyed as On July 15th, 1882, the "Blue Earth County large a circulation as any paper in Southern Anti Horse Thief Association" met at Lake Minnesota. Crystal, with one or more delegates from every In August, 1882, the present brick poor house town. G. W. Monks was president, and J. C. was completed on the county farm at a cost Currier, secretary. of $5,000.00. June 28, 1882 a militia company designated During -this year there was much talk about "Company F, Second Eegiment," was formed tlie "Mankato, Austin and St. Cloud Eailway" at Mankato with Geo. W. Mead as captain, S. W. and the "Cannon Valley Eailway." McPherson Burgess, 1st Lieutenant, F. W. Walker, 2nd voted $10,000.00 bonus to the former and other Lieutenant. This organization existed for a towns along the proposed route voted similar number of years, though the personnel of both amounts, officers and men changed many times. At the Prior to 1882 Geo. A. Clarke had started a second election of officers March 13, 1883, S- W. Burgess became Captain, H. C. Acres 1st Lieutenant and D. F. McGraw 2nd Lieu- tenant. In the spring of 1882 Corliss and Brown summer resort at Madison Lake, and had done much, to create an interest in this charming spot, hidden in the depth of the forest. During this summer J. M. Barclay who owned a tract of land known as Point Pleasant on a fine promon- started a bank at the village of Mapleton. On tory of the lake, built thereon a two story frame July 21, 1882, a new postoffice was started call- liotel, which soon became very popular as a sum- ed "Beauford," with L. F. Finley, who kept mer retreat. « small store at Beauford Center, as its first During 1882, Lake Crystal built a two story Postmaster, On August 7, 1882, the post offices brick school building at a cost of $8,000. " 193 lui kbk 194 HISTORY OF BLUB EAETH COTJNTy. On October 27, 1882, Wm. C. Durkee, who had served the county since 1869 as Clerk of its District Court, died, and Wm. B. Torrey wag appointed to fill the vacancy. On February 14, 15, and 16, 1883, "The Korthwestern Dairymen's Convention" was held at Mankato and gave much inspiration to the new dairy interests of our county. One feature of the decorations of the occasion was an ice palace surmounted by an effigy of a calf, erect- ed in the street in front of the City Hall, where the meetings were held. Soon after this meeting the Lake Crystal creamery was sold to Lawrence Straight and Co., and a little later 1hov, also, bought the Mankato cret- in March, 1883 Joseph Bookwalter, of Vernon Center was appointed collecter of customs at St. Vincent. For a number of years John E. Beatty of Mankato had made a special study of the lime- stone ledges in and about Mankato, and, after numerous experiments, had discovered along the banks of the Blue Earth in West Mankato a quantity of good cement rock. In 1882 he in- terested J. S. Parsons of Hartford Conn., and U.. Cummings of Buffalo, IST. Y. in the find; and on April 24, 1883, they purchased a tract of several acres, containing the cement ledge, of Stephen Lamm, Noah Armstrong and Daniel Buck. Extensive and very substantial build- ings were constructed during the summer and the plant began operations in the fall. For a number of years large quantities of cement v/ere manufactured by the "Mankato Standard Cement Company." Another industry, which was started this same spring of 1883, adjacent to the cement works, was the manufacture of drain tile and firebrick by S. F. Alberger. The clay for the purpose was mostly obtained from the Le Sueur, and was of excellent quality. This work pros- pered for a time, but the want of capital, the discrimination in railway rates, and a better of- fer at the Twin Cities, finally induced Mr. Al- berger in three or four years to abandon his plant. The same spring (1883) witnessed the erec- tion at Mankato by 0. C. McCurdy, John Van Liew and L. Patterson, of Van Wert, Ohio, of the Mankato gas works, the first in the county. About July 11th, 1883, a telephone plant was installed at Mankato with sixty-three sub- scribers, mainly through the efforts of A. B. Smith. It was the first effort to give the people of our county the services of this modern con- venience. In the fall of 1883 Frank Lewis of Worth- ington purchased the machinery of the "White Star" flour mill from the heirs of Capt. Dicker- son and moved same to Lake Crystal; where he formed a copartnership with Marston, Cry and Davis in its operation. In September, 1883, Smith's mill was made a regular station on the ISTorthwestem railroad and a depot was erected. There was a mill and three general stores already located at this place. In the summer of 1883, John D. Quane moved his paper, "The Public Spirit" from Lake Crystal to Mankato and changed it to a daily paper. It was the first attempt at publishing a daily in our county but for some reason or other it was not a success and its publication sus- pended in December. February 12 to 15, 1885 the 'TSTorthwestem Dairymen's Association" met again at Mankato and the dairy interests of the county were given another big impetus. An important change was now taking place in our county along agri- cultural lines. The farmers were turning from wheat raising to stock raising and the production of butter ; and these big conventions helped mater- ially in the transition. Public sentiment was mold- ed by them and the people educated and enthused along these lines. Early in March, 1884, the merchants of Lake Crystal formed a "Dairy Board of Trade," which sent men out through the country regularly to gather the butter fresh from the churn and have it all worked over at Lake Crystal by experienced butter makers. In April, 1884, a dairymen's convention was held at Mapleton which gave the farmers in that vicinity an opportunity to meet and discuss ways and means. About the same time, through the efforts of M. G. Willard, then secretary* of the Mankato Board of Trade, a "Dairy Pro- duce and "Exchange" was organized at Man- katoj embracing a number of counties in South- HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 195 western Minnesota, the main purpose of which was to arrange sale or market days for butter, so as to bring the producers into touch with the butter dealers of New York City and else- where. The first sale days were held at Mankato during this month of April, and a number of buyers and sellers were present. The growth of the dairy interest called forth new enterprises. W. W. Woodward and Chas. M. Marsh formed a copartnership for the man- ufacture of butter tubs at Mankato and dur- ing the summer erected a large factory for the purpose. In June, 1884, the English speaking Catholics of Mankato and vicinity separated themsehes from the German Catholic Church and Father John Prior became their pastor. In Vernon Center the fight between old Ver- non and "Edgewood" was still raging, but the latter place was steadily gaining ground over its rival. In July, 1883, it obtained a postofEice with E. W. Washburn as postmaster, and in 1884 it won the new school house. Amboy by this time was getting to be quite a village with several stores, hotels, and churches. In January, 1885, it even supported a newspaper called the "Amboy News." During the years 1882 to about 1886, the young people of Sterling and vicinity were very active in literary and lyceum work. At Mapleton, James Brown, the merchant and banlcer, had become, also, an editor, pub- lishing a small monthly paper called the "Ma- pleton Enterprise" in connection with the store of Brown, Wishart & Orr as early as the first of August, 1884. This paper continued for a year and had a circulation of 800. On January 13, 1885, Hon. Schyler Colfax, Ez-vice president of the United States, died sud- denly at the depot of the St. Paul and Omaha railway in Mankato, while waiting between trains. At the New Orleans Mid Winter Expo- sition in January, 1885, an exhibit of the stone and some other products of our county was made, with James Shoemaker in charge. The Cannon Valley Eailroad (now called the Chicago and Great Western) was then ap- proaching Mankato from Eed Wing and Fari- bault and had reached Jamestown. A new town- site was started there on January 17, 1885, on the line of this railway called "Madison Lake," after the lake of that name on which it is situ- ated. The proprietors were: Chas. F. Hatch as trustee, Luther Z. Sogers and Lewis Fitcher. At Mankato the German Lutheran parochial school which had heretofore been taught by the pas- tor, was put in charge of a regular teacher. Prof. H. I. F. Brockmeyer, in April, 1885. During the summer a three story brick block was erected by Patterson, Halfhill and Zimmer- man for their new wholesale grocery business. These men, who proved to be a valuable acquisi- tion to the mercantile interests of the county, came from Van Wert, Ohio. The coming into power of a Democratic ad- ministration at the National Capitol wrought many changes this year in the political circle by the Blue Earth. The U. S. Land office there at Tracy was put in charge of P. K. Wiser as receiver and George W. Warner as Eegister. About all the postmasters in the county, were, also, changed. A big fourth of July celebration was held this year (1885) at Pleasant Mound, at which Seth Bottomley was orator. August 11, 1885, oc- curred the first issue of the "Mankato State Eegister," published by Carl Eastwood. About the same date the "Third District Messenger," a prohibition paper was started at Mankato by H. C. Hotaling. There were now six English and one German papers printed at the county seat. ' 1 During August and September, 1885, Far- mers' State Institutes were conducted at Gar- den City and other points in the county by J. T. McCleary and Miss Sprague. About September 1, 1885, James B. Swan sold his interest in the Eapidan Mill company to S. H. Baker of St. Peter for $7,700. Sep- tember 8, 1885, occurred at Mankato the second annual fair of the "Southern Minnesota Live Stock and Fair association. September 30, 1885, the "Blue Earth Valley Fair Association" held its eighth exhibition on the farm of L. F, Mc- Kibbin. Senator M. C. Wilkinson, Gen. Geo. Becker and Gen. James H. Baker, the two lat- ter being at the time on the State Eailway Commission delivered addresses to over 2500 people. Other events of 1885, wer^ a new 196 HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. brick school house at Amboy; a new post office established at Madison Lake in October, with Geo. W. Allyn as postmaster; the beginning of the erection of a big fiberware plant at Man- kato by M. G. and John A. Willard, which was later transformed into a part of the present Knitting Mills; the dedication on October 18, 1885, at the town of Danville of the new Ger- man Lutheran church, and the formation over "lie county of many temperance clubs, such as: Good Templar lodges. Sons of Temperance, Prohibition clubs, Wide Awakes and W. C. T. U. During the winter of 1885-6 tobogganing was the craze in Blue Earth County and all over the Northwest and on January 26, 1886, the St. Paul clubs visited the Mankato clubs. The matter of changing the name of Winne- bago Agency post office agitated its patrons for a few weeks during this winter. At a meet- ing held February 6, 1886 the name Hilton was chosen by a close vote, in honor of the proprietor of the main townsite, but at another meeting held about March 33, the name St. Clair- was adopted on the suggestion of Chas. O'Connor. During this same month (March, 1886,) the Mankato band led by Prof. Jache assisted by Henry Wilcox was mustered in as a military band for the Second Regiment Minnesota mili- tia. On the 30th of the same month a number of the farmers of Shelby, Pleasant Mound, Yer- non and Sterling combined to build a Grain ware house at Amhoy. Their corporate name was "The Amboy Farmers Co-operative Associ- ation" and one hundred shares of stock were issued at $15 each. On the 27th of the same month the working men of Mankato affected their first organization, at the instigation of one C. A. Lincoln of Ohio. Tn April. 1886, W. R. Geddes succeeded. Mr. Eastwood as half owner of the "State Eedster'-' and in March, 1887, Mr. Geddes purchased the other half interest of W. W. Woodward, and became the sole proprietor of this stronsr rival of the "Free Press" in the journalistic field. In November, 1885. Wm. M. Farr and John C. Noe, two prominent business men of Man- kato, applied and received a franchise for a street railroad in that city. Early in the spring they began the construction of the road along Front Street, and on June 22, 1886, a corpora- tion was formed with a capital of $50,000 by W. M. Farr, John C. Noe, J. A. Willard, Ste- phen Lamm, Geo. P. Piper, Geo. H. Clark and J. E. Jones. The railway was completed and opened for travel on July 23, 1886, and 966 passengers were carried on the first day, 1033 on the second, and 1455 on the third day. Had this patronage continued this first venture in a street railway in our county might have been a paying enterprise. The cars were operated by horses. Extensions were made from the main line on Front street first to the C. St. P. M. & 0. Ry. depot, then up Center and Byron Street in the summer of 1887, and after two or three years the latter extension was taken up and used in an extension to Sibley Park and the Blue Earth River bridge. Mankato at that time proved too small a town for a street rail- way, and the patronage failed to pay the operat- ing expense. So after giving the enterprise a full test and finding their deficit growing big- ger each year, the company finally, in October, 1895, surrendered their franchise, pulled up their tracks and abandoned the project. On June 18, 1886, a number of the pubhn schools of Sterling and Mapleton had a big picnic at Johnson's grove in Sterling. Fifteen schools were represented. August 31, 1886, The Mankato National Bank, (now called the Mankato State Bank), was organized by Dr. Z. G. Harrington, D. Buck, John H. Ray, M. J. Severance, Geo. T. Bovnton, M. 0. Sundt and others. Sept. 3, 1886, saw the first issue of the "Man- kato Post" a new German paper, by Geo. W. Sherer and Geo. J. Eheler. September 1, 1886, the Alliance and Labor Unions of the County met at Good Thunder and put in nomination a Legislative and county ticket, but the leading candidates of the two old parties managed to steer the nominations mostly their way. The other events of 1886, were: a fair held by the farmers of the Fifth Commissioner Dis- trict at Mapleton in September; th^ holding CRYSTAL M.e.CHoRCH Bflprisr CHURCH ^leAuriirui. jL.A,Ke cHva'i HISTORY OF BLtJE EAKTH COUNTY. 197 of a number of Farmers institutes over the county; the burning of the Maple ton Eoller Mill on December 31; the building of the Odd Fellows block at Mankato; and the installing of waterworks at the same eity^ supplied by arte- sian wells. At the election in November^ 1886, John Peter Kramer of Danville, the Democratic nom- inee, defeated Wm. Jones, the Eepublican can- didate by one or two votes. On January 9, 1887, within five or six days after assuming office Mr. Kramer died, and the County Com- missioners elected Mr. Jones to fill the vacancy by a vote of three to two. During these years the matter of building a new court house was a very live issue in our county, which called forth a long and bitter fight. In this unfortunate contest the City of Mankato aided by two or three townships were ranged on the side favorable to the new court house, while the rest of the county was in oppo- sition. We have spoken of some of our county buildings already in this history, but it may not be amiss to review the history of our county buildings as a preface to the history of our present court house. The first move looking toward the erection of a court house was taken by the County Com- missioners on July 10, 1856, when they pro- posed to build a two story stone edifice 30 by 40 feet. Nothing was done however, to carry this resolution into effect. At their next meet- ing on October 21, 1856, the board decided "because of the lateness of the season and the urgent needs of a jail and other reasons" (prin- cipally want of funds) not to build the court house, but to build a jail and sheriff's residence at once. Accordingly on November 1, 1856, a contract was let to Francis Bunker, then sheriff of the county, to construct a one story log jail 12 by 20 feet, the logs to be of hard wood and hewed eight iuches square, and in front of this jail and contiguous to it a one story frame dwelling for the sheriff 14 by 20 feet. The jail part was divided into two cells and the sheriff's residence had a living room, a bedroom, pantry, an attic above and a small hole in the ground for a cellar. The building was complet- ed by January 1, 1857, at a cost of $900.00 and stood facing "Walnut Street about 100 feet west of the northeast corner of the court house block on the brow of the hill. In the smnmer of 1859, a small kitchen was added to the sherifl"s house. This was the only jail and sheriff's resi- dence the county possessed until January, 1868. Westward of this jail about" 150 feet, and at the loot of the hill, the sheriff had his barn, first of logs, and afterwards of frame. On July 8, 1857, the Commissioners ordered the erection of a one story stone office building 20 by 24 feet, with a flat roof. At the same time the court house square was ordered to be enclosed by a substan- tial board fence. On the 28th of the same month the contract for the building was let to Isaac N. Britton and Francis Bunker for $1,500.00, and for the fence at $225.00, and both were con- structed that fall. This building fronted on Fourth street and stood on the court house square about 75 feet north of its southwest cor- ner. It was used at first as an office for the Eegister of Deeds, who in those days was, also, Clerk of the Boai-d of County Commissioners, and performed the duties now imposed upon the County Auditor. The Commissioners, too,- met in this building. When the office of County Auditor was created in 1858, this new official occupied the one room building jointly with the Eegister until January, 1871. A stone vault, in which were stored the rec- ords of the county, stood inside in one comer, much like a dutch oven in shape. The door to this fire and burglar proof safe was made of oak plank covered with sheet iron, which when new was painted and varnished. In time ' the paint wore off, and so did some of the sheet iron, ^ and the wood shrank, so the mice could run back and forth under the door when closed. We have already noted how the Legislature in February, 1867, authorized our County Com- missioners to issue $10,000.00 in bonds for the purpose of building a new Court House and jail, but added the proviso that the location of the building be submitted to the legal voters of the county; how Mankato won out at the election as the site, and on May 7, 1867, the contract was let for $10,300.00 to L. J. Lewis. The old sheriff's residence and log jail were torn down to make room for this new building. 198 HiSTOHY OP BLTJB EARTH COtTNTY. which, also, faced on Walnut street. Being lo- cated on the brow of the hill, it gave an oppor- tunity for a good basement under the whole building, which was 33 by 75 feet, and two stor- ies high above the basement. As the westerly wall of the basement was exposed by reason of the slope of the ground, the structure from that point of view, looked like a three story buildiQg. The basement and the jail part were constructed of stone and the balance of the edi- fice was of brick. The jail occupied the rear forty feet of the first story, while the balance of the first story and the basement were the sheriff's apartments. The second story was reached by an outside wooden stairway on the easterly side of the building. The front fifty- five feet of this upper floor was occupied as a court room, while the rear twenty feet was par- titioned into two jury rooms. The windows of these jury rooms were grated and grates fitted into the doors so the rooms could be used for cells ia case of female prisoners. This was the first court room the county had ever owned. Heretofore, court had met in halls auch as the county could find for hire. The old City Hail, Concert Hall, Masonic Hall, Higgins Hall and Shoemaker's Hall had each ia its turn been the abode of the blind goddess, but at last she had been provided with a home of her own. The building was completed by No- vember 37, 1867, and first occupied by Evan Bowen, then newly elected sheriff, and the first term of court was held ia it December, 1867, Judge Horace Austin presiding. The first case liied was the famous Willow Creek Mayhem case against Miller, Day and others. The Clerk of Court established his office in the new court room as soon as it was finished and for a time the county treasurer occupied the same apartment. The extremely cramped condition the Audi- tor and Eegister of Deeds were experiencing in their one room office at the foot of the hill finally drove A. D. Seward, then Auditor, to prepare plans for enlarging it to a four room building. These were submitted to the Commis- sioners and accepted by them on March 11, 1870. The plans called for: the tearing out of the front and south sides of the little stone building, the putting of an addition of twenty-four feet on the south side making the entire ground space idx^i feet and the raising of the whole to a two story building. All new walls above a two foot stone base were of brick. This gave two rooms below, one for the Eegister on the north and the other for the Auditor. A stairway be- tween these two rooms led to the rooms on the second fioor, the upper room on the south side being occupied by the Treasurer and that on the north by the Clerk of Court. Two stone vaults for the use of the Eegister and Auditor were constructed on the outside in the rear of their respective offices. This made practically a new buiidiag, as all that was left of the little stone edifice were its north and rear walls. The contract was let to Wm. Eoberts and Co., on September 9, 1870, for $1,996.50, and the build- ing completed by January 6, 1871. The en- tire cost, including a number of extras to the original specifications, was $2,385.65. By 1876 the need of more room for the County Auditor, of the offices for officials still unprovided, and of fire proof vaults for a mass of comity records in the Probate, Clerk of Court, and Treasurer's offices appealed so strongly to the Grand Jury at the December term of Court, that it sent to the County Commissioners an urgent request to immediately supply these re- quirements. In response to these recommendations of the jury, the County Board, at its meeting on Jan- uary 6, 1877, requested its chairman to procure plans for enlarging the county office building and making the other necessary improvements. On February 1st, the contract was let for $1,777.15 to 0. S. Cowan. The new addition TFas a two story brick 23 feet front by 40 feet deep added to the southerly end of the build- ing. The entire lower floor of the new ad- dition was devoted to the Auditor's office, while the upper floor was divided into two of- fices, the front occupied by the Judge of Pro- bate, and the rear by the Clerk of Court. To reach these two offices a hall was constructed from the top of the stairway along the rear of the southerly upstair room of the first addition, which hall was lighted by a glass partition. The County Treasurer, who had heretofore occupied HISTOSY 0^ BLtJE EAUTfl COtJNl^Y. 199 this room, moved to the room below, lately oc- cupied by the Auditor, while this upper room became lirst the County Attorney's office and later the Judge's chambers. The room to the north over the Eegister's office, where had been the Clerk's office, was given to the Sup- erintendent of Schools. In the outside angle formed at the junction of the first and second additions in the rear a large two story iire proof vault was constructed. The lower story was oc- cupied by the Auditor, but the upper story was divided into two vaults, one for the Clerk of Court and the other for the Probate Judge, but the latter had to enter the Clerk's office to reach his vault. These improvements were completed by Sep- tember 1, 1877, and no further change was made in our county buildings, until the erection of the present Court House and jail twelve to fifteen years later. The first move looking to the erection of a new Court House originated March 24, 1884, at a Board of Trade meeting of the City of Man- kato. The idea was suggested by Stephen Lamm, who had just returned from an ex- tended visit south and east, and had been strongly impressed by the progress he had seen everywhere in municipal architecture. The un- sightliness and inadequacy of our county build- ings had specially appealed to him on coming home as unworthy a gre'at and rich county like Blue Earth. Their shabbiness was a disgrace and gave strangers an impression that we were behind the times, that the county was either poverty stricken or greatly lacking in enterprise. We were ashamed to show them to any visitor, and no artist had ever taken a picture of them for they were void of all artistic merit or value. Mr. Lamm moved that the matter of building a new court house, which should be worthy of the county and adequate for its needs, be brought to the attention of the County Com- missioners. The motion was unanimously ap- proved and John Klein, who was then the member of the County Board from the city, and, also, a member of the Board of Trade, was requested to urge the matter upon the con- sideration of the Commissioners at their next meeting. At a meeting of the Board of Trade held July 28, 1884, John Klein asked the ap- pointment of a committee to aid him in bring- ing the matter of a new court house before the Commissioners, who were then in session. John A. Willard, 1". L. Walters and John C. Wise were appointed such a committee, and they at once appeared before the commissioners, who were induced to look with favor upon the prop- osition, and a resolution was passed levying a tax of one mill for a Court House fund. This lax raised about $8,000.00, which the Board in- tended to use in beginning the work of grading and starting the foundation. The County Commissioners at this time were : James B. Swan, Chairman, Timothy Kees, John Diamond, John Klein and Malachi Gainor. They were all men of excellent judgment and char- acter and all fully realized the great need of a new Court House. On January 1, 1885, Olaf Martinson, of Lincoln, succeeded Mr. Eees. He, too, was a faithful and fearless friend of the new Court House proposition. February 10, 1885, at the instigation of the Mankato Board of Trade, the Legislature passed an act authorizing the commissioners of Blue Earth County to issue $75,000.00 in bonds to build a court house, subject to ratification by the voters of the county. March 2, 1885, the Board of Trade appointed Stephen Lamm, Geo. M. Pahner, John C. Wise, John N. Hall, M. G. Willard, John C. Noe and F. L. Walters as a committee to appear before the commissioners and urge the calling of a special election to vote the bonds as soon as possible. The County Board on March 4, 1885, designated May 5, 1885, as the time for holding such election. But the Court House project was not destined to meet only favorable breezes. The first note of audible opposition came from the Pleasant Mound grange. On April 35, 1885, it passed a resolution condemning the action of the County Board in calling the special election. The feeling of antagonism expressed by this grange seemed to suddenly pervade the whole county outside of Mankato, and the three town- ships adjacent. There were three or four rea- sons for it, though none of them were very valid. For many years there had been a desire 200 msTOllY 0^ BLUE EARTH COUNTY,, on the part of the people living in the south- only 338; of this number 159 came from the western . portion of the county to have the towns of Mankato, Lime^ and South Bend, and county seat removed to a more central location 159 only from the balance of the county. than Mankato, and they had mostly cast their Of the 1,907 opposition votes only two came votes in favor of Garden City, when the ques- from the city. The vote by towns stood as tion was up in 1867. There may have been a follows: faint remembrance of the old fight and perhaps ^or Against a lingering ray of the old hope still cherishea ^^^^^^^^^ y^U^y 3 gs by some. The main reason, however, wais due Beauford ,:. :••.. 90 to the natural conservatism of the people. The ^^^^^^ ;••• ;;;;;;■ ! go matter of a new and costly court house had Danville • • ■ l 109 been sprung upon them suddenly, before they J^'^j"^ q-I ■■■■" -g 126 had been educated or prepared for it and the Jamestown ...'.. 2 42 initiative had come entirely from the Board of Hudson • • • • • • — 1* *|? •' Lake Crystal 4 107 Trade of Mankato. This at once aroused strong LeRay 37 105 suspicion that the whole scheme was gotten up l'™^ ^ ^2 merely for the aggrandizement of the city, at Lyra 9 139 the expense of the county. Indeed, the sus- Mankato City.... 1,461 2 * J ? Mankato Townsnip 7o 'iS picion- was not wholly groundless, for the keen Mapleton 12 92 interest in the project displayed by the city ^^^^®''^°'' ••••• ...^ ^77 was not entirely unselhsh. But our people had pieasant Mound 2 84 been schooled to the most rigid economy. They o?^,'^^^ ^7 151 were just emerging from the hardships and de- south Bend 34 15 privations of pioneer life, of Indian wars, and of Sterling 8 95 the grasshopper scourge. Many had only re- cently moved from the log cabin, and the mort- T°*^l ^''^^ ^'^^^ gage on the farm had not been fully paid, so As four of the five commissioners were from anything suggestive of elegance or luxury was the country and represented a constituency so looked upon as wicked extravagance. Then the overwhelmingly opposed to a new Court House farmers over our county had just been organ- it was supposed for a time that the measure ized into Alliance clubs, and like the boy with would have to be abandoned. Mr. Wise, of the his first gun, were spoiling for a chance to Eeview, and two or three other members of the shoot at something. Here was something tangi- Board of Trade maintained, however, that the ble, which the Alliances of Blue Earth County vote did not signify that the people were op- might do. Here was a big city woodchuck posed to building a new Court House, but that making straight for the county corn crib and they objected to bonding the county for so why not kiU it? large a sum. The Board of Trade realized a few days be- The County Commissioners were men of inde- fore the election that their project was in grave pendent thought, who were fully convinced of danger. A circular was prepared by John A. the need of a new Court House, and realized Willard, presenting in a most forcible manner that the country vote had been stampeded to the necessity for a new Court House, which oppose the project simply because of the false was sent broadcast over the county. Another impression that there was no necessity for the circular to the same effect was prepared and building, except to gratify the pride of Mankato. signed by the County Commissioners and sent Because of this conviction, and since the law through the country, but nothing availed. The made it their duty to provide suitable county bonds were defeated by a vote of 1,907, to 1,799, buildings, the Commissioners were still well dis- making an adverse majority of 108. The city posed towards the measure. Knowing this Mr. cast 1,461 of the votes in favor and the county Wise urged the Board of trade on July 13, HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COtTNTY. 201 1885, t<3. appoint a committee to confer with them ahout the matter. John IST. Hall, J. A. Willard, Stephen Lamm, John C. Wise and L.. Patterson were appointed such a committee. The conferaiee was held and the result was that on July 29, 1885, the commissioners levied a tax ol $18,000 for a Court House building. About September 1, 1885, James B. Swan, chairman of the County Board, sold his inter- est in the Eapidan Mills to a Mr. Baker of St. Peter, and soon thereafter moved to the town of Judson in the vicinity of Lake Crystal. This removal took Mr. Swan beyond the confines of the Fourth Commissioner District, which he represented, and he resigned. Mr. Swan had been a very valuable member of thfi Board as he possessed excellent, judg- ment and his integrity was above a shadow of suspicion. He had, also, been a firm and fear- less supporter of the new court house and the friends of that measure much regretted his retirement. About December 10, 1885, C. H. Piper was chosen as his successor and at the first meeting in January, 1886, Malachi Gainor of Lyra was made chairman. On January 9, 1886, the Coun- ty Auditor was directed to invite the submis- sion by architects of plans and specifications for a new Court House to be received by Feb- ruary 17, 1886, and the public generally were invited to be present at the time to advise the board. At the time designated about 100 per- sons from various parts of the county met with the Board, the great majority of whom belonged to the party favorable to the Court House. Among the latter were the Board of Trade of Mankato, C. G. Spaulding of Mapleton, J. B. Swan of Judson, C. W. Herman of Shelby, J. P. Kramer of Danville, Geo. McMahill of Man- kato town, M. L. Lockerby of South Bend, and Pliilip Mueller of Lime, while Mr. Greenwood '>f Garden City acted as the principal speaker for the opposition. The next day the plans sub- mitted by Healey and Allen of Minneapolis were selected by the Commissioners as most suitable, but all action was postponed until March 3, 1886. On that date Healey and Allen were authorized to prepare the details for their plans arid specifications and submit them to the board at a meeting to be held in May. Comfliissioners Klein, Gainor and Diamond were appointed a building committee. The chairman of the Board was also authorized to advertise for bids to grade the Court House lot preparatory to the erection of a building thereon, the bids to be received by May 4. While no formal resolution to that effect was passed, the Comihissioners had unanimously come to the conclusion, to begin the erection of a new Court House. ■ In view of the fact that the constituency of the four country members, Gainor, Diamond, Martinson, and Piper were so bitterly and over- whelmingly opposed to the measure, it was a (rery heroic act on the part of these four men. But having made up their minds that the county really needed the building no intimida- tion or matter of expediency could turn one of them from what he considered his duty. These steps of the commissioners greatly stirred up the opposition all over the county. At the town meetings held in March, resolu- tions were passed by fully two thirds of the towns denouncing the action of the Commis- sioners in the most vigorous language. The town of Sterling was the only town that passed resolutions of approval, though a few other towns were fully as friendly disposed. On March 31, 1886, a meeting of those op- posed to the new Court House was held at Gar- den City. Most of the towns were well repre- sented and resolutions passed scoring the com- missioners for setting aside the will of the peo- ple. A meeting was arranged at Mankato for April 9, to confer with the Board of Trade and the Common Council of that city to see if some amicable adjustment might not be made. At this Mankato meeting representatives were pres- ent from the town boards of Danville, Sterling, Shelby, Pleasant Mounds, Lincoln, Butternut Valley, Garden City, Beauford, Vernon, and LeEay, in all forty to fifty persons. They met at the Court House hall. Hon. E. T. Cham- plain was made chairman and E. D. Cornish secretary. Nothing came of the conference, except a few wordy cyclones, and a heavy down pour of righteous indignation. After the public HISTORY 01? BLUE EARTS COTTNTY. meeting the faction opposed to the Court House met in conference with their attorney, Lorin Cray, of Lake Crystal, and determined to take the matter into court. Accordingly an injunction suit was brought in the name of E. D. Cornish against the County Commissioners to restrain them from building the Court House. The papers were served May 3, 1886, and the next day the Coujity Board retained Daniel Buck and E. P. Ereeman to assist the County Attor- ney, A. E. Pfau, in defending them in the fuit. At this meeting 0. Martinson and C. H. Piper were added to the building committee. At the hearing of the injunction proceeding on May 10, 1886, Judge C. M. Start, at the request of Judge Severance joined him upon the bench. On May 14, they filed their decis- ion holding that the Cormnissioners were justi- fied in proceeding to build a new Court House, that they could contract for $23,000 of work that year, but they were restrained from going beyond that figure at present; they were per- mitted, however, to levy a tax thereafter from year to year, not exceeding the five mill limit. It was really a victory for the County Commis- sioners. The contract for grading the portion of the Court House Block upon which the building was to stand was let, and the contract for building the basement was awarded to Thom- as Russell for $11,850, and this work was completed that fall, and then properly secured against the weather. A tax of $18,000 was lev- ied this year for Court House purposes, and be- fore retiring at the end of the year, the Board lei the contract for the main building to Ring & Tobin of Minneapdlis, who during the winter got out part of the stone. The building of the new court house was now assured though its completion was delayed for sometime for lack of funds. With the solitary exception of John Diamond, the personnel of the County Board was com- pletely changed on January 1, 1887. The new Board consisted of H. K. Lee, chairman; John Diamond, John S. Jones, A. M. Hannay, and Chas. H. Dietz. In February, 1887, the Leg- islature authorized the commissioners to issue $30,000.00 in bonds to complete the Court House subject to ratification by the voters of the county. The measure carried by a vote of 1519 to 1466. The precincts voting in favor were the city of Mankato and the towns of McPherson, Cambria, Judson, Mankato, Decoria, Lime and Sterling. The other towns voted against the measure, some of them like Lincoln, Pleasant, Mound, Medo^ and Beauford were almost unani- mous. During the spring and summer of 1887 the work was prosecuted with fair dili- gence. A certain white flint stone had been designated for the pillars and trimmings, but it had, also, been used for the steps and water table in the foundation, laid the previous year, and during the winter had scaled and checked badly and the Commissioners insisted that a different kind of stone be substituted for it. This change formed the basis of a big charge for extras on the part of the contractors, which was disputed by the Board. A long and vexa- tious quarrel, ending in a law suit followed, which greatly hindered the work. During the winter of 1887-8 a compromise was effected and the work was resumed in the spring of 1888 and the building finished, ex- cept the carpenter work and inside furnishings. Not having suft'icient means to complete the building, the Legislature of 1889 passed a bill, authorizing the commissioners to issue another $30,000.00 of bonds, but without submission to a vote of the people. The contract for the interior work was now let to Jacob I'lachsenhar for $15,824.08. On the first of January, 1889, there had been two changes on the county Board. Nick Brules had succeeded John Diamond and Hugh H. Edwards had taken the place of John S. Jones. The building was finished by Octo- ber 1, 1889, and four or five days later the county ofiicers removed to their new quarters. The total cost of the building and its furnish- ings was a trifle over $123,000.00. The District Court convened in the new court room for the first time on December 3rd, 1889, on which occasion Judge M. J. Sever- ance, presiding, referred to the new Court House as follows: "For the first time this court is sitting in this new, elegant and con- venient building, erected by the County of Blue Earth, and in which its public affairs will HlSTOfiY 6^ BLtiE EAETH OOtTT^TY. lHk] hereafter be conducted. This structure, sur- mounted by the symbols of justice, is grand and imposing and at the same time solid, mas- sive and substantial and with proper care will defy the elements and all the assaults of time. Here too, the archives of the county, so long imperiled and wasting, are more than reason- ably safe. In the erection of this, the County's temple, extravagance and prodigality of orna- ment, beyond the demands of positive utility and a laudable taste, have played no part. Only the necessities and the dignity of the County of Blue Earth, as a great political and munici- pal department of the greater state of Minne- sota, have been consulted. This structure stands for the sovereignty of the County of Blue Earth. It does not belong to the growing city in which it stands, but it belongs to the county and is the common property of all the people. This structure stands for more than the sov- ereignty of the county. It marks the progress of that laudable rivalry attendant upon a civil- ization that holds every triumph in architecture to be the hand maid of science and morals. You may search the country over and you will not find another public building, whose actual cost and expense of erection are so nearly equal as this. A critical view of this structure with all its appliances, and considering its adapta- bihty to the uses for which it has been desiged, I am sure will satisfy every citizen of this county of the propriety of the work now com- pletely accomplished. Had the county of Blue Earth done less than it has in this behalf, our waving forests, expanding prairies and rolling rivers, spanned by more than thirtj- bridges, all assuring the certain basis of a great prosperity, would have mocked at the parsimony of the county. There is no surer index of tlie financial cap- abilities of a county or the enterprise of its people, than the state and condition of its public buildings. A large and thrifty count)' seat, only made possible by productive surround- ings, and stately, well kept county buildings, do more to advertise the advantages of a countj' either for homes or the inducement of capital, than all the boom pamphlets that the air could contain." Because of the bitter opposition, which the erection of this finest Court House in the state, outside the Twin Cities, had engendered, and the long and desperate struggle that en- sued (an unfortunate condition, which later both sides deplored), no dedicatory services were held. But the noble structure stands a monument to the good judgment, strict honesty, public enterprise and fidelity of the men, who, under circumstances so adverse pushed to com- pletion, so splendid an undertaking. It also, stands as a worthy temple of the great county of Blue Earth, with its wealth of resources and vigor of enterprise and today every citizen feels a just and equal pride in its solid and stately walls. CHAPTER XXI. CANNON YALLBY EAILWAY— MINNEOPA GAS WELL— GOLD ON THE LE SUEUE. Turning back again to 1887, we note a few o^her events. On February 10, of that year the old settlers of Mapleton, Sterling and vicini- ty held a very successful reunion. It was held in the village of Mapleton, the speeches at Sprague's hall and the supper at Brown's hall. J. E. Brown was one of the moving spirits of tlie occasion. The two principal speakers were Eev. J. E. Conrad and attorney W. M. Plymat. Some 400 persons partook of the banquet. Among the old settlers who related their ex- periences at the evening program, were Joseph Dobie, John Johnston, Wm. Eandall, A. Moses, Wm. Wilde, James Emerson, F. Miller, Thos. Elliott, James Cornell, L. A. Cornell, M. B. Haynes, Bruce Hanna, Joseph Sprague, S. M. Keith, Mr. Eldridge, James Jordan, James Mor- ris, C. G. Spaulding and Eev. F. A. Pratt. Eev. J. E. Conrad had compiled a list of the deceased settlers of 1856, which he gave as fol- lows: Mrs. A. Annis, Mrs. Ira Annis, Artemas Stevens, Lizzie Taylor, Moses Herriman, Wm. Herriman, Mrs. M. L. Lockerby, J. Jackson, Elijah Horton, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. V. Hiland, Robert Taylor, Wm. Jones, Mrs. J. B. Conrad, Ira Annis, John Chase, Mrs. James Morris, David Smith, Chas. Jones and Isaac Smith. Thirty-one settlers of 1856, of this community were present at this reunion. At Mankato in February, 1887, F. L. Wat- ters purchased a 150 horse power engine and other necessary equipments for an electric light plant — the first in the county. In the spring of 1887, the Cannon Valley Railroad (now Chicago and Great Western) was finished to Mankato and on June 18, the first passenger train on this road left this -^ity. On April 1, 1887, appeared the first issuft of :he "Mankato Daily Free Press" — a very import- ant event in the history of Journalism in this part of the State. Independence day was celebrated this year at Good Thunder, where the Sioux chief of that name was present by invitation, it being er- roneously supposed by the committee that the village had been named in his honor, instead of the Winnebago chief. Good Thunder. Celebra- tions, also, were held at Latourell's grove in Danville, at Wagner's grove in Cambria, and at two or three other places in the county. July 26, 1887, Mankato voted bonds in the amount of $10,000.00 for sewer and $15,000.00 for parks, and on October 3, Sibley Park was bought for $13,088.00 by the city of the Givens' heirs, and on December 19, 1887, the grounds of the Southern Minnesota Stock and Fair grounds were, also, purchased and added to the park. Mapleton and St. Clair both built new school houses this year. On September 17, 1887, Lake Crystal was visited by a big fire which burn- ed about half the business section of the vil- lage. On January 1, 1888, the 'Free Delivery sys- tem was inaugurated in the Mankato postofEice with Michael J. Mullen, John G. Hoerr and Wm. J. Bradley as first carriers and Robert Thomas as alternate. In March, 1888, the Mankato Band resigned as musicians of the Second Regiment Minne- sota Militia after three years' service. The same month a new post office was created call- ed "Ceresco," with Michael Eussell as postmas- ter. Another new postoffice was created at Eapidan Mills under the name of "Garrett," with Lewis B. Garrett as postmaster, but it was never opened. On March 16, 1888, another 205 206 HISTOEY 01? BLUE EARTH COUNTY. paper was started at Lake Crystal called the "Lake Crystal Mirror/' With T. A. Eckley as editor. In March, 1888, the "Lake Crystal Earmers' Insurance Association" was organized at Lake Crystal by the farmers of Garden City, Eapidan, Lincoln, Butternut Valley, South Bend, Jud- son and Ceresco. In December, 1887, Thos. Saulpaugh submitted a proposition to build a large hotel at Mankato on the corner of Front and Main streets, provided the lots were dona- te! to him. The Mankato Board of Trade dur- ing the winter raised the $14,000 required and purchased the lots for Mr. Saulpaugh, who during this and the following year erected there- on the present Saulpaugh hotel, which was open- ed in August, 1889. In the spring of 1888 Col. J. E. Tourtellotte offered $8,000 to build a hospital at Mankato, which offer was accepted and the building complet" ed in 1888. During 1888 the Baptist church at Mankato was built at a cost of over $13,000. May 4th, 1888, H. C. Hotaling, having bought a half interest in the "Mapleton Enterprise" changed it from a monthly to a weekly paper, and in a short time made it one of the best lo- cal journals in the state. The Burns Club which had been started more than twenty years before and had observed its annual meetings at the various homes of the community, was reorganized June 9, 1888, at the residence of Joseph Dobie in Sterling. The former organization had been very incom- plete, and the object was to have a more for- mal set of rules for the government of the club. The new officers were: President, Joseph Dobie. Secretary, James Howieson. Treasurer, Thos. Taylor. All nationalities were made eligible to mem- bership, and no liquor was permitted at the annual gatherings. In September, 1888, the Southern Minnesota Pair Association gave another of its fairs at Mankato. In November the Lake Crystal Bank, which Randolph Mitchell had organized failed, and on January 1, 1889, a new bank was started at Lake Crystal by Marston, Larson and Davis, which proved a more permanent institution. In the fall of 1888 Prof. Eoese started a small commercial school in the Buckley block, Mankato. This school is lifted into prominence by reason of its being the forerunner of two educational institutions, which have since be- come great and permanent factors in the edu- cational work of this part of the state. In the fall of 1888 a company was formed to bore a deep well on the farm of Wm. E. Wil- liams, a few rods west of Minneopa Palls, in the hope of discovering natural gas. It was sunk tc the depth of 1,300 feet and an excellent flow of water was discovered, but no illuminating fluid. On February 6th, 1889, W. B. Davies was appointed the first District Court reporter in the county, which position he has held ever since. March, 1889, Mr. Broome sold the "Boebachter" to Geo. J. Bhler & Co., and in May the "Mankato Herald" was started at Mankato as a morning daily by Mr. Wells, of Delavan. Neither paper survived long. During the summer of 1889 Mapleton con- structed a system of water works. In July, 1889, much interest was taken in the discovery of a mineral spring on the farm of J. W. Morse near the Le Sueur, on the line between Le Eay and Mankato Townships. On July 10, 1889, the county was startled by the sensational death of John Schwartz of Pleas- ant Mound by having his throat cut by a razor when in bed. John Lentz, a hired man, was his only bed fellow. He claimed the act was sui- cidal, but because of certain suspicious cir- cumstances Lentz was arrested, and after a long and hard legal battle was convicted of murder by a jury and sent to State Prison for life. After a few years, however, because of the uncertainty surrounding the case, he was par- doned. On July 11, 1889, the "Diamond Flour Mill" of Lake Crystal was burned. It was owned at the time by Cray, Marston and Davis, but leased to McCarthy, Kingston & Co. As there was no insurance the loss fell heavily on its owners. The machinery had originally be- ' longed to the mill of Capt. Dickerson on Hoosier Lake, Mankato town. This same year, at Am- boy, Jacob PfafE built a new roller mill. The HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTr. i'07 building being frame, 32x48 and three stories Garden Prairie, Garden City, Belleview, County high. Line, Sterling Center, Union, Little Cobb, In- The weather during these years was rather dian Lake, German, Medo, Rapidan, Winne- dry and all over the county deep wells were dug shiek. South Deeoria, Old Mapleton, Beauford, and windmills erected on nearly every farm. Prairie Eose, Beauford ISTo. and Ceresco. Over five hundred such wells were sunk in 1889 The ticket embraced a number of the offie- alone. ials of that time, and nearly all were endorsed August 1, 1889, E. P. Freeman of Mankato by one or the other of the two old parties, and was appointed receiver of the U. S. Land office ^vith two or three exceptions all were elected, at Marshall. In March, 1890, Grover C. Burt sold the In the spring of 1889 Andrew Friend and E. Mankato House corner to D. S. Stern as a site C. Bentel, an old miller from Wisconsin, for a clothing house. On March 23, the last bought the Butterfield mill, and removed and dinner was served in the ancient hostelry to remodeled the same as a roller mill. Great im- eighty guests, and the breakfast next morning provements were made this year at the Eapi- closed the career of this historic inn. For dan mill by S. H. Baker and C. H. Piper, thirty-five years it had been the leading hotel the proprietors. A tunnel 800 feet long was at our county seat and had been famous for dug and a dam 260 feet in length was con- its elaborate menues, and as the center of the structed. These improvements cost over $50,000 social and political life of our community, and the best water power in the county was On the site of this pioneer hotel was erected rendered much more efficient. during the summer the three story brick block Madison Lake, like Eagle Lake and Smith's of the Model clothing house at a cost of about Mill had become a great center for wood and $30,000, but on June 26, just as the founda- native lumber. Allyn and Tuller and Fitcher tions of the now building were being laid, Mr. and Murtaugh were shipping tens of thous- Burt, the proprietor of the old hotel, died, and ands of cords each winter. the contractor of the new edifice, Jacob Flachsen- In December, 1889 a large farmers institute har, was killed by a falling stone. Another sad was held at Mapleton lasting three days, and event of th's ^rear was the double drowning like gatherings were held dviring the year in in the Minnesota river on June 29, of the other parts of the county. Dr. J. C. Currier Attorney, P. A. Foster, and the shoe merchant, of Lake Crystal was quite active at these gath- Robert Lind. erings. At this time he had begun the publi- During the spring of 1890, C. A. Everhart, cation of the "Minnesota Horseman," a journal E. Eosenberger and Henry Kuhn fitted up the which he edited and published for some years, "old Globe Hotel at Mankato" into a candy The Farmers Alliance was at the flood tide of factory and under the name of C. A. Everhart its activity in the county during this period, and Co., started an industry, which has since During January, 1890, seven new Alliances been succeeded by two other manufactories much were organized and as many more in ' February, more pretentious. On the 8th of the latter month Peter Mc- At Mankato in April, 1890, J. H. Long & Grath was elected President, Chas. Barney, Co.. retired from the butter and ege: business. Vice President, F. M. Currier, Secretary and which thev had conducted for some years, while ^I. M. Pratt Treasurer of the countv organi- Clements and Hoerr started in the same indus- Mtion. June 3, 1890, thirty Alliances met at trv. Cheese factories were in operation this Good Thunder and, on September 5, thev put vear. nS90'i at Manleton and Ea^le Lake, in nomination a full ticket of county officers. Creameries were, also, started at Good Thun- The Alliances present were: l\Iapleton No. 10, der. Lvra, Bunker Hill, Grapeland, Butternut Val- April 18. 1889, a fire at Eagle Lake destroved ley. Maple Bush. Lime, South East Mapleton, the store of Cummins and "Kellv. The buildincr Deeoria, Danville, Cambria, Mapleton, ISTo. 673. of Jennison Elevator Co., Etc. During the 208 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. summer a stock company was organized com- posed of Horace Cummins, J. D. Humiston, P. H. Kelly and Chas. Howard and a new store building erected and occupied. May 5, 1890, the bill introduced by Hon. John Lind in congress dividing Minnesota into six Judicial Districts for the purpose of holding United States Court was approved by President Harrison. Mankato was designated as one of the six places for holding the court. On May 17, . 1890, the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Sterling was celebrated with appropriate services. The Jackson Lake Band, composed largely of young men of that church, played, ministers, who had been connected with the church, were present on the occasion, and an enjoyable and profitable time had. Other events of 1890, was the voting at Good Thunder of $5,000 in bonds to build a new school house, the voting of $30,000 in bonds by Mankato on Aug. 19, to build a new high school building. The building of a Linseed Oil Mill at Eapidan Mills, the building of a railway depot at Eapidan station and the re- inoval to Eagle Lake of the old Wooden Mill by Cummins and McBeth, and the remodeling of the same as a roller mill, giving that village its first flour mill. The money order system was inaugurated in June, 1890, at the St. Clair postoffice, and in January, 1891, at Eagle Lake, affording to those communities a much needed convenience. Feb. 3, 1891, a post office was established at Eapi- c!a.n Mills, with W. D. Hall Jr., of the Lake Crystal Mirror as postmaster. July 1, of the same year another postoffice called "Hawkins" was started at old Mapleton with Mrs. Jennette Taylor in charge. A number of bands were started this year over the count)^, one at Amboy, one at St. Clair, and two or three in other places. Creameries were now beginning to multiply over the county. Mapleton, Lyra, St. Clair, Lake Crystal, Vernon Center and two or three other places were provided with these impor- tant industries. The winter of 1890-1 was very mild except for a little cold snap in March. February 18, 1891, the Welsh held at Mankato one of their big Bistedfods, which was largely attended, Prof, W. P. Apmadoc of Chicago was the chief conductor and the music adjudicator. There was considerable talk about this time of gold being discovered in the Le Sueur. Mr. Welsh, a California gold miner, spent some days digging in the ravines near the Eed Jack- et bridge. In one of the little gullies he washed from the gravel at a depth of twelve to fifteen feet $62.50 of gold as he claimed. He then went to Duluth on some business and died there before returning to resume his min- ing. Others were considerably interested in hunting for gold and copper along this historic stream. June 9, 1891, the Mankato Commercial Col- lege was started in the third story of the Model Block in Mankato. It was started by Prof. Paine as a branch of the "Northwestern College of Commerce and Institute of Shorthand," and professors, A. G. Matter and J. E. Brandrup were put in charge. At its opening there were only eight to ten scholars, but by today the school has grown to four or five hundred pu- pils. Independence day, (1891), was celebrated at Good Thunder, Mapleton, St. Clair, Lake Crys- tal and Cambria. About the first of September, 1891, an Alli- ance paper called the "Good Thunder Herald" was started at Good Thunrlcr, the Mecca of that organization, by Frank Griffin. October 13th, appeared the first number of the "Amboy Herald" with Carl Strom as manager and the Lake Crystal Mirror as publisher. The same fall the "Mankato Journal" started an annex at' Madison Lake, with J. K. Knapp as local editor. It was called "the Madison Lake Breeze." Having become the seat of a weekly newspaper, Madison Lake next aspired to be- come an independent village, and on Dec. 15, 1891, voted to incorporate, and the organization became complete on January 5, 1892, when the following village officers were chosen: Trustees, T. B. Murtaugh, President, Lewis Fitch er, Wm. Durrin. Eecorder, J. K. Knapp. Treasurer, W. W, Zuell, HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 209 Justices, J. S. Clear and J. B. Southwick. The year 1891 saw the chinch bug doing much damage to the crops; the caterpiller stripping much of the forest foliage of Man- kato, Decoria, and Beauford townships; the starting at Mankato by J. J. Anderson of the manufacture of cement blocks for sidewalks; tlie building at the same place of the Christian church; the dedication at the county seat of a new high school building, which cost $42,- 934.97; the erection at the same place by 0. Cassidy and Mr. Mason of a large packing house 200x100 feet three stories high; the selec- tion of a site for a government building at ]\rankato by Judge Thomas of Wisconsin, Judge Perkins of AVashington, and architect Edibrooke of Washington. $90,000 had been appropriated for the building the previous January by con- gress. The building was slow in construction, and after being started, was enlarged and the ap- propriation increased to $150,000. The edi- fice was not completed until March, 1896. It is a large well built stone structure, with post office rooms below, and court rooms above. In Januar}', 1892, Kimble and Babcock were proprietors of the Vernon Mill, and Turner and Eedfern of the Cable Mills. M.e,CMORC»-» zn. -a. GAPi.ci€^Nj 0*TV AA ' "PlT'&'pK SCH Ooi- HOC CHAPTER XXII. EVENTS OF 1893 to 1902— CHINCH BUGS AND DEOUTH— THE SPANISH WAB. On January 10, 1892, the Eapidan Flour homes of the county and each has a large cir- Mill and Oil Mill were burned. The flour mill cnlation in the adjoining counties, had been put up in 186G hj Silas Kenworthy A summer hotel was erected this season by & Co., at a cost of $15,000, and for years was Patrick Sheehan on Lake Washington. Other one of the most popular mills in the county, events of 1892 were: a malt house started at After the death of '\h\ Kenworthy in 1884 it ^fankato; a saw mill erected by Wm. Durrin was operated by his surviving partners and at Jladison Lake; a town hall built at Sterling sons-in-law, H. W. ilendenhall and James B. Center, and the construction of water works at Swan, until 1886, when Mr. Swan sold his Mapleton. The winter of 1892-3 was very cold, interest to S. H. Baker, who a year later On January 35, 1893. the Burns' Club met at bought out, also, i\Ir. Mendenhall's interest. the new Sterling town hall. He conducted it until 1890, when a stock March 2, 1893, Good Thunder voted to in- company was formed with a capital stock of corporate as a village. At Mankato this year $50,000, which purchased the mill and entire (1893) a new candy factory was started by business. This company built a dam across Eosenberger and Nobles; a cracker department the river, and tunneled through a point of was added to its business liy C. A. Everhart the bluff. An oil mill was also Iniilt adjoin- & Co. ; two large ^vini;s wore added to the nor- ing the flour mill. The stockholders were G. mal school building ; the Stahl House, a three P. Piper, B. E. Baker, E. S. Warner, C. H. story brick, 66x60 fcot. was erected by Joseph Piper, J. W. Dilley and S. H. Baker. Both Stahl on the site of the old Minnesota House; mills employed about twenty-five men, and had the ^Fankato polire were dressed in helmets and a capacity of seventy-five barrels per day of uniforms for the first time; the corner stone flour, and 300 bushels of flax. of the present Presliyterian church was laid In February, 1892, a 3'oung Men's Invest- July 3: the suspension of the Banks on August ment Co., was organized at IMankato, which 4, and their reopening on Seiitember 7 ; the during the coming summer built a large three murder of Harry Walravcn on September 3 ; story brick office block on the corner of Wal- and the installation of the new signal service nut and Second streets. The same spring a flags were other events. similar plan was adopted in Decoria by B. H. The coming into power of the Democratic Gerlich and others for the erection of a public part}^ and the inauguration of Grover Cleve- hall in that town. During this same spring land as President on ^larch 4, 1893, stirred up there was much talk of a "Mankato and North- the asjiirants for postmasters in that party in eastern Eailwa}^' a company for the promotion every linmlet in our county. To settle the dis- of the enterprise having been formed at Man- putcs elections were lield in many of the vil- kato, but nothing came of the matter. lages to let the Democratic voters of each corn- September 1, 1892, was issued the first num- munity determine wliom they wanted. This ber of the "^lankato Daily Eeview ' — the second was done at Eagle Lake, Garden City, Lak? great daily of our county. Today the Daily Free Crystal, ]\Iap]eton, Good Thunder, and possibly Press or Daily Eeview enter the majority of the one or two other places. 211 212 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. In 1893 a number of Lake Crystal business men formed a boat club, built a pavilion by the lake, and beside a number of oar and sail boats, two small steamers were launched. One of the latter named the "New Era" was thirty- six feet long and would carry twenty-five per- sons. The other steamer was called "The Crys- tal." Other events of 1893 at Lake Crystal were: the erection by Graif Bros. & Co., of a flour mill, 40x60 and four stories high of brick and stone; and the beginning late in the year of the construction of water works, for which $10,000 in bonds were issued. At Smith's Mill the German Lutherans early in February, 1893, built a church costing $3,300, and during the summer the Presbyterians of Amboy erected a $5,000 house of worship. At the election of 1863, Daniel Buck of Man- kato was elected a Judge of the Supreme Court of the State. The year 1894 was again very dry and the chinch bugs were very destructive. Prof. Otto Lugger, the state entomologist, was kept busy with various experiments for their destruc- tion, but without much avail. On June 13, 1894, the Welsh of our county held an old settlers picnic at Lake Crystal. The papers presented on the occasion were of such historical value that it was determined to pub- lish them in book form. Eevs. Thos. E. Hughes and David Edwards and Messrs. Thos. Hughes and H. G. Eoberts were appointed a committee for the purpose. The matter grew on the hands of this editorial board, and it was concluded to make the work cover the history of the Welsh in Minnesota. The book was pro- fusely illustrated and issued in a large vol- ume of 439 pages in July, 1895. It is a very valuable compilation of the history of that na- tionality in our county. July 4, 1894, Amboy lost its mill and rail- way depot by fire. During this and the follow- ing year, a large number of co-operative cream- eries were started by the farmers all over the county In 1893 such a creamery had been started in Butternut Valley and a post office created in the vicinity, called "Butternut," with Christian Strom as postmaster. In August, 1894, a general store was started there on the cooperative plan, with Charlie Johnson as man- ager. A Lutheran church was also built, a blacksmith shop opened and the place soon be- came a little center for that community. This year (1894) Gen. J. H. Baker held the first of a series of old settler's reunions on July 4, at his Oak Cliff Farm in Eapida'n. This year the County built its present Jail and sheriff's residence at a cost of $'2.S,000.00, which was completed, and occupied by D. T. Bowen, then sheriff' of the county in June, 1895. The year 1894 saw at Mankato the additions to the Normal school completed, the Security Fiats, the Patterson-Payne Block, and the malt- ing house built, and the Presbyterian church enclosed. It also saw a new public library start- ed in the Meagher building at the same place. At Amboy a good school house was built and a fine Presbyterian church; and at Lake Crystal an electric light plant was installed by Graif Brothers. During the fall and winter of 1893-4 there were important religious revivals at the M. E. Church in Mankato, under Eev. J. P. Stout; in the Kennedy Bridge neighborhood, in the Ward neighborhood of Beauford and Medo. In July, 1894, a summer school convened at ^lajileton with over 110 teachers in attend- ance. This year (1894) the bicycle craze was at its height and most of the county was on wheels. Bicycle clubs were formed and cen- tury rides v.'ere very fashionable. On January 25, 1895, the famous Burns Club met at the village of Mapleton, where its meet- ings have since been held. March 28, 1895, Company F, 2nd Eeg't State Militia was mustered out. This year (1895) witnessed the building at Mankato of the Eay Block, the Glass Block by Longini and Thorns, the Fred Kron Block, and the Free Press (or Hunt) Block; at Amboy, the erection at a cost of $15,000.00 of a new flour mill, by Peterson & Fuller, an Odd Fellows block and a water system; at Good Thunder, of a new Lutheran church, dedicated with much rejoicing on Sep- tember 20; at i\Iadison Lake, a new Catholic church edifice, dedicated with due ceremony on October 27, and at Eapidan station, a hall erected by the young men of the vicinity. HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUlSrTY. 213 March 10, 1895, a morning daily paper was started at Mankato by W. C. Wilson and J. E. Hall, called the "Mankato Morning News." Wil- son soon got into some scrape and had to leave town. The paper was sold the following Oc- tober to Carl E. Eastwood. John Eiddes was local editor, Arthur Eose night editor, and J. E. Hall in charge of job department. Later Alexander Fiddcs of Jackson became its pro- prietor and J. E. Eeynolds became editor. Un- der this management the paper became quite popular for Mr. Eeynolds was a good writer and news gatherer. Through want of suffi- cient capital and patronage, however, the paper finally suspended in September, 189G. During 189.5 and 1896 a large number of Camps of Modern Woodmen were organized over the county. The Populist party was quite strong in our county this year (1895), and on June 1st, a populist league was organized at Good Thunder with Peter McGrath as President, M. M. Pratt, A'ice-President, E. W. Parker, Secretary, and W. M. Smith, Treasurer. On July 4, a big Populist demonstration met at the same place at which addresses were given by Hon. L. C. Long of Nobles Co., E. W. Parker, and Father Pox. On October 1, 1895, The ilankato Street Eailway was torn up and abandoned for want of sufficient patronage. j\fuch effort was made to have it changed into an electric line, but these efforts failed. C'. A. E\erhart & Co., sold their candy and cracker factory this year to a Kansas City compan}-, and five years theroal'tcr it was closed, after the departure of F. J. Royer, the last manager. In October F. il. Cur- rier bought out the interest of John C. Nobles in the other candy factory and the firm of Bosenberger & Currier began their prosperous career. S. J. Wright had for some time conducted a fruit commission house at ilankato but in No- vember, 1895, he sold out to the Mankato Fruit Commission Co., of which he became a member. This year the Northwestern Telephone Company built a line to Lake Crystal. On February 8. 1896, fire at Mapleton wiped out six of its stores, embracing nearly half of its mercantile establishments. Among the losses were the bank and store of J. E. Brown, the stores of Sonneyson & Schoyen, Jno. Johnson, Geo. E. Crane, C'has. Dietz and Ira iloore. Un- daunted by their misfortunes the property own- ers as soon as spring opened let contracts for much larger and better buildings than before. J. B. Nelson & Co., of Mankato obtained the contracts for the business blocks erected for J . E. Brown, John Johnson, Geo. E. Crane, Ms- sonic Lodge and James McLaughlin. All were two story brick structures. The state census of 1895 raised the popula- tion of Mankato above the 10,000 limit, and accordingly on February 7, 1896. the saloon li^ censes at the county seat were advanced to $1,- 000.00 per annum. During 1895-6-7 a bitter fight was waged by the citizens of Mankato against the Manliato Gas and Electric (.'o., be- cause of the alleged exorbitant rates charged. The sentiment was very strong in favor of a municipal lighting plant, and $10,000.00 in bonds were voted to install such a plant. Be- cause of the financial panic then prevailing the council failed to dispose of the bonds. A few were opposed to municipal lighting, and in be- half of these L. G. if. Fletcher brought an in- junction suit to restrain the city from dispos- ing of the linnds. In February, 1897, this suit was decided in favor of the city. From the fall of 1890 until the fall of 1897 the city was lighted with gasoline lamps. At last on Sept. 10, 1897, a settlement was made with the gas comjiany, which gave both the city and private consumers a great reduction in price. On Fein-uary 31, 1896, the New Hail Insur- ance Co., was organized at Amboy, of whicli F. H. Hilliker was president, E. G. Cross, sec- retary, F. N. Ware, Treasurer, and 0. G. Ches- ley superintendent. In April, 1896, the iladison Lake Breeze was started by H. G. Maxfield, later the name was changed to the '"Madison Lake Mirror." During 1895 and 1896 Mankato agitated with success the removal of the tracks of the Chi- cago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Eailway from Fourth and Van Brunt street*, in the heart of the resident section of the city, to their present location along the river front. A new 214 HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. union depot was built by this company and the Northwestern Eailway during the summer^ near the foot of Alain street, which depot was first occupied December 6, 1896. The Blue Earth County Territorial Historical Society was organ- ized at Mankato through the efforts of James Shoemaker. This society has every June held its annual picnic at Sibley Park, Mankato, and the events have been very popular with the old set- tlers of the county. The year 1896 witnessed at Mankato, be- sides a big Eourth of July celebration, the building of the present Welsh Cal. Meth. Church, and the improvement of Sibley Park; at South Bend, on May 1st, W. W. Davis sold his store to A. Lincoln; at Mapleton the bank of J. B. Brown failed, and in September a new State Bank was organized by Judge Buck and a number of others, and an electric light plant was installed there by Seller Bros.; at Garden City, on October 6, the second old settler's re- union was held in connection with County Pair. These reunions of the old pioneers held in con- nection with the County Fairs, continued for five or six years with much success and then were dropped. The Christian denomination at Garden City built this year their present church. At Madison Lake a bank started and a bank building was erected. A telephone line was built, also from Eapidan to xVmboy, bringing the coun- ty ever closer together in a business and social way. January 15, 1897, the farmers of Deeoria, McPherson and vicinity organized the "Farm- ers United Township Mutual Hail Insurance Company,"-' with Andrew French president, and N. Juliar, Treasurer. Early in 1897, the Danville postoffice was moved to the Star Creamery in that township and Ira Moore, who had opened a store there, appointed postmaster, while the Sherman post office was discontinued. By a legislative act approved March 13, 1897, the counties of Faribault and Martin were detached from the sixth Judicial District to form a new district, leaving only Blue Earth and Watonwan Counties in the Sixth District. During 1896-7 there were dozens of incen- diary fires at Mankato, nearly all being in barns. On May 7, 1897 the new livery barn of Martin Wiltgen was burned. April 17, 1897', the Odd Fellows block occupitd by the dry goods store of McConnell & Cummins, the grocery of A. B. Ewing and a number of offices burned, and on May 21, the big wholesale grocery block of L. Patterson was entirely destroyed by fire. The winter of 1896-7 had been rather cold, with a heavy fall of snow and the Minnesota ^yas very high in the spring. April 21st, the "Henrietta" arrived at Mankato from Still- water, the first boat for a number of years. She fl'as a stern wheeler, 170 feet long, had three decks and was capable of carrying 300 passen- gers. The arrival of a steamboat being now a novelty at Mankato, she attracted much atten- tion and next day carried a large excursion to St. Peter. March 9, 1897, the first number of the "St. Clair Star" was issued by W. J. Ward, but the paper was soon discontinued. About the middle of May, of the same year the "Ver- non Center News was started by M. H. Gder and is a live paper to this day. About the last of July of this same year another paper was started at Eagle Lake, called the Eagle Lake News, by F. A. Swayne, but it was short lived. May 1, 1897, five sisters of the Sorrowful Mother came from Marshfield, Wis., to take charge of the Tourtellotte Hospital at Man- kato. May 10, 1897, a tornado or cyclone passed through Medo completely demolishing a school house, the Alma City Creamery, and the Little Cobb postoffice and store owned by John Hanson. For a few days thereafter the peo- ple of Medo were very busy building cyclone cellars. June 11th of this year a rather unique robber's den was discovered under the Yeager school house in Eapidan. A young fellow named Silas Grey, had managed to excavate a room under the school house, boarded its sides up neatly, and covered the floor with carpets and made him a sumptuous home, the entrance to whicli was entirely hidden. Here he would spend the day, and at night he would appro- priate farmers teams and prowl about in quest of booty and bring it to his den. Caught fin- ally with a stolen bicycle and lodged in jail, HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 215 he revealed his hiding place to D. T. Bowen, the sheriflE. The year ]8!)7 was rather noted for its dis- asters in the history o-f our county and especi- ally ^Mankato. Wo have already spoken of three big fires, which occurred in tlic early spring. In June came the failure of Longini & Thorns of the Glass Block. This was fol- lowed by the removal in October of the machin- ery of the Linseed Oil works to St. Paul and the closing in 1899 of one of the most impor- tant industries of the city. Later in the fall came the failure of John A Willard, followed quickly by the failure of the JIankato Knitting Mill, the Mankato Fibre Ware Co., and of the Willard and Polchow brick yards. This same vear witnessed the death of John P. Meagher and John A. Willard, than whom no two men had been more prominently connected with the financial, commercial and industrial interests of the county. October 5, 1897, the store of A. Lincoln at South Bend was burned, and with it the South Bend postoffice. The chinch' bugs and the hog cholera still prevailed upon the farms of the county. To these set- backs we have to add the great financial depres- sion of those days. But in spite of the business gloom and many reverses the year was not ^^'ith- out its sunny spots and the substantial assur- ance of hope and progress. During the summer at ifankato L. Patterson & Co., built them a larger and more commorlious business block than ever; the Odd Fellows be- gan in September the erection of their fine office block; M. A. Sherk & Son built their large grocery store on the corner of Front and Liberty streets, and Rosenberger and Currier began the erection of their present large candy factory, 44x100 feet, with annex in the rear 44x 32 ; September 28, 1897, the Mankato weekly Post became a semi-weekly paper. In October of the same year, the Citizens Telephone Company was started, and organized the following Feb- ruary, which company has since grown to a big institution. The creameries of the county were continu- ing to multiply, and dairying had taken the place of wheat raising as the chief agricultural industry of the county. The German Luther- ans built a church at Eapidan station this year, (1897); and at a Sunday school convention held at Garden City in June, forty-four schools reported H.'i-I-I scholars and 439 oft'icers and teachers. As these scliools represented only the English speaking part of the community they did not Ijy a long way cover the Bible students of the county. In January, 1898, the Woodmen's Hall was completed at Garden City, and Over & Clough opened a new store there. At Mankato J. B. & D. Richards purchased the glass block and moved their stock of dry goods thereto. Early in Februar}', 1898, Kleinschmidt Bros., opened at ilankuto a factory for interior wood work, which prospered for a time. The county Su- perintendent of schools had started the plan of holding annual declamatory contests at Man- kato, open to all the country schools. The third contest was held February 25th of this yea,r. March 2, 1898, the large four stoi7 brick block of the young Men's Investment Co., of Mankato was destroyed by fire. Hon. W. J. Bryan, the Democratic candidate for president, gave an address at Mankato in January of this year. The winter of 1897-8 was quite open and seeding began about the middle of March. The ground was quite dry and dust storms were frequent. St. Patrick's day was duly observed at Man- kato and Jlapleton as usual, ilarch 18th, the livery barn of B. D. Pay and Sons was burned, lieing one of the eleven incendiary fires at Man- kato during the year ending April 1, 1898. The autlior of these fires at Mankato, which continued for a number of years, was never dis- covered. April l.j, 1898, a new Militia com- pany was organized at Mankato of which W. L. Comstock -nas chosen Captain, J. E. Hegger- ness 1st Lieutenant, and G. Alba Lewis 2nd Lieutenant. April 29th of the same year Col. C. E. Johnson and forty-five recruits from Man- kato joined the 3rd Minnesota regiment and soon left for the Spanish war. At the County and State fairs of these days J. S. Parks of Pleasant Mound put on exhibi- tion 240 different varieties of apples raised in his orchard, demonstrating conclusively the pos- sibility of our county in apple culture. Early 216 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. in August J. A. Elittie of Mankato was appoint- ed Eeferee in Bankruptcy for this district. In August the fire companies of Mankato sold out to the city, which has since maintained a paid fire department of its own. During the fall the city erected its present fire station, which was completed by March 1, 1899. During October and November, 1898, street fairs were held at Amboy, Mapleton, Good Thunder and Mankato. October 23, 1898, President Edward Searing of the Normal School died suddenly at St. Paul. He was one of the best educators in the state and under his able management the Mankato Normal had become famous. December 16, 1898, Prof. C. H. Cooper of Carleton College was elected as his successor and still maintains for the school its standard of excellence. Early in January, 1899, E. M. Pope was appointed Public Examiner by John Lind, the new Democratic governor. The Chicago and Northwestern Eailway de- termined to build up the Minnesota valley and thus straighten its line between Jlankato and New Ulm some fourteen miles. To this end a corporation called the "Mankato and New Ulm Eailway Co.," was formed on January 16, 1899. Surveys were at once made, right of way purchased, the grading begun in May, 1899, and the road completed by May 29, 1900, when the first train was run over it. The building of this new Eailway added two new townsites to our county, Judson and Cambria, both of which were laid out early in the spring of 1900, by the railway company. A depot, elevator, store, blacksmith shop, creamery and church were built at Judson; and at Cambria, a depot, ele- vator, store, blacksmith shop, creamery. Wood- men's Hall and two or three residences were erected. Through the efl^orts of Dr. J. W. Andrews and other Mankato physicians the St. Joseph Catholic hospital was secured for Mankato and built during the summer of 1899, at a cost of $50,000 and dedicated on Dec. 5th of that year. It was put in charge of a corps of sisters and has proved a great blessing to the sick of our county and vicinity. In January Geo. W. Scherer succeeded Wm. Dreher as editor of the "Mankato Post." In March an eight inch Howitzer— a captured Spanish Gun — was secured for the G. A. E. of Mankato, through congressman McCleary and placed in Lincoln Park in May, 1900, where it still remains. In May, 1899, the Cannon Valley railroad was sold by the Minneapolis and St. Louis Eailway Co., to the Great Western Eail- way Co. This brought the ofliice of the Wells, Fargo Express into Mankato and Madison Lake. June 10, 1899, 800 people attended the seventh annual picnic of the early settlers association of Blue Earth County, at. Garden City, and three days later a great multitude attended the Woodmen's picnic at Mankato. During the summer of 1899 the M'. E. church of Amboy built their present fine edifice. In May of the same year the Amboy-Sterling Telephone Co., was organized with a capital of $10,000, by L. W. Wells, Willoughby Wells, C. H. Brace, Wm. Ellis, C. J. Louer and J. E. Merrill; July 1, of the same year the private bank at Amboy was changed to "The State Bank of Amboy" with a capital of $25,000, its President being David Secor, Vice President, Frank P. Ware and Cashier, S. C. Berner. In August Vernon Center voted $3,500 in bonds to help build an $8,000 school building, which was not put up until 1902, when the school district became independent. In August, 1899, the Vernon mill, then owned by Mrs. C. M. Green was struck by lightning and burned. At Lalie Crystal the Welsh Cal. Methodists erected their present fine house of worship. At Eapidan Thos. L. Eodgers was erecting a three story new flour mill on the site of the old Kenworthy mill. It was completed the follow- ing spring and has a capacity of 50 to 75 bar- rels per day, and makes an excellent grade of flour. This year, (1899), saw the telephone extend- ed to Beauford; the "St. Clair Star" suspended; the "Eagle Lake News" sold to M. H. Galer; a carnival in September at Mapleton; and the organization of the Standard Brewing Co., at Mankato. As indicating the dairy production of the county, ten creameries only shipped in 1898, HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 217 860,000 pounds of butter. In 1899, there were 19 creameries in the county and one third of the farmers were creamery patrons. Near the close of the year a well written and finely illustrated volume entitled "The History of St. Paul and St. Peter's church of Mankato by Father Von Packish was issued by the Post Printing Company. The book is in German and gives, in addition to the complete annals of the church, much valuable information about the early German settlements of the county. A long succession of _ very dry years had re- sulted in many of the shallow lakes of the county becoming dry. Among these were Jack- son Lake and Eagle Lake. The village of Ani- boy was anzious to maintain the former, and the people of Eagle Lake village felt in the same way about their lake, but the farmers, who bordered upon the lakes and were adding to their farms by the recession of the waters looked difierently upon the matter. In both instances one party accused the other of tampering with the outlets of these lakes and in 1900 liti- gations were had in the courts. A decided change in the rainfall of the locality came in a year or two and all quarrels of this kind were drowned in the abundant floods which followed. Since the failure of the standard cement company in 1893, the works had been operat- ed by P. H. Carney, wlio up to January 1, 1900, had produced 452,261 barrels of cement. Since then for many years the works have been under the management of Harry E. Carney. In March, 1900, the saw mill of Cords & Chase "in McPherson, and the old Eoekey flour mill at Mankato burned. The Cal)le Mill was, also, sold to Joseph Kreuer and Albert Schwartz. In April, 1900, Barnes purchased the Eagle Lake News, of M. H. Galer but was suc- ceeded in a year or so by H. C. Cummins & Son. The Garden City Progress was a new paper of this year edited by A. I. Shaver. May 14, of this year was inaugurated the first rural mail route in the County. It started from Amboy and embraced thirty-six square miles of territory and served a population of 660 persons. A. B. Burgess was appointed its first carrier. In September of the same year the second Eural Eoute was established at Ver- non Center, and the thii-d from Mankato in October. In April J. B. and D. Eichards purchased the Glass Block at Mankato and occupied it with their store. In June, the Woodmen's Hall at Eapidan was built; and at Lake Crystal was held the second annual commencement of its High School. Early in August the Amboy Herald was sold by J. A. Krohn to- H. C. Hotaling and James B. Brown, the latter assuming the management and, in September, 1902, becoming sole proprie- tor. October 11, 1900, the South Bend Hotel and Store were burned, wiping out about all there remained of that ancient burg. The hotel had been erected in 1857, by M. Thompson, and the store of D. P. Davia and son about 18G7. When burned tlie buildings had been bought and occupied about a month by A. J. Dethier for mercantile purposes, and there was some suspic- ion as to the origin of the fire. The Mankato ilorning Bulletin was a small sheet, which was published for a time at our county seat in those days. November 14, 1900, occurred the ■ death of John C. Wise, Sr., the founder of the Mankato Weekly Eecord, and of the Daily and Weekly Eeview. For over forty-one years he had been the great Democratic leader and editor of our county. A man of splendid Journalistic ability, excellent character and greatly beloved. No one was better acquainted with the county and its history than he, and to his exhaustlees store of local information as recorded by him week by week many of the facts of this his- tory are due. He possessed a wonderful mem- ory of persons, events and dates, and he never published a statement, until he had fully verified it. He was fond of truth and not sen- sational rumors, and for this reason his paper was more reliable than most newspapers, and possessed a peculiar historical value. In February, 1901, Andrew Carnegie, the great Pittsburg philanthropist, offered Mankato $40,000 to build a public Library, provided a site was furnished and the city guaranteed $4,000 a year in perpetuity for its maintenance. The conditions were accepted and the site se- 218 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. cured this year, and in April, 1902, the con- tract for the building was let to J. B. Nelson & Co., for $30,082. June 24, 1902, the corner stone v.as laid and on June 23, 1903, the building was opened. The Mankato Public Library had been established pursuant to law, April 7, 1894, by a resolution of the Common Council, and $2,000 annually was appropriated for its main- tenance. A board of nine directors was ap- pointed by the mayor. Eooms were rented up- stairs in the J. P. Meagher building, 132 South Front St., where on February 6, 1895, the library was first opened, with 2,000 vol- umes on its shelves. Miss Minnie McGraw was appointed librarian, which position she held until 1906, when she resigned and Miss Maude Van Buren succeeded her. Domiciled in this fine building, splendidly equipped for its purpose, the Mankato Public Library has become one of the most useful institutions of our county seat. In March, 1901, a Farmers Co-operative Ware- house Company was organized at Good Thunder and Peter McGrath made its president. April 30, a cheese company was organized at Ceresco, with S. H. Thurston, as president; Julius Kop- ishke, vice president; Chas. Russell, secretary; and J. E. Noble, general manager. April 30, 1901, Garden City voted to incorpor- ate as a village by a vote of 49 to 41, and on May 21, Frank P. Fairchild was elected the first President of its board of trustees. Aftev three or four years the village franchise was surrendered as the place was too small to main- tain a separate organization. May 21, of the same year a Norwegian Lu- theran parochial school was started in Eapidan with Carl Flo as teacher. May 22, 1901, occurred the sad death of James Shoemaker by being run over by a railway v;ar at Mankato. He had been a prominent figure in both city and county for years and was president of the l^Iankato Beard of Trade and of The Territorial Old Settlers Society at the time of his tragic death. May 21, 1901, the Mankato military company were, captain, Schuyler Hawks; first lieutenant. Guards as Company B'. Its officers at the time were, captain, Schuyler Ila^\ks; fii'=t lieutenant, P. E. Brown; second lieutenant, Geo. Kenney. During this year (1901) the Great Western Railway ]3urcha:?cd a right of -way through the city of Mankato in order to join the C. St. P. and Milwaukee Railway Co., in a imion depot near the foot of Jackson Street. October 8, 1901, the saw mill of Wm. Dur- rin at Madison Lake was burned. October 22, 1901, the old settlers of Madison Lake and vicinity held a reunion, which was largely attended and enjoyed. The same October the Graif Brotliers of Lake Crystal put in a local Telephone exchange in that village. In November, 1901, the post- ofEice department had thirteen new rural roixtes under consideration for Blue Earth County, all of which were soon there after established — 5 at Mankato, 4 at Mapleton, 2 at Amboy and 1 each at Eagle Lake and Lake Crystal. During the summer of 1901 the Railway company put in a water system at Amboy. The Eobinson Block was also remodeled into a hotel at that village. November 18, 1901, the Lake Crystal Mill was destroyed by fire, but Avas again rebuilt by a stock company in'the fall of 1902, at a cost of $28,000. In the fall of 1901 the Texas Fuel Oil Com- pany was organized, but proved a disastrous fake to all investors. Feb. 15, 1902, two rural routes were estab- lished from Amboy with J. L. Decker and 0. B. Kelly as carriers, and the postofliccs of Pleasant Mound and Willow Creek were dis- continued. Two routes, were, also, established from Lake Crystal. In March of this year (1902) The Free Press Printing Co., was purchased by Frank W. Hunt, Michael D. Fritz and Jay W. True. In March, the Gamble, Robinson Company opened a branch wholesale fruit house at Man- kato. This summer (1902) the Barber Asphalt company paved Broad street in the city of Mankato. Most of the property owners were greatly opposed to the paving and much ex- penHiNc litigation arose over the matter be- * tween them and the city, which proved very unfortunate and disastrous to both parties. CHAPTER XXIII. MANKATO'S GOLDEN JUBILEE— EB CENT EVENTS— IN CONCLUSION. 30, 1903, a celebration of the fortieth ariiiiversary of the Jackson Lake Norwegian Lutheran church was held at the Anderson Grove and at the church. It was largely at- tended by the people who had been connected with the church and their children, and was in every way a successful gathering. During -the same month the "I'irst National Bank of Lake Crystal" was organized, largely through the efforts of J. J. McQuire, who be- came its cashier. A fine brick block was erected by it this year costing nearly $20,000. An event of special prominence this year was the celebration of Mankato's Golden Jubilee. The program covered five days — June 30 to July 4th. The first day was devoted to Church histories, the second to the "Educational Growth of the City," the third day took up the "Industrial Growth of the City" and the fourth was denominated "Old Settlers Day" and was the great day of the feast so far as the crowd and outward display wore concerned. A mag- nificent parade, headed by a number of brass bands, proceeded to Sibley Park. In it were Governor Van Sant and his stafE, ex-governor Ramsey, City ofiicials, old settler organizations, Representatives of the State Historical Society, a large number of distinguished guests from vari- ous parts of the state, gorgeous floats emblem- atic of the city's progress, etc. At the park there was a good time generally, and in the evening a splendid banquet was served to over 300 invited guests. The last day was the na- tion's natal day and was devoted to patriotic doings. The main fourth of July speech was given by Dr. J. Merritte Driver. The festivi- ties had been in charge of a committee of nine, namely: Gen. J. H. Baker, Dr. J. W. Andrews, Geo. M. Palmer, Thos. Hughes, P. M. Cur- rier, M. B. Haynes, H. P. Jenson, J. E. Rey- nolds and August Marchner. An important fea- ture of the Jubilee was the "Relic Room" which occupied the entire lower floor of the Pay building, now used as a candy factory. So valuable were the papers presented at this ju- bilee that the committee concluded to publish them in book form and Gen. J. H. Baker, Thos. Hughes, C. A. Chapman and M. B. Haynes were appointed a publication committee. With- in a year the book was published by the Free Press Printing Co. under the title of "Semi- centennial of Mankato." Besides the excellent historical papers referred to, there was added a large collection of portraits and biographical sketches of eminent Mankato people past and present. A feature of the old settlers' day pro- gTam was the presentation of a large granite monument by James Gilfillan of St. Paul to mark the last resting place of Senator ilorton S. Wilkinson in Glenwood Cemetery, Mankato. In July, 1902, the ]\lapleton j\Iill was pur- chased by W. A. Hanna, Wm. Morrow, H. C. Hotaling and H. M. Quinn. At Mankato in 1902, B. D. Pay and Son transformed their new livery barn into a candy factory and the "Pay Candy Co." was started, which has since grown into an important en- terprise. The National Bank of Commerce wiis, also, started at Mankato this year. C. L. Oleson being the main instigator and has since been its manager. The Mankato State Bank, also, remodeled its corner into a fine modern three story building. In July of this year J. E. Reynolds succeeded C. Hobart on the editorial staff of the Mankato Daily and Weekly Free Press. October 1, 1902, a new rural route was estab- lished from Good Thunder, and on April 1, two new routes had been started from Madison Lake. At Mapleton this year (1902), Fred Gerlich erected a $10,000 hotel; the village put 219 220 HISTOEY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. in a sewerage system at a cost of $7,400 ; an addition was built to the school house costing over $7,000 and an elegant new Catholic church was constructed at an expense of over $10,000. This church is unique in its architecture. It is circular in form and tasty and commodious. It was dedicated on June 23, 1902, by Bishop Cotter. At Lake Crystal, beside the new Bank building and new Mill, an addition was made to the high school, costing $7,000. December 15, 1902, tlie first train over the new extension of the Chicago, St. Paul and Milwaukee Eailway reached Le Sueur Center from Mankato and on August 15, 1903, the first train over this road reached St. Paul, and the following February the Union depot for it and the Great Western Eailway was finished at Mankato. In December, 1902, a new telephone line com- neeted Mapleton with Cream. In January, 1903, "The Willow Creek Telephone Co." was organized, and in March of same year the "Min- nesota Valley Parmers ' Mutual Telephone" was built in the JSTorthwest corner of the county. In June of the same year the Maple Eiver Tele- phone was organized. By August 1903 more than half of our county was supplied with the free delivery system and in a short time the entire county was so supplied. When the Nine- teenth Century closed no farmstead in the coun- ty had mail delivery or a telephone. In three or four years thereafter every farmer had his daily mail delivered at his gate, and hundreds of farm houses in every part of the country were supplied with telephones. The long isola- tion of farm life was at last a thing of the past. The old time postoffice and Weekly paper are now no more, but each farmer takes his daily paper and visits or transacts business in town or country by telephone. In January, 1903, "The Pioneer Mercantile Co." of Lake Crystal was formed with A. W. Johnson as president and C. C. Jenkins as manager. In March of the same year the First National Bank of Mapleton was organized by W. A. Hanna, L. Troendle, J. E. Norton, Wm. Strobel, E. E. Hanna, and John Steel. M. W. Mattecheck was a prime mover in the organiza- tion. Frederick H. Morlock was made ite cash- ier. June 22, 1903, the corner stone of the present commodious German Lutheran school build- ing at Mankato was laid, and on September 20, the present large church edifice of the same denomination was dedicated. In October, 1903, the Mapleton State Bank found itself in trouble, through the miscon- duct of its cashier, x\. A. Buck, but was able to adjust its affairs and re-open on November 3, with T. B. Taylor as its new President. The year 1903, witnef^ed at Mankato the death October IC, of Ira P. Schissler, Judge of the Municipal Court, and the appointment of Wm. N. Plymat as his successor; the building of the new Malt house; the Lamm and Lankam- ]ner block; and the gift to ihe city by M. G. Willard of the park along Glenwood Avenue. In January, 1904, the cojitract was let by the county for a bridge over tlie Minnesota river at Judson. February 22, Ernest E. Brown resigned as captain of company IL, which posi- tion he had held since June 16, 1901. He -Has succeeded in the captaincy on March 21, 1904, by Fred E. Day. In 1903, a Civic Improvement ment League had been organized at Mankato, which on March 7, 1904, held its -first annual meeting and Mrs. J. H. Eay was chosen presi- dent. In March of this year a telephone company was formed in Medo, with James Hawkins as presi- dent; and in McPherson the St. Clair and Belleview Telephone Company was organized, with S. S. Babcock as President and Henry Thielman, manager. At Amboy the Farmers Elevator was sold to a stock company of which Thos. Eandall was president. The last of March of this year (1904) a new paper was started at Madison Lake called the "Tribune." It was the fifth venture of the kind in that village. Geo. T. Swearingen be- came its editor, and Geo. Southwick had charge of the printing department. Southwick in a short time became sole proprietor. In May a new E. P. D. was inaugurated out ^ (.f Smiths' Mill, and another from Mapleton, and July 15, saw the seventh route start from Mankato. In June of this year (1904) Judge HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 221 Daniel Buck completed and published his book on "Indian Outbreaks in Minnesota." It treats almost wholly of the Sioux massacre of 1862, but does not pretend to give a complete history of that event. Though rather sketchy in char- acter, it is quite a valuable work. In this same month of June the St. Clair creamery was burned, but was rebuilt soon thereafter on a larger and better scale than ever. In August the "Farmers Center Telephone Co." was organized at Rapidan, with Chas. Sparlich as president. September 12, a big Labor Day demonstration was held at Mankato, where nearly all the wage earners had been fully organized by this time. In the fall of this year (190-1) F. G. Toland opened a second commercial school at Mankato, under the name of 'Toland's Business Uni- versity." Prof. Chas. C. Owen was put in charge and thereafter became its owner. The school has grown into an important educational work. The last of December, Geo. E. Traub sold the "Man- kato Post" to a stock company, and August Blis- senbach became its editor. During 1904, the present Y. M. C. A. build- ing at Mankato was erected at a cost of $32,- 934.46, and on January 2, 1905, duly dedi- cated — the main address being given by Bishop Joyce. It is one of the best equipped structures of its kind in the state. About the first of January, 1905, Harry E. Carney purchased the Mankato Cement Works, which he and his father had operated for some years. The same month "The Good Thunder- Mapleton Telephone Co.,"' was organized with Jl Gainor as president. March 1, 1905, the Welsh people held at Man- kato another of their big Eisteddfods, -which was largely attended. March 13, the Glass Block was burned, but the proprietors, Rich- ards Bros., nothing daunted by their loss, dur- ing the summer erected their present big block in its place. April 19, the sensational trial of Dr. Koch for the murder of Dr. Gebhardt at New Ulm, and transferred from Brown to Blue Earth County, was begun. It resulted in a disagree- ment of the jury, and on the second trial in July in the acquittal of Dr. Koch. On May 25, 1905, occurred the death at Mankato of Judge Daniel Buck, the Nestor of the Mankato bar. August 30, of the same year E. D. Hubbard died, who for j-ears had been the king of the millers of our county. This sam.e month a lightning bolt burned the Cable Mill. In less than a month E. L. Honk and Walter Redfern built at Good Thunder a new grist mill to take its place, and a year later a new mill was erected on the old site by Jos. Ivreuer. April 19, 1905, a bill was passed by the Legislature creating "Minneopa Park" and ap- propriating $5,000 to purchase the necessary grounds. In October Gov. Johnson, Atty. Gen'l. Young and State Auditor Iverson inspected the proposed park and in connection with a com- mittee of the ]\rankato Board of Trade composed of Dr. J. W. Andrc-wti, Thos. Hughes and C. N. Andrews arranged the purchase of the fam- ous falls and about thirty-five acres of laud adjoining. This was increased a few months later by the purchase of about twenty-five acres more from the town of South Bend. J. B. Hodge was appointed its first superintendent, and in 1907 he was succeeded bv Wm. R. Williams. This year (1905) v/itnessed a change in the railway depot and tracks at Lake Crystal; the celebra- tion of its golden jubilee by the Salem Congre- gational church of Cambria, on Nov. 10; the remodeling of the Union Hall building at Man- kato into the Heinrich Hotel; and the organi- zation at Mankato of the "Southern Minne- sota Fair Association." The year 1906, saw Immanuel Hospital built at Mankato, by the German Lutheran churches; the organization of the "Mankato Commercial club," with W. L. Hixon as President, to suc- ceed the old board of trade; the organization in July of the "German American State Bank" of Mankato, with W. C. Henline as cashier; and the formation in July of the St. Clair State Bank," with Nick Juliar as president and Henry Thielman as cashier. This year and the following year witnessed the building of the Alphabet Railway as a branch of the Milwaukee system from Albert Lea through Medo and McPherson to St. Clair, the first train arriving at the latter point in 222 HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. the Fall of 1907. A new townsite called Pern- berton was started in section one of Medo on the line of this railroad in November, 1907. In August, 1907, the Lake Crystal Milling Company failed and in 1908 the plant was pur- chased by Christian S. Christensen of Madelia. In the summer of 1907 the M. E. church of Man- kato erected their present elegant house of wor- ship at a cost of $30,000. The building was dedi- cated with appropriate services December 8, 1907. December 20, 1907, St. Clair voted to incorporate as a village by a vote of 40 to 9, and at the elec- tion held January 2, 1908, the following ofOicera were chosen: Trustees, Henry Thielman, presi- dent; E. A. Deumeland, P. H. Bowe, and J. W. Chase; recorder, Chas. O'Connor; treasurer, M. C. Dalton; Justice, Chas. O'Connor and Christ Aeters; constables, Henry Luedke and A. T. Andrews. The assessor's returns for 1907 showed that the county possessed 11,744 horses, 28,G77 cattle, 6,931 sheep, 15,444 hogs, 745 me- lodians and organs, 867 pianos, 45 automobiles. Within a year the number of the latter have more than doubled. During 1907-8 Mankato has seen the Steam's Block pass into the hands of the National Citizens Bank who have remodeled the same into an elegant bank and office building; and it has seen the old Shoemaker Hall building re- placed by the fine four story Hickey-Cough- lan Block, now occupied by Fred Kruse. A large new building, too, has been added to the Normal school and a splendid electric street ]'ailway system has been in operation since May, ]908. So while the city was visited during July and August, 1908, by a typhoid fever epi- demic, which killed about forty of its people, due to an accidental contamination of its water supply, yet as we close this last page of our county's history our county seat is rapidly grow- ing in numbers, wealth aijd power, as becomes the metropolis of Southern Minnesota. The great county of Blue Earth has, indeed had an event- ful history during the fifty and more years it has been settled by white people, but much more eventful, doubtless will the historian of the future find its annals for the next fifty years. From its commanding position, natural resources and many splendid advantages this charming "Undine region," as in the past, must in the fu- ture be the center of the wealth, power and in- fluence of the southern half of our great com- monwealth. TOWNSHIP HISTORIES With Chapter XXIII ends the general history oi the county; but having on hand a mass of material, mostly pertaining to special neighbor- hoods, we concluded to use it in a history of each township in the county. Moreover each town has its own peculiar local history and it seemed iitting that each be told separately. Since these township histories were printed some important data relating mostly to Lime, Old Mapleton and Sterling Center has come to hand. For the in- formation regarding Mapleton the author is in- debted to J. H. Cornell and Wm. Wilde and as to Sterling to Josiah Hussell of Pasadena, Cal. and G. B. Doty of Spicer, Minn. Mr. Wilde now resides at Alameda, Cal., and has passed his 89th birthday, yet his mind seems as clear and vigorous as ever. We append the data furnished that it may be read in connection with the his- tories of the respective towns. LIME (Page 259). The name was suggested by George Stannard and Little because of the abundant lime stone found therein. The first school was taught by Rev. B. Y. Coffin in District No. 9 (now N"o. 44) in the winter of 1856-7. A log school house had been erected the previous fall a few rods east of the present building in section 29. In the win- ter of 1857-8 Asa C. Barney taught the school. He was followed by Abraham Baker and Skinner. Then beginning with the winter of 1862-3, A. C. Bar- ney became its teacher again for three successive terms. The old log school house was used imtil 1866, when the log house of David Steel was purchased and served as school room until the erection of the brick school house in 1875. A copy of the school . roll for the term beginning Nov. 9, 1857, has been preserved by Mr. Barney and is as follows: James Buckley. Alexander Campbell (Lynched by New Ulm mob). Charles W. Campbell. Nancy M. Campbell. Virginia C. Campbell. Narry J. Campbell. A. I. Laflin. Orin Laflin. Orlin Laflin. Jane A. Laflin. Phoebe E. Laflin (now Mrs. Burt). George J. Stannard. Hiram R. Stannard. Thaddeus C. S. Stannard. Charles J. Stannard. Benjamin F. Stannard. Arthur R. Steel. Mary A. Steel. Emily Steel. I-Ienry G. Henderson. Alonzo A. Henderson. Lewis A. Henderson. ilorris Hund. Mary M. Hund. Michael Thomas. William Thomas. Nicholas Thomas. John Penrith. Christian Hub. Christian C. S. Christensen. John J. Webber. Catherine Webber (Mrs. Mahowald). Henry Goodrich was chairman of the school board and under the law of that day had to examine Mr. Barney on his qualifications to teach before employing him. Lime has one railway station called "Benning," lo- cated in 1903 at the Junction of the "Great Western" and "Milwaukee" railways, and used by both roads. OLD 5IAPLET0N (Page 271). The Colony store was first kept by Albert A. ^^'essells at his home on section 7, Mapleton township. About March 1, 1857, Jlr. Wessells resigned as manager of the store and Jarvis R. Harrington was appointed to close out what remained of the stock. Vincent Wessells was a son of A. A. Wessells but he kept no store. In 1857 Russell B. Franklin had a double log house, about where the residence of the late Robert Taylor in section 18 of Mapleton stands and one part of the house was used for two or three years as a school room. It was known as the "Franklin School House." Here was organized the Sterling Congregational church and here Jarvis R. Harrington taught the first school. In 1858 Jabez B. Clemonts bought a small tra-ct of land in Old Mapleton of James Cornell, Sr., and built thereon a log building for a hotel, which he so occu- pied about two years and in January, 1861, sold it to Wm. Wilde, Ira Annis and R. B. Hall as trustee of School District No. 45. This building was thereafter used as a school heuse until 1867, when a new edifice was erected. The statement that Middlebrook Bros, rebuilt their mill after it was burned in 1863 is not correct. STERLING (Page 295). The first store in Sterling was opened about 1863 (or may be earlier) by Wm. Russell, Sr., at his home in Section 15 on the west bank of Rice Creek. In November, 1863, Mr. Russell 223 224 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY sold his farm to William B. Buell, reserving a- small tract in its northeast corner, just east of the creek. Here he built him a new home to which he removed, in 1864, his store and the post office as stated in the history. The Colony store was never in Sterling. The first mill at Sterling Center was built by Gideon B. Doty and his father, Geo. W. Doty, on Providence creek, about 80 rods above its mouth. The second mill in this location was built in 1864 by Geo. W. Doty and his son, Hiram B. Doty, on the Jlaple near the mouth of the creek. This mill was sold in February, 1866, to Fuller and Miller as stated in the text. Prior to 1862 Henry Spickerman had built a mill near the westerly shore of Lake Lura on the farm of the late James Ellis, Sr. A ditch was dug from the lake into a marsh for the mill race and u. windmill erected to furnish power in dry weather. About 1862, Spickerman sold this mill to Alpheus M. Hewitt, who had Gideon B. Doty run it. The mill of McCormlck and Smith mentioned on page 295, was located at Middletown on the old Wm. Randall fa,rm. In the fall of 1872, McCormick and McQueen moved this mill to the Cobb river in Beau- ford and later sold it to David Hanna. The first school in Sterling Center was taught on the second floor of the Doty store building about 1866, by H. Baker. The first sermon was preached in the same room by Rev. J. E. Conrad. BBAUFORD. This town was a part of the Winnebago re- servation until the removal of these Indians in 1863. It is drained by both the Little and Big Cobbj which form a junction near the center of its eastern half. Below this junction there is ciuite a bodj' of timber along the united streams. On the eaist boundary is located Perch Lake a body of shallow water nearly a mile in diame- ter. In 1858 the County Commissioners named the town "Winneshiek" after a prominent chief of the Winnebagoes. At a meeting held in the winter of 1865-G, preparatory to the organiza- tion ■ of the town, it was decided, at the sugges- tion of Albert Gates, to change the name to 'T3eauford" after a town in the east, from which some of the settlers had come. Accordingly at a meeting of the County Commissioners held March 13, 1866, on petition of Chap. McBeth and twenty-six others, the town was created under the name of "Beauford" and the first town meeting appointed to be held at the house of John Prey in April. This meeting elected the following ofEicere. Supervisors, John Frey, Chairman; Johakim Meeske and Frank Peters; Clerk, Albert Gates. The first actual settler was James Morrow, Sr., who came to Danville from Ontario, Can., :March 17, 1864, and during the summer claimed the northwest quarter of section 35, Beauford, upon which he went to live with his family about September 1, 1864. They were an excel- lent Scotch family, and the names of the child- ren, some of whom were then grown up, were: James, John, Jane, Mary, (Mrs. Miliken,) Jeu- nette (Mrs. Alec Ellis), Agnes (Mrs. M. Han- na), Barbara, (Mrs. Thos. Hanna), William, Robert and Margaret. Many of these and their descendants are still among the prominent resi- dents of the town. Other settlers of 1864 were Albert J., Arza, and Seth C. Gates, and Josiah Rogers, who located in the northern part of the town. Among the settlers of 1865, were John Frey, John Rath, Samuel Larkin, John L. Larkin, Matthew McCarthy, Patrick Howley, John Laf- f;,', Peter Sprager, John W. Brill, Chas. N. Nelson, Samuel D. Brown, Chas. Cowley, Colin and Chas. McBeth, Ole Larson, John Maygue, James Gordon, Frank Peters, John Biedenkopf, Johakim and Christian Meeske. Among the settlers of 1866 were: Thos. His- lop, Andrew Little, Franklin Child s, J. Dum- beck, John Hanna, and George and Jacob Kauf- man. In May 1865 a saw mill, built by Dr. W. F. Lewis, Basil Moreland and others, and in charge of Abel Keene, began operations. It was located on the Big Cobb river on the south- west quarter of section 4 and for one or two years did good service. In February, 1867, a new mail route was established running from Wilton in Waseca County to Garden City, which crossed the Cobb near the residence of Pranlc- lin Childs, where in the spring of this year, a new postofEice was established with Mrs. Frances Childs as postmistress. In June, 1868, a second postofEice was estab- lished called "Perch Lake,''" with Albert J. Gates postmaster. The. office was supplied by a mail route running; from Minnesota Lake to Mankato. It remained at the home of Gates, on northwest quarter of section thirteen imtil SCRtDflN LOTHfcRAW TRINITY CHURCH, Oei^eSCO. JI5T.N2 13 "THe RUiSCLL SCHOOL" CeT*63COT0tt)NSHIP. HISTOEY OE BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 225 1871, when Henry Natley was made postmaster, and the office moved to his home in section twenty-four. This office was discontinued in August, 1875. School District No. 86 was created by the County Commissioners October 1, 1866, on peti- tion of Pranklin Childs and others; District No. 94 February 36, 1867, on petition of John Frey and others, and on the same date District No. 95 on petition of John Beidenkopf. The first school was taught by Miss Acker- man of Medo in the winter of 1866-7 in Dis- trict 86. It was kept in the Moreland saw mill building near Franklin Childs home. The next school was taught in a log school house in Dis- trict No. 95 by Elizabeth Keys in the summer of 1867 and the next in the winter of 1867-8 in a frame building belonging to District No. 94. Jennie McBeth was probably the first white child born in the town. Her birth occured in the fall of 1864. Margaret, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Morrow, was the second white child, born June 17, 1865. About 1868, John McCormick and Andrew Little, purchased and fitted up a saw mill on the northwest quarter of section four and opera- ted it for about five years. After laying idle aboiit two years it was sold to McEJibbin and again operated for a time. In October, 1874, John Kimpton purchased a small tract of land in the northwest quarter of section nine and built thereon a small store 12x20 feet. His stock at first consisted largely of tobacco and bitters, and his customers mostly were wood choppers and haulers. In June, 1881, he sold out to Leander F. Fihlev, who built a new store building adjoining the old one, and made a hall above the new part. The old Beauford post office, which Franklin Childs had kept for some years had been discontinue's in July, 1875, and the town had been without a post office for six years. In Julv, 1888, L. F. Pinlev was appointed postmaster of a new office called, "Beauford," which had just been estab- lished at his store. Eeligious services were started in school house No. 86 in the sixties, and a Siinday School was maintained through the efforts of Franklin Childs and others. The preaching was supplied usually by ministers of the United Brethern. After a season of special revival the church which had been organized before, was legally incorporated February 9, 1884, by the election of the following trustees : Sarah F. Childs, Chas. Wing and Wm. Hislop. It was called the "Uni- ted Brethren Church of Beauford." Eev. Si- mon George was pastor and Eev. J. W. Fulker- son. Presiding Elder. A lot was secured near the store and a fine church building 34x40 feet erected during the summer. In the fall of 1885, the interior was finished and furnished with pews. June 20, 1886, occurred the dedica- tory services, Eev. Tibbetts preaching the ser- mon. Many new members had been recently added, and Eev. Fairchild was then pastor. There was much rejoicing over the new build- ing. Under the United Brethren system the pas- tors have frequently changed. In 1899, a lady. Miss Edith Gates, filled the pulpit with much acceptance; part of the time the church has been yoked with Vernon, part of the time witH Alma City, in' its pastoral service. It has a Sunday School and Ladies' Aid Society. The church is still doing splendid service, and is the only one now in the township. Preaching services and Sunday Schools have been held off and on in school houses Nos. 94 and 95 ever since they were built. The Germans began holding services in pri- vate houses and in the school house from the earliest period. April 16, 1884, "Salems Church of the Evangelical Association" was organized at the house of Geo. Kaufmann, and the follow- in? Trustees elected: Herman Dumpke, Fred- erick Limberg and Jacob Kanfmann. This church kept up its services for years, but of Inte vears has disbanded and the members gone to other churches. In Julv, 1885, Leander F. Finlev sold his store to Calvin A. Fleming, who, after one vear, rented the store to Chas. Drake, who ran it until July, 1887, when Ambrose F. Tenney purchased the building and stock. In March, 1889, Tenney disposed of the stock to Ealph Healev and the building to Fred Cramer. Tn lyfar. Mr. Healev was appointed postmaster and served in that capacity for many years. In -20,^ IIISTOKY OF BLUE EAETH. COUNTY. ihe eighties Joseph Latourell started a black- years has done yeoman service in the public sirnth shop at Beauford Comers (as the place schools of our county. was called). He was succeeded by Wm. Sher- Lyceums and debating societies were frequent, man. Then came Mr. Johnson, and he was especially in district No. eighty-six for many followed by Edward Kuhnke, who ran a black- years, and a band was organized in the town smith shop until 1897, when Adolph Laui sue- in 1877. A Town Hall was erected in the late ceeded him. About 1887, Frank Nitzel started fall of 1903. A local telephone company has a second store at the "Corners," which he ran pressed the lightning into service to bear tBe for about a year and was followed for a few farmers' messages, and the ring of the tele- months by Amer Eeinhart and Sulbeck. Al)out phone bell is now everywhere heard, where forty- 1894, Elmer Getty started a new store at the five years ago there was but the whirr of the Corners, and in 1896, built his present store rattle snakes tail, building, where he still continues. In Septem- BUTTEENUT VALLEY. her, 1897, he succeeded Mr. Healey as post- master. In the earlier years the mail service For the organization and early history of the had been weekly, in the early nineties it was township, when Cambria formed a part of it, tri-weekly, and by 1896, it became daily. Au- see history of latter town. Not having any tim- gust 15, 1904, the Beauford postofEice was dis- ber within its borders, except small groves, continued, as its place had been supplied by around two or three lakes, the town was mostly the Free Delivery system. avoided by settlers for the first decade of our In March, 1895, a co-operative creamery As- Iiistory. sociation was organized with Al Madison, presi- It has no creek or river and the largest of dent, and Chas. Hertzberg, general manager, the lakes referred to are Solberg, Strom and A building was put up at the "Corners" and on Armstrong lakes. June 1, of this year the creamery began opera- In its natural state the whole town was a tions, with Omer Mullin as butter maker. It vast rolling prairie, but settlement and the was a big success from the start and soon be- planting of hundreds of groves, has greatly came one of the largest creameries in the coun- improved its appearance. ty, making from $30,000 to $37,000 worth The first settlers came in 1857; In the early of butter each year, besides supplying patrons, fall of that year Andrew Strom, a native of In October, 1904, Healey sold his stock of Norway, located with his family on the north- general merchandise to Omer Mullen, who east bank of Strom Lake in section nineteen, built a new store building opposite the creamery About the same time Evan Peterson settled and moved the goods therein. "Beauford Cor- with his family on the east side of lake Arm- ners" now contains two stores, a blacksmith strong in section twenty. The same fall Thomas shop, a creamery, a church, and a number of Thomas and his family moved upon their residences. claim on the south side of the lake, which bears The fourth school district, No. 149, was their name in section six, and Geo. W. Smith and organized November 5, 1889, on petition of Joseph 0. Smith located upon their claims in E. E. Fuller and others, and a school house section two. Which of these was the first actual erected that winter. District No. 94 built its settler it is bard now to determine, as all came present school house iji 1895. A number of about the same time. Andrew Strom has gen- the boys and girls of the Beauford schools have erally been given the credit, but there is much become prominent in educational work and ground to believe that Geo. W. Smith was the other lines. Among them may be mentioned first settler, though it is by no means certain. Guy and Ernest Childs, who are principals of A year or two thereafter Knut Strom located in schools, and Ed. Sherman, who is a preacher section nineteen and in 1863, Wm. J. Jones of the U. B. Church. Among the citizens of and Wm. Griffith located in section one. As the town is Chas. Hawes, who for over thirty far as known these weTP all the settlers until HISTDRY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 22^ 1863, when the settlement of the tdwn may be said to have begun. This year came Chas. H. Shelby and Ole Siverson to section ten, Olens Solberg to section eight. Christian Erickson, Lars JI. Thorstad and Lars Halverson to sec- tion twenty-two, David A. Davis to section two and George M. Keenan and John Samil to section 4. In 1864, came Tolaf Holverson, P. 0. Hovey, Wm. E. Jenkins, Ole P. Lieberg, Owen Pritchard, Kidal Easmussen, Simon Eo- land, Benj. T. Kilby, and others. In 1865, came Lars Christopherson, E. Kettleson, Thos. J. Evans, Gilbert Gunderson, H. Holverson, Joel Haycroft, Addison Jones, Billings and Lewis Johnson, Ellis Owens, Lars Thompson and others. In 1866, came Andrew Tweed, H. Hendrickson, Johanness Taarnd, Thron Peter- son, Ole Stone, Martin Osten, Nils Thorstad, Anton Melby, Fredrick Hanson, Helge Hellek- son, H. P. Felch, John E. Jones, Thos. E. Evans, Evan J. Evans, John, Edward, Samuel, William and David Evans. Odin A., son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Strom, born in the fall of 1858, was the first white child. The first school was taught at the home of Andrew Strom in 1860, and at present there are six school districts, with a good school house in each. The first religious services were conducted by the Norwegians about 1864, at private houses, but during the first few years they were not very regular as there was no resident pastor. Lutheran ministers from Ma- delia and Mankato, generally officiated. During the seventies and until the erection of the pres- ent church edifice in 1883, an occasional service was held in the Strom school house (Dist. No. 13.) Rev. Lars. Gren of Madelia and Rev. H. Heggerness of Mankato in those early years ministered to the church. It was organized in 1882, under the name of "The Norwegian Luth- eran Church." The church building is brick veneered 30x50 feet with a fine steeple and built as stated in tbe summer of 188^. It is located on the north- west corner of the southwest quarter of section twenty-one, and has a cemetery attached. The north half of the town was settled large- ly by Welsh people. As early as Decembei 1866 a Sunday School with fourteen scholars was organized -at the log cabin of Thos. E. Evans, with John E. Jones as Superintendent. The first prayer meeting was held at the same place in the evening of the same Sabbath. Preaching services were held during the winter of 1866-7 at the same house by Revs. E. W. Jones, Wm. Eoberts and John W. Eoberts. The Sabbath school was moved for a short time to the home of Soloman Evans; thence to the house of Wm. S. Hughes, and thence in the summer of 1867, back to the home of Thos. E. Evans, where it remained until the erection of a house of worship in 1870. The church was organized as a Calvinistic Methodist body in May, 1867, at the house of Wm. E. Jenkins, by Eev. E. W. Jones. It adopted the name "Bethel," and the charter mem- bers were John E. Jones, Wm. E. Jenkins, and wife, Thos. E. Evans and wife, Evan, J. Evans, Mrs. Mary Francis, Mrs. Elizabeth Evans, Mrs. Eobert D. Jones, Mrs. Ellis Owens, Mrs. Eobert H. Hughes, and Wm. A. Jones and wife. The first deacons were John E. Jones, Wm. E. Jen- kins, and Thos. Eichards. For three years the church met at private houses, like the Sunday school, mostly at the house of Thos. E. Evans. In the summer of 1870, a church building 20x26 feet was put up near the southeast comer of sec- tion four, which was opened with a quarterly meeting September 14 of that year. For pastoral service "Bethel" was yoked with "Horeb" church of Cambria in 1871. Eev. D. M. Jones was the first settled pastor of both churches. The churches have continued as one circuit ever since. The old building becoming too small, a new edifice was erected in 1887. About 1890, the church num- bered about 100 members, but since that time the membership has been reduced nearly one third by death and removals. A number of Welsh families Had located along the east line of Butternut Valley, too far south to attend Bethel church. In connection with some Welsh families along the west line of Judson they began holding religious ser- vices as early as 1868. In the winter of 1868-9 a Sabbath school was formed at the house of Richard R. Williams in section 13, with Mr. Williams as superintendent. Preaching and 228 HISTOEY OP BLUB BAKTH COUNTY. prayer meeting services were, also held quite frequently at the same place, and at the house of Cornelius Williams. The fact that the fami- lies were divided between two or three denomi- nations delayed the church organization for a time. As the majority belonged to the Calva- nistie Methodists, a church of that dehomination was finally formed in March, 1870, by Eev. Wm. Eoberts, assisted by Elder Evan H. Evans, of Zion Church. The organization took place at the house of Eichard E. Williams, and the charter members were: John D. Thomas and wife; Cornelius Williams and wife, Eichard Lewis and wife, Eichard Williams and wife, Evan D. Evans and wife, John H. Hughes and wife, and Mrs. Martha Jones. The church was called Moriah and a chapel was started this year. In 1865, a little misunderstanding had arisen in the synod of the Cal. Methodist churches, which soon became a serious quarrel and rent all the churches of the synod into two factions, one of which united with the Presby- terians,, and a number of churches of that de- nomination were started in the Welsh settle- ment. In 1870, the disaffection was at its height and the center of the disturbance was in the vicinity of this Moriah church. This year the Presbyterians were induced to erect a $2,000 building on the center of the east line of section eighteen of Judson. This de- laved the completion of the Moriah chapel until April, 1873, when the church took a new lease of life, completed its organization bv electing John D. Thomas and Cornelius Williams, as its first, elders, moved its chapel three fourths of a mile south, to the north quarter stake of the east line of section 24, in Butternut Val- ley and put it in shape for occupancv. The name of the church was also changed to "Sal- em." Bv 1881-2 the quarrel in the Cal. Meth. churches had become a thing of the past: and the Presbyterian churches among the Welsh evervwhere disbanded, and the people returned to their first love. This left the big new edi- fice on section eighteen, Judson, empty on the hands of the Presbytery. In 1886, the Salem church purchased it, and disposing of their other building, which was much smaller, moved it to the present site. Ministerially the church has been on the same circuit with Jerusalem and Lake Crystal, in charge of Eev. David Edwards, of the latter place. Number 12, was the first school Dis- trict organized in the town. District No. 78 was organized March 13, 1866, on petition of Eobert H. Hughes, and others. District 114 was organized on June 23, 1868 on petition of Wm. Prancis and others, and No. 115 on the same date on petition of H. P. Pelch and others. In the spring of 1894, the Lake Shore Cream- ery was started on the southeast corner of sec- tion twenty and in June of the same year a new post office was established there called 'T3utternut" with Christian Strom as postmas- ter. About the same time a co-operative store was opened at the same point in charge of Charlie Johnson. In July, 1895, Gilbert Gut- tersen became postmaster, and in January, 1899, he was succeeded by Ole Eoudestvedt. A feed mill, blacksmith shop, harness and shoemaker shop, meat shop, livery, hotel, town hall built in 1897, together with the Norwegian church, creamery, store, and postoffice made "Butter- nut" quite a center for the town. The post- office was discontinued five or six years ago and the town supplied by rural routes with daily mail, and a farmer's telephone company supplies all needs in that line. The town is one of the most fertile and its people are prosperous. CAMBEIA. Cambria and Butternut Valley were one muni- cipality until 1867, under the latter name, but until after 1862, the settlement was confined almost exclusively to the portion now called Cambria, along the Minnesota and Little Cot' tonwood Eivers and Cambria Creek. The ad- vantages of timber, water and drainage which these three streams afforded, made this frac- tional township more desirable to settlers, and no town in the county is more picturesque. The first claims were located about June 6, 1855, by Morris Lewis, David A. Davis and David Evans on parts of sections 25, 26 and 35; but the first to build a cabin and actually set- tle in the town was John E. Davis. He and liis family, consisting qI his wife, a grown up soil, HISTOHY OJ? BLUE EARTH COtJNTY. ■2±} William E. Davis, two daughterSj Sarah (now Mrs. Wm. E. Lewie of Lake Crystal) and Eliz- abeth (widow of the late Eichard Jones of Cambria) drove in a covered wagon from Big Eock, 111., and arrived on the west line of Jud- son on the 12tli of June. Mr. Davis at once located his claim on the southwest quarter of section 26, built a small log cabin and moved thereto about the 15th of the same month. About July 10, 1865, came David J. Davis and David J. Williams from near Palrdyra, Ohio, and made claims on the Minnesota bot- tom, at the mouths of Cambria Creek and the Little Cottonwood. The families reached their new homes the following November, coming all the way from Palmyra in covered wagons, a tedious journey full of many adventures. The Williams family at this time consisted of David J., William J. and Daniel L., three bachelor brothers, who lived with their mother. July, 1855, John Nicholson located upon the "Little Prairie'" with his family. In August of this year George Gilley and family, Alfred S. Van Patten, Samuel B. Shaw and Peter Bandy located in the northwest corner of the town, north of the Cottonwood. A daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gilley named Hattie was the first white child born in the town. Her birth occurred February 11, 1856, but she died in childhood. Catherine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David J. Davis, born April 7, 1856, was the second white child. She is now Mrs. Toothacker, of Martin County. In July, 1855, David Y. Davis, took a claim in Section 20, and in the spring of 1856 his brother, Evan J. Davis, made a claim in the same section and the two brothers, with their mother, located there about August of that year. In the fall of 1855 Hugh R. Williams and fam- ily arrived from Wisconsin. May, 1856, came John Shields and his family from Pomeroy, Ohio. In June Henry Hughes, who had located in Judson the previous fall, took a claim on Cambria creek and removed thereto in July. In May, 1856, a large Welsh colony had arrived at South Bend from Jackson and Gallia Counties, Ohio, and a large portion of it in June settled in the present town of Cambria. Among these were: Dr. David Davis and wife and their grown up children, David, John, Peter, and xMary S. Davis; Mr. and Mrs. David P. Davis and their children, Daniel, David, Eben, Mary and j\largaret and two younger sons, liichard Morgan and wife and their grown up children, James, Isaac, Elizabeth and Mary, John Wal- ters and his family, William P. Jones and fam- ily, David Price and family and Thos. D. Lloyd and wife. Early in July of this year came Eev. Jenkin Jenkins and family and David ilorris and wife. During the summer Wm. Hughes, Griffith Thomas, Samuel D. Shaw, Jolm JSTickelson and families located in the town. The first religious service was probably held the latter part of June, 1856, in a shanty on the claim of David Y. Davis, temporarily oc- cupied by John Shields and family. July 3, 1856, at the log cabin of David P. Davis, Sec- tion 19, was organized the first religious body. It was the present Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church of "Horeb," so named in honor of a church in Ohio, from which most of its mem- bers had come. Eev. Eichard Davis, then of South Bend, was the officiating clergyman. The charter members as far as known were : Dr. David Davis and wife and their children, Jolm, Peter, and Mary S.; John Walters and wife, and their son, John, David P. Davis and wife and their children, Daniel and John; John Shields and wife, William P. Jones and wife, David S. Davis and wife, Thomas Lloyd and wife, Eichard Morgan and wife, their son, James Morgan, and his betrothed. Miss Mary Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David P. Davis. Eight after the organization service James Morgan and Miss Mary Davis were united in marriage at the same place and by the same clergyman, being the first marriage in town. The first death occurred in August, 1856, in the family of David Price. While this family were busy moving from their first claim shanty to a larger log cabin, one of their little children managed, when alone for a few mo- ments, to set fire to itself and the shanty, and was so badly burned, that it died in a few hours. After the organization of Horeb church, re- ligious services were regularly observed every 230 mSTOSY OJ BLIJE EARTH COUNTY. Sabbath after the manner of the Welsh. In the morning a sermon or prayer meeting, in the afternoon a Sunday school was held. The first year these services were usually held alter- nately at the homes of David P. Davis and John Walters, but in 1857 a vacant cabin on the claim of Evan J. Davis was used. In a grove near this cabin was held June 24 and 25, 1857, the first quarterly meeting in the town. The winter of 1856-7, as we have noted in our main history, was extremely cold, and the only cases in the Welsh settlements of death by freezing occurred on the evening of the sixth of January, 1857. That day Wm. Hughes and GrifEith Thomas had gone to New Ukn, ten miles distant on foot to get some provisions for their families. Before returning they foolishly indulged in some liquor. This, with the bit- ter cold, brought upon them a deadly stupor, and the next day their bodies were foimd within a mile of home, just where the old Ft. Eidgely road crossed the head of Bennett Creek, on the present farm of James Price. The sad event cast a gloom over the whole neighborhood, and the spot of their burial, eighty rods west of the Horeb church, was long known to the pioneers as "The Grraves." During his residence at Eevena, Ohio, David J. Davis had operated a saw mill, and he knew of a second hand steam saw mill, with a small corn grinding attachment for sale cheap, and at his suggestion David P. Davis returned to Ohio this winter and purchased it. On arrival in Cambria late that summer the mill was set up in the Cottonwood valley on David P. Davis' farm, and, with the aid of David J. Davis, who understood milling, it was started, and during the winter of 1857-8 quite a little lum- ber was cut and com roughly ground for the johnny cake and hasty pudding of the period. About the first fruits of this mill was lumber for Horeb church. This church was erected during the summer and fall of 1858, by Andrew Friend at a cost of $800 and was 28x35 feet in size. Its frame was heavy white oak and good for centuries. It was all made of the best native lumber and for many years was the largest house of worship in the Welsh settle- ment. December 25, 1856, a Bible society was formed at the house of Davis P. Davis, with Dr. David Davis as President, Eev. Jenkin Jenkins secretary and David P. Davis, Treas- urer, called "The Blue County Welsh," which the first year raised $46.30 as a donation to the New York society. This society has held its annual meeting on Christmas day ever since, has sent over $2,000 to the Bible cause, and is still flourishing. In those early years the locality was generally called the "Cottonwood Settlement" from the Cottonwood river. At a meeting of the inhabi- tants held in December, 1856, preparatory to being organized as a separate election precinct, the question of name came up. There was a strong disposition to call the municipality "Davistown"' as about half of the residents then bore that name, and the first settler was John E. Davis. Col. S. D. Shaw suggested the name "Butternut Valley" as especially appropriate because the town contained so many valleys, which were full of butternut trees. He, also, called attention to the word "valley" as being a synonym for "fertility" and how valuable a timber was the "Butternut." The colonel's elo- quence prevailed, and the name "Butternut Valley" was adopted. Some time afterwards it was learned that Col. Shaw had come from "Butternuts" N. Y. which at once explained his partiality for that name. January 6, 1857, the town was created into a separate election precinct, under the above name, and the following officers appointed; Judge of Election, Geo. Gilley, Eev. Jenkin Jenkins and David J. Davis; Justices of the Peace, Eev. Jenkin Jenkins and David P. Davis; Consta- bles, David J. Williams and David A. Davis. The first election was held in the spring of 1857, at the house of David P. Davis. At the general election held in the fall of that year the town cast 38 votes, 31 Eepublican and 7 Demo- cratic. In 1857, came to the settlement Wm. E. Jenkins, James Edwards, Lewis D. Lewis, Evan Jenkins, John Eees, Geo. W. Porter, Neil Porter and others. A debating society was form- ed in the winter of 1857-8 which met usually at HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUKTY. 231 the house of Evan J. and David Y. Davis, and at which Evan Jenkins, an odd genius, figured prominently. There were temperance societies, einging schools and Fourth of July celebrations, and the community was noted for the interest manifested from the start in things religious, political, social, literary and educational. In 1856, the town was divided into three school Districts each two miles in width east and west. This did not suit, and after more or less squabling as to location of school houses the town was cut into two school districts, cdr- responding with the present Districts Nos. 10 and 11, and in 1869, a log school house built in each. The first school was taught in No. 10 in the summer of 1859, by Miss Elizabeth Davis, (now Mrs. Richard Jones), and the first school in District No. 11, was kept in the late fall of the same year by Miss Mary S. Davis (after- wards the first wife of Thos. Y. Davis.) It was started in a vacant log house belonging to Evan J. Davis, and on completion of the log tchool house was moved thereto. A second congregation of those whose views did not coincide with Horeb church was formed about 1858. They met at private houses, mostly at the log cabin of Henry Hughes, and were ministered to by Dr. David Davis and Henry Hughes, who preached alternately. This con- gregation was formed into a Congregational church on March 13, 1860, at the house of Henry Hughes by Rev. Samuel Jones, a con- gregational preacher from La Crosse, Wis. The church continued until the Indian outbreak of 1863. In 1857, Col. S. D. Shaw was appointed postmaster of the new postoffiee of "Butternut Valley," but for several months he had to carry the mail on his back from Judson, before the Mankato and New Ulm mail route was estab- lished. May 21, 1863, Evan J. Davis suc- ceeded him as postmaster, but enlisting in the army three months later, he was succeeded by Henry Hughes. January 5, 1867, Evan Bowen became postmaster and was succeeded on June 25, 1869, by Mrs. Elizabeth Burgess, who kept the office for five or six years, when it was dis- continued. February 13, 18G3, the saw and grist mill of David P. Davis was burned. Be- ing the frontier town of the county, Cambria suffered more than any otlier from the Indian outbreak of 186:i, but those incidents have been detailed in the history of the county. It also suffered the most from the grasshopper scourge, first in 1861, and again tor four successive years (1874 to 1877) inclusive. We have also spoken elsewhere of this trouble. By 1867, the prairie portion of tlie town, embracing all of township 108 was becoming well settled, and these new comers were getting more numerous than the first settlers, who occupied the frac- tional part of 109, and outvoted them in the town meetings. This displeased the old timers, and on petition to the County Board, they were severed from Township 108, and permitted to form a new town, under the name of "Cambria."' This was suggested by George Owens, because the inhabitants were nearly all Welsh (Cymri). The new town organized June 3, 1867, by the election of the following officers: Supervisort, John S. Davis, Chr., Wm. P. Jones and VVm. R. Lewis; Clerk, Wm. P. Davis; Assessor, Evan Bowen; Treasurer, Thos. Y. Davis; Justice, S. D. Shaw and Edward Rowe; Constables, David Thomas and David L. Harris. This first elec- tion was held at log school house No. ten, thereafter most of the elections were held in school house No. eleven. In the latter district a new frame school house was erected in the summer of 1867, and through the efforts of Henry Hughes and David J. Davis an excellent school was maintained for a number of years. January 15, 1877, the school house of this dis- trict burned. Through Hon. Wm. P. Jones, then a member of the Legislature, a special act was passed authorizing the district to bor- row money to rebuild, which was done at once. A number of the pupils of this school have risen to some prominence, among them; Hon. Owen Morris of St. Paul, Thos. and Evan Hughes of Mankato, Albert B. Hughes of Wadena in the legal profession, and Thos. E. Bowen, late of Duluth, Journalist, and a number of teach- ers, and business men. A frame school house was built in District No. 10, in the seventies. Early in the seventies a portion of the town with a portion of Butternut Valley was organ- 232 HISTORY 01^ BLUE EARTH COHNTY. ized into school District J^o. 78, but the school house of this district was over the line in But- ternut Valley. Judge of Probate, Wm. E. Hughes, and former County Attorney, Byron Hughes, both Cambria boys, were products of this school. The first school house in this Dis- trict burned February 24, 1885, but was rebuilt soon thereafter. Early in the seventies a school District was formed in the southwest corner of the town and lying partly in Butternut Valley and partly in Brown County. It is designated No. 138 but usually called the "Goshen" school. Its log build- ing was replaced with the present frame in March 1883. This school house stands in section thirty-one of Cambria. October 14, 1856 Eev. Jenkin Jenkins had started a Welsh Congrega- tional church in Judson township. In 1858, this church removed its services to the home of Deacon John E. Davis, in Cambria, and about 1859, to the log school house in District No. 10. About 1866, a Sunday School was organized by the members of this church at the log house of Evan Bowen, with David T. Davis .as sup- erintendent. About 1867, the preaching ser- vices and Sunday school were both removed to "the log cabin of Wm. Harris. Here they re- mained until the Pall of 1871, when a neat frame chapel was erected near the center of section twenty-eight. This edifice was remodeled in 1905, and the Golden Jubilee of the church celebrated with a splendid program, in which a number of prominent divines from abroad took part, most prominent of whom perhaps was Dr. Lloyd Eoberts of India. Among the pastors who have served this church are: Eev. Jenkin Jenkins, Philip Peregrine, T. G. Jones, (Tavalaw), Humphrey Jones, John E. Jones, T. 6. Griffiths and E. J. Thomas. In 1900, the Horeb Church erected their present house of worship at a cost of $1200. Prominent among its pastors have been Eevs. David M. Jones (specially noted for the inter- est he awakened in literary societies), Griffith Eoberts, Thos. B. Hughes and John D. Jones. About 1873, Eev. P. Peregrine began preach- ing to a few families of Welsh congregation- alists living in the southwestern corner of the town and in Brown County. A Congregational Church was organized there in April^ 1876, under the name of "Goshen," and a church building erected. But after a few years, so many removals and deaths occurred, that it dis- banded. The church building was destroyed at the time of the New Ulm cyclone. Por more than thirty-five years Cambria has not failed to observe the Pourth of July with an appropriate program of a literary and musi- cal character and a picnic dinner. Wagner's Grove has generally been the place, and the interest in these annual gatherings on the part of young and old has never fagged. A year or two after the building of the Northwestern Eailway from St. Peter to New Uhn in 1874^ Courtland became a market place for the town, and its postofEice. About the nineties a cream- ery was started there, which drew about half of its patrons from Cambria. In the spring of 1900, when the Northwest- ern Eailway built a short cut up the Minnesota Valley it passed through the town, and Cam- bria station was located therein with a neat depot and express office. A store and post- office were located there during the summer by Earnest Hughes. A creamery was, also, built, which has had a good patronage from the start; and a wheat elevator was constructed by Jen- nison Bros. In 1905, a Woodman's hall was built there. Eural mail routes from Lake Crys- tal and New Ulm, besides Cambria postoffice, supplies the town with daily mail and the Far- mers Telephone Co., penetrates with its lines into every neighborhood. The roster of those who enlisted in the Civil war from "Butternut Valley" (of which the present town of Cambria was really at that time the only settled portion) are as follows: Davis, David Y., Co. E, 9th Inf. Davis, Jr., David J., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Davis, Evan J., Co. E, 9tli Inf. Davis, Eben P., Co. E^ 2nd Cav. Davis, John P., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Davis, Wm. E., Co. E, Mounted Rangers. Edwards, James, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Edwards, Wm., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Jenldns, John W., Co. E, 9th Inf. Jones, Daniel, Co. E, 9th Inf. Jones, Lewis P., Co. E, 9th Inf. Keenan, G«orge W., Co. B, Mt. Eg. Lewis, Jr., Lewis D., Co. E, 9th Inf. Lewis, William R., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Lloyd, Thos. D., Co. E, Mt. Rangers. Morgan, Isaac, Co. E, 2nd Inf. HISTORY OF BLtJE EAETH GOtlJSTTY. :;3l! Morgan, James, Co. E, 2iid Cav. Rees, John, Co. B, 9tlL Inf. Shaw, Samuel B., Co. H, Mt. Rangers. Shields, William, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Thomas, Kice, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Walters, David, Co. E, 2nd Cav. .Walters, Stephen, Co. E, 2nd Cav. CBEESCO. Ceresco forms one of the west tier of town- ships. The Watonwan flows through its north- ern end, and Perch Creek through its center. The name was suggested by Isaac Slocum, who had come from Ceresco, Wis., and was intended by him for the present town of Lincoln, where he resided. Tlie name intended for Cerecso was "I^x Lake'' which had been suggested by John and Miles Porter after Pox Lake, Wis., their re- cent home. Both towns were named by the County Board at a meeting held April 6, 1858, but through some blunder the two names got misplaced and the error was ■ never corrected. The first white people to loeate in the Town were W'm. D. Gray and Fellows D. Please, who built a small log cabin on section eleven juit above the mouth of Perch Creek in the spring of 1885. Both were young men, who had come from Iowa. They did some trading with the' Indians, and kept in their cabin a few Indian goods, consisting mostly of beads, powder, lead> a barrel of whiskey, and a few bolts of gaudy cloth, which they used in trading for furs. They were joined within a year by Benjamin Pease, a brother of David, and Samuel Pease, their father, both of whom took claims in the vicinity. In the fall of 1855, Arza B. Barney and David Shaw settled on section 1. Among the settlers of 1866 were: Chas. Thurston on sec- tion 32, Eufus Thurston on section 20, Wm. Wells on section 3, John Poster on section 20, James Bowles on section 10, Aretas H. and Wm. H. Armstrong on section 26, John Devlin and Wm. Hoover on section 14, Francis and Hugh Eeynolds section 10 and 11, Geo. Eice section 22 and Eli Waite on section 14. In 1857, came John and Miles Porter to section 25, John Jessup and John M. ilead to section 83. About the same time came Owen and Peter McAllen to section 8, Leman Pratt to section 24, Alfred Waite to section 22, Alfred T. Eussell and J\Iicheal Eussell came in 1862. During the early sixties came, also, John C. Thompson, John Hughes, E. L. Fogg, Patrick Eussell, Andrew L. Thompson, Herman Zem- pel, John Schwartz, James Cooling, John De- lany, John Anderson. July 8, 1857, townships lOG and 107 were set oii by the County Commissioners from Waton- wan as a separate election precinct, under the name of "Ceresco"" and S. F. Barney, Isaac Slocum and Benjamin Pease appointed Judges of election. At the election held October 13. following, at the cabin of Wm. Wells, sixteen votes were cast, seven Democratic and nint Eepublican. The first town election was held at the house of \A'm. Wells in section three on May 11, 185s. Lincoln (or Fox Lake as it was then called) was attached to Ceresco until 1805. for administrative purposes. The first officers elected by the combined towns were: Super- visors, Isaac Mlocum, Chairman, James Wilson and A. B. Barney; Clerk, C. A. Kompft'er. Assessor, J. C. Tibbil; Collector, Wm. Wells; Justices, J. C. Tibbil and E. M. Tolbert; Over- seer of the poor, Oliver Pease; Constables W. D. Gray and Isaac Bundy. The first marriage was that of A. B. Barney to Mary Wrightson on December 27, 1859. Th(. first school was taught by Miss Hattie Kings- ley in a private house in District thirteen dur- ing the summer of 1859. The first religious services were conducted in the summer of 1861, at his own home in section 22, by Jacob Bur- gess. The services were continued that season by ^h: Burgess at his house and in a nearby grove. Services were thereafter held from time to time by different denominations at the school liouses. A Union Sunday School was main- tained during the summer months from 1865 tc 1870, in a vacant log house west of A. J. Wey- mouth's residence in the north part of the tuwE of which Mr. Weymouth was superintendent Sunday schools were also held at various othei periods in school houses, particularly Nos. 13 and 14. About 1868, the Germans began settling the south end of Ceresco. Among the first wert John Schwartz, John Webster, Herman Zempel Both, August Bethke, Wm. Vaudrey 234 HISTORY OP BLtJE EARTH OOTJNTY. G. L. Klatt, Daniel Kopischke and August Gens, all of whom resided there in the spring of 1871. These all worshipped at a Lutheran church, which had been built in the northeast corner of section two, Pleasant Mound. In 1883, this church began the erection of a paro- chial school building across the road from the 1808. During the summer of 1908, a very fine new school house was erected by the members of District ISTo. one of the German Evangelical Lutherans St. John's congregation, on this site. It is 30x40 feet with a high basement under the whole and a belfry 6x8 feet in front. It has an excellent heating plant and is well equipped with all the furnishings of a first class school room. The building cost about $2,600 and there are 70 to 90 children in attendance. Prof. H. C. Bode is the present principal. About the spring of 1890, a new Lutheran church was started by the Germans residing in the vicinity of the juncture of the towns of Ceresco and Pleasant Mound in Blue Earth County with Fielden and Antriem in Watonwan County, and in June of this year Fredrick Arndt sold to August Gens, Wilhelm Arndt, and August Grieger as trus- iees of the "German Evangelical Lutheran Trin- jly Church" a building lot in the southwest corner of section thirty-one, Ceresco. Here a good sized chapel and parsonage were erected during the year, which was the first church in Ceresco. In 1901, a much larger and finer church edifice, adorned with a high steeple, was erected beside the old building, and the latter converted into a parochial school house. The new building is labeled "Evangelical Lutheran Dreieinig Kelts Kirche"' and the pastor in charge is Eev. A. Messerlie. In the spring of 1898, another German Lutheran church belonging to a different synod was organized, with eighteen members, under the name of "Evangelical Luth- eran Zion C'ongregation of U. A. C. in Ceresco." A tract of land for the church and parsonage was secured from Ferdinand Blode, in the southeast corner of section 31, being just one mile east of the other church. Here a house of worship was erected in 1898, and a good sized parsonage the following year. The first board of trustees were August Gens, Emil Wiese, and Gustav Mortz. The first pastor was Eev. Eugene Ahl, who served three years. He was succeeded for two years by Eev. Eudolph Bug- feld; then Eev. Emil Gillmann served for three and a half years and was followed by the pres- ent incumbent. Pastor Johannes Kroeger. Au- gust Zenk is now one of the trustees with Au- gust Gens; Carl Frank is treasurer, and Fred- rick Bloede Secretary. A parochial school' is maintained in connection with this church.- In the northwest corner of the town a num- ber of Irish families located quite early. They as a rule are members of the Catholic Church at iladelia. Near the center of the town are grouped a few American families. Eeligious services were maintained among them ofE and on at school ho'use jSTo. forty-four. In 1901, a town hall was built on the Frank Thurston farm in section t-wenty-one, and meetings were then held at this hall. After a season of special services, conducted by Eev. C. E. Neil, State Evangehst of the Christian denomination, a church was organized in February, 1905, with twenty mem- bers. Until September, 1907, Eev. F. M. Lin- denmeyer was its pastor and since then Eev. Brofl'n, being in the same circuit as the Chris- tian churches of Louisville and Willow Creek. H. 0. Thompsoii is elder of the church and superintendent of its Sunday School. Frank Thurston and John Scott are the deacons and Geo. Cooling is on the church board. All the services are held in the town hall. In 1876, a Fourth of July celebration was held in the grove on J. C. Thompson's farm, and other celebrations of like character have been observed off and on in the town. Grange and Alliance organizations were formed there in their day. In 1888, a post office was estab- lished there, named "Ceresco" with Michael Bussell as postmaster. It was maintained until superceded by the Rural Free Delivery sys- tem about 1905. Madelia, Lake Crystal, Blaine and Myrna af- forded mail facilities in the years gone by. H. 0. Thompson was mail carrier between Ceresco and Vernon from the fall of 1892, for six and one-half years, for the first three years of which time the mail was tri-weekly and for the bal- ance of the period, daily, except Sunday. Dur- HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COtTNTY. i^yj ing this long period Mr. Thompson never missed a single trip. The town has five good school houses and some of the hoys and girls have taken promi- nent places in educational and business circles. James Russell is editor of "Marquette Mining Journal" and mayor of the city, ililes Porter is attorney at Mankato. June 5, 1880, the tovi^n was visited by a se- vere wind storni, which tore Daniel Kopischke's house in pieces, injured more or less three of tlfe school houses, and blew down many barns, sheds and fences. In 1898, Mr. and Mrs. H. 0. Thompson started the manufacture of cheese in their granary. They were so successful that soon they had more than they could do. March 37, 1901, a stock company was organized under the name "Ceresco Cheese Company." The incor- porators were: Julius Kopischke, John R. Ko- bles, Chas. Russell, Frank Thurston, Gardner Mead, H. 0. Thompson, R. Bergman, George Cooling, Wm. Rieve and Thos. Rooney. This company bought out Mr. Thompson and built a large factory in a more central locality. In 1903, the company sold out to Mr. Charter, the cheesemaker, who is the present owner. The town has a fraternal organization (jailed "Equit- able Fraternal Union" which holds regular meet- ings at the town hall. The Willow Creek Telephone company sup- plies the town with this modern rural con- venience. ROSTER OF ENLISTED MEN FROM CERESCO AND LINCOLN IN CIVIL WAR. Beasley, David B., Co. E, 9tli Regt. Bowman, Thos., Co. K, 1st Art. Bundy, Willis G., Co. C, llth Reg. Burnett, William H., Co. B, Br. Bat. Davis, Jr., James, Co. K, 1st Art. Foster, George, Co. D, Br. Bat. Foster, Thos., Co. H, 2nd Reg. Le Fever, Adolph, Co. M, 1st Art. Lieberg, Eberhart R., Co. H, 4th Reg. Pro. Captain. Mumford, James, Co. B, Br. Bat. Nicholson, Andrew, J., Co. C, 11th Reg. Pomeroy, Chas. M., Co., 11th Reg. Rew, Ray G., Co. K, 1st Art. Sergeant, John H., Co. B, Br. Bat. Simon, Peter, Co. C, 11th Reg. Stark, M. Henry, Co. E, 9th Reg. Stuts, Henry, Co. B, Mt. Rangers. Wilson, James, Co. C, 11th Reg. DANVILLE. Danville, situated in the extreme southeast corner of the county, is intersected by the Big Cobb river, which meanders in many a curve almost diagonally through it, having along its banks a narrow belt of fine timber. It was the first town surveyed in the county. The first settler, it is claimed, was Hector Sharp, who located on section 27, in May 185G. The following June came Nicholus J. Kremer, Francis and Bernard Phillips, Geo. Mosser, and Michael Schaller and made claims in sections 37, 34, and 35. They built a small log cabin on the PhiUips claim in section 34, where they all batched together during this first summer. The Kremers were from Fon-du-Lac, ^\'is., the Phillips and Mosser were from Erie, N. Y., and Schaller from Illinois. Mr. and ilrs. Francis PhiUips, Sr., joined them in September, and in October, 185G, John Xremer, Sr. and wife and their sons, Peter, J. P. and John arrived. All made claims and all for a few months occupied the same cabin. In October, 1856, came, also, Wm. Larabee and his son, Samuel Larabee and wife and their four children. About the same time came Nelson Gra}-, W. and Isaac Sherman, Noadiah W. Towne, Amos and Elijah Cham- bers, Robert H. and John Rogers and Geo. Lamphier. In 1857, Wm. Mack, Lucius Dyer, Frank A. ^Vagner, Samuel and Stephen Larabee, Benj. Hopewell, Josiah Rogers and others set- tled in the town. In 1858, came R. N. Kenward, in 1859, Francis and Benjamin Latourell, Timothy Bums, John P. Eschbach. July 9, 1856, the town was set off with the present towns of Mapleton, and Sterling as one voting precinct under the name of Mapleton. When on April 6, 1858, the County Commis- sioners undertook to name every township in the county; Danville was called "Jackson''" and the present ''Mapleton" called "Sherman." The latter name was probably in honor of either Wm. Sherman a prominent early settler, who then lived on the farm afterwards owned by James McBroom, or of Asa Sherman a pioneer of Mapleton. Soon after this Lucious Dyer, who was then 23(5 HlSTOfiY 0^ BLUE EARTH COtTNTY. a resident of Danville, • became a member of the County Board, and on October 14, 1858, he had the name changed to "Danville," after his old home in Vermont. May 18th, 1858 was held the first town meet- ing and the following ofEicers chosen: Supervi- sors, Lucius Dyer, Chairman, Benjamin Hope- well- and Samuel Larabee; Clerk, N. J. Kre- mer; Assessor, Hector Sharp; Justices, Samu- el Larabee and A. A. Sanborn, Sr., Contables, Stephen L. Larabee and A. A. Sanborn Jr. The first birth was that of Mary, a daugh- ter of Prancis A. and Helena Wagner. She was born in May, 1857, and while the parents were living in a tent on their first arrival upon their claim in section 26. The first death is said to have been Mrs. John Kremer, Sr., March 10, 1857, connected with her death and burial are a few incidents which illustrate some of the hard- ships of pioneer life in Danville. The nearest doctor was at Mankato 25 miles away, and, when Mrs. Kremer's sickness became serious, Mr. Mycue, was dispatched there after Dr. McMahan. '^.''he weather was extremely cold and the snow very deep. The good doctor mounted his pony and started back with the messenger at once. Upon the prairies of Medo they were overtaken by a severe blizzard and lost their way. Being too cold to ride they wallowed through snow drifts all night on foot and the doctor lost his overshoes and almost perished with the cold. When finally he and Mycue reached the Kremer cabin the patient was too far gone to be much helped by medicine. When a few days later, she died there was no priest nearer than Mankato to officiate at the funeral, and no cemetery in which to enter the remains. It was therefore decided to take the body to Mankato, that it might be given proper Christian burial. The weather had now taken a sudden change. The snow was melting fast and the streams were all swollen over their banks. In crossing the Little Cobb the wagon car- rying the remains got beyond its depth and the wagon box with the coffin in it fioated down the stream, while the horses with the gearing part of the vehicle and the driver managed by swimming to reach the opposite bank. In the meantime E. Mycue, John Deubler and others ran down the stream and got a rope, poles, and a raft from some Indians and pushing out into the torrent managed to catch the floating box, which still held the casket, and dragged it to the north bank, where it was again put on the running gear. The funeral cortege now preceded on its journey and after many other adventures final- ly reached Mankato, and Mrs. Kremer's remains deposited in their last resting place. Michael SchaUer and Mary A. Phillips were the first couple married, but their marriage was solemnized at Mankato by father Sommerisen. Q'^he first marriage solemnized in Danville, it is claimed, was K. J. Kramer to Miss Eliza- beth Wagner in July, 1861. Some claim that the first religious ' services were held by Eev. James Cornell in 1857 at the house of Isaac Sherman in section 20, others think it was conducted by Father Sommerisen at the log house of John Kramer, Sr., in June, 1858. If the date of the meetings at the Sherman home is correct (and there is strong reason to be- lieve it is) then of course they were the first. Beginning about 1859 Father Sommerisen of Mankato began holding services at regular in- tervals at the houses of John Kremer, Sr., and John P. Eshbach and a Catholic congregation formed. In the spring of 1865 a Catholic ehm-ch building was erected on section 23. Very little grain crop was raised in 1857, but that little was completely destroyed by a hailstorm. The first postoffice in the town was estaiblished in 1857 at the house of Francis Phillips in section 34, and was designated "Franklin." Mr. Phillips was the postmaster. In the spring of 1859 this office was moved just over the line into Faribault County. The main stage road in those days between Owa- tonna, Wilton and Blue Earth City passed through section twenty-five and thirty-five of Danville and was much traveled. Wm. M. Larabee kept a log hotel on this road just south of the Cobb crossing in the Northeast quarter of section 35, and often this hostelry was more than crowded. Squire Larabee, also, for a number of years dispensed justice in the community. In those days Danville had a legal light, HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 237 who claimed jurisdiction over matters of divorce and he issued one or two such decrees and then married one of the women. Later one of the spouces, who had thus been deprived of a wife, returned and there was trouble for both court and clients and the Danville divorce court sus- pended business. There were numerous scraps and misunder- standings which served to keep the neighborhood from stagnation. The two main causes of fric- tion were claim jumping and selling liquor to Indians. About 1859 one John Burns was shot at and slightly wounded by a Winnebago Indian, whom it is claimed he had filled with too much fire water. The Indian was taken to Mankato and boarded and lodged a few weeks at the county's expense and then was permitted to escape. Dr. James McDuff was a prominent charac- ter in the town in those early days. His prin- cipal claim to fame as a disciple of Eschalapeus seems to have rested on his prescriptions to allay Indian thirst. In the fall of 1859 he was ar- rested for alleged violation of the Indian liquor law, but was also permitted to escape from St. Peter. Another character named Capt. Shing- les took his ox team to Mankato to get a load of Dr. McDuff's favorite medicine, but when returning through the Winnebago Agency he suddenly and completely disappeared, with his oxen, wagon and load, and nothing of them was ever found and many suspected foul play. During the Indian outbreaks of 1862 Danville, because of its proximity to the Winnebagoes, was in much danger and terror for many days. Most of the women and children were sent to Owatonna and points east. The men formed into companies of home guards and, with such women and children as remained, gathered to- gether usually in the houses of Wm. Larabee and James McBroom. The Sunday after the burning of 'Nev Ulm, 130 persons took refuge in the latter's cabin. Pickets were stationed each night, and every move of the Winnebagoes closely scrutinized, and their daily antics gave rise to a succession of war rumors. A squad composed of Peter Kremer, John Deubler, E. J. Myeue, David Craig and two or three others spent one or two nights doing picket duty at the Winnebago Agency, where the main body of the Indians were congregated. But beyond many a scare, Danville suffered no harm from the savages. In September, 1863, Felson Gray was ap- pointed Captain of the Danville Militia. He took a prominent part in the pioneer politics of the county and, besides serving on the county and town boards, and being commander in chief of the Danville war department, he, also, sat for some years as Judge of the tribe of Dan- ville. In February, 1864, the town was thrown into great excitement over the killing of John Gill, one of its most prominent citizens, by one Levi Matthews of Medo, in a quarrel over a tract of tim- ber in the latter town. A crowd of armed men from Danville went into Medo and arrested Matthews and there were threats of lynching, but wiser counsel finally prevailed, and the ac- cused was delivered to the authorities at Man- kato. There Matthews was exhonerated on the ground that the shooting was in self defense. But so bitter was the feeling against him on the part of Gill's relatives and friends, that he soon left the country. In May, 1863, Austin Maxton of Danville was killed by lightning as he was driving along the highway. In May and June, 1862, many immigrants settled in the town and about all the government land was taken. In the spring of 1864, a post office called 'Tlomestead" was established at the home of James McBroom, who was made its post- master. The name was soon changed to "Sher- man." In 1867, Barney Cooper succeeded Mc- Broom, and the office removed to his house in section 9, where it remained until 1869, when it was suspended. A year or two later it was rein- stated and Mr. McBroom again put in charge. It continued at his home until March, 1897, when it was discontinued. About July, 1876. a new post office called 'T»anville" was established with Henry Sterne- nagle as postmaster. In September, 1879, Ster- nenagle was succeeded h\ .Tnhn Laurish and the office removed to his home in section 1. In Marcli. 1886. Mr. Laurish resi,gned and Chas. Kline was appointed his successor, but in the summer of 1891, the latter sent in his resigna- 238 lilSTOEY OF BLUE EAIITH COUNTY. tion. Eatlier than have the office discontinuecl Mr. Laurish accepted a second appointment in September, 1891, and kept it until January, 1897, when Ira Moore, who had just opened a small store near the Star Creamery was appoint- ed postmaster. Here it remained four or five years, when it was discontinued by reason of the free delivery system. In the early sixties Danville had two or three preachers among its inhabitants, who held ser- vices occasionally in the town, but had no regu- lar charges. Eev. John Kellet, was a Wes- leyan Methodist, who came to the town with his son-in-law, James McBroom, in the fall of 1860, and died there about 1868. About 1863, Eev. Egbert L. Smith, located on section 30 and remained four or five years. He was then a young man beginning to exercise his talents as a minister of the M. E. Church, and preached in Danville and vicinity. He after- wards became quite prominent and was made a presiding elder in his church. His brother-in- law, Eev. Abner C. Waleott located on section 20 about the same time. He, also, was just beginning to preach and practiced occasionally on Danville congregations. Wo protestant Eng- lish speaking church was formed, however. About 1866 to' 1870, a large number of Ger- man 'Lutherans and German Methodists settled in the town. Eeligious services began to be held by each denomination in private hous2s about as early as 1867. The Lutherans erected their first church this year (1870) on the north- west comer of section 34, the deed for their church lot being dated March 16, 1871, and the trustees at the time were: Eobt. Degner, Carl Hubert and Wm. Tolzmann. The society was in- corporated April 3, 1876, under the name "Ger- man Evangelical Lutheran St. John's church of U. A. C. in Danville." The first minister of this church was Eev. Arnard. October 18, 1885, the present church building was erected on the site of the old chapel- and -dedicated on October 18, 1885, with great joy, and' a picnic dinner and supper were served to the great crowd in attend- ance at the ceremonies. Eev. Schultz preached the dedication sermon. It is a fine large build- ing, capable of seating about- 400 people and cost over $3,000. Its spire is eighty feet high. A good parsonage had been constructed prior to this date, and the old church was converted into a parochial school building. The German Methodists erected their first meeting house about 1869 or 1870. Their deed for the two acres in the southwest quarter of southwest quarter of section 11 used for the church and parsonage, is dated January 22, 1872, and runs from Martin Hubner to John Kaus, Conrad Kaus, Henry Kaus, John Schmidt, Wm. Conrad and P. Plageman as trustees. The parsonage was erected in the summer of 1881. The legal organization of the church occurred Oct. 4, 1874. The first class was formed by Eev. J. C. Jahn of Mankato. The resident pas- tor 'was G. Gebbard. The Sunday school was started early in the seventies with C. Kaus as superintendent. The present superintendent is Ered Lentz. The first church building was destrojred by lightning in 1896. When the second edifice was being constructed it was demolished by a wind storm. Fortunately it was well insured and the present large and well constructed building was erected the same year, (1897). The membership of the church has suffered much from removals, but is still a large and influential body. For some years the church has been yoked with Mankato in pastoral ser- vice. During the seventies and the eighties Fathers Venn, Fox and Bauman ministered to the Dan- ville Catholic- church. Terms of parochial schools were held at the home of T. Sullivan and at the church. In April, 1879, Father Yenn organized in the parish a temperance society with Pat- rick Feeney president, Thos. Gary, vice presi- dent, Patrick Murray, Cor. Secy., and Timothy Sullivan, Sr. Treasurer. About 1884 or 1885, the church was moved to Minnesota Lake just over the south line of the town, where a very fine church edifice has been erected. During the seventies the grange movement was very active in Danville. C. Kaus was mas- ter of the first lodge. For a number of years goods were purchased by its patrons of the Grange Supply House at Chicago. While Dan- ville has no village within its borders, yet the townsitc of Minnesota Lake adjoins the center , "» TMe «61> JACKtT UftuueY- HISTOEY OP BLUB BAETH COUNTT. 239 of its southern line and some of the residences of the village overflow into its border. This village gives the town the full benefit of a near market and- railway facilities. On the south line of Danville upon the north bank of Minnesota Lake stands a picturesque old windmill, without a mention of which no history of the tovni would be complete. Octag- onal in shape, medieval in design, its wooden sides covered with shingly scales, its arms huge and specter like, and its grotesque figure all battered and blackened by age, it stands, a bit of Holland on an American landscape. Eoman- tic as is the old mill, its story is still more so. Gottlieb Shostag was a queer little Dutchman, full of excentric notions, yet possessed of certain kind of inventive and mechanical ingenuity. In' the early sixties he lived near Hoosier Lake, two or three miles back of Mankato. There he built a small mill, which he operated by windpower. It was not a great success. The log carrier was built so small, that all logs of any size had to be split in two before they would fit on it. Then when the wind blew a good gale, the little mill would work furiously, but as soon as the breeze died away, which often happened in the woods, the mill would suddenly balk. Disgusted with the antics of his wind-sawmill, he went far out on the prairie on the banks of Minnesota Lake and built him a wind grist mill. He did all the work himself, even to cutting the burrs from prairie boulders. This was in 1864. The mill is forty feet in diameter at the base and tapering to a diameter of twenty-five feet at a height of forty feet. Each of the four arms is thirty-five feet in length, hewn from a solid oak timber ten inches square at the base and six inches at the tip. For many years it supplied a large number of the pioneers with flour, but, with the advent of the roller mills, it lost prestige and was reduced to the rank of an ordinary feed mill. In the good old days Shostag was in the habit of telling his custom- ers, "If God makes the wind blow I will grind your grist tomorrow. If He don't, then I wait until He does make it blow." One evening back in the seventies he was visiting with two of his old cronies, who like himself, were firm believ- ers in the devil and witchcraft. Among other things they told an ancient tale of the father- land to the effect that the devil sometimes got into a mill in the form of a black rabbit, and if he once got out of the mill again he never could reenter it, until some one other than the owner crossed its threshold. This bit of super- stition from the Ehine and the Zuder Zee, ^vitli the stories told by his friends in confirmation of it, made a deep impression on Mr. Shostag. Then it happened as he was walking home in the dusk of the evening, Lo! and behold a black rabbit ran across his path and disappeared under the mill. The next morning the mill broke down and for days everything went wrong, a sure proof that "The devil indeed was in the mill." But after keeping close watch for a fortnight _ Shostag saw the black rabbit run out from under the mill and disappear in a clump of _ bushes. "There," he shouted, "I've got the devil out of the mill." ISTow that he was rid of his Satanic majesty, our friend was determined he should never again re-enter his property. So for thirty years, and until Mr. Shostag's death, no living person was permitted to enter the mill but himself. He carried every grist in and out alone, and made all repairs himself. Signs were put up in English and German forbidding any person to enter the mill on pain of death, and many an inquisitive rogue, who off and on attempted it, barely escaped a broken pate from the irrate little Dutchman. The dilatory habits of the little mill and the oddities of its owner were often quite exasperat- ing to many a patron. For instance, once on a hot July day Mr. Mycue drove his span of colts with two bags of corn to the mill, expecting of course, to get it ground at once, as he was out of food. But when the colts saw the mill with its huge revolving arms thev were fully con- vinced not only that the devil was in the mill, but that the mill itself was the devil, and that he was n'ust lifting his wings to fly. Conse- quentlv thev could not he induced to get nearer than a quarter of a mile of it. Mvcue there- fore had to tie them to the wagon and carry the hags on his back throusrh the hot sun the rest of the wav. When he had got the last bag on the platform in front of the mill door, and 240 HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. hunted up the little miller, he asked how soon he could get the corn ground. "I think I get him ground in a month, if God make the wind blow," was the cool response. Then there was something doing and Mycue was going to burn the mill, but finally he changed his mind and carried the corn back again to the wagon and went in quest of another mill. At another time two men from Waseca County brought grists to the mill and being likewise disappointed in getting them ground they passed two or three log chains clear around the mill and hitched their teams to it to pull the devil invested mill into the lake, and the little dutchman had to protect his property with a shot gun and there was a lively time on the border of Danville. Then one day when the miller chanced to go on a visit to a neighboring village some niis- chievous boys broke into the mill, climbed up under the roof and hung outside through some port holes under the eves a circle of odd look- ing flags, and the little dutchman did not dare enter his mill for a week lest he should meet Old Nick. The queer old miller, however, has gone the way of all the earth, but the old mill still stands on the Danville border a monument of the days of long ago. Danville today is a very thrifty town with well tilled farms and excellent buildings. Janu- ary 24, 1896, the Star Creamery was organized with Andrew Knutson, president, Wm. Bor- chart, secretary, Alexander Latourell, Thos. Cary and Barney Olson directors. The cream- eries at Minnesota Lake and Mapleton have, also, a number of Danville patrons. The Latourell grove and other groves along the Cobb have been the scene of many a church, school and Fourth of July picnic. The Dan- ville schools have supplied the legal and educa- tional walks of life with young men and women of fine ability, like C. J. Laurish of Mankato, John and Walter McBroom and others. The daily mail delivery and the telephone are every- where to be found, and this remote corner of the county is secluded no more. The following is the roster of the men from this town who enlisted in the Civil War: Bentley, Anson, Co. H, 4tli Keg. Bentley, Oscar A. Bock, Christian, Co. F, 3rd Reg. Bossard, Henry, Co. K, 1st Art. Brainard, L. F., Co. K, 1st Art. Burns, Patricia, Co. B, 2nd Inf. Canright, John E., Co. J, 1st Heavy Art. Carver, Samuel H., Co. Iv, 1st Hy. Art. Clark, Alonzo, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Craig, Ambrose, Co. H, Mt. Rangers. Craig, Leonard, Co. H, Mt. Rangers. Eschbach, Louis, Co. 6, 2nd Inf. Frederick, Jacob D., Co. K, 1st Hy. Art. Ferdon, Wm. H., Co. 2nd Cav. Grey, Nelson, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Hopewell, John, Co. H, 2nd Cav. Huzzy, John D.. Co. H, Mt. Rangers. Jacobs, Philo, Co. C, 11th Reg. Kremer, John, .Co. E, 2nd Cav. Kimpton, John J., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Larabee, John, Co. H, 4th Inft. Latourell, John W., Co. B, Mt. Rang. Latourell, Alexander, Co. B, Mt. Rang. Latourell, Benj., Co. C, 11th Reg. j^awson, Floyd, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Mack, Dolphin, Co. F, 3rd Minn. Mills, Milton F., Co. G, 1st H. A. ilcDuflf, James, Co. H, 3rd Minn. Nash, James H., Co. B, Mt. Rang. Phillips, Xavier, Co. D, 1st H. A. Rogers, Josiah, Co. B, Mt. Rang. Root, Geo., Co. C, 11th Reg. Rogers, Geo. W., Co. B, Mt. R. Sartwell, Lorain, Co. C, 11th Reg. Shellenberger, John, Co. C, 11th Reg. Sherman, Isaac, Co. H, 2nd Inf. • Stephens, Frank, Co. H, 3rd Reg. Smith, Myron T., Co. C, 11th Reg. Terwilliger, F. M., Co. H, M. R. Terwilliger, E. S., Co. H, Mt. Rg. Ulman, Peter, Co. E, Mt. Rg. DECOEIA. Decoria was first so christened by the County Commissioners on April 6, 1S5.S. The name is of French origin but comes to us from the Winnebago Indians. It is found designating towns in Wisconsin and luwa, where this tribe of Indians formerly resided, and has a very interesting history. Sabrevoir De Carrie was an officer of the French army in 1699, and Hopockaw, the daughter of a principal Winnebago chief, whom he married in 1729, is spoken of by Carver, as "The Queen of the Winnebagos." Their son Chonkeha (Spoon), bom about 1830, was known to the whites as "Spoon Dekaury." After being made chief, he became the leader of attacks on the Chippewa during a war with the Winne- bagos, but he maintained friendly relations with the whites. It was principally through his in- fluence that the treaty of June 3, 1816, at St. HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUXTY. 241 Louis Mo. was brought about. He died at Por- tage, Wis. that same year leaving six sons, and five daughters. Konoka (Eldest) Dekaury, his eldest son and successor, v^as born in 1747. He is often called "Old Dehawry." His band usu- ally camped at the portage of the Wisconsin river, the present site of Portage, Wis. Mrs. Kinzie describes him as "The most noble, dignified and venerable of his ovpn, or indeed of .any other tribe. Always courteous, while his dress was always neat and unostenta- tious. He signed the treaty of Prairie Du Chien August 19, 1825, on behalf of the Winne- bagos, and died on the Wisconsin river, April 20, 1836." "Other members of the family, whose name has been variously written, DeKaury, De Kauray, Day Kaury, Day Korah, Dacorah, and De Corrah, were noted. From Chonkeka's daughters, who married white men, are descend- ed several well Imown families of Wisconsin and Minnesota." Charles H. Sparks in his "History of Winne- shiek County, Iowa" of which Decorah is the county seat, written in 1877, has this to say of one of the hereditary chiefs of the Winne- bagos, descended from ' the French De Carrie : "Wachon Decorah, after whom two of our inland cities are named (Waucon and Decorah, Iowa) was another principal chief. By the whites he was more familiarly called "One Eyed Decorah" having lost an eye. He, too, was a natural orator, and in his speeches would fre- quently boast that he had white blood in his veins. There were three brothers of the De- corahs, all men of distinction in their nation." This chief and the tribe aided the whites in the Black Hawk War, 1833. Five years later the Winnebagos were removed from Wisconsin to northeastern Iowa, thence in 1848, to Long Prairie, Minn., thence to Blu-e Earth County in 1855, thence in 1863, to South Dakota, and thence in 1866 to ISTebraska. A prior chief of the same name (probablv the father of Wachon Decorah) died in Decorah, Iowa, when the Winnehngos lived there, and in 1876, his remains were removed to and buried in the Court House square. It seems that Waukon Decorah survived all these removals and was still living in 1877 "a chief greatly respected by his tribe, an old man, considerably bent over, with one eye put out, and his hair very gray." He was probably of the third or fourth generation from the French officer De Carrie. He lived in Blue Earth County eight years and with him two other prominent chiefs of the same family called by tbe whites "Little Decorah" or "Decoria" and "Tall Decoria." The town is wedged in between the timbers of the Big Cobb and the Le Sueur, bath of which rivers pass along its borders. As it lay wholly within the Indian reserva- tion it was not open to white settlers, until the lands were placed upon the market in 1864, about a year after the removal of the Winne- bagos. It was the last town in the County ta be settled and the last to be organized. The first settler was Joshua Ady, who purchased lands in sections 2 and 3 and moved his family to a log house thereon January 1, 1865. Mr. Ady for many years had been employed by the government as blacksmith at the Winnebago Agency, and came with the Indians to Blue Earth County in 1855. When the administra- tion changed in 1861, he lost his position for political reasons, and settled on a claim in Man- kato Township, whence he removed to Decoria. .\dy was followed in a few weeks by his brother- in-law, Frank Kennedy, who settled on section 3. Before moving to Decoria, Kennedy and his family occupied for a time a log house, which one Jackson had built just north of the Decoria line. This Jackson was married to a half breed Winnebago woman, who had a little education, and taugbt school among the Indians. Jackson ran the Van Brunt mill for the Indians for a season or two. He, also, had a few acres of land under cultivation. When the Indians de- parted, Jackson and his family went with them. In those days there was quite a large Indian cemetery on B. H. Gerlich's farm about 100 rods west of his present residence. ISTeat picket fences surrounded many of the graves, the point of each picket painted black. AVhen the settlers came one of them appropriated these fences to OHclose his garden. There were then a number of such fenced Indian graves over Decoria. On Mr. Kennedy's farm there were two 242 TTISTORY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. graves, one large and one small, each with a log hut over it. They stood at the head of a ravine. Each hut had a «mall door, from which a series of steps led down the side of the ravine to a copious spring of cool 'water at the bottom, A small slab of split wood had been fitted to each step. It was intended for the use of the spirits in going back and forth to the spring. When the larger grave was opened some 3'ears later, beside the skeleton of the Indian war- rior were found a rusty gun, a tomahawk, a pipe and other Indian accoutrements. Other settlers of Decoria prior to June 1, 1865 were: John S. Larkin on section 7, Jacob Muntschinck on section 1, Samuel D. Brown, Wm. Autry and John Rhodes. During 1865, came, also, S. Quimby Larkin, Asa McCullom, Abram Marble, Geo. Todd and maybe one or two others. The year 1866, saw a number of new settlers locating here. Among them A. H. Matteson, D. W. Burlison, Henry Wikox, Charles Eundquist and Calvin Smith. Other early settlers of the town were W. A. Sellers, John Eoerig, S. J. Mace, Geo. McKee, Wm. Waddell, B. H. Gerlich, Henry Webber and John Maloney. The town was first attached to Eice Lake precinct, and then Mankato, for administrative purposes. When application was made to have the town organized there was some talk of changing its name to "Ady" or some other name, but the majority favored the old name and on Septem- ber 19, 1867, the County Board on petition of Joshua Ady and others, created the town of "Decoria" and appointed the first town meet- ing to be held at the house of John Larkin on October 8, 1867. At this meeting the following officers were elected: supervisors, A. H. Matteson, chairman, Jacob Munschinck and J. S. Larkin; clerk, William Larkin; treasurer, Charles Eundquist; justices, A. H. Matteson and Joshua Ady; con- stables, A. S. Kingery and M. Smith. June, 1868, a new postoffice was established called 'TDecoria," with John S. Larkin as post- master, and the office was kept at his home on N.W. 14 of section 28 for the first year and tben removed to the home of Geo. Todd, where it remained until discontinued in 1875. June 23, 1868, two school districts were organized in Decoria by the County Commis- sioners — Ko. 116 on petition of John Eoerig and others and Ko. 117 on petition of D. W. Burlison and others. The first school was taught in Ko. 116 by Prances Herrick in the summer of 1870, in a frame building erected for the purpose on section 35. The first religious service is said to have been a sermon preached' by Eev. Kidder, a Uni- versalist minister from Indiana, in the summer of 1867, at the home of S. T. Mantor. Occa- sional services were conducted thereafter about every year, but no church was formed until 1887, when a German Lutheran Church was organized, and a church edifice erected that year. This church was incorporated on June 16, 1890, by the election of Adam Keller, Ern- est Truehenbach and Fred Schwanebeck as trustees — Ferdinand Herzberg and Henry Webber presiding at the meeting. The incorporated name is "German Evangelical Lutheran St. Johannes Church of Decoria." A good parson- age was built near the church, and a cemetery laid out a few rods to the south. Eev. Fisher was pastor for many years, but in July, 1904, he was succeeded by Eev. Karl Kilian. During the seventies and the eighties a num- ber of Norwegian families located along the Cobb and Le Sueur rivers, in the northwest corner of the town. They were a religious peo- ple and services were occasionally conducted among them by the Norwegian Lutheran pas- tor from Mankato. July 7, 1890, "The Nor- wegian Evangelical Lutheran LeSueur Congre- gation" was organized by Torris Gjnul, August Sundvoll, Hans Hanson and Chester Hanson. A church building -was erected about 1891, at the center of the east half of section 7, and on November 18, 1901, the church was incorpor- ated under the name of 'TDeSueur Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Decoria." Ole Andengaard, Chester Hanson and Torris F. Gjnul were chosen deacons, Anton Hoff, Henry Hanson, and Paul Erlandson,trustees. In pas- torial services the church has always been yoked to Mankato, As their first chapel was quite IIISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 243 small the church purchased the school house of district 131 in 1894, and remodeled it for their meetinghouse. Early in the nineties an English Sunday School and occasional preaching services were held at the Kennedy School house (Ko. 150), and in the fall of 189,3, quite a revival occurred under the preaching of Eev. I. Bergstrom, a Baptist minister from Mankato. A church was organized with eighteen to twenty members, and, during the summer of 1894, a fine large chapel was erected just across the line in ilankato township on the southwest corner of Section 35. Services have been maintained in this chapel with fair regularity ever since by Baptist and Congregational preachers. In the summer of 1903, the Congregational Church of Mankato sent into Decoria and vicinity a young divinity student from Yale College named Eohrbaeh. He started a Simday School and preaching service in the school house of District No. 131 of De- coria. Other students and missionaries con- tinued the work under the direction of Eev. E. L. Heermance of jMankato, and in 1907, a chapel was erected and a church of eight or nine members started on February 9, 1908, as a branch of the Mankato Congregational Church. Eev. John H. Clark has been in charge of this work for over two years. In the summer of 1873, a Grange was started in the town, which had a large membership and D. W. Burlison was made its first master. For a time it was an important institution in the town. September 11, 1875, school disctriet No. 131 was created on petition of W. Larson and others. A school house was erected that fall and the first school taught in the district dur- ing the winter of 1875-6 by Miss Jlary ]\rcCol- lum. In 1894, the district sold its first school house to the Norwegian Lutherans for a church, and erected a larger building. The town now has eight school houses. Saw mills have been operated in the town by J. D. Humiston and later by J. J. McCollum. November 5, 1SS9, a postoffice called "Lortz" was established with Henry Lortz as postmaster. At first it was supplied semi-weekly, but after April 1, 1896, it had daily mail in connection with Beauford, Henry Webber was postmaster for two or three years, but resigned in the fall of 1897, and John G-. McCollum was appointed his successor in November that year. In Janu- ary, 1902, the office was discontinued by reason of the free delivery system having been inau- gurated. In the spring of 1892, through the efforts of B. H. Gerlich and others, a stock company was formed, called "The Young Men's Investment Co. of Decoria" for the purpose of building a hall. The building was completed in June, and for some years was used for town purposes as well as social functions, but was finally sold. In 1896, a good town hall was erected in the center of the town. The Mankato and Decoria Eural Telephone Co. is a local institution of recent date, which affords many of the inhabitants the advantages of Edison's great invention. JAMESTOWN. This half township occupies the extreme north- east corner of the County. It is noted for the number and picturesqueness of its lakes. Por- tions of ^Madison, Washington, Gilfillan, and Eagle lakes are within its borders and the whole of lakes Ballantyne, Duck, George and two or three others are found within it. Blue Earth, County has about twenty-one sections or 13,440' acres of its surface covered by meandered lakes, and Jamestown, though but half a township, has the largest area so covered of any town in the county — being about 1,665 acres. The sur- face of the land is quite rolling and originally was covered with a dense forest of valuable tim- ber. The Indian name for Lake Madison was "Waukenseche" or "Waukensica" (The "Evil Spirit" or "Abundant Mystery," or "The Sac- red Shade"). The Indian name of Lake Wash- ington was "Okapah" (The Choke Cherry Lake"). Their present names were given by the government surveyors. The name "Jamestown" was suggested by Enoch G. Barkhurst in honor of the first English colony in Virginia. The town was at first included in Kasota precinct. When on April 1, 18.55, that precinct was added tn LeSueur County, Jamestown, also, was lost to Blue Earth County until June 1, 1856, when it was restored to it. 244 IlISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. Henry W. Hodges and E. George Barkhurst, who located in the town late in 1855, or early in 1856, were the first settlers. On May 16, 1856, Albert Volk, Charles Doran and Lawrence Burns, with their families, arrived at St. Peter from Harrison, Ohio and located in Jamestown. In September of the same year came Alvin P. Davis and family from Pon du Lac County, Wis. Other settlers of 1856, were: James F. Ballantyne, Hugh Carr, Paul Fasnacht,-^ Andrew C. Fowble, Eodey Cleary, John Henry, Samuel Kerlinger, Dennis L. Maher,V Theodore G. Car- ter, Owen and John Meigher,i Patrick Mulleif,^ Michael,^ Timothy.^ Thomas "and John Murtaugh, Abner Shearer, Lawrence, Margaret and Pat- rick Smith, John Spencer, James E. Stokes, John Sullivan^ Bowater Sumner, Solon Webster, Hiram Wentworth and James F. Westlake. In 1857, came Anthony/ and Martin Baynes,' Geo. Bluhm, Patrick Doyle, Henry J. Dury, Michael j Parrel, Phil McMasters, Martin Tarpeyj Wm. Brown, and others. Other early settlers were Patrick Baynes,-^ Henry Bobertson, Owen Sulli-4 van, Patrick Lyons, J Joseph Fisher, John Higgs, Owen Meighen, and Capt. P. Burke. In 1857, Alfred Howe built a steam saw mill on Section 19 between lakes "Wita" and "George." Unfortunately there was no water at the location, except by hauling it in tanks, which with the hard times, hindered the mill from making much money, and after about two years it was moved away. It was in the vicinity of an extensive grove of black-walnut, and during its operation much of that valuable lumber was manufactured, but there was then little or no market for it. Another mill in the meantime had been built at the outlet of Lake Washington, Avhich took much of the patronage from Howes' Mill. The town was created April 16, 1858, and the first town meeting held May 11, 1858, when the following officers were elected: Supervis- ors: Timothy Sullivan, chairman, Eobert Hes- lep and John Cummins; Clerk: A. P. Davis; assessor: Solon Webster; collector: Patrick Mul- len; justices: Lawrence Byrne and J. L. Bur- gess; constables: Geo. Bennett and Timothy Murtaugh. At that time Jamestown included also, all of LeEay, except the south tier of sec- tions. January 4, 1860, the whole of town 108, Eange 25 was separated from it. The first white child born in the town was Clara Thomas, born March 14, 1858. The first death, that of Mrs. Lawrence Byrne in August, 1858. The first marriage was that of Peter .Jackson to Nancy W. Ives, solemnized May 10, 1857, by Eev. A. H. Kerr of St. Peter. The first school was taught at her own home by Mrs. Sara:h M. Davis, wife of A. P. Davis, with an attendance of eleven scholars. Jamestown, like most of our towns, had its Indian tragedy. It was in the winter of 1858-9 that some Winnebagos visited St. Peter and procured liquor. On the way home they stopped at the trading post of one John Herron, which stood on the east side of the river, midway to Kasota. Here they got some more liquor and became quarrelsome. In the melee Herron struck one of the Indians with a hatchet and killed him. Soon after this, two relatives of the murdered Indian went down the trail, which in those days led straight from Winnebago Agency through Jamestown, by the outlet of Lake Washington to Kasota. When just below the outlet, they noticed a man coming down the trail wearing a white hat, which form of head- gear was characteristic of Herron. The two Indians at once concluded that this was the slayer of their relative and, making an ambush, they shot and killed him. The murdered man, however, proved to be Mr. Furnell of James- town. Having hidden the body of iheir victim, the two murderers started home, going across the lake on the ice. It happened that two Sioux Indians, while fishing at the outlet, dis- covered the murder, and lest suspicion should attach to them, they hurried to a house near the saw mill to report the matter. Only the women happened to be home, but the younger of the Sioux, who went by the name of "John," beckoned them out, and pointed to the two Indians on the lake said, "Bad Winnebagos. Kill white man." When a number of the set- tlers went to investigate the matter under the guidance of John, they found the body of Fur- nell, and a posse of armed men went at once to the Agency to arrest the murderers. The Sioux Indian, John, who was taken along for HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 245 the purpose, immediately identified the two guilty ones, but. Little Priest and his band would not surrender them unless the whites would surrender Herron to them. Por a time it looked like war between the whites and tlie Winnebagos, but at last nothing was done and the murderers went unpunished. About 1867, W. and E. Volk, under the style of Volk "Bros." put up a store, a saw mill, store, shingle and planing mill near the north line of Section 20. In 1869, they added a fur- niture factory to their plant. Later a small grist mill for grinding corn and feed was, also, added. So extensive was the plant that it was sometimes called "Volkville,'' and for a number of years did an extensive business. In 1872, L. D. Saylor purchased of Owen Edwards of South Bend the sawmill, which had formerly belonged to D. P. Davis at Cambria, and moved it to Jamestown, where it was oper- ated for a number of years. In January, 1876, Jamestown had three sawmills, one furniture factory, one gristmill, two shingle mills and one planing mill. February 22, 1880, Volk Bros.' furniture factory burned, causing a loss of $5,000 or more. The sawmill and the balance of the plant were saved. About the same time, A. B. Hough built a sawmill on Barrow's Point at the north end of Lake Madison. The town has always abounded in game and fish, and has ever been a paradise for hunters and the disciples of Isaac Walton. In June, 1872, a white pelican was shot at Lake ^^'ash- ington, which weighed 50 pounds and measured 8 feet from tip to tip of wing. During the seventies a large eagle had her nest in the top of a big elm on Stony Point, Lake Madison. Early in the seventies people at Mankato and elsewhere began to realize the advantages these beautiful lakes offered as summer resorts. Pleas- ure boats were put upon Lake Madison by Mankato parties in 1874. About 1877, or 1878 Geo. A. Clarke put up a summer hotel' on Point Pleasant which he ran until the fall of 1879, when he sold out to Jas. Parsons and Frank KroU. In 1878 C. H. Austin built a fine summer resort on the lake, to which he re- moved the following spring, and conducted the place for some years. In 1882, J. M. Barclay erected a two story hotel on Point Pleasant, which has been very popular ever since. In 1883, Point Pleasant was laid out into lots by J. M. Barclay for summer cot- tages, and a large number were sold and built upon during the eighties and nineties. In Au- gusr, 1880, a postonice called "Park" was estab- lished at the lake with C. H. Austin as post- master. The building of the Cannon Valley Eailway through the length of Jamestown in 1884, at once gave it good transportation facilities, and Madison Lake village was laid out by Chas. F. Hatch, trustee, Lewis Pitcher and Luther Z. Eogers, on January 17, 1885. During the win- ter of 1884-5 A. J. Barber put up a small building for a grocery and restaurant, and Phelps & Allyn erected a large building for a general store in the new townsite, both of which were opened in April, 1885. About the same time a hotel was erected by Patrick Mullen. In Octoher, 1885, a postoffice was established at the new village with Geo. \V. Allyn as post- master. The same fall Allyn and TuUer built a grain warehouse and, also engaged extensively in the wood business. So the village at once became quite a business center. The next year Pitcher and Alurtaugh started another store and, also, went into the wood business extensively. In the fall and winter of 1887-8 the wood ship- ping alone amounted to over ten carloads a day. About 1887, another hotel was built with A. B. Cole as landlord. A. H. Hanchett, the same year, opened another restaurant, Peter Frederick and John Kramer opened stores. D. Squires had a blacksmith shop but was soon succeeded by A. H. Hanchett. Anton Hoveland ran a sawmill, Jas. Mapes and Howard Smith were the village butchers, H. A. Hitchcock, the doctor, and J. K. Knapp the druggist. October 25, 1887, school district No. 43 voted bonds to build a new schoolhouse in the village. The building was completed by January, 1888, and the first school taught by Mr. Carr. Jamestown was mostly settled by Irish peo- ple, who believed in the Catholic faith. Just across the north line of the town, the little village of Marysburg was started in the fifties, and a Catholic chapel erected. In 1876, a much 246 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. larger church, building was constructed and here many of the people of Jamestown worship. In the fall of 1887, Eev. Hawley, the M. E. pastor at Eagle Lake, began preaching at Madi- son Lake. A Sunday school was organized with Geo. Tuller as superintendent, and soon there- after a church was formed. May, 1889, a church building belonging to the M. E. at Caro- line Station was moved to Madison Lake and fitted up for use. October 21, 1889 the corner- stone of a new Episcopal Church was laid, and on Nov. 9, 1889, the "Parish of the Good Shep- ard of Madison Lake" was formally organized. Eector, James Cornell; Wardens, J. A. Hitch- cock and L. M. Coleman, Jr.; vestrymen, Wm. Durrin, 0. G. Chapman, H. J. Luther, Geo. Breed, John Kramer, A. H. Hanchett and E. D. Harris. In Madison Lake and vicinity are located a number of German Catholics. Early in the nineties, through the efforts of Father Sutor of Mankato, a Catholic Congregation was formed at Madison Lake, — about fifty-two families be- ing interested in the project. In the fall of 1894, a Catholic Chapel was started, 40x75 feet in size. It was completed the following sum- mer and dedicated by Bishop Potter on Octo- ber 27, 1895. In 1907, a fine brick parochial school building was erected on the lot adjoining the church. The Odd Fellows and one or two other lodges are well represented in the village. December 15, 1891, Madison Lake voted to in- corporate as a village and January 5, 1882, it became an independent municipality under the following officers: trustees, T. B. Murtaugh, president, L. Pitcher and Wm. Durrin; record- er, J. K. Knapp, treasurer, W. -W. Zewell; jus- tices, J. S. Clear and J. E. Southwick. About 1892, Wm. Durrin erected a large sawmill at Madison Lake. For a number of years lumber and wood were among the chief exports of the village. During the season of 1889, Allyn & Tuller alone shipped 9,000 carloads of wood. The Durrin sawmill was burned in 1894, and again in 1901. Frank Haskell succeeded Allyn as postmaster and in turn was succeeded Jan- uary 1, 1894, by T. B. Murtaugh. Four years later Harry Maxfield was made postmaster but resigned in the spring of 1900, and Frank Has- kell was again appointed and served until Nov. 22, 1907, when he resigned and P. S. Lyons was appointed. The village has had a number of local news papers. The "Madison Lake Breeze" was started about 1892. In April, 1896, H. G. Maxfield purchased it, and changed the name to "Madison Lake Mirror." In the spring of 1900, Maxfield removed his paper to JefEers. "The Madison Lake News" , and "The Madison Lake New Era" were then published a short time. Then in March, 1904, "The Madison Lake Tribune" was started by Geo. T. Swearingen and Geo. Southwick. A private bank was start- ed about 1896, by Everett & Lewis of Water- \ille. In November, 1905, The Peoples' State Bank of Madison Lake was incorporated with a capital of $10,000 of which Geo. T. Swear- ingen is cashier. A fine bank building was erected the same year. A good village hall was erected in 1900. The village also has a cream- ery, and two rural mail routes were established April 1, 1903. The village and town are sup- plied, also, with telephone facilities. Following is the roster of the men who en- listed in the Civil War from Jamestown: Davis, A. P., Co. E, 9th Eeg't. Doyle, Patrick, Co. E, Mt. Eangers. Doran, Charles, Co. E, Mt. Rangers, j Fowble, Thos. D., Co. E, 2nd Reg't. GilfiUan, Joseph, Co. E, 9th Reg't. Howland, Math. S., Co. H, 4th Reg't. Lyons, Patrick C, Co. E, Mt. Rangers. ^ Lynch, Joseph F, Co. E, Mt. Rangers. Maher, Dennis L., Co. E, Mt. Rangers. Meighan, Owen, Co. H, 5th Reg't. Mullen, Patrick, Co. E, Mt. Rangers. / Murtaugh, Timothy, Co. E, Mt. Rangers. 4 Murtaugh, John, Co. M, 2nd Cav. O'Reilly, James, Co. M, 2nd Cav. Smith, Lawrence, Co. E, Mt. Rangers. Smith, Lawrence W., Co. B, Mt. Rangers. Smth, Joseph, Co. A, 4th Reg't. Smith, Wm., Co. E, 4th Reg't. Smith, Wm., Co. E, Mt. Rangers. Sullivan, John, Co. E, Mt. Rangers. GAEDEN CITY. This town was first called "Watonwan" after the river of that name which passes through it. We have already noted, in our history of the county, most of the facts connected with the enrly settlement of the town and hence shall pass them over hurriedly. The first actual set^ HIkSTOEY of blue earth COL'A'TY. 247 tier was S. Titus Mills and his family, who located on the east bank of Mills Lake in Sec- tion 13, in July, 1854. Other settlers of that year were Edward A. and William Washburn, Chas. N. G-ilchrist, Geo. W. Lamberton, Nini- on E. Thompson, Lucius 0. Hunt, Wm. E. Eobinson, and Samuel H. Thorn. In 1855, came James H. Greenwood, James B. Gail, Wm. E. Thompson, J. C. Thompson, Orlin J. Westover, John S. and Joseph Derby, Edson Gerry, Chas. and Arza Barney, David K. Shaw, J. N. Cheney, Joseph W. Greenwood, and Abram Lytle. Among the settlers of 1856, were: Samuel M. Eolsom, E. P. Evans, Amos Warner, Harris C. Capwell, David and James G. Thompson, A. M. Kendall, Wm. H. Austin, Frank and E. H. Thurston, Patrick Eooney, James Glynn and J. A. Preston. In 1857, came Jefferson Piper, Dr. H. Thurston, C. B. Fra- y.iiT and W. D. Smith. As stated elsewhere, the village of Garden City was first laid out in June, 1866, under the name of "Fremont" by Anthony Case, and in October, 1858, replatted as "Garden City" by Simeon P. Folsom, Amos Warner, John Dilley, Cyrus Foot, James A. Wiswell and Ed- son Gerry. Benj. H. Seabury conducted the first store in the village, in a tent, in the summer of 1856. After a few weeks he sold out to Cheeney and Harrington. About a year later C. B. Eraser opened a store there. In 1859j James Besser put up a building on the west side of the river for a store and public hall, where Besser and Thompson engaged in the mercantile business. In 1860, T. N". Boyn- ton opened a store in the village, and in 1861, John H. Bay and Daniel Williams started another mercantile establishment. In the fall of 1856, Conklin and Hoxie built the first saw mill on the Watonwan, about where that river crosses the west line of Section 32. Here was laid out the paper village of Watonwan. In Garden City two saw milk were erected in 1856-7. One by Folsom and Evans, and the other by Dilley, Warner and Capwell. In 1857, a frame hotel was constructed by Folsom and Evans, which was run for a while by Levi Scott. The big quarrel over the townsite between E. P. Evans and S. M. Folsom, of which we elfie- where spoke, worked considerable detriment to the village; still during the fifties and sixties it was a thriving business center, and even as- pired to be the county seat. In the fall of 1859, the Yankee Mills operat- ed three run of stones and two bolts in its grist department, having a capacity of 1,500 bush- els of wheat per week. In 1857, Jas. A. Wis- well opened a law office in the village, and in 1860 S. B. James hung his shingle there. In 1859, Dr. Jacob W. B. Wellcome located there. The medical profession, heretofore, had been represented by Drs. Thurston, Torrey and Case. The County Fair was first held there in Octo- ber, 1860. E. P. Evans was appointed the first postmaster in 1857. He was succeeded by James Besser. Under the republican administration in June, 1861, A. J. Jewett was made postmaster. A. most bitter fight was made against his appoint- ment by the enemies of E. P. Evans, whose nephew Jewett was. Of the part taken by the village in the Inkpadutah trouble we have al- ready written. As a result of the scare a mili- tia company was organized and maintained for a time and an armory building erected, which answered well the purpose of a town hall. Garden City was mostly settled by Americans, who had received some educational advantages, and there was often more or less brain power running to waste. Debating societies and ly- eeums were organized very early. In the winter of 1859, a mock U. S. Senate was formed and Senators chosen to represent each state in the Union. The questions of slavery, and State Eights, A Eesolution to Dissolve the Union, A Bill Ap- propriating money for the Navy, each provoked a big debate, and the real Senate at Washing- ton did not display more eloquence or vehem- ance in argument, than did Senators Baker, Evans, Potter, Thurston, Greenwood, Wellcome, Torrey, Jewett, Payne, Thompson, Clark, and others. Big Fourth of July celebrations occurred each year. When Lincoln was inaugurated Gar- den City celebrated the event with a big din- ner. A flag staff was erected in front of Boyn- ton & Thompson's hall. A flag was run up with streamers bearing Lincoln and Hamlin's 248 HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COLiJSTTY. names. Toasts were responded to by J. C. Ed- son, E. P. Evans, A. Loveland, A. J. Jewett, J. A. Wiswell, W. K. Thompson, Eev. A. Case, Dr. Wellcome, Nathan Bass and S. Cram. Then there were Military meetings, Teachers Insti- tutes, Political Conventions, donation parties, protracted meetings. Good Templar and other lodges, and singing schools taught by Bdson Gerry. In those days no one could say but Garden City was a very live town, and very much awake on all occasions. January 1, 1864, The village had three general stores: Boynton & Cheeney, Bay & Williams, and Thompson & Barney, a drug store conducted by Wellcome & Smith, a hotel, "Garden City House" with Hi- ram Perry as landlord, two steam saw mills, with a grist mill attached to one of them. There were, also, a number of blacksmith, wagon and carpenter shops, etc. We have already spoken of the creation of the election precinct of Watonwan. On May 11, 1858, the town was organized under the same name at the Garden City House, when the following officers were elected: J. A. Wiswell, chairman; W. E. Eobinson and J. H. Green- wood, supervisors; J. W. Cheney, clerk; A. M. Kendall, assessor; T. E. Potter collector; S. M. Eolsom overseer of the poor; E. E. Swan and J. W. Greenwood, justices; D. D. Hunter and William Moon constables. In February, 1864, a bill introduced by J. A. Wiswell, was passed by the Legislature changing the name of the township to "Garden City.'" At Garden City village the first hotel burned down in 1860, but was rebuilt soon thereafter by B. F. Curtis, who sold it in 1866 to E. P. Evans for $3,500.00. It had various laadlords, but Major Evans and E. T. Norton were perhaps the longest in service. A second hotel was built about 1873 by S. S. Ingram called "Watonwan House." In the fall of 1865 the Yankee Mills were sold by E. P. Evans to Andrew Friend and Thos. Quayle, who did a big business for many years. The same year -Mr. Capwell built a new grist mill on the site of the old saw mill that Dilley and Warner had built. The next year, he sold it to Loveland and Harrington. For a time T. N. Boynton "owned an interest, also. In July, 1873, the mill was bought by John A. Willard and run by D. G. Willard for some years, but in 1882 Andrew Friend purchased it, and the following year refitted it and has operated it until the present day. In 1866 Potter Bros, purchased a portable steam saw mill capable of 10,000 feet of lumber per day, which they ran for a few years. The first saw mill in the town, built by Hoxie and Conklin and the Greenwood Bros., was sold about 1860 to C. F. Butterfield, who transformed and rebuilt it as a flour mill, which for many years did a big business, until it was purchased by A. Friend in June, 1889. The mill built by S. M. Folsom in 1866-7 and oper- ated by him with much success for his brother, i)r. Henry Folsom, was located about two miles be- low Garden City village. In 1865-6 the Dustin Mill was built on the Blue Earth river on Gail's farm in the northeast corner of the town, and operated by Dustin, Holliday and Johnson, and their successors for several years. In fact, for thirty years or more. Garden City township was the mill town of our county. In the spring of 1868, Garden City Village contained three gristmills, four general stores, two drug and gro- cery stores, one hardware store, one hotel, one wagon shojD, one harness shop, one shoe shop, one tailor shop, one blacksmith shop, one cabinet shop, one newspaper, two public halls; a two story school house, with a graded school, three church organizations, and many dwellings. Among the merchants of latter date were Piper & Jones, Wm. Mason, Amos Warner, James Dunbar, Over & Clough, J. E. Neff, Thos. Glynn, Ed Nicker- son, John & Thurston, and E. E. Norton. Among the postmasters of the village since A. J. Jew- ett, have been Daniel Williams,- E. P. Evans, Chas. B. Eraser, Garrett Murphy, Lyman T. Shaw, Mrs. Lyman T. Shaw, A. M. Kendall, James S. Church, and E. E. Norton. The first paper in the village was started in October, 1867, by A. J. Manley and designated "The Garden City Herald." It was discontinued in August, 1870. The next paper was "The Garden City Messenger" started by J. L. Barlow in January, 1881, but which did not contmue HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 249 long. The last paper was the "Garden City Pro- gress/' which was first issued early in 1900 by A. I. Shaver, but suspended the following year. We have already spoken of the beginning of the public school work and religious services in the village. The log school house was super- ceded by a frame building about 1867, and a graded school started the following year. In September, 1874, a new school house was finished 30x50 feet and two stories high. For many years the Garden City schools have ranked high among the graded schools of the county. Prof. E. W. Parker for a number of years was the efficient head of the school. The Baptist Church, which ecclesiastically had been started in the fifties, was legally organized at the Farmers Hall on August 4, 1866, when the following trustees were chosen : Eliphalet Smith, Marshall Warren, and B. B. Parker. The present church building was begun jn 1867, and completed in 1868. The walls are of cement brick, which were manufactured in the village by Geist & Hentzelman, a firm from Illinois, who had just located there. The building is 33x55 feet, cost $4,100, and was dedicated on Jan- uary 17, 1869— Eev. A. Gale preaching the sermon. Eevs. A. Case, A. Gale, E. C. Sanders, and Jos. Eockwood were among the early pas- tors of the church. The M. E. Church began work at the village, as we have noted before, very early in the fifties. A class was started and regular ser- vices maintained. Various halls served as homes for the church. In the fall of 1888 the mat- ter of a church building was taken up in earn- est. On September 17, of this year. Presiding Elder Geo. E. Hair appointed the following trus- tees for the church: Amos Warner, M. Leather- man, Wm. King, Wm. Stoneman, Wm. Judd, J. H. Baker and Andrew Friend. The new church was finished and dedicated on Sept. 15, 1889. In the spring of 1898 a parsonage was built. The Christian Church was first organized in 1858 at the house of C. Detamore in Garden City township. Services were held at various places and especially at school house No. 20. In the latter eighties, services were begun in the village, and January, 1890 the church in- corporated with the following trustees : C. H. Piper, J. H. Greenwood, L. D. Mills, E. W. Gates, W. J. Osgood and A. M. Kendall. A good house of worship was erected in 1896 and dedicated on Nov. 29, of that year. A few Presbyterians and Congregationalists were united into a Presbyterian church on Dec. 1, 1866 by Eev. C. S. McElroy. This church kept in existence for a number of years, wor- shipping in halls and in the Baptist Church, but finally disbanded. An Advent Church, also, flourished in the village during the nineties but finally was obliged to give up the field. For many years the churches united in one Sab- bath School, but this plan was abandoned about 1870. April 1, 1895, a creamery was started at the village, and soon thereafter a cheese factory. In the winter of 1896-7 the ladies of Gar- den City evinced their public enterprise by giving a series of entertainments, whereby, they obtained sufficient revenue to build sidewalks in the village. The Elmore branch of the C, St. P., M. & 0. Ey was built through the vil- lage in 1S7 9, but the building of Lake Crys- tal and other towns has greatly crippled this ancient city on the Watonwan. The township of Garden City is noted not only for the number of its mills of which we have spoken, but, also, for the number of its townsites. Garden City, Watonwan 'City, Crys- tal Lake City, Lowell and Lake Crystal were all within its borders. Of all these we have spoken in our County History. At Watonwan City was located the Butterfield mills, and the postoffice rf "Watonwan," there established in 1858, and continued for many years. C. F. Butterfield succeeded J. H. Greenwood as postmaster about 1860, and Butterfield was succeeded in turn in 1881, by Mrs. Elizabeth L. Scott. The next year the name of the office was changed to "Blaine," and about 1886, Eufus Cornish be- came postmaster, and the office was moved to his house in Vernon. A. B. Barney opened a small store near the Butterfield Mill in 1864. The school house of District No. 20 is located at the same place. In this school house a Pres- byterian church was started about 1894. In May, 1895, this church purchased of Joseph H. 250 HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. Eobinson a lot and erected thereon, that sum- mer, a very neat chapel. The trustees at the time were: Isaac J. Gardner, Joseph H. Eobinson Eichard J. Julian, Jacob Jones, Nathaniel B. Code, and Wm. Stevens. It was called the "Walton Presbyterian Church." LAKE CEYSTAL. At present by far the most important village in Garden City town is Lake Crystal. Of the origin and growth of this village we have treated in the history of the county. Platted in May, 1869, by L. 0. Hunt and W. E. Eobinson, iipon the advent of the St. Paul and Sioux City railroad, it sprang into a bustling village of about 200 inhabitants the first year. It was incorporated as a village on February 24, 1870, by a special act of the Legislature, and held its first elec- tion on March 29, 1870, when 77 votes were cast. The first officers elected were: A. Schmid- lin, president; W. E. Eobinson, L. 0. Hunt, M. E. Dunn and Wm. McGillis, trustees; W. P. Marston, recorder, Henry Humphrey, Assessor; J. Simmons, treasurer; Evariste Franchere, justice; and Alonzo Frizzell, constable. On June 1, 1870, the village contained 3 general stores, 1 hardware, 1 grocery, 4 hotels, 1 drug store, 1 flour and feed store, 5 saloons, 2 lumber yards, 2 millinery, 1 cooper shop, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 shoemaker shop, 1 harness shop, 1 liv- ery, 1 meat market, 2 agricultural implement stores. The Loon Lake postofEice was moved there on September 1, 1869, and Henry liumphrey be- came its first postmaster. His successors are about as follows : C. F. Okley, Dee. 1, 1870. David Crane, Feb. 7, 1873. A. H. Smith. Owen Pritehard, Sept., 1885. Michael W. Kelley, March, 1886. Henry Humphrey, April, 1889. H. C. Howard, March, 1896. David J. Price, Oct., 1900. In August, 1882, the office became a money order office, and in Nov., 1891, it was promoted to the presidential class. Prominent among the early merchants of the village were: Henry Humphrey, W. C. Davis, W. P. Marston, C. E. Davis, Price Wickersham, J. W. Franchere, J. W. Hurlburt, P. A. Larson, T. J. Perry, Eow- lands & Eees, M. W. Kelley, Crane Bros., P. Eiley, David Thomas, and Jones & Williams. Among the early hotel proprietors were: S. J. Oakley of "Oakley House," Joseph Kiefer of the "Lake House," C. Dossett of the "Union Hotel," Peter Kieffer of "Washington House," J. S. Murphy of "Central Hotel," and D. C. Wood of the "Commercial House" and later of the "Central Hotel." Lorin Cray and W. H. Cole were among the early lawyers. Among the pioneer physicians were Drs. Stoddard, Her- ring, CuUen and Preese. The first newspaper was "The People's Journal," started in March, 1870, by Dr. E. D. Buekner. It did not long survive. December 4, 1879, John D. Quane issued the first number of "The Blue Earth County Public Spirit," which continued three years. On October 11, 1882, Geo. W. Neff of Mankato, started the "Lake Crystal Union," which still survives, a live energetic country journal. May 16, 1888, T. A. Eckley issued the first number of the "Lake Crystal Mirror" which survived about four or five years. In Febru- ary, 1891, Dr. J. C. Curryer began publishing the "Minnesota Horseman" from the ofl:ice of the Mirror. The first Lake Crystal mill was started by Lewis, Marston, Cray and Davis in December, 1883. It was called "The Diamond Flouring Mill," and in July, 1889, was destroyed by fire. In 1894, Graif Bros, built a four story brick fi our mill, 40x60 feet. The same year they also in- stalled an electric light plant, and in Oct. 1901, a telephone exchange. On November 18, 1901, this mill was destroyed by fire. The following year a stock company was formed and the mill again rebuilt at a cost of $28,000. The stock company failed in August, 1907, and the mill was sold to Christian S. Christensen of Madelia, present proprietor. In 1879, the Elmore branch was built out of Lake Crystal, and made the village a railroad point of some importance. In May, 1882, Mars- ton, Larson & Davis started a creamery, which they sold the following March, to Lawrence, » Straight & Co. In 1884, the merchants formed a Dairy Board of Trade, for the purpose of gathering newly churned butter from the farm- TIISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COCJNTY. 251 ers and having it worked by an expert butter- maker at Lake Crystal. Store checks were given in payment to tiie farmers. The plan worked well for some years. A cheese factory was also maintained for a time. In 1894, the Lake Shore Co-operative Cream- i.'Lj was started. In May, 1874, a band was organized in the village by Prof. E. Howe of Mankato. In 1886, the Lake Crystal State Bank was ?tarted by Kandolph Mitchell, but failed in November, 1888. January 1, 1889, Marstou, Larson & Davis started a private bank, which is still flourishing. In 1902, the First Na- tional Bank of Lake Crystal was organized through the efforts of J. J. McGuire, who be- came its cashier, and a bank building erected at a cost of nearly $14,000. James Thomas became cashier in 1908. September 17, 1887, the village was visited by a very destructive fire, which wiped out nearly half of its business blocks, but within a year they were rebuilt on a much liner style than the first. In 1887, the Legislature passed a bill author- izing the construction of a dam at the outlet of Crystal Lake to raise its waters three feet, upon the payment of damages to persons in- jured thereby. D. P. Davis, D. W. Evans and P. Mertersdorf were appointed appraisers and the damages were assessed at $1,705, which were paid, and the dam constructed in the spring of 1888. A boat company was organized at the village, a boat house constructed, and boats launched on the lake. Eobinson Park was, also, fitted up, and an attempt made to build up a summer resort on this beautiful sheet of water. The first school building was erected in the fall of 1869. It was a two story frame 22x40 feet. In 1882, bonds were voted and an $8,000 brick building erected, and an excellent graded school has been maintained ever since. There are eight churches in the village. Tiie first house of worship was erected by the Pres- byterians in 1870, and dedicated on Feb. 26, 1871. Eev. C. Wisner was pastor at the time. The church had been organized Oct. 15, 1869 by the election of the following persons as trus- tees: Wm. A. Symore, A. H. Smith, E. K. Tar- box, Eichard Tukey, A. J. Murphy, Wm. E. Eobinson and E. G. Eich. The M. E. began holding services about as early as the Presby- terians. They legally organized as the "First M. E. Church of Lake Crystal" on July 16, 1870, by the appointment by Eev. Xorris Ho- bart, the presiding elder, of the following per- sons as trustees: A. J. Bangs, Wm. Cole, Jesse Thomas, Leman Wood and Edson A. Tukey. In April, 1874, lot 1, block 5, of Lake Crystal was purchased as a building site. The trustees at the time were: W. C. Davis, M. L. Holley, A. S. Hamlin, A. J. Bangs and M. H. Metier. A church building, 24x50, was started that year and occupied, but not finished and dedicated until June 1, 1879. August 31, 1884, the church was reorganized for legal purposes by the appointment by Elder J. N. Liscomb of the following trustees: W. C. Davis, X. P. John, H. C. McLean, S. G. Brooks, A. S. Hamlin, F. Lewis, and W. P. Cobb. In 1890, a new church building was erected, 32x54, with a wing 16x30, and a bell weighing 715 pounds was hung in its belfry. The old chapel was sold to the Welsh people. The church is now in a pros- perous condition. In the summer of 1883, the Protestant Epis- copal Church erected a neat chapel and have continued their work to this day. "The German Evangelical Lutheran St. James Church of Lake Crystal" was incorpor- ated on JIar. 8, 1886, under the pastorship of Eev. C. Eo^^s, when the following persons were elected trustees: Geo. ;\Iayer, Eaphael Eeuns- cum, and Henry Eadichel. Other charter mem- bers were: Daniel Eadichel, Frederick T. Skier, Henry Mayer, and Gottfried Newmann. A church building was erected the same year, which was dedicated Oct. 17, when Eev. Schultz of Mankato preached the sermon. Early in the eighties the Baptists of the vil- lage organized a church, which on May 28, 1888, was incorporated as "The First Baptist Church of Lake Crystal" and again reincor- porated on Aug. 13, 1889, under the Eev. I. Bergstrom, when the following persons were made trustees: Wm. Thomas, Andrew Gran- lund, Henry A. Weymouth, Thos. D. Williams, A. T. Sherwin and Eees W. Thomas. A church 252 HISTORY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. building was erected in 1888, which ■ was dedi- cated Feb. as, 1889. The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists began holding services at the Presbyterian Church in 1886. A Sunday School under the lead of J-*eter Lloyd was the principal service at first. The church was organized by Eev. John C. Jones of Mankato on January 27, 1889, with twenty-nine members. Its first officers were Dr. John Williams, Thos. G. Owens, David E. Davies, Edward Jenkins and Edward Morgan. In September, 1890^ the old M. E. chapel was purchased and the church moved into it. Up to this time they had used the Presbyterian Church. On Sept. 1, 1890, the church incor- porated for holding property by the election of iJie following trustees: Thos. E. Evans, Robert S. Hughes and Edward E. Jenkins. Evan Wil- liams, Evan Davies, Wm. P. Jones, Wm. E. Jenkins, John R. Jones and John L. Lewis, became its Elders. In Feb. 1893, Rev. David Edwards became its first pastor, and has con- tinued in the office ever, since. In 1899, the present fine church edifice was erected and dedi- cated on Oct. 25, of the same year. The old building which they had purchased of the M. E. brethren, was sold, to Geo. W. Neff, and is still used as the printing office of the Lake Crystal Union. Early in the nineties 'the Norwegian Luther- ans began holding services and Feb. 6, 1893, The Zion Scandinavian Lutheran Church of Lake Crystal was incorporated by the following named persons: Lars Larson, Peter Moe, An- drew Tweed, Ole J. Wiger, Henry E. Olson, Syver P. Moe, Martin P. Pederson and Herman H. Olson, and in 1893, they erected their pres- ent chapel. In 1890, through the efforts of Father Prior of Mankato, a Catholic chapel was erected, which is still in use. At present Lake Crystal is one of the largest and most flourishing villages in the County. Among the most prominent of its present mer- chants not already mentioned are : The Pioneer Mercantile Co., D. T. Owens, James Bros., F. Strunk Lumber Co., W. E. & R. B. Thomas, Thomas, Jones & Co. and C. C. Jenkins. The new depot, built in 1905, and a small portion of the resident part of town are located just over the line in Judson township. The roster of men from Garden City in war of Rebellion: Arledge, Alex, Co. C, 6th Inf. Atwell, Clinton, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Baker, Jas. H., Col. of 10th Inf., Pro. Brig. Gen. Barstow, Alfred, Co. F, 1st Art. Burger, Joseph H., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Buchanan, John J., Co. E, 9th Inf. Burnett, Eugene R., Co. B, Br. Bat. Burnett, Wm. H., Co. B, Br. Bat. Burgess, E. Galusha, Co. E, 9th Inf. Boyer, Wm., Co. B, Mt. Rangers. • Carley, Geo. W., Co. E, 9th Inf. Clapshaw, Jr., Samuel, Co. J, 6th Inf. Clapshaw, Wm., Co. B, Mt. Rangers. Clark, Merrill M., Co. B, Br. Bat. Church, Lafayette, Co. F, 1st Art. Couklin, Wm. H., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Cummings, Isaac, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Doremus, Benj. F., Co. E, 9th Inf. Eaton. Ansil, Co. E, 9th Inf. Edgerton, Thos. A., Co. E, 9th Inf. Eaton, Henry, Co. H, 2nd Cav. Eaton John, Co. H, 2nd Cav. Fall, Marshall T., Co. B, Br. Bat. Ferguson, Daniel, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Finch, Chas. D., Co. B, Br. Bat. Folsom, August H., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Foster, Geo., Co. H, 2nd Cav. Gilchrist, G. M., Co. D, 2nd Inf. Howard, John R., Co. E, 2nd Cav., 2nd Lieut. Lamberton, Geo. W., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Marston, Wm., Co. B, Mt. Rangers. Marvin, Wm. R., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Mead, Chas. J., Co. F, 1st Art. . Mead, Geo. W., Co. E, 9th Inf. Mead, Wm. M., Co. B, Br. Bat. Messervy, Alfred, Co. E, 9th Inf. Miller, Francis E., Co. E, 9th Inf. Mitchell, Solomon A., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Mumford, James, Co. B, Br. Bat. Died July 7, 1894. Plymat, Wm. N. Co. B, Br. Bat. Potter, John H., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Potter, James W., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Potter, T. E., Co. B, Mt. Rangers, 1st Lieutenant. Preston, Chas. W., Co. F, 3rd Inf. Preston, Elias M., Co. F, 1st Art. Preston, Wm. K., Co. F, 1st Art. Quayle, Thos. G., Co. H, 2nd Inf., 2nd Lieutenant. Rew, Francis E., Co. E, 9th Inf. Rew, Henry C, Co. E, 9th Inf. Riley, Peter, Co. F, 1st Art. Robbins, Henry, Co. G, 10th Inf. Robinson, Henry A., Co. E, 9th Inf. Rogers, Robert F., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Thompson, Geo. A., Co. E, 9th Inf. Thompson, J. G., Co. E, 9th Inf. Pro. Capt. 68 U. S. Col. Inf. Torrey, W. B., Co. B, Br. Bat. Thurston, J. G., 8th Inf. Assistant ;^-irgeon. Wait, Eli, Co. B, Br. Bat. Ward, Geo. W., Co. E, 1st Bat. Ward, Chas. L., Co. B, Br. Bat. Ward, Willard, 4th Inf. Wrightson, Levi, Co. H, 2nd Oav, HIST. N2 MO- U06 SCHOOL HOU46 Le RAV. CHRISTIAN CHORCtt-6rt6l.6 LflK6 HISTOKY OF BLUB EARTH COUNTY. 253 JUDSON. Named by Eobert Patterson, in honor of the ;reat Baptist Missionary. The history of this own has been mostly covered in the general listory of the county. Its first settlers were Chester D. Hill, John Eandolf and Eev. John K. Tidland, who came to the old townsite of Eureka, with H. Kaywood in the summer of L853, and located upon claims in Judson bot- tom. They were followed the next year by Gus- taf Johnson, Peter- Olson, Chas. Youngberg, John Beckman, Oscar P. and Francis 0. Win- nerstrand, John Goodwin, Eobert Patterson, Wm. Irving, Calvin Webb, John Jones, (Osh- kosh), and Lucius 0. Hunt. All settled ifi Judson bottom except Hunt, Webb and Jones. In 1855, came Chas. Eundquist, Gustaf Peter- son, Andrew and John Johnson, Nils Nilson, C. S. Terry, and others whose names we did not learn, who settled in the bottom. In April, 1855, came Humphrey Jones, Thos. Y. Davis, Wm. C. Williams, Wm. Jenkins, Wm. Jones, John Watkins, and others, who located along the timber in the Jerusalem neighborhood. In June and July of the same year came Hugh Edwards with his sons, Hugh H., John and Daniel Edwards, and David Evans, Wm. J. Eoberts and Eowland W. Price and settled along Minneopa Creek. In the summer and fall of 1855, Owen Eoberts, Henry Hughes, David T. Davis and Eev. William Williams arrived in the Jerusalem neighborhood : and in 1856, came Benjamin Lewis, David and Edward Dackins, David J. Eees, Anthony J. Crisp, Wm. M. Crisp, Thos. E, Evans, Samuel Pease, Sam- uel H. Foster and others who made claims in the same neighborhood. In the Carmel neigh- borhood located in 1856, Evan Williams and his son Wm. E. Williams, and Evan Davis. The town was made an election precinct on April 8, 1856, and a town on May 11, 1858, at which time the following officers were chosen: Supervisors, Eobt. Patterson Chr., Wm. Jen- kins and A. J. Crisp: Clerk, T. E. Coulson; Assessor, W. H. Thurston; Collector, J. A. Tid- land; Overseer of the poor, Gustaf Johnson; Justice, J. 0. Eobinson; Constable, D. Eeed; Road Overseer, L. 0. Hunt. December 10, 1856, the "townsite of "Judson" was laid out by Eobert Patterson and John Goodwin on portions of sections 3, 4, 33, and 34 in Judson Bottom. A saw Mill was built that fall by Henry Fowler, E. Patterson and John Goodwin, which the next year was sold to Cephas S. Terry, who added a small grist mill. In the spring of 1857, Andrew Friend was employed by Mr. Terry to help run the mill, in which employment he continued until 1864, when he removed to Garden City.. The mill had now been bought by Keene & Whit- comb, and in June, 1866, it burned. Stores were built there by Mr. Terry and T. E. Coul- son. Mr. Coulson, also, kept a small hotel. A postoffice was started in 1856, kept by John Goodwin. The first school in the town was taught in the winter of 1857, by Miss Jannette Jenkins (the late Mrs. Jannette Jones of Man- kato). It was kept in a vacant log buildTng near Coulson's store. In 1858, a joint stock company purchased of Mr. Coulson a large frame building for $800 to start therein "Jud- son Academy." The school was put in charge of Eev. J. E. Ash, a young Baptist preacher from Illinois, whose wife had charge of the music department. After one year, Mr. and Mrs. Ash removed to Mankato and the Academy failed. In 1859, Judson village contained about thirty houses. About 1860, Anthony J. Crisp built him a neat frame house and barn on the farm now owned by Joseph Eoberts, and opened a bmall country store. A postoffice was located there called "Crisp's Store," in charge of Mr. Crisp. It continued until the Crisp family moved away after the close of the Civil war. The first school in District 99 was taught in 1860, by Mr. Crisp in his own house. In August, 1867, Fredrick K. Jones pur- chased two acres in the southwest quarter of Section 6, about a quarter of a mile west of Crisp's store, and built thereon a store, which he conducted for two years and then sold the lot and building to Eev. P. Peregrine. About 1858, Robert Goodyear started a nursery on Section 12 of Judson, which he conducted for several years. During the Indian outbreak, Judson village was the site of a very unique sod fort, erected 254 IirSTOTiY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. in the spring of 1863, by Cap't. Skaro's Company. In January, 1868, J. G. Fowler and Bro. opened a second general store at the village, but after a year or two both Fowler and Coulson stores moved away and the village fell into decay. For many years thereafter, Borie Sanstrom kept a small store there on the river bank. Soon after the Indian outbreak the Judson postoffice was removed to the house of Eev. Wm. Williams, where it remained until March, 1877, when W. S. Wolfe was appointed postmaster instead of Eev. Williams, who had resigned. The postmasters since have bfeen: John A. Tidland, .Ian., 1879 to May, 1879. W. S. Wolfe, May, 1879 to Dec, 1882. Evan E. Jones, 1882 to 1887. John A. Tidland, 1887 to 1894. F. W. Carlstrom, 1894 to 1900. Robert G. James, 1900 to 1902. W. W. Jenkins. The first birth in the town was that of Grif- fith Boberts, son of Wm. J. Eoberts in August, 1J55. The first marriage was that of William C. Williams and Hannah Williams, celebrated on Christmas day, 1855. The second marriage was probably that of E. T. Eoberts to Margaret Edwards, daughter of Hugh Edwards, in June, 1856. The first sermon was probably preached by Eev. Jenkin Jenkins on Oct. 14, 1855, at the house of John Watkins, when the first church in the town was organized. The organization later moved into Cambria township and is now laiown as the "Salem Congregational Church."- July 11, 1858, a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church was organized at the house of Owen Eoberts on the farm now owned by Humphrey J. Eoberts, by Eev. David Davis, assisted by Evan Evans. The charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. Owen Eoberts, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bowen, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. C. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. E. Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Eichard B. Davis. Later the church adopted the name "Jerusalem." The services were held in private houses until the spring of 1865, when a log church was erected. During 1870-1 the present edifice was built, and in March, 1871, Eev. Wm. Jones became its first settled pastor, which position he held until 1891, with an in- termission of four and one-half years. Since 1892, the church has been, joined in a circuit with Lake Crystal under the pastorship of Eev. D. Edwards. The legal incorporation of the church occurred at the log building on June 13, 1870, when the following trustees were elected: Owen Eoberts, Jabez Lloyd and John W. Eoberts. Since 1870, until of late years, the Annual Synod or conference of the Welsh Cal. Meth. Churches of this state has been held in con- nection with this church, usually in June of each year, and at a grove on the farm of Hum- phrey J. Eoberts. In 1858, Eev. J. E. Ash' organized a Baptist church in Judson village. Among the members were Eobert Patterson, John Goodwin, Eev. Wm. Williams, Morris Lewis, John Eees, Geo. Smith and others. After Eev. Ash left, the church was ministered to by Eev. Williams and Mr. Miller for a time, but for some years during the Indian trouble it suspended. About 1867, and 1868 it met again in school house No. 6, and on March 15, 1871, incorporated at the house of John Goodwin, when John Eees, Abel Keene and B. P. Muzzy were elected trustees. The church disbanded in Nov., 1882, and a number of the members joined the Baptist- church of Lake Crystal. In the summer of 1867, a Sunday school was started at the house of Wm. D. - Jones in the eastern part of Judson, which on the building of school house No. 75 was moved thereto. Here a church was organized on August 29, 1869, by Eev. Wm. Eoberts. The charter members were: Wm. D. Jones, and wife, Evan Davis and wife, Hugh D. Hughes and wife, Eev. Wm. Eoberts and wife, Watkin H. Jones and wife, Cornelins Jones and wife, Moses Jones, Mrs. Eobert S. Pritchard, Mrs. Eobert Jones, Mrs. Ellen Grif- fiths, Mrs. Mary Hughes, Mrs. John J. Grif- fiths, Mrs. Thos. C. Charles, Mrs. John Edwards, Mrs. David J. Williams, Mrs. Humphery E. Jones, Mrs. Joshua Wigley, Mrs. Thos. D. Wil- liams, Mrs. E. E. Jones, Mrs. Wm. H. Hughes and Mrs. John P. Jones. Evan Williams was its first Elder. The church incorporated as "The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church of Carmel" on March 3, 1874, when the following persons were chosen trustees : Thos. C. Charles, Evan Williams and Edward Wigley. That sum- mer the present church edifice was erected at a HISTOEY OF BLUB EAETH COUNTY. 255 cost of about $1,700. Eev. E. P. Jones of Mankato was its first pastor. It has generally been attached to Mankato and Zion for pastoral purpose. As noted before a split occurred in the Cal. Meth. Churches of our County in 1865, and one wing Joined the Presbyterian Church. Soon after this a church of that denomination was formed at the house of Wm. C. Williams and services held there and in the house of E. Eowlands, and in school house No. 1, until the erection of a fine new chapel in 1870, on the center of the east line of Section 17. This church was incorporated at a meeting held in school house No. 37, Peb. 14, 1870, and the follow- ing trustees elected : John W. James, Wm. E. Jones, Eobt. Pugh, Wm. J. Jones and Wm. Jenkins. The Elders were Eowland E. Prit- chard and Eichard Eowlands. Eev. Eichard W. Jones was the pastor of this church for a few years. It disbanded about 1879. In the fifties the M. E. Church held services in Judson and on Nov. 2.5, 1859, the church was incorporated by Eev. E. T. Eichardson, preacher in charge of Eureka Circuit, appoint- ing the following persons trustees : Anthony J. Crisp, Wm. A. Jones, Cephas S. Terr}', A. H. Crisp and Wm. H. Thurston. Services were conducted at the home of A. J. Crisp and at Judson village at intervals for some years. The Swedish Lutherans began holding relig- ious services quite early in Judson Bottom. For many years they maintained a good Sunday school in the school house of which John P. Johnson was, for a time, superintendent. This church incorporated and a neat house of wor- ship erected in 1905, at Judson Tillage. The town contains six school houses and two creameries. In 1899, the Chicago & Northwestern Bail- way built a short line from Mankato to New IJlm through Judson and a new towhsite called "Judson" was laid out near the location of the ancient village. A neat depot was erected there. A grain elevator, two stores and blacksmith shop were built the same summer. These with the postoffice, Swedish Church, Creamery and a few residences make a small village. Eobert G. James and Wm. ]\Lison were the first store- keepers. In April, 1902, Henry Fuller pur- chased Mr. Mason's store and in 1905, W. W. Jenkins bought out both James and FulleS, In 1904, a bridge was constructed over the Minnesota river at Judson village. A portion of the village of Lake Crystal is located within the southern boundary of Judson. In 1906, a railway station and wheat elevator were located on Minneopa Creek near the cen- ter of Section 23, called Cray. The roster of the men who enlisted from Judson in the Civil War are as follows : Alden, Samuel, Co. F, 1st Art. Coffin, Wilbur T.. Co. K, 1st Art. Comstock, Byron, Co. B, Br. Bat. Crisp, Anthonv G., Co. I, 6th Reg't. Curtis, Geo. S. A., Co. E, 2na Cav. Dackins, David, Co. E, 9th Reg't. Denman, Ahner, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Doherty, Chas. H., Co. C, 1st Reg't. Edwards, John, Co. E, 9th Reg't. Foster Alonzo, Co. B, Mt. Rangers. Foster, Benton T.. Co. H, 3rd Reg't. Goodell, William P., Co. E. 2nd Cav. Hill, Chester D., Co. I, 6th Reg't. Howell, Wm. D., Co. I, 1st Reg't. Hughes, Wm. H., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Hughes, Wm. R., Co. E. 2nd Cav. Jones, John C, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Kilby, Benj. J., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Lewis, Rowland, Co. E, 2nd Cav. McDonnell, Allen, Co. K, 1st Reg't. McGivney, Peter, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Pease, Asa C, Co. H, 3rd Reg't. Price, Edward, Co. E. 2nd Cav. Revnolds, William 51., Co. A. 1st Reg't. Slaughter, Thos. S., Co. I, 6th Reg't., Captain. Tidland, John A., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Tidland, Charles, Co. H, 3rd Reg't. Terry, James, Y., Co. H, 3rd Reg't. Williams, Wm. E., Co. E, 9th Reg't. WooA, Delos C, Co. E, 2nd Cav. LE EAY. Originally a part of Jamestown, but made a separate town by action of the County Com- missioners, January 4, 1860. Named "Lake" at first, but June 11, 1860, changed to "Tivoli" and on September 5th. of the same year, to "Le Bay" at the suggestion of Wm. D. Cole, after a town in New York from which he hacl come. In its native state the entire town was covered with a dense forest of fine timber. Large portions of lakes Madison and Eagle lie within its northern border, and the outlet of both lakes form two small brooks, which after traversing across the town, empty into the Le- Sueur, not far from its southwestern corner. Indian, Alice, Byron and Mud Lakes form a 9nf ■RiyiOEY OF BLUE EAETH COL'iS^TY^ chain along the eastern part of the town. . Its ooil is a rich, heavy loam, with clay foundation, and the surface is undulating. The first settlers came in 1856, among whom were : Alexander and James Douglass, Geo. Adam Beiries, Eobert Haslip, Arthur A. Stew- ard, Wm., Geo. L., Albert and Robert P. Tur- ner, Henry B. Lang, M. D. MdSTamara, Wm. D. Cole, George Chapman, Geo. W., Jacob L., John M., and James T. Burgess, Geo. Bennett, Patrick Madigan, Wm. J\Iorris, David Davis, Thos. E. Davis, Eev. Elias Clark, Wm. Gilfillan, Arvad C. Johnson, Conrad Schogll, Joel Cloud, Joseph Titus, Joseph M. Metter, Geo. F. Lill, Jerome Weatherby and Alvin P. Eeynolds. The next year came Henry Eobertson, John Cummins and Horace Cummins. Other early settlers were August Glockzin, Michael Silke, Nicholas Frederick. Geo. F. Sower, John Urlich, Jerome Dane, E. G. Wood, John Waggoner, and Ira B. Eeynolds. Among the primal things, it is claimed that the first birth was that of Geo. F. Bur- gess on March 13, 1857. The first marriage, iVlbert Turner to Miss Adaline Cummins, solem- nized,- June, 1859, by Elder Small. The first death, Mrs. A. A. Steward in the fall of 1858, and the first . school taught by iliss Hannah Haslip in a log claim shanty on Section 18, about 1859. The average attendance was about fourteen. The first town officers elected in Jan- uary, 1860 were : Supervisors, Wm. D. Cole, Chr., John Cummins and Geo. A. Beiries; Clerk, Arvad C. Johnson; Treasurer, Jerome Dane; Justices, Jerome Dane and J. L. Burgess; Con- stables, Geo. Bennett and Isaac Turner. This election was held at Wm. D. Cole's house on the farm now owned by Nicholas Frederick, and thirty-one votes were cast. The first postoffice was established in 1870 and called "Spier" at the suggestion of Geo. A. Beiries after his home in Germany, and Freeman A. Cate was appoint- ed postmaster. In Dec. 1873, the name was changed to Eagle Lake and Henry Bossard be- came postmaster. He had a small store near Eagle Lake station. Naturally in a timber town, lumber and wood soon became one of its chief industries. In 1864, J. Sylvester Burgess and Thomas Bur- gess purchased of McNutt of Judson, a steam circular saw mill of 15,000 feet capacity, and removed it to their farm on the west line of Le Bay. Here in February, 1867, the Burgess Bros, opened a small store. In 1870, the Winona and St. Peter Eailroad was built through Le Bay, and in Nov. 1873, Eagle Lake was platted by Freeman A. Cate on a portion of his farm. The Burgess Bros, sold their saw mill early in the seventies to Henry Simons, who after two or three years moved it to near the outlet of Eagle Lake, whence it was taken to Tennessee in 1883. In the fall of 1871, Woodham and Harrison Burgess built a grist mill at the Junction of Eagle Lake Creek with Madison Lake Creek, about a mile south of the village. Three or four years later Bur- gess & Pickle became its owners, and shortly thereafter the firm changed to Cate & Pickle. In the fall of 1873, Morse Bros, built a water- power saw mill near the mouth of Madison Lake Creek. In 1876, Smith, Kingsley & Cornwell, built a saw mill at Eagle Lake, which the next year was purchased by Allen Moon, who sold it to Selleck and Peck. Chas. F. Stokes, in the summer of 1873, erected a saw mill at Smith's Mill which has been in operation until recent years. We can not even enumerate all the many mill operators of Le Eay. J. D. Humiston, Mc- Beth Bros., Fred Gilfillen, A. B. Hough, B. Gerlich, Gilfillen and several others were en- gaged in the industry during the past years. In 1893, Horace Cummins built a saw mill at Eagle Lake, using the same engine, which had belonged to the old saw mill of Geo. W. Lay at Mankato. In 1890, Horace Cummins and Wm. McBeth, having bought the Woodham grist mill at the junction of the two creeks, moved it to Eagle Lake and remodeled it as a steam roller mill, increasing its capacity from 35 to 135 barrels per day. In 1893, they sold this mill to J. D. Humiston who, after operating it for twelve years, disposed of it to Gordon Bros., the present owners, who have increased the capacity to 250 barrels per day. In 1877, Elwin Mer- rill erected a planing mill at Eagle Lake, which after three years burned. In 1885, Miner and Cummins put up a planing mill at the same place, which was operated about twenty years. ITISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. ■257 In 1881, E. F. Wilson had a factory for the manufacture of doors, sash, blinds, etc. In NoT.,^ 1874, the townsite of Lake Eagle was platted adjoining Eagle Lake by James H. Steward and Walter L. Breckenridge. The vil- lage is mostly built on this townsite, but it retained the name of the first townsite. In August, 1873, a depot was built. It is said' the first store was kept by Mr. Texley in a log shanty in 1871, and was mainly to supply the railway builders. H. C. & T. E. Burgess started the first permanent store in 1873. Then came W. W. Phelps, who opened a general store about 1874. He was made postmaster in 1875, and held the office fourteen years. Early in 1876, 'W'. J. Allyn opened a hardware, and soon after- wards consolidated with Phelps under the name of Phelps & Allyn. Then came Daniel Selleck, who later was of the firm of Selleck & Peck. (t. W. Braden started alone, but later formed a partnership with- J. J. Haggard as Braden & Haggard. Horace Cummins built first elevator in 1875. In 1882, he built a large octag'pn store, thirty-three feet in diameter and started in the mercaiitile business. Other pioneer mer- chants were: H. C. Burgess, general store, Wells & Mynard, and John and Geo. Burgess, drug stores. Mynard & Levi and Isaac Eedner, black- smiths; J. S. Stevens, harness maker; H. C. Bullis and Wm. Gilfillan, wagon makers, A. H. Presnall, prop, of hall, E. Buckley and A. F. Hilton hotels. In 1886, J. J. Haggard became postmaster and served until 1889, when he was succeeded by Cap't. Jerome Dane. A cheese factory was started here in 1889, by Mr. Hnder- hill. Among the other prominent merchants have been: J. A. Ewing, E. D. Fisher, C. D. Cook, Chas. Howard and P. H. Kelly. Horace Cummins, A. H. Presnall and J. D. Morris are at present engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1897, E. M. Presnall was appointed postmaster and the present incumbent A. H. Presnall suc- ceeded him in 1900. The first newspaper was the "Eagle Lake Golden Prize," started by A. H. Wheeler in January, 1874. It suspended in May, 1875. Sept. 1, 1877. A. M. Morrison (now of the Man- kato Journal) and Wesley J. Clark, purchased the old printing outfit of the "Prize" from H. Cummins and started the "Eagle Lake Inde- pendent." In 1879, Mr. Morrison removed the press to Canby. July 30, 1897, "The Eagle Lake News" was started by F. A. Swayne, who was succeeded in 1899, by • C. H. Brown. In September of the same year, JI. H. Galer pur- chased the paper and later it was published by H. Cummins & Son. Eagle Lake has three churches. The Methodist Episcopal, Christian and Advent. The M. E. Church traces its beginning to prayer meetings started by Hattie Britt in 1864. Ira B. Eey- nolds took hold of the work in 1865, and helped to keep the good cause alive. Rev. J. W. Powell became its first pastor in the fall of 1867. The services were held in school houses and in halls at Eagle Lake until 1879, when a church build- ing was put up and occupied that fall, though not completed until 1884. The edifice is 30x50 feet and cost $1,350 besides the steeple which was built later. The dedication occurred Feb. 17, 1884. Besides Eev. Powell, Eevs. C. D. Cook and N. B. Foot were especially identified with the work of this church. The legal in- corporation occurred Mar. 24, 1875, when Elder G. W. Wright appointed the following trustees: Thos. Eeeves, Abraham Snyder, Henry A. Sim- mons, Daniel Selleck, and James Shields. Others, who were prominent in building the house of worship were: I. B. Eeynolds, W. W. Phelps, H. Cummins, A. H. Pressnall, A. A. l\riner, W. H. Allyn and J. J. Haggard. The church is still in a flourishing condition. The Christian Cliurch had its beginning on the advent of the Burgess family to the town in 1856. In December of that year a church was formed with sixteen members, the most of them be- longing to that prominent family. Eev. J. M. Harris was their first pastor. As soon as the village started, their place of worship was re- ijioved- there. April 22, 1S7 7, they became le- yally incorporated under Eev. Wm. Burgess as pastor. S. M. Morrison and E. jST. Pressnall presided at the meeting and the first trustees elected were : James jM. Schwartz, Edwin John- son and Pythogaras Wilson. Their church edi- fice was erected in 1879. The Seventh Day Adventist Church of Eagle Lake was organized May 10, 1873, with twenty- 258 IITSTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COTTNTY four members. In 1876, they pushed their work with great vigor. Monster camp meetings were held by the distinguished Elder White and many converts made. Its first board of trustees were Allen Moon, David Alway and Jeremiah Moon. In March, 1883, they purchased and removed to Eagle Lake, a church which had been built in Tinkcom's addition, Mankato. It is a frame structure 24x40 feet. Though weakened by re- movals, the church is still quite strong. The present Eagle Lake School house was erected in 1881. The town has always been very active along temperance lines and a good Templar's lodge existed at one time with a membership of over 200. With the exception of one or two years, the saloons have been forbidden to enter its boundary. On June 24, 1902, the village voted to incor- porate by a vote of 62 to 13. Its population then was 367. As we have already stated in July, 1873, Chas. E. Stokes located on the north shore of Lake Alice, just where the ISTorthwestern Eail- way crossed the east line of the county, and built there a sawmill. The same fall Peter P. Smith built another saw mill at the same point, but on the Waseca side of the line. A railway switch was put in, and the place went under the name of Smith's Mill. In 1875, P. P. Eice built the first store on the Waseca side of the line. In July, 1876, a townsite was platte(i called "Iscomo," but the old name could not be changed. P. P. Smith built the second store in June, 1876. A postoffice was started at the residence of Henry Lane about 1876. In Octo- ber, 1879, Chas. P. Stokes became postmaster and was succeeded in Sept., 1882, by Michael J. Eyan who had opened a small store on the Blue Earth County side of the line. In July, 1886, C. E. Giblin became postmaster and was suc- ceeded in Mar., 1890, by A. L. Lane. A depot was built in the fall of 1883. In 1886, an M. E. Church was erected on the Blue Earth County side of the line. "The German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Congregation of U. A. C. at Smith's Mill" was incorporated Fov. 14, 1892, by the following persons. Franz Piet. Fred Sonnenberg. Wm. Quade. Frederick Stanke. Christ Kringer. Frederick Stanke. August Mitzner. Gl. Stonley. Christian Kringer. Franz, Pietsch. August Riece. Julius J. Krause. Kristin Linde. Fred Diemer. Wm. Linde. Wm. Tamo. H. Sark. Wm. Wagner. A large frame church was erected in 1892, on the Blue Earth County side of the street at a cost of $2,280.61. About 1878, John and Andrew Anderson lo- cated on the east bank of Eagle Lake and they were followed by a number of other Scandi- navians. About 1900, religious services were started among them at the Hill School house by the Swedish Lutheran minister from Man- kato, and a Sunday School was maintained, of which John Anderson was Superintendent. On Section 29 of Le Eay is located the only spring of mineral water in the county, known^ as the "Morse Mineral Springs." Its virtues were known to the Indians and the Winnebago medicine man, Baptiste, made use of it in the early days. The medicinal qualities of the spring were first discovered and utilized by the whites about 1889. A stock company was formed and the water has since been handled by ISTick Peterson of Mankato. The roster of the men who enlisted from Le Eay in the Civil War: Bennett, Geo., Co. H, 2nd Reg't. Burgess, -Jacob L., Co. K, Heavy Art. Cummins, Alonzo, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Cummins, Hiram, Co. E, 9th Reg't. Cummins, Horace, Co. H, 2nd Reg't. Dane, Jerome, Co. H, 2nd Reg't; later Capt. Co. E. 9tli. Erickson, Halver, Co. G, 6th Reg't. Granger, Clias. H., Co. B, Br. Bat. Griffin, John N., Co. E, 9th Inf. Haslip, William, Co. B, Mt. Rangers. Jjawson, Floyd, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Lawson, Elisha, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Mills, Orin, Co. I, 3rd Reg't. Mullen, Milton E., Co. G, 6th Reg't. Smdth, Wm. G., Co. I, 4th Reg't. Sower, Geo. F., Co. E, 9th Reg't. Stewart, Manasses, Co. E, 9th Reg't. Turner, Isaac, Co. A, 1st H. Art. Ulven, Andrew, Co. E, 9th Reg't. Wagner, John, Co. D, 1st Heavy Art. Williams, Emory, Co. E, 2nd Cav. York, Joseph, Co. E, 2nd Cav. IIISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUXTY. 259 LIME. Lime, like Jamestown, is a half township. The Minnesota Eiver forms its western bound- ary and about one half of the town is embraced in its Talley. Here are found the largest and best stone quarries in the county. The famous Klondike and McMullen quarries are within its borders. The eastern half of the town projects into the "Big Woods." The town is said to derive its name from some lime kilns which were the first built in the county. In the east- ern end of the town lies lake "Wita" (an Indian name signifying "Island"). There are two large islands in the lake, one of which contains about three acres of land, and the other about two acres. The town was about the earliest settled. James Eablin is claimed to have been the first settler. He located with his family on Section 32 in July, 1852. Among the settlers of 1853, were Evans Goodrich, Jared Lewis, Hiram J. Puller, 0. S. Eedfield, Eobert Wardlaw, Wil- liam Wood, Henry Goodrich and Chris. Eoos. In 1854, came Peter Schulte, Prank Borgh- ineier, Henry Vahle, Morton Laflin, John H. Menne, Edmund Buckley and John Henderson. In 1855, came Daniel Campbell, Prank Henline, Edward Young, Philip Patten, John G. Sanger and David J. Steel. In 1856, a large number of settlers came, among whom were : John Eausch, Geo. A. Schaefer, John Hamilton, Ni- cholas Heinzman, Frederick Heinze, Sebastian Pfeffer, Philip Mueller, Jacob Traub, Jos. Haas, Jacob Hub, Patrick DufFy, Wm. H. Chapman, BcnJ. W. Stannard and Nicholas Sanger. The first birth in the town was John Eablin, n son of Mr. and Mrs. Eablin, born in 1853. The first death was that of J. W. Parnham in the spring of 1856. The first school was taught by Eev. B. Y. Coffin in the winter of 1857-8, in a vacant log cabin on the west side of Sec- tion 29, and east of the old Mankato and Men- dota road, in present District No. 44. This building was used for two or three terms, when the District bought the log cabin of David Steel, which served the purpose of school house until the fall of 1875. when a brick edifice was erected, 24x36. In the big wind-storm of July 5, 1880, this building was badly wrecked. Eeligious services were held in 1856-7-8 by Eev. B. Y. Coffin at the old log school house and the home of David Steel. About 1871, Chas. Porster put up a saw mill at the North end of Eagle Lake, which was burnt in the fall of 1873, but again rebuilt and operated by Mr. Porster for many years. In March, 1878, a postoffice was established at Caroline station with Conrad Smith as po'st- master. In the winter of 1878-9 a terrible epidemic of diphtheria prevailed in the eastern part of the town. In less than a year about forty-five deaths occured mostly among about fifteen fami- lies. The families of John Miller, John Krell, Jos. Lunkenheimer, John Bushina and Gus- tavo Oehler were especially afflicted. Originally Lime was a part of Kasota pre- cinct and in 1855, became for nearly a year a part of LeSueur County. Eestored to Blue Earth County in 1856, it was created into a separate township in April, 1858. The chair- man of its first Board of Supervisors was, Evans Goodrich. Pour lines of railways pass through the town —The C. St. P. M. & 0. Ey., the C. & N. W. Ey., C. & G. W. Ey., and the C. St. P. & M. By. The stone quarry industry of the town has been greatly developed during the last twenty years and gives employment to several hundred men. There are three school houses in the town, and a fourth belonging to a joint dis- trict just across the north line. The Eural Free Delivery was 'inaugurated in the fall of 1900, and a farmers telephone line put in about 1904. The roster of the men who enlisted from Lime for the Civil War is as follows: RrittoTi. Thos. D.. Co. E, 2nd Cnv. ToIp. Fdwin F.. Cn. B. 5th Inf. FoHz. Henrv. Co. D. 5th Inf. Cps^pll. .Tncob, Co. F. 9nd Cnv. OilfillRii. J.ns.. Co. r. 11th Inf. Oon<1rich- Evan's, Co., Znd S. S. nriffi'n. .Tohn N., Co. E. 2nf1 Tnf. Hpn'iprFon. TTpnrv. Co. TT. 9rid Tnf. TTpndprson. .Tohn. Co. D. 5th Tnf. TTpin?:?, Fredpripk. Co. E. 2nrl Cav. Fpin7P. Tfohprt. Co. F. ^nrl Cav. F^nimmplI, Phillin. Co. D. 5th Inf. Tvnn^. .Tos.. Co. E. 2nrl Cav. I^flin. A.. Co. H, 4th Inf. Latoner, Jos., Co. C, llth Inf. 260 IliSTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. Manafield, Chas., Co. H, 1st Inf. Menton, Adanij Co. E, Mt. Rangers. Peterson, Elias N., Co. H, 4th Inf. Philbrick, Chas., Co. C, 11th Inf. Pishrider, Geo., Co. E, Mt. Kangers. Robertson, Henry, Co. C, 11th Inf. Shumacher, Matthias, Co. E, Mt. Rangers. Sohweikert, John, Co. E, Mt. Rangers. Stannard, Geo. J., Co. H, 4th Inf. Stannard, Hiram, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Shaubut, Franklin, Co. E, 9th Inf. Steele, Edwin D., Co. D, 5th Inf. Westlake, Jas. F., Co. K, 7th Inf. Westover, 0. J., Co. E, 9th Inf. Wildes, Marcus T., Co. B, Mt. Rangers. Williams, James A., Co. H, 4th Inf. LINCOLN". The first settler in Lincoln was Archibald Law, who came from near Janesville, Wis., and located with his family on portions of the westerly halves of Sections 30 and 31 in June 1855. He was followed on July 10, of the same year by Isaac Slocum, father of Chas. E. Slo- cum now of Madelia, who settled with his family on the southwest one-fourth of Section 31. Dr. Jos. C. Tibbie arrived with the Slocum family on Nov. 17, 1855, and located on parts r-.i Sections 19 and 20. They were from Ripon, Wis. In the spring of 1856, came Conrad Stultz and settled in Section 18. Early in the summer of 1857, Alfred and Smith Keech came with their families to Section 32. In the fall of 1857, Isaac Bundy and his son, Willis G. Bundy, located claims in Sections 30 and 20 and returning to their old homes in Beloit, Wis., brought their families to Lincoln the next spring. There was hardly any further settlement made until after the close of the war, when the Nor- wegians and Swedes began settling in the town. During 1864-5-6 the Norwegians commenced to occupy the north part of the town. Among those who came then were; Capt. E. P. Lieberg, Knute Halvorson, Matthew Simon, Ole' Soren, Herman Olson, Ole Olson (Skilewag), Nels Tor- gerson, John Hustroft, Jacob Jacobson, Hogan Nelson, Kittle Rasmussen, John C. Johnson and Fred Johnson. The latter came from Batavia, Wis. in 1866, and still resides on his homestead in Section 4. In October, 1865, came Rev. John A. Peter- son, Andrew Swenson, Andrew Erickson and Mons Johnson, all from near Carver, Sibley County, Minn, and took claims in the south- eastern part of Lincoln. The following year came Peter M. Peterson, Swen Martinson, An- drew Granlund, Swen Bergtson and Swen and Peter Swenson, also from near Carver. In 1867, came Rev. .John Erickson, Andrew Erickson, Jonas P. Johnson and Aug. W. Johnson. These formed the nucleus of the present Swedish Bap- tist settlement of Lincoln. During this same period came the American families of . Chas. E. TenEyck, John W. Trask, N. W. Conger, David Quinn, Richard B. Sprague, C. D. Hallo- way, A. H. Fairbanks, William Roberts and M. H. Miller. The town was designated '^Richfield" on April 6, 1858, and on the 16th of the same month the name was changed to "Fox Lake" (See Ceresco). Sept. 6, 1865, the County Commis- sioners separated the town from Ceresco, to which it had heretofore been attached, and made it into an independent town under the name of "Lincoln," after the great War President. The first town election was held September 26, 1865, at the home of John W. Trask, when the fol- lowing .officers were chosen: Supervisors, Isaac Slocum, Chr., S. D. Halloway and Isaac Bundy; clerk, J. W. Trask; treasurer, J. C. Tibbie; justices, Albert Keech and Wm. Roberts; con- stables, A. H. Fairbanks and M. H. Miller. The first school was taught by Henry Goff in the winter of 1862-3 in a log building which Isaac Slocum had built for a shop. It lasted only two months and there were fifteen scholars in at- tendance. The first school district was No. 15, v/hich was organized about 1859, and a log school house built about 1866-7. Sept. 1, 1866, school district No. 85 was organized on petition of E. P. Lieberg and others. The first officers were Capt. E. P. Lieberg, Ole Soren and John C. Johnson. A small log school house was erected in the spring of 1871, on Section 8. The first school in this district was taught by Miss Mary Plymat of Garden City. A good frame school house was built later. In 1870 a school house was built in district 119, and in the summer of 1873, a brick school .house, 20x30 feet was erected in district 67 to replace the old log building. About- 1880, this brick edi- fice was wrecked by a storm; HISTORY OF BLUB EARTH COUATY. 261 In November^ 186 ;■, a new postofiice called "Iceland" was established in Lincoln with Dan- iel Qumn as postmaster. In Aug., 1869, Mr. Quinn resigned and A. H. Fairbanks succeeded him as keeper of the U. iS. mail. The Swedish people under Rev. John A. Peterson began holding religious services shortly after their arrival in the spring of 1866. In 1868, a Swedish iiaptist CHurcn was organized by Rev. Peterson witn twenty-live members. For some time this society worshiped in private houses, but as soon as the school house in dis- trict No. 119 was built in 1870, the services were removed thitlier. in A'ovember, 1873, Rev. John A. Peterson resigned to accept a Uaptist Church in Minneapolis and Rev. John Erick- son took charge of tlie Lincoln Church. June 16, 1876, the church was incorporated by the election of the following trustees: Mons Peter- son, And. Swenson, A. Grunlund, A. Erederick- son and A. P. Erickson. In 1881, a very tasty frame church was erected on the southeast cor- ner of Andrew Simonson's land, in the center of Section a6. The church membership has ranged between 60 and 70. The Norwegians were, also, a religious peo- ple and belonged almost entirely to the Luth- eran faith. The first services were conducted at private houses, until the erection of the log school house in District 85, when they were held there, and in tlie present frame school building, until the house of worship was erected in 1894. Rev. Nels Olsen was among the first to preach in the neighborhood. The first meet- ing for organization was held at the house of Peter Langen in Section 3, on Aug. 37, 1876, when the following persons were chosen trus- tees: Peter Langen, Wm. Peterson and E. Thomson. The name then adopted was "The Norwegian Lutheran Evangelical Church of Butternut Valley." Three years later at a meet- ing in the house of Herman Olson the name was amended by adding thereto, "and Lincoln." Again at a business meeting of the church held Nov. 6, 1882, at the log school house No. 85, new articles &f incorporation were adopted, with Sivert Kelley, Erland Lindso and Erland Kelley as trustees, Ered and Nels Johnson as witnesses. and the name selected was "The Norwegian Luth- eran Evangelical Church of Lincoln." June 9, 1883, Herman H. Olson gave the congregation a deed for two acres of land in the southeast corner of the southwest one-fourth of the southwest- one-fourth of Section 5 for a cemetery and building site. Here a fine church edifice was erected in 1894, costing about $1,800. About 1883, Rev. N. Heggerness became the pastor and officiated about five years. Other minis- ters have been. Revs. Christian Solensten, S. Romsdahl, S. A. Nelson, J. H. Brono, A. Hou- kom and Johan Matson. The first parochial school in connection with this church was started in private houses about 1871. The first teacher was Erick Swene. Since that time the school has usually been taught by students from Augsburg Seminary of Minneapolis. Of late years this school has been held at school house No. 85 for two months after the close of the public school. When the St. Paul and Sioux City Ry. was extended westward from Lake Crystal in 1870, a way station, with side track and platform, was located near the east line of Section 7, Lincoln. A telegraph office was put in later. The station was called Iceland, until 1906, when the name was changed to Perth. A far- mers co-operative creamery was built in 1890, in Section 15, with Wm. Kittlespn as the first buttermaker. A rural mail route was established in 1900, from Lake Crystal, and a farmers tele- phone line was built from Madelia in 1904. 'L'o sum up, Lincoln has five school houses, two fine churches, one railroad with telegraph sta- tion, a creamery, two rural free delivery routes and two telephone lines. LYRA. Lyra is traversed by both the Maple and Blue Earth rivers and is rich of soil and beau- tiful for situation. The first white settlers were Noble G. Root and Barney Simmons with their families in the fall of 1854. Early in 1855, the Winnebago Reservation was located by the govern- ment in Blue Earth County and made to include the present town of Lyra, and these two settl- 262 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. eis were obliged to abandon their claims early in 185C. April 16, 1858, the County Conunis- sioners named the town "Tecumseh." On the removal of the \Vinnebagos in 1863, the town "was restored to white settlement and was at- tached to Mapleton for ofEicial purposes, fciome time before the Indian removal, Jiarnabas Sim- mons had moved back to his old claim, in Section 33 and lived with the Indians undisturbed. The first permanent settler after the Indian removal was Marcus L. Plumb, who located on Section 2S in the spring of 1864. The same year Ly- sander Cook settled on Section 5, Jason and Calvin M. Drake on Section 4, Eev. Jesse M. Thurston on Section 3, Gottfried Glaucke on Section 14, Chas. ISl. Plumb on Section 28, Ean Blossom on Section 18, Ered and William Hilke on Sections 32 and 16, Volney Crandall on Section 28, Levi Hauk on Section 10 and Jos. C. Harlow on Section 3. In 1865-6 came Gilbert Webster, Marion Hills, Simon and Thos. Garvin, Ephraim Palmer, John G. Morris, Martin Schroeder, Johnathan Townsend, Clark Puifer, Joshua Burgess, , Geo. E. Beals, Geo. Wilson and Har- vey Case. In 1867-8 came 0. Cassody, Andrew L. Heaton, John B. Eadcliff, Eev. Fredrick, A. Pratt, Benj. S. Hawes, and Wm. and Patrick Mountain and Thos. Benedict. May 29, 1866, the County Commissioners granted the petition of Marcus L. Plumb and twenty-six others for organization of the town and a meeting for the purpose appointed for the first Tuesday in July, at the house of Mar- tin Schroeder. Through some defect of notice another date had to be set. Accordingly on September 1, 1866, the Commissioners appointed September 22, as the date for the first meeting at Martin Schroeder's house, and at the same time the name of the town was changed from ''Winneshiek" to "Lyra." The new name had been suggested by Eev. J. M. Thurston, after a town he had come from in the east. The name had long been applied to places in a number of states. It comes to us from ancient mythology and was originally used to designate a northern constellation under the Ptolemaic system, as it was supposed to represent the lyre, carried by Appolo. The first town officers were: Supervisors, Gilbert Webster, chairman, Clark Puffer and Volney Crandall; clerk, Ly- sander Cook; treasurer, Gottfried Glaucke, jus- tices, M. L. Plumb and Ephraim Palmer; con- stables, Martin Schroeder and Chas. N. Plumb. The first birth occured in the family of Barney Simmons in 1855. The first marriage was that of Chas. N. Plumb to Miss A E. Meilicke, celebrated at the house of M. L. Plumb, in Section 28, by Eev. J. M. Thurston in December, 1865. The first religious services were conducted at the same house by the same minister in the fall of 1864. The first school was taught by Miss Elvira Eew in the summer of 1867, in a log school house located on the present site of Good Thunder. The first mill in town was a water power saw mill built in the summer of 1865 by Lasli- brook & Gates on the Maple river near the northeast corner of Section 28. In a year or two Eri L. Lashbrook sold out and the mill was owned and operated for four or five years by Trowbridge & Gates, and then the machinery was removed. In February, 1866, another small water power saw mill was built by Hiram B. Doty (or Doughty as sometimes written) on the j\Iaple river in the northeast quarter of Section 28. In Feb. 1868, Doty sold a half interest in the mill property to Merritt Pierce, who a year later sold it to A. M. Hewitt. Doty operated this mill until about 1876, when he removed it to Section 4, added a feed mill to it and put in steam power. This last mill he operated until about 1888. In 1868, Oren Pal- mer and Allen Miller built a saw and grist mill on the Maple near where the railway bridge now crosses that river. The saw mill machinery was taken out after a few years, and in March, 1881, the mill sold to E. F. Wilson, who ran it for two or three years, when it was abandoned. In 1867 Post & Doak built, on the Blue Earth Elver, in Section 18, a small water power saw and feed mill. The next year William H. and x\aron S. Post became sole proprietors. In June, 1869, they purchased of Doak the south- . west one-fourth of the northeast one-fourth of Section 18, for a mill site and in May, 1870, sold the plant to Herbert W. Dart. Dart made mSTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 263 use of an ancient bed of the river to construct a new mill race, which afforded a much better water power and more convenient site for the mill, which now had been changed to a fair sized grist and shingle mill. In January, 1871', Dart sold the mill to Henry 0. JJ^er, who in turn sold an interest in it in October, 1878, to Thos. G. Quayle. The mill was now removed to the top of the bluff, enlarged, and operated by means of a- cable, which communicated with the waterpower at the foot of the bluff. From this de- vice it was called "Cable Mills." It was now ex- clusively a grist mill. With its new machinery and under the management of two such able niiUers as Quayle and Dyer, it soon became very popular. In June, 1879, the mill was sold to Turner & Redfeam, who operated it with good success until about 1893, when they sold it to W. T. Thompson & Sons. In March, 1900, the mill was purchased by Joseph Kreuer, and ia August, 1905, was struck by lightning and burned. About 1870, Geo. Doty built a mill on the- Maple river in Section 2, which he operated for a few years, called the "Elkhorn Mills." In the fall and winter of 1905, E. L. Houk and Walter Eedfern built a large steam grist mill at Good Thunder which burned in the summer of 1908. During the days of the Winnebago Eeserva- tion, an Indian chief called. Good Thunder, occupied the log buildings and field which had constituted the homestead of Noble G. Eoot in Section 10. Here was a good ford of the Maple river, which after the chief was called "Good Thunder's Ford." When the Wells Eailroad was located in 1869-70, the proprietors ar- ranged to have a depot and town site near this ford. In October, 1870, John G. Graham, who had been in the mercantile business with Chas. B. Prazier at Garden City, began the erection of a store building, 10x24, at the proposed new town, which he opened that fall. The car- penter work on this first building in Good Thun- der was done by B. F. Webber, afterwards the eminent judge of the Ninth District. Mr. and Mrs. Graham moved to the new . building Nov. 30, 1870, and were the first settlers in Good Thunder village, ilay 6, 1871, a new postoffice called "Good Thunder's Ford" was established with Mr. Graham as postmaster. The new town was surveyed in April, 1871, in the west one-half of northwest one-fourth of Section 10, and the plat made by Levi Houk, (^lark W. Thompson, Jas. B. Hubbell and John A. Willard, and dated August 26, 1871. It was called "Good Thunder" after the old name of the ford. The second store was opened early in 1871, by L. E. Saxton & Son, and the third settler in the town was A. S. Handy, who started a blacksmith shop there in February, 1871. In the spring of the same year B. S. Hawes opened a general store; and in April, 1872, Chas. Hawcs succeeded Mr. Graham as postmaster. September, 18 Tl, Oscar Cassidy was appointed postmaster and was succeeded in February, 1876 by L. B. Saxton, who had started a small drug store in town in 1871. H. Wiedenhaft opened a boot and shoe store this same year. Dr. A. G. Meilicke located there about the same time. In the fall of 1873, the village built a two story frame school house, 24x40, A. W. Barron of Medo being the con- tractor. The railroad was not completed to the village until the latter part of September, 1874, when a depot was built. A tow mill was built in fall of 1873. A cornet band was organized by Professor Howe in winter of 1875-6, which flourished several years. Fred Mann opened a mercantile store there in 1875, A. F. Billet started a harness shop in 1876. In 1878, John G. Graham built a three story frame building fox a hotel and hall adjoining his store, which was opened with a ball on July 4, that year. The same year Aug. Ludtke started a store, which he sold to Sohre & Wend- landt in March, 1882. In 1898, L. E. Saxton died and his son, John Saxton, was appointed postmaster in his stead. In 1881, Austin & Flannegan had a saw and grist mill at the vil- lage, and J. J. F. Graf handled hardware and farm machines. Dec. 15, 1883, a Hook and Ladder Co. was organized in the village with J. G. Graham as foreman and J. J. F. Graf as assistant, and some apparatus procured. In 264 HTSTORY OP BLtJE EARTH COUNTY. 1885, H. Weidenheft built a brick block and in July oi same year J. G. Graham was made post- master. Kev. Jesse M. Thurston was a prominent character in the early history of Lyra. He was a Eaptist by faith, and it was natural that under his lead the hrst church in town should belong to that denomination. The services were conducted usually at M. L. Plumb's house, until the log school house was built on the site of Good Thunder, when they were transferred thither. Here in Oct., 1867, the "Maple Elver iiaptist Church" was organized by liev. Thurs- ton with eight members. Dec. "Zl, 1874, the following trustees were chosen: Marion Hills, Henry Dyer, Chas Hawes, Thos. Garvin, Oscar Cassidy. and Gustavus Meilicke. The society worshiped in a hall until the last of Novem- ber, 1884, when they first occupied their pres- ent house of worship, built that season on Lot 5, Elock 9, of Good Thunder. The M. E., aJeo, held services at school house 98, in the early days and organized in the village in 1878, under the liev. J. W. Powell. Catholic ser- vices were conducted by Father Wirth of Man- kato early in 1874, at the house of Wm. Moun- tain on iriection 29, where they continued until 1878, when a chapel was erected at the village, costing $2,500. The church was legally incor- porated as the "The Church of St. Joseph of Good Thunder" April 14, 1885, by Bishop John Ireland, Augustine Eevaux, A^icar General of Diocese, Thos. Duane, pastor; and Andrew Mc- Carthy and Wm. Mountain lay members. The first German Lutheran services were conducted by Eev. Albert Kuhl at the village school house. In the summer of 1877, a frame church was erected, and a parsonage in the fall. Septem- ber, 1885, they purchased the Adventist church for a parochial school house, and a school opened in November, with Adolph Kahlo as teacher. A parsonage for the teacher was built in fall of 1886. Eev. August Wollf was prominent as its early pastor. The church was incorporated May 29, 1882, as "German Evangelical Luth- eran Johannes Church at Good Thunder," with the following trustees: Gottfried Schwan, Fred Bleedorn, John Sompke, and John Bosin. June 5, 1898, the following new trustees were ap- pointed: Ered Pautsch, Carl Matzke and Ed- ward Malzahn, with Herman Darge and C. Breuscke presiding. In the winter of 1887-8 a split occured in the church. Eev. Applo was the leader of the seceding wing, and for about a year there was great commotion among the people. The two pastors met in a large hall to discuss in joint debate the question at issue and great crowds gathered to hear them. The se- ceding party incorporated July 23, 1890, as the "German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church of Good Thunder," with Louis Kran- hold, P. C. Witting and E. Christ Blume as trustee. A church building was erected later. In 1895, the Johannas Church erected a fine new brick building costing about $11,000. The dedication occurred September 20th of that year, when an immense crowd gathered to listen to the impressive service. A number of prominent divines were present and delegations from the Lutheran Churches of Maidcato, Lake Crystal, Eapidan, Willow Creek, Amboy, Danville and St. Clair attended the impressive services. Early in the eighties the Seventh Day Advent- ists organized a church at Good Thunder. In the fall of 1883, they built a chapel which was dedicated on February 17, 1884, Elder Olson officiating. The church grew rapidly in those days, and in the fall of 1885, their chapel became too small, and it was sold and a larger chapel erected that fall. Eev. M. W. Gregory was their pastor at that time. The church is still flourishing. May 10, 1895, Bishop Gilbert held Episcopal services at Good Thunder, when it was decided to form a church and build a chapel. The latter was erected during the summer at a cost of $1,050. May 3, 1890, Good Thunder voted $5,000 to build a new school house. A fine two story brick edifice was completed in 1892, and Chas. Hawes was the first teacher therein. He had taught the first school in Good Thunder ■ twen- ty-three years before in the old log building. Sept. 6, 1891, the Good Thunder Herald was started by Frank H. GrifEin, which paper is still doing well. January 6, 1893, the Bank HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. ■265 of Good Thunder was organized with the fol- lowing directors: W. E. Wilmot, A. C. Wilmot, J. G. Graham, W. H. McGrew, D. McCarthy, Wm. Ellis and H. G. DetlafE. The bank started about Eeb. 1, 1893. In July of this year E. H. Morlock succeeded A. C. Wilmot as cashier. In March, 1889, C. L. Saxton was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded in Aug. 1893, by F. H. GriflEin, who in turn, August 1897, was succeeded by W. A. Wilsie. March 3, 1893, Good Thunder voted to incorporate as a village by a vote of seventy-nine to fourteen. We have spoken elsewhere of Good Thunder as the center of the Alliance movement in our county and of its great celebrations. The place today is a live substantial village enjoying a good trade. MANKA.TO. We have given much space to the settlement and growth of Mankato both city and township in the general history of the county and it is not necessary to repeat the same facts again. Besides, a complete history of our county seat, would require a volume of itself, and space will not permit such particularity. I shall, there- fore, only review a few facts very briefly. Man- kato was founded in February 1853. Incor- porated as a village March 2, 1865, and as a city March 6, 1868. The roster of its Mayors are as follows: James A. Wiswell, 1808-70. Z. Paddock, 1870-72. J. J. Thompson, 1872-75. Jas. A. Wiswell, 1875-79. Edwin Bradley, 1879-81. Jas. A. Wiswell, 1881-82. Geo. Maxfield, 1882-84. Geo. M. Palmer, 1884-85. Geo. T. Barr, 1885-87. P. H. Carney, 1887-91. John A. Willard, 1891-93. Edgar A. Weaver, 1893-97. A. E. Pfau, 1897-1899. F. M. Currier, 1899-1901. Nicholas Peterson, 1901-1903. Chas. T. Taylor, 1903-1907. J. W. Andrews, 1907. The list of postmasters of Mankato: P. K. Johnson, 1853-1856. Basil Moreland, 1856-1860. Fred C. Roosevelt, 1860-1861. Reuben J. Sibley, 1861-1864. Miss Anna M. Sibley, 1864-1865. James Thompson, 1865-1869. W. B. Griswold, 1869-1871. Orville Brown, 1871-1883. L. P. Hunt, 1883-1885. John C. Wise, 1885-1886. James Cannon, 1886-1890. W. 'W. P. McConnell, 1890-1894. John C. Wise, 1894-1897. L. P. Hunt, 1897-1902. C. L. Benedict, 1902-1907. A. J. Veigel, 1907. The public school buildings of Mankato, and the dates of their erection: Log School House, 1855. Union, 1866-7. Pleasant Grove, 1871. Franklin, 1874. West Mankato, 1885. High School, 1891. East Mankato, 1895. List of Superintendents: Jenness, 1867-8. Henry Barnard, 1868-9. E. D. B. Porter, Sept. and Oct., 1869. A. P. Tukey, 1869-74. David Donovan, 1874-5. A. F. Bechdolt, 1876-80. Wm. F. Gorrie, 1880-4. K. K. Denfeld, 1884-6. A. F. Bechdolt, 1886-92. Geo. F. Kenaston, 1892-7. A. W. Varney, 1897-9. Edwin B. Uline, 1899-04. James M. McConnell, 1904 Second State Normal School located at Man- kato, was started Oct. ?, 1868. The first part of its present building was erected in 1869-70. A large addition was made to the building in 1894, another addition in 1906, and a second building erected in 1908. The presidents of the school have been: Geo. M. Gage, 1868-1872. Miss J. A. Sears, 1872-1873. (Acting president). D. C. John, 1873-1880. Edward Searing, 1880-1898. Chas. H. Cooper, 1898 to present time. Mankato, also, has two large parochial schools and two private commercial colleges. The Ger- man Catholic school was started in the fall of 1865, with three sisters of Notre Dame in charge. In 1875-6 the present large, four story, brick building was erected. After this a male teacher was also employed. The first was Jo- seph Karl, succeeded in 1877, by Nicholas Moes, who in turn was succeeded in 1898/ by Frau Suellentrop. The school has increased from eighty-seven pupils the first year, to over 600 at present. 266 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. The German Lutheran School was started January 16, 1883, by Eev. K. P. Schulze with thirteen scholars, which increased to ninety- seven before the end of the year. Theo. Dies- uer was soon employed as teacher to relieve Rev. Schulze, whose pastoral duties required all his time. Mr. Diesner did not prove a success and resigned in March, 1884, and Rev. Schulze was obliged to resume the care of the school until May, 1885, when Prof. F. L. F. Brockmeyer was put in charge, and remained at the head of the school with great success until failing health obliged him to resign. The school now numbered over 200 pupils and a fine two story brick school building was erected in 1905. The Mankato Commercial College was started June 10, 1891, by Howard L. Rucker and Arthur G. Matter. After one year. Prof. Rucker sold his interest to H. J. Brandrup. In 1896, Prof. Matter sold out to W. E. Freeman. The latter retired in 1898, to become county super- intendent of schools, and Prof. Brandrup was sole proprietor until July, 1899, when Geo. E. Nettleton bought a half interest in the school. The growth of the school has been phenomenal. Beginning with about half a dozen pupils, it now has 300 to 400. Until 1908, the school occupied the upper story of the Sterns' Block, but in the fall of 1907, Brandrup and Nettle- ton purchased the large three story brick block, which now constitutes the permanent home of this excellent school. The Toland Business University was started in the fall of 1904, in the upper story of the Hubbard-Patterson Block. It met with such success that it was soon obliged to branch out for additional room to empty stores. When the Richards Block was constructed in 1905, the upper story was built for the special use of this school, where it is now conveniently located and doing splendid work. The school is owned by Prof. Chas. C. Owen, and has a splendid corps of instructors. Mankato has twenty-two church buildings, including those of North j\Iankato, and there are two or three religious societies who worship in halls. Seventh Day Adventists organized first early in the seventies. In the summer of 1874, they built a house of worship in Tinkcom's addition. In three or four years this first society becarae scattered and the church building was removed to Eagle Lake. In 1883 the church was reor- ganized. September 35, 1888, the society be- came incorporated by the election of the follow- ing trustees: David Quinn, Wm. H. Pettis and Gaylor Mattison. Their present building stands on State street and was erected in 1888-9. The membership is about eighty. First Baptist Church, organized by Rev. J. R. Ash, August 21, 1859, with twelve charter mem- bers. Worshiped first in Masonic Hall. In spring of 1861, purchased a frame building of James Cannon, on present site of "Review Office" on Front street, which was occupied by society until May, 1867, when it was sold to J. C. Wise for a printing office. After this, the church worshiped in the log school house, and in halls until May 3, 1868, when a frame chapel was dedicated on site of present church on South Broad Street. Sunday school started January 28, 1865. F. T. Wait and M. L. Plumb were first deacons. Prominent among its pastors were: J. W. Rees, Wilson Whitney and F. E. R. Miller. During the pastorate of the first, two members, who were destined to become great leaders and workers in the church joined it — namely, W. C. Durkee and Geo. M. Palmer. In 1888, the present fine edifice was erected. The membership is about 300. The West Mankato Branch Baptist church was organized in 1892, with twenty-six mem- bers. A. Sorenson was moderator of the meet- ing, and the other officers were: E. Strand, clerk; Blomquist, treasurer; G. Tanquist and J. Johnson, deacons. The church was incor- porated May 5, 1899, by the election of Frank Tanquist, Chas. Lindfeldt, and Gust Tanquist as trustees. Their chapel was dedicated March 16, 1902. Members about fifty. St. John's Catholic Church, (English) was started in June, 1884, under Father John Prior. It was legally incorporated Aug. 22, 1885, by Bishop John Ireland, Father A. Ravaux, Rev. John Prior and James Doherty and James Car- !S^?^'??5'^^ I BLUE EARTH mm, Ct A A MINNESOTA MiNNeOPA FflLLS HISTOEY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. ■267 ney lay members. The corner stone of their church building was laid JSov. 24, 188i, and the dedication was held June ^0, 1886. i'ather Prior was succeeded by Father Daniel Hughes, and he by leather lioDert Hughes, the present pastor. The congregation numbers about -±50. St. Peter and St. Pauls Catholic Church, (German) was started at a meeting held De- cember 30, 1854, at the log hotel of Clements Kron. Father Kavaux and Vivaldi and Bishop Cretin ministered to the congregation untiJ March, 1856, when Father Valentine ISommer- eisen became the first settled pastor of the church. A log hut on Agency Hill was the first chapel. A stone chapel, 30x40 feet was erected in 1856. The present fine church was dedicated Nov. 23, 1873, by Bishop Thomas Grace, during the able pastorate of Father A. Wirth. The church was put in charge of the Jesuit Fathers in January, 1886. Many costly improvements have been made from time to time on the church building and its furnish- ings, its equipment costing in all about $47,000. In connection with this church, the sisters of the Sorrowful Mother erected St. Joseph's Hospital — one of the best and most important institu- tions in the city. The congregation now num- bers about 3,000, and their present chief pastor is Father Theo. Hegemann. The First Christian Church was organized May, 1868. The charter members were : James B. Elliot, Elizabeth Elliot, Clementine Elliot, E. W. Dickenson, Anna Dickenson, Elizabeth Chenowith, Meriam Eadford, Eobert _Sharpe, Jessie Sharpe, Joseph Powers, Cecilly Powers, Levi Scott, Mahala Scott, Clementine Levan, Amanda Holmes, Anna Brown and Sarah Davis. The first pastor was Eev. Austin B. Council, who began his work in June, 1870. The church was incorporated Feb. 1, 1871, by election of following trustees: HayJen E. Garrett, Henry S. Goff, John M. Faddis, Chauncy A. Austin, and Elijah W. Dickinson. Eed Jacket Hall was the first home of the church, but in 1872 its first chapel was built. The present edifice was completed in 1895. The membership is about 200 and the last pastor Eev. V. Black has re- cently resigned. First Congregational Church organized at Shoemaker's Hall, Aug. 28, 1870. The charter members were : Harvey JMeacham, Geo. S. Meacham, j\largaret Meacham, L. Z. Torry, Harriet F. Torrey, Geo. M. Gage, Elizabeth Gage, J. A. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, Caro- line C. Brown, Susie M. Dyer, A. P. Tukey, Miss Arabella Olds and Miss Jeimie Hayden. a^he church incorporated Oct. 29, 1870, by the election of the following trustees: Francis Burke, James Morrison and J. A. Kennedy. The first pastor was Eev. C. H. Merril, followed in two years by Eev. L. W. Chaney. The church building was erected in 1871, remodeled and enlarged in 1906. The parsonage was built in 1907. Membership about 150. Present pastor Eev. B. L. Heermance. The Swedish Congregational Church was or- ganized in 1889, the first trustees elected on July 25, of that year, were: A. Hjerpe, An- drew Anderson and John P. Anderson. John Almquist was the first clerk. Eev. G. A. Burg was the first pastor. The church worshiped in the old Swedish Lutheran building until 1895, when the present edifice was built on Belgrade Avenue. jMembership about seventy. St. John's Episcopal Church organized June 27, 1860, by Bishop Whipple. Eev. E. W. Blow was the first regular pastor in July, 1862. He was followed in April, 1863, by Eev. Geo. C. Tanner, who in turn was followed by Eev. Alpheus- Spor. The first incorporation occured July 9, 1866, at Shoemaker's Hall when the following officers were chosen : Wardens, N. Finch and Dr. J. C. Jones; vestrymen, 0. 0. Pitcher, P. B. Sparrow, J. HoUenbeck, C. D. Dunscomb, A. L. Lindholm, F. H. Waite, J. A. Wiswell, and E. D. B. Porter. The corner stone of the chapel was laid August 15, 1866, and the building occupied in August, 1867, but not completed and dedicated until Dec. 7, 1869. The rectory was built in 1887 — Present mem- bership about 185. Jerusalem Church of Evangelical Associa- tion was organized in 1868, and incorporated March 8, 1869, with following trustees; Geo. Eoose, Geo. Ortt and John Hauck. In 1872, their chapel was built under the pastorate of 268 HISTORY OF BLTJE EARTH COUNTY. Eev. W. Oehler and dedicated Dec. 1, of that year. The present membership is about fifty. "(ierman , aivangelicai Ijutuerau jLmmanuei ChurciL" was iegaiiy mcorporateu oepieuiijer lo, l«oii, by Henry Jlimmelman, x^'. rL. btaner- uagie, Jacob I'raub, John urener and Simon jDiume. (ierman ijucneran Missionaries naa preacned occasionaiiy at Maniiaco between laoU ana 18(3(5, but tne congregation was not really organizea until beptemoer n, loo^, wiien a cnurch ana parsonage were uuut. Itev. VV. Vomhof, the nrst regular pastor arrivea m August, 18b7. Jie resignea m less tnan a year ana was succeedea by itev. A. Jvunn br., wno in IHH'/i, was succeeaed m turn by Hev. i^.. i?'. Sichuize. in October, 1884, a large new bricJi church was erected. Two years later a good parsonage was finished. They sustain an excel- lent parochial school, and m iyU(j, the large, well equipped Immanuel Hospital was built under the auspices of this churcU. The present membership is about 700 and Kev. A. F. Win- ter is its efficient pastor. "Our Savior's Norwegian Evangelical Luth- eran Church" became a legal body in April, 1871, by the election of the following trustees : Lars C. Nilson, Christina Hanson and Berga- men Joliannesen. There had been a congrega- tion formed two or three years before. Until 1875, the church worshiped in the German Lutheran chapel. In this year the congregation divided and two church edifices were built, one by the above named corporation on the corner of Pleasant and Carroll, and the other by the "Trinity Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church" on the corner of Van Brunt and Car- roll. The former has a membership of about 130, under Eev. Nils Norgaard, and the Trinity Church has about 228 members under Eev. John H. Brono. "The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Imman- uel Church" dates its origin to the year 1871. In those early days it met in private houses, Higgins Hall, and the old Court House. The church was organized in 1874:, by the election of the following officers: Trustees, Chas P. Hallman, Louis Anderson and T. A. Fait; deacons, John Freeman, J. T. Hultengren and John F. Johnson; and clerk, Chas. F. Hallman. This year a brick chapel was erected in West Mankato and Eev. J. G. Lagerstrom became their first pastor. In 1886, a division arose in the church over the question of excluding from the membership those who belonged to frater- nal societies. January 10, 1887, the seceding majority formed a new organization under Eev. S. Anderson and the following ofEicers were chosen: Trustees, Soren Johnson, Chas. Peter- son and John Dahlen; deacons, John G. Mag- nuson, Martin Nelson and John Paulson. Wil- liam's Hall served as a meeting place imtil the erection of the present fine house of worship in 1892, under the able leadership of Eev. S. C. Franzen. In 1902, the church received a gift of a pipe organ from Gen. G. Widell. The congregation now numbers 650 with 250 com- municants. The Centenary M. E. Church was started as early as the summer of 1855, when a class was organized by Eev. Lewis Bell. Methodist min- isters had preached in the town as early as 1853 and 4. In October, 1855, Eev. John W. Powell was appointed the first pastor of the church. Meetings were held in halls and the log school house until 1866, when the base- ■ment of the first church building was finished, and the superstructure completed in 1870. The first incorporation of the church occured Janu- ary 3, 1860, when the following trustees were appointed: David Lines, E. J. Sibley, John Hemperly, Benjamin Hotaling, John N. Hall, Joseph "Thompson, and Isaac N. Britton. It was reincorporated January 17, 1884, when Elder J. N. Liscomb appointed the following trustees: 0. E. Mather, A. H. Allen, Wm. Pear- son, Geo. W. Bradley and D. L. Clements. In 1907, the present elegant edifice was erected at a cost of over $30,000, under the leadership of the present pastor, Eev. Peter Clare. The present trustees are: J. W. Andrews, J. H. Baker, T. C. Peart, John White, J. S. Young, Nelson Weed, George W. Sugden, C. Gable, and the stewards are: D. L. Clements, S. H. Grannis, A. J. Nelson, B. C. Parmalee, G. E. Nettleton, Thos. Dooley, H. W. Maltby, H. J. HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 269 Kuhn, C. M. Piero, Wm. Page and Frank Hunt. The membership is about 375. The Belgrade Avenue M. E. Church was or- ganized in 1899 and a chapel was erected in 1900. The German M. E. Church was organized in 1873, by Eev. F. E. Schulte. May 31, 1877, ilie church was incorporated by the appointment of the following trustees: Christian Maae, Chris- tian Luehring and Johann Frey. May 18, 1879, their church building was dedicated, a brick struc- ture, 33x54, which cost over $3,100. The present membership is about 70. The First Swedish M. E. Church was organ- ized Sept. 5, 1886, by Eev. J. D. Andrews, and incorporated January 2, 1897, by Elder Oscar J. Stead with the following trustees : Peter Carl- strom, F. W. Skoog, Nels Hoglund, GustofE Carlstrum and Erick Johnson. The church building was dedicated April 30, 1903. Mem- bership about forty. The First Presbyterian Church was started in February, 1854, by Eev. James Thomson, who held regular services thereafter. It was the first church in Mankato and Eev. Thomson was the first regular minister to locate in the county. The organization of the church occured August 31, 1855. A. D. Seward was the first Elder. The church worshiped in halls and the log school house until the erection of its first chapel in 1865. It was incorporated May- 15, 1863, when the following persons were elected trustees : A. D. Seward, B. P. Freeman, J. A. Willard, David Lamb, H. P. Christensen, Cornelius Wampler, J. S. Batchelder, J. J. Shaubut, and J. J. Por- ter. The present elegant church edifice was be- gun in 1893, and completed in 1896. Prominent among its pastors have been, Thos. Marshall, J. B. Little, Lee W. Beattie and Geo. W. Davis. The .present pastor is Eev. T. Eoss Paden, and the membership over 500. Hope Mission was started by the First Pres- byterian Church in August, 1887, and a neat chapel erected in which Sunday school and other services have been regularly held ever since. The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church was started in 1865, and it was organized in Decem- ber of that year. Among the charter members were John D. Jones, and wife, Ellis E. Ellis and wife, Mary Eoberts, Hugh Hughes, Wm. Fran- cis, Wm. S. Hughes, Margaret Jones, Owen Eo- berts and wife and Owen Jones and wife. The church was incorporated Feb. 30, 1867, with the following trustees: Wm. Jones, Wm. W. Jones, John E. Thomas and Eev. Wm. Eoberts. The first church building was erected in the spring of 1867. Eichard T. Jones was made an elder in 1871, and in 1877, four elders were chosen, namely: Hugh Jones, Owen Jones, John D. Evans and James Griffiths. In February, 1884, the first building was burned, and in the fall of the same year a new brick church was built on State street. This was replaced in 1896, by the present fine edifice. Eev. Eichard F. Jones be- came pastor in Nov. 1873, Eev. John C. Jones, in Feb. 1884, and Eev. Wm. E. Evans in Janu- ary, 1895. The present membership is about 150. The Christian Scientists and the Christian Volunteers, also, hold regular services in the city, but have no church building. A Hebrew church called "Bnay-Israel" was organized Oct. 14, 1907, at the residence of L. Salet, where the society worships. Tlie roster of persons who enlisted from Man- kato in the war of the Rebellion : Adams, John D., Co. H, 3 Inf. Adams, Walter J., Co. B, 2nd Cav, Alden, Florence, Co. F, Ist Art. Alden Lafayette, Co. F, 1st Art. Andrus, Chas. H, Co. K, Ist Inf. Arnold, Kasper, Co. F, 1st Art. Barnard, Homer, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Bartlett, Daniel F., Co. H, 4th Inf. Barts, Mathias. Co. II, 4th Inf. Beatty, John R., captain Co. H, 4th Inf. Becker, Geo., Co. E, 9th Inf. Benjamin, Ephraim, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Bennett, Chas., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Bennett. Lewis, Co. K, 2nd Inf. Blake, Albert H., Co. F, 1st Art. Blackburn, Chas., Co., 4th Inf. Borghmeir, Henry, Co. B, Mt. Rangers. Bottomly,- Wm., Co. F, 1st Art. Braekelsherg, Frederick, Co. H, 4th Inf. Brackelsberg. Gustav, Co. D, 5th Inf. Bruce, Wm., Co. E, 9th Inf. Brules, Hubert, Co. E, Mt. Rg. Buchanan. Colin, Co. H, 4 Inf. Buell, Edwin, C, Co. E, 9th Inf. Burgess, Harrison ;\f., Co. E, 9th Inf. Burgess, John H., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Burghoff, Wm., Co. E, :\rt. Be, 21 T icut. C. 11 Inf. Cannon, James. Co. I, 1st Inf. Casey, Edward, Co. K, 1st Inf. Campbell, Alexander, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Campbell, Chas. W., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Canfield, Levi H.,- Co. G, 10th Inf. Clark, Geo. A., Captain Co. H, 4th Inf. 270 HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUISITY. Clark, Omer J)., Co. H, 4th Inf. Clark, Wm. A., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Clark, Wm. W., Assistant Surgeon, 10th Inf. Chesron, J. M., Co. F, 1st Art. Coggrave, John W., Co. H, 2nd Art. Collins, Alvin M., Co. F, 1st Art. Cook, Wm. H., 2nd S. S. Coon, Wm. L., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Comstock, Byron W., Co. B, Br. Bat. Comstock, Francis A., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Copp, Julius, Co. E, Mt. Eg. Coy, Wm. A., Co. K, 1st Inf. Crousine, Scanto, Co. H, 4th Inf. Corp, Nelson, Co. E, 9th Inf. Conner, Noah C, Co. E. 9th Inf. Crawley, Walter, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Cross, Eugene, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Cummings, Hiram, Co. E, 9th Inf. Cummings, Geo. W., 1st S. S. Des Eevire, Chas. G., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Dewey, B. Parke, Co. H, 1st Inf. Dieher, Frederick, Co. H, 1st Inf. Dickerson, Nelson W., Captain Co. H, 2nd Inf. Dinsdale, Richard, Co. B, Br. Bat. Dittman, Frederick, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Doolittle, Edward, Co. F, 1st Art. Douglass, Alexander, Co. E, 9th Inf. Durkee, Wm. C, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Erwin, Chas. L., Co. F, 1st Art. Fagen, Daniel, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Fatz, Frank L., Co. E, 9th Inf. Finch, Chas. D., Co. B, Br. Bat. Flemming, Wm. H., Co. K, 1st Inf. Foltz, Geo., Co. G, 2nd Inf. Ford, Wm. A., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Foster, John 51., Co. H. 2nd Inf. Foster, Thos., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Foyles, Aaron L., Co. E, 2nd Inf. Fowler, Frederick, H., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Fowler, John G., Co. E, 9th Inf. Franklin, Jesse, Co. C, Br. Bat. Freundle, Adam, Co. E, Mt. Eg. Gesell, Albert, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Gleason, Wm., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Gillen, Owen E., Co. B, Br. Bat. Griffith, P. T., Co. E, 9th Inf. Gunn, David, Mac, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Hall, Geo. H., Co. F, 1st Art. Hamlin, Chas. S., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Hanna, Milton, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Harris, Franklin E., Co. F, 2nd Inf. Harrison, John E., Co. H, 1st Inf. Hatch, Howard S., Co. E, 9th Inf. Hasell Solomon, Co. E, 9th Inf. Hauerwas, John, Co. E, Mt. Eg. Hawley, Jesse B., Co. F, 1st Art. Hazzen, Benjamin M., Band, 1st. Inf. Hensley, Samuel H., Co. E, 9th Inf. Hilliard, John S., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Hilton, Summer C, Co. E, 9th Inf. Hilton, Henry S., Co. H, 2nd Cav. Holmes, Livola, N., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Captain. Hooser, James ' W., Co. B, 9th Inf. Hopkins, Volney, I., Co. B, Br. Bat. Howe', Edwin, Co. E, 9th Inf. Hudson, Joshua, Co. F, 1st Art. Humphrey, Henry, Co. E, 9th Inf. Jackson, Chester K,, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Jefferson, Adam, Co. E, Mt. Eangers. Johnson, Leonard C, Co. E, 9th Inf. Karmany, Uriah, S., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Kegan, Peter, Co. H, 4th Inf. Keene Josiah, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Keys, Geo. B.^ Co. H, 2nd Inf. Keysor, Clark, Co. E, 9th Inf. Captain. Kimpton, Chas. F., Co. F, H. Art. Kunselman, Wm., Co. E, 9th Inf. Kotthoff, Franz, Co. F, Mt. Eg. Krause, Chas., Co. G, 2nd Inf. Laundrosh, John B., Co. B, Mt. Eg. Loundrosh, Louis, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Legree, Joseph, Co. C, 9th Inf. Lee, H. K., Co. E, 9th Inf. Leequyer, Jas. B., Co. H. 2nd Inf. Lentz, Michaelj Co. H, 4th Inf. Lentz, Peter, Co. H, 4th Inf. Lentz, Peter A., Co. F, 1st Art. Liscomb, Geo. Co. H, 2nd Inf. Liscomb, Chas., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Loring, Geo. T., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Lovell, Geo. W., Co. F, 1st Art. Loyd, John T., Co. F, 1st Art. Lyon, John J., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Lvtle, A. S., Co. H, 2nd Inf. iiader, Peter, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Mather, Geo., Co. B, Mt. Eg. Martin, Wm. J.. Co. E, 9th Inf. Maxfield, Kinzie, Co. E, 9th Inf. ilaxfield, Geo., Co. E, 9th Inf. Maxfield, "Wesley, Co. E, 9th Inf. JlcCoskel, Geo. J., Co. F, 1st Art. McGerry, John, Co. B, Mt. Eg. JIcElroy, Alex., Co. K, Mt. Eg. McKullup, Geo. W., Co. I, S. S. McKinney, Chas, I., Co. H, 2nd Inf. JlcClure, Gilbert, Co. E, 9th Inf. Metzler, Adolph, Co. H, 4th Inf. McMurtrie, Hugh, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Morris, John G., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Nash, James H., Co. D, 1st Art. Nash, Thos. W.,"Co. D, 1st Art. Nason, Roswell L, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Oberle, Xavier, Co. E, Mt. Rg. Otis, Pearl, Co. H, 4th Inf. Owens, Hugh J., Co. F, 1st Art. Captain. Palmer, Jesse W., Co. E, 9th Inf. Parrott, Geo. N., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Parsons, Dewitt S. Co. H, 2nd Inf. Payer, Geo., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Pease, Frank L., Co. F, 1st Art. Peffer, Geo., Co. A, 1st Inf. Pelkey, Lewis, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Pelkey, James, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Peterson, Harvey, Co. E,. 2nd Ca\-. Pfaff, Jacob, Co. H, 4th Inf. Philbriek, Chas., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Pierce, Parker J., Co. F, 1st Art. Porter, Daniel W., Co. H, 4th Inf. Pirath, Peter, Co. E, Mt. Rg. Purdy, Marvin N., Co. Ej 2nd Cav. Rasko, Matthias, Co. A, Br. Bat. Reed, Albert, Co. F, H. Art. Eeeder, Elijah, Co. E, 9th Inf. Reinhold, Joseph, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Renna, J. B., Co. H, 4th Inf. Rice, Benj. T., Co. H, 3d Inf. Richards, Jas., Co. F, 1st Art. Rew, Richard A., 3rd Bat. Roland, Simon, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Roberts, Robert, Co. E, 9th Inf. Rogers, Geo. W., Co. H, 4th Inf. Rollin, John, Co. F., 1st Art. Ruegg, Henry, Co. E, 2nd Cav., 1st Ideut. Sabbath, Geo., Co. E, Mt. Rg. Seebauer, Peter, Co. K, Mt. Rg. Sargent, John H., Co. E, 2nd Cav. HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COIiNTy. 271 Sargent, Joseph, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Seamon, Fletcher I., Co. A, 2nd Inf. Seward, Frederick D., Co. E, 9th Inf. Schreger, John, Co. G, 2nd Inf. Schweitzer, Ferdinand, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Schuellenberger, John, Co. E, Mt. Eg. Sehwickert, John, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Shearer, Ferdinand, Co. E, 9th Inf. Sherman, Isaac, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Slaughter, Robert F., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Sibley, Billings, J., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Smith, Ira S., Co. E, 9th Inf. Smith, Andrew F, Co. C, 11th Inf. Smith, Cyrus W., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Sontag, Matthias, Co. G., 2nd Inf. Staley, Jacob, Co. F, Ist Art. Stannard, Geo. J., Co. F, 1st Art. St. Cyr, Moses, Co. F, 1st Art. St. Cvr, Edward, Co. E, 2nd Cav. St. Cyr, John M., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Stfciner, Joshua, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Steinbach, Henry, Co. B, 7th Inf. Stewart, Chas., Co. H, 4th Inf. Strom, Matthias, Co. E, Mt. Eg. Stumpflfield, Edward, Co. G, 2nd Inf. Stutz, Henry, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Taylor, Chas. W. B., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Taylor, Isaac, Co. H, 3rd Inf. Thayer, David N. H., Co. E, 9th Inf. Thomas, John, Co. E, Mt. Eg. Thomas, Wm. Eay, Co. E, 9th Inf. Thomson, James, Co. H; 2nd Inf. Thomson, Wm. H., Co. E, 9th Inf. Tourtellotte, Henry, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Tourtellotte, John's., Lieut. Col., 4th Inf. Tibbetts, Henry C, Band, 2nd Inf. Titus, Ernest, Co. F, 1st Art. Trampert, Matthias, Co. E, Mt. Eg. Tonner, Geo., 2nd S. S. Tyner, Harmon, Band, 1st Inf. Ulman, Peter, Co. E, Mt. Rg. Vale, John, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Vaughn, John, Co. E^ Mt. Eg. Vogel, Anthony, Co. F, 1st Art. Wagner, Samuel T., Co. I. 6th Inf. Wagner, 0. F., Co. B, Mt. Rg. Wagoner, John C, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Walker, Benj. F., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Wa,rd, John S., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Wallingford, John L., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Webster, Freeman 0., Co. E, nth Inf. Webster, Martin L., Co. E, 9th Inf. Webster, Solon, Co. H, 1st Inf. Weiler, John, Co. G, Mt. Eg. Weiss, Nicholas, Co. G, 2nd Inf. Whittier, Franklin, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Wickoff, Wm. H., Co. H, 1st Inf. Williams, James A., Co. H, 4th Inf. Wirt, Jas. M., Co. E, 9th Inf. Wiscover, John, Co. E, Mt. Eg. Woleben, Joshua, Co. E, 9th Inf. York, Joseph, Co. E, 2nd Cav. MAPLETON". The town was first settled in the spring of 1856, by Uriah Payne, Ira Annis, J. \V. Spra- gue, James Cornell, Eobert Taylor and others, a full account of which settlement appears else- where is this volume. It was first called "Sher- man after Isaac Sherman an old settler of Dan- ville, or possibly, after x^sa P. Sherman, an old settler of Mapleton, who lived on Section twenty t'herein, and united with the old town of ;\[apleton, now Sterling, for administrative pur- poses. On separation of the two towns, the pres- ent names were adopted. The first town meeting of the independent municipality, was held April 2, 1861, at the home of James Cornell, but it adjourned for the afternoon to a log school house on Section seven. The first sermon was preached by James Cornell in a grove near former resi- dence of jSTeil Darroch. The first marriage was that of John Mund and Elizabeth Dixon, on Oct. 19, 1856, Eev. James Cornell ofEiciating. Mr. Cornell, also, officiated the same fall at the first funeral — a child of Azro Furguson. The first postofiice was established in 1857, with Stephen Middlebrook as postmaster. In 18C3, he was succeeded by Sylvester Hawkins, who in 1886 was succeeded by Eobert Taylor. In 1856 and 7, Vincent Wessels kept a small store at his home. Early in the sixties Sylvester Hawkins ran a store at his home in section 18, nntil February, 1866, when he transferred his farm, store and postofEice to Eobert Taylor. In 1865-6, H. A. Buck had a small store at old Mapleton and Wm. Wilde entertained the weary traveler at the same place. Benajah Corp, near the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 7, was the neigh- borhood blacksmith. About 1858, Middle- brook Bros, put up a steam saw mill on the Maple in the southwest quarter of section 7, which was burnt in June, 1863. They rebuilt the mill and operated it for two or three years thereafter. The old townsite of Mapleton was laid ont partly in this town, but it failed, and was vacated in Feb- ruar}^ 1863. The first school was taught in 1857, by Jar- vis P. Harrington in a log school house in Sec- tion 7. In 1867, a postoffice was established in the northeast corner of the town at the cabin of Joel Gates called "Garden Prairie." In 1870, Eichard Credicott succeeded Mr. Gates as its postmaster, but, when the Wells Eailway was built and the village of Mapleton founded about two or three years later, the office was discon- tinued. 272 HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. The present village of Mapleton was surveyed in October, 1870, and platted January 31, 1871, by David Smith, owner of the land, and Clark W. Thompson, James B. Hubbell and John A. Willard, builders of the Mankato and Wells Rail- way. The first store (a small grocery) was built in the fall of 1870, by James N. Wishart. In September of the same year, James E. Brown now editor of "Amboy Herald" and his brother Geo. Brown opened the second store — being the first general store. The railroad was built in 1874, and on Feb- ruary 29, 1875, Robert Taylor removed the Mapleton postofEice to the village, where he was postmaster until his death in June, 1883. He was succeeded by his son, James S. Taylor, who in turn was succeeded in Nov., 1885, by James McLaughlin. Then came Peter G. Johnston from May, 1889, to Oct., 1894, followed by Hugh M. Quinn, who held the office until Kov. 1900, when C. G. Spaulding was appointed. The village was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, February 23, 1878, and David Smith, J. E. Brown and L. Troendle appointed to call first corporate election. This election was held March 19, 1878, and the following officers elected: Trustees — Joel Gates, Lucius Troendle, James McLaughlin, and C. H. Wicks; treasurer, Sherman Peet; recorder, P. A. Foster; justice, C. W. Smith; constable, Henry Tenney. In the summer of 1889, a 2,000 barrel reser- voir was erected and a water system installed, which was enlarged three or. four years later. In January, 1884, the village purchased a Rumsey engine for the use of the fire company. In 1896, an electric light plant was installed by Sellers Bros. In the winter of 1901-2 a sewer system was constructed at a cost of over $7,000. Promi- nent among the pioneer stores, and now the old- est in the village, is that of L. Troendle, which was opened in the fall of 1872. The first grist mill was erected by Moses Gates and N. P. Nel- son in 1880. In 1881, it was leased to James Pearson, and later passed into the hands of S. Peet. December 31, 1886, it burned. In the summer of 1887, the present mill was built by Mr. Peet at a cost of $9,000, with 175 barrel capacity. It is now owned by the Mapleton Mil- ling Co. A private bank was started by Corliss & Brown in March, 1882. In September 1896, this bank failed and a State Bank was immedi- ately started, largely through the 'efforts of Judge Daniel Buck of Mankato. The latter's son, A. A. Buck, was made cashier and came near wreck- ing the bank in October, 1903. Through the spe- cial effort of its directors, it was restored to a solid basis, and reopened in a short time with 15. F. McGregor as cashier. March 31, 1903, the First National Bank was organized by W. A. Hanna, L. Troendle, J. E. Norton, Wm. Stroebel, R. B. Hanna, and John Stroebel, of which C. W. Borchert is the cashier. Sprague's Hall and Brown's Hall were early public gathering places. The I. 0. 0. F. and the Masonic lodges have each built fine blocks with good halls. Feb: 8, 1896, Mapleton was visited by a big fire, which destroyed six of its business houses. The following summer they were all replaced by brick blocks, which gave the village a much more substantial and modem appearance. The first school house was built in 1869, and Geo. A. Clark was the first teacher. This build- ing was occupied until 1878, when it was sold to the M. E. for a parsonage, and a new and larger structure was erected, after a very warm fight over its location. The high school was erected in 1887. The first newspaper in the village was the "Mapleton Messenger" started by J. L. Barlow, June 13, 1879. After a few months it moved elsewhere, and was succeeded April, 1880, by the "Mapleton Censor," which suspended March 1, 1881. Its editor was , J. B. Price. The next paper was "The Mapleton Enterprise" which was. started September 1, 1884, as a small monthly sheet by Brown, Wishart and Orr, as a means to advertise their store. It was first issued by Brown and Hotaling as a weekly newspaper on June 1, 1888, and not long thereafter H. C. Hotaling became its sole proprietor. The Mapleton Free Baptist Church was the first religious body to organize in the town. It was started about 1864-5, at the log house of Harlow Bassatt by Rev. S. A. Stow, with five charter members: John Goff, Minerva Goff, D. PIISTOTIY OF BLUE EARTH COTTXTY Boynton, Isaac Smith, and Fredrick Miller. It was incorporated June 6, 1868, when the fol- lowing officers were chosen: Deacons, Alonzo Clark and Fredrick Miller; trustees, Ira Annis, Isaac Smith, John Chase, John M. More, Fred- rick Miller and ]\rilton Mills. Soon after the village was started the church moved thereto and a building was erected in 1878, costing about $1,500. The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Jo- hannes Church was organized in 1871, with ten members. Eev. A. Barnake was its first pastor, and after holding services for a few times in private houses Troendle's Hall became its meet- ing place. In 1876, a church building was er- ected at a cost of $1,500. April 17, of this year the congregation was incorporated. Jacob Gei- senchoefer and A. Paget presided and the follow- ing trustees were chosen: Fritz Gruth, Chas. Proehl and Ch. Kruger. Christian H. Wicks was made deacon. The church is in a flourish- ing condition. It is claimed that the M. E. were the first to start regular religious services in the town. This was as early as 18-56, when Eev. J. W. Powell made Mapleton a part of his Shelby^'ille circuit, and a class was formed. Early in the sixties the M. E. held meetings at the house of Harlow Basset and at the Kruger school house. The church was organized at Mapleton village in 1870, by Eev. Powell, who was its first pastor. Their church building was erected in the sum- mer of 1891. The Congregational Church was incorporated at the residence of D. W. Brooks Oct. 23, 1882, by the election of the following trustees : James Morris, W. D. Sprague and .John Sprague. The ecclesiastical organization took place Dec. 26. 1889, and Eev. 0. 0. Eundell was its first pas- tor. At first they worshiped in the Baptist Church, but in 1882-.3 they erected a building of their own which was dedicated June 14, 188'i. The Eoman Catholic Church of St. Theresa was started in 1876. It was legallv incorpor- ated March 9, 1885, by Bishop John Ireland, Father Eaveaux and Eev. Thos. Duane. pastor, and James McLaughlin and John Schweitzer lay members. The first chapel was of brick, 1R 30x60 feet, built in the summer of 1876. The present splendid edifice was dedicated June 23, 1903. There is also a class of the German M. E. Church, which is ministered to occassionally at private residences by the Mankato pastor. The first hotel in the village was opened in 1870, by Henry Tenney. The Farnum House, was built in 1875, by C. W. Farnum, who was its proprietor until Nov., 1880. In 1878, W. H. Leighton built the ilapleton House, which Mr. and Jlrs. ]\Iartin Schlingerman have so success- fully conducted for many years. In the eighties. The Farnum House became the property of E. Traver, and was called the "Traver House" for many j'ears. In 1901, the old building was torn down and the present fine brick structure erected by Wm. Pagenkoff, and in January, 1902, Fred Gerlick was installed as its first landlord. The present landlord is Carl Splett. Among the pioneer business men of the vil- lage, not before mentioned are: A. Eima, who started a general store in 1875, Johnston and Marvin came later, Joel Gates, J. M. Sprague and Wm. Hanna, hardware, John Schweitzer, druggist: Wm. Albrecht, boots and shoes (1876) Chas. Dietz, harness shop : James McLaughlin, furniture; S. C Brooks, W. Tenney and Geo. M. Cooper, livery : Dr. Ira Bishop, L. W. Kreuger and F. G. Bomberger, physicians: John Paul, J. E. Norton and S. Poet, lumber: C. G. Spauld- ing, wheat buyer: T. B. Taylor and Henry Pagel, stock buyers: P. A. Foster, Wm. N. Ply- mat, Morgan A. Berry, C. J. Laurisch and IT. G. Argetsinger, lawyers: Griner it Co., clothing: J. S. Taylor, books: IT. M. Quinn, farm imple- ments. Besides the postoffices named, the pioneers were served by an office established in the early six- ties at Grapeland of which M. L. Lockerby was postmaster in November, 1877. The office was usually, however, kept just across the line in Faribault County. June 1, 1891. a postoffice was reestablished at Old J\Iaplcton called "Haw- kins" after an early settler, with ilrs. Jennette Taylor as the postmistress. Since the opening of the present century all rural postoffices have been done away with and the daily delivery sys- 274 HISTOKY OF BLUB EAKTH COUNTY. tem has been inaugurated. Telephones add still more to the facility for communication on farm and in village. Besides the village school, which is independent, there are five school districts in the town and two Joint school districts, in each of which there is a good frame school house, and an excellent school regularly maintained. The roster of the men who enlisted from Mapleton for the Civil War: Annis, Richard S., Co. C, llth Inf. Bowman, Tlios., Co. K, 1st H. Art. Boynton, David, Co. B, 5th Inf. Burcard, Eniil, Co. H, 4th Inf. Cole, Elihue, Co. A, 5th Inf. Cornell, James H., Co. I, 6th Inf. Cornell, Silas W., Co. E. 2nd Cav. Davis, James J. Co. K, 1st H. Art. Gale, Wm. Henry, Co. C. llth Inf. Hawkins, Wm., Co. B, 8th Inf. HoUenbeck, James, Co. H, Mt. Eg. Ilungerford, Asahel, Co. B, Mt. Eg. Hussey, Geo., 1st Wis. Cav. Hussey, W. A., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Hussey, John H., Co. H, Mt. Eg. Hyatt, Geo. C, Co. H, ^nd Inf. Latourell, Eeuben 0. Co. A, 1st Bat. Libby, W. J. Co. D, 1st Bat. Mead, Peter, Co. G, 4th Inf. Mead, Geo. W., Co. C, llth Inf. Morris, John G., Co. H, 2nd Inf. McGregor, Krazier, Co. H, Mt. Eg. Miller, Federick C. E., Co. C, llth Inf. More, John.M., Co. C, Mt. Eg. Myers, Peter, Co. C, llth Inf. Palmerton, John, Co. B, 2nd Cal. Patzholtz, Wm., Co. D., 1st H. Art. Eathstock, August, Co. F, 1st H. Art. Eeb, Stephen, Co. B, 1st Bat. Eew, E. G., Co. K, 1st H. Art. Stewart, James, Co. H, 3rd Inf. Sherman, Car\'ohis B., Co. B. 2nd Cav. Smith, Whitford, Co. C, llth Inf. Taylor, Edmund, Co. A, 5th Inf. Taylor, Ifaac M., Co. C, 2nd Cav. Vaie, John, Co. H, 2nd Int. McPHEKSOX. The first settlers were C'has." J\Ianstield and A. W. Callen, who settled on the east side of Eice Lake in the fall of 1854. In 1855, the town was made a part of the Winnebago Reservation and the Agency buildings were located on the site of the present village of St. Clair. A number of government officials and employees were settled here and made the point one of special import- ance during the Indian occu}iancy. August 31, 1855, the town was made an election precinct under the name of Eice Lake, after the lake of that name found therein, which was famous among the Indians for its production of wild rice. Chas. Mansfield, A. W. Callen and J. L. Alexander were the first election judges and twenty-one votes were cast in the fall of 1855. Among those connected with the Indian agency, who came here with the Winnebagoes in June, 1855, were: General J. E. Fletcher, Indian agent, Henry Foster, Joshua Ady, A. L. Foyles W. J. Cullen, Superintendent of Indian School, Chas. H. Mi-x, Asa White, Geo. Culver, Peter ilanaige, Xewell Houghton and J. L. Alexander. In June, 1856, John Johnston, afterwards of Sterling, located at the Agency as blacksmith. In 1861, J. B. Hubbell and Lucius Dyer and other republican officials under Agent Balcome located at the agency. The Indians were re- moved in May, 1863, and immediately settlers began pouring into the town. There are many tales connected with the old Winnebago Agency, some of which have been recounted on former pages. In parting with the Indian period space will permit but one more glimpse into its savage scenes. THE DEATH OF HONK HONKA. Life at an Indian Agency has many a sensa- tion and many a tragedy. In April, 1857, when the Inkpadutah trouble was at its height, there lived among the Winnebagoes, a vicious, drunken Indian named Honk Honka. In one of his wild periodical sprees he assaulted a white man so viciously that the matter could not be over- looked and the sheriff was sent for, who took the culprit to Mankato to lodge in the County jail. It happened to be the very day that Captain Lewis' company returned from their skirmish with the Sioux near Madelia, and everybody's fittention was taken up with that exciting event. While the deputy sheriff was stopping a minute in the bar room of the Mankato House to dis- cuss the news, he left Honk Honka, handcuffed, sitting on a -bench near the door. Suddenly the Indian darted out and disappeared into the neighboring brush, and aided by the gathering darkness escaped. After spending some weeks down in Sibley County, where some friends lib- erated his hands from the irons, he returned un- expectedly one day to the Agency and entered one of the Indian huts. Two papooses were sleeping on a bed in the room and Honk Honka, HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. being drunk as usual, threw himself on the bed crosswise, pinning both children under him. The cries of the youngsters brought the mother at once to their aid, but unable to extricate them, she ran out yelling frantically for help. X white man named, John Quinlan, hearing the disturbance rushed in and jerked the Indian off the bed. Honk Honka drew a long, sharp knife and rushed furiously at Quinlan, who dodged around the stove in the center of the room. For half an hour or more the mad chase was kept up around that stove until Quinlan was nearly ex- hausted. There was no time to open the door and get out, for the knife in the hands of that whisky crazed savage was too close to his back. The woman had disappeared and there was no response to his cries for help. At last he spied an ax in a corner of the room, and as he spun around the stove he managed to grab it, and facing suddenly about, he dealt the Indian a blow which severed his head from his shoulders. A number of young bucks soon came and gathered Honk Honka's body up in a blanket and hur- ried it. A brother of the deceased refused to ac- cept Quinlan's plea of self-defence, but threatened to avenge his brother's death. Knowing the Indian character, Quinlan concluded the Agency was not the safest place on earth for him, and departed for part unknown and thus ended the sprees of Honk Honka. By Sept. 2, 1863, sufficient settlers had lo- cated in the town to require the County Board to create it into an independent municipality. The name was changed from Rice Lake to !Mc- Clelan, after the famous Union General. The first town meeting was held at the house of Lu- oius Dyer on September 19, 1863. when the fol- lowing officers were elected : Supervisors, Asa White, chairman. J. Y. Colwell and Lucius Dyer ; clerk, Henry Poster ; treasurer, E. 0. Bart- lett; assessor, Chas, Manaig; justices, J. L. Alexander and J. Y. Colwell : constables. Aaron Foyles and Alexander Paver. Henry Foster was the first postmaster, appointed in 1856. He was succeeded in January, 1862, by James B. Hub- bell, who in turn was succeeded bv Lucius Dyer in May, 1863. Dyer had been Indian Farrher under the Eepublican administration, but on the departure of the Winnebagnes, had pur- chased the land on which the large brick resi- dence of the Indian agent stood, and occupied it as a hotel. In ^March, 1X65, he sold the place to Josiah C. Truman, who about the same time succeeded him as postmaster. The house was afterwards the home of the late Duane F. Eas- dall, and is still occupied by his family. In February, 1865, the name of the town was changed from ^fiC'lelan to ^IcPherson by act of the Legislature. August 11, 1865, Aaron Hil- ton laid out a townsite on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section S. which he called after his own name, and which now cor- responds with the main part of the village of St. Clair. On this land was located the govern- ment mill, which llr. Hilton had bought the summer before, and which after refitting he was now operating. The lumber department had two run of saws with a capacity of 10,000 feet per day, and had a lath and shingle mill attached. The flour department had a capacity of 100 bar- rels per day. In July, 1866, Mr. Hilton was appointed post- master and removed the office to his new town of "Hilton." The latter, at the time, contained about a dozen houses, 3 stores, 2 blacksmith chops,' 3 wagon shops, 2 boot and shoe shops, & saloons and 1 hotel, besides the mill. Henry Foster still had his store a few rods to the east, on the site of the old Agency, Mr. Gilmore had a saw and shingle mill there, also. James E. and Geo. Brown opened- a general store at Hil- ton in December, 1861. One Koehler had a store there at the same time. Hilton kept the postoffice at the store of Brown Bros, and in l^Tay, 1869, James E. Brown was appointed post- master and was succeeded in August, 1871, by Henry Mohr, who had purchased the mercantile business of Nick Lang. In November, 1869, Hilton sold his mill to Hogle & Eeader, and in a year or two, Hegle pold his interest to Peter Pfaff. In 1R;0 M. B. Easdoll became a mem- ber of the firm of Brnwn Bros., and during the following year the Browns sold out to Mr. Eas- dcll and W. H. Harrison. Drs. Eaton and Hay- nes were among the pioneer physicians. J. C. Nutting, C. AVilbur Eay and W. S. Smith were 276 TTTSTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. later doctors. Will and l\[urpliy and afterwards John Murphj' conducted a store at St. Clair for years. Other prominent business men of the village were J. C. Cook, Chas. Young, M. Jost, Fred Gerlich, Mv. Crandall, H. E. King and H. Miller. Early in 1886, E. A. Deumeland built his present large store. About 1887, S. C. Hil- ton, the old mill owner, of the village, was suc- ceeded by Chas. Eogers, who has been the chief mill owner since. In 1891, Grignon & Coughan- our started the first creamery in the village. The present large co-operative creamery was built in 1904. October 14, 1880, J. H. Barlow started a paper called the "Messenger," which was only issued a short time. March 9, 1897, J. ^Y. Ward started the "St. Clair Star" which survived a few months longer. The postofEice was designated "AVinnebago Agency" until April 1, 1886, when it was changed to "St. Clair", a name suggested by Chas. 0. Conner, after General St. Clair. The village has since, also, gone by the same name. There was a strong effort to have the postofifice called "Hilton" but it failed. February, 1890, Joseph H. Gebbard was appointed postmaster. His successor was Fred Gerlich, who in turn was succeeded in December, 1898, by M. B. Easdall, the present incumbent. Until 1887, the village was divided into two school districts, Numbers 70 and 73, but on August 6, of that year, the districts were united, and the present fine brick school house completed by the fall of 1888. In 1895, Geo. B. Caldwell built the pres- ent hotel; and in July, 1906, the "St. Clair State Bank" was organized by H. Thielman, N. Juliar, D. F. Easdell, C. J. Pagenkoff, P. W. Wingen, S. J. Mace, 0. 0. Juliar, E. S. Haedt, G. P. JuHar, A. A. Juliar, H. A. Hubner, Thos! Bowe, F. W. Lassow, F. C. Schultz, S. B. Wil- son, G«o. May and John Bestman, with a" capi- tal of $12,000. The present bank building was finished in 1907. The MePherson town hall was erected at St. Clair in 1898. The village has four churches. The Catholic Church was organ- ized in 1864, by Father Sommereisen with about thirty families. The present church building was erected in 1874. The church was legally in- corporated June, 11, 1903, by Bishop Joseph B. Cotter of Winona, Eight Eev. James Coyne, Eev. E. W. Eyan pastor, and Herbert Brules and Marr tin Bowe lay members. The Lutheran Church was organized in 1874, with fifteen members. Eev. Albert Kuhn was its first pastor. The congregation was incor- porated Feb. 29, 1876, under the name of "St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Winne- bago Agency" at school house No. 70 and the fol- lowing trustees chosen: John Fitzloff, August Barnske and August Kupke. Wjn. Brundt and Fritz Cords were made elders. The church build- ing was erected in 1876. The "Zion Church of Evangelical Association" was organized in 1874. The incorporation oc- curred Feb. 24, 1876, at school house No. 70, and the following trustees elected: Frederick Lumberg, John Borchard and Otto Schultz; and the chapel built that summer. The first pastor was Eev. G. H. Knabel. The Congregational Church was organized in 1874, with about twelve families by Eev. Wallace Bruce. A house of worship was built in 1876. The church was reorganized Oct. 23, 1904 and a parsonage built in 1908. In May, 1906, the St. Clair Citizens Tele- phone Co. was organized. The Alphabet Rail- way, now a branch of the Milwaukee system, was completed to the village in the fall of 1907. Among the early settlers of the town not al- ready mentioned were: Isaac Autrey, John Law, Dr. Coleman, Chas. W. Plerman, Michael Nary and Patrick O'Conner. The Belview postofEice was established in June, 1873, with James H. Eastman as postmaster. He was succeeded in January, 1876, by Amos H. Eastman, and in January, 1879, A. B. Preston was put in charge of the office. The first school was taught by the pioneer Methodist preacher, Eev. B. Y. Coffin' in 1867, for the Indians. A parochial school was also taught by the sisters during the Indian time. The first public school for white children was taught in 1863, at the Agency by Francis Bev- eridge, a noted lawyer from St. Paul, who spent , , his last years in retirement at this out of the way village. There are now in the town seven good school houses outside of the village. HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUA'TY. 277 December 20, 1907, St. Clair voted to incor- porate as a village by a vote of forty to nine, and January 2, 1908, the' following officers were elected: Trustees, Henry Tbieiuian, president, E. F. Deumeland, P. H. Bowe, J. W. Chase; recorder, Chas. O'Conner; treasurer, M. C. Dal- ton; justices, Chas. O'Conner and Christ Al- pers; constables, Henry Luedke and jk. T. An- drews. Its population at the time, was :'A2. MEDO. Medo is an Indian name meaning ''Small Po- tatoes" and was applied to the locality first by the redman. As early as April, 1858, the Coun- ty Commissioners officially designated the town by this name. Until the departure of the Win- nebagoes in Maj', 1863, the town formed a part of their reservation. The first settlers were Al- onzo W. Barron and Samuel Goodwin, who ar- rived in the town with their families in May 1863, on the very day the Indians left it. They were followed immediately by Chas. Remington, George Dolan, W. J. Atcherson, Hiram H. Strat- ton, B. Dane, S. E. Stebbins and James Patter- son. Other early settlers were Wm. Ledbeter, Thron Hoverson, James H. and Andrew Quinn, C. P. Merickel, August Beise, Robert C. Ward, A'apoleon B. Moody, Geo. W. Rogers, D. C. and Andrew Weston, David Weaver, Barney Olson, Ole T. Ingebretson, John W. \'ars, John, Pat- rick and Thos. Murray, Wni. and M. C. Acker- man, Isaac Amy, Jr., F. \\. and J. W. Atcher- son, S. B. Babcock, Thos. Cary, Samuel Clap- sliaw, Alfred Davis, Tilton Eastman, Seth Gil- bert, Dr. J. W. Bently, Daniel A. Mandago, Francis and Joseph Neller, E. B. H. Norton, Stark Peterson, Ferdinand Plageman, Louis Siv- erson, Sanford E. Terwilliger, Edward L. Tay- lor, Ira and Wm. Ward, J. Lee, L. Breke, S. Germo, A. Andrson Sr., A. Anderson Jr., Torris Knudson, Lars Folkedahl, 8. N. Meg and others. Most of the settlers were from Wisconsin. By July 4, 1863, about forty families had settled in the town and on that date nearly all gathered for a picnic in the grove. Here it was deter- mined to organize the town and call it "Oak Grove." As there was another town of that name in the utate, it was decided at a meeting in August, to change the name to "Cambridge." When it was found that name, also, had been taken, the old designation of "J\ledo" was adopted. At the same Fourth of July picnic, on the suggestion of Mrs. A. W. Barron, it was de- cided to start a Sunday school. Mrs. Barron was elected the first superintendent, and she col- lected $5, that day, which she sent to the Bible society for Bibles, and received $15 of books. She also, wrote to her sister, who was a member of Henry Ward Beecher's Church in Brooklyn, and received from that church a $200 Sunday school library. The Sunday School was held in the grove, except on rainy or cool Sabbaths, when an Indian bark hut was used, and in the winter the services were moved to Mr. Goodwin's house. The sensation of that first summer was the appearance in the neighborhood of a monster snake, 16 to 20 feet in length, which finally made its lair under Mr. Barron's cabin. Teased by dogs, it is claimed to have committed suicide. It was evidently a python which had escaped from some traveling menagerie. September 8, 1863, the town of Medo was or- ganized and the first town meeting held at the iiouse of Hiram H. Stratton, September 19, 1863. The first town board were : H. W. Barron, Chr., S. E. Stebbins, and A. Bagley; and Hiram Stratton, Clerk. The first white child born in the town was Hiram, son of H. H. Stratton, born September, 1863. The first marriage was that of D. Allen and Lovina Webster in the spring of 1865. The first death was that of Eifie, a four year old daughter of Samuel Good- win, who died in February, 1864. The first school was taught by Mrs. L. W. Barron at her own home in the summer of 1864. In the early spring of 1865 a log school house was built in District 58 and the first school in it taught that tummer by Miss Arvilla Keyes (Mrs. Napoleon Moody). The second school in it was taught by aMrs. Sue Stedman and thereafter B. F. Stedman taught in the same school for nine successive winters. The first school in District 57 was, also, taught in 1865 by Miss Amelia Ackerman, at her father's house, M. C. Ackerman. The to^TO now has nine school houses. A number of the boys and girls of these schools have taken prominent places in life. Among whom are Dr. 278 HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTl C. J. BeisCj Dr. R. A. Beise and Attorney G. W. Beise, sons of August Beise; Judge James H. Quinn, son of Andrew Quinn; Dr. Tlios. Murray, son of Patrick Murray; Attorney Prank Murray, son of John Murray, Dr. Wm. Will, son of David Will; Dr. Chas. Germo and Attorney Thos. Germo, sons of S. Germo and many others whose names we did not learn. Two murder cases form a sensational chapter in the early history of Medo. Peb. 20, 1864, John Gill shot and killed Levi Matthews in a (]uarrel over some timber. He was threatened with lynching by twelve of Matthews neighbors from Danville, but was exonerated by the Court OD the ground of self defense. The next unfor- tunate event occurred on the evening of Peb. 23, 1876, when a widow, named Jane Gilbert, was shot through a window and killed at her home by Andrew Weston. The murderer was convicted and sent to the penitentiary. The first postoffice was established in 1867 with J. W. Vares as postmaster. He was suc- ceeded by B. P. Stedman, and he in turn by W. J. Atcherson. In December, 1878, James Paley was made postmaster and the office, there- after remained at his store until discontinued in July, 1904. Besides the store and postoffice, a blacksmith shop and feed mill formed a small center for the town for many years near the northeast corner of Section 15. About August 1, 1875, Little Cobb Postoffice was established v,'ith Wm. Germo as postmaster. December, 1878, he was succeeded by Ole Ingebretson, and in Pebruary, 1889, Englebrit Olson became his successor. The office was discontinued July 15, 1904. John Hanson conducted a small store in connection with the postoffice near the l^Torweg- ian church. -He first started the store about 1880. In 1894 a creamery was built on the south- east corner of the northeast quarter of Section 12, and a store started at the same point by Geo. L. Blaisdell. A postoffice was established here in 1895 called "Cream," in charge of Mr. Blaisdell, who was succeeded in November, 1897, by Albert Severson. About 1896 Ole Ostedahl Luilt another store at the same point, which burned in about two years. Then A. Berentson built a store there in which his son, John Ber- entson, and Albert Severson ran a general mer- cantile business for about a year, when Severson retired. Then later Simon Berentson succeeded his brother. The Blaisdell store burned in the winter of 1906-7 and the postoffice was discon- tinued in the summer of 1905. A blacksmith shop was started at Cream about 1895 by H. H. Johnson and about a year later 0. Moen opened another shop. In 1890 a town hall was built on the southeast corner of Section 16. Religious services were started in Medo, as we have seen, shortly after the arrival of the first settlers. Preachers of the M. E. and United Brethren churches conducted services at private homes and school houses for years, and a Union Sunday school was maintained. During 1866 and 1867 a number of Norwegian families had settled in the town and in the fall of 1867 the first religious services for these people were conducted at the log cabin of 0. Ingebretson. A church was partly organized in the winter of 1867-8 and it was voted to hold quarterly ser- vices. The families forming this first organiza- tion were those of Thron Hoverson, Louis Siver- fcon, S. Germo, S. N. Vieg, 0. Bngebretson, L. i^recke. Tennis Lakeson and Tennis Dahl of Blue Earth county and John, Owen and Tobias Johnson of Waseca county. Rev. M. Melby of New Richland became their first pastor. Ser- vices were continued in private houses until about 1869, when the first log school' house was built 'in District 63, when they were moved thereto. In a few years the log school house was replaced by an octogonal frame structure, which fj'om its odd shape was always known as the "Round School House." The "Medo Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church" continued to worship in this building, until a house of wor- ship was completed in the summer of 1876 on a plat of ground near the northeast corner of Section 25, deeded to the congregation by Siever N. Vieg on July 15, 1872. On July 3, 1877, tJie new church building was completely wrecked ])y a big wind storm. Nothing daunted, how- ever, the people, on the following summer erected their present commodious church edifice on the ?ame site. After Rev. Melby, Rev. M. Borge be- came pastor for a time, and then Rev. Melby was called to service a second time. Rev. H. HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUXTY. 79 Ostedahl followed and in his days, about 1887, a parsonage was built. Eev. J. A. Hammer be- came pastor next, then Eev. D. G. Fugleback and lastly Eev. J. Olson, the present minister. The iirst deacon was L. Brecke and the present holder of that office is J. Guddal. There are sixty-eight families now connected with this church. A Norwegian Sunday school was started first about 1867 in the settlers' cabins. After its removal to the school house, it began to as- ?ume the form of a parochial school during the vacation periods of the public school. It was usually taught by theological students. In 1892 District 63 built a new edifice and the old Eound school house was sold to the Norwegian congregation, who moved it to the northeast corner of Section 35, and have used it ever after for the parochial school. On the Waseca side of the line nearly opposite the center of Medo, stands the Congregational church of Freedom, the society of which was organized in 1887, and the building erected a year or two later. Jan- uary 29, 1894, a Free Baptist church was or- ganized with fifty-two members in the western part of the town as the result of a big revival season. An acre of ground was secured July 26, 1894, from Eobert Ward in the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of Section 19, on which a commodious chapel was built. The trustees at the time were: Wm. Miliken, Horace Greely, John Morrow, Ira Ward, John Eogers, Geo. Wai-d, Eobert Ward and Albert Gutcher. On May 10, 1897, Medo was visited by a tornado which destroyed school house No. 59, Alma City Creamery, and Engelbret Olson's house and the Little Cobb postoffice therein kept. Sept. 25, 1906, the town voted $7,000 bonds as a bonus to the Alphabet Eailway. This railroad was built in 1907. A townsite called "Pember- lon" was laid out in November, 1907, near the southwest corner of Section 1, whereon a depot, elevator, store, bank, etc., have been erected, forming a good nucleus for a village. A post- office was created in June, 1908, with Marcus Williamson as postmaster. PLEASANT MOUND. Pleasant Mound was first settled in 1856, but who the first actual settler was can not now be determined. Among the settlers of 1856 may be named, Eev. James H. Hindman, Thos. J. Thorp, Wm. A. Clark, Milton Walbridge, Lee Calhoon, Eev. John and Francis A. Clow. Others who came that year or in 1857 were: Oriu and John Scramlin, Hiram Bigelow, Knute Thomp- son, Geo. E. Bissell, Austin Brown, Wm. S. Marston, Barnard Marble, Wm. P. McKenney, and Joel and Jesse P. Thomas. 1858 came Nathanael Stevens, Phineas Lattin, Mvnard A. Chamberlin, Henry Eichardson, Hiram L. and Oscar Brown, Pardon B. Day and Sherman W. and Wm. Day. In 1859 came Frederick 0. Marks. Other early settlers were, Eev. Harrison F. Longworth, John S. Parks, Oliver E. ]\Iather, Alfred and John Kenney, Horace P. and Wm. I'errin, John and Wm. Eobinson, Jeremiah Parker, John L. Daboll, Gustavus McCollum, Horace E. Seeger, Jas. A. and Wm. H. Belts, Isaac J. Gardner, L. P. McKibbin, John E. Wilder, John C. Pratt, Benj. and Eli Preble, John K. Underwood, John P. West, Sanford AVebster, Isaac J. and John A. Wilson, Nathaniel T. York, Chas. N. Eadcliff, Jacob Schaffer, Cyrus P. Little, Benj. L. Eaymond, Chester J. Eyal, Wm. H. Porter, James J. Hamilton, Silas W. Graham, Ealph Cook, Elijah Carter, Eufus S. Briggs, Jlark Bradbury, Philander and Austin Brown, John Brockenridge, Wm. Adams, Jacob and James H. Anderson, Warren An- drews, Albert Archer, Alson D. Bently, Wm. A. A'eal, and Dexter Bartholcmew. The town was named "Otsego by the County Commissioners on April 6, 1858, and attached to Shelby for official purposes. Oct. 14, 1858, the name was changed to "Willow Creek" prob- ably an eastern name familiar to some old set- tler, appropriately applied, because of the abun- dant growth of willows, which characterize the principal brook in the town. Eunning north and south through sections 25 and 36 a peculiar chain of mound shaped hills rise to the height of 50 to 75 feet above the surrounding prairie. On the mounds in Section 25 lay the claim of P. 0. Marks, who in 1863, had a postoffice established at his home, which at his suggestion was called "Pleas- ant Mound." The names "Pleasant Eidge, "Pleasant Hill,'' Pleasant Mound" etc. are found scattered over the 280 HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. eastern states and may have suggested to Mr. ilaiks the appropriateness of the name he gave the postoffice, and the beautiful ridge on which his cabin stood. The Indian name for this ridge was "Ichokse" or "Eepah Kichakse." (To cut in the middle, perhaps from the fact that the ridge is divided into a number of mounds, or it may mean "Thrown down or dumped in heaps" as the spelling is uncertain.) Another postoffice was established in the town in 1863, called "Willow Creek" with T. H. Day as postmaster. Both offices were on a weekly mail route established that year between Garden City and Fairmont. In January, 1864, an attempt was made to or- ganize the town as a separate municipality under the name of "Butler" but it failed. September fj, 1865, the town was finally created and desig- nated "Pleasant Mound," on the suggestion of ]''. 0. Marks, after the postoffice and ridge just mentioned. The first town meeting was held Sept. 26, 18-56, at the house of Harrison P. Longworth, when the following officers were cJiosen: Supervisors — M. A. Chamberlin, chair- man, F. 0. Marks, and Isaac J. Gardner, clerk — John S. Parks, treasurer — H. P. Longworth, justices — J. P. West and J. H. Hindman, con- btable — H. G. Sager, and J. A. Betts. About 1860, a brick yard was started on Sec- tion 12, by 0. E. Mather and Wm. McQueen, some claim this brick yard was located mostly in Section 7, of Shelby and was not started until 1864 or 5. The earliest known Fourth of July celebration was held in 1867, on top of the mounds, where a booth was made of the leafy branches of trees, and a Eed Eiver Cart was used as a speaker's platform. The first settlers of the town were almost exclusively Americans, but not many became per- manent settlers. In June, 1866, the vanguard, of v/hat proved to be a large German Lutheran Colony arrived in the town and purchased claims therein. They were Carl Schwarz, Amil Ludtke, iMichael Mitzner, Henry Wilke, John Kroenke and Chris Schwarz, all from Greenwood Prairie, Olmsted County, Minn. Carl Schwarz and some of the others removed to their new homes with Uieir families about September, the rest arrived next spring. In the spring of 1867, they were joined by Wm. Schwarz, August Urban and Wm. Ulrich and their families from Wisconsin. In 1868, came Samuel and John Hensline, and sev- c'j-al others. All were religious people and the first German Lutheran services among them were held in 1868, at private houses by Eev. Ahner of Blue Earth City. The Congregation was organized in November, 1869, by Eev. Ju- lius C. Mueller with 25 members. Among the charter members were: Carl Schwarz, Herman Zemple, August Urban, Wm. Schwarz, J. Ur- ban, Emil Luedtke, Michael Altenburg, John Kroenke, Wm. Ulrich, Christ Schwarz, Johajin AVeinkauf, J. Wester, John Hensline, Wm. Lentz and Johan C. Witt. In the fall of 1869, a church and parsonage combined under one roof ■were erected about half a mile south of the present buildings and Eev. J. C. Mueller was called as fitst pastor. A parochial school was start- ed the same fall at the house of John Weinkoff in charge of the pastor. In April, 1872, the church and parsonage burned. The same summer both church and parsonage were rebuilt as sep- arate buildings on a five acre lot in the northeast corner of Section 2 which lot was deeded Nov. ■30, 1874, by John Christian Witt and wife to Wm. Schwarz, Emil Ludke and August Urban', as church trustees. In 1881 it was determined to build two parochial school buildings. Accordingly on March 15, 1881, Wm. Ulrich and wife deeded to the church four acres of land in the S. E. corner of S. W. % of S. E. 14 Section 10, upon which a school building 20x30 was erected that summer. About 1884, a new school house was erected by the church on the S. B. corner of Section 35, Ceresco,- and the church has main- tained both schools ever since. The first paro- cliial school teacher was Frederick Zink for 2 years. He was followed by Herman Zemple for one year. Then came Carl Voight, who was the first regular teacher of the school on Section 10. A teacher's residence has been erected beside each <.^f the parochial school houses. The old church- building becoming too small, a large new edifice was erected in 1886, 38x70 feet, which with the steeple in front and pulpit in rear made the to- tal length 90 feet, and the height of steeple is 104 feet. The building cost from $6,000 to $8,000. After serving the congregation with RESIDENCE OF DR. j. W. ANDREWS. HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 281 gi-eat satisfaction for 17 years, Rev. J. C. Muel- ler accepted a call to Lester Prairie, JMinn., and Rev. C. Ross succeeded him, who in 1891 accep- ted a professor's chair in Concordia College, Mil- waukee, Wis. Rev. Ernest Starck became pastor next, and upon his death in 1893, Rev. A. F. Ude took charge of the congTegation, and has ser- ved them with acceptance ever since. In 1902, the present parsonage was built at a cost of about $1,700.00. In 1908, a new school building was erected on the site of the old building on Sec- tion 35, Ceresco. In the lists of the parochial teachers are: District No. 1, C. Yoight, P. Trupke, C. Marquardt and C. Bode; District ;\'o. 2 ; Carl Frolig, Renter and Y P. Goes- veiler. The congregation now numbers about 110 voting members (heads of families) and C50 souls. The corporate name of the church is "The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Johan- nes Church of Willow Creek." The two churches and parochial schools in the Southwest corner of Ceresco minister to a number of German people in Pleasant Mound. Besides the parochial schools the town contains five public school build- ings. No English church was ever established in tlie town, but English services were maintained in private homes, and school houses for years, and three or four of the early settlers, as we liave seen, were preachers. The American oc- cupation of the town, however, wa.s too transitory for the development of such organizations to any extent. The few American families, who re- mained in the town, united with the j\r. E. and Christian churches just across the town lines, in Shelby, Nashville and Antrim townships. In October, 1865, John S. Parks succeeded F. 0. Marks as postmaster of Pleasant IMound postoffice, and continued in charge until the office was discontinued in 1902. The Willow Creek postoffice was removed soon after its creation to the home of Horace Kinney in Shelby township, thence to Nathaniel Capen, and thence on Dec. 9, 3379, to John R. Wilder's home in Pleasant Mound in which town the office rema'ned there- after until discontinued in February, 1902. Mr. Wilder was succeeded as postmaster in February 1887, by Carl Schwarz and he by Rich. Jones, he by G. H. Perry and he in turn by G. N. C'lrich in July, 1896. In the fall of 1886 two new postoffices were established in Pleasant iiound. One called "Upton" in charge of Mrs. S. A. Pattridge on section 5, and the other named "Hope" in the Northwest corner of Section 30 with Thos. Hamilton as postmaster. l:i 1899 Carl Nibbe was appointed postmaster of Upton in place of Mrs. Pattridge resigned. We have spoken elsewhere in this volume of the Pleasant Mound Grange; of the Blue Earth Valley Stock company and its big fairs; of the great wind storm of June 5, 1880; of John S. Parks apple orchard with its two hundred and forty varieties; and of the alleged jnurder on July 10, 1889 of John Schwarz by Wm. Lentz. In 1896, a creamery was built near the west line of the Southwest quarter of Sec- tion 13, with Nath. Haas as first buttermaker. A store had been erected at this place about 1889, by Rich. Jones. He sold out to G. H. Perry, and he in turn sold to G. H. Ulrich and he was suc- ceeded by Wm. Ulrich. A blacksmith shop was put up, and the place has ever since been a small center for the town under name of "Wil- low Creek." Rural mail routes and telephone ac- commodations now reach all parts of the town, which is one of the most prosperous in our coun- ty- RAPIDAN. The first claim in this town was located by Basil Moreland on Section 7 in March, 1854. A month later Oliver J. Roe made a claim in the same neighborhood. In August, Williston K. Greenwood, also, took a claim in Section 7. The same month Isaac Andrus and his son, Truman F. Andrus, located with their families on Sec- tions 11 and 13 on the Maple. In October, Cor- nelius YanNice claimed in Section 21 and moved thereto with his family. Wm. P. Coffin and Joel Cloud, early in the spring of 1855, located on Section 5. But all of these settlers had to abandon their homes in a year or so as the town "n'as included in the Winnebago Reser^•ation. White settlers, were thereafter barred until the removal of the Indians in 1863. The fall of 1863 and the spring of 18G4 saw the beginning of white settlements again in the town. Among the first settlers were: Gottfried and Jacob San- ger, who located there in 1863, J. D. Hooser, 282 HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTS. James Stratton, Eiley Stratton, Martin Strat- ton, Alfred G-. Stratton Henry C. Eberhart, Carl Just, William Just, G. Schwan, M. Bosin, Wm. L. Stesens, C. P. Cook, Clias. Miescke, Theo. Buckholtz, Silas Kenworthy, M. A. Eeeder, E. M. Reynolds, Ethemer Town, Peter PafE, James White, Fernando Blodhorn, E. C. Payne, Martin Wotter, John Jones, Joseph Jones, Frederick Dittman, Chas. A. Blume, Andrew Yaeger, Wm. Jones, Lucius Dyer, and a little later came C. G. Chamberlin, Allen Thompson, Chas. Palmer, Wm. and August Blume and E. B. Parker. Eiley Stratton took possession of the log cabin, wliich Isaac Andrus had built and which during the Winnebago occupation had been used by the chief, Big Bear. The town was first named "DeSoto" by the County Board in yVpril, 1858. In July, 1864, C. P. Cook started a town site in Section 6, on the Blue Earth, which he called "Rapidan"" after the place he had come from in the east. March 2, 1865, a bill was passed by the State Ijegislature changing the name of the town to "Eapidan" at the suggestion of Mr. Cook. The town was organized April, 1865, and the first town meeting held on April 15, 1865, at the house of E. C. Payne in Section 21, when 20 votes ^'cre cast and the following officers elec- ted. Supervisors: E. C. Payne, (chairman), W. L. Stevens and J. Sanger; M. A. Eeeder, clerk; J. D. Hooser, assessor; G. Scliwan, treasurer; C. P. Cook and A. J. Jewett, Justices; P. Pafl: and PI. C. Eberhart, Constables. May 2, 1865, occurred the murder of A. J. Jewett and his family by John Campbell and his Indian companions, a full account of which will be found elsewhere in this history. Bears were found in the town in the early days. A black one nearly 7 feet long was killed in March, 1860, on the Blue Earth near the Northwest corner of the town, and another was killed by E. C. Payne in the fall of 18fi£. In the summer of 1865, John Morrow pur- chased 120 acres of land near the mouth of Ma- ple River, whereon he erected kilns and en- gaged in the manufacture of lime for two or three years. He also opened stone quarries on the same land. During the winter of 1866-7 S. Kenworthy and Co., erected a large flour mill, 30x40 and four stories high, at the foot of the Blue Earth River rapids. The mill had two runs of buhrs four feet across. It was aft- erwards much enlarged, and for many years was famous as one of the principal custom mills of the county. The site is still occupied by the Rogers Roller Mill. During the winter of 1866- 7 Geo. Heaton and Richard Rew built a saw mill on the Blue Earth in Section 31, to which in a year or two they added a flour mill and named it the "Union Mill." The same winter Lu- cius Dyer put up a saw mill on the Maple in Section 35, to which he added later a grist mill. This mill later passed into the hands of Geo. Gerlich, then to Jesse 0. Mericle. In 1884, Henry Dyer built a new saw mill on the Maple. In vVugust 1867, Silas Kenworthy, J. W. Menden- hall, James B. Swan and James A. Wiswell, laid out a town called "Rapids" on land ad- joining the Rapidan Mill. In December, 1865, PafE and Reynolds opened a store at this place. Nothing further came of this townsite. About 1867, a postofEice was established in Sec. 35 with J jucius Dyer as postmaster called "Maple River." It was on a newly established mail route between Wilton and Garden City. In October, 1869 "The (.astle Garden" postoffice was created in charge of Dr. N. Bixby, who lived on Section 15, As. there was no mail route, Dr. Bixby had to carry the mail from Mankato for the office. J. W. Derby succeeded Dr. Bixby as postmaster but tlie office was discontinued in March, 1875. In January, 187 G, a new postoffice was established at the house of Olof Olson called "Rapidan" on the Milwaukee Railway near where the pres- ent station is situated. In October, 1880, Mr. Olson opened a store at the present site of Rapidan station, which he conducted until August, 1887, when he was succeeded by W. 0. Dustin & Co. April 1, 1888, Olaf Olson was succeeded as postmaster by Noah Webster, who also, had become the owner of the store at Eapi- dan Station. He died in November, 1891, and \\as succeeded by h's son, Wm. Webster. March 1, 1895, Wm. T. Just became storekeeper and postmaster, and in 1907, Daniel E. and Wm. A. Bosin became his successors in business and Daniel E. Bosin was made postmaster. A lum- ber yard and blacksmith shop are also, main- HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. •2Ho tained at the same place. An ek-vator was erected, and in 1897 a co-operative creamer}' was built. In 1900, a Woodman Hall was built, and a passenger depot put up in the fall of 1906. Theee buildings, with a church and number cf residences, make now of Eapidan Station, a sjnall village. The first religious service it is claimed was held in 1864, by Eev. Steinner of Alma City, a United Brethren minister, at the house of J. ]). Hooser, in the valley of the Blue Earth in ihe Southeast quarter of Section 31, then called "t;astle Garden." This valley was noted during llie Winnebago occupation for the beauty of its situation and richness of soil. An Indian \illage, a store and farm were here located then. A Sun- day School was organized here about 1864, with Mr. Hooser as superintendent. About a year later a log school house was built on the Strat- ton claim in District 79 and the services were transferred there. A class was organized here about 1866 composed of the Stratton family, Geo. Hadaway, Mr. and ilrs. Henry C. Eber- iiart, and Mr. Hooser. Elders Clow, Bookwal- tcr, and Thurston continued to preach in the neighborhood. A Sunday School was maintained lor years at the school house. Henry Dyer was its Superintendent for some time and Henry 0. Eberhart succeeded him. In the 70's a few i^orwegian families began settling along the Blue Earth river. x\.mong the first to locate M'ere, S. Knudson, Ole K. Slvov, A. Hobrig, Ole Amundson, Eilef and Lars Anderson and Olaf Olson. Lutheran services, in their own lang"uage, were started among them in 1S74 by Bev. M. Barge and a church organized. Among the charter mem- bers were: Eilef and Louis Anderson, Syver Broste, Nels Olson, Ole Stavem, Eilef Bjertson, Peter Brandlein, and Ole Anderson. The first meetings were held at the homes of Syver Broste and tlie Anderson brothers. In 1885, a church building was erected about 80 rods East of the Xorthwcst corner of Sec- tion 8. This was a small frame structure 16x24 feet. It was replaced in 1893 by the present larger edifice. There are about forty families now in the congregation — all prosperous farmers. They are joined to Our Savior Norwegian Lutheran church of Mankato in their pastoral supply. In May, 1901, a parochial school was opened in charge of Carl Flo. The Germans began settling in the town very earl}'. Among whom were Schwan, Just, Bosin, i\liescke, Kastner, Hubrig, and their fam- iJies. For some years they attended the Ger- man Lutheran church at Good Thunder. July 0, 1896, "St. John's German Evangelical Church" V7as incorporated by the following members: (Mias. E. Schwan, Herman Hausberg, Paul Kun- kel, Carl Sternitreke, Gustaf Michael, Trangott Kastner, Wm. Geisthardt, H. Mieske, Frederick Bosin and Julius Just. The church was organ- ized January 28, 1893 at school house No. i6, which was then the usual place of worship. The first board of trustees were: Trangott Kast- ner, Wm. Geisthardt, and Paul Kunkel. The church building was erected at Eapidan Station iD the summer of 1897, and dedicated on Sep- tember 5, of that year. An English Sunday School and preaching service has been maintained off and on for many y'^ars in the School House of the Eapidan mill district. In January, 1899 a Sunday School was organized in the Yeager school house with Mrs. George S. Harris as superintendent. It was called the Mt. Hope Sunday School, and flour- ished for some years. The Presbyterians main- tained preaching services in connection tliere- with for some time. In 1905-6 the Congregationalists maintained a Sunday school and preaching services at the AVoodmau's Hall at the station, and Iacv. J. A. Clark had charge of the work. The Blue Earth County Poor Farm is located in Section one, and religious services were held there during the administration of Wm. P. Lewis, from 1889, to 1895, by Eevs. John C. Jones, Albert Warren and others, and a Sunday tchool regularlj' kept for years. Col. B. F. Smith and General J. H. Baker were two prominent residents of the town for years, and at the tatter's hospitable home on "Oak Clift Farm" were held during the early nineties a series of annual old settler gatherings, which were very popular. The first school, it is said, was taught in the summer of 1866, in the log school house of Dis- trict No. 79 by Miss Emma Smith of Garden 284 HISTORY OP BLUE EARTH COUNTY. City, afterwards Mrs. Henry Dyer. Miss Nettie Crane (now Mills) and Elder Thurston were, also, among the first teachers of this district. The second school house was huilt in the Chamber- lain district, and the third school house was put up in the Yeager district. All these first educa- tional buildings were of logs. Now there are .«even good school houses in the town. February, 1891, a postoffice was established at liapidan Mills with W. D. Hall, Jr., as postmas- ter. In 1892 P. E. Nelson became postmaster. In the fall of 1900 the Pree delivery sj-stem was inaiigurated in the town. In October, 1896, a telephone line was run from Eapidan to Am- boy. In August, 1903, The Maple River Tele- phone Company was organized with Aleck An- derson as president, and in August, 1904, the Farmers Center Telephone Company was, also, organized, with Chas. Sperlich as president. The Eapidan Roller Mill is still 'be- ing operated by E. S. Rogers, upon what is undoubtedly the finest water power in the county. SHELBY. The first settlers of Shelby were Norman L. •Jackson, his son Eli N., and stepson, Hiram Luddington, who located at the north end of Jackson Lake in the summer of 1855. In the fall of the same year Edward Brace settled in tl'.e same neighborhood. In July Casper, Geo. J. and Simon Hoffman took claims on the Blue Earth, in what was soon afterwards called the Shelbyville neighborhood. Their filing seems "to have preceded the Jacksons, and they may have been the first actual settlers. In the late fall they were joined by Geo. Richardson, who bailt a log cabin near where the townsite next S]:ring was located, and batched there all "win- ter with 0. Nichols, Hiram Roberts and James Crane, whose claims were over the line in Fari- bault county. Tobias Miller, Sanford E. Allen and Wm. A. Clark located in the same vicinity tiie same fall. The fall of 1855 saw the begin- ning of another neighborhood in the northwest corner of the town, in what was later called the Green Valley neighborhood. Among these were Chas. C. Mack and his son, Jesse Mack. The }ear 1856 witnessed a large immigration into chelby. Early in April came Tilton 0. Allen and his brother Zoeth Allen, Albert M. Steph- ens, Wm. Chamberlain, Ardel D. Pinkerton, No- ble G. Root, Orlando Smith and Geo. Quiggle. In April, 1856, came also the noted Methodist pioneer preacher. Rev. John W. Powell, and laid out the village of Shelbyville on a portion of the west half of Section 35. Other settlers of 1856 were Robert Shannon, Abner Thompson, Magnus Rice, Anthony Ritterbush, Wm. and Geo. H. Robbins, Ira J. and Chancellor Darling, Asa P. Jacobs, Benony and Ferris Farley, Thos. H. Day, James Miller, Geo. W. Marsh, John E. Romack, Horace Kinney, Rudolph Crandall, Mil- ton Ross, Rudolph AfEholter, Reuben Bariott, Elijah L. and Henry R. Case, Joseph and Wm. Crandall, John Doke, Hiram Green, Wm. Gre- gory, Benjamin S. Stoner, Elnathan Kendall, Chas. P. Hutchins, Alexander Kennedy, Edmund Kingsland, Elwood Knowles, Abbington Parrett, Lewis F. and Hosea S. True, Milton T. Wal- bridge, Levi Calhoon, and John L. Samson. Among the other early settlers of the town were : J ohn Barnard, John Baumgartner, An- drew J. Barr, Geo. Boler, Joseph Bowen, Christo- pher M. Brown, Geo. and Richard Buckmeister, Wm. Butterfield, Richard Casady, Edwin G. Crosby, Delevan Cray, Henry Stock, Thomas and Henry Comstock, John L. Shank, John J. Porter, Nathan Powell, John and Abram T. Swearingen, John Diamond, Edward P. Childs, Chas. E. Cleveland, Marvin E. Colton, Alvin M. Collins, James Eastman, Abram Eastvald, Geo. W. Foot, Chas. N. Gates, Nelson Gear, Geo. Har- riman. Elder C. L. Taylor, Tho.. J. Cross, Phin- eas Lattin, Geo. A. Louer, John McCabe, Jos- eph jMcKibben, Tyrus Peck, Solomon Purdy, Daniel and Blisha E. Eeed, John W. Eunkle, Francis H. Seward, Andrew Shannon, Cornelius Silliman, Eichard B. Smith, Chandler Stevens, Benedict Truey, and L. Youngman. So numerous were the settlers in 1856 that on July 7 the election precinct of Shelby was creat- ed, bounded as follows: Commencing at the southwest corner of the county thence north to the northwest corner of town 106 range 39, thence cast to the Blue Earth river, thence up said nver to line between ranges 27 and 28, thence south on said line to the south line of county, HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 285 thence west to point of beginning. The precinct was named "Shelby" on request of Rev. J. W. Powell after the county in Indian;i, from which he had come. The first officers appointed were : Judges of Election, Noble G. Root, Joseph Mc- Canahan and A. B. Parrett; Justice, A. P. Par- ]-et; Constable, Wm. A. Clark; Supervisor, Hor- ton W. Nelson. The first election was held at Shelbyville on October 15, 1856, when thirteen votes were cast. In July. 1857, Ceresco and Vernon were- separated from Shelby precinct, which still embraced ranges 28 and 29, in town- ship 105. This precinct was created into the town of Shelby on May 11, 1858, and the fol- lowing officers were elected : Supervisors, Ru- dolph Crandall (Chr.,) Sylvester Woodman, and James Miller; Clerk, Henry Stoek; Assessor, C. C. Mack; Collector, W. H. Miller; Overseer of the Poor, Norman L. Jackson; Justices, Horace Kinney and J. L. Sampson; Constables, John Diamond and C. P. Hutchins. Mary A. Root, daughter of Noble G. Root, born June 16, 1856, was the first white child born in the town. The first marriage was , that cf Elnathan Kendall to Miss Louise A. Richard- son on July 3, 1856. Celebrated by Rev. J. W. Powell at the home of Abner Thompson, which home consisted of a covered wagon, a tent be- side it, and a fine oak grove. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and Geo. Richardson witnessed the solemn compact. The second marriage was that of Simon Hoffman to Miss Phoebe Esther Allen on August 3, 1856, at the groom's log cabin, Rev. Powell ofPiciating. The marriage of George 'Juiggle to Mary D. Northru]i, often claimed to have been the first marriage in the town, really occurred on the Watonwan on July 13, 1856. The first death was that of Mr. Pierce in the autumn of 1856, and the second death was that of Mrs. Rudolph Crandall in August, 1857. Two or three buildings were put up in Shelby- ville in 1856. One of which was occupied with a few goods by Rev. J. W. Powell. In 1857 Ro- bert Shannon built a double log house, which he used as a hotel for a )'car or two. Rev. Powell turned over the store he had started to his brother Nathan Powell. In the summer of 1857 Thomas and John Comstock, brothers-in- law of John J. Shaubut of Mankato, and Henry Stoek and John J. Porter came to Shelbyville from Lancester County, Pa. and all purchased a big interest in the towTisite. The Com stocks started in the mercantile business there, and Stoek and Porter purchased at St. Louis a steam saw mill which they set up that fall at the town- site. John Diamond, who had come with this party, was employed in this mill. It is claimed that President Buchanan, with whom Stoek and Porter were personally acquainted, had promised fheni the Minnesota Land Office, which had it been fulfilled, would have been a big boom for their townsite. In the fall of the same year John Swearingen purchased and put up on the west side of the Blue Earth, opposite Shelbyville a small portable steam saw mill. In 1858 Til- ton 0. Allen began the erection of a large frame hotel, which was completed that year. Geo. W. j\larsh assisted by Alfred ]\L Stephens, opened a l)lacksmith shop in the village this same year. A log school house was built, having only one small window. The seats were fashioned from split logs, having wooden pegs for legs. Here in the winter of 1857-8 David Grey taught the first regular school in town, having about a dozen scliolai's. The preceding summer a school had been taught by Miss Clarissa A. Jacobs, at her latliers home, Asahael P. Jacobs, in Section 4, with eight children ' in attendance, all from Shelby. August Hi. 1857, j\Iiss Jacobs was mar- ried to Stephen R. Henderson, and later the young couple moved to the Beaver Creek set- tlement in Renville County. During the In- dian outbreak of 1862, Mrs. Henderson and her two children were most brutally murdered by the ravages, and Mr. Henderson was killed by them a few days later at the battle of Birch Coulie. -'\bout 1859 the Comstocks sold their store to John J. Shaubut and left the country. Mr. Shaubut put Washington Kaggerice in charge of the store. The steam saw mill of Stoek and Porter was a patent affair and proved a failure. The old settlers used to call it the "Tri-weekly" because they claimed the saw went up and down three times a week. After a year or two an at- tachment for grinding corn and unbolted flour was added, but after a few years spent in a vain attempt to make the mill work successfully, the proprietors abandoned it, and about 1860 286 illSTOriY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. moved to Mankato, \Yliere Mr. Porter started a tannery and Mr. Stoek was elected County Au- ditor. After operating his portable saw mill about two years, Jolm Swearingen erected a much larger mill in the village. This was sold in the spring of 1863 to Tilton 0. Allen and Geo. W. Marsh, who operated it under the tlrm name of Allen & Marsh. In the fall of 1865 ilr. Marsh liought out his partner and moved the mill to a five acre tract on the Blue Earth in Section ?7. He added to it, also, a fair-sized grist mill, which he operated until h^.s death in September, 1875. The first postofEice was established at Shelby- vilJe in 1856 with J. W. Powell as postmaster. He was succeeded by Eobert Shannon, and he in turn, by John Diamond. In December, 1861. Cyrus L. Taylor became postmaster and was fol- lowed in April, 1872, by Alvin Englebrecht, who after a few months was succeeded by H. E. Young. Lyman Turner was appointed in March, 1873 and in October, 1874 Virgil Tiffany came to the office and held it until July 29, 1881, when it was merged into the Amboy postoffice. In the early sixties C. L. Taylor opened a store. In July, 1864, H. A. Buck, started a store in Shel- byville, and in December, of the same year, J. M. Fellows & Co. established a store there. Oc- tober, 1865, T. 0. Allen 'and Cap't Crandall opened a new general store, which in May, 1867, they sold to A. Van Awken. In 1869 the latter Imilt a large new building in the village. The upper floor to be used for a hotel and the ground floor he occupied with a double store, which he ran for two years. The building was then moved to Danville, where it is still used as a barn. Early in the sixties Prael & Dubuisson of Man- kato opened a branch store at Shelbyville in charge of Alvin Englebrecht. In May, 1868, the latter purchased the stock of goods owned by Elder C. L. Taylor. In the seventies H. E. Young conducted a store for a short time at Shelbyville and was succeeded by Geo. Turner, Jr., whose store was burnt in September, 1874. Tbos. E. Cross ran a store in the village, also, for a short period. The first religious services in the town were conducted in 1856 by Rev. John W. Powell, and an M. E. church was or- ganized by him in the fall of that year. Among its first members were : Robert Shannon and Susan Shannon, liis wife, John L. Samson and Barbara Samson his wife, Benjamin S. Stoner and Lydia Stoner his wife, Henry Stoek and family, J. JIartin and wife, Abbington Parret and wife, Henry Comstock and wife, Mrs. Tilton 0. Allen and others, whose name we did not get. A Sunday School was started in 1857 with Henry Stoek as first superintendent. During 1 857-8 Rev. Ransom Judd, was pastor of the cliurch. He was followed by Elder Cyrus L. Tavlor, during whose pastorate in 1858 a church building was erected on Block 32 of the village. The corner stone of the building was laid with due ceremony. Rev. Powell and Rev. Whiteford, w])0 had cared for the church the first year, assisted Elder Taylor at the services. A jar filled with various mementoes of the occasion v-as duly deposited under the stone. Henry Comstock deeded the church a lot for its use on February 5, 1859. In the fall of 1859 Eev. S. T. Richardson was appointed to the charge and in the fall of 1862 was succeeded by Eev. .S. A. Chubbuk. The church was legally incor- porated January 8, 1863, when Rev. S. A. Chub- buck, then pastor, appointed the following trus- tees: Robert Shannon, Benjamin Stoner, Aaron S. Rounse, John Lee, Thos. J. Cross, J. A. Lat- timer, Cyrus L. Taylor, Benjamin Farley, and Wm. H. Hunt. Other pastors of the church not ai)bve ment^'oned were: Revs. Nailer and Thos. .McClear}'. In 1857 an attempt was made by S. M. Fol- som and others to start a towiisite on the north - Avest quarter of section 5, but it was soon aban- doned. In July, 1864 Wm. H. Blackmer put up a saw mill on the Blue Earth near where the Woodland- Mill is now located. This mill was sold two years later to H. C. Capwell and others, who added a grist mill to it. In Novem- ber, 1866, H. C, Howard put up a portable steam saw mill on the James Miller farm on the Blue Earth River. In August, 1867, this mill burned, but Mr. Howard rebuilt it at once and added thereto a grist mill. At the same time Howard and Co. opened a general store close to the mill and the place was named "Shelby Center." In November, 1869-, Howard & Co. HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 287 sold the flour mill to T. Henry Day, and the machinery of the saw mill to Asa White and A. C. Hilton of Winnebago Agency. The flour mill was removed by Mr. Day to his farm and en- larged, and was known as the "Champion Mill." William Thompson became a proprietor a few years later and in 1883 Frank Bill and S. V. naycraft purchased it. In 18'?8 Robert Eichard- s'ln was running a store near the Champion Mill and in August of that year the "Champion Mill PostofEice" was established with Mr. Rich- ardson as postmaster. On his removal the fol- lowing year to the new townsite of Amboy, Frank D. Bill succeeded him as postmaster. In 1880 the office was removed to the home of James Miller and in March, 1882, Mrs. Mary E. Thompson was appointed to the position. Late in 1857 a postoffice called "Liberty" was created in the neighborhood of the north end of Jackson Lake, with ISTorman L. Jackson as postmaster. In 1863 he was succeeded by Ed- ward P. Childs, who kept the office until the fpring of 1866, when he sold his farm to Cor- nelius Sillman. The postoffice remained in charge of Mr. Sillman for a short period and then was abolished. The Willow Creek M. E. Church was or- ganized in 1868 by Eev. Brookwater. .\mong its charter members were: L. F. McKibben and wife, H. E. Salisbury and v.ife, Benjamin Hewson and wife, Joseph Hew- son, Sr., and wife, J. Paulson and wife, Price and family, Mrs. Hiram Gilbert, Elvira Gil- bert, Mrs. J. Shouts, Mrs. Henry Day and Jesse Mack. Services at first were held in private residences, then in the school house, until the present commodious house of worship was erected in 1862. Benjamin Hewson and L. F. McKib- ben were among the first superintendents of the Sunday School connected with this church. In 1867 Bardon B. Day, who had considerable inventive genius, obtained a patent on a wind inill, which he applied as a motive power for a new grist mill built by him. He, also, at- tempted to invent a perpetual motion power. The force generated by a stream of water falling along a series of shoots in a tower, was supposed to be sufficient to pump itself back to the top of the tower and have sufficient surplus power to drive a mill. The only difficulty with this in- vimtion was that it would not work except in theory. July 2, 1879, a wind storm passed over the lown which blew down the brick residence of K'athaniel Stevens, killing Mrs. Stevens. The next year another hurricane blew down three school houses in the town and did much dam- age. From 1858 until 1879 Shelbyville was a live hustling little village. In 1867 it had a h'.'tel, church, school house, mill, two stores, blacksmith shop, wagon shop, etc. Lyceums, mock senates, and various meetings afforded the people social advantages and enter- tainments and there were many religious privileg- es. April 1871, a farmers club was organized with Chas. Holgate, James Miller, C. Crocker, D. E. Cross and R. Crandall among its officers. July 22, 1875, a big Sunday School picnic was held in the proVe by the village, when a procession half a mile long was marshalled by C. W. Herr- man, Cap't Dorsey and Henry Goody and over 500 people participated in the festivities. Feb- ruary 12, 1877, a big old settlers meeting was held in the village when Andrew C. Dunn and Rev. Thos. McCleary orated. July 4, 1878 was held another old settlers celebration in the village ,?rnve, when an immense crowd listened to ad- dresses by Eev. J. E. Conrad and others. In 1870 the branch of the C. St. P. M. & 0. Ey. was built through Shelby. The proposition to give the railway a bonus of $10,000.00 was de- feated by the town September 2, 1879, by a vote of 120 to 52. The uncertainty as to the depot location and the certainty that the rail- way would be built anyway were the mam causes of this defeat. The railway company immediately after the election secured a tract of land from Geo. Quiggle in Section 23, and on October 31, 1879, laid out the new townsite of "Amboy." The name was suggested by Eobert Richardson after "Amboy," Illinois — his former home. ■ An at- tempt was made to name the town "Jackson Lake" or "Jacksonville," but it failed. The loca- tion of this townsite recalls an interesting chap- ter in the railway history of our county. Back in the seventies when the Mankato and Wells road was owned by the Minnesota Central Com- pany, of which Thompson, Hubbell and Willard 288 HISTOIJY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. were the chief managers, the St. Paul and Sioux City Eailway Company made an agreement with its officers for the purchase of the road, which only required the sanction of the Board of Di- rectors of the "Central" to become a binding compact. Before this was done the Milwaukee Company in some way learned of the matter, and secretly worked up a deal of their own and se- cured a majority of the d^'rectors to favor it. So after the meeting the officers of the Sioux City Eailway were surprised and chagrined beyond measure to learn that the piece of road Ihey had bargained for had been sold to tht Milwaukee company. Smarting under what they regarded as a mean, underhanded trick on the part of the Milwaukee, the officers of the Sioux City company determined to retaliate by build- ing a parallel road from Lake Crystal to Blue Earth City, and the station of Amboy was put towards the north end of Jackson Lake, so that it might draw as much trade away from Good Thunder and Mapleton as possible. This quarrel between the two companies, however, secured to our county two railroads instead of one. Eobert Eichardson built the first store in the new town, a building 28x30 with wing 12-30, and moved his stock of goods from Champion Mills thereto in the fall of 1ST9. A railway depot was built the same fall and a postoffice established on Jan- uary 1, 1880, with Eobert Eichardson as post- master. The first year saw quite a boom in the new village. By June, 1880 Thos. Eandall and J. M. More had built and occupied stores there in addition to Eichardson's store. Lathrop & Conrad had a hardware; J. H. T3-ler, a drug store; Fred Affolter, a wagon shop; H. E. Young, wagon and blacksmith shop; Amos Pisk, contractor and builder; John Noble, lumber; A. J. Davis, livery; W. Christe, insurance; F. Cole, harness shop. There were two hotels: The "West House," John West, proprietor, and "Davis House," A. J. Davis, proprietor. There were, also, two warehouses with J. M. More and Eandall & Thompson as buyers. This same summer two churches were erected in the vil- lage. The action of the railroad in ignoring Shelbyville and locating Amboy just one and a half miles north of it, soon proved fatal to the older town. In two or three years it had become a deserted place. Even the buildings had about all disappeared. The old hotel was moved to the Counselman farm, now owned by Thos. Nas- inith, the Van Awken store became a barn in Danville, and the M. E. Church is one of the out buildings on the John Barnard farm, now owned by Michael Snrrensen. Other buildings were fjaulcd to Amboy and elsewhere, and today the site of the old village is a grain field. Xovember 15, 1879, a new M. E. Church was organized at Amboy for which the following persons were appointed trustees: Benjamin Far- ley, Wm. S. Aldridge, J. C. Durr, Ed. Eeed, G. J. Louer, and Chas. Holgate. A church building was started in Amboy in 1880, but was not com- pleted until 1884, though finished so it could be occupied in 1882. It was dedicated August 31, 1884, Elders McKinley, Liscomb, and Stockdill officiating. The Shelbyville church soon sold their building and united with the Amboy church. In 1891 their house of worship was enlarged and remodeled into the present fine structure under the pastorate of Eev. 0. W. Taylor. The Amboy and Willow Creek M. E. Church are united under the same pastorate. They have a membership of 185, and property valued at $8,000.00. Eev. W. H. Irwin is their present pastor. The Amboy Presbyterian Church dates its orgin to a meeting held at the home of Edward Brace, when the following written request was handed to Eev. J. E. Conrad a Presbyterian minister living in Sterling: Ida Lake. March, 1869. We, the undersigned, wish to be organized into a Presbyterian Church, to be called the Presbyterian Church of Pleasant Eidge John Diamond. Eudolph Crandall. ^Varren White. Gabriel Rinehart. Edward Brace. George Quiggle. Erastus Brace. 'Vfary Ann Diamond. Elizabeth Crandall. Emiline White. Susan Rinehart. Issabell Brace. ^ [art ha Quiggle. ^[argaret Sower. Eev. Conrad at once organized the church and Edward Brace was elected its first elder. For a year and a half services were held every alter- nate Sunday at Pleasant Eidge school house or at the home of Edward Brace. Then for eight years the Jackson Lake school house was used, and the services conducted by Eev. Conrad every HISTOEY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 289 other week. The legal incorporation occurred at Jackson Lake school house, on January 6, 1880, when the following trustees were elected: J. E. Conrad, Geo. Quiggle, Warren White, Jabin Ead- cJiffe, and Theodore Sower. A church building was started that spring at Amboy. 'The frame had Just been raised, when the big wind storm of June 5, 1880, blew it down. It was again raised and the building dedicated on August 28, 1881. It was a frame structure 28x40 fee{ and 16 feet posts. The name was now changed to "Presbyterian Church of Amboy." February 27, 1893, the church was reincorporated under this name by Mrs. Clara Smith, F. W. White, A. M. Hannqy, Wm. Eobinson, J. A. McLain, B. A. Merrill, and Wm. Keinholz, and the fol- loAving trustees chosen: Amos Fisk, J. B. Ead- cliffe, J. A. McLain, Wm. Eobinson and A. E. Salisbury. Eev. J. E. Conrad continued to serve the church until the summer of 1890, driving nine miles from his home in Sterling for the purpose, but declining years compelled him to resign. He was succeeded by Eev. T. Eosf? P;iden in the fall of 1890. In November of that year, with the help of Evangelist Hamilton H. Hunter, a great revival occurred and fifty new members were added. The old building proving too small for the greatly enlarged congregation, the present tine structure was erected in 1892-3 at a cost of $5,200.00. It was first occupied in June, 1893, and the dedication occurred Decem- ber 10, 1893, when Eev. W. 0. Conrad, son of the former pastor, preached the dedication ser- mon. Eev. PaHen served the church with great acceptance for five years and was succeeded by Eev. J. Milne Smith, who, after two years was succeeded by Eev. J. D. Gibb in May, 1898. The latter closed his pastorate in October, 1905, and the present pastor, Eev. S. M. Marsh, be.G;nn hi? work with the church in April, 1906. A parsonage was purchased in December, 1906. In the spring of 1908 another great revival oc- curred in Amboy and about 200 conversions made. Between sixty and seventy of those united with the Presbyterian Church, and an equal number with the M. E. Church, nearly doubling the membership of both churches. A Sund'ay School was started in connection with the Pres- byterian Church very early. John DiamoTjd, 19 Erastus Buck, and J. A. Lattimer were among its first superintendents. About 1887 the German Methodist Emmanuel Church was organized at Amboy, and a church building erected. Its membership embraces about thirty families. January 14, 1889, the Evangelical Lutheran' St. Paul Church of Am- boy, was organized and on January 19, 1891, it ^as incorporated by the election of the follow- ing trustees: E. Eadke, W. F. Ludtke and H. 'Wiedenhaeft. In the spring of 1891 a house of worship was built in the village, which was de- dicated July 12, 1891. The membership of rhis church embraces about thirty families. The Willow Creek Christian Church was or- ganized July 19, 1885, at the Kinney School House, by Eev. Edwin Eogers, with thirteen members. In 1891 the church was incorporated and the present fine chapel built at a cost of over $1,450.00 and dedicated that year free of debt. Wm. Chamberlain was a prominent leader and worker in the church for years. In all there jiave been 151 names on the church roll, a large number of whom are among its present mem- bership. In October, 188G, David E. Cross bought the Eichardson store and succeeded the latter as postmaster of Amboy. In 1887 John C. Nobles was appomted postmaster and on his resignation in February, 1889, D. E. Cross was again in- stalled in the oifice. October 1, 1893, Anson j^ [a] lory was appointed to the position by Presi- dent Cleveland. Under President McKinle}', D. E. Cross was again, in 1897, made the village postmaster, which ofPen he still retains. The first newspaper was the "Amboy News," started about February 3, 1885. October 13, 1891, the "Amboy Herald" was started as a branch of the Ivake Crystal Mirror with Carl Strom as man- ager. After tn'o or three years the paper was sold to K. 0. Sandum, who in November, 1894, disposed of it to Theo. Freer, who in turn in April, 1895, sold it to C. W. Dillman. Mr. Eagley purchased the paper next, and in March, 1899, J. A. Krohn became its proprietor. In .A.u,!]:iist. 1900, the present owner, James E, Brown, assumed control of the "Herald" and lias made an excellent local paper of it. The first mill in Amboy was built by John C, No- 290 HISTOIJY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. bles in the spring of 1887. In 1889 Jacob PfafE pi'ected a three story steam flour mill, 32x48; himished with roller process machinery at a cost of $15,000.00. In November, 1893, Mr. Pfaff leased the mill to Germain & Howe; diir- ing which lease the mill was burned on July 4, 1894. In the fall of 1895 Peterson & Fuller built the present large three story mill at a cost of over $15,000.00 and in October, 1897 Oliver Peterson bought out his partner, and be- came sole owner of the Amboy Poller Mill, which he still operates with good success. In April, 1883, Elder Eoss became proprietor of the "Amboy House" and in October, 1889, Barney Kilmer became its landlord. In September, 1897, D. E. Cross sold his store to his son J. Henry Cross, who conducted it until January, 1906, when he sold it to the present proprietors, Woodis & Co. In 1883, Perrin Bros, started in the agricultural implement business, which they conducted for some years. In 1885 Chas. Brown ocened a furniture store at Amboy and was suc- ceeded by Chas. E. Durr and Wm. E. Barnard. Other business men of the village are or have been: _^Thos. Eandall & Son, Frank W. White and John H. Dredge, Anson Mallory, Asa C. Baker, Fred J. Behm, Geo. E. Wilder, C. D. Cooper and Henry F. Day, Byron 0. Killmer and Prank V. Lattin, Willis L. Perrin, Edwin Titfany, Laomi B. Smith, Schwarz Bros., G. K. Stevens, John C. Bakke and Frank E. Cooper, Eue, Pederson and Eue, and Knute S. Haroldson. The Bank of Amboy was started as private enterprise about 1893, by Secors, Ware & Co., but on July 1, 1899, it was changed to a state b.ink, under the corporate name of "The Amboy State Bank," with a capital stock of $25,000.00. Its first officers were: President, David Secor; A'ice-President, Franklin F. Ware; Cashier, S. C. Berner. This bank went out of business in 1905. The Minnesota State Bank was organ- ized on August 23, 1902, with J. A. Eeagan, as president, W. E. Schmidt as cashier. January 24. 1906, the German State Bank of Amboy was started with A. F. Eempferd as president and C. D. Ott as cashier. The first school house in the village was built in 1885, and in 1894, $6,000.00 in bonds were voted and the original part of the present school building erected. The other part was put up in 1906. The village was incorporated June 11, 1887, by a vote of 32 to 1, and a cen- sus taken at the time showed it to have 181 in- habitants. Amboy has water and sewer systems and a gasolene lighting plant. Four rural routes rad- iate from it. Eoster of men who enlisted from Shelby, (which then included Pleasant Mound), in the Civil War: Barnard, Homer, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Barnard, John, Co. B, Br. Bat. 5th Iowa Cav. Barr, John, Co. C, 6th Inf. Bedford, Patrick, Co. D, 9th Inf. Bigelow, Alfred W., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Bigelow, Hiram, Co. D, 9th Inf. Briggs, Willis G., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Chamberlain, Wm. J., Co. B, Br. Bat. Chapman, Darius N., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Clark, Wm. A., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Cook, M. L., Co. F, 1st Art. Crandall, Arthur, Co. H, 4th Inf. Crandall, Dennis, Co. H, 1st Inf. Crandall, Harrison, Co. B, Mt. Rangers. Crandall, Marion, Co. B, Mt. Kgrs. Crandall, Nelson, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Crandall, Rudolph, Captain in 5th Iowa Cav. Crandall, Wm., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Cray, Lorin, Co. D, 9th Inf. Cross, Edward, Co. C, 11th Inf. Coulton, Marvin E., Co. D, 9th Inf. Day, Eugene E., Co. F, Ist Art. Day, Simon N., Co. D, 9th Inf. Day, Wm. H., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Davison, Thos. G., Co. G, 1st Art. Drake, Levi N., Co. B, Br. Bat. Graham, Baker, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Hillard, Riley, Co. F, 1st Art. Knowles, Elwood, Co. H, 4th Inf. Lattimore, Francis J., Co. C, 11th Inf. Longale, Thos., Co. C, 11th Inf. Lindsey, Chas. H., Co. F, 1st Art. Loomer, Joseph H., Co. F, 1st Art. McKibhen, John, Co. E, 2nd Cav. ' McKibben, Wallace, Co. C, 11th Inf. McQueen, Wm., Co. G, 1st Bat. Miller, Wm. H., Co. B, Br. Bat. Millett, Samuel W., Co. D, 9th Inf. Perrin, Horace B., Co. G, 11th Inf. Purdy, John, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Randall, Alvin R., Co. H, Mt. Rg. Raymond, Wallace, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Richardson, Henry, Co. B, Br. Bat. Ross, Clark B.. Co. B, Br. Bat. Ruckle, John Vv., Co. C, 11th Inf. Sampson, .John L., Co. H, 4th Inf. Shank, John T., Co. H, 4th Inf. Stephens, Galloway, Co. D, 9th Inf. Svlkett, Jacob, Co. B, Br. Bat. Smith, Loren B., Co. H, 4th Inf. Swearengen, Abraham T., Co. D, 9th Inf. Swcarengen, Wm. H., Co. D, 9th Inf. Thomas, Jesse P., Co. F, 1st Art. Terhune, Daniel T., Co. D, 9th Inf. Thompson, David L., Co. C, 11th Inf. Underwood, John K., Co. B, Br. Bat. VanMeter, Joseph, Co. 0, 11th Inf. BISTOEY OF BLUE EAETII COUNTY. 291 Walbridge, Milton T., Co. D, 9th Inf. West, Jed, Co. F, 1st Art. Wetherell, Jno. 0., Co. F, 1st Art. Youngman, Wm. H., Co. D, 9tli Inf. SOUTH BEND. Of the first settlement of the village and town- sliip of South Bend we have treated elsewhere in this volume. Soon after the founding of the village in the fall of 1853 by D. C. Evans and Lyman Mathews it became an important pioneer trading point. In the early period the two story log house of D. C. Evans, built in 1854, on lot 6, block 64 of South Bend, was the center of activity. Here was held the first election in 18.54, when every voter got an office. Here was preached the first English sermon west of the Blue Earth in 1854, and the first Welsh sermon in 1855, here Joshua Barnard organized the first Sunday school in the town in 1854 and Dr. Edward Thomas organ- ized the first Welsh Sunday school in the spring of 1855, here were held the first debating socie- ties, the first singing school and the first Eistedd- fod. In 185?, the South Bend hotel was built by Mathew Thompson and Jehiel Cheney and on Jan. 1, 1858 opened to the public by L. Abbott & Co. Mr. Thompson and Mr. Slepier were, also, among its early landlords. The first saw mill in the town was built in 1854 by Isaac Lyons on Minneopa Creek. The first saw mill in the village was put up by D. C. Evans and E. D. Price in the fall of 1855. A year or two later a run of stones was attached to this mill for grinding corn. In 1858 Rev. Eich- ard Davis and John P. Williams erected a second saw mill in the village. In 1860 McCauley & MciSTamara built a large stone grist mill, which tiiey operated for two or three years. In 1802 Louis Seppman began the erection on his farm of a stone windmill, which was completed in 1864. It was constructed of boulders and other native stone and is circular in form. It is thirty feet in diameter at bottom and twenty feet at the top. It 's thirty-two feet in height from the ground to the eaves and the walls are two feet thick at the base and one and one-half feet thick at top. The roof is doomshaped and hung on a center shaft, so it can be turned clear around, that the sails might be shifted to face the wind in any direction. The arms of the mill were wooden frames covered with sail cloth, each thirty-five feet long, making with the diameter of the hub a spread of seventy-five feet. For sixteen years Mr. Seppman used the mill to grind flour, and many of the old settlers testify to its excellent quality. It had a capacit}' of 150 bush- els per day. June ", 1873 lightning demolished two of the arms, but they were replaced next year. In 1880 a big wind storm again carried off two of the arms and as modern inven- tion rendered the making of flour by this prima- live method unprofitable, they were never re- :^tored. The mill was used to grind feed until the summer of 1890, when the two remaining sails were wrecked in another storm. The old tower, however, still stands like an ancient sen- iinel on the hill, as strong and sturdy as ever — the most picturesque of all the ancient landmarks of the county. About 1860 South Bend had the distine- tion of being the home of D. A. Allen (Tom Thumb ISTo. 2), who was then reported to be tlie smallest man in the United States. He was at that time twenty-two years old and only thirty-one inches in height, half an inch shorter than Barnum's famous Tom Thumb. His weight was only thirty-five pounds, much less than the great showman's prodigy-. Mr. Allen's parents lived in those days upon a farm, just west of Minneopa Creek on the Mankato and New Ulm road. A number of stores and shops were built at South Bend village during 1856 and 1857. Pi'ominent among the stores in the fifties, were those owned by Eckstrom Bros, and Brown, Wm. Hewitt, McGibbon and Purnell, W. W. Davis and Lnrs Lee. During the same period A. K. Dahl had plow works; E. D. Price, D. D. Evans and E. K. Bangs had blacksmith shops; Peter Potts sold ready made clothing, Jonas Mohr (who in 1862 was killed by the Indians in Butternut Valley) had a hardware ; John D. Evans ran a =hoemakers shop ; Cake had a cooper shop ; Dr. Geo. W. Havens looked after the sick; Daniel Buck, the well known lawyer and jurist, and B. Parke Dewey, son of Judge Dewey, for many years on the Supreme bench of Indiana, assisted 292 HISTOT^Y OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. people in their legal quarrels; Geo. McGiviiey ]]ad a harness shop; And. Johnson conducted a tailor shop; Ever Severson had a cabinet shop; Joe -Barker, Hans Peter Olson, Joe Miller and Everett & Wright, (vi'ho were in the Lake Shetek massacre in 1862), helped to relieve the thirst of the pioneers; Horton W. Nelson, John IT. Goodsell, Wm. J. McCauley and J. T. Wil- liams looked after the real estate booms of the growing metropolis; while Hon. D. C. Evans was General in Chief. In those early days. South Bend was a busy, bustling, trade center, full of hope and promise. It contained in its j)almy period nearly a hundred houses of all Irnds, and a population of 200 to 300. It con- tinued to flourish until about 1868, when it was dealt a mortal blow by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railway Co. in its refusal to make it one of its stations. From that day forward it went down hill rapidly. W. W. Davis maintained a s-tore there off and on until May 1, 1896, when he sold, out to A. Lincoln, who was burned out in October, 1897. D. P. Davis and son conduct- ed a store there continuously from the summer of 1867 until October, 1900, when he sold out to one Dethier and on the 11th of that month, this store and the old hotel building were burned to the ground. Since which time South Bend lias been a truly deserted village. The school house, the old Congregational church and the ancient stone building of Eckstrom Bros., which of late years has been transformed into a town hall, with a few scattered dwellings are all that remain of the town which once rivaled Mankato. South Bend postoffice was established in Feb- ruary, 1856, with Matthew Thompson as post- master. He was succeeded by Daniel Buck, who lield the office until November, 1861, when Lars Ijce was appointed under the Eepublican admin- istration. Paul P. Eckstrom in September, 1864, became his successor, and held the office until his departure from the village about 1870, when Wm. E. Price was appointed. March 19, 1878, David P. Davis, Jr., became postmaster, and was succeeded in 1885 by David P. Davis, Sr. W. W. Davis was appointed to the posifon in July, 1889, and in May, 1896, A. Lincoln succeeded him as postmaster and owner of the store. The store and postoffice were burned out in October, 1897. After this catastrophe G. A. Hultengren took the office. He was followed by H. D. Bur- nett, and he in turn, by James Steele. While held by the latter in 1900 the office was abol- ished and the free delivery system inaugurated. The first toA¥n meeting was held at the vil- lage. May 11, 1858, when the officers elected 'u'ere: Supervisors, Lyman Matthews, (Chair- man), Luther G. Barrett and John A. Jones; Clerk, Edmund Purnell; Assessor, David J. Lewis; Collector, Lars Lee; Justices, Elijah K. Bangs and L. Abbott; Constables, Lars Lee and W. P. Goodell. The first school in the town was taught in the summer of 1855 by Mrs. Joshua Barnard, at her house in the village of South Bend. A log school house was built there in the fall of the same year, which stood near the present residence of D. P. Davis. The town now has four good frame school houses. Of the beginning of religious services in the town we have spoken elsewhere. The first church was organized on August 1, 1855, by Eev. Eichard Davis at his own house in the village. It was a Welsh Union church with forty-three members. Its officers were Evan H. Evans, Evan Evans (Pant), William E. Price, William J. Eoberts and ■ Edward Thomas, Sr. September, 1856, the Welsh Calvinistic Metho- dist church of Zion was started. A church build- ing was erected near Minneopa Creek in the spring of 1858, wh'ch was dedicated July 11, of that year. The present fine building of this church was erected in 1883 and dedicated Feb- ruary 6, 1884. The South Bend Congregational Church was organized December 11, 1859, in a vacant log cabin, belonging to Evan Evans (Pant) in South Bend village, by Eev. Jenkin Jenkins, assisted by Henry Hughes, who was then lay preacher. The charter members were: W. W. Davis and viie, Griffith Eoberts and wife, Thomas W. Evans, Edward Thomas, Sr. and wife, Edward Thomas, Jr., Mrs. John A. Jones, Mrs. D. C. Evans, Griffith Williams and wife, John G. Eoberts and wife, and Mrs. Jennette Jones, the latter being then received on confession of faith. In 1861 the present house of worship was erected HISTORY OF BLUE EAKTH COUXTY. 293 and dedicated in June, 1863. Eev. Jenkins con- linued as pastor until March, 1870, when Kev. Griffith Samuel was put in charge. In 18 iG the church was joined to the Cambria church under the pastorate of Rev. T. G. Jones. This union continued during the pastorates of Rev. Wm. Powell (1881-5) and Humphrey Jones (1889- [Ki). The Sabbath School was kept up under the superintendency of W. W. Davis until his departure in 1895. In the meantime the Welsh membership had moved away or died and a new population that knew not the old Cambrian tongue liad taken their place. In August, 1895, W. A. Whitcomb, a young theological student, had gathered to an English service the parents and children of the neigh- borhood, and on the 24th of that month he or- ganized an English church with sixteen members, i^evs. F. M. Washburn, Wm. Griffith, E. L. Ileermance and Messrs. Roerback, Baldwin and J. A. Clark have each taken part in the work t.ince. The old church was repaired in 1904 un- der the energetic leadership of Mr. Baldwin and Rev. Ileermance and a reopening service held on August 6, 1904. October 19, 1856, a Wesleyan Methodist C^hurch was organized at South Bend village by Kev. E. D. Price, which continued its service until the Indian outbreak. About 1860 a Welsh Cal. Methodist Church was organized in the village, but after a few years it disbanded. In 1865 a Welsh Presby- terian Church was started and Rev. James M. Price ministered to it for a few years, when it, also, disbanded. A Sunday School and preaching service have been maintained off and on for many years in the Spring Island neighborhood. There the renovraed pioneer M. E. preacher, Rev. J. W. Powell, spent the declining years of his life. In South Bend is found the famous Minneopa Falls, which have been a noted pleasure resort for the past fifty years. Minneopa townsite was laid out beside it in 1870 by D. C. Evans and T. P. Gere. A depot, warehouse, store and lumber yard were conducted here for a few years. The store which was owned by Eev. Dan- iel Rowlands, burned March 2, 1881. During the seventies the place was noted for the great M. E. camp meetings conducted there in June of each year. Rev. Powell was the main instiga- tor of these meetings, some of which were at- tended by 4,000 to 5,000 people. In 1888-9 the big artesian well on the farm cf Wm. R. Williams was sunk by a company, who were prospecting for natural gas. In April, 1905, the Legislature passed a bill establishing a state park at the picturesque falls, and in 1906-7 seventy acres of land on which they are situated were bought by the State, and several thousand dollars spent in improvements. J. B. Hodge was appointed its first keeper, and in 1907 he was succeeded by Wm. R. Williams. In 1S59 Miner Porter built a summer hotel on his farm adjoining the village of South Bend, which he called "Llinneineopa." In 1868 Mr. Porter greatly improved and beautified both ho- tel and grounds. Planting trees, shrubbery and flowers, building arbors, swings and artistic walks, and surrounding all with a tasty fence, v.ith high arching gateways. In the nineties the farm was purchased by W. W. P. McConnell and Mrs. D. A. Swan, who conducted thereon for several years a fine dairy of high bred Jersey cattle. The old house burned February 1, 1906. in 1857 LeHillier was platted as a townsite and a stone hotel and about two dozen houses built thereon. In 1889 Samuel C. and Geo. Pond laid out Riverside Park Addition adjoin- ing LeHillier on the west. A brick yard was started here by 0. R. Mather, I. K. Flanagan, E. A. Gibson and S. C. Pond. This yard for many years has been owned and operated with good success by F. G. Pannenberg & Co. Ex- cellent cement stone in inexhaustible quantity is iound underlying the tableland, which lies just i-ast of the old village of South Bend. This for some years has furnished all the material use3 by Mr. Carney in the manufacture of the well kno^^Ti Mankato Standard Cements. In South Bend is, also, found the famous blue and green clay, used as a pigment by the Indians, and mis- taken for copper by the French, and from which is derived the names "Mankato" and "Blue Earth." In 1869 Buck, Sowers and Co. started the manufacture of stoneware at South Bend village from the clays there found, and it is very probable that the future will see the clays 294 HISTOKY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. of the town again utilized among the industries cl our county. Eoster of soldiers furnished by South Bend for the Civil War: Alden Florence G., Co. I, 6th Inf. Barker, Joseph H., Co. B, Br. Bat. Barrett, Luther G., Co. E, 9th Inf. Breese, David, Co. E, 9th Inf. Brown, Hans M. L. T., Co. I, 6th Inf. Burgher, Joseph, Co. H, 2ud Inf. Cheney, Jehiel, Co. H, 2ud Inf. Christensen, Francis, Co. E, 10th Inf. Christopherson, Geo., Co. E, 9th Inf. Cramer, Francis M., Co. E, 9th Inf. Edwards, Hugh H., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Erickson, Erick, Co. I, 6th Inf. Evans, Wm. H., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Farnham, Solomon, Co. B, Br. Bat. Gregory, Wm., Co. H, 4th Inf. Ilenningson, Christian, Co. I, 6th Inf. Hughes, Richard H., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Jones, John J., Co. E, 9th Inf. Johnson, Iver, Co. H, 4th Inf. Jones, Wm., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Jones, Robert E., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Keegan^ Peter, Co. H, 4th Inf. Lewis, Griffith J., Co. B, Br. Bat. Lamaraux, Thomas, Co. H, 4th Inf. Lieberg, Eberhardt P., Co. H, 4th Inf., Pro. Capt. Littletield, Augustus W., Co. H, 4th Inf. Lillie, James T. F., Co. F, 1st Inf. Laird, Alonzo E., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Lyons, Elmore C., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Matthews, Lyman, Co. E, 9th Inf. Matthews, Thadeus L., Co. E, 9th Inf. Norcutt, Winslow C.^ Co. B, Br. Bat. Olson, Olans, Co. I, 6th Inf. Olson, Hans P., Co. I, 6th Inf. Olson, Ole, Co. G, 10th Inf. Pritchard, Robert S., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Roberts, John G., Co. E, 9th Inf. Ross, Walter S., Co. E, 9th Inf. Thomas, James P., Co. B, Br. Bat. Wigley, Joshua, Co. E, 2nd Cav. STEELING. This town is located in the center of the sunthern tier of townships and is flanked by two large lakes^ which take up nearly 1,900 acres of its territory. On its eastern flank lies Lake Jjura, so designated, ft is said, by one of the early settlers from the name "Lura" being carved on a tree upon its shore. The name was probably taken from "Lura" township in Fari- bault County. It had two Indian names, "Te- wapa (Water Lily) and "Ata'kinyan" or "Ksank- san'^ (crooked or irregular). Tewapa is a spec- ies of water lily having an edible root very abundant in this lake, and which roots were much used by the Indians for food. The other name of the lake was probably applied to it from its very irregular outline, or maybe from the crooked shape of its outlet. Rice Creek. Some- times the two names were combined "Tewapa- jta'kinyan" (The Crooked lake of the water lilies). On the western flank of the town in found Jackson Lake, so called after Norman L. Jackson, the first settler of Shelby, who located upon its banks. Its Indian name was "Sinkpe" (Muskrat), from the fact that the southern half of its bed, being shallow, was thickly populated by these animals, whose rush-built homes liter- ally covered that portion of the lake. The spot was noted among both the Indians and pioneers for trapping these fur bearing rats. Indepen- dence Creek, the outlet of this lake, and Rice Creek, the outlet of Lake Lura, flow through Sterling and empty into the Maple River, which passes through the northeast portion of the town. As stated elsewhere in this volume the first settlers were, Vespucius Highland, Horace -M. DeWolfe, and Dr. Hiram Harrington. In 1856 came the Mapleton Colony, the majority of whom made claims in this town. Among these were Robert Taylor, Wm. Wilde, Alexander Graig, Joseph Dobie, James G. Morris, Gilbert Webster, John Johnston, Dr. C. F. Francis. James Cornell, Artemus Stephens, John Dixon, John Mound, and R. A. Judd. Other early set- tlers were: Ezra Annis, James, Levi and Ro- bert Boyer, Rev. Jacob- E. Conrad, George Clark, Robert Curry, A. J. Ellis, William Ellis, S. M. Kieth, Chas. H. Roberts, A. B. Re^d, M. M. Pratt, W. H. Johnston, Luke A. Cornell, Chas. Jones, Abram Moses, Wm. Randall, Alpheus M. Hewitt, Wm. Webb, John Price, Levi Lamp. Eev. N. A. Hunt, Wm. N. Bissell, Sylvanus E. Hicks, John J. and Henry J. Lewis, Stenor Olson, Wm. Russell, Josiah Russell, Bendt Ped- crson, Geo. Conrad, Andrew Anderson, Wm. S. 'ildredge, Aslec Torstensen, M. Munson, Solo- mon Harriman, Hiram Roberts, G. L. Rinehart, John Buel, Benjamin Stoner, Hugh Hazel, and Gideon B. and Geo. W. Doty. The present towns of Sterling, Mapleton and Danville were created into one election precinct under the name of "Mapleton" on July 9, 1856. The first officers were: Judges of election, Vespucius Highland. James Cornell and 0. B. Marsh; Justices, Ro- bert Taylor and Albert A. Wessells; Constables, RESIDENCE OF A. 0. EBERHART, LIEUT. GOVERNOR. HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 295 John Dixon and James Dobin; Eoad Super- visor, Wm. Wilde. The same territory was on the same date created into a new school district designated No. 5. When the towns were created and named in April, 1858, Sterling was called "Mapleton" and the present town of that name under the appellation of "Sherman"' was joined to it for administrative purposes. At a meeting held in December, 1859, it was decided to change the name to "Sterling." Eobert Taylor first sug- gested the name "Stirling" after the Scotch pa- triot, and urged it in this meeting; but Wm. Eussell contended for the name "Sterling"' an more appropriate and expressive of the quality of the soil and people, and the majority sided with him. The name is common as a place name in a number of the eastern states and this may have influenced the selection. On April 3, 1860, Sherman was detached and made into an independent town under the name "Mapleton." The first store was probably conducted by A. Wessells for the Mapleton Colony. The next store was started by Wm. Eussell, Sr., early in the sixties at his home on Eice creek. In fall of 1865 G. B. Doty built a two story frame build- ing on the present site of Sterling Center. The lower story was occupied by Wm. Bissell with a store, while the upper story was used for a pub- lic hall and school room. He was succeeded by Henry Brink and he by Joseph Eusho. In 1864 Eussell removed east of Eice creek and next year built a store a few rods still further east, near the present CongTCgational Church, and took his son into partnership. In October, 1867, Mr. Eussell bought three-fourths of an acre on the present site of Sterling Center and built thereon a store building which he oc- cupied with his stock of goods and the post- office. It stood nearly opposite the present town hall. In the fifties Middlebrook Bros, had built a saw mill on the Maple just beyond the east ]ine of Sterling. This mill burnt in Juno, 1863. Later McCormick and Smith put up a saw mill near the same place. Smith sold his interest in :\Iay, 1869, to Wm. McQueen. In 1868 Thomas Eandall built a store two miles southvs'est of this mill. A congregational Church had been erected in the summer of 186T at the same location. A school house and blacksmith shop were, also, located in ll:e same vicinity, and Dr. C. L. Francis, the pioneer physic;an of the town, resided here. All this gave the place a little prominence as a center, and it was designated "iliddletown." On the Maple at the outlet of Independence Creek in Section 9, Geo. W. Doty had built a mill and a few rods up the creek Gideon B. Doty had built another mill. Between the two mills was the old Bissell store building. In February, 1866, Geo. W. Doty sold his mill and site to Ezra Fuller and Allen Miller, who in turn dis- posed of it i;o Henry Spickerman, who operated it for many years. In August, 1860, Sterling post- off'ce was created with Wm. Eussell, Sr., as postmaster. At the close of the war, Josiah Eussell was appointed, but in December, 1866, he resigned and Wm. Eussell was reappointed. The office was first kept at the Eussell home, but after the store was started it was transferi'ed thereto and followed its migrations. When the store and office were located finally near the Spickerman and Doty mills, Mr. Eussell had the postofl'ice name changed to "Sterling Center," which became the name of this business point. Quite a rivalry occurred for some years between "Sterling Center" and "Middletown," and the t'lrmer was nicknamed "Gougeville" by its rival. In 1869 V\'m. Eussell sold his store to his son- in-law, Eev. E. 0. Burnham, father of Cap't Fred M. Burnham, the noted British Scout. In June, 1870, the store burned. The Eusho Bros, about this time opened a store in the old Doty building, which was now owned by the school district, and in March, 1871, they sold their stock to Thos. Eandall and Wm. Ellis, who for two and a half years conducted the business un- der the firm name of Eandall & Ellis. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Ellis sold out to his partner and in the spring of 1874 built a new two story building, 18x24. a few rods southeast of the old site, and started therein a second store. Eandall had succeeded Eussell as postmaster in 1871 and continued in business at the old stand until 1880, when he removed to Amboy. In 1875 Wm. Ellis was appointed postmaster and held the of- fice in connection with his store until the fall of 1903, when he sold to Geo. H. Perry. He was succeeded by W. Barnes, who in turn sold the business in July, 1905, to M. B. Mandell, who removed it to Mapleton in the spring of 1908. 206 HISTORY OP BLtJE EARTH COUNTY. AVm. R. Johnston had a blacksmith shop at Sterl- ing Center during the seventies, but sold out in March, 1886, to Chas. Troy. He was succeeded b}' Joe Latourell. The Present blacksmith is Richard Koul. In January, 1880, W. G. Furnham bought the Spickerman mill at Sterling Center, and ran it ofE and on for a few years. Mrs. G. W. Rima opened a millinery at the "Center." January 1, 1867, a contemporary wrote: "Sterling has about 120 voters, all Americans except 31. Of the latter 10 are Norwegians, 4 Scotch, 3 Eng- lish, 3 Canadian, 2 Irish. It has five school houses, three of which have had eight months school each, last year. There are two good Sun- day schools and preaching at two school houses nearly every Sunday. The Baptist, Congrega- tionalists and Methodists have church organiza- tions, and the Congregationalists have just en- closed a new large building to be completed in the spring. This is the oldest religious organi- zation in the town, dating almost from the first settlement. The town contains, also, one store, and two mills." Jacob C. Morris was the first white child born in the town, his birth occurring in the win- ter of 1856-7. The first school was taught by Elisha Horton at the cabin of Joseph Dobie on Section 5, in the summer of 1857. Tuition was charged to pay the teacher. At the same time another private school was conducted at the home of James Little in Section 10 with Isabella VcinNice as teacher. The first settlers of this town were mostly of the best American stock and above the average in intelligence and cul- ture. Good schools were started by them early, and literary and religious societies organized. The educational atmosphere, which gave tone to Ihe town from the beginning, has resulted in Sterling furnishing the largest quota of young men for the professions of any town in the county. As early as 1880 the town had pro- duced forty-three teachers. It has given the ministry five or six prominent clergymen. Among whom are Rev. A. Z. Conrad, D. D. of Boston, Mass., Rev. W. 0. Conrad of Harrisville, N. H., Rev. Eugene P. Hunt of Maynard, Mass., Rev. W. Sherman Hunt of Pocattello, Ida. To the medical world it has given Dr. Wm. Morris of N. Y., Dr. D. Winslow Hunt of Glendale, Cal., and Dr. Fred N. Hunt of Blue Earth City, Minn. Others have taken up legal and educa- tional work. During the eighties there was special activity along the line of literary and debating societies. In school house No. 30 the "Y. P. M. I." society held forth. At the Ster- ling Center school was organized the "S. C. M. L. Society." "The -Lura literary Society," "The Ridge Lyceum" and "The Old Mapleton Literary Society," furnished opportunities for literary and forensic culture in their several lo- calities. The societies sometimes met each other m debating contests. Monthly papers were is- sued, such as the "Sterling Chief," "The Tor- pedo," "'The Lura Lake Echo," etc. Among the leaders were: EUiam Johnston, Jud. Cor- nell, C. L. Benedict, Manfred Benedict, Wm., John, and Geo. Johnston, Allie and Mary Ro- berts, Chas. and Geo. Stevens, Byron Mitchell, A. J. Hollenbeck, Robert Taylor, A. J. and Ro- bert Ellis, Harry and Geo. Ackerman, James and Andy Howieson, J. L. Stevens, John Drews, Wm. Roberts, Geo. Conrad, 0. T. Oleson, Alice Benedict, Emma Lewis, Emily Cornell, Nellie and Lizzie Johnston, Sarah Stevens, C. D. Ged- des and H. J. Lewis. There are now four pub- lic school buildings in the town, besides the Parochial school house of the Norwegian Luth- erans. The now famous "Blue Earth Valley Burns Club," was started by Joseph Dobie at his own home in Sterling township, on Decem- ber 35, 1866. Mr. Dobie was president of the club for many years and it usually met at his home or at the home of James Ellis. The club generally met at Sterling until within the past ten years, when for convenience it has been re- moved to Mapleton. Fourth of July celebrations, church, Sunday school and lodge picnics have frequently gathered on the banks of Lura Lake, and for some twenty years or more a public Christmas tree function was observed at the halls in Sterling Center. It originated with the local grange in 1875. In 1385 a town hall was built, which was destroyed by fire, and the present town hall erected in 1892. In 1857 a Congregational church was started with fourteen members. The record of its or- HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 297 ganization reads as follows : "The "undersigned met at the Franklin School House on July 12, 1857, and made request to be organized into a Congregational church. On August 4, 1857, they met and after adopting rules and articles of faith they were duly organized into a Con- gregational church by Eev. Eichard Hall and Egv. Jacob E. Conrad. Wm. Russell. George Conrad. V.'m. Russell, Jr. Ivobert Taylor. Artemas Stevens. Gilbert Webster. Joseph Uobie. James iXorris. Asa Sherman. Christina ilorris. Rebecca Russell, l.ucinda Russell. Jennett Taylor. Helen Dobie. In 1863 Eev. Nehemiah A. Hunt became the pastor of this church. A church building was firocted in 1867 at Middletown, which was de- dicated on January 10, 1868, Eev. Huiit preach- ing the dedication sermon from 1 Kings 7 : 51 and 8:27. May 13, 1882, under the pastorship of Eev. 0. 0. Eundell the church was made a legal body with the following trustees: Wm. McQueen, James Morris, James Ellis, John Johnston and Abraham Moses, and John Taylor as clerk. July 23, 1882, it celebrated its twenty- fifth anniversary, Eevs. Conrad, Hunt and Pratt officiating. These men had all ministered to the church, and the first two were residents of Ster- ling for many years. The church was, also, served for several years by various pastors from Mapleton and Amboy. In time, however, its membership became so diminished by death and removals that the church disbanded for a time and sold the building. It was first sold to Eev. Parr of Mapleton on June 18, 1897. To save it from being removed from the neighborhood or destroyed, John T. Morris purchased it in 1902 and in 1904 it was repurchased by the com- .mmity, removed to its present location on the farm of Geo. B. Lamp, and rededicated to its original divine purpose. Union services are now regularly held therein. At Sterling Center the >I. E., Presbyterians and other denominations have maintained Sunday schools and preaching .-ervices at the hall off and on since the earliest period. The western end of Sterling is occupied by a very thrifty Norwegian settlement. They are an excellent class of people — industrious, honest, and religious. They belong to the Lutheran faith. The first two settlers' were Andrew E. Anderson and Abraham Estvold, who came from Keokuk, iowa, and located on the banks of Jackson Lake in 1857. In 1859 they were joined by Bendt Pederson and Andrew A. Dahl from Hesbor, la. From the same place came in 1861, Stenor 01- i;(:n, Ole Jorgeson, Bendt, Eilef and Johannes Lief. In 1862 came Aslak Torstenson and As- lak Storkeson from Dane Co., Wis. The first Norwegian sermon was preached by Eev. Fred- erickson in Bendt Pederson's log cabin in 1859. Eev. B. J. Muus preached at the same cabin in 1360 and Eev. L. M. Bjorn in 1861. May 25, 1862, the Congregation was organized by Eev. MuuB at the home of Kute Thomson, over the line in Delevan Township. Stenor Olson was chosen the first delegate from the church to the "Norwegian Lutheran Synod of America." The legal organization of the church occurred March :i5, 1864, by the following corporate members. J ohannes Johanneson. iVndres A. Dahl. Pder Johnson. ■UJe Jorgenson. Bondt i'ederson. Svend Saammundson. Ivjiudt Thompson. Aslek Stoeskerson. Stener Olson. Bendt Johanneson. Elef Johannerson. John F. Olson. Jorgen Hanson Mokland. Bjorn Thorstenson. Aslek Torstenson. Bennett Johnson. The three last being trustees. The organiza- tion was named "The Jackson Lake Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church." Eev. Muus and Eev. T. L. Johnson of Nicollet County continued to serve the church as pastors off and on from its organization until 1867. December 8, 1867, Eev. T. H. Dahl began his labors as the first settled pastor, and continued until 1876. May 21, 1871, the corner stone of the present house of worship was laid, but the superstructure was not completed until 1879. The dedication ser- vice was conducted by Eev. Muus on July 8, of that 3'ear. A number of young men connected with this church had just organized themselves into what was called the "Jackson Lake Band." This band added to the joy of the occasion by its music. Early in. his pastorate, Eev. Dahl started a parochial school in the parish at a farmer's log cabin. This school continued at private houses until District No. 32, built a frame school house, 298 HISTOEY OP BLUE EAETH COUNTY. when the old log school house was purchased by the Norwegians for their church school. In 1891j the present frame structure was built for this school. May 30, 1902, the fortieth anniver- sary of the organization of the church was cele- brated with great rejoicing in the grove by Mrs. Mary Anderson's home on Jackson Lake. Since the departure of Eev. Dahl in 1876, the church has been yoked with the Norwegian church at Mankato in its pastoral supply. The names and dates of the pastors are as follows: Eev. M. Borge, 1876-'84, Eev. K. G. Fagre, 1884-'87, Eev. A. G. H. Overn, 1887-'92, Eev. H. Allen, 1892-'94, Eev. B. Hove, 1894-'01, Eev. J. E. Inge- britson, 1901-'04, and Eev. Nils Norgaard, 1904, to present time. Eoster of soldiers furnished by Sterling for the Civil War: Adams, John D., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Anderson, Andrew, Co. H, 4th Inf. Boyer, Wm. H., Co. B, Mt. Eg. deary, James F., Co. E, 9th Inf. Cornell, Benjamin B., Co. C, 11th Inf. Cornell, Luke H., Co. F, 1st Heavy Art. Crocker, George, Co. H, 3rd Inf. Curry, Robert, Co. C, Br. Bat, 5th Iowa Cav. Davis, Morrill J., Co. K, 1st Heavy Art. Eldredge, Albert L., Co. D, 1st H. Art. Eldredge, George W., Co. D, 1st H. Art. Elmore, Lewis, Co. E, 9th Inf. Griflfith, Thos. R., 1, Bat. L. Art. George, Jacob, Co. C, 1st Inf. Hall, Wm., 1, Bat. L. Art. Hungerford, Asel, Co. B, Mt. Rgrs. Hunt, David W., Co. C, Br. Bat. Johnson, Geo. W., Co. D, 1st H. Art. Johnson, Peter, Co. H, Mt. Rg. Jones, Wm. H., Co. B, Mt. Rg. Knutson, Knut, Co. C, 11th Inf. Lamp, Isiah, 5th Iowa Cav. Loudon, Samuel, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Lamp, Levi, 5th Iowa Cav. Miller, Frederick, Co. E, 9th Inf. Nickerson, David R., Co. E, 9th Inf. Olds, John, Co. H, 2nd Cav. Olson, Steller, Co. E, Mt. Rgs. Olson, Stener, Co. F, 1st H. Art. Olson, Andrew, Co. C, 11th Inf. Oliver, David, Co. H, 3rd Inf. Reed, John A., Co. B, Br. Bat., Captain. Russell, Josiah, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Russell, Wm., Co. K, 1st H. Art. Roberts, Hiram L., Co. F, 1st H. Art. Sprague, John H., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Scott, Henry A., Co. H, 4th Inf. Stevens, Augustus A., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Smith, Whiteford, Co. C, Uth Inf. Taylor, John, Co. B, 2nd Cav. Tweed, Andre, Co. C, 11th Inf. Vale, John, Co. H, 2nd Inf. Webb, Henry P., Co. H, 4th Inf. Webb, Jr., Wm., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Wells, WiUoughby, Co. B, Br. Bat. Wilcox, Wm. R., Go. F, 1st H. Art. VEENON CENTEE. The first white man to settle in Vernon Cen- ter was isreal \iing, who located in Section 26, m the spring of 1855. Other settlers of that 3'ear were: Kobert Marley, James Taylor, Thos. JJoak, Joseph McClanahan, Alexander Arledge, ijarcus L. Elumb, Marcus L. Johnson, John Dar- ling, (Jyrus i'oot, Geo. Keenan, Eobert Hopper, Asa Barney, Chas. liarney and Matthew Galla- ger. In 1856, came Christian Detamore, Elna- than Kendall, Horton W. Nelson, David Car- penter, C. C. Washburn, Malon Warren, Lory and Solomon Harriman, Lucian, Nathan and Wm. Bass, Harney G. Browning, Geo. W., Eich- ard M., Martin V. and Lewis C. Johnson, Sol- omon Halmick, John Miller, Jonathan Leavitt. Among the settlers of 1857 were Col. B. P. Smith, Benjamin McCracken, Thos. Ha\e, Ezra Cooper, Franklin Barnes, Elias Carpenter, Levi Cord, Elkanah Davis, Edward Dolan, John P. Dooley, Ed. and Peter Webber and Chas. W. Beckwith. Other early settlers were: Theodore Sowers, Hon. E. T. Champlin, Peter Mertes- dorf, John and E. C. Wilber, E. D. Cornish, S. H. and S. E. Grannis, L. S. Terry, A. M. Han- nay, Martin Conroy and S. J. Nimms. For about a year the town formed a part of Shelby precinct. In the winter of 1856-'57 a townsite company was formed at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, called "The Blue Earth Company." Two of its most active promoters were Col. Benjamin F. Smith and Benjamin McCracken, and its object was to start a town on the Blue Earth river in our County. To this end McCracken came to Blue Earth County early in the spring of 1857, as agent for the company and bargained for a section of land in Sections 26, 27, 34 and 35 of Vernon. In June, 1857, he had M. B. Haynes survey and plat a townsite on this land. About this time Col. B. F. Smith arrived on the scene to aid in developing the new enterprise. He brought with him the machinery for a saw mill, which the company had purchased at Mt. Vernon, il. B. Haynes and his father, Eeuben Haynes, were induced to buy a half interest in the mill, which was erected in the fall and win- ter of 1857, and operated by Smith and Haynes until about the time of the Indian outbreak. HISTORY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 299 July 8, 1857, the town was made into a separate election precinct called "Vernon'' at the insti- gation of Col. Smith and i\Ir. iVicCracken, after iMt. Vernon, Ohio. The first election was held at McCracken's house, and Horton \V'. jS;elson, C. C. Mack and T. B. Northrup were the Judges of election. The townsite was, also, called " V ernon" and the plat made by Mr. Haynes was executed on May 5, 1858, by B. F. Smith, as agent of the company, Henry Shaubut, James Connell, as secretary and Benjamin McCracken as trustee of the company. Early in the spring of 1858, Col. Smith erected, from the first lumber sawed at the mill, a fair sized frame hotel, of which he was the first landlord. The same year a post- ofiice was created, with John P. Dooley as first postmaster. The first school was taught in a small building built by James Connell for an ofiice, by Miss Henrietta Smith in the fall of 1868. The spring of 1859, a frame school house was built and during the summer Miss Phoebe Haynes taught the first school therein. For the first year of its existence, Vernon yillage had a formidable rival located upon the Blue Earth about two miles above, on Section 34 and called "Montevideo." This townsite was started in July, 1857, by Horton W. Nelson, Jonathan Lea- vitt and others. A mill was erected there by Caleb Leavitt, and Jacob L. Taylor in the fall of ■ that year, which was operated until November, 1858, when it was removed to Madelia. Horton W. Nelson began the erection of a hotel, but after the removal of the mill, it was abandoned,, and the town fell through. The Smith and Haynes saw mill at Vernon was operated until about 1862, by its owners. About 1859, B. F. Smith purchased of A. N. Dukes at Mankato, a stock of goods which he took to Vernon and opened a store there, which he put in charge of his son, John S. Smith, who in November, 1861, succeeded Mr. Dooley as postmaster. Col. Smith continued to run the hotel until the fall of 18()3, when for two or three years it became a soldier's barracks. In 1860, Wm. and David Post opened a store which was run by Wm. Post until his death, during the Indian trouble. In 1863, Theodore Sowers was ap- pointed postmaster and held the office for about three years, durmg which period his home on top of the blutt south of the village was a stop- ping place for the Mankato and Blue Earth stages, as well as for the traveling public. A. 0. PerJdns succeeded Mr. bowers as postmaster and was sacceedeU by Mrs. Elizabeth JL)rake. \\'m. McCracken was the first blacksmith in the village, having a sliop there prior to the Sioux outbreak. in 186?, J. i). Blanchard opened a blacksmith and wagon shop there, which he still conducts, being now sole business occu- pant of old Vernon. About 1865, Mason and Perkins started a general store at the village. About the same year Franklin Barnes leased the old \ ernon hotel. A. D. Mason then took charge of it for a short time, and in July, 1867, was succeeded by E. F. Beebe, who in turn was suc- ceeded in April, 1868, by A. 0. and T. L. Per- kins, who as early as 1866, had succeeded Ma- son & Perkins In the mercantile business, and A. 0. Perkins had been made postmaster. In 1869, John Morrow took charge of the hotel. After his death in the fall of that year, the old hos- telery was kept by various parties until about 1883. After standing vacant for a number of years, it was finally sold to Deforest Carpenter, who removed it to his farm and fitted it up for a barn. Its massive frame of solid oak is still good for a hundred years. In April, 1863, Captain Sullivan's company of the 10th Minnesota, while stationed at Ver- non during the Indian outbreak, fitted up the Smith-Haynes saw mill and out of the hundreds of logs piled in the yard about it, sawed a large quantity of timber, eight inches thick, where- with they built a good stockade around the hotel and store. Much of the timber was of the finest black walnut and oak in the country. The stock- ade was used by the settlers as a place of refuge during the Indian scare. That Minnesota was truly the Gopher state, the annuals of Vernon in 1864, well attest, for it is recorded that on May 20, of that year the inhabitants of the town held a big gopher hunt and 1276 of the pests were slaughtered. The hunters were divided into two companies, each with a captain, and the company which brought 300 HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. in the largest number of gophars was considered the victor, for which the defeated party had to furnish a big supper. May 18, 1885, the Smith-Haynes mill, which had been leased by AVm. Reed, burned. During the summer of the same year, Mason and Reed built a new saw mill just above the present wagon bridge. In the spring of 1867 G. W. Doty built a new water power grist mill on the .^ite of the old Smith-Haynes mill, and the fol- lowing December sold a half interest to Alex. AVestover. The following August, R. Hoover purchased this mill. In April, 1868, Franklin }>arnes purchased the interest of Wm. Reed in the lower mill and the firm became "Mason and Barnes." These mills changed owners about every year for a time. In 1882 Cap't J. R. Randall became proprietor of the grist mill. During the winter of 1885-6 the flour mill was ]'cbuilt as a roller mill of seventy-five barrels capacity by Randall and Kimble. The next spring C. M; Green bought Randall out and completed the improvements and the firm of Green and Kimble ran the mill for some years. In the spring of 1866 Thurston & Schuler had a store at old Vernon. In 1867, Henry Schuler sold his interest to G. G. Young. At the same time A. 0. and J. B. Perkins ran a store there. In 1868 B. Sherwood opened a small store. From 1873 to 1879, E. W. Wash- burn was engaged in mercantile business at the old town, and was appointed postmaster there in March, 1876, to succeed Mrs. Drake. On his removal to the new town in 1879, A. 0. Per- kins succeeded him as postmaster. When the Blue Earth branch of the C. St. P. M. and 0. Ry. was built in 1879, it passed by Vernon about half a mile to the east, and a new townsite was laid out on the north side of the river by Elnathan Kendall in August, 1879, called "Vernon Center." The railway company laid out another small townsite adjoining the Kendall town called "East Vernon." The new station and town were at first called "Edge- wood." For two or three years there was a warm contest between the two towns. But the railway station gave the new town the sure ad- vantage, which in a short time made it the vic- ior. In March, 1881, Edgewood won from old Vernon the distinction of being the place for holding future town elections by a vote of 94 to 48. The same year it secured the site for the new Baptist church. September 30, 1883, the old school house in Vernon burned and Edge- wood was successful in having the new school house built in her borders. In July, 1883, a new postofEice called "Edgewood" was created with E. W. Washburn as postmaster. In 1885, J. B. Pierce, who had been the main champion of the old town and its only storekeeper, moved his stock to the new town, and the two postofiices were consolidated under the name of "Vernon Center" with Mr. Pierce as postmaster. This practically ended the fight. The name of the new village had been changed first in October, 1881, to "Vernon Center," but the name "Edge- wood" was not entirely dropped until 1885. Among the first merchants of the new town be- sides E. W. Washburn were Franklin Barnes and Hiram R. Barnard. In 1885, H. W. Thew ' opened a hardware there. Another hardware was opened soon afterwards by Ira Warren. A. W. Petrich,' also, built a store, occupying the first story with his merchandise and using the upper fiory for a hall. July, 1886, E. W. Washburn sold out to C. M. Lathrop. About the same time Jklward Kendall had a harness shop, George Halverson, a shoe shop and Frank Bosh, a blacksmith shop. Dr. Oliver H. McMichaels ij'rst located in old Vernon in May, 1871, and later moved to the new town. He still continues The beloved physician of the community. In 1894, Barnes, Morrow & Morrison built a new general store. Warren & Kendall had a gen- eral store about the same time. In February, ]899, E. W. Washburn bought out Kendall. In 1896, Porter Bros, purchased the Thew hard- ^^'are business, which they sold later to Faley. Hiram E. Young for many years has had a black- srjiith shop. Cooper and Day started a hardware and farm implement store. Babcock, Robinson and Cornish have each served as village inn- keepers. S. H. Grannis did much in developing the creamery and grain markets, having started about the first creamery in the county. In Au- 1 gust, 1889, A. W. Petrick was appointed post- master to succeed J. B. Pierce. He was in turn succeeded by Dr. 0. H. McMichaels in May, HISTOEY OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY. 301 1894. In 1898 Mr. Petrick was again appointed postmaster, and has continued in office ever since. On May 20, 1897, the "Vernon Center News" was started by M. H. Galer, who has conducted ihe paper to the present time. In August, 1900, a rural free delivery was established from Ver- non. In August, 1899, the mill owned by Mrs. Green was struck by lightning and burned, and in 1906 a new mill was erected by Lawrence W. Kimball of which he is still manager. The Vernon Center State Bank was incorporated _ De- cember 12, 1904, with a capital of $10,000.00. F. H. Barnes was its first president and A. E. Quimby its first cashier. In October, 1899, War- ren & Washburn built their brick block. In January, 1900, Vernon Center was made an in- dependent school district and a fine new brick school house was completed in the fall of 1902 at a cost of about $18,000.00. Some say Eev. J. W. Powell conducted the first religious ser- vices in the town in 1857, others say Eev. C. L. Taylor of Shelbyville, preached the first sermon. About 1858, the United Brethren began holding services at the home of C. C. Washburn under the auspices of Eev. Joseph Cassellman. Later Revs. Clow, Gardner and Boolrwalter continued ihe work, and a church was organized and a parsonage erected in 1868, when the board of trustees comprised the following persons: C. C. Washburn, Isaac L. BookTi-alter, Geo. Harriman, A. Webster, and A. Robinson. Nov. 23, 1872, the church was legally incorporated by the ap- pointment of the following trustees: C. C. Washburn, A. 0. Perkins, I. H. Gardiner, Geo. Harriman and C. Lewis. After a few years the church disbanded. About 1867, a Congregational church was organized by Eev. N. A. Hunt, com- prsed of six members as follows: Geo. Boler and wife, M. B. Haynes and wife and Eonald Morrison and wife. In a few years this church ceased to exist. The M. E. Church started very early in Ver- non. January 13, 1866, it became a legal body under the pastorship of Eev. S. A. Chubbuck, l)y the selection of the following trustees: Wm. Bead, Samuel H. Grannis, Benoni Farley, Hor- ton W. Nelson and Wm. M. -Buck. In 1866, a c'lurch building was erected at a cost of about $1,200.00, which was completed and dedicated in March, 1867. All the denominations had really united in the building of this house of ^'orship, and for a time it was used as a union church. In the summer of 1887 a new church vvas built at A'ernon Center, the strong oaken frame of the old church being used in construc- tion of the new. March 21, 1896, the society incorporated as "Grace M. E. Church of Ver- non Center" and the following trustees were ap- pointed by Presiding Elder John Stafford : J. H. Thew.' S. W. Snyder, W. H. Horton, E. L. AVarren, H. W. Thew, H. H. HoUister, F. E. Lovell, G. F. Grannis and F. H. Barnes. The church is still doing good work. The Baptist Church was organized November 14, 1868, by Eev. A. Case and Eev. C. A. Stone. The society was incorporated at a meeting held at the house of D. G. Wilworth on April 19, 1880, when the following persons were chosen trustees: A. C. Wilber, Geo. Green and E. W. 'Washburn. A church building was erected in 1881 and dedicated on October 8, 1882, when Rev. J. W. Whitney of Mankato preached the sermon. This church is, also, a live religious body, doing faithful work. The village of Ver- non Center was incorporated on August 2, 1899, by a -(-ote of 42 to 34. A census taken March olst that year showed the population to be 2o^. In 1907 a system of water works was constructed at a cost of $9,000.00. The village now has four grain elevators, one flour mill, one lumber yard, one bank, one hotel, two churches, one newspaper and numerous stores and shops. The temperance sentiment of the village has always been quite strong, and with the excep- tion of two or three years, no saloons have been allowed. The town has five good school houses outside of the village, which have sent out a number of young men and women, who have made their mark in the professions. Among these are Geo. "^V. Champlain and Francis V. Cornish, both prominent attorneys and Dr. Edwin Cornish. Roster of men enlisted for the Civil War from Vernon Center : Andrews, Geo., Co. K, Mt. Rgrs. Bancroft, James E., Co. B, Br. Bat., 5th Iowa Cav. Barnuni, Chester C, Co. K, 1st Art. Buck, Wm. M., Co. H, 3rd Inf, 302 IIISTOKY OF BLUE EAETIi COUNTY. Bass, Nathan, Co. B, Br. Bat. Betts, Norman C, Co. B, Br. Bat. Bell, Luther G., Co. E, 9th Inf. Bixby, Nahum, Co. B, 3rd Inf. Carpenter, John A., Co. I, 6th Inf. Card, Dwight, Co. E, 9th Inf. Cooper, Ezra A., Co. I, 6th Inf. Cole, Leander, Co. F, 1st Art. Warling, John A., Co. I, 6th Inf. Doak, Fleming, Co. E, 2nd Cav. Doland, Chas. W., Co. H, 3rd Inf. Detamore, Samuel, Co. B, Mt. Rgrs. Eaton, Henry, Co. H, 3rd Inf. Eaton, John, Co. H, 3rd Inf. Eldridge, Dwight, Co. M, 2nd Cav. Farmer, John, Co. I, 6th Inf. Grannis, H. S., Co. F, 1st Art. Grannis, Samuel H., Co. F, 1st Art. Haslip, Wm. B., Co. C, 11th Inf. Kelley, Eugene J., Co. B, Br. Bat. Markett, Michael, Co. F, 1st Art. Nickerson, David R, Co. B, Mt. Rgrs. Faff, Samuel E., Co. E, 2nd Cav. Parks, Milton B., Co. B, Mt. Rgrs. Pay, Byron E., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Pepper, James, Co. F, 1st Art. Plumb, Chas. N., Co. F, 1st Art. Porter, Fred J., Co. E, 9th Inf. Reed, Geo. L., Co. I, 6th Inf. Smith, Benjamin F., Lieut. Col., 3rd Inf. Wagner, John H., Co. I, 6th Inf. Ward, Ira, Co. H, 3rd Inf. Westover, Alexander, Co. C, Uth Inf. Williams, B. F., Co. H, 2nd Inf. Wood, Josiah, Co. E, 2nd Cav. REPRESENTATIVES. Parsons K. Johnson, 1856. Henry Stoelc, 1859-60. L. D. Patterson, 1861. John J. Porter, 1862-3. James A. Wiswell, 1862-3-4. John F. Meagher, 1864. L. Z. Rogers, 1865. L. 0. Harrington, 1865. Daniel Buck, 1866. J. G. Thompson, 1866. J. A. Reed, 1867-8. 0. 0. Pitcher, 1868-9. R. Crandall, 1870. John F. Meagher, 1870-1. James B. Hubbell, 1871. James A. Wiswell, 1872. Charles H. Shelby, 1872. Clark Keysor, 1872 and 1879. H. Capwell, 1872. Henry Foster, 1872. Jacob Pfaff, 1873. H. S. Howe, 1873. Thomas C. Charles, 1873. John A. Peterson, 1873. John A. Reed, 1873. Isaac Smith, 1874. D. W. Burlison, 1874-5. Silas Kenworthy, 1874. N. W. Dickerson, 1874. Members of the Legislature from Blue Earth County. Note: Until 1871 Blue Earth was joined to one or more other counties to form a legislative district. The following lists give only members from Blue Earth County: STATE SENATORS. Basil Moreland, 1857-8. D. C. Evans, 1859-60. Sheldon F. Barney, 1861. John J. Porter, 1864-5. Lewis Porter, 1867. E. P. Freeman, 1868-9. B. F. Smith, 1870-1. John F. Meagher, 1872-3. Morton S. Wilkinson, 1874-5-6 and 7. F. H. Waite, 1878. Daniel Buck, 1879-81. L. G. M. Fletcher, 1883-5. E. M. Pope, 1887-9. George T. Barr, 1891-3-5 and 7. C. L. Benedict, 1899-1901. A. 0. Eberhart, 1903-5. S. D. Works, 1907-9. J. A. James, 1875-6-7. E. T. Champlin, 1875 and 1887 and 1891. Lysander Cook, 1875 and 1883. Hiram Gerlieh, 1876. Wm. P. Marston, 1876. M. M. Clark, 1876. Wm. Webb, Jr., 1876-7. Horace Cummins, 1877 and 1879. Wm. P. Jones, 1877. George Green, 1877. 0. E. Harvey, 1878. James McBroom, 1878. Wm. Perrin, 1878. Thos. Bohan, 1878. John S. Larkin, 1878. E. B. Parker, 1879. F. V. GofF, 1879. Thos. Bohan, 1879. J. D. Hawkins, 1881. Joseph Burger, 1881. Richard Lewis, 1881. Wm. Hall, 1881. Joseph Bookwalter, 1881. Owen Morris, 1883. C. G. Spaulding, 1883-5. James Brown, 1883. Eli S. Warner, 1885. HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. 303 Richard Wigley, 1885. P. A. Foster, 1885. Wm. K. Jones, 1887. Chas. Bennett, 1887. C. M. Green, 1887. Fred W. Lassow, 1889. Alfred Davis, 1889. H. B. Perrin, 1889. Geo. T. Barr, 1889. F. M. Currier, 1891. K. Knutson, 1891. Gilbert Guttersen, 1893-5 and 1899. Nicholas Brules, 1893. W. L. Comstoek, 1893. David E. Cross, 1895. Nicholas Juliar, 1895 and 1905. Nils Nyquist, 1897-9-1901 and 3. Wm. Jamieson, 1897.- H. C. McLean, 1897. Q. G. Argetsinger, 1899. Geo. W. Norman, 1901-3. Geo. R. Wilder, 1901-3. John T. Lewis, 1905-7. Ezra W. Gates, 1905-7. Wm. L. McQueen, 1907. Hans Jorgenson, 1909. Chas. Herzberg, 1909. Frank L. Kelly, 1909. DISTRICT COURT JUDGES. (Territorial). Andrew G. Chatfield, Oct. 1853 to April, 1857. . Chas. E. Flandrau, April, 1857 to May, 1858. (State). Lewis Branson, May 24, 1858 to Dec. 31, 1864. Horace Austin, January 1, 1865 to Sept. 30, 1800. M. G. Hanscome, Oct. 1, 1869 to Dec. 31, 1869. Franklin H. Waite, January 1, 1870 to Oct. 1; 1874. A. C. Woolfolk, Oct. 1, 1874 to Dec. 31, 1874. D. A. Dickinson, January 1, 1875 to June 27, 1881. M. J. Severance, June 27, 1881 to January 1, 1900. Lorin Cray, January 1, 1900 to May 1, 1008. Albert R. Pfau, May 1, 1908— COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. Joseph W. Babcock, Aug. 6, 1853 to February, 1855. James Hanna, Aug. 6, 1853 to January 1, 1854. John S. Hinckley, Aug. 6, 1853 to January 1, 1854. Ephriam Cole, January 1, 1854 to January 1, 1856. Jacob Guenther, January 1, 1854 to January 1, 1855. D. C. Evans, January 1, 1855 to .July 7, 1856. Theron Parsons, January 1, 1856 to January 5, 1858. Wm. R. Robinson, appointed to fill vacancy April 7: 1856 to January 1, 1857. Elijah K. Bangs, appointed to fill vacancy caused by resignation of D. C. Evans July 7, 1856, held of- fice until January 1, 1857. Served again from Jan- uary 1, 1858 to May, 1858. Robert Patterson, January, 1857 to January 1, 1858. Matthew Thompson, Jan'y 1, 1857 to Jan'y 1, 1858. Norman L. Jackson, January 1, 1858 to May, 1858. Samuel L. Wallcer, appointed in place of Theron Parsons resigned, January 7, 1858 to May, 1858. When the State law first went into effect the Board of County Commissioners was done away with and u. Board of County Supervisors substituted. The latter board was composed of the chairmen of the various boards of town supervisors. "We have given a list of these elsewhere in this history. January 1, 1860 this board was abolished and the Board of County Commissioners restored. Robert Taylor, 1861. G. W. Havens, 1861. A. P. Davis, 1861. G. W. Mead, 1861. Wm. Bierbauer, 1861. S. C. Clark, 1862, 3 and 4. J. C. Rausch, 1862 and 3. Nelson Gray, 1862 to April, 1864, resigned. John J. Lewis appointed balance 1864. Michael Hund, 1863. P. J. Davies, 1862 and 3. A. C. Johnson, 1862. Andrew Hanna^ 1864 to 1870. John I. Jones, 1864, 5 and 6. Henry Goodrich, 1864 and 5. Horace Kinney, 1865 and 6. S. R. Grannis, 1865, 6 and 7. Geo. Andrews, 1866, resigned Nov. 23, 1867, James E. Brown appointed, served to 1869. David D. Evans, 1867, 8 and 9. R. J. Marvin, 1868. 9 and '70. R. J. Eew, 1868, 9 and 70. Henry Foster, 1869, 70 and 1. Andrew Strom, 1870, 1 and 2. W. J. Duley, 1870, 1 and 2. C. W. Herinan, 1871, 2 and 3. John Hughes, 1871, 2 and 3. Jacob Born, 1872 to 1881. J. J. Thompson, 1873 to Mar. 15, 1877. Resigned. John F. Meagher appointed balance 1877. David C. Evans, 1873. N. W. Conger, 1874 and 5. \\'ni. McQueen, 1874, 5 and 6. ^Ym. Perrin, 1874, 5 and 6. Richard Wigley, 1876, 7 and 8. Thron Hoverson, 1877, 8 and 9. E. T. Champlin, 1877, 8 and 9. James Kelley, 1878, 9 '80 and 1. Wm. S. Hughes, 1879, '80 and 1. Malachi Gainor, 18S0 to 1887. James B. Swan, 1880 to Sept., 1885, resigned. C. H. Piper appointed. Served to January, 1887. Chas. Forster, 1881 to March 1883, when he resigned. Philip Mueller appointed for balance 1883. I. N. Dean, 1882. Timothy Rees, 1882, 3 and 4. Mm U'- 304 HISTOKY OF BLUB EARTH COUNTY. John Klein, 1883 to 1887. John Diamond, 1884 to 1889. Olaf Martinson^ 1885 and 6. John S. Jones, 1887 and 8. Chas. H. Dietz, 1887, 8 and 9. H. K. Lee, 1887 to June 13, 1890. When he died John Jlahowald, June 1890 to 1895. A. M. Hannay, 1887 to 1899. Hugh H. Edward, 1889, '90, 1 and 2. >ficholas Brules, 1889, 90, 1 and 2. Kobt. S. Hughes, 1893 to 1901. Chas. Graf, 18^3 to 1901. James Mountain, 1893 4, 5 and 6. Robert Roberts, 1895 to fall 1897, resigned. W. W. Paddock, fall 1897 to 1907. Wm. Borchart, 1897 to 1905. Barney 0. Kilmer, 1899, 1900, 1 and 2. Elliott Upson, 1901 to 1905. Hubert Brules, 1901 to 1905. Wm. Schultz, 1903— Robert Madigan, 1905— Chas. E. Jones, 1905— Alee Hanson, 1905 — Delos P. Young, 1907— COUNTY AUDITORS. Parsons K. Johnson, clerk of County Board, with duties similar to County Auditor, 1853, 4 and 5. Geo. H. Marsh, by Geo. W. Cummings, deputy clerk of Board 1856 to May, 1858. Wm. S. Sargeant, May, 1858 to January, 1859. County Auditor. Isaac Andrus, 1859, '60 and 1. Henry Stoek, 1862. C. A. Chapman, 1863 and 4. Wesley JIaxfield, 1865, 6 and 7. A. D. Seward, 1868 to 1875. Christ Arvold, 1875 and 6. Edwin Bradley, 1877 and 8. J. J. Thompson, 1879 and '80. Theodore Scattergood, 1881 to 1891. L. 0. Randal], 1891 to 1895. P. A. Gunders, 1895 to 1901. Edgar Weaver, 1901 — COUNTY TREASURERS. Basil Moreland, , 1853. Hiram Fuller, 1854. James Thompson, 1855. John Q. A. Marsh, 1856. A. D. Seward, 1857. Stephen Lamm, 1858, 9. Herman Du Bisson, 1860 and I. J. T. Williams, 1862 and 3. E. D. B. Porter, 1864. John F. Meagher, 1865. John Wm. Hoerr, 1867 to 1874. t>. C, Evans,. 1874 to 1882, Wm. Jones, 1882 to 1887. John P. Kremer, January 4th, to 9th, 1887 (Died.) Wm. Jones, January 10th, 1887 to 1889. Peter Lloyd, 1889 to 1897. James A. Ewing, 1897 to 1901. Lewis Davis, 1901 to 1905. Thos. W. Hart, 1905— REGISTERS OF DEEDS. Parsons K. Johnson, 1853, 4 and 5. Geo. H. Marsh, (Geo. W. Cummings deputy), 1856-7. Wm. Sargeant, 1858-9. Jas. B. Hubbell, 1860-1. E. C. Payne, 1862-3. B. F. Smith, 1864 to 1870. P. B. Sparrow, 1870-1. J-Iugh G. Owens, 1872 to 1876. J. G. Fowler, 1876 to 1882. Jacob Wagen, 1882 to 1887. Oscar Bierbauer, 1887 to 1896. Benj. Bangerter, Jr., 1897 to 1909. J. G. Fowler, 1909— JUDGES OF PROBATE. Minard Mills, 1853 to 1858. E. D. Bruner, 1858 to 1860. Benj. Parke Dewey, 1860 to January 4, 1801. David Wilcox, January 4, 1861 to 1873. J. E. Porter, 1873 to 1881. Geo. W. Mead, 1881 to 1891. Wm. B. Torrey, 1891 to 1895. Geo. W. Mead, 1895 to April, 1898, (resigned). S. B. Wilson, appointed balance 1898. Wm. F. Hughes, 1899— CLERKS OF DISTRICT COURT. Jeffrey T. Adams, 1854 and 5. Geo. W. Cummings, 1856 and 7. J. T. Williams, 1858 to 1862. Z. Paddock, 1862 to 1870. W. C. Durkee, 1870 to date of death Oct., 1882. ^V. B. Torrey, Oct., 1882 to 1887. Stephen Thorne, 1887— SHERIFFS. Geo. \y. Cummings, 1853. Basil Moreland, 1854. Edwin Howe, Sept. 4, 1854 and 5. Francis Bunker, 1856 to 1800. Daniel H. Tyner, 1860 to 1864. Elijah Middlebrook, 1864 and 5. Milton T. Walbridge, 1866 and 7. Evan Bowen, 1868 and 9. John Diamond, 1870 to 1876. Sherman E. Finch, 1876 and 7. Peter Schweitzer, 1878 to 1882. Geo. W. Monks, 1882 to 1887. C. H, Piper, 1887 and 8. HISTORY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 305 W. R. Geddea, 1889 and '90. W. J. Glynn, 1891 to 1895. Daniel T. Bowen, 1895 to 1899. Fred Gerlich, 1899 to 1903. Ben Williams, 1903 to 1907. John W. Donahue, 1907— COUXTY ATTORNEYS. ,T. McMahon Holland, 1853. Henry Jackson, 1854. Lewis Branson, 1855 and 6. John A. Willard, 1857 to 1859. B. Parke Dewey, 1859, resigned Feb. 13, 1800. S. F. Barney, Feb., 1860 to fall 1860. Cramer Burt, Fall 1860 to spring 1861. 0. 0. Pitcher, spring 1861 to 1865. E. P. Freeman, 1865, resigned fall, 1866. G. K. Cleveland, fall 1866 to 1871. Daniel Buck, 1871 to 1875. A. R. Pfau, 1875 to 1879. E. P. Freeman, 1879 to fall 1883, (resigned). A. R. Pfau appointed and elected 1884 to 1887. B. D. Smith, 1887 to 1891. Byron Hughes, 1891 and 2. C. L. Benedict, 1893 to 1897. Thos. Hughes, 1897 to 1901. S. B. Wilson, 1901 to 1907. Walter A. Ply mat, 1907—. *SUPER1NTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS. David Wilcox, May 3, 1864 to Jan. 1, 1866. E. D. B. Porter, lS66. John R. Beatty, 1867-8. H. S. Goff, 1869, '70 and 1. E. C. Payne, 1872, 3, 4 and 5. David Kirk, 1876 and 7. E. C. Payne, 1878, 9 and '80. Edwin Rogers, 1881 to 1887. E. W. Parker, 1887 to 1892. Mrs. S. C. Stevens, 1892, 3 and 4. (-ico. W. Seherer, 1895, 6, 7 and 8. yy. E. Freeman, 1899 to 1905. 0. 0. Ulvin, 1905— COUNTY SURVEYORS. D. E. Turpin: To July, 1854. Evans Goodrich, July, 1854 to July 20, 1855 when L. G. M. Fletcher was appointed. Basil Moreland, 1856 (to falH- C. C. Whitman, appointed fall, 1856. Basil Moreland, first half 1857. Anthony D. McSweeney, last half 1857 and 1858, 9 and '60. S. C. Clark, 1861. C. A. Chapman, 1862. Elijah Middlebrook, 1862 to 1866. Samuel E. Stebbins, 1866. C. H. Chapman, 1867, 8 and 9. 51. B. Haynes, 1870, 1, 2 and 3. L. Z. Torrey, 1874. John Lilly, 1875 to fall 1890. James Thompson, fall 1890 to 1895. A. M. Haynes, 1895 and 6. Walter F. Brooks, 1897— CORONERS. Philip Krummell, 1854. James Titus, 1858 and 9. C. E. Gillen, first half 1860. A. P. Davis, last half 1860. H. M. Gale, 1861 and 2. Ephraim Cole, 1863 to 1867. John Fresholtz, 1867. Benj. Durkee, 1868 to his death in 1883. Z. Paddock, 1884 to his death in 1895. W. W. Paddock, 1895 to fall 1898, (resigned). E. R. Kennedy, fall 1898 to present time. POOR FARM OVERSEERS. H. F. Main, 1860. Miner Porter, Oct. 1st, 1867, to May 1st, 1868. Hiram Yates, May, 1868, to 1875. M. A. Chamberlin, 1875. N. W. Conger, 1876 and 7. Richard Faircbild, 1878. J. A. H. Hauerwas, 1S79, 1880. Thos. McGarry, 1881 to 1887. S. M. Marston, 1887 and 8. Wm. P. Lewis, 1889 to 1903. Fred G. Kifl^e, 1903 and 4. Geo. Panter, 1905 and 6. James Mullin, 1907— *The office of County Superintendent of Schools was rreat<>d by an Act of the Legislature approved March 3d, 1864, wliich left the matter of coming under the law at all optional with the commissioners of each county. The office was to be filled by appoint- ment of the Board and the salary fixed by it. Our County Board voted to adopt the provisions of the law on Jlay 3d, 1864, and fixed the amount of the salary at $200.00 per annum. January 4th, 1865, the salary \\as made $300.00 per annum, and on January let, 1868. it was raised to $900.00 per annum. It was raised later to $1,000.00. $1,200 and $1,500.00 per an- num, flith an .allowance for expenses besides. In the fall of 1877 the office was made elective for the first time. i-l fe 306 HISTOEY OF BLUE BAETH COUNTY. Population of Blue Earth County for Ten Census Years. I860 1865 1870 1875 1880 1885 1890 1895 1900 1905 156 230 156 221 173 '230 2 4 69 234 972 686 315 316 453 '462 105 309 265 422 669 205 451 '203 320 '596 1.'973 565 399 '385 '125 604 494 462 468 '3;w 690 3.39 313 557 262 'mh 368 '234 661 360 448 744 495 433 903 3^482 1,272 f83 '712 448 449 728 596 661 '665 'm 647 337 528 618 413 871 '447 650 320 920 565 534 701 957 1,197 731 '907 636 5R0 778 504 654 676 598 614 344 520 707 673 8i7 '565 651 483 1,170 592 515 903 1,023 ■ 5! 550 1,284 584 351 850 595 796 883 514 704 '673 '652 e31 357 497 1190 818 725 556 611 H5 1.556 748 4:9 1.063 1,149 7,845 1,378 616 447 850 574 891 88 1 520 741 669 215 725 659 356 560 738 1.011 774 861 676 834 1,576 610 458 1,159 1,2)2 8^838 1,364 610 607 865 688 1,060 728 547 7.30 ■729 422 774 701 340 602 707 1,007 '827 335 421 579 711 1,124 1,595 629 566 808 1,324 366 10,173 1,434 655 823 866 769 1.119 795 586 714 's's 432 706 661 303 588 681 994 683 '565 458 695 1,215 1,437 650 586 794 1,114 300 10,599 1,367 543 1,008 773 736 1,075 • 819 620 663 712 311 490 Beauford 694 618 319 Ceresco Danville 583 621 828 »09 Garden Cifcv ('Town) 557 (Tarrlpn CAtv fVillae-pl 263 448 Jamestown Judson 460 709 1,231 929 575 561 Lyra McPherson Madison Lake 694 796 328 10,996 Mankato (Town) 1,376 460 Mapieton (Village) 938 Medo 664 Pleasant Mound Rapidan Shelby 757 1,000 712 .571 615 St. Clair 210 Vernon Center (Town) Vernon Center (Village) 603 313 Totals 4,803 9,201 17,302 20,942 22,889 26,462 29,210 32,295 32,263 31,228 NOTE: — Prior to the Census of 1870, Cambria was enumerated with Butternut Valley, Lincoln with Ceresco, Pleasant Mound with Shelby and Decoria with Beauford- In 1860 Winnebago A gency was counted with Mankato Towship. and Sterling with Mapleton. In the foregoing table, where no figures are given for any village, it is enumerated as a part of the township wherein located. According to a census taken in Octo- ber 1867. preparator.y to the admission of Minnesota as a state. Blue Earth County had a population of 3.629; of whinh 922 were in the village of Mankato, 632 in Mankato township and Winnebago Agency, and the remain- ing 2,075 in the rest of the counts. In 1860 there were 1,137 families in the county, in 1865, 1,706; in 1875, 3,899; in 1886, 4.913; in 1890, 5,806, and in 1900. 6,779. Prior to 1875 two-thirds of our population lived on farms. By 1891 not more than one-half lived on farms- In 1905 there was about one-fourth more in the Cit.v of Mankato and the villages than on the farms. In 1900 there were 3.171 farm homes. 1,526 of which were free from encumbrance and occupied b,y their owners, 926 were encumbered and occupied by their owners, 649 were occupied by ten- ants, and 70 were unknown. The same year there were 3,553 other than farm homes; 1,449 of which were occupied b.y their owners and free of encumbrance. 476 occupied by owners and encumbered, l,4l9 occupied by tenants and 183 unknown. In 1905 there were 3,247 farmers in the county and 6,291 engaged in other occupa- tions as follows: Skilled laborers— 1,473; Common laborers— 2,687; Lumbtrmen— 4; Merchants— 416; Kailroad emplo.vees— 262; Liquor dealers— 87; Clerks, Agents and Salesmen— 705; Professional men— 237; Teachers— 407 : Capitalists— 4; Unclassifled— 109. Of those enumerated in the last Cen.sus 18,787 were born in Minnesota, 6,043 in the other states of the Union. 3-02S in Germany, 817 in Norway, 783 in Sweden, Wales 352. Canada 310, Ire- land 252, Denmark 220, England 177. Austria 88, Scotland 62. and all other countries 309. The birthplaces of the fathers of those enumerated in the last census were: United States— 14.440, Germany— 7,562. Norway— 2,519, Sweden— 1,828. Wales— 1,241, Ireland— 1,142, Canada— 598, EDgland-587, Denmark-462, Scotland— 275 and all other countries - 571. Public Charity and Otherwise. Under date of May nth, 1865, our County Commissioners passed the following Kesulution : "Eesolved that the County of Blue Earth will pay the sum of two hundred dollars for each and every Sioux Indian hereafter killed within the limits of the County until this resolution shall be recinded, said sum or sums to be paid to the peison or persons killing the same, in the orders of said County, upon the production to the board of County Commissioners of said County at any meeting thereof the scalp of said Indian and proof to the satisfaction of such board that such Sioux Indian was killed b.v the person or persons claiming pa.y thereof within the limits of this County and after the passage of this Resolution." It may be hard to distinguish the foregoing resolution from such a one as might have been passed b.v a council of Little -Crow's select Warriors— especially that portion, which requires the claimant to scalp his human victim, and bring the grewsome, gory trophy in his belt to feast the e.ves of the County's angust repre- sentatives therewith It certainl.y shows how near of kin we, with all our boasted civilization, are to the savage, when really put to the test- But the resolution was passed in very trying days — at the close of a terrible Indian massacre, attended with all the diabolical torture of innocent women and children, and imme- diately after the atrocious murder of the .lewett family in our own County, No application was ever made of the resolution and its very exist ance was soon forgotten, and for that reason remained unrepealed until March 20, 1872. This is the only page in the long annals of the doings of our County Commissioners which Is soiled with an unchristian spirit, while the pages devoted to deeds of kindness, in ministering to the poor and un- fortunate are without number. More than half a million dollars has been paid out b.v our County to public charity during its history, and about as much more has been distributed by our churches, lodges and private charities. Disbursed to the poor by County during past 20 years; 1889 $ 8,896.93 1890 11.659,83 1891 12,742.91 1892 9,091-45 1893 9 240-,38 1894 10,050..59 1895 11,281.75 1896 ...- 10,575.97 1897 10,054-00 1898 13,864.38 1899 $ 13,962,95 1900 10,1.33-58 1901 10,750.83 1902 11,505.75 1903 11.807.55 1904 11,823.99 1905 11,379.42 190t 11,622.8'i 1907 12.69162 1903 - 10,584 23 Total $223,726.95 HISTOKY OF BLUE EAETH COUNTY. 307 Bridges Built in Blue Earth County by the County. Name of Bridge Blue Eartli bridge Garden City bridge Tivoli bridge Poor Farm bridge Kearns bridge Butterfleld bridge Shelby bridge Vernon bridge Good Thunder bridge Cambria bridge Beauf ord bridge Ceresco bridge Minneopa bridge Medo & Danville bridge ■ . . Rapidan bridge Hilton bridge Minnesota river bridge Garden City bridge Gaiden City bridge Blue Earth bridge Jones' Ford bridge Tivolt bridge Little Cottonwood bridge . . Sterling bridge Hainke's Big Slough Whitney's (Maple) Kramer (Cobb) O'Conner (Le Sueur) Britt (Madison Lake outlet) Kennedy (Le Sueur) Bryson ( Blue Earth) Willow Creek Mineral Springs Tivoli (Le Sueur) Frey (BigCob) Doland ( Little Cobb) Manglus(BigCobl)) Baker (Blue Earth) Wilder (Willow Creek) Wigley (Minneopa Creek).. Cable Mills i Blue Earth) .... Ohilds (Big Cobb). Shannon (Big Cobb) . Pagenkopf (Little Cobb). . . Boesch (Willow Creek) Bussell (Perch Creek) Boelke " " Jamieson " " Lewis (Maple) Buell (Rice Creek) Carpenter... Severson (Little Cobb) Swartout (Le Sueur) St. Clair " Taylor (Maple) Frey (Little Cobb ) McCarthy (Watonwan) William.son (Bull Run) Dodds Ford ( Blue Earth) . . . Sibley (Maple) Perch Creek Cary(BigCobb) Atcherson (Little Cobb) . . Lake Alice Ziegler Ford (Big Cobb) Eelnhart (Rice Creek) County Line Cooling ( Perch Creek) Judson (Minnesota) Meservy Ford (Watonwan). Vernon Center Inlet Lake lUadison McCuaig Minneopa Park Zabel & Kremer Weaver (Little Cobb) Erickson (Maple) Cobb River County Line Count.v Line County Line Anderson's Ford Olson (Rice Creek) Cambria Creek Where Located Kind of Bridge Length in ft. When bi-ilt Cost M ankato and South Bend Wood Howe Truss 232 1869 % 18,001 58 Garden City 160 187.] 14,102 00 Mankato It .> t. 104 1870 5,462 76 Decoria Iron A rch 143 1872 5,558 57 Mankato and South Bend 190 1873 10,524 00 Garden City *' " 147 1874 6.829 00 Shelby " " " 13U 1875 7,574 20 Vernon *' " " 146 1875 9,128 !>0 Lyra ** *■ ** 90 18/5 4,059 64 Cambria Wood 40 187.5 769 10 Beauford Iron Truss 90 1876 3,701 00 Ceresco ro 1877 3,520 00 South Bend .33 1878 1,583 00 Medo and Danville " '* 4.jyj 1878 2,185 00 Rapid an " " 230 1878 8,509 40 McPherson " '■ 70 1879 2,918 00 City of Mankato '* 510 1879 30,000 00 Garden City '* '* 175 1881 6,31 00 Garden City t. .1 100 1882 4,150 00 Mankato and South Bend Wood Howe Truss 232 1881 2,143 00 South Bend Iron Truss 195 1881 9,266 34 Le Ra.v 2.000 00 Cambria " " 70 1882 3,850 00 Sterling " 75 1883 3,125 00 Mapleton 60 1875 1.900 00 Mapleton *■ *' 64 1878 1,865 00 Danville " '■ 45 1883 9.50 00 McPherson " " 146 1883 6 345 00 Le Ray *' " 40 1883 2,200 00 Mankato Township 150 1883 6,000 00 Lyra 194 1884 6,900 00 Shelby .. .. 40 1885 1.000 00 Le Ra.y " •' 30 1885 1.800 00 Le Ray It It 130 l«8-i 4,99.5 00 Beauford ti It 48 1888 1,037 00 Medo It ti 50 1x89 1,000 00 Beauford ti It 50 1890 500 00 Rapid an It 167 1890 4,475 00 Pleasant Mound It .1 if, 1890 900 00 Judson 32 1891 450 00 Lyra .11 1 219 1891 7.800 00 Repaired in 190! 5,000 00 Beauford Iron Truss 55 1891 2,400 00 Danville t. t. 38 1892 705 00 Medo ti It 32 1892 1.500 00 Pleasant Mound 40 1892 850 00 Ceresco " 70 1892 1,29.-, 00 Ceresco " 40 1892 700 00 Ceresco *' 48 1892 840 00 Sterling " 100 1893 2,490 00 Sterling 32 1895 1,000 00 Vernon Center " 20 1895 500 00 Medo '* .TO l)-96 830 00 Rapidan '* 134 1896 . 4,000 00 McPherson " 70 1897 2,918 00 Mapleton " 60 1897 1,900 00 Beauford 48 1898 800 00 Cere.sco ** 60 1897 1,160 00 Medo *' 40 1901 800 00 Shelby " 150 1901 4,923 00 Mapleton 60 1902 1,850 00 Cei'esco 50 1903 948 00 Danville New '^pan Added 72 1903 1,885 00 2,200 00 Medo Iron Truss 27 1904 1,500 00 Le Ray 20 1904 650 00 Decoria ti It 72 1904 2.365 00 Sterling It tt 24 19.'4 920 00 Sterling It It 50 1904 600 00 50 1904 l,ij00 00 Judson .1 ti 465 1904 8,500 00 Garden City .t It 90 1905 2,800 00 Vernon Center It It 90 1905 4,000 00 Jamestown II tt 1906 639 00 Mapleton It It 20 1906 405 00 South Bend Concrete 20 1906 1,200 00 Danville Iron Truss Repair on Old 32 1907 848 00 800 00 Medo Iron Truss 30 1907 900 00 Rapidan It t. 70 1907 1,547 00 Danville Steel Tube 32 1908 1.000 00 McPherson Low Truss 60 1908 1.956 00 Mapleton iron Truss 45 1908 1,359 00 Mapleton It It 40 1908 1,214 00 Beauford Concrete 50 1908 1,600 00 Sterling Iron Truss .38 1908 1,800 00 Cambria Concrete TOTAL 24 1907 780 00 $295,744 74 308 HISTOEY OP BLUB BAETH COUNTY. School Statistics of Blue Earth County. Abbreviations: M-Males; F-Females; W-Winter Term; S-Summer Term; Ind.-Independent School Districts; Com.-Common Scliool Districts. 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1867] 1868] 1869] 1870 ] 1872] 1875] 1877] 1880 ] 1885 ] 1886] 1888 I 1895 ■! 1900 ] 18C5J 1908] Tnd. Com Ind. Com Tnd. Com Tnd. Com Ind. Com Tnd. Com Tnd. Com Tnd. Com Tnd. Com Tnd. Com Tnd. Com Teacher M. 9 H 11 20 92 26 6 W36 S 8 W46 S 17 W57 S 25 W64 S 31 59 16 '6h 120 138' 132 68 119 167 171 ■ 44 124 57 166 63 145 $13.25 18.18 19.73 25.37 Average Wages M. $9.18 9.82 11.68 15.94 32.81 29.87 38.12 30 18 38 33 29 80 '36 00 33.33 '32' 50 32 '50 36 61 79 75 35 73 00 36.00 89 80 55 90 100.00 63.00 F. 23 20 18.78 28.58 22.89 29.20 25.50 26.40 25 '.66 23^50 '23' 56 25 52 41,40 26 86 39.00 30.00 46.60 33.25 51.00 38.00 PUPILS No. of School Age 1,165 "3^153 ' 4,376 ' '5i2i6 ' '5,761 ' '6,280 7,217 "sisss ' 7^786 10,817 11,326 No Enrolled 646 1,193 1,499 1,932 2,933 4,108 ' '6,444 6,420 2.580 4.696 2,713 4.419 2,670 3.770 2.693 3,386 Average Attendance 435 435 7.33 882 1,230 1,104 'i,4i6 ' 1,786 ' 'l',755 2,259 2,300 2,000 W 2,954 S 2,659 3,250 ' 3i697 '3,129 2.888 1.831 2,335 SCHOOL HOUSES Log 12 13 17 24 26 41 41 39 35 24 is 12 6 '7 '4 Frame 107 '128 '129 'i25 '137 5 133 4 137 3 137 Brick Stone NOTE: — Tn the above table, while separate sets of figures are given for certain items opposite some years for winter and summer terms and opposite others for independent and common schools, under other items opposite these same years but one set of figures is given. Tn such cases the one set of figures are intended to cover both summer and winter or inde- pendent and common as the case may be. The Cit.v of Mankato is a special school district but for brevit.v in above table it is classed among the independent districts. The Indepen- dent School IJistricts are: Ambo.v, Garden City, Lake Cr.vstal and Mapleton. It will be noticed that in 1861 there was but one frame school house in the count.v. In 1869 the frame and log buildings were about eaual, and with 1888 the last log structure disappeared. It, also, appears that there has been a decided falling off of late years in the number of male teach- ers, though wages have gradually advanced. It further appears that since the seventies the number of persons between five and twent.v-one .vears of age in our county has not kept pace with the increase of our population. Families of eight to ten children are becoming less common, while families having no children and those having but two or three are more frequent in both town and country. Hence in the countr.v districts, into which there has been but little immigration, the number of children of school age have decreased consider- ably. To show the great increase in e.xpenditure for school purposes we select a few ave-t age years; I861— $1,282.00; 1868 -$';4.45i.78; 1872— $58,603.98; 1875-$67.502.15; 1883— $67,416.24 ; 1895— In- dependent Districts; .'648,124.00. Common: $.56,973.01. Total $105.097 01: 1900— Independent: $43,553.05, Common: $.52,686.6i, Total $96,239.67; 1905-Independent: $50,777.20. Common: $6-;.- 000.34, Total, $112,777.64; 1908-Independent: $66,802.01; Common; $61,7«8.15, Total, $128,570.16. Biographical History BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY ACKEEMAN, GEORGE G.— The colonial pe- riod of our country's history witnessed the ar- rival upon our shores of a large number of he- roic, adventurous men, who aided in the early development of the untilled soil and whose de- scendants in their turn contributed to the grad- ual growth and prosperity of the nation. Such is the record of the Ackerman family, founded in the east prior to the war of the Eevolution and established on the bleak New England coast by a sturdy German. At a somewhat later date members of the family resided in the city of j\ew York and acquired property now occupied by the famous Trinity church. Through imper- fect titles caused by the crude conditions of that era, the land passed out of their possession. Some fifty years ago the then representatives of the family made a contest for the real estate, but could not fully prove their claim. Drifting a little further toward the unsettled regions of the frontier, John Ackerman removed from the vicinity of Saratoga to Jefferson county, jSTew York, and settled on the shores of Lake On- tario, where his son, Albert, became a sailor on the lakes. Civilization was rapidly building up the west and the call of the frontier came to Al- bert Ackerman, impelling him to seek a home far distant from the associations of his youth. For some time he remained in Ohio, whence he returned to New York for a brief sojourn, and in 3859 became a pioneer of Wisconsin. During June of 1864, he became a pioneer of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he bought a farm in Medo township. Three years later he bought land five miles west of Mapleton in the township of that name. Eetiring from agricultural pur- suits about 1891, he removed to Mapleton and there his death occurred April 30, 1901. During the long period of his residence in this county it was his privilege to witness the gradual in- crease in population, the constant improvement of farm lands, the steady building up of the vil- lages, and the increasing prosperit-y of the people; and to these results his own quiet, industrious and energetic life contributed. The marriage of Albert Ackerman united him with Annis S. Burlingame, of Norway, Herki- mer county. New York, and to their union were born five children. The eldest, Frederick E., car- ries on farm pursuits in Sterling township. Blue Earth count), and the fourth, George G., con- tinues on the old homestead of the family in Mapleton township. The three other members of the family, ^YiIlis G., Edith (now Mrs. Frank Eoberts) and Harold, make their home at Mill- bank, Grant county, South Dakota. While the family were living in Jefferson county. New York, George G. Ackerman was born March 8j 1858. Being an infant at the time of the re- moval to Wisconsin, his earliest recollections clus- ter around what was then called the frontier. When six years of age he was brought to Blue Earth county and here he attended the district schools near the home farm. As a boy he al- ternated attendance at school with work on the home place, and thus gained a fair common- school education and a thorough practical knowl- edge of agriculture. Continuing on the farm purchased many years ago by his father, he has maintained its high state of cultivation and has added such buildings as the equipment of the estate rendered necessary. During 1880 he brought a bride to the home, his marriage unit- ing him with Mis? Ella Eoberts, member of a ivell-known family represented elsewhere in this volume. They became the parents of seven child- ren, namely : Burton, who i= employed in the .mail service; Josie E., Earl, Louis, Wilna, (de- ceased ), Iva F. and Eay. In the social circles of the townpliip the family are well known and universally honored as people of substantial worth and intelligence. 311 312 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. ACKEEMAN, GEOEGE N.— During the ear- ly half of the nineteenth century the Ackerman family was founded in America by three broth- ers who emigrated from Germany, one settling in New York City, another going into Canada and the third, (John) proceeding to Jefferson county, JSfew York, where he took up a tract of raw land and developed an improved farm. Among the children of John Ackerman was a son, Mark C, bom and reared in Jefferson coun- ty, New York, and there married to Cynthia Kead, member of an old-established family ol that region. As early as 1853 Mark C. Acker- mnn became a pioneer of Wiseonsia, whither emigration was rapidly drifting. From the age of fourteen years until he moved to the west he had been engaged as a sailor on the great lakes, but after hie removal to Wisconsin he became interested in farming in Adams county and de- veloped an improved farm from a tract of raw land. Eemoving to Minnesota in June of 1864, he bought eighty acres on section fifteen, Medo township. Blue Earth county, the tract lying within the limits of the Winnebago Indian re- serve. Eor more than twenty years he remained on that farm, meanwhile bringing it into a state of high productiveness, and here his death occurred in 1886 at the age of eighty years and nine months. His wife passed away in June of 1895 at the age of eighty-one years. The youngest son of the eleven children of Mark C. and Cynthia Ackerman was the gentle- man whose name introduces this narrative and whose birth occurred in Jefferson county, New York, May 14, 1853. During infancy he wafe taken to , Wisconsin and at the age of eleven years he accompanied his parents to Minnesota, where he attended the country schools near his home. December 1, 1878, he was united in mar- riage with Susan Eamsey, a native of Adams county, Wificonsin, and a daughter of William W. Eamsey of Ohio, whose father, James, was born in Pennsylvania and descended from an old and honored Scotch family. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman are named as follows: Amy, who married E. P. Davidson and lives on a farm in Medo township; Ennis and Luther, who reside in Lamoure county. North Dakota; Abbie and Mark, who are deceased; Wallace, Floyd, Ora, Archie, Alta and Edith, who remain with their parents on the home farm. The original claim taken up by his father is now owned and operated by Mr. Ackerman, who has proved himself to be energetic in action, prompt in decision, industrious in disposition, and genial in temperament. Through his wise oversight of the property it has steadily increased in valuation by reason of improvements being made. The land is maintained in a high state of cultivation and crops are rotated in such a manner as to maintain the fertility of the soil. Considerable attention is devoted to stock-raising, a specialty being made of Poland-China hogs, Norman horses of good grades and shorthorn cat- tle of fine types of that breed. In addition to maintaining a close supervision of the home- stead he has found leisure to mingle with ac- quaintances, identify himself with public affairs and contribute to the material growth of the community by his wise judgment and active co- operation in enterprises for the common good. For seventeen consecutive years he filled the posi- tion of township clerk, for twelve consecutive years he has served with the utmost efficiency as treasurer of the school board, and for a number of years he has been justice of the peace, in which capacity he has proved familiar with the laws and impartial in their administration. In frater- nal relations he holds membership with the An- cient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. ALLEN, SILAS LOCHE.— At a time when Blue Earth county was first attracting the at- tention of home-seekers the Allen family became established in this part of the country and since then have aided in the agricultural upbuilding of the county and state. The first of the name to come to the northwest was T. 0. Allen, who was born near Buffalo, New York, and now makes his home near Winnebago City, Minne- sota, where he owns large and valuable landed interests. It was during April of 1856 that chance brought him to Blue Earth county while he was inspecting the country with a view to settlement. With him was a cousin, the two hav- ing come from Chickasaw county, Iowa. Soon BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 313 after his arrival he pre-empted a claim three- fourths of a mile northwest of old Shelby, but after a year or more he sold the claim and re- moved to Shelby, where he bought a log hotel from G. Shannon. The management of the hotel eno;aged his attention for some years and in time he replaced the log structure with a more sub- stantial building of frame. For a number of years he also conducted a country store in his hotel building, and he became interested in saw- milling as a partner of N. W. Powell in the spring of 1861, where he continued until 1864, when he formed a partnership in the mercantile business with Captain Rhodes Crandall, an oSi- cer in the Union army. For some five years the partnership continued, after which Mr. Allen sold out and settled on section thirty-two, where previously he had taken up a tract of raw land. At the expiration of about six years he sold a part of the estate and moved to Woodland Mills, I'aribault county, but later he moved to a farm near Winnebago City, his present home. In a family of nine children, four of whom am now living, Silas Loche Allen was second in order of birth, and was born January 84, 1858, in the frame house which his father had built for a hotel, at Shelby, Blue Earth county. Primar- ily educated in country schools, later he had the advantages of the high schools at Mankato, Min- nesota, and Charles City, Iowa, after which he took a course in the Iowa Agricultural College, at Ames. Upon leaving college he began to teach school. For three years he had charge of ilie school at Lawler, Iowa, for one year taught at Fredericksburg, that state, and for a similar period had supervision of the Floyd school. Later for two years he was in charge of the high school at Amboy, Jlinnesota, and for one year taught at Sherburn, Martin County, after which he. went to Delavan, Faribault county, and for two years clerked in a store owned by his father. Next he went to Browns Valley, Minnesota, and resumed teaching, which occupation he followed there for a period of five years. Since resigning that position he has owned and occupied a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section thirty- two, Shelby township, Blue Earth county, where hp has engaged in agricultural pursuits. During April of 1896 he was united in marriage with Maggie Brovm, a native of Delavan, Minnesota, and a daughter of William Brown, a farmer and painter residing in Delavan township. In the family of Mr. Allen there are two children, Beatrice and Jay. Always stanch in his support of the country schools, he has rendered efficient service as a member of the school board. In fraternal relations he is identified with the blue lodge of Zvlasonry, also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. ANDERSON, GEORGE.— For little less than one-half century the Anderson family has been identified with the agricultural and commercial development of Blue Earth county. Hither came Henry Carl Anderson as early as 1860, purposing to improve from the primeval wilds a homestead that would bring to his declining years independence and a competency. Both he and his wife, Sarah, were natives of Knoxville, Ohio, and traced their ancestry to England. Immediately after he arrived in this county he secured a claim of three hundred acres in Judson township. The land was in the raw state of nature; no attempt had been made at perma- nent improvement, but his was the pleasant though difficult task of erecting needed build- ings, dividing the land into fields of suitable size by substantial fencing, placing the soil un- der cultivation and instituting a rotation of crops adapted to the land and the climate. The quiet cares of agriculture gave to his later years a strange contrast to the eventful happenings of his youth, when he followed the life of a sailor for a time and also had some experiences in mining for gold. His was a kindly disposition, generous to those in need, liberal toward en- terprises for the community's good, and upright in every relation of life, and when death came to him, February 13, 1904, at the age of seventy- two 3'ears, he left many warm friends to mourn his loss.. Surviving him are his widow and eight of their ten children. The second in order of birth among the ten children was George Anderson, who was born in Judson township. Blue Earth county, in 1865, and received a district school education, supple- 314 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. mented by attendance at the high isehool of Lake Crystal. LTntii 1899 he remained on tlie home farm, but during that year he came to Man- li:ato and entered a hardware store as clerk, re- maining for three years. Next he took up the painter's trade under J. Manderfeld, with whom he continued until 1904. During that year he bought from L. W. Grant a paper-box manu- facturing establishment, which he has since con- ducted at JSTo. 57U South Front street, mean- while doubling the output of the factory. The products are sold to the local trade or shipped to neighboring towns, but it is the intention of the proprietor, if prosperity attends the plant, to increase its output sufficiently so that he may be able to supply demands from points in other parts of the state as well as in other states. In 1899 he was united in marriage with Amy, daughter of Daniel Edwards, of Judson town- ship, and they have one son, Willard. In fra- ternal identification Mr. Anderson belongs toN;he Ancient Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen of America, Samaritans, National Ee- ' serves, and along the line of business organiza- tions he gives stanch support to the Commercial Club, with whose ambition to promote the pros- perity of the city he is in hearty sympathy. Julius A. Anderson was educated in the com- mon schools of the Badger State until he was fourteen years of age, w;hen he became self-sup- porting by "going out to work by the month." He entered into his first independent venture when, in December, 1899, he removed to Decor- ia township, this county, and was placed in charge of the large farm of Professor Searing, which ho successfully conducted for seven yoars. In 1906 he located in Mankato and purchassd the interest of John H. Macbeth in the livery firm of Macbeth & Harlin, in June of that year Wil- liam B. Harlin's interest in the business being bought by John IST. Lang, thereby forming the partnership of Lang & Anderson. This lirm operated a first-class livery, creditable alike to their business judgment and their good t&'^te till disposed of. Mr. Anderson was married on the 22nd of De- cember, 1899, to Miss Mary Anderson, daughter of Hans Anderson, of Brooklyn, Minnesota, and she has borne him two children — George L., and Mildred D. A member of the fraternity, Modern Woodmen of America, Mr. Anderson is popular and straightforward, a credit to any order, and promises to advance in whatever field of endeavor he may enter. ANDBESON, JULIUS A.— Sturdy of pur- pose, and energetic and enterprising of tempera- ment, the Danish-Americans of Blue Earth Coun- ty are coming into the front ranks of its business men and citizens, and of the younger generation none could be a greater credit to their Father- land and the country of their adoption than Julius A. Anderson, of Mankato. He is an hon- est, industrious citizen, who has made the most of himself and his opportunities — ^and what more can be said of any man? A native of Den- mark, born on the 22d of July, 1876, he is the son of Hans and Dorothea Anderson, also born in that country, who came to Brooklyn, Rock county, Wisconsin, when the boy was five years of age. Neither is now living, the mother hav- ing died in Iowa leaving the following children: Ferdinand, of Brooklyn, Wisconsin; Julius A.; and Charles M., also a resident of that Wiscon- sin town. ANDERSEN, JENS C— Jens C. Andersen, engineer of the City Water Works, Mankato, presents a type of Americanism, in which natives of America take as much pride as those Scandi- navian brothers who so enthusiastically and faithfully adopt the cities and institutions of the United States as their own. Often, in fact,^ those who come to this country from the Old World seem to have a more hearty appreciation of the extent of their . opportunities than those who are bom to them. Thus it is that it is a true pleasure to present a brief record of so in- telligent, successful and grateful an American, adopted from Denmark, as Mr. Andersen. He was born August 31, 1865, son of Rasmus and Christena (Andersen) Andersen, his parents spending their lives in Denmark — the father dy- ing in 1883, at the age of forty-seven, and the mother in 1905, sixty-nine years old. Jens C. Andersen is the fifth child in a fam- Ou- /L-*-^ cZ^Xj^-^t.^/:^ Hi. /J BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 315 ily of nine brothers and sisters, he being the only one to venture to America. In the Dajiish country schools he received two hours' daily in- struction in both English and German, so that as a boy he vi^as in training for his future career in the United States. Until he was fifteen he was. an industrious farmer's boy and school boy, by which time he had made such progress in hit studies and general intelligence that he se- cured employment in the International Mail Service between Denmark and Germany, being thus engaged for eighteen months. In 1884, when nineteen years of age, Mr. An- dersen emigrated to the United States, first lo- cating on a farm near Austin, Minnesota, and after a short time removing to Eochester, where for two years he was employed in a brick yard. He became a resident of Mankato in 1887 as an employe of the Hubbard & Palmer mill, his posi- tion — that of assistant engineer — being held for five years, while he has most creditably served as engineer at the City Water Works since 1893. June 8, 1885, before he had reached his twen- tieth year, Mr. Andersen married Miss Christena Thyggeeon, also a native of Denmark, and the union has resulted in four children: Eliza A., Walter E., Harvey P. and Florence S. Era- temally he is a member of the A. 0. U. W. and Modern Samaritans, and his religious faith is Presbyterian. ANDEEWS, JOHN WESLEY.— M. D. Many years ago there sailed on the high seas, under the command of Captain Andrews, a ship that bore the flag of England and carried her com- merce to many remote harbors of the world. Little is known concerning the captain, but it may be inferred that he was a man of dauntless courage, close observation and unwavering loy- alty. These qualities in his son, John E., led to another occupation in which they were no less necessary than on the ocean. As a pioneer Methodist preacher in the sparsely settled re- gions of the United States, he was called upon to endure untold privations. Within his home pov- erty was ever present, yet out of his scanty sup- ply he was ever ready to help some unfortunate family or suffering pioneer, and no distance was too great and no road too dark for him to re- fuse to go to the aid of the needy. The duties of hie calling led him from Illinois to Minne- sota in the autumn of 1856 and made him a pioneer of St. Peter. In the spring of 1857 he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in what was known as the Big Woods district. Scarcely had he settled the family in their lonely home when the panic of 1857 came upon the country. During the two following years the family and their few neighbors suffered privation and want. Elour was $9 per barrel and other necessities were almost as high. Were it not for the high price paid for ginseng and the abundance of the root, many a time the children and the older ones would have gone hungry to bed. With the return of prosperity to the nation the family giadually entered into happier circumstances, yet tliey never became well-to-do, and it was not possible to give the children many advantages. In the family of Eev. John E. and Delilah (Armstrong) Andrews there was a son, John Wesley, born at Eussellville, Lawrence county, Illinois, April 6, 1849, and brought to Minnesota at the age of seven years. While it was not pos- sible for his parents to give him any advantages, such was his energy and determination that he met destiny with a brave spirit and carved out opportunities for himself. In 1868 he became a student in the Minnesota State Norman School at Mankato, but on account of suffering an at- tack of typhoid fever he was not able to con- tinue his studies. On regaining his strength he secured a position as teacher in the St. Peter Jiigh school, where he remained for three years. ]\leanwhile he had become interested in the study of medicine and had determined to gain an edu- cation in that profession. This was made pos- sible by his tireless exertions. After a course of lectures in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, he entered Eush Medical College in Chicago and enjoyed the advantages offered by that renowned institution, from which he was graduated in February of 1877. After a preliminary practice of two years he sougM further advantages in the science of therapeutics by admission into one of the most famous in- stitutions of the east, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, where he took the regular lectures in 316 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. medicine^ surgery and allied branehee, graduat- iag in March of 1880. On his return to Min- nesota he resumed his practice at ilarshall, and alter three years located at Mankato, but again in 1886 he allowed himself a vacation in order CO prosecute medical studies in the hospitals and colleges of Berlin and Vienna. Since then it Jias been his custom, every two or three years, to spend six weeks or two months in study in the large hospitals of different cities, by which means he has kept in touch with every phase of devel- opment made in medicine and surgery. Various professional associations, including the ilinnesota State Medical Society of which he was one time president, and the Minnesota Val- ley Medical Society, number Dr. Andrews among their members. Dr. Andrews has always voted the Eepublican ticket and he has taken great in- terest in politics. During 1893 his friends placed his name in nomination for mayor of Mankato and he lacked only seven votes of be- ing elected. Two years later he was induced to take a seat in the city council as the represen- tative of the fourth ward, and in April, 1907, was elected mayor by a large majority. In fra- ternal relations he is a Mason and for four consecutive years acted as master of Mankato Lodge No. 12, A. P. & A. M., besides which he was t'cnior warden for two years. The Mankato board of trade has his name enrolled among its members whom he served one term as president, as has also the Social Science Club. At the age of twenty years he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith he had been reared by his earnest Christian parents and to which he has since been a liberal contrib- utor. April 4, 1878, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Jennie French, formerly of Wellsville, New York, but a resident of Mar- shall, Minnesota, at the time of their marriage. They have one son, Eoy N". Andrews, who was one of five who were elected to membership in the Honorary Fraternity Alpha Omega Alpha, the requirements of which are to be at the head of the classes in deportment as well as studies, and in 1908 was elected its president, he is also a member of the Phi Beta Pi. On July 12th, 1906, he was married to Mi.ss Florence Burgess of Minneapolis, and finished his course in medi- cine at the University of Minnesota in June, 1908. ANNIS, EICHAED STEPHEN.— Very early iji the colonial history of our country the Annis. family crossed the ocean from England and es- tablished themselves among the farmers along the bleak coasts of New England. The family gen- ealogy records that Solomon Annis, born at Lebannon, Grafton county. New Hampshire, Nov- ember 8, 1765, was united in marriage March 12, 1791, with Susannah Botsworth, who was born February 28, 1770, and died August 14, 1832. In their family of ten children there was a son, James, who was born at Lebanon, New Hampshire, January 22, 1792 (?), ajid died at Chelsea, Vermont, July 31, 1830, while yet in the prime of manhood. While jnnking liis home at Chelsea he had married, December 16, 1811, Miss' Sally Clifford, who was born April 4, 1792, and died May 2, 1838. Eleven children were born of their union, among these being a son, Ira, whose birth occurred at Chelsea, July 12, 1816, (?), and who passed from earth October 10, 1882. His marriage took place November 25, 1844, and united him with Erilla J. Corey, who was born February 14, 1819, and died January 17, 1862. The ceremony v.hich united them in marriage was solemnized at Lowell, Massachusetts, by Eev. Lemuel Por- ter. The bride was a daughter of Stephen Corey and a descendant of a Eevolutionary hero. Following the tide of emigration toward the west, Ira Annis in 1853, removed to Wisconsin, accompanied by two brothers, Azro and Darius, and they became pioneers of Eipon, Fond du Lac county. During 1856 Ira and his family and his brother, Azro, traveled with wagon and oxen to Minnesota, where they proceeded to Blue Earth county and joined the pioneers near the ]\Iaple river, arriving there on the 20th of June. Azro settled in Sterling township four miles west and two and one-half miles south of the present town of Mapleton. Ira selected as his location a tract of land four miles south and one mile west of Mapleton, the Maple river run- ning through his farm. To his original home- stead he added by purchase until he became the BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 317 owner of several farms in his immediate vicin- ity and held rank with the most extensive land owners of the county. The deep interest in religious affairs which Mr. Annis displayed throughout his entire life led him to aid generously in all work for the benefit of the church and the spiritual uplifting of humanity. In the building of the Free Bap- tist church at Mapleton he was a large contribu- tor and afterward remained one of its strongest .supporters until his death. Of his ten children the two eldest -nere daughters and died in Ver- )nont. The third, Eichard Stephen, was born in Orleans county, Vermont, January 27, 1846, and i't an early age accompanied the family in their removal to the then frontier. When he was ten tlie family settled in Blue Earth county, where since he has made his home. The schools of those days were few and widely scattered, and it was not possible for him to attend school as reg- ularly as might have been desirable, yet he man- aged to gain an excellent education through self- culture, close reading and habits of careful ob- servation. Prom the opening days of the Civil war Eich- ard S. Annis was staunch in his allegiance to the Union cause. August 26, 1864, at the age of eighteen years he enlisted in Company C, Elev- enth Minnesota Infantry, under Colonel Gil- /iUian and Captain Theodore E. Potter. The company was mustered into service at Fort Snell- mg and ordered to Tennessee, where they were detailed to guard trains on the road from Nash- ville to Chattanooga. A colored regiment that had engaged in guard duty on the Louisville & N"ashville Eailroad was annihilated by the gueril- las, and the Minnesota regiment was ordered to take their place, with headquarters at Gallatin, Tennessee, where he remained until the close of the war, and July 10, 1865, was honorably dis- charged on his return to Fort Snelling. Shortly after his return home from the war Mr. Annis purchased land four miles south and two miles east of Mapleton, and here he embark- ed in agricultural pursuits. .From time to time he added to his original purchase until now he has three hundred and sixty acres of fine farm land which he rents to tenants. During 1887 he sold his personal property and removed to Brain- erd. Crow Wing county, Minnesota, where he en- gaged in the mercantile business. However, the confinement to indoor work proved unhealthful and after three years he sold the business, re- turning in 1890 to Mapleton, where he now makes his home. August 8, 1869, he married Melissa Foster, of Eipon, Wisconsin, a daughter of Warren Foster, who removed to Minnesota (luring the fall of 1865. Four children came to bless their union. The sons are Elwin E. and Chester A., the former of whom was employed in a drug business for a year, then attended the ]\linnesota State TTniversity, where he won the' degree of D. D. S. Since then he has established a growing practice at Winnebago City, Faribault county. The two daughters. Alberta and Laura E., were given excellent literary and musical edu- cations, and became accomplished and popular vfiung ladies, beloved in the home circle and ad- jiiired by hosts of friends. Thc'r death in early ^\'omanhood was a bereavement from which their parents have not recovered, bringing to them the iieaviest sorrow of their otherwise happy wedded lives. For several years Mr. Annis was a member of the board of town supe^^^snrs and was honored by being chosen chairman of the board.. During 1900 he took a census of the township and vil- lagp of ilapleton, for some years he filled the office of town clerk, and he also has been a mem- hev of the town council and a director of the town schools. Fraternally he belongs to the Grand Vrmy of the Eepublic and has officiated as adjutant of the local post. Among the people of the town he is respected as a man of saga- cious judgment, one whose careful economy has rendered possible his present prosperity, and whose interests, bound by a lifetime of association with those of the township, link him by ties of warmest friendship to the people and the com- I'lunity itself. The family which Eichard S. Anna's represents (■■insisted of ten children, of whom six are now living. His sister, Irene, is married and lives at Minnesota Lake. Another sister, lona, is the wife of C. F. Wallace, of IMaploton township; ^frs. Flora E. Heath is a resident of Faribault ( 'ity, and Sarah married Judge J. H. Quinn and makes her home in Fairmont, Faribault county. 318 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. His only surviving brother, Ira D., is a resident of Weetbrook, Cottonwood county, this state. The early days of the residence of the family in Min- nesota were marked by many hardships. The winters were bitterly cold and the cabins of the pioneers were illy fitted to withstand the rigors of the weather. Suffering fell to the lot of all, but was borne without a murmur and sacrifices were made cheerfully. No braver heroes ever fell on field of battle than those men and women who bore without a whisper of discontent the suffer- ings caused by cold and hunger. They had come hither to found homes where their children might live in happiness and prosperity, and they counted no sacrifice too great that would aid in Ihe accomplishment of their ambition. Long after their bodies shall have returned to the dust ihe memory of their privations, sacrifices and un- ceasing toil will remain to stimulate to greater ambition those who proudly trace their lineage to these brave pioneers. When the Annis family found themselves in the midst of the desolate conditions prevalent during the '50's in Blue Earth county, they began the task of making a home. For a few months they lived in a tent. Meanwhile they built one of the first houses in Mapleton township. This was a crude structure, scarcely more habitable tiian the tent. When they moved in, December '', 1856, it was necessary to place the tent inside the house in order to withstand the extreme cold (if the winter. The cabin was plastered outside and inside with mud mortar mixed in a hole in- tended for a cellar. While the father applied the mortar to the outside of the building, the mother was similarly engaged inside of the cabin. Soon afterward it became necessary to secure flour. St. Paul, about one hundred miles distant, was the nearest market, and Hastings was an equal distance from the frontier settlement. With a neiglibor, Mr. Samuel Atkins, Mr. Ira Annis started with horses for Hastings, and accom- plished the first half of their journey success- fully. Mr. Atkins proceeded on to Wisconsin. On Mr. Annis' return alone he had reached old St. Mary's when he and another party were caught in a severe snow storm. All day they wearily pushed forward through the blinding enow, but the drifts became so deep that at night they were forced to return to the place they had left in the morning. About noon of the following day he alone .started out, unloaded hie fiour, piled it up against a small oak tree, and started onward as rapidly as the condition of the weather permitted. That night he was over- taken by a terrible blizzard. Unable to face the ptorm and darkness coming on, he tied his horses to the sled, wrapped blankets around his limbs and all through the long night ran around the sled to keep from freezing to death. By the next day the storm had passed and he was able to proceed to his home in safety. When spring came he returned and found his fiour under the tree where he had left it during the blizzard of the winter. This is a record of but one ex- perience; were all related the present generation would realize to what extent they are indebted to their fathers and grandfathers, who endured such dreary isolation from civilizing influences, such exposure to the rigors of winter, and such continued hardships and privations, in order that the civilization of the twentieth century might be made possible to this part of our state. AEEND, JOHN.— The fair degree of success i\hich came to Mr. Arend in the management cf his farm and the accumulation of land proves that he was a man of ability, for he was heavily iiandicapped for many years by ill health result- ing from the hardships of army service during the Civil war. In spite of a constitution far from robust he continued the active supervision oi his interests and resolutely refused to permit himself to be relegated to the ranks of invalids. Notwithstanding the fact that he often worked beyond the limit of his strength, his life was prolonged to three score years and ten and he went to his grave in an honored old age. Among the people in whose midst he made his home for many years he is remembered as a capable man, progressive citizen and loyal to the welfare of his adopted commonwealth and country. Mr. Arend was born December 30, 1830, in Luxemburg, Germany, where his parents, Ni- cliolas and Susanna Arend, were farmers and life long residents. On both sides of the family the ancestors had been long and intimately as- BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 319 cociated with affairs in Luxemburg. After hav- ing received a fair German education in the Roman Catholic schools, John Arend began to earn his own livelihood by working on a farm, and in 1850 he crossed the ocean to America in search of better opportunities than awaited him in the old country. For some years he worked on farms in Wisconsin. During the year 1856 he became a pioneer of Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth County, where he pre-empted from the government forty acres of raw land. Not a furrow had been turned in the primeval soil and no attempt had been made at any improve- ment; thus his was the pioneer task of trans- forming the little tract into an improved farm. While busily engaged in developing his land Mr. Arend responded to the call of his adopted country in her hour of need, and August 19, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company K, Seventh Minnesota Infantry, which regiment he accompanied to the south. The hardships of forced marches and the other privations of army life impaired his health and when he was hon- orably discharged, at the expiration of the war, he went back to Minnesota with strength so feeble as to preclude active work for some years. On regaining partial health he took up farm work and busily engaged in cultivating such crops as suited the soil and climate. March 4, 1868, he married Miss Mina Schlichting, who was born in Germany February 12, 1841. When she was a mere infant she last her father, who was a fanner by occupation. Some time after- ward her mother married again, but in 1855 the mother, step-father, grandmother and younger fister died within one week of that dread dis- ease, the cholera. Mina made her home for seven years in Germany with a family bearing Ihe name of Schwartz and she accompanied tliem to America, settling in Minnesota. The only son of her marriage, Louis, was born January ■23, 1870, and died June 15, 1888. An adopted son, John, now occupies and operates the Arend homestead, which was increased from its original size by the purchase of one hundred and thirty- five acres and through the efforts of the owner was transformed into a valuable estate. On this homestead Mr. Arend died June 4, 1901, and later his widow removed to Mankato, where she owns a comfortable home at No. 1005 North Sixth street. In religion she is identified with the German Lutheran church, while Mr. Ai'end adhered to the doctrines of the German Catholic denomination. In politics he always A'oted the Democratic ticket, but was not active in such matters and had not official aspirations. Possessed of a kindly, home-loving disposition, he was the happiest on his farm and busy vrith such work as his strength permitted, but he was always willing to aid in local enter- prises and was especially interested in aiding the unfortunate and the needy. ATCiSERSON, JOSEPH W.— Indians still roamed at vrill throughout the northwestern fron- tier, and Blue Earth county was yet a reserva- tion, when, in 1863, W. J. Atcherson brought Ills family to Minnesota and took up a tract of raw land. The progress of the .Civil war had left the settlers of the northwest more or less at the mercy of the savages, and tales of depreda- tions were heard on every hand, but this indomi- table frontiersman was not dismayed by condi- tions; on the contrary, he patiently toiled and sowed and reaped, and at no time was he mo- lested by the Indians, toward whom he always displayed a friendly consideration. Born and reared in Vermont, he had married a ynung lady from that state in early life and three children had been born to them, Frederick, Joseph W., and Julia, of whom the second son is the sole survivor. The wife and mother died while yet a young Avoraan and later he married Sarah Ar- cher, who since his death in 1905 had continued to reside in the neighborhood endeared to her by years of associations. Of the second marriage there were three children, namely: Frank, a farmer of Medo township ; Mack, who is repre- i-cnted elsewhere in this volume ; and Clara, Mrs. Frederick Aldrich, of Mankato, this county. During the res'dence of his parents in Ver- mont Joseph W. Atcherson was born May 23, 1845, and from the east he accompanied the family to the frontier regions of the northwest, where he received such meager advantages as the locality and day afforded. At the age of nine- teen years he enlisted under General Gerard in 320 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. tlie Sixteenth army, corps, western division, and was stationed principally at Fort Spanish until lie was mustered out of the service, August 19, 1865. After his return to Blue Earth County he took up agricultural pursuits and in 1881 purchased a farm on section sixteen, Medo town- ship, where he was engaged in stock-raising and general fanning with noteworthy success. His specialties have been dairying and the raising of Norman horses, Poland-China hogs and Short- horn cattle. The farm comprises three hundred and twenty acres and represents his unaided ef- forts. The improvements bear testimony to his thrift, wise judgment and industrious applica- tion. The marriage of Mr. Atcherson took place in 1878 and united him with Miss Mary J. Mc- Kibbon, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Quinn) McKibbon, natives of Ireland, but from early life residents of the United States, first sojourn- ing in Pennsylvania and during 1863 becoming pioneers of Blue Earth county. For a long pe- riod Mrs. McKibbon has been dead, and he is now making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Atcherson. Another daughter, Isabelle, is de- ceased. There were two sons, William McKib- bon, now a resident of Medo township; and James, who died in infancy. Five children com- prise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Atcherson. The eldest, Olive, married Hilmer Hoverson and has one son, Kenneth. They reside at Lidger- wood, N". D., where he acts as manager of a creamery. The second son, Harry, resides with Ivs parents; Gertrude is engaged in educational Avork ; Elsie, a student of the Albert Lea, Minn., School of Music, and Sadie is a student in the Mapleton high school. For years Mr. Atcherson has been identified with the Grand Army of the Pepublic. Politically he affiliates with the Demo- crats and on the party ticket was several times elected a member of the board of supervisors, bf-sides which he has served as pathmaster and held office as school director. ATCHEESON, MACK.— ISTo name in Blue Earth county carries Avith it greater weight in stock raising circles than that of Atcherson. The Shorthorn cattle, registered Percheron horses and Poland China hogs which attain maturity under the direction of Mack Atcherson, on his farm in Medo township, may be equalled but not surpassed by any breeder in this north country. Mr. Atcherson inaugurated his independent ca- reer in 1879 by purchasing a part of his present farm, . and he since has added to it, until he owns two hundred and eighty acres in one body. Practically all of his property is under cultiva- tion, and he has the most approved of imple- ments and general farm appliances. Mr. Atcherson is a long way from his early surroundings in Vermont, where he was born Kovember 11, 1853. The Green Mountain state was the family work ground for many years, and in it were born W. J. and Sarah (Archer) Atcherson, parents of Mack, as well as the lat- ter's paternal grandfather, Thomas Atcherson. The whole family came to Wisconsin from Ver- mont in 1854, or rather all were assembled there at that time, W. J. joining his sons who had immigrated a short time before. Location was made on a farm near Kilbourn City, Adams county, Wisconsin, where all remained but the father, who, in 1863, came to Minnesota and pre-empted the farm in Medo township, now owned and occupied by his widow. He had five children, of whom Mack was the fourth eld- est, and the latter remained at home until mov- ing to the farm he now owns and lives on. October 14, 1887, Mr. Atcherson was united in marriage to Mary A. Doland, daughter of George Doland, who now lives at Waterville, Minnesota, and is one of the very early pioneers of Blue Earth county. Mr. and Mrs. Atcherson are the parents of the following children: Net- tie C, now Mrs. Walter Bromaghim, of Waseca county; Clara L., now Mrs. Fremont Severance, of Medo township; Cleo M., living at home; and James M., also with his father. Mr. Atch- erson possesses the qualities which insure suc- cess in any walk of life, and which particularly are appreciated in the upbuilding of farming communities. A pleasing address and invariable approachability add to his popularity, and tend, with his shrewd business ability and interest in general affairs to make him a factor of county as well as township importance. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 321 ANTKY, ISAAC— The well directed life of Tfaac Antry spanned the years between his birth in Indiana in 1836, and his death in South Bend, the same state, in 1902. His name is enrolled among ' those self sacrificing pioneers of Blue Earth county who arrived about 1856, and whose calm acceptance of the dangers, deprivations and exactions of the frontier seem a marvel to we of a later generation. Those were the times that tried the souls of men, and either made or un- made them with its demand upon their strength and endurance. Isaac Antry proves his mettle on many occasions, but at no time more em- phatically than during the Indian outbreak of 1862-3, when he was one of the bravest members of the local guard. Mr. Antry had common school advantages in liis youth, but for the greater part he was a self made, well made man, learning more in the hard ichool of practical experience than from between the covers of books. In this county he was unit- ed in marriage in 1871, to Charlotte M. O'Con- nor, of Indiana, and of his large family, six sons and four daughters are living. Of the daughters, Alice is the wife of Albert Neeno, a farmer; Mary C, is now Mrs. Fox, wife of an employe of the Northern Pacific Eailroad Company; Laura is the wife of Mr. Maloney, a farmer; and Agnes is liv- ing at home. Of the sons, James is farming the home place; Charles is in California; Thomas is « resident of St. Paul, this state; John is a farm- er in Dakota; and Paul and Felix T., are living at home. To his farm of one hundred and sixty acres Mr. Antry devoted the best years of his life. He made many fine and expensive improvements, and his widow now profits by his enterprise and forethought. He was quite a politician, in the broader sense of the word, and while never seek- ing official honors, served as assessor twelve years^ and also was a member of the board of educa- tion. In religious atfiliation he was a Catholic, and always contributed generously towards the maintenance of the local church of that denomi- nation. He lived a life of activity, integrity and worth, accomplishing much through hon- orable purpose and unflagging industry, and at the same time laboring for the public good through active co-operation in measures tending towards that end. AXTELL, AYMBE D.— The farming contin- gent of Blue Earth county has no more respected and useful member than Aymer D. Axtell, en- gaged in general agriculture and stock-raising, and the owner of eighty-three acres of land in ilcPherson township. Mr. Axtell has gained ex- perience in many parts of this continent, in Can- ada, where he was born July 22, 1849, in Illi- nois, where he lived with the rest of his family for ten years in Calumet county, Wisconsin, where also he lived ten years, and in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, to which he came in 1873. Mr. Axtell is the oldest of seven sons of Jack- son and Mary (Yoemanns) Axtell, the former of whom was horn in England and the latter in Canada. Jackson Axtell died in 1894, having devoted the active years of his life to general farming and mill-wrighting. In the fall of 1871 Aymer D. Axtell married Eliza J. Watrous of Wisconsin, and to whom has been born four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living, save one daughter, Mabel, who passed on at the age of two months. Of those living, Margaret is thirty-one years old, and now is the wife of Frank Slocum of Blue Earth county; Arthur is a farmer, twenty-nine year old and married; Eichard is twenty-seven years old and lives in North Dakota; Leon is twenty-four years old and if- a mail-carrier at Foley, this state; and Eobert aged twenty-one, lives with his father on the home place. In political affiliation Mr. Axtell is a Eepub- lican, but he never has sought or been willing to accept official honors. With the rest of his family he finds a religious home in the Congre- gational church. BABCOCK, MILEN E.— The man who goes into the real estate business ought to have a broad and varied experience, since he is to meet customers in all walks' of life and usually those whose circumstances are above the average breadth of view, elasticity of temperament and 322 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. versatility in meeting objections, are primary requisites, as Mr. Babeock has found during the decade of his growing business in this line at Mankato. The record which follows indicates an unusually broad and varied experience as a business man; so that he has lived up to the well settled requirements of success in the field which he is so creditably occupying. Milen E. Babeock is a native of Wisconsin, born to Chauncey and Fidelia (Tyler) Babeock, on the 4th of June, 1864. His New England parents came to Wisconsin in the 'fifties,' re- moved their home in 1889 to Mason City, Iowa, and in later years to Spokane, Washington, where they now reside. Milen is the third child of their family, and remained in Wisconsin. He passed his earlier years in that state, attending country school and working on the home farm, going to Iowa when a youth and attending the Osage High School, and afterward entering the employ of various mercantile establishments in that city. In 1887 he removed to St. Paul, Min- nesota, where he was associated with a wholesale commission house and later, for six years, as a traveling salesman for a stationery establishment of the same city. This long experience both in the store and on the road gave Mr. Babeock an admirable insight into the mysteries of salesman- ship, which are never divulged by lonely study or reflection; they only come to those who 'go out and hustle, and mix with people." In 1898 Mr. Babeock located in Mankato to engage in the real estate business, his most im- portant line being the sale of farm lands in Minnesota and North Dakota, although his trans- actions cover important deals in city property. Besides establishing this business he has become quite well known as a promoter of large enter- prises, having organized the Mankato Malting Company and the German Land Company. Mr. Babeock votes the republican ticket, and that is as far in politics as his many other activities will allow him to go. He is a member of the jovial United Commercial Travelers of America, and is identified with the fraternities, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America. Married April 19, 1890 to Miss Fannie E. Page of Argentine, Michigan, Mr. Babeock and his wife have been blessed with a large home circle, their children being Mable M., Cora L., Vernon F., Gladys W., Mazie D. and Neva D. BAKEE, GENEBAL JAMES H.— To be- come distinguished in any field is the lot of but few and the ambition of many, but to achieve distinction in several walks of life, as has Gen- eral Baker, is proof of earnest self forgetfulness and unusual talents. In his journalistic work, his military career and his public record gener- ally an intensity of purpose, a facility of execu- tion and a versatility of ability little short of phenomenal have been his distinguished traits. He is an Ohio man, born in Monroe, Butler county. May 8, 1829, son of Henry and Hannah (Heaton) Baker. His father was a cultured and able physician, born in Baltimore, Maryland, and engaged in practice for forty years in Ohio, while his grandfathers, William Baker and James Heaton, were Eevolutionary soldiers. When young Baker was three years old his parents moved to Lebanon, Ohio, whence, upon his mother's death, he was sent to his grandfather's home near Middleton, Ohio, and for two years attended Sherman Academy. An honored grad- uate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, class of 1852, three years after leaving college he re- ceived a second degree of A. M. He then taught school for a time, but soon became proprietor of the Scioto Gazette, the oldest paper in Ohio, and, as a reward for his services to the Eepubli- can party, and a tribute to his ability and hon- orable character, he was elected secretary of state. Upon the expiration of his term of office, as above, General Baker removed to Minnesota, in May, 1857, soon thereafter settling on a farm near Garden City, and, such was his faculty for inspiring confidence and drawing an enthusiastic personal following, that in 1859, and again in 1861, he again was elected secretarv of state for Minnesota. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he resigned his office and offered his services to the government, and by Governor Eamsey was commissioned Colonel of the Tenth Minnesota Volunteers, November 16, 1862, and during that and the following year he assisted in the sup- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 323 pression of the Sioux outbreak. After the In- dian war, being ordered South in October, 1863, he was assigned to the command of the post of St. Louis, which subsequently embraced seven counties in its jurisdiction, and finally was ap- pointed by the Secretary of War, Provost Mar- shal General of the Department of Miss'^uri, For the able discharge of his duties in this im- portant position, which virtually created him military governor of the state, he was made a Brevet Brigadier General, and was not mustered out of the service until October, 1865. After the war. General Baker - returned to his farm in Blue Earth county, and in 1871 General Grant, then president of the United States, ap- pointed him United States Commissioner of Pen- sions. After a faithful service in this capacity for four years, he resigned the office and was appointed by General Grant surveyor general of Minnesota, and at the conclusion of this term returned to his home, which in the meantime he had changed from the farm to Mankato. While surveyor general he did much through newspaper and magazine correspondence towards advertis- ing the great iron deposits of the state. In 1879 he purchased the Union and Eecord, the two Eepublican journals of Mankato, united them into the Free Press, thereafter publishing the isame for two years. He then was elected and served two years as Eailroad commissioner, and subsequently, upon the creation of the Eailroad Commission, was -made its president. General Baker for years has been recognized as one of the most brilliant orators in the state, and no man within its bounds has delivered more public popular addresses than he. He has long been a member of the State Historical So- riciy, mil has materially contributed to the his- tory of Minnesota by his authorship of such papers as the "History of Lake Superior," "The Sources of the Mississippi Eiver," "The History of the Minnesota Valley," "Transportation in Minnesota," and "The Lives of the Governors of Minnesota. The last named volume is con- sidered the most important of his literary under- takings, and it gives him a prominent place in the literature of the state. Some years since, the General retired from business, and in Man- kato has devoted himself almost exclusively to literary pursuits. As a writer he has achieved enviable reputation, and takes front rank among those similarly employed in Minnesota. Married in Delaware, Ohio, September 25, 1851, to Eose Lucia Thurston, General Baker has become the father of two sons. Dr. Arthur Heaton Baker, deceased, of Washington Cit]^; and Harry Adgar Baker, of Ogden, Utah. Mrs. Baker died at Washington City IMarch 20, 1873, and December 23, 1879, the General married his present wife, Zulu, daughter of George W. Bart- lett, of Paris, Illinois, whose great-grandfather was the second signer of the Declaration of In- dependence. Of this union there is one son, James Henry Baker, now in college. BAILEY, CHESTEE.— ITo county in the commonwealth of Minnesota surpasses Blue Earth in the fertility of its farms or the progressive spirit exhibited by its farmers, among whom mention belongs to Chester Bailey, the owner and operator of a valuable estate situated in Shelby township. ITearly forty years have passed since he came to this county and settled on the farm which since has been his home. The land lies three miles north of Amboy and two miles south of Vernon Center, so that he has the advantage of being within close proximity to two market towns. When he purchased the quarter- section it was wholly unimproved and he has expended large sums since in the making of de- sirable improvements, including the erection of a neat set of buildings and the expenditure of $700 for a system of tiling. Diversified farming finds more favor with him than specialities, and we find him in exemplification of this idea, devoting some attention to the dairy business, engaging in the raising of Poland-China hogs, carrying a good grade of Shorthorn cattle in his pastures and also raising horses, besides raising such grains and other crops as suit the soil and climate. Chester Bailey was born in Lacking county, Ohio, June 9, 1840, being a son of Chester, Sr., and Mary (Eoberts) Bailey, natives of the same county as himself. The paternal grand- father, who was of French extraction, was an ear- ly settler of Licking county, where he made his 324 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. home Tintil death. The father started out in early manhood to settle on the cheap lands of the ¥'est, but after a brief sojourn in Illinois he returned to Ohio, where he married. Somewhat later he again removed to Illinois, where he took up farm pursuits. Shortly afterward he removed to Wisconsin and took up state land in Juneau county, where he improved a good farm, remaining there until his death in 1898. His wife passed away three years later. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Chester, of Minnesota ; Oliver, of Madison, Wis- consin; Herbert and Eachel A., deceased; Martha J., William, deceased; and John, a farmer who came to Minnesota and settled near Amboy. Such advantages as country schools afforded fell to the lot of Mr. Bailey, but subsequent reading and observation have broadened his fund of information. On the outbreak of the Civil AVar his sympathy was with the Union cauee and with all the eagerness of his twenty-one years he offered his services promptly to th6 government. His enlistment gave him a place in the Tenth Wisconsin Battery, but soon he was transferred to the ISTinth Wisconsin Battery in the western division, stationed principally in Colorado, engaged in scout duty and Indian campaigning. At the expiration of three years he was honorably discharged and returned to his Wisconsin home, where he remained on the farm until 1869, the year of his removal to Minnesota. Since then he has risen to promi- nence among the farmers of Blue Earth county. Sharing with Mr. Bailey in the confidence and respect of the people is his wife, whom he mar- ried in 1865, and who was Mary A. Kewen, a native of Juneau county, Wisconsin. Two sons blessed their union. Both are still living and' occupy farms adjoining the old homestead, so that the parents have the pleasure and satisfac- tion of entering upon the twilight of life's day surrounded by their loved ones. Both sons have homes of their own. Theodore married Margaret Shear and Ernest .was united with Anna Shear, members of a prominent family in the locality. BALLAED, COLUMBUS.— Blue Earth coun- ty in 1854 was a wilderness which still echoed the war whoop of the Indian and the shot of the marksman which brought down big game. Lit- tle save the primeval trees intercepted the chill winds of winter or protected from the glare of the summer sun. They were truly men of pur- pose and well defined ideals who could thus leave settled communities and face not only desolation and deprivation, but the slow rewards which come to him who depends solely upon the pro- ducts of the soil. To this class of toilers belongs Columbus Ballard, who arrived in this county April 1, 1854, and ever since has made this his home, devoting his energies to the accumulation of a competence as a farmer and stock raiser. ilr. Ballard comes of old southern stock, and was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, Septem- ber 27, 1829. He was one in a family of four- teen children, his father being twice married, and he early was obliged to contribute his share towards the family support. He was twenty-four years old upon coming to Blue Earth county from Kentucky, and he pre-empted a farm in Mankato township, which, with a few changes, always for the better, ever since has been his home. He has been interested in Democratic politics ever since the beginning of his voting days, and has served as Justice of the Peace and member of the board of education. In the early 'go's he was active in the last of the Indian wars. In religious affiliation he is a Baptist. January 1, 1856, two years after coming to Minnesota, Mr. Ballard was united in marriage to Lois Gregory, of Michigan who died in 1878. Of this union there were eleven children, seven sons and two daughters, eight of whom are liv- ing. All of the sons are prosperous farmers. Mr. Ballard is a man of noble impulses and kindly d'sposition, and commands the respect and es- teem of a large circle of friends and associates. BANGEETEE, BENEDICT— On completion of his last term, Benedict Bangerter had giv- en twelve years of continuous service as re- gistrar of deeds of Blue Earth county. First elected in 1896, he has succeeded himself every two years, and his conscientious discharge of duty has won the approbation of all classes regardless of differences of political belief. Mr. Bangerter BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 325 is; a stanch Eepublican, and as such has mater- ially strengthened the local standing ol his party. His faithfulness to community interests has "been further evidenced during hie twenty-seven years' connection with the fire department, of which he now is first assistant chief. The claims of Mr. Bangerter upon the confi- dence of his fellow townsmen does not rest solely upon his work in the political arena. He is a business man of strict integrity and progrcssive- ness, and has for many years been identified with the boot and shoe and hardware business. The former occupation came to him naturally, and was learned from his father, Benedict Bangerter Sr., who established his family in Mankato in 18C8. The elder Bangerter was born in Switzer- land, and came as a single man to America, lo- cating first in Illinois, where he married Mary Sahli, also a native of Switzerland. The young people came soon after their marriage to Brown county, Minnesota, later settling on a farm at New Ulm, from which they were driven during the Indian outbreak of the early '60s. Mr. Ban- gerter learned the shoemaking trade in his native land, and in America was a journeyman for many years, finally establishing the boot and shoe business which he .still conducts in Mankato. He is a thrifty and successful business man, and a fair representative of the better class of Swiss sojourners who find congenial occupations and happy homes on this side of the water. Benedict Bangerter Jr. had the many advan- tages of being reared in a large family, for his devoted mother sang and wept and prayed above thirteen cradles, and each child in turn became the guardian and helper of the one that followed. Benedict learned to handle tools as soon as he was old enough to be trusted with them, and when he had mastered the trade of shoe making, was variously employed thereat for several years. He finally gave up the bench and useful imple- ments of his time honored trade and embarked in the hardware business with Gerhard LulsdorfE, remaining with him seven years, and continuing in the same business for eleven years more after the firm name had been changed to LulsdorfE & Son. January 29, 1887, Mr. Bangerter was united in marriage to Anna K. Eoss, daughter of George and Philipine Eoss, of Mankato, and four children have been born to the union : Benedict E., Margaret E., Marie E., and John G. The lengili ol his service in various capac- ities indicates the good judgment and depend- ability of Mr. Bang'erter. He is a quiet and un- assuming man, utterly devoid of ostentation and' display, and finding always in his work much tlicit is pleasant as well as profitable. BAENES, EEANIvLIN.— During the early portion of the nineteenth century John Barnes came from his native country, England, to the United States and settled in Vermont, where he became a farmer. Not many years after his ar- ri\al he married a young lady of French birth and ancestry, and their son, Franklin, was born at Highgate Falls, Franklin county, Vermont, June 22, 1834, being one of a family of seven children, all but one of whom still survive. The parents remained in Vermont until their death. The common schools of Vermont afforded Frank- lin a fair education and while still quite young he was taught lessons of self-reliance and indus- try that aided him in later years. During 1852 lie came to the west and spent a short time in Kalamazoo, Michigan, later removing to St. Anthony's Falls, now known as East Minnea- polis. The year 1857 found him among the pioneers of Blue Earth county, where during Sep- tember he secured a tract of land one and one- half miles from the present site of Vernon Cen- ter village. In addition to bringing this tract under cultivation he engaged in the mejcantile business for four years and for a similar period was interested in bujdng and selling grain. After having conducted farm pursuits about thirty years, in 1890, Mr. Barnes relinquished agricultural activities and came to Lake Crystal. Purchasing what was known as the old Mitchell place, formerly the estate of a banker of the town, he remodeled the place and converted it into one of the most beautiful homes in the vil- lage. A natural grove adorns the grounds and 1he beauty of the place is heightened by its lo- cation on the northeast side of Lake Crystal. "While enjoying his beautiful home Mr. Barnes also has had the privilege of considerable travel through- out the United States, and has spent one year 326 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. in the south^ one winter at Biloxi, Mississippi, and ten winters at San Diego, California, thus escaping the rigors of our Minnesota blizzards. While enjoying his travels he believes no state can surpass Minnesota and he remains intensely loyal to the commonwealth of his adoption. During 1857 Mr. Barnes married Frances E., daughter of William and Frances (Doble) Reed, natives of Maine. As early as 1855 Mr. Eeed came west and settled at St. Anthony's Falls, Minnesota, where he followed the millwright's trade, building the second sawmill in the city of Minneapolis. The year 1857 found him joining the tide of emigration that had turned toward Blue Earth county. Here he took up land in Vernon Center Township and gave his attention to converting a tract into a productive farm. After ten years here he moved to Eenville county, Minnesota, and built a sawmill there, also erec- ted similar plants at other places, including one at Vernon Center. During a visit to Minne^ apolis he died in 1883, and seven years later his wife also passed away. The eldest son of Mr. Barnes is William E., T.'-ho is engaged in the mercantile business at Mankato and also deals extensively in lands as a trader and speculator. The second son, F. H., is represented elsewhere in this volume. The older daughter, Hattie L., was the wife of Ernest Gleason and after his death she mar- ried Edward Washburn, a merchant at Vernon Center. The youngest son, Edward A., married Sadie Warren and carries on a general store at Vernon Center. The youngest member of the family circle is Louise, wife of Frank Rich, a banlcer at Willow City, ISTorth Dakota. In ad- dition to his attractive homo at Lake Crystal Mr. Barnes owns three hundred and twenty acres in Vernon township and has other property interests. Politically he votes with the Eepublican p^arty and in religion is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. Public spirited and loyal to the welfare of his township, he has consented to serve as a school officer and pathmaster, and in other local positions where his services would promote movements of importance to the com- munity. Aside from his agricultural and busi- ness interests, he has taken pleasure in saving specimens of shells and stones and by the work of years he has secured the finest collection of the kind in Minnesota. In an early day he bought tlie first steam-thresher in the vicinity of Vernon Center and for twenty-eight consecutive seasons he operated the same in his own fields and those of his neighbors. But his memory goes back further than the days of steam threshers, for he recalls the times when horse power and tread power were utilized, and he rejoices in the contrasts afforded by present methods with the slow processes of years gone by. Many years ago he invented the first zinc sieve for wheat and other grain to pass through and still later he invented a sieve of wood, these proving val- uable aids in the work of facilitating the sep- aration of the grain from the straw. As a pio- neer he bore his share of the hardships and discouragements of frontier life, but he has lived to reap the benefit of his privations and now, in the twilight of his busy life, he enjoys the com- for.ts amassed during those days of toil and struggle. BAENES, FEANK H.— The business interests of Vernon Center, Blue Earth county, have num- erous and influential representatives in the mem- bers of the Barnes family, not the least success- ful of whom is Frank H. Barnes, since 188? pro- prietor of a lumbering and furniture business in the town. Upon coming to this place from the farm he embarked in business upon a very small scale, but success justified him in undertaking larger things and he has therefore built up an important establishment on a firm financial basis. Meanwhile for fourteen years he also acted in the capacity of contractor and builder, and dur- ing that period had the contract for the greater number of the houses erected in the village. In addition to his other interests he is the owner of Rve hundred acres situated about one and one- half miles from town and representing the fruits of wise investment and industrious application to business. The Barnes family is of eastern extraction. Franklin Barnes, a native of Highgate, Vermont, born in 1832, left his native locality in boyhood and after a considerable period spent in eastern states he came to the northwest, then an unknown BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 327 and ■ undeveloped region. He was one of the first settlers of Minneapolis, where he conducted a hardware store. From there in 1857 he came to Blue Earth county and settled at Vernon Center, where he took up land under the home- stead laws. In 1892 he moved to the vicinity of Crystal Lake, this county, where he lived until 1907, at which time he bought a home in Ver- non Center, where he now resides, being now the owner of one-half section of well-improved land. During the long period of his residence in the county he has proved a public-spirited citizen, solicitous to promote the general welfare, pro- gressive in spirit and patriotic in devotion to commonwealth and nation. The marriage of Franklin Barnes united him ivith Frances Eeed, who was born in Maine in 1837. They became the parents of five children, namely : William E., who is engaged " in the real-estate business at Mankato; Frank H., wBo was born at Vernon Center, September 23, 1860, and always has made his home in this township; Ilattie, wife of E. W. Washburn, proprietor of a general store at Vernon Center; Edward, also a well-known business man of this village; and Louise D., who married P. M. Eich, a banker in North Daltota. Born, reared and educated in the locality where he now resides, Frank H. Barnes is well-known by the people of the lo- cality, and has a large circle of friends among the refined and progressive citizens. Fraternally lie is identified with Vernon Center Lodge No. '^28, A. F. & A. M., and Amboy Lodge No. 97, I. 0. 0. F., while in religious views he is in sympathy with the doctrines of the Methodist , Episcopal church. His marriage, in January of 1901, united him with Miss Jessie Dredge, daugh- ter of Thomas and Margaret (McMillan) Dredge. The father came from England to America in boyhood and settled in Wisconsin, where he mar- ried. Later he removed to Minnesota and es- tablished a home on a farm in Blue Earth coun- ty. From there he removed to Lake Crystal on retiring from agricultural pursuits and since has made that place his home. BAENEY, ASA C— At a time when the set- tlements along the Watonwan in Blue Earth county were first attracting the attention of home-seekers, Asa C. Barney came hither from' the east and established himself in 1857 among the few courageous pioneers of the locality. For some years he labored as a struggling farmer, suffering the hardships incident to rigorous win- ters and insufficient protection from the inclem- ent weather. The life was one of self-denial and struggle, and after some years he decided that he would remove to Mankato and identify him- self with the business interests of this growing town, a decision which, he has had no reason to regret. A^arious vocations have provided for him a means of support, but during the major portion of his residence in tlie city he has engaged in the real-estate and insurance business. From Summerhill, Cayuga county. New York, where he was born September 26, 1835, Asa C. Barney removed with his parents at the age of four years to Chautauqua county, and in the schools of the latter section he received a prac- tical education, qualifying himself for the active duties awaiting him in manhood's years. When he attained his majority and sought a location for himself, he found that the great northwest was attracting hosts of thrifty farmers, and de- termined to seek a home in ilinnesota. On the rth of May, 1857, he arrived in Blue Earth county and secured a claim to a tract of un- broken land in Vernon township, continuing there until 1865, when he removed to Mankato. For three years after coming to the city he clerked in a dry goods store and for two years he held a position as bookkeeper at the Novelty works. In 1870 he first became interested in the real-estate and insurance business, in which much of his time has since been passed. Mean- while he has represented various old-line insur- ance companies in this section and also has acquired a thorough knowledge of real-estate values, his judgment as to the worth of land being often sought by interested parties. For years Mr. Barney has been an enthusiastic disciple of Masonry, in which he has been an active worker in Mankato Lodge No. 12, A. F. & A. M. and for some years officiated as re- corder of Mankato Commandery, No. 4 Knights Templar. For some years after coming to this county he remained a bachelor, but eventually 328 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. established domestic ties, being united in mar- .riage, September 12, 1870, with Miss Mary E. Wood, daughter of Abial C. Wood, of this county. They are the parents of three children, the eld- est of whom is Mrs. Blache B. Carleton. The others are sons, Paul W. and Harry C. The family hold an honored place in social circles, and Mr. Barney ranks among those pioneers to whose self-sacrificing efforts the early growth and development of Blue Earth county may in large degree be attributed. BAENEY, CHARLES.— The genealogy of the Barney family is traced back to the days of Wil- liam the Conqueror, whom a representative of the Norman house of Barney accompanied to England and aided in conquering that country. For a number of centuries the family held posi- tions of honor and influence in Great Britain. The first of the name to settle in the new world was Jacob, who in 1634 crossed the Atlantic ocean and joined the feeble colony planted along the eastern coast of Massachusetts. His descend- ants became connected by marriage with the de- scendants of Benjamin Franklin. The first of the family to seek a home west of the Mississippi river was Charles Barney, an honored pioneer of Minnesota now residing at Lake Crystal and well known throughout Blue Earth county, whose agricultural development he personally aided for years. Bom at Summerhill, Cayuga county, New York, January 8, 1833, Charles Barney was a son of Judiah and Philurah (Cummings) Bar- ney, natives respectively of Vermont and New York. The father died in 1855 at Chautauqua, New York; ten years later the mother died at Vernon, Minnesota. Upon completing the stud- ies of common schools Charles Barney took a course in the academy at Westfleld, New York, and later engaged in teaching school two suc- cessive winters. Attracted to Minnesota by re- ports concerning fertile lands that could be se- cured at low prices, in 1855 he made the then long journey to the frontier of the northwest and settled in Blue Earth county, where Be pre- empted a claim of one hundred and sixty acres. By dint of persevering effort continued through many years, he brought the land under cultiva- tion and made of it a valuable farm. The pro- perty is still owned by him, but of recent years he has rented it to others and has retired from active agricultural labors. Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Barney has voted with the Democratic party and has been a staunch believer in its platform and principles, but has never sought official honors nor wielded political influence among others. His is the highest type of citizenship, giving and never ask- ing, loyal without thought of special reward, pa- triotic from principles and sincere in the effort to promote the welfare of town and county. At the time of the trouble with the Sioux in 1857 he entered the military service and aided in sub- duing the savages after the massacre at Spirit lake. In religious belief he and his family are Universalists. His wife, whom he married in :1870, and who bore the maiden name of Carrie A. Moore, and shares with him the esteem of the community. They are the parents of a son and two daughters, the latter being twins. Mark T., who was born December 26, 1873, is mar- ried and has one son. Maude Helen and May Eliza were born May 6, 1878; the latter is the wife of Walton Friend and has one daughter. During the long period of his residence in Blue Earth county Mr. Barney has witnessed many changes. The lands have been taken up and brought under cultivation. Towns have been planted; thriving villages with their neat churches and schools furnish an index to the prosperity of the region. Freight trains are filled with the products of the county. Wheat and other grains, stock of all kin3s, find ready sale in the great markets and their quality attests the skill of the farmers of Blue Earth county. It has been his privilege to contribute to the pros- perity of the present age and as one of our hon- ored pioneers his name deserves to be perpet- uated in the annals of the county. BAETLETT, HENBY C— No citizens stand higher in the esteem and veneration of their fellow-countrymen than do the veterans of the Civil War, who during a long and sanguinary struggle bravely served the cause of the Union BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 329 and on many a bloody battlefield fought for the preservation of our nation. Numbered among these honored veterans is Henry C. Bartlett, a well-known farmer of Blue Earth county, resid- ing in Lake Crystal, on the line of rural route jS'o. 1, out from Lake Crystal. At the opening of the war he was a stahvart }oung man, qualified to endure the severe physical strain incident to army service. Eager to serve his country, he offered himself in response to an early call for volunteers, and August 24, 1861, his name was enrolled in the Second New York (commonly known as Harris' Light) Cavalry. Eor almost four years he remained at the front and June 34, 1865, he was mustered out at Washington. The regiment of which he was a member took part in one hundred and sixty-five engagements, among them being Brandy Station, Culpeper, Winchester, Five Eorks, Appomattox, and Wil- son's 'raid. In these battles the young volunteer proved himself eourageouB, devoted to duty and easily inured to the hardships of camp life. While fighting bravely at Winchester he was wounded and again at Gettysburg he suffered at the hands of the enemy, but neither wound prov- ed serious, and he quickly returned to his place in his company. Long years have passed since those times of hardships and danger ; the step that then was quick has grown slow; the youth- ful form has bowed before the hand of time, but with all of his three-score years and more, the veteran feels young again as he tells of the exciting times when the life of the nation trembled in the balance. Descended from English ancestors who early settled in Connecticut, Henry C. Bartlett, was born in Delaware county, New York, May 7, 1842, being a son of Charles and Harriet (Ga- ger) Bartlett, who for years lived upon a farm in New York. Both died in that state, the father in 1860 and the mother in 1876. During the boy- hood years of Henry C. Bartlett, he attended the common schools of Delaware county in the winter months and labored on the home farm in the summer seasons. At the age of sixteen he left the farm and went to town, where he secur- ed employment in a general store, and from that time until the war he was busily engaged in gaining a knowledge of mercantile pursuits while filling a clerkship. L'pon his return from the ai-my he engaged in general merchandising in Delaware county and at Otsego, New York, but in 1864 he removed from the east and established himself in the northwest, taking up land in Blue Earth county. For some time he has resid- ed on his present homestead and has devoted his attention assiduously to the improvement of the land, which has been brought under excellent cul- tivation and made to yield bountiful harvests in return for untiring labor. For years he has been interested in the Grand Army of the Republic and has been an active worker in A. J. Murphy Post No. 108, at Lake Crystal. Though not identified with any denomination he is in sjm- pathy with all Christian work and contributes to the maintenance of the Presbyterian church, which his family attend. While living in New York Mr. Bartlett was married at UnadiUa, Otsego county, that state, ill 1867, to Miss Mary E. Green, who died in 1876. Three sons and one daughter blessed that union ; two of the sons are engaged in ' busi- ness at Lake Crystal. In 1879 Mr. Bartlett was united in marriage with Miss Samantlia Mills, v^ho was born in 185i_). One pair of twins blessed their union namely: Harriet and Charlotte. BASHAW, ALEXANDEE.— The world af- fords no finer example of manhood and filial af- fection than that a son should first follow in the footsteps of his father's honest labor and, with conscientious pride and industry, amid broader opportunities and more favorable conditions, im- prove upon the more modest but equally noble work of his sire. In the development of such a career there are blended that faithfulness and en- ihusiasm which converts work into consecration, and carries with it the invariable assurance of practical success. Alexander Bashaw, the widely known contractor and prominent citizen of Man- kato, has the honor of thus continuing the re- cord of his father and his family as being a large factor in the accomplishment of the useful and practical work which makes for the prosperity of communities, having, by the good fortune of American birth, been able to improve upon the scope of the paternal labors commenced so many years ago in the sister republic of France. 330 BIOGKAPHICAL HISTOEY. Mr. Bashaw was born in Franklin county, Vermont, September 9, 1857, the son of Perdi- nand and Edvesk (Goyette) Bashaw, both na- tives of that country. In 1848 the family first located in the province of Quebec, Canada, but, although the Bashaws found there many of their countrymen, they decided to venture across the border into Vermont, locating in Franklin coun- ty, in 1856. Ferdinand Bashaw was a master stone mason, and so skilled and honest in his work that after he had become a resident of the -Dominion he assisted in the construction of the great Victoria Bridge at Montreal. The great stone quarries of Vermont naturally appealed to him, and in Franklin County he lived and work- ed for many years prior to his death at the age of fifty-four years. His wife who lived to be seventy-six years old, was the mother of three children: Alexander, Clarissa, wife of P. Lucia, a resident of Boston; and Melvina, now Mrs. Peter Gowette, also of that city. Alexander Bashaw obtained his sole schooling in a primitive establishment of mountainous Ver- mont, which he attended three months, and which entailed a walk of three miles, but com- menced to engage in the work of the world at the age of eleven and has not since withdrawn from it. He labored as farmer boy and youth and worked as a mason, a blacksmith and a car- penter, and, following the biblical injunction, "whatever thy hands find to do, do with all thy might." Thus thoroughly fitted to make his way in a new unformed country, in the winter of 1880-1 the young man came to Minnesota, first working on a farm in Belgrade Township, Nicol- let County, for Geo. W. Fletcher. Two years later he became interested in the old Empire Sione Quarries, in Mankato, and has since con- tiimed to develop them, with the prosecution of his important enterprises in masonry and quarry contracting. For two years of the intervening period, however, he was a non-resident, being en- gaged in the construction of masonry for bridges along the line of the Pennsylvania railroad in Jndiana, Ohio and Virginia. Mr. Bashaw began his career as a regular con- tractor in 1894, under the name of Mankato Lime, Stone and Fuel Company, associated with him being George Pass, Albert Schipple and D. V. Williams. In 1898 he purchased the inter- ests of his partners, and, as president and man- ager, has virtually owned and conducted the busi- ness since that year, being one of the largest a ad most widely known stone and masonry con- tractors in the state. Among the numerous sub- stantial foundations which he has laid for public and other buildings in Mankato are those of the 'rovernment Building, Public Library, the Third Presbyterian, Episcopal and M. B. Norwegian churches, the stores of the Wholesale Mercantile Company and the Landkamer Brothers. He has tlie further distinction of having constructed at Minneopa Palk, in 1906, the first concrete bridge built in Blue Earth County, which, with its graceful massiveness, is a credit to his workman- ship. Mr. Bashaw is a substantial Eepublican, and in 1896 represented the First Ward of Mankato in the City Council, proving a working, usdful member of that body. He has also served on the Charter Commission, and, did his large private interests- permit, would be called upon more often than he is to actively assist in the conduct of public aft'airs. He has been twice married to natives of his own Vermont county, first to Eunice Eussell, who died in 1883 leaving their daughter, Nellie, and secondly, to Evaline Hall, in 1888. Bound by so many close ties to the Green Mountain State, Mr. Bashaw indulged in a specially pleasurable journey in 1905, when as a prosperous, influential and honored citizen he visited the scene of hie struggling boyhood in Franklin County, reaching his old home twenty- four years to a day after he left his small op- portunities for the broader fields of the west. BEACH, ALVA D.— Alva D. Beach, member of the firm of Williams & Beach, manufacturers and repairers of wagons, at Mankato, this county, is descended from old New England forefathers, but later from substantial families of the Em- pire State. He himself is a true Westerner, al- though the far West of his early years was bounded by the Mississippi Valley and when he came to Mankato nearly forty years ago it was little more than a settlement. He has lived to see the valley become one of the most populous BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 331 and opulent sections of the eartli and has per- formed his good part in making his adopted town a brisk and substantially growing city. Mr. Beach was born in Flint, Michigan, Sep- tember 6, 1843, his parents Ashiel A. and Har- riet (Day) Beach, being natives of New York State. His father was engaged in various mer- cantile pursuits to the last, and died in Denver, Colorado, at the age of fifty-seven years, while his mother spent her last days with him. Of the eight children born to Ashiel A. Beach and his wife, Alva D. was the fourth, and there ar# two living besides himself, viz. : John, who is living in California, and Seth, a resident of Toledo, Ohio. Alva D. Beach was trained in the common schools and at the blacksmith's forge, as well as by the merciless dicipline of the Civil War. For three years he was connected with Company H Twenty-third Michigan Volunteers, and as a unit of Sherman's great army was promoted from the ranks of a sergeancy. After his honorable discharge he returned to his Michigan home and resumed his trade for three years. In 1869 he came to Mankato, the place being then a very small village, and opened a little blacksmith shop on the site of his present place of business at South Front Street. In November, of that year, he associated himself with Charles D. Wil- liams, and, as Williams & Beach they have since developed a fine business in the manufacture of wagons, while still retaining the repair feature which was the basis of the original enterprise. Mr. Beach has been active in other ways than in this connection. His democracy has remained unshaken these many years, and he has been prominent as a local leader and a man of public affairs, his identification with the Fire Depart- ment as its Chief lasting from 1903 to 1906. Mr. Beech's marriage to Miss Mercy McCarthy, of Corrunna, Michigan, occurred in November, 1869, and she has borne him two children — Emma, now the wife of George D. Eggabroad, of Winnebago County, Minnesota, and Laura. Mr. Beach has confined his fraternal relations to the A. F. & A. M. of which order he has been a, member for many years. BEISB, AUGUST.— It is typical of German thrift and economy that almost invariably tlie people of that nationality who immigrate to America meet with gratifying success, and such has been the case witli August Beise of Blue Earth county. At the age of fifteen years he accompanied his father to the United States and for some time afterwards he gave his labors toward the work of establishing a home and farm for the family, later taking up the task of inde- pendent farming and always displaying pru- dence, energy and frugality as an agriculturist. Prussia is his native ' province and October 30, 1835, the date of his birth. His parents, Henry and Frederica (Steiven) Beise, were bom in Germany in 1813, and lived in their native land until attaining middle age, when they determined to seek a new home across the ocean. The year 1850 found them newcomers in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where the father cleared and im- proved a tract of raw land. From there he came to Minnesota in 1866 and settled on a farm in Winona county, where he remained until his death in 1876. His widow survived him many years, passing away in 1905. They were people of integrity and high principles, and their mem- ory is revered by the eight survivors among their eleven children. In the early days of struggle they made every sacrifice in order to give their children educations fitting them for contact with the business world, and their sole ambition was to aid their sons and daughters in improving every opportunity for advancement. At the time of the family's removal to Minne- sota in 1866 August Beise took up a tract of raw land in Medo township. Blue Earth county, where he labored with the utmost patience and unwearied endeavor to transform the bare land into an improved farm, a task in which gradu- ally he gained success. After many years of per- sistent labor as a farmer he sold his homestead and in 1901 moved to the village of Mapleton, where he purchased property in block eleven, lots nine and ten. Here he has a comfortable home, surrounded by well-kept grounds, and bearing evidence of the thrift and prosperity of the owner. A deep sorrow came into his life 332 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. when the wile and mother was removed from the iiome by death during July of 1904. Mrs. Beise was born in the state of Aew York and bore the maiden name of iSopiiia Loder. The family genealogy shows that Jacob Loder was born and reared in li'ranee, where his ancestors had lived as far back as the records can be traced. During early manhood he left France and crossed the ocean to the United States, where for a time he sojourned in York state, but eventually became a pioneer of the northwest. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Beise comprised ten children, of whom Lizzie is deceased. The nine now living are Amelia, Edward, Ida, Charles, Emma, Henry, George, Rudolph and Mina. The sons and daughters share with their father the esteem and good-will of neighbors. Prom the time of attain- ing manhood until he retired from life's activ- ities Mr. Beise followed agricultural pursuits, never permitting himself to change his interests to other occupations, and by steady and persist- ent dev.otion to duty he accumulated a compe- tency. Early in life he became familiar with politics in the United States, but he never allied himself with any party and has always been in- dependent in his vote. While not caring for official honors he consented to serve as a mem- ber of the town board and as a school director, but it is his preference to refrain from public activities and devote his attention solely to the conduct of private business, matters. BEISE, GEORGE.— Although not one of the earliest settlers of Blue Earth county, Mr. Beise has risen to a position of prominence among the agriculturists of Medo township and has dis- played such energy, perseverance and intelligent t^agacity as to win the confidence of acquaintance besides securing for himself a comfortable pro- portion of this world's goods. Shortly after his arrival in the county in 1878 he purchased a tract of land on section thirty-two, Medo town- ship, lying along the northern shore of the Cot- tonwood lake and rounded in such a manner as to permit of thorough drainage, thus ensuring fair crops even in wet seasons. His place is im- proved with a handsome modern brick residence as well as substantial barn and other buildings erected under his own supervision. Several of the most influential farmers of this county came from Germany and were born in Pommern, which is the native place of George Beise, the date of his birth being July 5, 1846. His father, Henry, was born and reared in the same place and married a Miss Stevens, also of Pommern. Years after their marriage, as they saw their children growing up around them and desired better advantages for their future years than Germany- could offer, they crossed the ocean to the United States in 1850, settling on a tract of raw land in Dodge county, Wisconsin. About 1866 they removed thence to Minnesota and set- tled in Winona county, where eventually they passed away, surrounded by the comforts "accu- mulated by years of ' toil, and esteemed by the neighbors to whom their kindly qualities had endeared them. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom five sons and three daughters are now living. George, who was the fifth in order of birth, was four years of age at the time of coming to the new world, hence his schooling was secured in American schools and in the Eng- lish language. The marriage of George Beise took place Nov- ember 30, 1872, and united him with Miss Wil- li elmina Krensky, a native of Germany, and a daughter of John Krensky, who became a pros- perous farmer of Winona county, where she grew to womanhood. Five children comprise the fam- ily of Mr. and Mrs. Beise. The eldest, Mrs. Julia DeWolf, is the wife of a minister holding a pastorate in South Dakota. John H. is en- gaged in the drug business at Fergus Palls, Min- nesota. Mary married Henry Obitz and makes her home in Ottertail county, this state. Wil- liam carries on a farm which was formerly a part of the old homestead and is situated in Medo township. The youngest member of the family is Ida, who remains at home. The farm is considered to be one of the best in the lo- cality and its improvements bear mute testimony to the energy and thrift of the owner, who has been satisfied with nothing short of the best. In the raising of stock he has aimed to keep only good grades, and the animals now on his farm include some fine Percheron horses, shorthorn , i/ W.,A^-X.yU BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 333 cattle of blooded types and Poland-China hogs from thoroughbred ancestry. Stock-raising he has found to be a profitable adjunct of general farming and hence he has devoted considerable attention to the work, the result being that'he is considered an excellent judge of fine stock as well as an authority in the best methods of rais- ing the same. BENEDICT, HON. CLIFFOED L.— There iife probably few men in the c'ty of Mankato whose circle of acquaintances is larger than that of Mr. Benedict, the popular ex-postmaster. Bear- ed in Blue Earth county from an early age, he has been familiar from childhood with the names ynd personalities prominent in th^'s region. Fur- thermore his acquaintanceship throughout the county had been extended by reasons of the fact I hat he has been more or less before the pub- lic as a Eepublican local leader and the incum- bent of official positions of trust. The first of- fice to which he was chosen, that of county at- torney, came to him in 1898 four years after his admission to the bar, and his acceptable ser- vice resulted in his re-election to the office in 1894, remaining in the position for four )'ears altogether. Later higher honors were conferred upon him. In recognition of his prominence in the Eepublican party and also of his high men- tal endowments, in 1898 the party selected him as their nominee for the state senate, and he 'vas elected without opposition from any party. During the period of his service in the senate he gave support to measures for the" benefit of the l>eople, always having in view the ultimate de- velopment and prosperity of the state. Since October of 1902 he has filled the position of post- master at Mankato. Besides his other political associations he has been for years the manager of the congressional campaigns of Hon. J. T. Mc- Cleary, for which important task his pleasing ad- dress, political sagacity and tactful manners ad- mirably qualified him. Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 31, 1862, Clifford L. Benedict is a son of Thomas and Har- riet (Brown) Benedict, natives of Ohio and I'pnnsyh'ania respectively. In an early day the father brought the family to Minnesota and took up land in the Indian reservation near Good '.rhunder, Blue Earth coimty. Besides tilling the soil, he took . an interest in local afEairs, was a prominent Eepublican in his township and aided in the promotion of the community's welfare. (m this place he died in 1893 at the age of fifty- nine vears and here his widow still makes her ]\ome. During the early period of the family's residence on this farm the neighborhood was sparsely settled and schools had not yet been in- troduced into each district, for whicli reason the son, Clifford L., found it impossible to attend school until he was twelve years of age. Under tlie careful training of his mother he meantime secured the rudiments of an education and native ability enabled him to atone for early deficiencies. After starting to school he attended the Good Thunder schools and later was a student in the State Normal at Mankato. The knowledge gained in the Normal prepared him for the work of reaching and for two terms he taught in the home district, later was chosen principal of the Good Thunder school and after a year became principal of the Mapleton schools, where he re- mained for two years. During liis leisure hours he devoted himself to the study of law and after resigning at Mapleton he entered the office of Freeman & Pfau at Mankato, wliere he prepared himself for a professional career. May 22, 1888, he was admitted to the bar, since which time he lias engaged in practice in Mankato. The marriage of Clifford L. Benedict and i\label Goodell of Nicollet county was solemnized June 29, 1892, and has been blessed with three children, Harold L., Florence G. and James L. Tlie family have a high social posit'on and num- ber their friends among the most refined and cultured people of their home city. The fra- ternal relations of Mr. Benedict are varied and important, and include membership in the Ma- sonic order. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, B. P. 0. E. No. 225, Knights of P\thias, An- cient Order of United Workmen, Eoyal Arcanum and Samaritans. BENNETT, HON. CHAELES.— From the time of his early youth Mr. Bennett has been a resident of Minnesota and during almost the 334 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. whole of that period he has been a resident of Blue Earth county, since 1891 making his home in Mankato, where he is engaged in the buying and selling of live-stock. There are few men in the county more familiar with current topics than he, and from early life he has been stanch in his allegiance to the Eepublican party. The opinions which he formed concerning the tariff, currency and other party issues have not been changed by the careful study of his mature years, and he continues as devoted in his allegiance to Eepublican principles as when the ardor of youth l"d him to ally himself with the cause. During 1877-78 he had the honor of representing his dis- trict in the state legislature and during Iiis ser- vice in the lower house he gave his support to tlie high license bill, the bill for the soldiers' heme relief fund, and other measures that he considered important to the welfare of the peo- ple. The record which he made as a legislator was creditable to his ability and loyalty and gave prestige to his district. At this writing he holds the office in Mankato of city treasurer. Born in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, Decem- ber 18, 1839, Charles Bennett was a son of Moses 0. and Esther (Carpenter) Bennett, na- tives of Eutland county, Vermont, who on remov- ing from New England established themselves near Cleveland, Ohio. The site of their home came to be known as Bennett's Corners, this name being given in honor of Moses 0. Bennett. Prom there the family removed to Wisconsin and as early as April of 1856 became pioneers of Minnesota, settling on the LeSueur river in Mankato township. Blue Earth county. Their new location afforded an excellent water-power for a mill and it was natural that the father should establish milling interests. These he con- ducted with fair success for many years. A man of religious devotion and generous nature, he felt the need of a meeting-house in the community and accordingly erected the first church at Ti- voli. This building, a block-house, was used for school purposes until the township was divided off into districts and houses erected for school purposes. Had he been spared longer, undoubt- cilly he would have accomplished even more for the benefit of his community, but eight years after he became a resident of the county his death occurred in 1864 at the age of sixty-four years. His wife lived to be seventy. In a family of fourteen children all of whom attained years of maturity, Charles Bennett . was third youngest, Levi and Lewis being younger. Only four now survive, those besides himself being Josiah, a resident of San Francisco, Cali- fornia; Nathan, living in Mankato township; and Levi, whose home is in Kebraska. There being a large family of children and the father having only limited means, it was not possible to give them good educational advantages, and the broad knowledge which Charles Bennett ac- quired he owes to self-culture and habits of close observation. Spending his early years on a farm, he learned lessons of self-help and self- reliance. Mr. Bennett's identification with the condi- tions evolved by the Civil war began August 19, 1862, when he enlisted in the company of Captain William Bierbauer, under general com- mand of Colonel Charles E. Elandrau, and was present at the second attack of the Indians on the town of New Ulm. During the entire day he was in the thick of the fight on the outside line, and at night, with eight others, he lay under a garden fence as an outside guard. He was an eye witness to the shooting of Captain Dodd, of St. Peter, on East Main street, by the Indians during Saturday afternoon, and also was in the charge against the Indians along the Bluff about sunset, when Newel Houghton, of the Winne- bago Agency, was killed. Mr. Bennett was pres- ent at the hanging of thirty-eight Indians at Mankato, and two at Port Snelling during the winter of 1863-64, he at that time being a sol- dier in Company E, Second Minnesota Cavalry, imder Captain E. P. Slaughter, in which he en- listed in 1863, serving three years. At this grew- some hanging hi« company served as guard at llie scaffold. Eeturning from the war, Mr. Bennett pur- chased his father's saw mill on the LeSueur river at Tivoli, and with Nathan Bennett, his brother, and 0. E. Harvey, his brother-in-law, continued to operate the mill for some time. His next venture was the purchase of land in EedwQod BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 335 county, this state, where he engaged in general farming about four years. While there he was a member of the board of county commissioners, resigning at the end of a year to remove to Eagle Lake, Blue Earth county, in 187?. For sixteen years he engaged in the buying and sell- ing of live stock, but since 1891 has made Man- kato his home. During his residence at Eagle Lake he was treasurer of the school board seven years and took a keen interest in educational work. The marriage of Mr. Bennett which united him with Elizabeth, daughter of Edwin Davis, of Utica, New York, occurred at Mankato Feb. 35th, 1873, where she died Sept. 22nd, 1907. They are the parents of three daughters, namely: Maude E., wife of P.- J. Stower, of Frederick, Wisconsin; May B., a teacher in the public schools of Blue Earth county; and Imogene, who married Edward J. Harris and lives at Spo- Icane, Washington. Fraternally connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mr. Ben- nett has filled the chairs in the local lodge and Las represented it in the grand lodge. In mem- ory of his war service he mainta'ins membership in Wilklns Post, G. A. E., and during the pe- riod of his residence at Eagle Lake was honored with the office of commander of that post. BENNETT, OSCAE E.— Of the men who are lending dignity, practicability and special quali- fications to the manufacturing interests of Man- kato, none are held in higher esteem than Oscar E. Bennett, junior member of the brick making, firm of Wheeler & Bennett. Mr. Bennett is ap- proaching his sixtieth year, and forty of these years have been devoted to the brick industry. Many of the buildings which make for the ar- tistic and substantial appearance of this and other towns in the state are constructed of the products of these kilns, the brick being noted for its strength and durability, and its successful weathering of the heat and cold and storms of many succeeding seasons. On both sides of his family Mr. Bennett claims kinship with the men who laid the foundations of civilization along the Atlantic coast. His fath- ei', Enfus S. Bennett, was bom among the shut in hills of Vermont, and his mother Lydia A. Bennett, was a native of Maine. Bufus Ben- nett and his wife spent the first year of their mar- riage in Boston, Massachusetts, where they con- tracted the western fever, and removed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, later taking up their residence in Calumet county, the same state. Here Mr. Bennett operated a hotel, country store and post- office for many years, his honesty and geniality winning him the popularity and prestige so often accorded men who are so closely identified with the every day needs of the people. At the end of the Civil war he abandoned merchandising and inn-keeping and returned to farming in Calumet county, thus renewing his youth in the many sided occupation in which he was reared in Vermont. Five years later he removed to Jop- lin count]', Missouri, where his death occurred in 1885, at the age of seventy-six 3'ears, his wife surviving him until 1897, in her seventy-fifth year. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had ten children, eight of whom are living, Oscar being the sixth oldest in the family: Frank L., of North Man- kato ; Elvira, wife of Abel Osgood, of McLeod county, this state; Helen, wife of James Cook, of Baker county, Oregon; Amos C, of Lovelace, Col- orado; Arthur C, of Joplin, Missouri; Mar]', wife of James German, of Joplin : Maude, wife of Mr. Madison, of Joplin; George E., who was shot and killed at Fredericksburg, Virginia, during the Civil war; and Willard, who di'ed when young in" Wisconsin. The youth of Oscar E. Bennett did not differ from that of other country bred lands of his time and place. The years passed uneventfully in work, attendance at the district school, and the usual diversions of the neighborhood until the outbreak of the Civil War opened up inter- minable avenues of interest and discussion. Mr. Bennett was about seventeen years old when he enlisted in Company K, Seventh Wisconsin Cavalry, and served for thirteen months. He saw much of the hideous side of the conflict, and re- turned to his home with broadened perceptions and intensified humaiiity. The monotony of the farm no longer seemed to serve his life purpose, and soon after his martial experience he sot him- self the task of learning to make brick, an occu- pation which he followed in various yards until 336 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 1886, his last position being with the 0. E. Mather Company, of whose yards he was super- intendent for several months. After forming a partnership with A. L. Wheeler, under the firm name of Wheeler & Bennett, in 1866, he built the present yards, and has so increased the busi- ness that a branch has been established at Duluth^ Minnesota, both plants being in fine working order and running to full capacity. Mr. Bennett is one of the civic fathers of North Mankato, and has done much to bring this community up to its present high municipal standard. His large brick house, with its spa- cious and well kept grounds is a distinct addi- tion to the architectural dignity of the place, and he has promoted its schools as a member of the board of education, aiding its first and infantile progress as a member of the fi-rst board of alder- man after North Mankato was incorporated. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Pellows, and he also is a member of the Commercial Club. He is an ardent sports- man, fond of hunting and fishing and is decid- edly a social as well as business factor in the community. The marriage of Mr. Bennett and Kate Cook occurred in 1869, and of the union there is a son, Frank L. Mrs. Bennett is a daughter of Andrew and Phoebe Cook, of Stock- bridge, Wisconsin, the former of whom first set- tled in South Bend, later moved to McLeod county, Minnesota, and still later to Mankato, where he died at an advanced age. Mr. Bennett is one of the sterling, dependable men of this part of Blue Earth county, and his rise to promi- nence upon the invisible assets of perseverance, grit and good judgment, should commend itself to the youthful aspirant for maniTfacturing and general success. BESTMAISr, JOHF.— The industrial success of John Bcstman is centered around his splendid farm of two hundred and eighty acres in section 17 McPherson township, his connection as direc- tor and stock-holder in the St. Clair State Bank, and his presidency of the Home Insurance Com- pany. Mr. Bestman lias been a resident of Blue Enrth county since 1865, and during this time has evidenced the ability to rise above difficulties and discouragements, and -from a very small be- ginning carve his way unaided to comparative wealth and assured influence and position. Coming to America in 1864, from Holstein, Northern Germany, where he was born in 1842, J[r. Bestman is one of the three survivors of the seven children of Henry and Anna Bestman, the former of whom was an artisan who spent his ent'ire life in his native land. Arriving in Man- kato in 1865, Mr. Bestman had but an imperfect knowledge of the language of the realm, also of its customs and possibilities. He was equipped, however, with a thorough training in blacksmith- ing, and this he followed in Mankato about four years, and in St. Clair for ten years. He then engaged in farming on the place he now occupies, and has made a decided success of produce and stock-raising. He has invested heavily in im- provements of all kinds, especially high grade ma- chinery, and his family and stock are comfort- ably and modernly housed and maintained. In 1869 Mr. Bestman married Henrietta Beyrs- dorff, a native also of Germany, and of the union there are three sons and one daughter living, two children being deceased. Of the living child- ren, Charles H. Lives in St. Paul; John H., and Helena A., are at home, and Herbert F. is assistant cashier of the New Eichland State Bank. Mr. Bestman takes commendable interest in politics, and at the present time is treasurer of the St. Clair school board. He has been con- nected with the St. Clair State Bank since 1907, and with the Home Insurance Company since 1881. Both enterprises are a credit to the lo- cality, and an index to the sterling character and public spiritedness of the men directing their destiny. The career of this well know farmer, hanker and business man should be an inspiration to the youth struggling against odds, and es- pecially to the stranger from foreign shores who arrives here without money or influence. BEYEE, FEEDEEICK.— Into whatever por- tion of the United States the members of the Teutonic race have established their name and brought their families, they have been charac- terized by the thrift that marks an orderly spirit and the economy that wins success. The national BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 337 traits are noticeable in the character and life of Frederick Beyer, who since 1866 has been iden- tified with the farming population of Blue Earth county and who has been sufficiently successful to be enabled to pass his declining days in com- fort besides assisting his sons materially in se- curing a start for themselves. Shortly after his arrival ;n this county he purchased land on section twenty-five, Danville township, and here he improved a valuable farm, with a substantial set of buildings and all the appurtenances of a first-class estate. In the raising of stock he proved himself to be an expert, having constant and gratifying success with his cattle, hogs and sheep, and also keeping a number of horses of fine breed on the farm. Born in Pommern, Germany, August 8, 1834, Frederick Beyer was a son of Charles and Louisa Borchert Beyer, natives of the same place as himself. During 1855 the family crossed the ocean to America and settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where the father engaged in farming until his death six years later. There were ten children in the family, eight of whom remained in Wisconsin ; one daughter removed to South Dakota and Frederick was the only one to settle in Minnesota. The year after he came to Blue Earth county he established a home of his own, being united in marriage with Wilhelmina Yoecks, who was born in Pommern, Germany, and died on the home farm in 1904. Eleven children Were born of the union; namety: Matilda, wife of William Tolzmann, of Vivian, "Waseca county, Minnesota ; Robert, deceased ; Charley, a farmer of Danville, married to Louisa Brigger, of Fari- bault county; William, a farmer of Danville, who married Bertha Brandt, of Wells, Fari- bault county; Ida, deceased wife of Aiigust Bur- meister; Herman, deceased; Amelia, wife of Wil- liam C. Brandt, of Wells, Faribault county; Martha, deceased; Robert, deceased; Otto, a farmer in Danville; and Lena, wife of Fred Grote, of Wells, Faribault county. The youngest son of Frederick Beyer is Otto, born in Danville township, Blue Earth county, December 4, 1875, and educated in the schools of the district. He has remained on the old homestead and the one hundred and sixty acres which he cultivates comprise the original farm, the supervision of which now rests in his hands. Inheriting the industry and capability charac- teristic of his father, he is proving a progressive farmer, and maintains his land in a high state of fertility. Supplementing the raising of gen- eral crops is the raising of stock, and in both of these departments of agriculture he is ener- getic and sagacious. October 13, 1898, he was united in marriage with Wilhelmina Eiewe, daughter of John Eiewe, a respected resident of Blue Earth county. Four children blessed their union, Frederick, Ernest, Esther and Walter. The family suffered a bereavement in the death of the only daughter at a very early age. BIEEBAIJEE, ALBERT G.— Is a son of William and Louisa Bierbauer. He was bom at the city of Mankato, Minnesota, on September 13, 1859 and was educated in the public schools of said city and at the Englemann's school at Milwaukee, Wis. On completing his education he went into the brewing business with his father and on the latter's death, in November, 1893, he became the head of the great brewing plant of William Bierbauer at Mankato. Under his efficient lead the business has grown to nearly double its former size and is now one of the best and most substantial brewing plants in Southern Minnesota. In July, 1906, the business was incorporated with a capital stock of $150,000 under the name of the William Bierbauer Brewing Company, of which Albert G. Bierbauer is president. In December, 1908, this company purchased the good will and much of the machinery of the Standard Brewing Company. Mr. Bierbauer was united in marriage on February 6, 1894 to Miss Tillie Yj. Heidel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Heidel, of Nicollet county, Minnesota, and four children were born to them namely. Vera Louisa, Lillian Elsa, Helen Gertrude and Dorothy.- He was one of the charter members of the Elks Lodge of Mankato and for over ten years he has also been a prominent rnember of the Sons of Herman. Hunting and fishing have been his principal recreation. As big of heart as he is 338 ■ BIOGHAPHICAL HISTOEY. big of body, Mr. Bierbauer has a large circle of warm friends and his splendid business ability and integrity make him a prominent fig\ire among the captains of Blue Earth county indus- tries. BIBRBAUEK, JACOB.— A considerable por- tion of the pioneer population of Mankato con- sisted of men of German birth or parentage. Thus was given to the early development of the village the element of Teutonic thrift so indis- pensable to permanent prosperity. Conspicuous among the men who brought from Germany to Jlinnesota the sterling traits of character and keen energy associated with the primary growth of the northwest, we mention the name of the late Jacob Bierbauer, who was born August 38, 18] 9, in Ehenish Bavaria, Germany, near the shores of the beautiful stream whose name was borne by the province and whose charm has form- ed the theme of countless songs and poems. The family owned one of the large vineyards so nu- merous in that valley and they engaged in the m.anufacture of wine, from which they gained considerable wealth. The son was given excel- lent advantages in local schools and acquired a thorough knowledge of the cabinet-maker's trade, so that when he left home at the age of eighteen years he was qualified to earn his own livelihood. For a time he followed his trade in Switzerland, but returned to Bavaria at the time of the rebel- Ton and became a captain of infantry. The efforts of the people to secure liberty failed and he returned to Switzerland in 1849 in company with two brothers, but the three soon decided to seek a home in the new world and in 1849 crossed the ocean to Kew York, where they se- cured employment. After two years as a ear2>enter in a piano fac- tory Jacob Bierbauer removed to Erie, Penn- sylvania, and during October of 1856 he came to the little village of Mankato, Minnesota, where soon he was joined by his brother, William. In the summer of 1857 they started here the first brewery west of St. Paul. The plant was small at that time, but since has been developed into one of the largest in the state. Disposing of his interest to his brother in 1862, he associated him- self with a brother-in-law, William H. Eockey, and purchased the South Bend flour mill and saw mill located near the present site of the Blue Earth river bridge. Both mills they removed to ilankato. One was placed on Rock street and for years was known as the City flour mills. The other was located on Vine street west of Front. The conduct of the plants engrossed the atten- lion of the partners, who built up a large custom trade and became very popular with their patrons. Eeturning to h's old Bavarian home in 1866, ]\fr. Bierbauer, spent six months amid the scenes familiar to his childhood and enjoyed a visit with relatives and early friends. On his return in January, 1867, he sold h's milling interests to his brother-in-law and erected a large woolen fac- tory on Yine street east of Front, which he oper- ated until 1874 and then sold out to Christian Eoss. Soon afterward he went to Oregon and spent two and one-half jea.TS in that state. On his return to Mankato he engaged in the manu- facture of a middlings purifier which he had in- vented. During 1882 he again took charge .of the City mills and for ten years acted as man- ager of the plant. This was the last business with which he was identified and his identifi- cation therewith was terminated a few years be- fore his death, which occurred March 1, 1896. His body was interred in Glenwood cemetery, near the scenes familiar to his active manhood )-cars. In religion he was identified with the German Lutheran church, fraternally held mem- bership with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and politically voted the republican ticket and took a warm interest in city politics, though never aspiring to office. The marriage of Jacob Bierbauer took place December 14, 1854, and united him with Bertha, daughter of Dr. A. G. and Christina (Schultz) Dornberg, natives of Germany. Mrs. Bierbauer was born in Germany May 9, 1832, and accom- panied her parents to the United States in 1848, settling in Pennsylvania, where she remained un- til her marriage. During 1858 Dr. Dornberg removed to Minnesota and settled at Mankato, wliere he became a popular pioneer physician and won a host of friends throughout this re- gion. He survived Vs wife two years and passed away in 1878. Six children came to bless the BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 339 union of Jacob and Bertha Bierbauer, namely; Oscar, who is now a dealer in grain and proprie- tor of the Mankato malt works ; Ida, who is mar- ried and makes her home in Milwaukee; Mrs. Emma Bettinger, a resident of Portland, Oregon; iliss Alma Bierbauer, Mrs. Mattie Paddock and Herman, who are well-known residents of Man- kato. Captain Bierbauer was married in 1858 to Miss Louisa Dornberg, daughter of Dr. A. G. Dornberg, of Mankato, and of their seven child- ren the following six are living: Albert, Bruno, liudolph, "R'Tlliam, Addie and Ella. He died in this city November 30, 1893, and his honored remains are buried at Glenwood Cemetery. BIEBBAUEE, CAPTAIN WILLIAM.— The Bierbauer brothers, of Mankato, were two of three brothers who became involved in the German re- volution of 1848, which sent Carl Schurz, the Bierbauers and other valuable personal contri- butions to America. The latter were born in one of the greatest brewing districts of the world, and it was but natural when they settled in what n'as then the far west they should engage in the manufacture of malt and malt liquors. The lo- cation of William and Jacob Bierbauer at Man- kato, in 1856, resulted in the establishment of the first brewery in the United States west of St. Paul. Wilham Bierbauer was born in Einselthurn, Bavaria, February 36, 1826, received a good edu- cation in the Fatherland, and, prior to the Eev- olution, served a term in the German army. Landing at New York in 1849, he became inter- ested in the brewing business first at Seneca Falls, and subsequently at Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, with the pioneer brewer of the Cream City, Phihp Best. Seven years after coming to Amer- ica he located at Mankato, with liis l)rother Jacob, and founded a brewery which grew to be a large and prosperous plant. At first he occu- pied a small frame building erected in 1858, on North Front, but in 1863' removed to the pres- ent site, having liy purchase from his brother become sole proprietor of the business in 1865. In the latter year occurred the Indian out- break, which threw so large a portion of the v«t.ate into pan'c, and Mr. Bierbauer evinced his patriotism and braAery by raising a company of volunteers, of which he was made captain, and going to the relief of New Ulm, where he ren- dered valiant service. He was not only a brave iiian physically, but an honorable business man and a gentleman of culture and fine presence. BISHOP, lEA, ]\r. D.— The genealogy of the Bishop family in the United States is traced to three brothers who crossed the ocean from Eng- land during the seventeenth century and settled in New England. The male^fgpresentatives of later generations bore an honorable part in the development of that then primeval wilderness and in the wars that secured supremacy for the English-speaking races. During the Eevolution- ary war Ira Bishop went to the front and served the cause of the patriots with fidelity and brav- ery. A" ears afterward one of his sons, who bore the same name as himself, took part in the sec- ond struggle with England, and a son of the lat- ter, Albert, was a participant in the Civil war. Those members of the family to whom Destiny did not bring the privilege of fighting for their country proved themselves valuable citizens along oiher lines of activity, and in every locality where represented the name has been known to its honor. Not the least distinguished member of the family was Edward Bishop, M. D., who engaged in the practice of medicine in Chicago with re- markable success, and at the same time became connected with John Appelby, the famous in- ventor, in the manufacture of the setf-binder. Eventually he sold his interest for $100,000 and shortly afterward removed to Charles City, Iowa, where he remained until his death in 1906. The family of which Dr. Ira Bishop is a member comprised five sons and two daughters, tie being the eldest. Six of the number are still living. Of these John and Frank at one time resided at Mapleton, Minnesota, for some years, but have since removed elsewhere, John establishing his home in Princeton, this state, while Frank went to Whitewater, Wisconsin. Another brother, 5on. C. A. Bishop, is chief justice of Iowa and re- sides at Des Moines. 340 BIOGKAPHICAL HISTOEY. The Eevolutionary hero who bore the name of Ira Bishop was born in Connecticut. His son, Ira, Jr., was born in Vermont, and the latter's son, M! P. Bishop, was likewise a native of Ver- mont, but removed to Wisconsin and settled in Waukesha county in 1847. Agriculture and edu- cational work occupied his attention, and during t!ie course of his active life he taught forty-two terms of school. In early manhood he married Eoxanna Alvord, who was born in Syracuse, New York, descended from a Scotch family that was represented among the colonial settlers of America. No great financial success crowned his life and labors, but be enjoyed the esteem of as- sociates as a genial companion, honorable man and careful teacher. It was not possible for him to give his children the educational advan- tages he desired them to enjoy, but they fortu- nately possessed cons^'derable will power, great de- termination and the ability to surmount obsta- cles, so they were enabled to secure such advan- tages for themselves by their own exertions. When Ira Bishop had completed his early edu- cation he taught school and later spent three years in the Normal school at Whitewater, Wis- consin. As early as 1870 he made his first visit to Minnesota, traveling overland with Eichard Credicott and family, who settled in Mapleton. The young man remained from June until the middle of October in Blue Earth county and vi- cinity, Avorking at various occupations. On his return he traveled by train from Wells to his old home in Wisconsin. Prom an early age he had been ambitious to enter the medical profes- sion and this desire saw the beginning of its fruition in 1874, when he entered Bush Medical College, Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1876. After having practiced for one year at Palmy- ra. Wisconsin, Dr. Bishop came to Blue Earth county, concerning which he had pleasant recol- lections. It had been necessary for him to bor- row money in order to secure his medical edu- cation, so he was entirely without funds on leav- ing Palmyra, and it took his last penny to buy a ticket to Minnesota Lake. Prom there he walked to Mapleton and found his old friends, the Credicott family. In a comparatively short time he had established an excellent practice. Farms were then smaller than now and there were more people in Mapleton township than at tlae present time. In addition there were fewer physicians; indeed, for twenty years he was practically the only doctor in this section. A few years after coming to Blue Earth county he established domestic ties, being married. May 10, 1880, to Jennie Berry, a native of Lowell, Wisconsin, her father, John Berry, having been a pioneer of Wisconsin and also of Martin coun- ty, Minnesota. Dr. and Mrs. Bishop have seven children, Kathryn, Mary Anna, Ira, Elizabeth, Eernice, Euth and Clara. For a number of years Dr. Bishop served as health officer, also held office as county physi- cian. Always interested in educational work, he ably filled the office of inember of the school board and in other ways has been instrumental in promoting the standard of education in his town and county. Fraternally he holds mem- l)ership with the Yeoman, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mutual Benefit Association, Mod- p]-n Woodmen of America, and Ancient Order of United. Workmen. For thirty years or more he has been an earnest and contributing member of the Baptist church and a supporter of its so- cieties. Personally he is a man of genial na- ture and optimistic temperament, with a fund of anecdote always at his command, and with the cheerful presence that is no small factor of Kis professional success. When at leisure from pro- fessional work he has found pleasure in manag- ing his farm and caring for the stock, orchard and creamery, and finds in such work a health- ful relaxation from, ordinary cares. It has 'been his policy as a physician to recommend to his patients a "return to nature," and he advocates the theory that fresh air and correct food are raore important as health factors than most of the medicine prescribed for human ailments. To the people of Mapleton and Blue Earth county he is known and admired for those sterling traits of character and the high mental endowments that have brought him prominence as a citizen and as a physician. BIXBY, A. E.— The birth of A. B. Bixby, in a log house in Winnebago City, Minnesota, BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 341 February 15, 1849, was coincident with the prep- arations being carried on in hundreds of homes throughout the country for the arduous six month's journey across the western plains in search of the hidden treasure of tlie great coast country. No less earnest m their quest than the gold seekers were the parents of Mr. Bixby, H. A. and Mary B. (Palfrey) Bixby, who, in very early days, journeyed by stage and water- Tv'ays, and with ever increasing difficulties, from their native state of Vermont to the tlien wilder- ness of Wisconsin. When the scourge of the Civil war had lifted from the land the family moved during the summer of 186G, to Blue Earth county, settling on the farm in Garden City Township which now is owned and occupied by A. E. Bixby. Here the mother died in 1882,, and the father in 1891. Of the six sons born to this courageous pioneer couple A. E. only is a farmer, F. H. being deceased, while A. W. J. C, H. W., and William H., are residents of Garden City. An entirely modern and up-to-date aspect is presented in the Bixby farm, which contains a hundred and twenty acres, and is well equipped with buildings, implements and general improve- .ments. The owner is engaged in the rai.sing of general produce and stock, having a good breed of cattle, horses and Poland-China hogs. He is a painstaking and conscientious farmer, main- taining neatness and order in all departments of his farm, and through rotation and modern sci- entific methods securing the best possible results from a given amount of land. In 1866 ilr. Bix- by married j\Iary E. King, whose parents were na- tives of New York state, and A^ho also were early arrivals in Wisconsin, ilr. and Mrs. Bixby have no children of their own, but they adopted a son, Herbert, who in 1905 married Mable Smith. The political preference of j\Ir. Bixby is with the republican party, but he has never been an office seeker, although he has acceptably served on the town board. He is fraternally connec- ted with the Knights of Pythias of Garden City. Mr. Bixby is an upright and intelligent man, faithful to friends and duties, and is known as one of the county's helpful and progressive up- builders. BLISSENBACH, JOSEPH.— The man who would succeed in photography in the early pan of the Twentieth century is a long way removed from his prototype of ten or even live years ago. The mechanical operator lias become the master of chairo-scuro, the student of character, harmony and proportion, in short the artist whose pleas- ure and profit it is to recognize, and portray instantaneously, and in their proper relation, the things which shall beautify, enlighten and in- spire the future environment of mankind. So congenial an opportunity has been selected by Joseph Blissenbach, whose ambition and inde- fatigable industry has raised him to the front ranks of photographic expression in the state of Minnesota, and who, in recognition of super- ior merit, was given the silver medal in the por- trait class at the convention held in Minneapolis, September 3-4-5, 1906. At this convention were delegates from Wisconsin, Jlinnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota, and the competition was such as to try the metal of the most expert and experienced. Mr. Blissenbach excels in enlarging and portraiture, and in his galleries are to be found the faces of many of the fore- most people of the central northwest. Pie has been learning the business since he was twenty }-ears old, apprenticing to his brother, Augttst Blissenbach in 1891, and in June, 1904, pur- chasing the entire business, which he since has continued alone at 105 N(.)rth Front street. Mr. BlissenbaclTs thoroughness and applica- tion largely are inherited from his Teutonic an- cestors, and he himself spent the early years of his life in Cologne, Germany, where he waa born January 10, 1873. His parents, Peter and Katherine (Kirch) Blissenbach, also were na- tives of Germany, and the former came to Jlin- nesota in 1868, locating on a farm in Murray county, where with the exception of two years spent in Mankato, he passed the balance of his life. His death occurred in the S2>ring of 1900, at the age of sixty-one years, his wife surviving him until 1904, at the age of seventy-one years. This couple had in all fifteen children, of whom five are living, Joseph being the thirteenth old- est in the family. Mr. Blissenbach's early opportunities were of the practical kind, including a year's study in 342 BIOGKAPHICAL HISTOEY. Germany^ and later attendance at tlie country schools of Murray county, this state. He was a diligent worker on the home farm, contributing his share towards the support of the large fam- ily, but his ambition soared beyond his sur- roundings, to the more satisfying occupation as his brother's photographic assistant in Mankato. November 8, 1899, he was united in marriage to Eosa Dahm, of Mankato, and of the union there is a son, Walter J. Mr. Blissenbach is a member of the Commercial Club, and otherwise is identified with the business- and social life of the community. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. A helpful accompaniment of his work is an optimistic temperament, the faculty of seeing the best in people and condi- tions, and a never failing desire to please. BOEHLAND, THEODOEB.— The first per- sonal knowledge which Mr. Boehland acquired concerning the United States came to him at^the end of a voyage of eight weeks in a sailing ves- sel, which during the year 1856 brought him from his native home in Germany to the new world with its possibilities. For more than one- half century he has been identified with our country and during more than forty years of that time he has been a contributor to the ag- ricultural development of Blue Earth county, where he has developed from the wilderness one of the fine farms of Lime township. A long re.sidence in the northwest has given him a thor- ough acquaintance with the resources of this region and no one is more enthusiastic than he concerning the opportunities which the land of- fers to the young and energetic young farmers of the world. Born in Prussia November 13, 1832, Theodore Boehland is a son of Frederick and Mary (Boel- ner) Boehland, also natives of Prussia, but emi- grants of 1853 to the United States, where they established a home about twelve miles from Mil- i\aukee, Wisconsin. The father died there in 1854 and eventually the mother removed to Min- nesota, where her death occurred in 1886 in Blue Earth county. They were the parents of thirteen children, but of this large family Ernest and Theodore are the sole survivors. The last- named was reared on a farm in Germany and received the advantages of the excellent schools of his native land, after which he worked as a farm laborer. As previously stated he came to the new world in the year 1856. Shortly after ills arrival he settled on land twelve miles from Milwaukee, and it was not long before he had saved enough to Justify him in the establiph- ment of a home of his own. In October of 1858 he was united in marriage with Amelia Tischen- dorf, who was born in Prussia December 3, 1834, being a daughter of David and Theresa (Vogt)' Tischendorf, natives and lifelong residents of I'russia. During the year 1857 Miss Tischen- dorf immigrated to the United States and set- tled in Wisconsin, where she remained for a con- siderable period after her marriage. The first property owned by Theodore Boeh- ' land consisted of twenty acres situated twelve miles from Milwaukee. This he later sold" and invested the proceeds in the purchase of fifty acres of timber land, where he settled, remain- ing on that tract until May of 1867, the date of his removal to Minnesota and his settlement in Blue Earth county. Immediately after coming to this region he bought the farm where he since has made his home and where he has busily oc- cupied himself with the improvement and cul- tivation of a productive estate. While laboring to provide for his family he at the same time has proved an accommodating neighbor and help- ful friend, and with his wife he is highly hon- ored in the community. In his family there were thirteen children, namely: Anna, Ernest, Sidonie, Gustaf, Emma, Theresa and Fredericka (twins, of whom the latter is deceased), Eobert (deceased), Amelia (deceased), Frank, Oscar (deceased), Helen and Theodore, both deceased. BOMBEEGEE, M. D. FEANKLIN J.— The genealogy of the Bomberger family in America is traced back to Charles Bomberger, a member of a party of religious exiles from Switzerland who fled to England for refuge and were assisted by Queen Anne to come to the United States. The first location on the Schoharie river proved lo be unsatisfactory on account of the condition BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 343 of the land. Accordingly the little expedition built a raft and on it proceeded down the Sus- quehanna river to the present site of Middletown, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, where they made the first settlement, also making the original settlements in Lebanon and Berks counties. Charles had a son, Benjamin, whose son, Ben- jamin, Jr., was the father of Elias and the grandfather of Franklin J. Bomberger. The family has been noted for patriotic spirit and one of the ancestors, Benjamin, was a faithful 6:>ldier during the Eevolutionary war, taking part in the battle of Long Island and the mem- oi'able retreat across Xew Jersey. Elias Bomber- ger was born in Pennsylvania and engaged in stock-dealing throughout his active life, dying in 1897 at the age of fifty-eight years. His -^vife, who bore the maiden name of Ellen Snyder, died i;r 1886 at the age of forty-five. They were the parents of four children, namely: Mary, wife of Daniel Swope, of Pennsylvania; Franklin J.; Anna, who married Manford D. Poyntz and lives at Marshfield, Oregon; and Emma, Mrs. George Chute, of Two Elvers, Washington. Born at Bethel, Berks county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1866, Franklin J. Bomberger at- tended the common schools of his native town, and the State Normal at Kutztown, Pennsyl- vania, from which he was graduated witli the ' class of 1885. A year later he was graduated from the Palatinate C^ollege at Myerstown, Penn- sylvania. For a year he taught school near his old home, after which he came to Minnesota and secured a position in the school at Lake Crystal, Blue Earth county, a year later becoming super- intendent of the schools at Blue Earth City. For six years he filled the position with effic- iency and success, after wdiich he resigned in order to make a tour of Europe. A portion of the year 1892 he spent in France, Belgium and Great Britain, where he enjoyed visiting spots of historic interest and learned much of value concerning the customs of the people. On his return to Minnesota he taught at Chatfield and /iumbrota. Meanwhile he had determined to take up the medical profession and accordingly ho entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Minnesota, from which he was grad- uated with the class of 1903. At the conclusion of his college work he opened an office at ilaplc- ton. Blue Earth county. During 1905 he tooTi a post-graduate course in the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore. He has gained a high place among the physicians of this county and commands an increasingly important practice. The marriage of Dr. Bomberger took place Au- gust 5, 1896, and united him with Miss Clara i'rye, daughter of Daniel Frye, of Elk Biver, this state. They are the parents of two children, Alice and Charles. In fraternal relations Dr. Jiomberger has been an enthusiastic j\Iason, be- longing to the blue lodge, Eoyal Arch chapter and Knights Templar Commandery. All mat- ters pertaining to his profession receive his thoughtihil attention. It is his aim to keep post- ed concerning every advance made in therapeutics. .Journals of a professional character find in him a thoughtful reader, and he has further enlarged ids professional interests by associations with so- cieties of physicians, being a member of the state and national organizations, also president of the I)lue Earth County Medical Society. BOECHEET, CHAELES W.— One of the noteworthy financial institutions of Blue Earth county is the First National Bank of Mapleton, which owns and occupies a substantial building on Main street, erected for their own use in the spring of 1903. The structure is of fire-proof brick with stone facings and. contains two stories, the second fioor being rented for otfices to pro- fessional men. The eastern corner of the first floor is occupied by the bank, while in the rear are directors room and cashier's offices. A large burglar-proof and fireproof safety-deposit vault affords to citizens an opportunity for the storing of valuable papers in quarters absolutely safe. The modern appointments of the bank and the many conveniences would do credit to a bank in a much larger city than ilapleton, and the fact that the institution has been successful from the first proves that a progressive small town appreciates the presence of a substantial finan- cial concern, occupying its own building and pro- vided with every convenience of modern bank- ing. t: t 344 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. The cashier of the bank, Charles W. Bor- chert, is a member of an old family of the state and was born in Vivian township, vVaseca coun- ty, November Zl, 1880, being a son of Harmon uorchert and a nephew of tne mayor of Maple- ton (see his sketch on another page for the family history.) The eldest in a family of nine children, Charles VV. Borchert received his pri- mary education in the schools of Vivian town- ship and later was sent to the high school at Minnesota Lake, from which he was graduated with honors. On the completion of tliat course he entered the Mankato Business College, where he took a complete commercial course. Shortly after leaving the college he came to Mapleton and secured a position with the Mapleton State Bank, with which he remained until January 1, 1906, and since then he has been cashier of the First National Bank. The establishment of the First National dates back to 1903, when it was founded with a capi- tal of $26,000, to which since has been added a surplus of $1,000. The original officers were as follows: W. A. Hanna, president; William Troendle, vice-president; M. W. Mattecheck, cashier; and William Stroebel, assistant cashiej'. The officers of the present administration (1907) are as follows: E. "Hadley, president; William Troendle, vice-president; C. W. Borchert, cash- ier; and C. M. Credicott, assistant cashier. The growing prestige enjoyed by the institution is due to the high standing of its officers, whose careful and able management and whose ability to make investments without unduly risking the funds of the depositors are recognized by the people throughout the community, thus winning to the management that confidence without which successful banking cannot be conducted. BOECHBET, WILLIAM.— The mayor of Mapleton is a prominent representative of an honored German-American family identified v/ith the history of Blue Earth coimty for a period of more than thirty years, its founder in this part of the country having been William B. Borchert, a native of Pommern, Germany, and a man possessing many sterling traits of char- acter. While he was in his young manhood he married Erederica Kidder of Pommern, and they established a home in their native land, where they gained many friends and a high standing for industry and energy. However, they were unable to earn more than a mere live- lihood and became dissatisfied with conditions as they existed in Germany. Ambitious to aid their children in securing a start in the world, they determined to establish a home across the ocean in a new country, where opportunities were greater than in the thickly-settled region where they had always lived. Accordingly they crossed the ocean in 1872 and came west, spending a month in Wisconsin, (Dodge county) where they had friends. Prom there they came to Minne- sota and settled in Blue Earth county, where they soon won the friendship of their neighbors and secured a substantial footing as worthy citi- zens of the community. In a family of seven children born to the union of William B. and Frederica Borchert, the next to the youngest was William, who is a native of Pommern, Germany, born May 3, 1854. His education was received in the ex- cellent schools of Pommern and gave him a thorough knowledge of the German language. When the family came to America he was eight- teen years of age and therefore was able to be of the greatest assistance in the developing of a raw tract of land into a productive farm. The family secured one hundred and sixty acres in Danville township and here they engaged in general farm pursuits. At this writing the estate is owned by .William Borchert, who has charge of its cultivation. About 1899 he pur- chased a farm within the village limits of Maple- ton and by additional purchases he has acquired a quarter-section in one body, all within the cor- poration limits. On this place he makes his home. By reason of its proximity to town the farm represented a large moneyed investment and its improvements are of a character har- monious with its location in the suburbs. The marriage of William Borchert took place in March of 1881 and united him with Louisa Beyer, a native of Wisconsin, and a, daughter of William Beyer, who now makes his home in Wa- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 345 seca county. Their family consists of the fol- lowing-named children : Ella, who married Frank Eehse and lives in Sterling township, Blue Earth county; Lizzie, who is employed in the store owned, by L. Troendlo at ]\Iapleton; Emma, who is employed as bookkeeper in ^lapleton; Delila, who is engaged in teaching school; Arthur, Lilly, Eosie, Alvin, William, Eoland and Louisa, who are being educated for positions of usefulness and honor in whatever localities their lots may be cast. From early life J\Ir. Borchert has been interested in educational matters and it is his ambition that his children shall have all the advantages the local schools afEord. For nine years he served as clerk of the school dis- trict in Danville township and for a similar period he held office as township clerk, while for eight years he was a county commissioner during his residence there. Since coming to Mapleton he has been treasurer of the school board for three years and in ]\Iarch of 1907 he was honored by election to the responsible ofEice of mayor. In fraternal relations he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Yeomen and the Sons of Herman. BOSIN", FEED.— The identification of the Bosin family with Blue Earth county began dur- ing the third year of the Civil War, and has con- tinued with growing influence and larger co- operation with local affairs up to the present time. Betaining those sterling teutonic qualities which make the transplanted German a welcome addition to any community in which he elects to reside, and also evidencing the German adapta- bility to strange prevailing opportunities, this family represents the best German-American ele- ment in the county, both commercially, morally and politically. Born in Prussia, northern Ger- many February 3, 1847, Fred Bosin is second eldest of the three children of ^Michael S. and Predericka (Mizner) Bosin, the other children being Sophia and August. Fred Bosin was a year old when his parents came to America in 1848, lo- cating in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where the father engaged in general farming, and from where he moved to Blue Earth county in 1864. He im- proved a large farm in Eapidan township, and with his worthy wife lived to a good old age. ilr. Bosin is indebted to the public schools for his educational start, and for his own enter- piise and progressivenese for the fact that he is a well posted and up-to-date farmer. He has ex- pended the best work of his life on his farm of one hundred and ninety-two acres in Eapidan township, and in addition he owns a one and a half section tract of wild land near Dickinson, North Dakota. While living on the farm he was particularly successful in the raising of high- grade cattle and Poland-China hogs. He made all of the improvements on his place save the dwelling, and here his children were reared, his fortunes grew, and in 1903 he gave up the ac- tive cares of the farm and since has made nis home in Eapidan. The wife of Mr. Bosin for- merly was Amanda Just, daughter of' W. Just, elsewhere represented in this work. The marriage occurred in 1874, and of the union there arc seven children: Otto, born September 13, 1875; Fred W., born October 24, 1877; Martha, born January 15, 1880; Daniel, born February 15, 1883; Wil- liam, bom July 39, 1885; Karl, born March 24, 1888; and Edmund, born October 28, 1893. Of the children of Jfr. Bosin, two are maintaining with special emphasis the enterprise and progres- siveness of their father. Daniel is operating a' general merchandise store, and William and Daniel as partners are conducting a hardware and implement enterprise. Both are successful busi- ness men, and promoters of sound commercial and general conditions. BOS"\VELL, WILLIAM.— Blue Earth county has no more honored men than those whose active life tasks have been accomplished, and who, from tlii.'ir vantage ground of well earned leisure, look cidmly and approvingly upon the struggle for existence being conducted by a later generation. Among these, few have more conscientious labor to recommend them than William Boswell. Only one year the other side of fifty years, he has accomplished much more than the average in a given number of years, and there still burns with- in him the hres of youth and sjonpathy. He sug- gests the man who has lived broadly and usefully, 346 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. and whose character and attainments benefited their fellow men. Mr. Boswell was loom in Maryland January 31, 1857, and was one of the seven children of John H., and P^lizabeth (Freeman) Boswell, the former of whom was born in England and died in Minnesota in 1870, and the latter of whom died in this county in 1895. Eroni Mary- land, which long had been the home of the Boswell forefathers, removal was made by John H. Boswell to Washington, D. C, and five years later, in August, 1864, they arrived in Blue Earth count}-, which since has been their home. The father at that time took up the quaiter sec- tion of land, ever the agricultural destiny of which William Boswell, and now his tenant, hold sway. In January, 1885, Mr. Boswell married Net- tie M. Scott, a native of Wisconsin, and of the union there is a son, Clay Scott, now twenty years of age, who is engaged in the mercantile business of St. Clair. The Scott family, no less than the Boswell family were early arrivals in Blue Earth county, and took up government land. The grandfather of Mr. Boswell, however, was particularly prominent in the early days, gaining all of the prestige and wide acquaintance which came of keeping a hotel and postofEice at the Win- nebago Agency for twenty years. Mr. Boswell is fraternally connected with the Woodmen and Ma- sons, having been a member of Lodge iN"o. 12, A. F. and A. M., of Mankato, for the past twenty- three years. During all of the years of his resi- dence in Blue Earth county he has supported movements for the benefit of the people and has been unwearjing in his efforts to promote the common good. BOWE, PATEICK H.— The hardware busi- ness in St. Clair has an enterprising and progres- sive promoter in Patrick H. Bowe, one of the three survivors of th& seven sons of John D. and Margaret (Dumey) Bowe, natives of Ire- land, and farmers by occupation. The history of the Bowe family in Blue Earth dates from 187-, when John D. Bowe came from Illinois and seventeen years in farming in Illinois, where his death occurred October 28, 1884. He came from Ireland to the United States in 1850, and spent seventeen years in farming in Illinois, where his son Patrick H., was born near Jacksonville, Feb- ruary 15, 1863. The hardware merchant of St. Clair received his preliminary education in the public schools of Illinois, and all his reasoning life has been a reader of newspapers and good literature, thus keeping abreast of the times and in touch with happenings all over the world. Progression is the keynote of his career, and it is this which enables him to maintain an up-to-date store, equipped with all kinds of hardware necessities, and which brings him a dependable trade from a large sec- tion of country. He takes a keen interest in pol- itics, has filled several important offices, and at the present time is promoting the cause of practical education as a member of the school board. October 10, 1873, Mr. Bowe was united in mar- riage to Ella Morris, who was born in the state of 'New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowe have been born four sons and two daughters, Ada, John Emmett, James Leo, Cora, Clemence and Clay- ton. Mr. Bowe stands high in the public esti- mation, both as man and merchant, and his contribution to its business and general advance- ment is of a second and practical nature. BOWEN, DAVID E.— Having passed his en- tire life in Minnesota, of which he is a native- born son, Br. Bowen is familiar with its trans- formation from a frontier region into a prosper- ous commonwealth. Ko one maintains a deeper pride in its growth than does he, and particularly is he interested in the progress of Blue Earth county, where since boyhood he has made his home and where now he conducts agricultural pursuits on section twenty-eight, Cambria town- ship. While quietly pursuing the even tenor of his way on his homestead he has not neglected the duties falling upon every loyal citizen. Move- ments for the benefit of the township and county receive his stanch support. Projects for the benefit of the people are given his hearty co- operation. It is to such men as he that we owe the high standing of the county as an agricul- tural region and a prosperous locality. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 347 The Bowen family is of Welsh estraction. Evan Bowen left his native Wales and crossed the ocean to America in 1840, settling in Pennsylvania. At that time he was a bachelor, but in 1847, he established domestic ties, being united at Char- leston, Tioga county, with Jane Edwards, and they began housekeeping in the east. As early as 1855 they became pioneers of Minnesota, set- tling in Nicollet county, where their son, David E., was born May 31, 1857. From there the fiimily came to Blue Earth comity in 1865 and six years later the father died at Mankato. The mother survived him for many years and passed her last days in Colorado, where she passed away in 1895. Primarily educated in Nicollet county, David E. Bowen received his grammar-school education in Blue Earth county and pursued his studies with such success that he was early quali- fied to teach. For seven winter terms he taught school and, during the intervening summer sea- sons he engaged in farming in the same neigh- borhood. In addition he filled the office of town clerk for ten years, and more recently he has acte(^ as manager of the Cambria creamery, be- sides superintending the management of his farm. Tlic marriage of David E. Bowen and Mary A. Hughes was solemnized November 7, 1889, and resulted in the birth of two sons and three daughters, namely: Henry, who is now sixteen years of age; Esther fourteen; Alva twelve; Miriam, ten; and Evan, eight. The wife and mother was taken by death from the midst of the home circle February 27, 1903. The family hold membership with the Congregational church and Mr. Bowen holds official position therein as deacon, besides being active in missionary and cliaritable work sustained by the congregation. Though not prominent in politics and never as- piring to the title of politician, he keeps well posted concerning the issues of the century and gives his vote to principles represented by the Democratic party. BOYNTON, GEOEGE T.— While New Eng- land was in the earliest period of its development two brothers, bearing the names of William and John Boynton, came hither from England and in 1()38 became freeholders in the town of Eowley, Massachusetts. Shortly afterward William sought a more genial climate and settled among the colonists of the south, but John remained in New England, and from him sprang the present representatives of the family. Among his de- scendants was one who bore the same name as himself and who was born in New Hampshire, but spent his life almost wholly in Vermont, wnere he died in October, 1867, at the age of !-eventy-five years, after a busy existence devoted to agricultural pursuits. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Isabella Nelson, was born in Termont and died there at the age of eighty- six years. Out of their family of eight children the sole survivor is George T., and he and his brother, T. N., were the only members of the family to settle in Minnesota. Born at Derby, Orleans county, ^'ermont, Nov- ember 25, 1827, George T. Boynton received his education in the free schools and academy of his native town. At the age of twenty-iive years he left the old homestead and started out to earn his own way in the world, first going to Temple- ton, Massachusetts, where he was employed for three years in a large wholesale grocery. On leaving there he went to Eoxbury, Massachusetts, and secured work in a factory where chairs were manufactured by machinery. At the expiration of seven years he left the factory and sought the large opportunities of the northwest, coming to Minnesota in 1858 with his brotlier and stopping first at Mankato, then making a tour of inspec- tion to Garden City, but returning to Mankato the same year. Here was established the niercan- t]le business of T. N. & G. T. Boynton, but after a year he sold his interest to his brother, who removed the stock to Garden City and tJiere built up a prosperous and growing trade. From that time George T. followed various oc- cupations, but principally gave his attention to the buying and selling of real estate and for fif- teen years carried on a large grain business, be- sides having interests at Garden City. A fair degree of success has rewarded his judicious ex- ertions and he now is living retired, in the en- joAiiient of an income sufficient to provide him- self and wife with all the comforts of" life. It has been his privilege to witness the development of Minnesota from a wilderness into a progres- 348 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. £ive state with growing population and increasing wealthy and no one has taken greater pleasure tlian he in witnessing this prosperity. With tl^e growth of Mankato his name is closely link- ed. In him its welfare has been conserved and its interests promoted. All movements for its permanent development have received his practi- cal support. On the organization of the Man- kato National Bank he became a stockholder and director and later, on its reorganization as the Mankato State Bank, he was chosen a director, which position he now tills. In addition he acts as a director in the Mankato Savings and Build- ing Association, of which institution he is vice president. The marriage of Mr. Boynton took place Nov- euiber 12, 1878, and united him with Miss Au- rilla Elizabeth Bush, daughter of James and Har- riet (Gates) Bush, and a lady possessing the g-raceful attributes of character that have en- deared her to a large circle of friends. During the year 1853 her parents came to Minnesota, where they became pioneers of Preeborn county and engaged in farm pursuits. The father died May 6, 1900, at the age of seventy-five years, having long survived his wife, who passed away on Christmas day of 1857 at the age of thirty^ three years. Mrs. Boynton has a brother re- siding at Sauk Center, Minnesota, who is a pa- triotic, progressive citizen and who during the Civil war spent two years in the army with the Twenty-second Minnesota Cavalry. During the girlhood years of Mrs. Boynton educational ad- vantages were meager in Minnesota, so she was sent back to New York state to the old home of the family and for eight years she remained at Ellington, Chautauqua county, meanwhile re- ceiving excellent advantages in the academy Tn that town. On the completion of her education she returned to Minnesota, where she since has made her home. BRACE, CHESTER H.— No man possesses a greater faith in the future of Blue Earth county and none maintains a greater pride in the abun- dance of its resources than does Chester H. Brace, who is extensively engaged in the real- estate business at Amboy. At the time of em- barking in the business there were some who pre- dicted a lack of success, but youthful energy and a generous use of printer's ink conquered the situation, and today there is no real-estate agent in the entire county whose future shows greater promise than does his. A specialty made by him is in land lying in the south-half of this county and the north-half of Faribault county, where the soil consists of a heavy black loam averag- ing three feet deep on a clay subsoil. As early as 1855 the Brace family became established in Minnesota. Edward, son of Avery Brace, and a native of Syracuse county, Ne^; York, passed through Chicago when it was a small town and visited various sections in search of a suitable location. Taking up a claim in Faribault county in 1855, he soon sold his right to the land and moved to Blue Earth county, where he took up a tract in Shelby township. In the development of the locality he bore an active j)art, and no movement for the benefit of the people lacked his sustaining aid. For over fifty years he remained on the same place, meanwhile erecting buildings, putting up substantial fences, and bringing the land under cultivation, so that it ranked among the best farms in the neighbor- hood. In the spring of 1906 he removed to Cali- fornia to make his home in a climate whose delightful warmth suited the needs of his weak- ening physical powers. In spite of having reached the age of eighty-six years and notwith- standing his very busy life, he is well-preserved, ■\\ ith none of his faculties impaired. The marriage of Edward Brace united him with Isabel Va Nice, a native of Indiana. They became the parents of four children, namely: ilinnie, who married C. J. Louer and lives at Shelby, this state; Chester H., of Amboy; Nora and Dora (twins), the latter of whom accom- panied her father to California, while the formei is the wife of E. N. Chord, of St. Paul, this state. The only son was born in Shelby, town- ship. Blue Earth county, August 33, 1864, and received his rudimentary education in countrj schools near the home farm, after which he had the advantage of a course of study in the Wes- leyan Methodist Seminary in Dodge county, Minnesota. On completing his studies he re- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 349 turned to assist his father on the home farm, but in 1891 he embarked in farming for himself in Shelby township. Coming to Amboy in 1903, he opened a real-estate office, where now he has, occupying a conspicuous place, a display of the products of the county that is universally ad- mired. A stranger viewing these varied pro- ducts realizes for the first time the possibilities of the soil of this section, and even old resi- dents are often surprised at the results others have attained in the cultivation of this rich soil. Besides his other interests ilr. Brace owns one hundred and sixty acres four miles from Amboy of which the entire tract is under cultivation. A neat residence is surrounded by a grove that furnishes shade in summer and protection from the stern winds of winter. Good barns and sub- stantial outbuildings furnish adequate accommo- dation for stock, grain and machinery. The place is maintained under a high state of culti- vation and ranks among the best in the town- ship. December 14, 1897, Mr. Brace was united in marriage with Carrie Belle McLain, a descend- ant of Scotch ancestry and a native of Franklin county, Maine. Her father, John A., son of the late John McLain, was born and reared in Franklin county and spent much of his active life in Maine, but eventually came west to Min- nesota, where he now resides at Amboy. BEADLEY, GEORGE E.— The general agent of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Eailway at Mankato, holder of farming property and city real estate, representative of a highly honored family of Blue Earth county and an able and most worthy citizen, George E. Bradley is a native son of Illinois and is a credit to his State. He was born January 9, 1863, the son of George Martin and Harriet (Wilkinson) Bradley, his parents, who were natives respectively of Ken- tucky and England, coming to this state at an early age. They were also married in Illinois, after which the husband bought a farm of three hundred acres in Lime township which is now in possession of his son, George E., and, although a portion of it is still uncleared it is considered one of the finest pieces of agricultural property in the township. The father was an industrious, successful farmer, a quiet, honorable and genu- inely good man, not only respected but beloved; more than that, he applied his abilities and true worth to the upbuilding of his residence com- munity in public and religious activities. At one time he sewed as Supervisor of the township, and was one of the founders and trustees of the First M. E. Church in the locality. George M. Brad- ley passed away September 17, 1899, in the seventy-first year of his age, and his widow, who was born on the 6th of ilarch, 1826, still survives him. George E. Bradley is the third of a family of five children, all living, as follows: Amelia, wife of Lucius B. Fancher, a citizen of Minnea- polis, Minnesota; Luella, now Mrs. Louis J. Van Fossen, of that city; Charles Herbert, a Minnea- polis physician ; and Ada Belle, wife of C. B. Brainerd, of Devil's Lake, North Dakota. George R., was educated in the public schools of Mankato at the State Normal school and Hamline university but instead of adopting any of the learned pro- fessions first mastered telegraphy, and then acted successively as night clerk, bill clerk, and cashier in the office of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway. He was appoint- ed to the last named position in 1889, and was promoted to be general agent in 1896. His long service with the company of itself indicates faith- fulness and ability, combined with absolute and unfailing courtesy. Mr. Bradley still retains the old homestead in Lime Township, with its farming interests, and is also the owner of a recently erected modern residence at 318 South Fourth street, Mankato. He is a local republican leader, a good enterprising citizen and -has well served his fellows as alder- man of the fourth ward. Fraternally he is active and widely known, having filled all the chairs in the Modern Woodmen of America and being Past Grand in both the I. 0. 0. F. lodge and the Royal Arcanum Council. He is also an earnest member of the First M. E. Church, and in every way a citizen and a man to be admired and hon- ored. Mr. Bradley was married November 14, 1888, to Miss Myra Brooks, daughter of Dr. Ransom and Sarah Lovira (Andrews) Brooks, natives of 350 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. Ohio and New York, respectively. At an early day they came to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and more than half a century ago located their homestead in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, at one time owning land where now stand the Mankato post- office and the residence of George B. Brett. Dr. Brooks also possessed a tract covering the site of the present race tracks, and in his active days ran the overland freighters between St. Paul and Mankato. In his early years he was a schoolmate of President Garfield, and v.-as always a stanch admirer of the martyr statesman and Christian gentleman. He died March 4, 1900, at the age of seventy-two years, a busy, useful and honorable man throughout his long life. The surviving widow, who is seventy-eight years of age, has been the mother of the following: Ellen, Mrs. W. P. Coffin, of Minneapolis; Nathan, a resident of Bil- lings, Montana; Ida, living in Hitchcock, South Dakota; Mrs. George Bradley; Morgan, of Lime Township, this county; Carrie L., wife of Dr. C. H. Bradley, of Minneapolis; Charles, on the homestead farm in Lime Township; and Alice, deceased, who was the second child of the fam- ily. Mr. and Mrs. George Bradley have one child, Euth. Before her marriage Mrs. Bradley was a highly successful teacher. She was educated in the pub- lic schools of Mankato and at the State Normal School, graduating from the latter with the class of 1880. Afterward she taught in the public schools of Blue Earth county for two years, and in the graded schools of Eagle Lake, same county, for a period of five years. She is a highly re- spected and cultured lady, and the family is among the most substantial in the county. BEANDENBUEG, Dr., FEEDEEICK D.— In strict accord with the Teutonic temperament of faithfulness and tlioroughness, in pursuance of the approved business maxim "be sure you'r riglit, then go ahead," Dr. Brandenburg has had a most broad and careful preparation for his professional work and the general confidence of the community and his substantial progress as an able physician and surgeon have been the logical results. His father, Frank Brandenburg, was of the German province by that name, and his mother (Nee Elizabeth Lutz) was a native of Stras- burg, coming to America some sixty years ago and locating in Pennsylvania. At Pittston, that State, Mr. Brandenburg was a merchant for many years, and there his son, the future physician was born. Twenty years ago the father was able to retire from business, and is still living in com- fortable circumstances, a venerable gentleman of eighty-six years, his wife preceding him Janu- ary 14, 1890, aged fifty-five. Of the family of nine children. Dr. Branden- burg was the fifth, and was born at Pittston, February 26, 1862. His elementary and liter- ary education was obtained in the public and high schools of his native town; at the Wyoming Sem- inary, Kingston, Pennsylvania, and at Lafayette College, Easton, that State, from which he ob- tained the degrees of A. B. and A. M. Various institutions of New York supplied him with facilities for a thorough professonaT training, as he graduated from the Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, in 1885, with his degree of M. D. and in the following year pursued a supplementary course at the New York Polyclinic Medical School and Hospital. In 1887 Dr. Brandenburg located at Mankato for the practice of his profession, and was thus engaged for three years, when he was called to New York to fill the position of house surgeon in the Woman's hos- pital, serving thus from 1890 to 1892. The fol- lowing three years were spent in Cleveland, where besides practicing in his private capacity, he was honored with appointments as Professor of Gynaecology in tlie medical department of the Western Eeserve University, and as gynaecologist to the Charity, Lakeside, City and German hospi- tals. Ee-enforced in breadth of experience and pro- fessional reputation. Dr. Brandenburg returned to practice in Mankato, and since his re-es- tablishment there in 1895, has come to be recog- nized as a leading surgeon and extremely popular and useful citizen. At the present time he is sur- geon to the Immanuel and St. Joseph's Hospitals, and is a member of the American Medical and Si:ate Medical Associations, Blue Earth Medical Society, General Alumni Society of New York University and a Fellow of the American Aca- demy of Medicine. He is also Medical Examiner BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 351 for the Washington Life, Manhattan, Mutual, Home and Germania Life Insurance companies, of New York; Union Central, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Brandenburg was married December 14, 1887, to Miss Bertha E. Swan, daughter of the late James B. Swan, a prominent citizen of Mankato, and they have two children, Lucile and Lenore. The Doctor is a Knight of Pythias and is high in Masonry, a member of Chapter, Com- mandery and Osman Shrine of St. Paul. He is also identified with the Odd Fellows fraternity, and not only a welcome figure to the circles of all these secret and benevolent orders, but to the private sociabilities of the best families of Man- kato. BRETT, GEOEGE EVEEETT— The minds ol men are as varied in their talents as faces are varied in their expression. It is the ill fortune of some to pass through the years of a long life, yet never find the occupation for which they were host adapted by nature. On the other hand, there are some who early in youth recognize the bent of their talents and devote themselves assidu- ously to the cultivation of the same. To the lat- ter success invariably comes, and it is to this recognition in early life of the direction of his talents that the success of Mr. Brett may be at- tributed. When starting out to seek his own live- lihood in the world, he determined to become a merchant, and in May, 1868, he established a dry goods business in Mankato, where he has since engaged in mercantile pursuits. Forty years have come and gone since he opened his store. Inevitably many changes have taken place in his home city and county during that long period. The men who were then the leaders in business activities have largely passed from scenes of earth. The city has grown and expanded to an extent then unanticipated. Factories have turned their busy wheels and brought support to hundreds of families. The hum of industry has not ceased, nor has the tide of progress been stop- ped in its ceaseless flow. With the growth of the city his own establishment has kept pace and for years he has been recognized as the leading merchant of the Minnesota valley. The genealogical record of the Brett family shows that they are of colonial ancestry and hon- orable lineage, the line going back directly to John Alden and Priscilla, noted in the early his- tory of New England. Other distinguished rel- atives were Phoebe and Alice Cary. George ]-]verett Brett ^-as born at Strong, Franklin county, Maine, November 23, 1S45, being a son of Cj-rus Hamlin and Mary (Hunter) Brett, the latter of Scotch descent. The father was a fine tenor singer and a talented musician and after e.jming to Minnesota in 1862 he taught music in various towns of the state, in which work he had engaged with success in Maine during younger years. Educated principally in Maine, George Everett Brett was a youth of seventeen when the family came to Minnesota. In May of 1868 he em- barked in the dry goods business at Mankato, where he still conducts a large store stocked with a varied assortment of merchandise arranged in ^uch a manner as to make of the building a bower of beauty and good taste. In the midst of the manifolcT cares connected with the manage- ment of a business of such magnitude, he has found time to participate in other activities, has been prominent for j'ears in the Board of Trade and as a member of the common council has la- bored for the material welfare of the people. He has also served as President of the Commer- Hal Club, and is now Vice President of the Jlankato Savings Bank. Inheriting from his father a love of music and a tenor voice of rare strength and sweetness, he has devoted consider- able attention to music and lias been a member of glee clubs and leader of the Presbyterian c'durch choir for the past thirty-five years. Through his marriage, March 19, 1873, to Miss Lizzie Ellen Maxfield, he became connected with one of the most prominent families of St. Paul, where her father, Hon. James Maxfield, was long ihe popular and progressive mayor. Three chil- dren came to bless their union, namely: James Edwin, born July 1, 1875; Frank Everett, Au- gust 7, 1877; and Mary Maxfield, who was born January 26, 1879, received excellent educational advantages, and June 2, 1900, was united in marriage with Wilbur Morgan Taylor. They are the parents of four children, who in order 352 BIOGEAPI-IICAL HISTORY. of their birth are Brett Maxfield; Leah; Eloise; and Morgan Hunter. BREWEE, CHARLES H.— The claims to con- sideration on the part of Charles H. Brewer are founded upon an earnest desire to uphold the merit of a fine old pioneer name, identified with Blue Earth county for the past forty-five years, and representing at all times the best farming element of this part of Minnesota. Mr. Brewer was born on the farm he now owns and occupies, Ju.ly 28, 1871, and is one of the four children of Daniel D., and J\Iary (Gettie) Brewer, born in 1833 and 1837, respectively. Upon leaving his native state to avail himself of the larger opportunities of the less settled west^ Daniel Brewer stopped for a time in both Illinois and Wisconsin, arriving in Minnesota in the spring of 1856. Pre-empting a farm in Winona county, he tilled its crude acres for seven years, but failing to realize expectations, came to Blue Earth county and purchased the land now owned by his son. He is still living, and in the posses- sion of his faculties. He has rendered signal service to this his adopted state, setting a fine example of conscientious and successful farming, and filling with credit the majority of the local offices within the gift of his fellow townsmen. Charles H. Brewer has known no other home than that where he now lives, or any occupation but farming. At the district school he laid the foundation of his present many sided knowledge, and he has given to the conduct of his farm the best of brain and effort of which he is capable. He has in all two hundred and fifty acres, and thoroughly understanding the science of agri- culture, naturally derives a substantial income from this amount of land. He raises stock and general produce, has a fine residence, substantial barns, and ample protection for the result of his harvests. Around him is an interesting family of five children; Carrie, Gerald, Cyril, Esther and Lydia. Before her miarriage Mrs. Brewer was Gertrude Miller, a native of Rhode Island, and the wedding ceremony was performed Sep- tember 27, 1897. Mr. Brewer is highly esteemed for his many sterling qualities, for his public spiritedness, thrift, geniality and integrity, and in consequence his friends are many and loyal. BROOKS, MORGAN.— The present represen- tative of Lime township upon the board of coun- ty supervisors is a native son of Blue Earth county and always has maintained a warm in- terest in activities tending to the development of agricultural and commercial interests. In Mankato township, in what is now a part of the city of that name, he was born April 19, 1864, being a son of D. R. and Sarah L. (Andrews) Brooks, natives respectively of Ohio and New York. During girlhood the mother accompanied members of her family from New York to Ohio, where she met and married Mr. Brooks, and in 1857 they made the tedious journey overland to l\]innesota, settling upon a homestead of un- broken land in Blue Earth county. As time passed by the land was brought under cultiva- tion, substantial buildings were put up and many improvements were made of a permanent nature. Upon this place the father died March 4, 1900. The mother still remains on the farm three miles north of Mankato, which has been the family home since the year 1873. Eight children comprised her family, namely: Ellen, who married W. F. Coffin and now makes her home in Minneapolis; Nathan, living in Mon- tana; Alice, who died at the age of five years; Ida, residing at Lake Benton, Minnesota; Myra, who married G. R. Bradley, of Mankato; Mor- gan, whose name introduces this article; Carrie L., wife of C. H. Bradley, of Minneapolis; and Charles, who makes his home in Lime township. Ever since completing the studies of the schools of Lime township and the city of Mankato, Morgan Brooks has devoted his time and atten- 1ion to agricultural pursuits, and now occupies a high position by reason of his acknowledged judgment and energy as a farmer. Sis mar- riege took place in Blue Earth county January 20, 1892, and united him with Ella Bancroft, who was born near Kilbourn, Columbia county, Wisconsin, ilarch 25, 1868. Her parents, Dud- ley P. and Adelia (Briggs) Bancroft, were na- tives respectively of New York and Pennsyl- \ania and during the year 1886 came to Blue ]<]arth county, Minnesota. After having remained here for sixteen years in 1902 they removed to Minneapolis, in which city they now reside. They were the parents of seven children, of whom BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 353 the eldest, Frank L., is deceased. Those now living are Charles D., Ella, Addie, Merton E., George L. and Mile I. For two years after his marriage Morgan Brooks remained on his father's farm. Mean- time he had purchased a farm of his own and liiiher he came about 1894, since which time he has given careful attention to the cultivation of the land. At this writing he owns two hund- red and twenty acres, the greater part of which is in meadow. One of his specialties is the mak- ing of hay for sale in the Mankato market. zVmong the people of Lime township he is re- spected as a man of intelligence, ability and tireless energy, and his services as township su- pervisor since 1904 and school director for more than twenty years have been helpful to the eSiir cational, agricultural and general interests of tlje locality. In his political views he is a Ee- publican and maintains a warm interest in the success of the party. With his wife he enjoys the respect of acquaintances and numbers a host of warm friends among the people of the town- bhip. Five children comprised his family, but ihe eldest daughter, who was born August 6, 1894, was taken from the home by death March 23, 1895. Those now living are as follows: Frank M., born June 23, 1893; Iva L., August 10, 1896; Ella M., August 9, 1900; and Harry Ti., August 13, 1904, all of whom are with their parents on the home farm. BROOKS, WALTEE F.— Not only is the present county surveyor of Blue Earth county possessed of broad general information and edit- eation, but he has had thorough and exceptional training and experience along the line of his oiiosen occupation. Born in Eutland, Worcester county, Massachusetts, April 17, 18G1, he is a son of Daniel and Catherine (Eiley) Brooks, the former of whom was born in Eutland, and the latter in Boston, Massachusetts. The family came to Blue Earth county in 18C6 as a part of the large reconstruction emigration, settling on a farm in Medo township, on the old AYiunebago I'eservation, where the father successfully farmed and raised stock for many years. In 1891 he gave up farming and moved to the village of Mapleton, later locating at Crystal Lake, where he now lives with his wife. Besides Walter F., who is the oldest, there are two other sons in ills family, of whom Dr. Charles D. is a physi- cian at Eutherford, New Jersey, and Harlow is a professor in Belleview Medical School, New York City. Five years old when he was brought to the Medo township farm by his parents, Walter F Brooks spent his youth as does the average coun- try boy. In the district school he received his jireliminary education, later attending the State ?^ormal at Mankato, and in 1886 graduating from the Civil Engineering department of the Polytechnic Institute, at Worcester, Massachu- setts, with the degree of B. S. After his gradu- ation he was employed in the engineering de- partment of various leading railroads in Minne- sota and North and South Dakota, and the L'nion Pacific and Oregon Pacific railroads, later identifying himself in a similar capacity with the Mexican railroads. He then followed mining engineering and irrigation work on the PaciBc coast for five years, and in February, 1894, re- turned to Blue Earth county, and opened an office for general practice in engineering in Man- kato. In 1897 Mr. Brooks was elected surveyor of Blue Earth county, which position he still holds. I\lr. Brooks is identified with the Eepublican j)arty, the Presbyterian church, and the Masonic fraternity. His marriage to Margaret Limberf occurred at Eipon, Wisconsin, in 1896, and of the union there are three children : Katherine, Charlotte and George Freeman. BEOWN, GEOEGE WELLINGTON.— That the energy and resource of the farmers of the present generation is not less commendable than that which enabled the earlier settlers to leave comfortable homes in the east and share the trials and deprivations of the unsettled north- western country finds ample confirmation in the lives of many }oung agriculturists in Blue Earth (ounty, among them George Wellington Brown, vrhose unaided efforts have made him the owner of eighty acres of land in section 28, Shelby Township. Mr. Brown was born in Shelby Town- 354 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. sliip, this county, December 37, 1880, and is a ton of James Lyman Brown, and Sarah S. (Pope) Brown, both natives of Canada. James Lyman Brown was born in Compton, Canada, and was a son of Andrew Brown, who was born in the state of Maine and in early life moved across the border into Canada. James Lyman was of an ambitious nature, and in June, ]87'2, came to the United States, locating in Shelby township, Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death. May 7, 1890, at the age of fifty-one years. There were eight children in his family, of whom five now are living: Mary ¥.., now Mrs. John W.. Barr; William F., in Shelby Township; Arthur L., farming in Fari- bault county; George Wellington; and Homer A., in Faribault county. Mr. Brown received the rudiments of his edu- cation in the district schools of Shelby Township and at the Winnebago Agency, but he is largely self educated, as he has been a wage earner since he was twelve years old. At that early age he left home and worked for small wages at ISTash- ville, this state, later going to Stevens county, where he gained his first real start in a financial way. He was frugal and thrifty, and in 1901 was able to purchase half of the original home- stead in section 28, Shelby Township, his eldest brother coming into possession of the other eighty acres. He has made many fine improvements in addition to those credited to his father, includ- ing a grove, which he set out as a wind break, a most desirable addition when the northern winds sweep across the country. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, principally horses and hogs in the stock line. He is progres- sive and industrious, amiable and companionable, and has a host of friends throughout the county. Mr. Brown is naturally social in his tendencies, and derives great pleasure from his fraternal con- nections, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. BROWN, JAMES B.— Representative of the journalism of Blue Earth county is the editor and publisher of the Amboy Herald, wjio since 1900 has been identified with this sheet and meanwhile has promoted the success of the pub- lication by his editorial ability. Notwithstand- ing the fact that he is now (1908) seventy-six years . of age, he retains the energy and consti- tution of a man of sixty. Steady work at his desk or case for ten hours each day does not exhaust his strength, and he is able to read and set type without the aid of spectacles. After years of mental and physical activity, he fortu- nately retains the full use of all his faculties and is thus enabled to wield a wide infiuence throughout the county by means of his interest- ing and popular publication. The history of the Brown family shows that James an9 Jeanette Brown were bom and reared in Scotland, whence about 1820 they migrated to Canada. The father engaged in lumbering and manufacturing potash, but he died in middle age when his son and namesake was only five years old. The boy was thereupon taken into the home of an uncle in St. Lawrence county, New York, where he attended country school between the ages of seven and fifteen. When seventeen years old he was given his liberty and from that time forward earned his own way in the world. As early as 1849 he became a pioneer of Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he learned the mason's trade, and for seven years he followed the occupation. During 1856 he formed a part- nership with H. S. Town at Eipon, Wisconsin, in the mercantile business but in 1861 he sold out his interest, and three years later came to Blue Earth county, where since he has made his home. In 1865 he opened a store at Winnebago Agency. Blue Earth county, and in 1871 he moved to Mapleton, same county, where he em- barked in mercantile pursuits and also engaged in banking until 1896. The panic that culmi- nated about that year found him unprepared for financial emergencies after several years of busi- ness depression and he suffered business failure. Since 1900 he has been editor of the Amboy Herald. Since the year 1874 Mr. Brown has been iden- tified with Masonry and now is a member of Amboy Lodge No. 193, A. F. & A. M., in which he has passed all of the chairs. The Eepubli- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 355 can party has his earnest support both person- ally and through the medium of the paper. His religious views are broad and he has no church associations, but is in sympathy with all efforts for the uplifting of the race and gives generous aid to measures for the promotion of Amboy^s interests. While living at Eipon, Wisconsin, he married Charlotte Townsend, whose parents came west from Vermont in an early day. She died ISTovember 6, 1896, leaving two sons, Charles H. and Clark D., who are married and reside in New York City. Pour years later Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Mrs. Helen M. Hil- ton whose parents were natives of Vermont. They came west in 1857 and settled in Bentin, Wisconsin. In 1865 they moved to Winnebago Agency, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Among the people of the county where for so many years Mr. Brown has lived and labored he has a host of acquaintances, all of whom regard him with respect and esteem, and recognize in him a pioneer of patriotic spirit and high order of intelligence. BROWN", HON. JAMES.— A lasting benefit to both was realized in the association of Hon. James Brown and the city of Mankato from Au- gust 19, 1865, until the lamented death of the honored jurist, August 3, 1889. Judge Brown wa? a man of solid and substantial worth, well grounded in the law, and prominent in the edu- cational and religious upbuilding of the com- munities in which he lived. Exceptional only in his strength of character and abilHy to grasp and use his opportunities, he filled a fundamental need with courage, fidelity and invariable regard for the best interests of the people. Born in Milford, Butler county, Ohio, March ]4, 1881, Judge Brown was of Irish ancestr}', his parents having settled in Ohio shortly after their arrival from Belfast, Ireland, in 1810. Mr. Brown owed his initial education to the pub- lic schools of his native state, and in 1845 grad- uated with highest honors from Miami College, at Oxford, Ohio, during his college life divert- ing his leisure into the channel of legal research. Later he entered the law office of 0. S. With- erb]', and in 1846 was admitted to practice in TTnion county, Indiana, soon after opening an office in Winchester, the same state. The prac- tical qualities of Mr. Brown received ready rec- ognition, and in 1849 he was elected to the In- diana legislature, the governor of the state in 1854 appointing him judge of the court of com- mon pleas. For years he was county examiner of schools of Winchester county, and in 1854 ■\ras chosen presidential elector, in the fall oJE the same year was the Democratic nominee for con- gress. The removal of Judge Brown to Minnesota during the last year of the Civil war was due principally to the illness of his wife, for whom much was hoped in a change of climate. Be- fore her marriage, September 14, 1846, Mrs. Brovm was Caroline Irwin, daughter of Eev. Eobert Irwin. Judge Brown in 1866 formed" a partnership with J. A. Wiswell, under the firm name of Brown & Wiswell, an association result- ing in strong professional work, and a reputa- tion for dependable service by no means confined to the limits of Blue Earth county. In the mean- time Mr. Brown took an active interest in educa- tional matters, promoting the same with vigor and enthusiasm. He believed in education as a means to great ends, and considered it a solution of many of the problems which now vex the souls of great thinkers and reformers. For years he was resident director of the Mankato Normal school, was instrumental in enlarging its sphere and capacity, and made the selection of the present site of the school. As in Indiana, his political activity remained a feature of his ca- reer, and he represented his county in the legis- lature of 1881. The wife of Mr. Brown dying in 1885, De- cember 33, 1886, he was united in marriage to ^Irs. Josephina E. Sheets, of Hamilton, Ohio, M'ho with the following children, survive him: Mrs. Mary Cornelia Pfau, Mrs. Marcella Mann, Charles I., Henry W., and Eobert E. BEOWN, EOBEET E.— The above named, manager of the Mankato Gas and Electric Light Company, has accomplished much for the pro- gressive name of the city by placing it in the 356 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. rank of cities whose lighting service is efficient and modem. He has enjoyed the mechanical and business experience for just such a position, and as he has also the required natural abilities, the man and the place are in perfect harmony. Robert E. Brown is a native of Winchester, Indiana, and was born May 2, 1861, the son of Hon. James Brown and his wife (formerly Caro- line I. Irwin), of Indiana and Ohio, respectively. A biography of the father, one of the prominent men of the county and the state, is published elsewhere in this work. Eobert B., who was the youngest but one in their family of six, was educated in the public schools — both elementary and high — of Mankato, but as he early showed a mechanical bent learned the plumber's trade while yet a boy. He continued at that occupa- tion from 1880 to 1887, when he became man- ager of the local gas company. After holding this position for two years the gas and electric interests in the local field were consolidated as the Mankato Gas and Electric Light Company, and Mr. Brown was chosen general manager. Since 1889 he has efficiently performed the du- ties of that office, which with the growth of the city and the consequent extension of the ser- vice have become ever more responsible and ar- duous. On September 20, 1893, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Ella Sackett, of Candor, Tioga County, 'New York, a graduate of the Oswego (IST. Y.) State ITormal School, and later a successful teacher in the schools of Min- neapolis and Mankato. They have become the parents of two children — Eobert E., Jr., and Kathryn Sackett Brown. Politically, Mr. Brown is affiliated with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Mankato Commercial Club, and is also associated with the B. P. 0. E., Eoyal Arcanum, A. 0. U. W., M. W. A. and Modern Samaritans, and an active member of the Na- tional Electric Light Association, and the Amer- ican Gas Institute. BEYSOTSr, "W. J.— Although npt numbered among the earliest settlers of Blue Earth county, the Bryson family ranks among the pioneers and its members have contributed with custom- ary pioneer energy and self-sacrifice to the agri- cultural development of this part of the north- west. The first of the name to seek a home in this then frontier region was James Bryson, who was born in Ireland of Scottish parents in 1843, received a common-school education in his na- tive land and from an early age earned his own way in the world. Coming to Blue Earth county in 1869 he commenced farming in Garden City township and at once began to make the many improvements necessary to bring the land into profitable cultivation. As a farmer he was per- severing and undismayed by difficulties. After some years on his original homestead he removed to Lyra township, took up land, improved a farm and rose to a position of influence among the people of his community, who chose him to serve as pathmaster and also for years held him in the office of member of the township board. Of late years he has been retired from the farm but he retains his interest in the affairs of the world and is well posted concerning this county and its rise in agricultural importance among the counties of the state. The marriage of James Bryson and Elizabeth Howard was blessed with six children, namely: Mary E., deceased; Martha, who is a graduate of the Mankato State Normal; W. J., the only son, who was born in Lyra township December 25, 1877, and who still resides on the farm where he was born; Eleanor C, Etta and Elizabeth, who are high-school graduates and popular among the young people of their neighborhood. The family circle is still unbroken save by the death of the eldest daughter, and parents and children remain together on the old homestead near Good Thunder on the Blue Earth river. The land is managed by the son, who is unmarried, and whose energetic supervision of the estate enables his parents to enjoy in their old age a freedom from care well merited by years of in- dustry and economy. In addition to receiving common-school ad- vantages, W. J. Bryson was for two years a ei-udent in the Minnesota State University and by careful study and habits of close observation he has become a man of broad information. After having spent one year at Eedwood Palls, Miniie- sota, in 1901 he returned to the old homestead BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 357 and has since aided in tlie management of the property, of which he is the present responsible head. The homestead comprises four hundred and forty acres of which three hundred and twenty are under the plow. The fields show crops suited to the soil and climate, while in the pastures may be seen fine shorthorn cattle, Oxforddown sheep and Poland-China hogs. Like his father, W. J. Bryson is a stanch believer in the principles of the Republican party and never fails to give that organization his ballot and influence. The religious views of the family bring them into active co-operation with the Baptist church and they have been earnest sup- porters of that denomination. BURLISON, ALTAMONT.— The southern counties of Minnesota began to attract large numbers of permanent settlers during the early 'tiOs and the entire decade witnessed the incom- ing of farmers from the east. Prom that time to the present there have not been lacking men of energy and industry, who have been intelli- gently striving to promote the welfare of the re- gion and who have accomplished much in the way of proving the best crops to be raised, the most scientific methods of cultivation, and the most satisfactory processes of raising live-stock. Agri- culture is the principal occupation and the farm- ers have proved the real benefactors of the re- gion, their intelligent labors having brought v.^ealth into the country and prosperity to the people. Among those who came hither during the epoch immediately following the Civil war may be mentioned the Burlison family, pioneers of 1866, since which year they have been identi- lied with the farming interests of Blue Earth county. Born in Wisconsin, April 11, 1861, Altamont Burlison was one of a family of two sons and two daughters, whose parents, Daniel W. and Mary (Phillips) Burlison, were natives respec- tively of New York and Ohio. At an early age the father became a pioneer of Wisconsin, where he took up land and improved a farm. The lo- cation did not prove entirely satisfactory, and he determined to join the tide of emigration then turned toward Minnesota, where he arrived in 1866, settling on a tract of new land in Blue Earth county. From the first he was influential in the county, where his talents led to his elec- tion, on the Republican ticket, as a member of the state legislature during the sessions of ISM and 1875. While representing his district in tlic assembly he gave his support to all measures for the benefit of his constituents and for the gen- eral well-being of the state. When the family came to Minnesota Altamont Burlison was a small child, hence his education was obtained wholly in this state. Though he never attended college, he is a well-informed man and possesses a wide fund of valuable in- formation, especially concerning agriculture. For years he has made his home on section ten, De- coria township, where he has a neat place with fair buildings. In addition to superintending the home farm of one hundred sixty acres, he is serving as township assessor at this writing and in other ways has identified himself with the af- fairs of the locality. Politically he gives his vole to the men and measures of the Republican party. In fraternal relations he holds membership with the Masons. His marriage took place December 21, 1884, and united him with Miss Carrie L. Shepherd, who was born in Minnesota, her par- ents having come hither from Kew York. Two sons and a daughter comprise the family. Carl E. and Glen H. are twenty-one and nineteen years of age respectively, and the daughter. Hazel I\[ay, is. a bright school girl of fourteen years. CAREY, WILLIAM M.— With the gift of a quarter section of farm land from his father as the nucleus of his possessions, William M. Carey has added to his original property until now he owns more than eight hundred acres, all practi- cally under cultivation. The land is supplied with wells and is further watered by the Big Cobb river which passes through the farm. Fuel for the family use is furnished from the timber on the estate. A neat farm house and substantial gTanaries and barns prove the owner of the farm to be a man of thrift, enterprise and progressive spirit, and the impression thus derived is heigh- tened by the appearance of the Poland-China hogs, shorthorn cattle and Norman horses, all of 358 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. which are of blooded strains. The land lies in DanviUe township and was the original home of the family, who subsequently removed to a farm three and one-half miles away from their first purchase. Born in Pennsylvania November 1, 1849, William M. Carey is a son of Thomas and Cath- erine (Murray) Carey, natives of county Mayo, Ireland, and a grandson of William Carey, be- longing to an old, honored and prosperous family of the Emerald isle. In the old world, as in the new, agriculture formed the principal occupation of representatives of the family. During the year 1848 Thomas Carey came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. After a brief sojourn in that state he became a pioneer of Wisconsin, bat a year later, in 1853, he came to Minnesota, settling in Houston county and embarking in farm pursuits. The country was in its primeval wildness. Pew attempts had been made at culti- vation or improvement, and as yet settlers were few. In 1864 he removed to Blue Earth county and settled in Danville township on the farm now owned by his son, William M. A few years later he bought and removed to a farm three and one-half miles north of the original purchase, and there he spent his last years. A m.an of remarkable energy and perseverance, he not only provided well for his family and main- tained a close supervision of his farm, but in addition he maintained a warm interest in affairs of local importance. The third in a family of nine children, Wil- liam M. Carey was four years of age when the family settled in Minnesota and fifteen years old when he accompanied them to Blue Earth county, settling on the farm where he now lives. When the father purchased another farm he moved thither and helped- to bring it under cultivation, but at the same time of his marriage returned to the original homestead and here he has since been extensively engaged in the raising of the various products adapted to the soil and climate. A portion of the crops is fed to the stock, and the raising and fattening of stock form an im- portant addition to the income of the family. In addition, for some time Mr. Carey engaged in buying cattle for shipment to the Chicago and other markets. While busily engaged in his pri- vate agricultural affairs, he finds leisure to parti- cipate in local politics and educational work, and jias served efficiently as school director, clerk and county supervisor. The marriage of Mr. Carey took place in June, 1875, and united him with Miss Annie Baynes, a native of Ireland, her father being Patrick Baynes, an early settler of Jamestown, Blue Earth county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Carey became the parents of thirteen children, all of whom are still living with the exception of Agnes. It has been their ambition and pride to give to each the best possible educational ad- vantages and they may be justly proud of the high social and professional standing they have attained. The eldest son, Henry B., received ]iis elementary education in the district schools, after which he attended Mapleton high school and the University of Minnesota, and later taught for two years in Chicago. The eldest daughter, Mary, is a teacher in the public schools of Minneapolis. William M., who was primarily educated in district schools and Mankato high school, later was a student in Chicago University, and then taught for one year, afterward taking the regular course of lectures in the Minnesota State University; in 1906 he was graduated from that institution and the year following he re- ceived admission to the bar of the state. Fran- cis remains on the home farm; Annie is teaching ill Minneapolis ; John cultivates a farm adjoin- ing the old homestead; Sadie is a student in the high school ; James, Catherine, David, Emmet and \Valter complete the family circle. CAVEN, MICHAEL. — Associations covering a period of more than forty years entitle Mr. Caven to be classed among the pioneers of Blue Piarth county, whither he came in young man- hood, ready to give his strength and energy to the development of the fertile soil of the region. Prom the time of his arrival to the present he has been a witness of the agricultural progress of the county and has been a personal contributor to the sam.e. His memories carry him back to the days when Mankato was the only town in Blue Earth county and often he walked from the farm in Lyra township the entire distance into BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 359 iwn, while it was a common custom to liaul rain there with the aid of ox-teams. Conditions ave changed in the past forty years. Oxen are aw seldom usied for motive power, but fine urses of Norman or Percheron strains may be len on every farm, neat houses have replaced le original cabins of logs, and villages appear i'ery few miles, giving to the region an aspect E prosperity and abundant life. The Caven genealogy shows that Thomas and largaret (Melody) Caven were born in Ireland, tscendants of old families of that country, ■pon crossing the ocean to America they settled 1 New York state and for eleven years remained ti a farm in that state. While living in Alle- any county a son was born in 1836 and was amed Michael. The next location of the family as in Washington county, Wisconsin, whert; irming pursuits were conducted along pioneer nes for a period of twenty-two years. The ife and mother died in that county in 1860 ad seven years later the other members of the imily came to Minnesota, settling in Lyra town- lip. Blue Earth county, on the land now owned y Michael, and which was the home of the ither until his death in 1879. During his last ti3's he received the afiectionate ministrations of is son and was surrounded by every comfort iat affection could secure. The marriage of Michael Caven took place 1 1860 and united him with Miss Mary A. i''eir, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Cough- n) Weir, natives of Ireland. During early ears Mr. Weir settled in Washington county, nsconsin, and engaged in the pioneer task of nproving a tract of raw land. Eventually he imoved to Minnesota and established a home 1 Lyra township, Blue Earth county, where he mtinued to reside until death. The family of Ir. and Mrs. Caven comprises six children, amely: Margaret, at home; Walter, a farmer E Lyra township; Erank, who likewise conducts jricultural pursuits in this township; Michael, 1., who resides at the old homestead; Kate, ho received an excellent education at the Man- ito State Normal and is now engaged in teach- ig school; and Thomas, who is yet at home, 'he family hold membership in the Eoman atholic church. In politics Mr. Caven votes in- dependently. For a numbei' of years he has been a school director and throughout life he has been deeply interested in the country schools. In 1!)0G he suffered the loss of his house by fire, but immediately rebuilt and now has a comfort- able home for his family. Since he purchased the property in 1867 he has made all of the im- provements now to be seen there and has placed under excellent cultivation the one hundred and sixty acres comprising the estate. The greater part of the land is under the plow, but a por- tion is devoted to the pasturage and feed-yards of the shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. CHADBOUEN, ALEXANDEE T.— In a home far removed from his birthplace and from the scenes familiar to his early years, Mr. Chad- bourn is passing the afternoon of a busy life, surrounded by the comforts rendered possible by his own indefatigable exertions and blessed by the affection of family and friends. Canada is his native place, and he was born in the county of Missisquoi, province of Quebec, Jul} 5, 1815, descended from an old American fam- ily that had been identified with the history of New England from an early day. His father, Franklyn Chadbourn, was born in Vermont and during young manhood crossed the line into Canada, settling in Missisquoi county, which lies just across the line from Vermont. Farming was his chosen occupation, but before he had reached the success which his energies deserved he was taken by death in 1819 while yet a young man. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Cynthia Jennings, was born in Canada and died there in 1857. Of their five children only two are living. The youngest of the family circle, Alexander T., was four years old when he lost his father and twelve when death removed the mother from the home, leaving him orphaned and without means of support. Kindly people aided him in earning a livelihood, and he soon became self- supporting, working in Canada or in A'ermont as opportunity offered. The year 1867 found him in Wisconsin, where he took up land and em- barked in general farming. Coming to Minne- sota in 1874. he settled in Pleasant Mounds 360 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. township. Blue Earth county, where for some time he . operated rented land, but finally ac- quired by purchase his present property on sec- tion twenty-two. The farm is well improved and gives evidence of the thrifty supervision of its owner. For a number of years Mr. Chadbourn served a.? a member of the township board and in other ways he has shown a willingness to pro- mote the welfare of the people of his locality. However, he is not a partisan, and believes that partnerhsip should be sunk beneath a true pa- triotic spirit that seeks the common good, not merely selfish ends. The township has in him a wise and energetic citizen. Mr. Chadbourn has been twice married, his first wife, Annette Gil- bert, having died in young womanhood. One son was born of that union, Frank, who owns a farm adjoining the homestead of his father ana is engaged at the occupation of a carpenter. The second marriage of Mr. Chadbourn was sol- emnized August 7, 1883, and united him with Anna Gilbert, a sister of the former wife, and a daughter of Hiram Gilbert. During middle life Mr. Gilbert left his native province of Que- bec, accompanied by wife and children, and re- moved to Wisconsin, where he took up general farming; but eventually he became a citizen of Minnesota, where he made his home in Pleas- ant Mounds township. Blue Earth county, until his death at an advanced age. CHAMPLIN, CAPT. EZEA T.— The early historical records of Ehode Island show that Geoffrey Champlin settled in that colony in 1638 and was a freeman and one of the founders of Newport, where he served as a member of the town council. His son, Geoffrey, was a captain of militia in 1690. One of his descendants, Christopher Champlin, born in 1730, was the first grand master of Masons in the colony, and was president of the Bank of Ehode Island. An- other member of the family, Christopher Grant Champlin, a graduate of Harvard, was elected to congress in 1796, and reelected in 1798, and at the expiration of his term in 1800 declined further election. In 1809 he was elected to the United States senate, which office he resigned two years later. For twenty-seven years he was president of the Ehode Island Union Bank. An- other descendant of Goeffrey, was George Cham- plin, who was president of the Bank of Ehode Island and a shipmaster, who espoused the cause of the revolution in 1775 and was colonel-com- mander of the First Eegiment of Ehode Island militia. After the revolution he was chosen rep- resentative from Newport. He also served as a member of the continental congress in 1785 and 1786, and was a member of the state convention that adopted the constitution- of the United States. He was three times chosen presidential elector and for sixteen years he was elected semi- annually as member of the Ehode Island legisla- ture. The landed estate of the family lay in the towns of Kingston and Westerly and it was from the former place that Thomas Champlin imi- grated in 1800 with his family to the state of Vermont, where in 1799 he had purchased a large tract of land in the then forest region of Lake Champlain. He was twice married and was the father of five daughters and nine sons, the youngest of whom was Benjamin W., who was born April 36th, 1903, and who lived at the old family homestead that overlooks the village of North Ferrisburg in Addison County until his death Dec. 2nd, 1864. His first wife was Phebe (Griffin) Champlin, the widow of his brother Elisha, with two children, Hannah Burritt, and Lyman Elisha. His second wife was Samantha Hurlbut. His children by his first marriage are George W., Box M., Lydia A., Eliza, Susan E., Ezra T. and John T., and by his second mar- riage they are Byron T., Niles M., Eldridge E. and Noble P. Since the death of Benjamin, the last of the old estate has been sold and the family have scattered throughout the great west. In the town of Ferrisburgh, Addison County, Vermont, Ezra Thomas Champlin was born April 2, 1839, a son of Benjamin W. and Phebe Champlin. He was educated in the public schools of Vermont and Wisconsin, going to the latter state in 1857, and engaging in farming, surveying, working in the pineries and attending school. In 1860 he came .to Wabasha County, BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 361 Minnesota, and worked at farming and teach- board, reelected in 190T, and the same honor was ing school. On October 3rd, 1861, he enlisted again conferred upon him in 1908. In fraternal in Company G, Third Eegiment of Minnesota societies he is a Mason, and a member of the Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Civil war Knights of Pythias. in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi His residence and home is in the town of Ver- and Arkansas, was a short time prisoner in non Center, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, where Tennessee and participated in the campaigns of he has lived since 1867. Vicksburg and Little Eock Arkansas, winning His house is now shaded by large maple trees, successive promotions to corporal, sergeant, sec- the seed from which they sprung having been ond and first lieutenant. He refused to accept planted by him forty years ago. a commission as major in a colored regiment. In 1863 he was appointed aide-de-camp on the staif of Major-General C. C. Andrews, and served CHAPMAN, CHAELES, A.— No citizen of in that capacity until the close of the war, mean- Mankato is more closely identified with its terri- while being in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, torial expansion, or occupies a warmer place in Mississippi, Florida and Texas. He participated the affections of old and young alike than Char- in the campaign of Mobile, and the charge on les A. Chapman, the venerable surveyor and pio- Pt. Blakely, and carried the dispatch notifying neer of half a century's service and reminiscences General Steele at iMontgomery of the surrender and the President of the Old Settlers' Territor- of General Dick Taylor's army, conveying the ial Association of Blue Earth county. He is a message without an escort through the midst of Massachusetts man by birth, in personal appear- the enemy's country. In July, 1865, he was auce and in temperament, despite the fact that with the small party that escorted the provisional since early manhood he has been an advance governor of Texas to the state capital of Austin, agent in the development of various communi- During the fall of 1862 he was in the Indian ties in Iowa and Minnesota; despite all, his Har- war in Minnesota and with a part of his regi- vard training and his cultured New England ment participated in the Battle of Woodlake, ancestry still cling to his personality, where Little Crow with eight hundred warriors Charles A. -Chapman is a native of Cambridge, was defeated, resulting in the release of 120 -Massachusetts, born October 14, 1833, and first white captives, women and cliildren. Por gal- trained in the public schools of that famous old lant and meritorious service in the campaign of center of higher education. Later he pursued a Mobile he was promoted by brevet to the rank course at the Lawrence Scientific School of Har- of captain by President Johnson, and with that x-.ni University and graduated with the class of rank he was honorably discharged from the army ] 856, coming West in the spring of that year in September 16th, 1866. ]iis search for employment as a railroad engi- The marriage of Captain Champlin occurred neer. But with the coming of hard times rail- at Charlotte, Vermont, January 24, 1867, and road building ceased, so having migrated as far united him with Florence Eliza Langdon, daugh- as Des Moines, Iowa, he concluded to stop there ter of W. W. Langdon, of Malone, New York, end see what he could find to do in the more Their children are George Wallace, Helen E., stationary line of surveying town lots. In the Lee L. and Eobert G. In politics Captain Cham- autumn of 1856 he was engaged in the survey of plin IS a Democrat. He has been chairman of the Des Moines Eiver Improvement Company's the town board, county commissioner, and three land grant, and in the spring of the following times was elected to the state legislature of Min- year he left Des Moines with the intention of lo- nesota, where in 1891 he was honored by being eating in Minnesota. In company with Dr. By- chosen speaker of the House of Eepresentatives. ron Dewitt, of Oswego, he purchased a wagon. Governor Johnson commissioned him a member a pair of horses and the necessary outfit, and of the state board of equalization in 1905. The journeyed up the river road, passing through following year he was elected chairman of the Fort Dodge, Algona (then two or three houses), 362 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Blue Earth City, Vernon and Garden City — all of these towns of the most embryo character. For about forty miles either side of the line be- tween Minnesota Territory and Iowa there was no roadj and direction had therefore to be deter- mined by compass. Arriving at South Bend, June 13, 1857, they lived during that summer at the boarding house of Elijah K. Bangs, soon after their coming buying, in company with others, th« farm of Noah Armstrong and laying out the town site of Le Hillier City. In the fall of 1857 Mr. Chapman moved to Mankato, and with A. D. McSweeney opened a surveyor's office in a shanty which occupied the site of Patterson's grocery store. During the fol- lowing year he surveyed and platted the additions to Mankato, known as Warren's, Hanna's, Givens & Lewis,' Moreland, Freeman & Buck's, Shau- but's. Dukes' and Eoelofson's. Mr. Chapman serv- ecT as Auditor of Blue Earth County one term; was the first City Engineer of Mankato; was for twenty years Secretary of the Mankato Board of Trade, and has been Secretary of the Man- kato Cemetery Association since its organiza- tion in 1869. Married March 31, 1859, to Hannah A. CUiapman, of Bethel, Maine, Mr. Chapman has become the father of three children, two of whom have died in infancy. The third son, James E. Chapman, was educated at Carleton College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and now occupies a responsible position with the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, at Pueblo, Colorado. CLEMENTS, DILLON L.— Various enter- prises have occupied the time of Mr. Clements since he came to Minnesota in 1856, and during a goodly portion of these years he has been a resi- dent of Mankato, where he and his cultured wife have a host of warm personal friends. De- scended from an old eastern family, he was born :n Herkimer county, New York, and was a son of Milton and Eleanor (Dennis) Clements, na- tives of the Mohawk valley. When two years of age he was taken to Chautauqua county by his parents and settled with them at Brocton, where the father and mother both died ere reaching fifty years of age, the former meeting his death in an accident. There were five children in the family, of whom the youngest daughter died early, and John, Richard and Elizabeth also are deceased, the only surviving member of the fam- ily circle being Dillon L., of Mankato. Two years after he came to Minnesota, his brother, Richard, and sister also came to this state, where tliey spent their remaining years. For a period of twelve years Mr. Clements en- gaged in the general mercantile business at Ho- kah, Houston county, Minnesota. After the com- pletion of the Minnesota Southern Railroad he became the first conductor over his part of the route, following this he was for four years gen- eral passenger and ticket agent. Later the road was absorbed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, of which system it now forms a part. On removing to Mankato he became connected with the Central Minnesota Railroad and for two years had charge of the general freight and ticket office. On resigning from the railroad employ he engaged in the grocery business with R. D. Hub- bard under the firm title of Hubbard & Clem- ents. Somewhat later Mr. Hubbard disposed of his interest to C. W. Piper and the firm became Clements & Piper, continuing as such for several years. Eventually Mr. Piper's interest was pur- chased by Albert M. Clements and the title was changed to D. L. Clements & Son, continuing in that name until 1904, when the business was sold to Draper & Peterson. Thereupon Mr. Clements retired from business affairs and his son accepted a position with the Mankato Com- mission Company, in whose employ he has con- tinued to the present time. Notwithstanding the fact of his retirement from business, Mr. Clements maintains an interest in local affairs, keeps posted concerniag real estate, watches the growth of the city with the deepest concern, and all in all has proved him- self to be a patriotic citizen. In fraternal rela- tions he is connected with the Knight Templar Masons. October 2, 1856, he married Miss La- vantia D. Case, daughter of William and Mary (Hempstead) Case, of Brocton, Chautauqua county, New York. The bridal tour of Mr. and Mrs. Clements was the trip to their new home in the northwest, where they took up housekeeping BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 363 amid pioneer surroundings. For a period of five years after coming west Mrs. Clements engaged ill teaching, for which work she was qualified by a liberal education and an ability to impart ta- formation to children. As an instructor she won local prominence. Three sons came to bless their union, namely : Prank B., of Wilkes-Barre, Penn- sylvania; Frederick D., of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Albert M., who remains in Mankato. There were ten children in the family of which Mrs. Clements was a member. Those now living be- sides herself are as follows: Dr. C. H. Case, who for more than thirty years has been a. practicing physician at Ripley, Indiana; Rev. A. M. Case, D. D., of Eockford, Iowa; Dr. M. W. Case, presi- dent of the Conservatory of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Rev. W. W. Case, D. D., pas- tiir of the First Methodist Episcopal church of San Jose, California. From childhood years both Mr. and Mrs. Clements have been connected with the Methodist Episcopal denomination and they long have been active workers in the Centenary church, ia which Mr. Clements has been an ofl'i- eial member for years and has assisted liberally ixi a financial way. COFFIlsr, W. P.— The genalogy of the Coffin family is traced through members of the society of friends back to Tristram Coffin who came t(i America from England in the year 1643. In the year 1659 he and nine others bought the Is- land of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The consid- eration named ia the deed was thirty pounds and two beaver hats. These ten persons were the first to make set- tlement on that Island. At a very early day Samuel, a descendant of Tristram, accompanied a colony of Quakers from Nantucket to Guilford County, North Carolina. Tliomas, a son of Samuel removed from North Carolina to Orange County, Indiana in the pio- neer days of 1817. Settling in the wilderness he built up a good home, and obtained prominence among his ac- quaintances. For some years he served in the Indiana Legislature. At the time of his death he was 78 years of age. Eight years later his wife, Miriam passed away at the age of seven- ty-eight. The family comprised seven children, two now living: William P., of Mankato, Minnesota, and Caroline M., widow of Dr. Robert Mitchell of Marengo, Indiana. Those deceased were named as follows: Clorinda, wife of Rev. Jno. G. Williamson of Whiteland, Indiana, aged seventy-eight. Zeno W., of Indianapolis, Indiana, aged eighty- six. Rev. Bartlett Y., of Minneapolis, Mum., aged seventy-eight. Edwin of Dillion, Montana, aged eighty-one. Isaac G., of Rocliville, Indiana, aged sixty- eight. The sixth among the seven children was Wil- liam P., born at Paoli, Indiana, Sept. 20th, 1832. and educated primarily in the schools of his na- tive town. Later he had the privilege to study at Hanover College, and for a year attended Asbury I^niversity, at Green Castle, Indiana. Starting out for himself, he came to Minne- sota in 185 i, stopping at Mankato, where for a while he and Joel Cloud conducted a little store in a building standing near the present site of the City Hall. In 1855 he took a claim in the town of Rapi- dan and after making considerable improvements lost it, as did twenty other settlers on lands, which were afterward set apart by the govern- ment as a reservation for the Winnebago In- dians. In the fall of the same year he and Joel Cloud went with teams to Independence, Iowa, for flour. On the return journey they were over- taken by a snow stonn at Clear Lake, Iowa, and were forced to abandon wagons for sleds. There v,as a dim trail leading northward which was only visible in places where the winds had swept the snow away. For a distance of sixty miles there wasn't a human habitation in sight. They were five days floundering through snow drifts before reaching a claim shanty on the Maple river. His second claim was m.ade ia what is now known as Spring Island neighborhood, and on re- ceiving title thereto he returned to Indiana. In the fall of 1863 he assisted in the organi- 864 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. zation of the 13th Indiana Cavalry enlisting eighty men for active service; Feb. 12, '64, was commissioned captain. The regiment did post duty at Huntsville, Alabama, and while there successfully resisted an attack by a cavalry force of Ben. Beau- ford's. He received a slight flesh wound and hie horse was shot at the battle of Overalls Creek near Murphysboro, Tenn. After the battle of Nashville the regiment was ordered to Mobile, Alabama, ajid did patrol duty during the reduction of forts Spanish and Blake- ly. From there it was one of a cavalry brigade which marched into southern Georgia, thence to Montgomery, Alabama, and from there into northern Mississippi. In July he was detailed as Provost Marshal of freed men with headquar^ ters at Aberdeen, Miss., and remained in that capacity till mustered out with the regiment at Vicksbury, Miss., Nov. 18, 1865. Prom the time of his departure from Minne- sota in 1856 until his return ten years later. Captain Coffin made frequent trips to the north- west, engaged in buying, selling and trading ^tock. Since 1874 he has been engaged in the real estate business at Mankato, and among whose citizens he holds a position of trust and confidence by reason of a long and honorable business career. It is one of his chief pleasures to meet with veterans of the Civil war, nor is it less of a de- light to meet with pioneers of Minnesota, men who like himself, endured the vicissitudes of the early days, braved the dangers of Indian out- breaks and experienced all the hardships incident to existence in a new country. His marriage took place October 3, 1867, and united him with Margaret C. Todd, who was born in New York State and died at Mankato in 1900, aged fifty-eight years. Their children are: Charles, Louise (deceas- ed), Mrs. Helen E. Ober, Butte, Montana, and Mark T., a veteran of the Spanish war, now in the employ of the Omaha Railroad Company. COLSBN, AUGHSTAVE.— Notwithstanding an identification with the business interests of Mankato that covered a comparatively few years and was abruptly terminated by death, Mr. Col- sen is well-remembered by acquaintances and associates, whose confidence he won by his fine traits of character and irreproachable integrity of life. Prom ancestors who were of the best blood of Sweden he inherited that sterling char- acteristics that have made liis nation famous the world over, while supplementary to these he ac- quired by long residence in America the enter- prise, energy and progressive spirit that dominate the United States. Large success did not come to him, because he died while yet in middle age, and as he was laying the substantial foundation of future prosperity, yet already he had been encouragingly successful and left to his family considerable property secured through industry and wise judgment. The son of a worthy farmer of Sweden, Au- gustave Colsen was born in that country in Peb- ruary of 1849 and received such advantages as the locality rendered possible. Upon leaving school he began to learn the trade of a stone- cutter. Such was his skill and industry that soon he became a master of the trade and was quali- fied to earn an excellent income in the occupa- tion. At the age of twenty years he came to the United States and immediately secured employ- ment at his trade in the east, where he remained for a long period and met with gratifying success. Luring April of 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Nettie Miller, who was born in Swe- den in 1853. As early as 1863, the father crossed the ocean to the United States and worked in the employ of others at the blacksmith's trade until he had mastered the English language. As soon as he was able to conduct business dealings in English he opened a shop of his own, settling at Watertown, Massachusetts, where he labored suc- cessfully for many years and won a large circle of patrons and friends. A partial stroke of paral- ysis during the year 1890 forced him to entirely relinquish business activities and he came to Mankato in order to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. Colsen. His last days were passed beneath her roof, ministered to by her unfailing kindliness and gentle care. After he had long suffered from paralysis he passed from earth August 31, 1903, and his body found its last rest- ing place near the scenes of his later years. BIOGEAPHIUAL HISTUKX. aot) The doctrmee of the Lutheran chureli have always been upheld by the Colsen family, ■rho are generous contributors to its charities and gen- eral maintenance. Mrs. Colsen and her three children have continued to reside in Mankato since Mr. Colsen's death and they own a pleasant home at No. 219 North Sixth street. The older son, Lawrence, is engaged in the cigar-manufac- turing business, and the younger son, who is now in Plainview, this state, follows the barber's trade. The youngest child, Ethel holds a posi- tion with the Citizens Telephone Company at Mankato. COMSTOCK, HON. WILLARD L.— Having passed his entire life within the city of Mankato and being by birth, by education and by train- ing a son of Minnesota, Judge Comstock is famil- iar with conditions and possibilities in this por- tion of the country and possesses a thorough knowl- edge of the opportunities awaiting men of energy, decision and discrimination aided by capital suf- ficent for investments of an attractive nature. During the period of his identification with the legal profession in Mankato he has risen to a position of prominence by reason of wide ac- quaintance with the best of authorities in points of law and also has gained the esteem and re- gard of acquaintances as a result of his fine mental and social endowments. The Comstock family was associated with the colonial history of our country. The exact date of their immigration to America is not known, but it is certain that they were early settlers. Thomas Comstock, who was born and reared in New York state, became a man of prominence in Herkimer county and while filling the office of sheriff there he was drowned in the Hudson river as he was giving chase to a fugitive from justice. In the family of the sheriff there was a son, Marshall, born and reared in New York state, and a pioneer of 1863 in Minnesota, where he settled at Mankato and embarked in the lumber and milling business. Marshall Com- stock passed away Feb. 17, 1908, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah E. Patton, is still living in Mankato. Their son, Willard L., was born in Mankato November 84, 1861, and received excellent advantages in the grammar and high schools, also attended the State Normal University, where he availed him- self of the many advantages offered by that grow- ing institution. After having taught for six years in the schools of Blue Earth county, Mr. Comstock turned his attention to the study of law and entered the office of a prominent firm in Man- kato, where he carried on the regular routine of study preparatory to admission to the bar. During May of 1890 he was admitted to practice at the bar of Minnesota and since then has had his office in Mankato, where he has been promi- nent in affairs pertaining - to the law and to politics, being prominent in the local councils of the Democratic party. During the legisla- tive sessions of 1892-93 he represented this dis- trict in the lower house, where he proved him- self faithful to the interests of his constituents, loyal to the welfare of the state and conversant with problems affecting the general prosperity. In April of 1905 he was elected municipal judge and re-elected in April, 1907, and now fills that position, in addition to which he has held other offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens. During November of 1890 Judge Comstock ^vas united in marriage with Phila L. Fletcher, formerly of Lake City, this state. They are the parents of two children, Philip F. and Do- rothy L. In fraternal relations Judge Com- stock is Grand Master Workman of the An- cient Order of United Workmen of Minne- sota, is a member of the Modem Samaritans, the Foresters, Knights of Pythias, and Royal Arcanum in which last-named order he has offici- ated as Grand Regent and also has been representative to the supreme council. Served ten years as a member of the National Guard of Minnesota being captain of old Company F, of the Second Regiment. The importance of a thorough education as a basis upon which to build a manly character or to develop the most wo- manly traits has never been unrealized by Judge Comstock, whom we find to be one of the most earnest advocates of free-school opportunities in this town, and these sentiments enable him to labor with the utmost efficiency in his position as a member of the city school board, in which capacity he has served for six or more years. 366 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. CONEOY, MAETIISr.— More than one-half century has brought its varying changes to the commonwealth of llinnesota since first Mr. Con- roy landed in this then frontier of the north- west. Few white men had preceded him as per- manent settlers, but the tide of emigration had begun to turn hither and each year brought its influx of sturdy pioneers bent upon the conquest of the soil. Indians still roamed over the prai- ries and the light of their camp-fires was often the only indication of human life visible to the eye as the gaze of the stranger rested anxiously upon the unbroken stretches of primeval soil. "While at times the red men were, friendly, his- tory records that they were hostile to the taking up of land by the whites and at times their hos- tility found expression in the most cruel forms, notably the murder of the Jewett family, whom Mr. Conroy assisted to bury. For three years he belonged to the organization known as the minute men, formed to fight the Indians and protect the white settlers from, their depredations. Those were years of hardship and privation for the pioneers, , and more than once he suffered frorii cold and hunger. During one entire winter he had nothing, to eat besides "Johnny cake," the supply of flour having been exhausted, while the extreme cold weather rendered it impossible to secure game. .On one occasion he traded his dogs with Chief .Good Thunder for blankets, in order that he might protect himself from the elements in the winter months. Near the shores of, the Atlantic ocean, in county Galway, Ireland, Martin Conroy was bom October 9, 1828, being a son of James and Catherine (Eagen) Conroy, who lived and died upon a farm in Ireland. At an early age he decided that the new world offered him greater opportunities than the old, and in 1848 he cross- ed the ocean in a sailing vessel, which cast an- chor in ISTew York City. After a short sojourn til ere he went to Clinton, Massachusetts, where he secured employment at $8 per month. His next work was in the woods near Manchester, New Hampshire. He next was employed in a cotton factory at Franklin, K. H., whence he removed to Suncook in the same state. Later for three years he worked for the governor of New Hampshire in brick yards in the northern part of the state. The year 1855 found him a pioneer in the then unsettled regions of Min- nesota, where he took up a claim in Winona county. To buy a yoke of oxen to work his claim he was obliged to mortgage his new made home and pay 40 per cent interest. The load proved too heavy and he was forced to abandon all to the money lender. During 1857 he came to Blue Earth county and took up a homestead near Vernon Center. During 1868 he removed to Lyra township and settled on a farm, to the improvement of which he gave many active years. Money was scarce and his life for years held many discouragements. In order to meet his debts as they came due he sought employment in the digging of ditches and of post-holes, and no work was too difficult for his willing hands and resolute spirit. By dint of unremitting ef- forts and patient industry he acquired two hund- red and fifteen acres of land, but eventually he gave some of the property to his sons, and upon retiring from farm activities he rented the bal- ance. The marriage of Mr. Conroy which occurred at Suncook, N". H., Nov., 1843, united him with Elizabeth Farmer, daughter of Thomas and Eose (McGuire) Farmer, who were born and reared in the north of Ireland, immigrated to the United States, settled in New Hampshire, and there re- mained until death. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Conroy, namely: James, who ie engaged in' farming for himself; Thomas, John and Mattie, all of whom died after reaching ma- turity; Martin; Edward; Eose (deceased); Mag- gie; Katie; Ellen (who died in childhood); and Minnie. For some years since the death of his wife which occurred May 10, 1875, at the old homestead in Lyra, Mr. Conroy has made his home with his daughter, Katie, who married Walter Caven (?), a farmer of Lyra township. The family hold membership with the Roman Catholic church, in which faith Mr. Conroy was trained in his boyhood years in the old Irish home. Politically he casts his vote with the Democrats. For fifteen years he held school office and always has maintained a warm interest in educational movements. COOPEE, CHAELES H.— No profession of- fers greater opportunities of usefulness than tliat of an educator. The minister brings to the soul the beautiful and uplifting message of the Gos- pel, the physician administers remedial agen- cies and endeavors to restore it to normal strength, and of no less importance than these is the office of the teacher, for his is the privi- lege of taking the mind in its original purity and innocence and opening upon its vision the glories of the world and the importance of self- culture. In enterting upon the profession of a teacher in early manhood Professor Cooper followed the bent of his tastes and ambitions, and the re- markable degree of success which he has achieved in his chosen field of labor proves that his su- perior natural endowments have been carefully trained and developed by self-culture. His par- ents James Morrison and Anna Herwance who were born in Few York State were residents of La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1855 at the time of his birth, he inherited from his ancestry a passion- ale love of literature and an ambition to acquire the ripeness of thorough scholarship. Possessing such traits, it was natural that he sought the best possible educational, advantages. During 1873 he matriculated in Darmouth college, where he took the classical course of study and was graduated with the class of 1877, bearing with him into the world of activity a fine record for scholarship and a high standing among his fellow-students. During the year immediately following his graduation Professor Cooper acted as sub-mas- ter in the Abbott school at Washington, D. C, from which institution he went to Hitchcock Free Academy at Brimfield, Massachusetts. For a year he was a teacher there and from 1879 to 1883 officiated as the principal of the institution resigning to accept a position as tutor in Dart- mouth College, his alma mater. In 1883 he came to the northwest as professor of history and political science in Carleton college at ISTorthfield, Minnesota, where he continued until the close of 1898, meanwhile also filling the office of college librarian. His identification with the Minnesota State Normal school at Mankato as its president dates from January 1, 1899, since which time the enrollment of students has increased until it has reached almost one thousand. Under his efficient leadership each department of the school has recorded an advance. The most modern meth- ods of instruction have been introduced and peda- gogy has been brought to a science in which the study of child-life and the development of the nntrained mind are recognized as of unsurpassed value of the world. For a long period the in- stitution has been the pride of Mankato and Blue Earth county, but by reason of recent ad- vances in methods of work it has come to be also the pride of the entire state and ranlcs among the best schools of the northwest. To this success and growth the personality of the president has been an important contributing factor. Among the large body of students he is admired and beloved for those qualities which each would emulate in his own life ; among other educators, he has won an enviable repu- tation as one ripe in scholarship and high in his intellectual and moral ideals; by members of the board of trustees of the school he is recognized as a man of executive ability and the tact neces- sary in a leader; among the people of his home city he is respected as a man whose citizenship adds prestige to the town. Dignified in pres- ence, dicisive in action, determined in will pow- er and definite in the accomplishment of each day's duties he may aptly be regarded as an ex- emplary and ideal instructor of the youth of our state. His hospitable home in Mankato is pre- sided over by Mrs. Cooper, who prior to their marriage in 1883 was Miss Caroh'na A. Wheeler, of Forth Woburn, Massachusetts. They are the parents of three children, Helen, Margaret and Eobert. COEBETT, A. H.— One of the farmers of Blue Earth county is A. H. Corbett, who through well-directed efforts has risen to promi- nence among • the agriculturists of Shelby Township and has gained a success that is de- served and noteworthy. Since the autumn of 1868 he has owned and occupied his present farm on section eight, the tract comprising two hundred and seventeen acres, with the residence located on a knoll sheltered from the storms of 368 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. v/inter by a timber tract of natural growth. The house has modern conveniences and indi- cates the presence of a refined family. The out- buildings show the progressi-ve spirit of the owner. The round barn with its cement founda- tion was, at the time of building, the only barn of its kind in the entire state of M-nnesota, and has been found by its owner to possess many ad- vantages, giving much space for ground area in proportion to its size, also not being affected by heavy winds, and at the same time affording facilities for the doing of the chores in about one-half the time required in barns of the old- fashioned type. The genealogy of the Corbet! family shows colonial extraction, dat'ng back to Robert Cor- bett a resident of Weymouth, Massachusetts, who fought in King Philijp's war, settling in Farm- ington, Maine, in 1782, he was the father of Elder Daniel Corbett, who was the father of Deacon Daniel Corbett, who was the father of Peter Corbett, whose son Rufus Corbett was the father of Amasa Corbett, whose son is the sub- ject of this sketch. Rufus, was born in Massachusetts, but came with his father to Parmington where he passed the balance of his life in farming and in aiding movements for the welfare of his locality and state. Amasa., son of Rufus Corbett, was born at Parmington, Maine, and married Angeline Beale, a native of the same locality. Like his father, he was public-spirited and energetic. Por a time he held the rank of major in the state militia and during the war he acted as town treasurer. Por years he remained on the family homestead and there he eventually died. The youngest in a family of four children, A. H. Corbett was born at Parmington, Maine May 31, 1845, and there he received his educa- tion in the public schools. During the fall of 1865 he came to Minnesota and for two years he remained in the vicinity of lake Minnetonka, after which he returned to his eastern home for a sojourn of eight months. On his return to Minnesota in the fall of 1868 he settled on the land which since he has converted into an at- tractive homestead. At the time of buying this property he was unmarried and for several years he continued alone, but in November of 1873 he established domestic ties through his marriage to Donzetta Briggs, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of Rufus Briggs, a pioneer of Pleas- ant Mound township, this county. Born of their union were three children. lone, who married Joseph Heritage and lives in Pleasajit Mound township, this county; Julie E., who died in 1882 and Amasa Rufus, who is now in Amboy. Mr. and Mrs. Corbett are, in a position to enjoy life, having accumulated a competency through their long-continued and judicious efforts, and in their attractive country home, surrounded by every- thing to add to their content and many re- fined tastes, they are quietly and busily continu- ing the management of their homestead. Their friends are many in this locality and they es- teem the esteem of their wide circle of ac- quaintances. CORNELL, JUDD.— Numerous finely im- proved farms prove the value of Mapleton town- ship as an agricultural region, and among these estates the old Cornell homestead is not the least conspicuous. The homestead now belongs to a son of the original owner, and this son, starf- ijig with sixty acres of the tract, has purchased (lie balance in small installments as his means, permitted, acquiring in this way a farm of 270 acres, the greater part of which has been placed under cultivation. Through the farm runs a branch of the Maple river that does not cease its flow even during the summer months, and in ad- dition at a depth of forty feet artesian water is available, there being two flowing wells on the place at this writing, so that an abundance of water supply is assured. Stock raising is one of the principal industries in which the owner en- gages, his specialty being a good grade of Short- horn cattle. In horses his choice is the Clyde, and his present herd is headed by a fine speci- men of that breed. The identification of the Cornell family with the agricultural development of Mapleton town- siiip dates back to the year 1856, at which time the noted Taylor expedition came from New York. Prior to that time James Cornell, a native of Goshen, Indiana, had been in corre- spondence with members of that party and had iiW(iiiA.rtlLVJi.u n.io±ui\i. decided to meet them at their destined location. Accordingly he started from Indiana with an nx-team. Others started with him, but none ex- cepting his family continued to the end of the journey. After an uneventful trip he arrived at Mapleton three weeks subsequent to the arrival of the Taylor party. Without any delay he bought a squatter's right to a quarter section on v/hich Old Mapleton was located. The remainder of his life was assiduously devoted to agricultural pursuits and he remained at the old homestead imtil his death, which occurred in August of 1894. For twenty-five years he had served as justice of the peace and during that time he had become known for the impartiality with which he administered justice, as well as for his knowledge of the law. Five children had been born to the first mar- riage of James Cornell and four of these ac- companied him in his removal from Indiana to Minnesota. He married Ann Augusta McCoy, a native of Ohio. Of that union four children were born, Judd being the second in order of birth. The eldest, Emil]-, married I. D. Annis, who is engaged in the ■ hardware business at Westbrook, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. The third child, Fffie, is the wife of E. D. 'Healy, of Glenbum, North Dakota. The youngest, Charles, is en- gaged in farm pursuits at Old Mapleton. On the homestead in Mapleton township. Blue Earth county, Judd Cornell was born January 1, 1860, and here he gained his first ideas concerning agriculture, while the neighboring school gave him his education. No stirring inc' dents have characterized his life, which has been passed quietly and busily on the old homestead, and the passing years have brought him a gratifying de- gree of success, as well as a high standing among liis associates. He is recognized as a progressive agriculturist,- one thoroughly abreast with the times, and on his farm may be noted evidences of his thrift, energy and orderly spirit. November 13, 1883, occurred the marriage of Judd Cornell and Alberta Phelps, daughter of G. H. H. Phelps a farmer of Sterling town- ship. Blue Earth county. The eldest child of their union, Clair, was educated at Mapleton and k- now assistant cashier of the Mapleton State bank. Ralph is a graduate of the Mankato Busi- ness College and now is employed in the bank at Glenbum, North Dakota. Verne is a graduate of the Mapleton high school with the class of 1906 also of the Mankato Commercial college. Hazle, Lawrence and Merle are students in the Mapleton schools. For twenty years Mr. Cornell has served as a school director and meantime has ac- complished much toward elevating the standard of education in the district. The only fraternal organization to which he belongs is the Masonic order, in which he has been prominently associated with the blue lodge at Mapleton and has been a generous contributor to its charities. COENISH EDWIN D.— Years of arduous application to the development of his farm lands brought to Mr. Cornish a fair degree of finan- cial returns and also won for him, by his display of manly traits, the regard of neighbors and as- sociates. Through his own efforts he had ac- quired an excellent education and his splendid library evinces that he has lost none of his fond- ness for good literature; yet he applied himself to the most wearing manual labor, and he and his wife, on coming to Blue Earth County one 3^ear after their marriage, took up housekeeping in a shanty wholly destitute of comforts. Through' their self-sacrificing efforts they have acquired a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in one body, situated in Vernon Center township and all under the plow excepting five acres of timber. Born at North Bangor, Franklin County, New York, July 36, 1841, Edwin D. Cornish is a brother of W. E. Cornish, to whose sketch the reader is referred for the family history. He was educated principally at Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and for one year attended the Wisconsin State University at Madison, after which he taught school for four years. His mar- riage united him with Mary A. Pew, who like himself had engaged in teaching. Her father, Francis Pew, was horn in Ireland and after com- ing to America met and married Ann Hogerty, who was born at Green Bay, Wisconsin, her an- cestors having been very early settlers of that region. He lived to be eighty-nine and is sur- 370 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. vived by liis wife, who makes her home at Osh- kosh, Wisconsin, and is physically and mentally active notwithstanding her eighty-four years. For years after coming to Blue Earth county Edwin D. Cornish was obliged to use the great- est economy, but in the end he attained a flatter- ing degree of success and became a man of great influence in his township. Unfortunately he suf- fered severe injuries in a runaway a few years ago and since then has been an invalid, yet he still maintains a warm interest in the work of the farm and superintends the raising of Short- horn cattle and Berkshire and Poland-China hogs. In his pleasant home, surrounded by every comfort, he finds compensation for his invalidism in the companionship of his wife and children, the reading of his books and the visits of his old friends and neighbors, to whom he remains de- votedly attached. In politics he has voted in- dependently. Before the advent of the rural free delivery he served as postmaster at Myrna twenty-three years. For several terms he was a member of the township board of trustees and served nearly always as its chairman. For thir- teen years he was secretary and treasurer of the Shelby Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany. He is not a member of any church. Ten children comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Cornish. The eldest son, Francis V., now an attorney in San Francisco, is a graduate of the Wisconsin State University at Madison and the Minnesota' State University at Minneapolis, completing the literary course of the former and the law course of the latter institution, after which he spent two years in Europe. Yesta. M., a graduate of the Mankato IN'ormal school, and also of the State University. She also spent six months traveling in Europe with her brother, is now engaged in teaching in the High School at Healdsburg, California. Catherine M., a grad- uate of Mankato Normal, married H. C. Kraus, a buj^er and shipper of grain. Edwin Jr., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at La Moine, Shasta County, California, was graduated from Eush Medical College, Cliicago, and later spent some time in study at Heidelberg, Ger- many, and in medical institutions at other points in Europe. Bonnetta, a graduate of the High School and State University, taught three years in High School and then married 0. P. Mc- Elmeel, an attorney of Minneapolis. Josephine, a graduate of the High School, attended the Minnesota State University for two years and later completed her studies in the California State University at Berkeley, graduating in 1908, is now teaching in High School in Southern California. George graduated from the Minne- apolis High School and has attended the Minne- sota State University for two years. Samuel P., a High School graduate, was a student at the State University for two years and now is en- gaged in the real estate business in Berkeley, California and is also senior in the university. Mary E. and Euth, who are gradu- ates of the Minneapolis High School, now are at- tending the State University. It is an interest- ing fact that all of the ten children excepting Edwin and Samuel have taught school, and all have received exceptionally fine educational ad- vantages, their ambitions in this direction being fostered by their parents, who were both well educated and who have ever shown a strong de- sire to promote the intellectual advancement of their talented children. COENISH, G. CLmTON.— The name of Cornish has been long and honorably associated with the agricultural development of Blue Earth County, where the three brothers. Wells E., Ed- win D. and G. Clinton, have acquired valuable farm properties and have risen to positions of influence in the farming community. In a very early day their parents removed from the east to the then frontier regions of Wisconsin and after- ward devoted their time to transforming a tract of raw prairie into a productive estate. The parental family comprised fifteen children and all of these lived to mature years, G. Clinton being the youngest of the family circle. He was born in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, August 22, 1858, and received a good education in the country schools near his childhood home. While he was yet a small lad the older members of the family had started out to make their own way in the world and some of them had discovered favorable opportunities in Blue Earth County, hence his attention was directed to Minnesota at BiUUKAi'iliUiViJ JilDXUiti. an an early a^e and in time he became a farmer of this part of the country. The marriage of G. Clinton Cornish took place in Wisconsin June 9, 1886, and united him with Emma E. Simm, daughter of James and Sarah (Vessey) Simm, natives of Liverpool, England. While living in England her father was em- ployed as a bookkeeper, but after coming to the United States in 1853 he took up land in Wis- consin and devoted his attention to the improv- ing of a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Cornish are the parents of two children. The daughter, Sarah E., was born September 14, 1887, and attended the Mankato State Normal, since which she has been a student of music, evincing fondness for that art as well as considerable talent. The son, Sanford J., was born March 20, 1890, and at- tended the Vernon Center High School. Upon coming to his present farm in Vernon Center township in 1889, Mr. Cornish began to make improvements and to^ bring the land under a profitable state of cultivation. His place com- prises one hundred and sixty acres, divided into fields of convenient size and affording facilities for grain and stock raising, of which he is making a specialty. As a general farmer and stock- raiser he shows energ}^, keen sagacity and excel- lent discrimination, and well deserves a place among the progressive farmers of his township. A neat house affords a comfortable home for his family, while he has various buildings for the shelter of the stock and machinery and the stor- age of hay and grain. In addition to maintain- ing a close supervision of his farm he has par- ticipated in local affairs and has favored every movement for good roads, good schools and the other necessities of a progressive community. At this writing he acts as chairman of the board of trustees of Vernon Center township. Politically he has not bound himself to any party, but votes for the candidates he believes best qualified to represeht the people. He carries life insurance in a fraternal organization, while his stock and buildings are insured in the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he is Vice President. Fraternally he holds membership in Vernon Center Lodge No. 238, A. F. and A. !\r., and has been Worshipful Master the past five years, and has always been a believer in the phil- anthropic principles for which Masonry stands. CORNISH, WELLS E.— Upon his arrival in Blue Earth county as a pioneer of 1866, Mr. Cornish found little attempt had been made to de- velop the resources of this part of the great commonwealth of Minnesota. Settlers were few and towns scattered at remote distances upon the broad prairies. Selecting a tract of land for a homestead, he took up the difficult task of clear- ing and improving the property. The first house he occupied was? a small log cabin, but after one year he erected a frame house affording more conveniences for his family. The land was brought under the plow, the soil was thoroughly tilled, fences were built so as to divide the estate into fields of convenient size, and farm buildings were put up for the storage of grain and the shelter of stock. The estate now com- prises two hundred and eighty acres and ranks among the finest farms of Vernon Center town- ship. Wells E. Cornish was born at North Bangor, Franklin county, New York, January 34, 1839, being a son of Sanford and Elizabeth (Eager) Cornish. His father was born at Eutland, Ver- mont, in 1801, and prior to the war of 1813 ac- companied members of the family to New York etate settling upon a farm and in due time tak- ing up agricultural pursuits for himself. After having remained in the same locality for many years, in 1854 he came to the west and settled in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, where he took up a farm claim and engaged in improving country property. There his death occurred in 1892. He had been twice married, his first wife being Mercy Boss and his second hearing the name of Elizabeth Eager. By the two marriages he had nineteen children, all but three of whom attained to maturity. After having availed himself of such advan- tages as the common schools of his day and lo- cality afforded, Wells E. Cornish began to work in the woods, but when only seventeen years of age he left home and took up the battle of life for himself. Kansas at that time was attractinsr considerable emigration and he proceeded to Lawrence, that state, where he had his share of exciting experiences during what was known as the "Jim Lane period." Soon he went to Missouri, where he secured employment in a saw- mill. Three years later, in 1860, he went to 372 BIOGKAPHICAL HISTOEY. Nebraska City, Nebraska, and during that year was united in marriage with Miss Helen Pratt, born in Boston, Massachusetts, daughter of Mar- shall and Predericka (Thummel) Pratt, natives of Germany. Her parents settled in Illinois in an early day and her father assisted in laying out the village of Dixon, which since has grown into a city of importance. His last days were passed in Marshalltown, Iowa, where in 1897 his earth life came to an end. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Cornish consisted of eight children. Nellie makes her home at Syracuse, Nebraska; Hattie is deceased; Ernes- tine is living at Montevideo, Chippewa county, Minnesota; Josephine is a resident of Blue Earth county; Isabelle makes her home at Cam- duff, Canada; Dr. Marshall S., resides at Alton, Iowa; Dwight and Francis remain with their parents in Vernon Center township. The home farm is kept under excellent cultivation anJ evinces the supervision of a thrifty farmer. Numerous trees have been planted by the owner, including a windbreak of evergreens, and he takes especial pride in his beautiful yard with its tastily arranged flower beds and ornamental trees. While maintaining a modern, up-to-date farm, he has found leisure for traveling and has spent eight seasons in California, besides vis- iting other parts of the country. CEANE, DAVID E.— The Crane genealogical records show English origin, but for numerous generations the family has been identified with the agricultural development of the new world, the first of the name in this country having set- tled near the Atlantic coast. In 1829 Archibald A Crane was born in Tompkins county. New York, and there during early manhood he mar- rie(^ Miss Jane A. Haynes, who was born in 1835 in the same county, and also of English ancestry. Migrating to "Wisconsin during 1854, they began housekeeping in the midst of a fron- tier environment and took up the arduous task of hewing a homestead out of the wilderness. Both possessed the genuine pioneer spirit that braved the greatest dangers and endured the most exhausting labors without a murmur. After having developed a farm in Wisconsin an opportunity came to dispose of the same. Ac- cordingly the land was sold and removal was made to Minnesota, where during the first year the family were hospitably housed in the home of the honored pioneer, William Skinner. The next year land was pre-empted four miles east of Garden City, Blue Earth county, and forthwith the industrious farmer took up the task of trans- forming a tract of raw land into a productive farm. Years brought him increasing responsi- bilities, but also brought a fair share of success and gave him a place among the prosperous f.irmers of his county. Eventually in 1901 he and his wife relinquished active farm work and they now reside with their daughter, Mrs. L. D. Mills, near Garden City. Besides this daughter, Nettie, there were seven children in the family, namely: A. L., of Blue Earth county; Alice and Frances, deceased; David E., who was born in Adams county, Wisconsin, August 21, 1859; M. F. and Fred E., both living in Blue Earth county; and Ida, who died in infancy. During the Civil war the father was a brave soldier and served valiantly as a member of a valiant com- pany of Wisconsin infantry, in whose battles he participated, remaining at the front until he re- ceived an honorable discharge at the expiration of his time of enlistment. When the family moved from Wisconsin to Minnesota in 1866 David E. Crane was abouf seven years of age. Primarily educated in coun- try schools, later he was sent to the Mankato high school, from which he was graduated at the age of twenty-three years. Afterward he taught school for two years and then turned his atten- tion to farming and stock dealing, in which he has since engaged. In Blue Earth county April 10, 1884, he married Miss Jennie Williams, who was born in South Bend township, this county, May 29, 1859, being a daughter of Hugh W. and Elizabeth (Herbert) Williams, natives of Wales, but in early life emigrants to the United States, the father coming in 1850 and the mother crossing the ocean the following year. They were married in Eacine, Wisconsin, and from there in 1856 removed to Minnesota, settling in South Bend township. Blue Earth county. The father here engaged in agricultural pursuits un- iJiUUiiivrrLiu^u xiioiw-tvj-. til his death, which occurred September 10, 1890. The mother suryives and is still living at the old homestead. Their family consisted of five children, namely : William H., who is an attor- ney in St. Paul; Jennie, Mrs. Crane; Jolm W., who resides in Blue Earth county; Daniel, who remains on the old homestead; and Mary E., deceased. Removing to his present farm in 1883, Mr. Crane is now the owner of one hundred and sev- enty acres of well-improved land and Has built up a valuable estate, equipped with the neces- sary adjuncts of modem agriculture. Thirteen children were born of his marriage. Two of these died unnamed in infancy. Hugh W., who was born February 5, 1885, is now a telegraph operator at South Omaha, Nebraska; April 7, 1905, he enlisted in Company E, Minnesota Sig- nal Corps, and served until April 28, 1906. Frances J. was born August 23, 1887, and died August 27, 1898. The remaining children, with dates of birth, are as follows: Agnes E., April 18, 1889; Archibald D., June 10, 1891; Herbert E., April 17, 1893; Ruth, March 18, 1894; Will- iam E., November 5, 1895; Mary E., February 32, 1898; Naomi, September 20, 1899; David E., May 13, 1901; and Lorin, April 19, 1904. Stanch in his allegiance to the Eepublican ,)arty. Mr. Crane has been an active local worker in that organization, and has filled all of the township ofiicee. At present he represents South Bend township upon the county board of super- visers and has been honored with the chairman- ship of that body. For five years he acted as manager of the Judson creamery. Upon the or- ganization of the Blue Earth County Telephone Company he aided in securing its incorporation and at this writing holds office as its treasurer. Other local enterprises have had the benefit of his energetic co-operation. In fraternal relations he is a Mason, belonging to Mankato Lodge No. 12, in the work of which he has been warmly interested, as in all the philanthropic activities of the order. With his family he enjoys the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances and numbers hosts of friends in the township where the greater portion of his life has been passed. CUMMING, WILLIAM.— Picturesquely situ- ated in the midst of the lakes that form a strik- ing addition to the scenic beauty of Blue Earth county, stands the home of Mr. Cumming, recog- nized as one of the most attractive places in Middleton township. The residence is a substan- tial brick structure partially surrounded by lakes and by a beautiful grove of trees planted many years ago by the present owner. Various buildings erected for the storage of the crops or the care of the stock add to the value of the estate. The en- tire appearance of the farm indicates that the owner is a man of thrift, energy and progressive spirit. As indicative of his far-seeing judgment, it may be stated that he uses woven wire fenc- ing instead of barb wire, having dispensed with the latter on account of its liability to injure the stock. Two wells on the farm bring water of iJie finest quality from a depth of one hundred feet or more. While the farm is comparatively small, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, the intensive method of agriculture followed by the owner brings in gratifying returns, and cat- tle, horses, sheep and hogs are profitably raised on the land. In the county of Halton, on the shores of lake Ontario, in the dominion of Canada, William Cumming was born March 2, 1837, a son of I'rancis and Catherine (McDougald), Cumming, natives respectively of the shires of Aberdeen and Bute, Scotland. The grandfather, William Cum- ming, was a gunsmith of Aberdeenshire, but emigrated from there and settled in America prior to 1820. Previous to that Francis had taken part in the battle of Waterloo when a lad of fifteen years. During the early part of the bat- tle he was shot through the ankle and from that time until his death he was lame. His recol- lections of the memorable struggle were vivid not- withstanding the injury which he received, and often in later years he was accustomed to re- count to his children tales of the bloody en- counter that wrested from Napoleon the em- pire of the old world. About the time of his service a brother, James, had served on an armed merchantman in the British navy, but received an honorable ffiscTiarge and preceded the other members of the family to Canada. 374 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. The second in a family af six children, Wil- liam Gumming passed his school days in Halton county and afterward took up farm pursuits near the old home. About 1867 he removed to Wiscon- sin and three years later came to Minnesota, ■where he bought the George A. Taylor property on section twenty-five, Mapleton township, Blue Earth county. On this place he has since made his home, busying himself with the cultivation of the land, the erection of needed farm build- ings and the other improvement of the prop- erty, which as previously stated forms one of the most desirable tracts in the township. Move- ments for the benefit of the township receive his co-operation. Especially has he been interested in educational work and his services as a mem- ber of the school board were productive of valu- able results to the local school. While living in Canada he formed the acquaintance of Isabel Ann Trainor, who was born in Peel county adja- cent to the coun.ty of Halton, her father, Rich- ard Trainor, having been an early settler in that region. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Cumming comprises the following named children: Min- erva, who married H. H. Gilbert and lives in South Dakota; Grant, who erected the first build- ing in the village of Wilmont, Nobles county, Minnesota, and now carries on a hardware busi- ness in that town; Maria B., who married George Jones and resides in Paribault county; Bruce A., who was educated in the college in Dixon, Illi- nois, and now is engaged in the banliing business at Hope, North Dakota; Amanda, Mrs. Byron McGregor, of Mapleton, Minnesota; and William Burchard, who remains with his parents on the old homestead. CUMMINS, HORACE.— The records of the Cummins family show that they became estab- lished in New England long, before the period of the Revolutionary war. John and Louisa (Brooks) Cummins, who were married in 1837 at Medina, Ohio,, and who became pioneers of Minnesota in 1857, were proud of their patriotic lineage, and their son, Horace, also points with pride to the loyal spirit of his ancestry, having had many gr&t-uncles as well as his four great- grandfathers in the Revolutionary conflict, and several representatives of the name in the war of 1812. His maternal great-grandfaihers were taken prisoners by the British and confined in a pen in New York, where they died in terrible agony from the effects of poisoning by the enemy. The Cummins family are noted for longevity, some of the name having attained the age of one hundred years. The maternal an- cestors were less rugged and few of them lived to be seventy. John Cummins, who was born June 32, 1814, and died in October of 1900, led an eventful life. Lured by the hope of discovering gold, he went to California in 1850 via the overland route and remained for nineteen months, meanwhile meet- ing with some luck in the mines. During 1853 he heard of the discovery of gold in Australia and set sail for that far-off continent. However, on his arrival he learned that reports concerning gold had been exaggerated and that prospectors were abandoning their claims. Thereupon he took a ship for Van Dieman's Land, where he helped to build a large sawmill. Returning in 1855 to his home in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, he soon heard of the opportunities offered by Minnesota to land-seekers, and in 1856 he started for the new country, intending to locate at St. Peter, but landing instead at Tivoli. Finding the country to be as represented he determined' to locate here. Accordingly the family made preparations to leave the old home and the chil- dren bade a sad farewell to the scenes familiar to their early days. On the 9th of June, 1857, a start was made from the home in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, to the expected home in Minnesota. On the 18th of July they arrived at what is now section twenty-seven township of LeRay, Blue Earth county, and settled in what was known as the big woods, where the pests of mosquitoes proved an untold annoyance and source of suffering. The nearest neighbor was four miles distant and Janes ville was five miles away, while three miles from the farm was the Winnebago agency (now St. Clair) containing nineteen hundred Indians. While the Indians of that agency made little attempt to molest white settlers, they were fond of stealing cattle. One Sunday evening Horace Cummins was sent for the cows, which were a JjiULr-Kii.rjtliVJiJ.-U Jl-LOXW-aj.. mile away in the woods. On driving them to the sheds, it was discovered that a fine four-year-old heifer was missing. The father at once took the boy's trail and then going eighty rods away over the hill he found two ponies tied, while near by smoke was coming out of the brush. Meanwhile his dog had bounded into the camp and four Indians had hastily seized their guns. The father returned home and at ten o'clock that night eight men and boys armed with four guns started for the woods. They found the camp had been moved some forty rods, but the Indians discovered their approach and nothing could be done. The following morning the father and two other men followed the trail to the agency, reported the theft to General Fletcher, the In- dian agent, and received payment out of the annuities of the Indians. More than once cattle were taken in a similar manner, but each time payment was made by the government. Meantime the father and sons were engaged in clearing their land which was densely cov- ered with native forest, and they succeeded in clearing about forty acres, which they ploughed between stumps. The task was difficult and at times discouraging, but the sons were young and active and they continued energetically at the work until they responded to the call of the Union for volunteers. The family consisted of the following named sons and daughters : Adaline B., who was born in 1839, in Medina county, Ohio, and is now married and living at Janesville, Minnesota; James; Hiram, deceased, who was a volunteer in --Company E, Ninth Minnesota Infantry; Alonzo, of Eagle Lake, who served in Company E, Second Minnesota Cav- alry; H. M., now Mrs. Davis, of Janesville; Lydia, Mrs. Alexander Watkins, deceased; Calista and Sarah, who are married respectively to Henry and George Allyns, of Madison Lake, Minnesota; and Horace, who was born August 35, 1843. All of the children but the first-born are natives of Kenosha county, Wisconsin. At the outbreak of the Civil war Horace Cum- mins offered his services to the Union. Had the connections hetween Mankato and St. Paul been like those of the present day, he would have heen accepted in the First Minnesota Infantry. As it was, he left Mankato on the 4th of July and was sworn into service at Fort Snelling July 15th, as a member of Company H, Second Eegi- ment. At the outset he had the misfortune ti. contract typhoid fever and several weeks passed before he could join his regiment, which he ac- companied to Lebanon, Kentucky. \\'hile on a march through the interior of the state he con- tracted the black measles and for a time was dangerously ill. On recovering sufficiently to travel to his home he was discharged on the ground of disability. It was some years before he regained his health, although he was soon able to resume work. During the fall of 1864 Horace Cummins and Lewis Bennett- purchased a threshing machine, but sold the same at the close of the first season. For a year he then had an interest in a saw- mill at Janesville. Going north in 18T0, he purchased pine lumber for a raft, floated it down the Ottertail river into the Eed Eiver of the JSTorth, and landed at Winnipeg August 8th, after a voyage of one hundred and eighteen days. This was the first raft ever floated down that river to Winnipeg, which then contained six hundred people, but now has a population of forty-five thousand. In 1874 he settled at Eagle Ijake, where he now makes his home. The first elevator in the village was erected under his supervision. In 1877 and again in 1879 he was elected to represent this district in the state legislature, where he gave bis most faithful and intelligent services in behalf of his constituents. (Jn retiring from public life in 1881 he embarked in the mercantile business, in which he has been associated at different times with some splendid men, such as P. H. Kelly, J. J. Haggard and Charles Howard, also a sou, John L. Cummins, who has been general manager for eighteen years. In 1895 he was induced to join a merchant in JMankato who was a man of political and relig- ious prominence, being chairman of the county Ifepublican central coinmittee, postmaster of Mankato, Sunday-school .superintendent at ilan- kato, president of the Sunday-school Associa- tion of Blue Earth county, and vice-president of the State Srmday-school Association. 'The importance of this man's ofl^icial positions con- vinced Mr. Cummins tliat lie was indeed fortu- nate to have as a partner one so consecrated 376 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. and so talented, thus he fell an easy victim to his wiles, which cost him at the least $20,000, besides years of great anxiety to save his home firm from banliruptcy. During 1903-05. he was in South Alaska as general superintendent and trustee for the Alaska Fish and Lumber Com- pany, which by the aid of L. P. Hunt and others he saved from being wholly wrecked. Since then he has been in Eagle Lake, to some extent assist- ing his son in business, but partly retired from commercial cares. During 1890 with a partner ho moved the old water mill from Madison Lake to Eagle Lake. But little of the old mill was left when they had the new plant in oper- ation, and the expense was several thousand dol- lars greater than the projectors anticipated. However, the work was not in vain, for the plant has proved to be of the utmost assistance to the town, and recently was enlarged by the present owners to a capacity of two hundred and fifty barrels. The marriage of Mr. Cummins was solem- nized June 14, 1865, and united him with Miss Mary Jenkins, of Wilton, Minnesota. Three daughters and two sons came to bless their union. The eldest, Mrs. J. S. Stevens, of Rush City, Minnesota, resides on a large fann and is ex- tensively engaged in the poultry business, having this season (1907) about one hundred and forty young turkeys. The second daughter. Birdie, was drowned at the age of three years and her tragic death is still keenly mourned by the fam- ily. John L., who is married, has charge of the general mercantile business at Eagle Lake. Daisy D., is the wife of Prank Hilton, proprietor of a store at Radium, Minnesota. The youngest member of the family circle, D. D. Cummins, was an editor at the age of sixteen years and at that time was said to be the youngest editor in the entire state. Since then he has enlarged his plant by the purchase of a cylinder press and other useful appurtenances of a printing office and has established a paper. CURRIER, PREDERICK MORTIMER.— Since his arrival in Blue Earth county March 5, 1876, Frederick Mortimer Currier has evidenced marked adaptation to the opportunities by which he has been surrounded, has made his name an honored one among the progressive and enlight- ened citizens of the community, and has ex- erted an influence, and has aided in tlie devel- opment of its agricultural, mercantile, bank- ing, real-estate, political, ethical, religious and social resources. Among the types which have laid the surest and most unyielding foundations of our national life the most widely recognized is that of New England, and it is from the li- berty loving and courageous voyagers who early sighted the bleak north Atlantic shores that Mr. Currier is directly descended. On the paternal side he is in the eighth generation from Rich- ard Currier, who settled in Salisbury, Massachu- setts, in 1640, and on the maternal side his immigrating sire was John Bean, who set- tled in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1660. On both sides of the family were men who stacked their muskets upon the battle fields of the Revolution, and who contributed their quota to the establishment of those general character- istics which assure to their possessor identifica- tion with the practical, honorable and conser- vative institutions of the country. The parents of Mr. Currier were born in dis- tant Maine, but after their marriage removed to Boston, Massachusetts, where Frederick, Mor- timer was born December 30, 1852. Principally because of the necessity for early wage earning, his youth did not express that studiousness which since has been a distinguishing feature of his life. Educated in the public schools of Boston, at the age of eighteen he assumed a clerical position with a large wholesale dry goods es- tablishment of his native city, leaving this position he came to Mankato, where he arrived March 5, 1876, to seek his fortune among the less tried conditions of Blue Earth county. After a brief sojourn in Mankato, he located on a farm in Decoria, and engaged in general farming and stock-raising until settling permanently in Man- kato in November, 1893. In 1895 he formed a partnership with J. G. KoUer, in the grain and produce business, but at the expiration of a few months sold his interest, and with Ernest Rosen- berger engaged in the manufacture of confection- er}', on a wholesale scale. This business associa- tion has continued uninterruptedly since October BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 377 10, 1895, and the firm has shown characteristic progress, in 1897 erecting the present commo- dious plant which in turn bids fair to soon out- grow its rapacity. The products of this fac- tory are noted for theii purity and reliability, and are sold in increasing amounts in this and other states. Mr. Currier's devotion to the best tenets of the republican party was recognized by his elec- tion to the state legislature in 1890, and he was further honored by election as mayor of Mankato in 1899. His administration was re- ceived with hearty approval by even his political opponents, and many needed reforms were in- stituted in the municipal government. Especially noticeable was the financial disbursement, the city's floating debt being reduced $22,000.00 and the treasury, which upon his assumption of office had only $100.00 in it, at the close had $18,000. This is a showing unequaled by any other in- cumbent of the mayor's office in the history of the city, and reflects great credit upon Mr. Cur- rier's sagacity, integrity and disinterestedness. He has otherwise served the people either directly or indirectly, and his influence invariably has fostered the highest civic ideals. He is a di- rector of the First National Bank, vice-president and treasurer of the Central Minnesota Immigra- tion Land Company, and vice-president of the Social Science club. In religion he is a Presby- terian, and at present is a member of the board of trustees. The marriage of Mr. Currier and Ellen L., daughter of George Todd, of Decoria township, this state, occurred January 6, 1878. Of this union there are two children: Guy R. and Ethel. Mr. Currier has a forceful and in- teresting personality accentuated by a high bred, intellectual face, and manner of great charm and finish. The ideals and principals of the Puri- tan find in him a broad and tolerant exemplar, one who can mold and fashion them to the needs of a people whose horizon has grown to the edge of the boundless prairies of the central west. DANIELSON, CHRISTIAN— Christian Dan- ielson, proprietor of a large and complete house lor the sale of farm implements and vehicles, has entered a field of business in which not a few of his countrymen are finding both congenial and profitable. The Danes are an agricultural, a mechanical and a methodical people, and Mr. Danielson is typical of his race, having inherited the natural, and acquired the other qualities es- sential to a successful business man in this special line. He was born in Denmark on tha 22d of June, 1861, the son of Martin and Katli- erine (Nelson) Danielson. In 1882, after the death of his mother, the family came to the United States and first located at Racine, Wis- consin, where the father was employed at his trade as a carpenter. The latter afterward en- gaged in farming in Nebraska, Texas and Okla- homa, being now a resident of the last named. Christian received a good education in the common and high schools of Denmark before he located in Racine, Wisconsin, and in 1884 (§,fter a residence of two years in that city) came to MaiLkato. Tor the succeeding three years he was employed in a brick yard, and in 1887 became connected with the implement house of Johnson & Firestone, remaining there for four years. A period of two years followed with the Deering Harvester Company, at St. Paul, and in 1893 he returned to Mankato to establish a sales busi- ness_^ of his own in the same ' line. He first lo- cated his depot on Front Street, but in 1897 re- moved to his present quarters, 223-227 South Second Street, where he deals in agricultural implements, carriages and wagons on a large scale, and of a superior gi'ade. His stock in- cludes such standard makes as Deere plows, load- ers and harvesters, and Moline, Deere and Web- ber wagons. Mr. Danielson is a republican in national poli- tics, and a voter purely on personal fitness when it comes to local issues. He is very prominent as an Odd Fellow, having filled all the chairs and represented his lodge at the session of the Grand Lodge. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, A. 0. IJ. W. and B. P. 0. E., and, as a leading business man, is an active member of the Commercial Club of Mankato. Mr. Danielson has been twice married, first in 1887, to Jennie Larson, a native of Norway, who died in 1902, at the age of thirty-five years, leav- ing one child, Harvey Leonard. His second mar- riage, in October, 1905, was to Marie Lund- 378 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. mark, who was born in Sweden. Both Mr. and Mrs. Danielson are members of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church, and are highly respected for their good and substantial qualities. DAVIES, DAVID CHAELES,— During the early part of the sixties when the Civil war had disrupted the country and turned its military forces toward the south, the residents of the northwest were in constant danger owing to the depredations of the Indians. The outbreaks of the savages proved so perilous to the few settlers of Blue Earth county that they fled elsewhere for refuge, and it was for this reason that the Davies family sought safety in LeSueur county. While they were making a temporary home there a son was born, November 3, 1862, to whom was given the name of David Charles and who now ranks among the influential business men of Man- kato. The family were pioneers of Minnesota and were people of steadfast character, strict members of the Calvinistic Methodist Episcopal church, and the possessors of musical ability far above the average. The founder of the family in America was David Davies, who came from Wales with wife and children and settled in Ohio, removing thence to Minnesota in 1857 and settling in Cambria township, Blue Earth county. Here occurred his death at the age of seventy-five years. Among hie children was--a son, John S.,- born in Wales, and after 1857 a resident of Minne- sota, where he took up a claim in Cambria town- ship. For years he was one of the persevering, honored farmers of Blue Earth county. Event- ually he retired to private life and in 1900 re- moved to Mankato, his present home. Earlier in life he was active in local affairs, held vari- ous township offices, and was a leading member of the Calvinistic Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Mary, was bom in Ohio, being a daughter of Thomas J. Jones, who emigrated from Wales and settled in LeSueur county, Min- nesota, but later took up land in Cambria tovm- sliip. Blue Earth county. From there he moved to a farm in Lincoln township, same county, where he remained until his death at the age of seventy-two years. Nine sons and two daughters comprise the family of John S. and Mary Davies. Of these Evan and Arthur died in infancy and Edith was taken by death at the age of twelve years. The eight now living are named as follows: David Claries; John M., who is engaged in the real estate business at Minneapolis; Peter W., con- nected with the railway mail service, with head- quarters in Minneapolis; D. Alvin, of Minne- apolis, who is recognized as one of the leading tenor singers in the northwest; J. Elmer, a druggist engaged in business at Kasota, LeSueur county this state; P. Osbom and H. Lester pro- prietors of one of the leading grocery houses in the city of Mankato and Nellie, wife of Mr. F. M. Monson of Watertown, South Dakota. At one time the family gave local concerts and the father acted as a choir leader. John M. formerly traveled with a well-lmown quartette, and Nellie sang for several years in the choir of the Man- kato Congregational church. Osborn is a mem- ber of the Twentieth Century band of Mankato, and David Charles, formerly for some years the leader of the Cambria Philharmonic band, is now a member of the K. P. quartette. Following upon the regular course of study in the country schools of Cambria and Lincoln town- ships, David Charles Davies entered the Mankato Normal school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1889. For six years he taught in the country schools of Blue Earth county, utiliz- ing the wages in defraying his expenses at the normal. For a year he engaged in the real-estate and insurance business at St. Peter, but sold out in 1890, returned to the home farm and took up agricultural pursuits. During the spring of 1893 he came to Mankato and has since con- ducted an insurance and real-estate business, his office being at No. 122 East Jackson street. Sep- tember 15, 1890, he married Susanna, daughter of David and Mary Evans, of Cambria township. Four children were bom of their union, two of whom died in infancy. Two daughters are now living, Helen Lenore and Olive Edith. In boy- hood Mr. Davies was trained in the faith of the Calvinistic Methodist Episcopal church, with whose doctrines he remains in sympathy to the BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 379 present, rratemally he passed all the chairs in the local camp. Modern Woodmen of America, and has been an officer in the local lodge. Knights of Pythias. Although not active in politics, he is interested in public affairs, is a member of the Commercial Club, and contributes by co-op^era- tion and influence to all movements for the permanent progress of the city. DAVIS, WILLIAM H.— A lifetime of activity in agricultural affairs, culminating in the accumulation of a valuable property, has en- abled Mr. Davis in the afternoon of a busy existence to retire from strenuous cares and establish his home in town, there to enjoy the comforts to which years of industry entitle him. Descended from an old eastern family, he passed the first nine years of his life in Ohio, but since then has been a resident of Minnesota, and after the year 1874 he made his home in Blue Earth county, improving a farm in Beau- ford township. At the time of purchasing the property it was wild land without any improve- ments but under his energetic supervision val- uable improvements were made, and he was ex- tensively engaged in raising shorthorn cattle, Norman 'horses and Poland-China hogs. Upon retiring from farm cares in 1892 he removed to Mapleton, where he has a Dpat and comfortable home. In addition he still owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, of which two hundred acres are under cultivation, the balance being in pasture and meadow. In tracing the lineage of the Davis family wc find that Joseph Davis was bom in York state and there remained during his entire life. Next in line of descent was David L., born in New York in 1818, there educated and trained to a practical knowledge of agricultui-e. At an early age he removed to Ohio, took up land in Summit county, became a practical farmer, and by diligent effort lifted himself out of poverty into financial independence. As early as 1855 he became a pioneer of Minnesota, where he took up land in Goodhue county near Cannon Palls and there improved a farm, remaining on the homestead until his death in 1888. Dur- ing early manhood he married Jemina Houeel, who was born in New York in 1882 and died in Minnesota in 1892. They were the parents of four children, and also adopted a daughter, Lucy J., now deceased. The eldest son, Harrison, was drowned at the age of ten years. The sec- ond son, William H., was born in Summit coun- ty, Ohio, January 20, 1846. The third son. Manly A., is deceased, and Francis also died in childhood. The first marriage of William H. Davis took place in 1872 and united him with Lucy J. Tenny, daughter of Paul P. and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Tenny, who in an early day came to Minnesota from Wisconsin and settled in Ma- pleton township. Blue Earth county. Mrs. Lucy Davis died in middle age leaving no children. Afterward Mr. Davis married Mrs. Clara A. Berry, who has one son, Howard. Mrs. Davis is a daughter of George and Delia S. (Millard) Green, natives of New York state, who upon removing to the frontier in an early day set- tled in Blue Earth county. Settlers were few at the time of Mr. Green's arrival in the coimty. Houses were far apart, schools few and villages small. Desiring to engage in farming he secured land at Amboy, which then was known as Vernon. During the period of his activity he carried on extensive agricultural pur- suits, but since his retirement under the con- straining influence of old age he has made his home with his daughter and son-in-law. Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Davis has been stanch in his allegiance to the Eepublican party. Though never soliciting office, he consented to flll the position of clerk of Beauford township and served in that capacity for six years. With his wife he holds membership in the Baptist church and has been generous in his contributions to religious and philanthropic measures. His fra- ternal associations are extensive and important, including membership in the blue lodge of Ma- sons, Eastern Star, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Eebekahs, Modern Woodmen of America and Mutual Beneflt Association. DECKEE, CHAELES EDWAED.— The township of Sterling in Blue Earth county, where he now engages in agricultural pursuits, is 380 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Mr. Decker's native place, his birth having oc- curred here September 4, 1868. The farm which he owns and occupies comprises two hundred and sixty acres of as fine land as the township boasts and contains first-class improvemente, including a commodious and substantial resi- dence provided with modern conveniences. Three flowing wells provide an abundance of water for all purposes needed. A specialty is made of Poland-China hogs, of which a large number are raised every year; also of Durham cattle, which are raised and then fed for the markets. Fayette Decker, who established the family i]i Blue Earth county in 1864, was born in Del- aware county, New York, in 1832, and during early life engaged in the lumber business. After his removal to Wisconsin in 1857 he gave his attention principally to agricultural pursuits. In 1864 he came to Minnesota and soon after- ward took up land in Sterling township. After a busy life as an agriculturist he retired and removed to Amboy, where he remained until his death in 1896. Among the local offices which he had held were those of schopl director and county supervisor. Outside of his own com- munity he was Avell known by reason of the fact that he was the owner of fine stallions, some of his thoroughbreds being worth thousands of dollars. His interest in horses continued all through his life, and he was considered an ex- pert judge of fine animals. During 1856 Fayette Decker married Nancy Alverson. They became the parents of six- child- ren, of whom four survive: George, Jessie, John and Charles Edward. The last-named is the sole representative of the family remaining in Sterling township, where all were reared. Af- ter starting out for himself Charles E. Decker settled three miles south of Sterling. Two years later he purchased a farm near Amboy and there remained for three years, at the expiration of which time he sold the place. The following eight months were spent in Mapleton, after which he bought land in Decoria township near Mankato, and for three years he conducted gen- eral farming on that place. Upon trading the property for six hundred and forty acres in Clay county, this state, he returned to Mapleton, where he made his home for two years. Then he bought the old Johnston farm where he now makes his home, September 4, 1893, he was 'united in marriage with Lizzie Johnston, who was born on the farm where she now resides. Six children bless their union, namely : Lorna, Helen, Neva, Bruce, Ora and George. In this connection it will not be amiss to record the principal features in the life and char- acter of John Johnston, who long was one of the most honored and influential men of Sterling township. Born in the shire of Banff, Scotland, June 26, 1825, he was a member of an ancient family of that part of the country. In early life he acquired a thorough knowledge of black- smithing. On coming to America in 1854 he settled at Collinsville, Connecticut, and soon was made foreman of the quarry shops at that place. Two years later he was appointed government blacksmith to the agency of Winnebago Indians in Blue Earth county, Minnesota. In this way he became a citizen of the northwest. The red men soon learned that they could depend upon the word of the blacksmith and he won their confidence and esteem. After filling the posi- tion for six years he resigned in 1862 and took up a claim in Sterling township. Years of suc- cessful activity as a farmer brought him sufficient means to spend his declining days in comfort and he retired to Mapleton, where he passed away May 21, 1903. In his death the community lost an honored citizen. Throughout all his life in Blue Earth county he evidenced a deep interest in matters of general importance. Strong in his allegiance to the Republican party, he attend- ed all local caucuses and conventions and was ■ a local leader in partisan activities. Early in life he imited with the Presbyterian church. La- ter he assisted in founding the Congregational church at Sterling, to the work of which he and hit wife were intensely devoted. His wife, who was born January 6, 1831, and whom he mar- ried April 2, 1853, was a native of Banff, her birthplace being near his own, and both came from honored old families of the locality. They be- came the parents of six children, to whose train- ing they gave years of self-sacrificing effort and in whose present prosperity the prestige of the family name has been given added lustre. BIOGKAFHiUAL, JlibTUKl. 381 DENISON, WILLIAM H.— The seventeenth century brought to our country many emigrants from the old world, among whom was a repre- sentative of the Denison family, George Denison a colonel in Cromwell's army and who gained distinction as an Indian fighter, the founder of the name in America. The war of the Eevolu- tion brought to several of the name an oppor- tunity to show their loyalty to the cause of the patriots, thus winning distinction among their contemporaries as well as reverence from pos- terity. For several generations the state of New York was the home of the family. Aime- tus Denison was born near Albany in 1833, and his father likewise was a native of that region. As early as 1865 he migrated to tlie northwest, settling in Minnesota, where he spent his first winter at Garden City. During the spring he bought and removed to the farm on section nine, Shelby township, that is now operated by his son, William H. Since then he has been identified to a large extent with the agricultural interests of this locality. His winters are usually passed in Montana, while during the summer he remains on the old home- Ftead. A man of sterling integrity, fine moral principles, loyal patriotic spirit, he has added another to the list of public-spirited citizens identified with the history of Blue Earth county. During the early period of his residence in Min- nesota he served in charge of the post at Ce- resco, this county, and in every crisis he proved himself to be a loyal citizen and fearless man. As a farmer he did considerable pioneer work in this region and labored assiduously to convert a raw tract of land into a productive 'estate. Among five children, all but one of whom still survive, William H. Denison was third in order of birth, and was born in Shelby township. Blue Earth county, on New Year's day of 1873. Here he received his rudimentary education in com- mon schools. Later he was a student in the high school at Garden City and also had the ad- vantage of a course in Parker College, after which he taught two terms of school, and since then he has had charge of the old homestead which now consists of three hundred and forty- five acres. The land is under cultivation and has excellent facilities for drainage. Horses and cattle are raised, as well as large numbers of hogs, and general farming operations are con- ducted with energy and judgment. A rav'ne crosses the farm and furnishes an outlet for the excellent system of tileing which has been secured at considerable expense. The soil is of the best quality, the location is satisfactory, the land free from quack grass and weeds, and the entire estate in such excellent condition as to Justify its reputation among other farms in the town- ship. The marriage of William H. Denison took place August 34:, 1898, and united him with Florence E. Griggs, who was born in Dan- ville township. Blue Earth county, being a daugh- ter of Jeremiah Griggs, an honored pioneer of Danville township. Three children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Denison, but one was taken from the home in infancy. The surviving children are Margaret Euth and Henry Warren. The family has a high standing in social circles and Mr. Denison has been especially active in educational affairs. DeROSIA, LEWIS C— Among the young business men of Mankato who have come steadily to the front because of their determination, ability and honorable dealings with the friends and associates of their native Blue Earth Coun- ty, is Lewis C. DeEosia, now a prosperous produce and commission merchant of that place. He was born in Medo Township November 39, 1871, the son of Levi L. and Kate (Consaul) De- Eosia, and his parents were both natives of Clay- ton, New York. They came to Minnesota in 1869, bought a farm in that township, and re- mained on their homestead for ten years, when the family removed to Mankato, where for some time the father was engaged in the hotel busi- ness. Mr. anad Mrs. Levi DeEosia are still liv- ing, with their two children — J. B., now a resi- dent of Omaha, Nebraska, and Lewis C. the Mankato merchant. The latter obtained his education in the dis- trict schools of Medo Township and the public schook of Mankato, but was introduced to the produce business when he was only twelve years of age, through his employment with J. H. Long, which continued from 1883 to 1898. With the 382 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. advantage of this long and valuable experience, Mr. DeEosia opened the Mankato Produce and Commission House, in the year 1905 at 'So. 106 West Cherry Street, later moving to 709 South Front street where he has since conducted a flourishing and expanding business. His ac- quaintance is broad, his goods are reliable, his dealings are fair and h^'s business judgment is superior, and the continued growth of the enter- prise is . therefore an assurance. Lewis C. DeEosia was united in marriage to Miss Katie M. Williams, of Butternut Valley Township, this county, in the year 1893, and she has borne him four children — ^Lee Eichard, William Floyd, Euth A. and Elsie M., the two last named being deceased. His fraternal con- nections are limited to the Modern Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Mr. DeEosia is a kind family man, a companionable gentleman and an honorable citizen. DOBIE, JOSEPH.— For fifty years identi- fied with the agricultural development of Blue Earth county, contributing to the material growth of Sterling township, interested in its educa- tional institutions, keenly alive to the importance of transforming the uncultivated land into fer- tile and productive farms, and always enthusi- astic in the support of enterprises for the per- manent prosperity of the people, Joseph Dobie held an honored place among all the residents of his township. Working side by side with other pioneers, he labored to secure the development of agricultural possibilities necessary to the ulti- mate well-being of the region. T^Tot only did he toil toward this end, but it was also his privil- ege to witness its culmination, and no citizen rejoiced more than did he in the growth of the county, the improvement of its farms, the up- building of its villages and the prosperity of its people. The Dobie genealogy is traced to France and sprang from the Huguenot family of DuBois. At the time of the revocation of the edict of ISTantes and the massacre of St. Bartholomew, members of the family were forced to flee from their country. Finding upon the hospitable soil of Scotland the safe retreat they desired, they be- came citizens of that country and ultimately im-^ planted into their own race the sturdy traits of the Scots. Many generations of the family followed agricultural pursuits, which was the favorite occupation of those bearing the name, but we find from the records that an uncle of Joseph Dobie preferred commerce to agriculture and became a wealthy draper of Lockerby in the shire of Dumfries. The father of Joseph Dobie was John, who rented a farm of five hundred acres in Dumfries not far from the border of England. There he engaged extensively in agri- cultural pursuits until his death. While he was a native of Driedsdale, Dumfries, his wife, Ann Laurder, was born in the neighboring shire of Eoxburgh. On the maternal side of the lineage is traced through five generations back to Jen- nie Sinclair, daughter of the Earl of Carthness, who was disinherited on account of having mar- ried one of her father's tenants. Among twelve children comprising the family of John Dobie, the fifth in order of biriii was Joseph, born at Hutton, Dumfrieshire, Sotland, July 16, 1826, and died in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, May 3, 1907. Little occurred to take his boj'hood years out of the usual routine of farm work and school studies. In the home he was carefully trained and in his heart were early implanted the virtues of self-control, honor and sobriety that brought success to maturer years. On Christmas day of 1847 he was united in mar- riage with Helen Carruthers, a native of Dum- fries, Scotland, and a young woman of noble qualities of heart and mind. Had his life been spared for a few more months, it would have been their privilege to celebrate together the six- tieth anniversary of their marriage. Joined in wedlock when young and care-free, they had labored side by side through the stress and strain, of maturity and had descended into the twilight of life's day honored and venerated, ministered to by affectionate children and surrounded by comforts accumulated by self-denying toil. Of the children bom to bless the union of Joseph and Helen Dobie we note the following: Mary Ann married William Carson after having graduated from the Minnesota State Normal School at Mankato, and they now reside in Del- avan township, Faribault county, this state; JSlVJVjr-CV-ti-J: J-J-X^-nju j.xxkj X vyj.1 X . Eebeeca is the widow of James Ellis, Jr., and lives in Sterling township; Helen married A. E. Springer, who is agent at Delevan for C. L. Cole & Company; John is a resident of St. Paul; Joseph is engaged in the hnying of wheat at Mapleton; William carries on farm pursuits in Sterling township; Annie married F. A. Mc- Intire and lives at Winnebago City, this state; Elizabeth married Eobert Orr, who is connected with a wholesale mercantile firm in Bismarck, North Dakota; Margaret is teaching school in Sterling township; Sarah married E. A. Lane, who is editor and publisher of the Sherbum Advance at Sherburn, this state; Flora, now de- ceased, was the wife of Horace K. Wishart; and Horace Greeley remains with his mother at the old homestead. After a voyage of three weeks in a sailing vessel Mr. and Mrs. Dobie landed in America during the spring of 1860 and soon afterwards settled in the state of JN'ew York, where Mr. Dobie engaged in farming for six years. For a time he had charge of a large estate on Long Island and he also superintended a farm in Duch- ess county. Becoming interested in the plans of the Minnesota Settlement Association, he joined the colony and came west in search of a home. Very soon after his arrival he secured a tract of farm land in Sterling township and here he spent the remaining years of his long and busy life, meanwhile adding to the original purchase until he became the owner of two hundred acres bearing the improvements characteristic of a model estate. The greater part of the land has been placed under cultivation to corn and grain, but in addition he devoted considerable atten- tion to the stock business. As the years passed by the men who had come with him in the orig- inal colony passed from earth until he was one of the very few left and his interest in the Old Settlers' Association deepened into pathos as he saw its ranks depleted by death until he was the dean of the few surviving members. The land where he was born and reared and married ever dwelt in his memory with the deepest affection; he loved the memory of its rugged hills, its sun- lit valleys and its rockbound coast, and he loved no less its poets and authors who have pictured its beauties with inspired pens. As Scotland was dear from past associations, so to Mr. Dobie America was dear from present associations, and he maintained a patriot'c af- fection for the land that gave him his success. The great northwest with its wonderful possibil- ities appealed to his independent spirit and per- severing ambition, and he saw no reason to re- gret his decision in becoming a pioneer of Minne- sota. For thirty years he was identified with Josephus blue lodge of Masonry in Mapleton and ho had the distinction of being the first man raised in the lodge. When he passed from the associations of one-half century, he was buried with Masonic honors, and was followed to his last resting place by hundreds of mourning friends. DOBIE, JOSEPH H.— No residents of Min- nesota are more familiar with its resources and possibilities than the men whose entire lives have been passed within the borders of the state, who have witnessed its gradual development and have themselves been factors in its agricultural and commercial advancement. To this class belongs Mr. Dobie, who was bom in Sterling, Blue Earth count}', February 18, 1858, and is now a leading citizen of Mapleton, the same county. The family to which he belongs traces its lineage to a long line of Scotch progenitors and the present representatives evince the traits characteristic of that nationality. The first to seek a home in the new world was Joseph Dobie, Sr., who was bom July 16, 1826, in Scotland, and received a fair education in the schools of his native land. Upon starting out to make his own way in the world he crossed the ocean to America and for a time sojourned in New York state. At that time there was con- siderable interest manifested in the northwest, which was considered beyond the confines of civil- ization, but nevertheless was attracting resolute pioneers by reason of its recognized possibilities. After a residence of five years in the east Mr. Dobie came to Minnesota in 18.56 and here he and his wife (formerly Helen Caruthers) lived and labored for years, toiling with the frugal self-sacrificing industry common to new countries. 384 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. It was not possible for the parents to give their children any special advantages, but they sent them to the country schools and by example and precept endeavored to qualify them for their lifework. In such an environment Joseph H. Dobie passed the uneventful years of youth and from the parental home he passed out into the world of business responsibilities and activities. During 1886 he married Jessie Sharp, daughter of John and Buphemia Sharp, natives of Aber- deen, Scotland, but from early years residents of the United States. For a few years subse- quent to 1780 Mr. Sharp made his home in Mis- souri, whence he came to Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, continuing to make his home here until he was called from earth in 1898. His widow survives him and is a resi- dent of Sterling, this county. Two sons, Korman A. and Joseph J., comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Dobie, and share with their parents in the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. Since 1887 the home of the family has been in Mapleton, where their resi- dence is situated on Fourth street. For six years after coming to this village Mr. Dobie en- gaged at the trade of a carpenter, but since 1893 he has devoted his attention to the buying of wheat. For five years he acted as buyer for the Spaulding Elevator Company, after which for eight years he bought in the interests of the Hyde Elevator Company, but more recently he has engaged in buying grain for the Powert Elevator Company interests. Besides his town property he is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres in Burleigh County, North Dakota, and has the satisfaction of realizing that his present holdings represent his own unaided exer- tions, for all that he has accumulated came through toil, economy and Judicious investments. In politics he has never allied himself with any organization, but has remained indepen- dent. Though not identified with any denomi- nation, his sympathies are with religious work and he is an attendant at the Congregational church. In fraternal relations he holds member- ship with Mapleton Lodge 'No. 128, A. F. & A. M., and also is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. DOBIE, WILLIAM L.— While possessing the inestimable advantage of belonging to an honored pioneer family and of having received in child- hood the benefit of the example and precept of his father, Joseph Dobie, yet such are the quali- ties of mind and heart displayed by William L. Dobie that we may feel positive of his success in life even under less favorable surroundings in his boyhood. To the sterling traits of the Scottish race he has added the enthusiastic op- timism of the American people, and these quali- ties have assisted him in establishing himself among the substantial farmers and progressive citizens of Blue Earth county, where he owns and occupies a valuable farm in Sterling township. The genealogy of the Dobie family appears on another page of this volume. Hence in this sketch we limit our space to the personal history of William L. Dobie, who was born in the town- ship where he now resides, the date of his birth being February 27, 1861. The district schools near the old homestead gave him a rudimentary education, which the wise training of his father and the careful reading of good books has broad- ened into a comprehensive fund of general knowledge. After having grown to manhood and given his father the benefit of his capable assist- ance until he was twenty-two years of age, he then in 1883 went to Mapleton, where he worked in the lumber business, also being similarly en- gaged at Fairmont, Martin county. Later he spent a year in the Dakotas, Ijut returned to Minnesota as be'ng in his opinion a more de- sirable location for general business and agri- cultural purposes. On his return he first worked in the Norton lumber yards at Mapleton and then bought out the Delevan Herald, which he conducted for eighteen months. On selling out the paper in 1890, Mr. Dobie returned to Sterling township and purchased a farm six miles southwest of Mapleton. The orig- inal tract comprised one hundred and thirty- five acres and was known as the Dr. C. L. Frankes farm. By subsequent purchase of land from William L. McQueen the size of the farm was increased so that it now contains more than two hundred acres. Crops suited to the soil and climate are raised on the land and produce a iSiUliKAmiuiiij jiiDnjJxx. aoD neat income for the family. In addition the dairying business is conducted with a fair degree of profit, while the raising of Poland-China hogs and Shorthorn cattle adds materially to the annual income. In horses a specialty is made of the Clydesdale. An excellent water system has been instituted on the farm by means of flowing wells and a ram has been utilized to secure the eleva- tion of water to the residence. The undulating nature of the land provides the necessary means of drainage, which has enabled the owner to raise good crops even during the recent years of extraordinary fall of water. The improvements on the farm bespeak the industrious farmer and ■thrifty family, and prove that the race has lost none of its capability since emigrating from the old country. The marriage of William L. Dobie took place June 10, 1890, and united him with Etta M. Wishart, a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of Charles L. Wishart, of Lagrange township, Walworth county, that state. They are the par- ents of four children, William, Margaret Eliza- heth, Mazel H. and Etta Merrill. At various ■times Mr. Dob'e lias held school and township ■oSices, air of which he has filled with fidelity. In fraternal relations he holds membership -ndth the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. All meetings of the Scotch people and the Burns celebrations find him an interested participant, and ^n ecfual degree he is concerned as to the success o! the old settler's meetings. Progressive in his devotion to the welfare of his township, inter- ested in every movement to advance the local prosperity and honorable in his dealings -ndth all, he merits his high standmg in the com- munity. DODDS, EOBEET M.— Ever since the com- pletion of his veterinary education Mr. Dodds has been a resident of the United States, his first location in the new world being at Xorthfield, Minnesota, where he remained from 1878 until 1895. During the latter year he came to Man- kato and since then has built up a practice ex- tending miles in every direction from his home city. Besides attending to all calls made upon hie time and skill, he has devoted considerable 26 attention to editorial work in the veterinary de- partments of a number of agricultural papers, and at this writing acts as veterinary editor of the Western Swine Breeder, also the Western Farmer and Dairyman. The city of Kelso in Scotland is the native home of Mr. Dodds and October 21, 1852, the date of his birth. His parents, Eobert and Mar- garet (Laidley) Dodds, were members of hon- ored and noble families and the mother was a 'cousin of William Laidlaw, the amanuensis of Sir Walter Scott. The family comprised nine child- ren, but only four are living, namely : James, who was mayor of Berwick-on-Tweed, in Scotland; John, a pattern-maker employed at engine works in Edinburgh, Scotland; Margaret, wife of James Davidson, a contractor living at Liverpool, Eng- land; and Bobert M., the only member of the family living in the United States. Educated in the grammar schools of Kelso, he left school at the age of twelve years and entered upon an apprenticeship to a dry goods merchant in his native town, serving for a period of five years. At the expiration of the time he became a clerk in a dry goods store at Edinburgh, and while there began the study of medicine. After two and one-half years in the Edinburgh store he resigned and entered the Dick veterinary school, where he completed the regular course of study in 1878, and immediately afterward sought a field of work and a home in the new world. The marriage of Dr. Dodds took place in August, 1879, and united him with Sophia Isa- bella Simpson, daughter of John Simpson, of Forthfield, Minnesota, and a direct descendant of Jonathan Edwards, also of Jeremiah Porter. Seven children bless their union, namely: Alice, wife of A. E. Eayner of Seattle, Washington, is a graduate of the college at Northfield, this state, and was instructor in Latin at the high school of Seattle, Washington, for two years : Eobert P., a graduate of McKillip Yeterinary College in Chicago, and now following his oc- cupation at Lake Cr3'stal, Minnesota; John, who is a student in the college at Worthfield and is fitting- himself for the work of a civil engineer; Lewis, a student in McKillip Veterinary Col- lege, Chicago; Everett, who is attending the Mankato high school; Elizabeth, a student in 386 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. the State Normal School at Mankato; and Clar- ence, a pupil in the Mankato grammar school. The children are capable and unusually intelli- gent, and their education has been a matter of pride with their parents, who have not spared themselves sacrifices in order to fit their sons and daughters for positions of usefulness in the world. The family are associated with the First Presbyterian church of Mankato and in fraternal relations Dr. Dodds holds membership with the Samaritans and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. DOFAHUB, JOHF W.— Five years as the incumbent of his important office has established John W. Donahue among the most capable, far sighted and popular chiefs of police in the his- tory of the city of Mankato. In the discharge of his many sided duties Mr. Donahue has main- tained great discretion and moderation, and largely has minimized the antagonisms usually associated with his responsibility. No municipal honor carries with it larger opportunities for practicing the gentle art of making enemies, but here is a man who has otherwise used his chances, giving fair play to all concerned, and holding the good will and support of even his political antagonists. He is an excellent judge of human nature, is a keen deductionist, and notwithstanding his experience with the shadowy side of life, has unbounded faith in the pre- dominating good in human kind. During his administration there was a material lessening of the criminal element of the community, and one feels instinctively that the moral poise and balance of the chief had as much to do with this as had the resources placed at his disposal by the. local laws. As his name implies, Mr. Donahue has Irish blood in his veins, and it was in the land of small farms and heavy taxation that his parents, Thomas and Margaret (Harnett) Donahue, were born. They came to America while the incipient cloud of the Civil War hovered over the country, the elder Donahue purchasing the farm in Illi- nois where he continued to live until his death, January 1, 1906, at the age of seventy-four years. It was on this farm that John W. Dona- hue was born in June, 1866, and where he re- mained continuously until attaining his seven- teenth year. His educational chances were be- yond the average country reared boy, for he at- tended Kashaw College, the Morris State Nor- mal, and the Morris Commercial Schpol. In 1893 he exchanged the monotony of farming for a position as commercial traveler for the firm of Warner, Busch & Blissner, and in this capac- ity traveled extensively throughout the central west. In 1901 he went into business for himself in Mankato, selling agricultural implements and small machinery. In political affiliation Mr. Donahue is a Dem- ocrat, and it was his devotion to the tenets of this party, no less than his special general quali- fications, that gained his appointment as chief of police in 1903. At the expiration of his ternj he succeeded himself, and in the fall of 1906 was elected sheriff of Blue Earth county. Mr. ^^Donahue is socially inclined, and is a popular member of the Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has push, determi- nation and rare common sense, and is an effec- tual exponent of rigorous and practical city administration. DOTTGLASS, ALEXANDEE.— Loyalty of devotion to adopted country was exemplified in the life of Mr. Douglass by his enlistment in the Civil War and his long and honorable associa- tion yrth the troops engaged in the formidable task of subduing the south. During the second year of the struggle he left his farm near Madi- son lake and volunteered his services on the side of the Union, after which he took part in marches through much of the enemy's country, endured the privations of camp life and fought with his regiment in its engagements. While he had no familiarity -ndth military tactics at the time of entering the army, he was quick to learn and eager to serve his countr}--, and it was not long before he and his comrades could boast of being identified with a well -disciplined regi- ment. Finally when peace was declared he re- ceived an honorable discharge and returned to ±JA.\j\Jtxvri.j. xxj-\,'xi.-i-j LkJ J, \-/ J.\j A. . Minnesota with a record creditable to himself and gratifying to friends. Of Scotch birth, Mr. Douglass was born at Kirkentillcch March 10, 1829, being a son of Duncan and Agnes (Morrison) Douglass, natives of Scotland, who crossed the ocean to Canada as early as 1831, settling on a farm near Lan- caster. The family had little money and it was necessary for Alexander to aid in their sup- port, which he did by following the weaver's trade. Under these circumstances he had no opportunity to carry on his studies in school, but after he went to Niagara Falls in 1851, and began to work for a doctor he availed him- self of leisure hours to attend school. A visit to the Canadian home was followed by his re- moval to St. Lawrence county. New York, during the latter part of 1852, and from there he trav- eled through the south on a tour of inspection. During 1854-55 he worked as a farm hand and on a railroad in Pennsylvania, after which in 1855 he came west to Wisconsin and for two years worked in the Black river pineries. Dur- ing that period he took out his naturalization papers. Hearing much concerning the lands to be se- cured by home-seekers in Minnesota, in 1857 Mr. Douglass came to this state and inspected the country, the result be'ng that he took up land on the banks of lake Madison and under the pre- emption law secured a deed to the same. August 19, 1862, he enlisted 'in Company E, Ninth Minnesota Infantry, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and afterward engaged in the Indian compaigns until October of 1863, when the regiment was ordered to JefFerson City, Missouri. Soon after- ward they were sent out to protect the road from St. Louis, to Springfield, JMissouri. May 28, 1864, they were ordered to Memphis. Later they participated in the battle of Guntown, where they were forced to retreat w'th a loss of several wounded or killed in Company E. Considerable time was then spent in camp at Memphis, from which point they were sent on an expedition to Tupelo, Mississ'ppi, and while en route to that point took part in several skirmishes. Eeturn- ing to Memphis, from there they were sent to Oxford, Mississippi, and engaged in several minor slrirmishes. Next the regiment was or- dered from Mempliis on an expedition through Arkansas and ilissouri. Arriving at St. Louis in November of 1864 they went into camp at Benton Barracks, and from there were ordered up the Missouri to JefEerson City, and thence on an expedition after General Price and other southern officers. Next the regiment returned to St. Louis, thence was sent to Nashville, took part in the engagement at that place, and then camped for one month at Eastport, Tennes- see, later taking a boat back to Memphis, where they landed February 11, ]865. In that city Mr. Douglass was confined in a hospital until he received his honorable discharge, June 2, 1865, owing to the close of the war. On his return to Lake Madison Mr. Doug- lass purchased timber land, cleared the same and since then has engaged in farming pursuits on the propertjf, which he has brought under first- class improvement. In politics he has been a Eepublican ever since becoming a citizen of the United States. August 2, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Britt, who was bom near Greencastle, Putnam county, Indiana, March 15, 1835. Descended from patriotic an- cestry, she is justly proud of the fact that she had two uncles in the war of 1812, as well as a grandfather who fought under General Washing- ton in the Eevolutionary struggle. Her parents. Handy and Delilah (Albin) Britt, were natives respectively of North Carolina and Kentucky, and for years made their home on an Indiana farm, where she was reared. In religious faith she adheres to the doctrines of tic Methodist Episcopal denomination and Mr. Douglass like- wise is identified with that church. DEEDGE JOHN H.— Many of the men now prominent in the commercial affairs of Blue Earth county are members of families that be- came established in this part of the northwest in any early day, and such is the case with John H. Dredge, an influential business man of Amboy, well and honorably known throughout the entire county. Descended from a long line of English ancestors, he is a son of T. H. and Margaret (McMillan) Dredge, natives of England-, but from childhood identified with the United States 388 BIOGKAPHICAL HISTOEY. as citizens thereof. The grandfather crossed the ocean when the father was a lad of thirteen years and took his family to Wisconsin, where he en- gaged in pioneer farming and remained until his death. In search of a new location the father came to Minnesota in 1863 and being pleased with Blue Earth county he selected land here, settling at old Shelby August 4, 1864, and in the spring of 1867 taking up a claim in Pleasant Mound township, where he made his home for t^venty-five years and meanwhile prosperously en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. Eventually selling the farm he removed to Lake Crystal and since then has lived in retirement. Eleven children comprised the family of T. H. and Margaret Dredge and all but three of these are still living, John H., who was second in order of birth, was bom in Waushara county, Wisconsin, April 13, 1864, and in childhood at- tended district schools, afterward having the ad- vantage of study in the Winnebago high school. During vacation seasons he aided h's father on the home farm, where he remained until 1884, and then started out as an independent farmer in Shelby township. The farm he then operated still belongs to him, although he no longer per- sonally conducts the same, his attention being devoted to his duties as a member of the firm of Wliite & Dredge, proprietors of a large lumber yard at Amboy, and dealers in building material of all kinds. Sharing with Mr. Dredge in the esteem and good will of the people of Amboy is his wife, whom he married June 10, 1885, and who was Georgia Anna Hewson, a native of Wisconsin. At an early age she came to Minnesota with her parents, Benjamin and Sarah Hewson, and since then she has lived in Blue Earth county, her father and mother making their home with her at this writing. Of her marriage there are two children James Herbert, bom May 9, 1894, Euth E., bom September 9, 1896. The farm alluded to in the preceding paragraph is among the most valuable in its locality and comprises three hundred and forty acres, cul- tivated by tenants. A specialty is made of Po- land-China hogs and high-grade Durham cattle, which Mr. Dredge keeps on the farm. Besides the attention given to his large business interests and his agricultural associations, he finds leisure to participate in the work of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed through the chairs in the local lodge, and at this writing holds office as district deputy. Among Odd Eellows in this part of the state he is known as an enthusiast concerning the order and as an authority concerning the rules and rituals of the same, while among all, irrespective of fraternal relations, he has the reputation of a conservative, sagacious business man and resource- ful, progTCSsive citizen. DBEWS, JOHN.— The opportunities offered by the northwest to young men of character and perseverance find abundant illustration in the life of John Drews, a progressive farmer resid- ing in Sterling township, Blue Earth county. Since the age of about sixteen years he has made his home in this county and meanwhile has made a study of its agricultural possibilities as a re- sult of which he is enabled to labor intelligently, and thus secures the desired results with the least possible expenditure of time. The fact that ho has been successful acquires especial signi- ficance when it is stated that he is not a native of the United States, but comes from another country. Not a little of his success he attributes to the methods adopted by his father, a man of liberal German education, who on coming to the new world insisted that the children should be given thorough English educations, and thus be- come qualified for the conditions under which they must labor in their new home. John Drews was bom in Mechlenburg, Ger- many, January 4, 1857, and Was a son of John and Frederica (Eostow) Drews, also natives of that province. In accordance with the custom of his country the father served his allotted time in the army. After having borne a part in the war with Austria he received an honorable dis- charge from the army and soon secured a posi- tion as foreman on a large estate, where he re- mained until his emigration to America in 1863. For a time he lived near Chicago, but in 1873 he estblished his permanent home in Minnesota, buying what was known as the George Wood farm in Blue Earth county. On this place he re- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 389 maiijed until his death in 1904 at the age of eighty-one years. The majority of his relatives remained in Germany, but one of his brothers came to the United States and settled in Wis- consin. Of the Eistow family two brothers crossed the ocean and both attained more than ordinary success. One accompanied an expedi- tion to Pike's Peak, thence to California, where he at first engaged in mining and later conducted a mercantile store. The other brother became a farmer in Whiteside county, Illinois, where he attended public school in order to learn the English language. Out of a family of six children, John Drews, Jr., and his two sisters are the present survivors. During boyhood he attended the public schools in Illinois and Minnesota. As a rule he studied in the winters and worked on the farm during the summer, and thus he grew to an intelligent, sturdy and stalwart manhood. After he attained manhood he continued on the old homestead, where he now has four hundred acres the greater portion being under cultivation. In the raising of crops he follows a rotation of grains with clover, thus maintaining the fertility of the soil and its productive capacity. Together with rais- ing the regular farm crops, he engages in stock- raising and keeps on the farm Poland-China hogs, also shorthorn cattle, most of which are blooded animals and registered. In addition he has Clydesdale horses, maldng a specialty of heavy draft mares of high grades. The farm pre- sents an attractive appearance, which is he-ght- ened by the presence of a modern residence ad- mirably adapted to the wants of a cultured family. At all times contnbuting his quota to the pub- lic work of the township, Mr. Drews has shirked no duty confronting a progressive citizen, but on the other hand has repeatedly sacrificed his own comfort in order to discharge some duty devolv- ing upon him as a citizen. Educational work especially has commanded his sympathy and time, and his identification with the school board has contributed toward the advancement of the local schools. Fraternally he holds relation- ship with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His marriage took place on New Year's day of 1890 and united him with Miss Ollie Eandall, daugh- ter of the late William Eandall, a pioneer of Sterling township. Bom of their union are four children, namely; Emory William, who was edu- cated in the Mapleton high school and now is interested in the stock buisness; Elta Margaret, a student in the Mapleton high school; Harry and Eoyal, who in turn will be given the best advantages the local schools afford. DUEMELAND, EENEST A.— The general merchandising business of Ernest A. Duemeland has gone parallel with the history of St. Clair and Blue Earth county for the past twenty-six j'eare, or since its establishment in 1883. In obedianee to the scientific law of supply and demand it has kept pace with the enlarging com- munity, and through fair and dependable meth- ods has filled a many sided public need. The qualities which insure successful merchandising are possessed in large measure by the owner, and not the least of these are a thorough under- standing of the tastes and inclinations of his patrons, an unfailing courtesy, and a genuine desire to please. Mr. Duemeland comes of sterling German stock, and the first ten years of his life were spent in Hanover, Germany, where he was born January 5, 1856. With his parents, Henry and Dorothea (Gibbons) Duemeland, he came to America in a sailing vessel in 1866, being six weeks on the ocean, and settling soon after the arrival in New York in St. Peter, Minn. Tlie next year the father took up a homestead in Le Sueur county, where they engaged in farm- ing many years, the father dying in 1879 at tlie age of seveuty-two years, and the mother in 1891 at the ago of sixty years. They reared a family of sixteen children, eight sons and eight daughters, giving them such educational and other opportunities as were pos.sible from their meagre earning. The popular merchant of St. Clair was the twelfth oldest in his father's large family. He was educated in the d'strict schools, and lived on the home farm until embarking in his pres- ent business. In 1880 he was united in mar- riage to Mary Lane, a native of Wisconsin, and 390 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. of German descent. Of the union there are two t'ons, Henry J., twenty-four years old, engaged in the wholesale grocery business at Bismarck; and George A., twenty years old, with the Pat- terson Land Company, of St. Paul. Mr. Dueme- land is interested in Eepublican politics to the extent of sustaining the interests of that party by his vote, but he has no political aspirations. Fraternally he is connected with Lodge No. 29, I. 0. 0. F. The family are members of the Lutheran church. EBERHART, HOK. ADOLPH 0.— The best of- brain and heart and purpose that Sweden has to bestow upon its departing sons is expressed in the career of Adolph 0. Bberhart, scholar, la^vyer, legislator and business man, and one of the foremost and most progressive citizens of the enlightened community of Mankato. Mr. Eberhaxt is an evolution of the farm, and his character bears impress of its strenuous and methodical demands. Bom. in Sweden June 23, 1870, he came to America at the age of eleven, and in the State of Nebraska engaged as cow- boy, farm hand and farmer until attaining his majority. In the spring of 1891 Mr. Eberhart entered Gustavus Adolphus College, at St. Peter, Min- nesota, and took the entire academic and college courses, together with all elective studies in the • short period of four years and three months, graduating in the spring of 1895 with the highest honors as valedictorian of his class. He first read law in the office of Judge Lorin Cray, of Mankato, and three years later was admitted to the bar, thereupon inaugurating a general piactice of law in Mankato. Mr. Eberhart mar- ried Adele M. Koke in 1898, and they are the parents of four children: Alberta M., born in 1899; Herbert C, born in 1901; Dorothy C, born in 1903; and Eugene S., born in 1906. In 1902 he was nominated by the Republican party for State Senator from the 11th district, one of the largest districts in the State, without opposition, an honor that heretofore had not been granted to anyone, and was elected over a very strong Democratic candidate, running as an independent, with the largest majority on the ticket. Although the youngest member of the senate, he has succeeded in securing the passage of several important laws, chief among which is the highway commission act, prohibiting the giving and receiving of transportation rebates, and the amendments of 1905 to the law govern- ing the railroad and warehouse commission. Tlie highway commission act was in charge of Senator Eberhart and through his efforts it be- came a law. Thus was Minnesota placed on a par with the most progressive states in the union with respect to the establishment and mainten- ance of good roads and the proper safe-guarding of the state funds applicable thereto. Senator Eberhart also instituted and as chair- man conducted the joint investigation as to transportation rates and discriminations against localities and individuals. As a result of this investigation he secured the passage of some very important railroad legislation, such as the law prohibiting the giving and receiving of rebates and prescribing penalties for violation thereof, and the amendments to the railroad and warehousfe commission act, which give the railroad and warehous.e commission absolute control over railroad rates and classifications as well as discrimiantions against localities and individuals. They also authorize the railroad and warehouse commission to investigate the records of the rail- road companies and to prosecute proceedings be- fore the inter-state commerce commission, thus giving the railroad and warehouse commission of Minnesota as great power as that of any State in the Union. Senator Eberhart was appointed deputy clerk of the United States and Circuit courts in 1897, vv'as appointed United States commissioner for the d^istrict of Minnesota in 1900, and in 1906 v/as nominated and elected lieutenant governor of Minnesota. He is a strenuous supporter of the cause of the Eepublican party, and has as- sisted in all local and state campaigns as a stump speaker. He is possessed of convincing and force- ful eloquence, presenting his claims in clear and unmistakable terms. He is much interested in the general upbuilding of the community, hat clear and practical civil ideals, and is gener- ous in his contributions to causes which appeal to his judgment and reason. His is the great BiUUKA-fMiUAJj J±i»TU±tX. aai gifts of sympathy which comes of struggling against early odds and" overcoming many obsta- cles. He has worked his way unaided through his college, professional and business career, and furnishes a splendid and inspiring example of what may be accomplished through grit and determination. He is secretary and treasurer of the Widell Company of Mankato, a corporation engaged in quarrying and masonry constructiorl and has always been identified with the com- mercial life of the city. Mr. Eberhart is keenly appreciative of the many benefits to be derived from fraternal so- cieties, and is a member of the Masonic Order, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Pythias, Eoyal Arcanum, Modem Samaritans and Order of Vasa. BBERHAET, WILLIAM A.— Was born in Wisconsin January 8, 1860, being the third child in the parental family. His education was received in the district school and upon starting out for himself he began farming in Eapidan township, where he owns two hundred and forty acres, largely under cultivation. When he came to the farm in 1889, he opened a bach- elor's hall in a log cabin and for three years he lived alone, but at the expiration of that time he brought a bride to the homestead, and now has a neat residence, substantial farm buildings, an excellent orchard set out by himself, and all the improvements of a model estate. Sur- rounding the house there is a windbreak in the form of a natural grove. His wife was formerly Minnie Mertesdorf, member of a family concern- ing whom mention is made in the sketch of Pe- ter Mertesdorf, of Vernon Center township. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart is Ruth, born in 1899. The family are identified with the Baptist church and are contributors to all movements for the spiritual uplifting of their community, while Mr. Eberhart also takes a com- mendable interest in plans for the practical advancement of the township, and aided in se- curing good roads, gave his support stanchly to the movement for rural free delivery, also was a firm advocate of the rural telephone, aU of" which movements have been helpful to the devel- opment of the township and county. EDWARDS, DANIEL.— Although not a na- tive of Blue Earth county, Mr. Edwards has passed almost his entire life here, and his early recollections embrace memories of Indian distur- bances, a frontier environment, privations and hardships incident to pioneer existence, and an attendance at school when the work at home per- mitted the same. Out of such conditions have risen men and women who form the bulwark of our commonwealth and the foundation of our national progress, and Mr. Edwards pcsseeses tlie qualities which have come to be associated with the men active in the early de\elopment of our agricultural resources. In the township of Judson, ft'here he has his fann on section thir- teen, he wields the influence to be expected from a pioneer and a prosperous farmer. Por several terms he efliieiently filled the ofliice of county supervisor and for more than thirty years he has been clerk of the district, proving in both positions a painstaking and reliable official. During the residence of his parents in Dodge county, Wisconsin, Daniel Edwards was born in October, 1849, being a sou of Hugh and Eliza- beth (Evans) Edwards, natives of Wales. Some j'ears were spent by the parents in Steuben county. New York, and in 1850 they proceeded westward to Wisconsin, where they remained for five years. During June of 185.5 they came to Minnesota and pre-empted one hundred ana sixty acres near Lake Crystal, where they spent their remaining years and built up a valuable homestead. The father died here in 1870 at the age -of sixty and the mother died twelve years later when seventy-five years of age. In their death the community lost a worthy pioneer family, whose influence upon associates was up- lifting and whose characters were above re- proach. Religion blended with the other ele- ments that rounded their lives into an harmon- ious whole. They early adopted the Calvinistic faith and became stanch adherents of that branch of the Methodist denomination. In such a pioneer home Daniel Edwards passed the uneventful years of youth and grew 392 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. into a robust and sturdy manhood. Under the careful training of his father he was brought up to a thorough knowledge of farm work and gained an experience of inestimable value to his later years. Through all of his life he has followed agricultural pursuits. His home place has been brought under systematic improvement. Neat buildings have been erected suited to their varied purposes. An air of thrift pervades the place, attesting to the industry of the owner and to his sagacious Judgment. Though not a par- tisan in his political views, he is a stanch sup- porter of the Eepublican party and always gives his support to its men and measures. For more than twenty years he was blessed with the com- panionship and assistance of a faithful wife. Mary Jane Eoberts, whom he married January l(j, 1873, was born in New York and died on the home farm in Blue Earth county March 15, 1894, leaving three sons and five daughters, named as follows: Emma, wife of George H. Anderson, of Mankato; Margaret, who lives in Mankato; Hugh D., who is employed as agent for the Chicago and Northwestern Eailroad at Bear Creek, Wisconsin; Adeline, who keeps house for her father; Moses, who is engaged in farming in Blue Earth county; Lemuel, who assists his father on the home farm; Bessie, living in Mankato ; and Alvina, who is fifteen years of age and a student in the local schools. EDWAEDS, HUGH H.— In its population the county of Blue Earth enjoys the pleasant dis- tinction of possessing many veterans of the Civil war, and no citizens have proved more helpful to local activities than they. Patriotic and cour- ageous in times of war, they are no less loyal and trustworthy in eras of peace, and their citizen- ship has proved to be contributory to the mater- ial growth of their county and commonwealth. Numbered among these honored veterans is Hugh H. Edwards, an influential resident of Lake Crys- tal and a prominent local worker in the Ee- publican party. At this writing he holds office as president of the Parmer's Insurance Company of Lake Crystal and also acts as a director of the First National Bank, in which he holds stock. During the year 1840 Hugh and Elizabeth, (Evan) Edwards, cames from Wales to the Uni- ted States and settled at Eemsen, Oneida county, New York, where they lived for seven years. Thence they sought a home in the frontier re- gions of Wisconsin and in 1885 accompanied a party of fifteen families to Minnesota, where they settled in Blue Earth county and took up a claim from a government. The experiences in- cident to existence in a sparsely-settled region fell to their lot. Privations and hardships came to them as to all pioneers, but they possess- ed the sturdy physical and mental attributes ihat enabled them to overcome obstacles and surmount difficulties. The father died in Blue Earth county, August 21, 1870, and was survived for twenty years by the mother, who also passed her last days in this county. Their son, Hugh H., was bom at Eemsen, Oneida county. New York, Pebruary 35, 1843,' and received such meagre educational advantages as the day and locality afforded. Early in life he began to as- sist his father in the development of their pre- emption claim and always has maintained a deep interest in agricultural pursuits. Por thirteen years he was in the employ of the government as a railway postal clerk, in which responsible posi- tion he proved himself quick, accurate, and re- liable. Por four years he was a member of the board of county commissioners. Throughout the period of the Civil war Mr. Edwards was staunch in his allegiance to the Union. December 33, 1863, he enlisted at Fort Snelling as a private in Company E, Second Minnesota Cavalry, his company being under the command of Captain E. F. Slaughter. The regiment was stationed on the frontier in the llndian warfare and conducted a campaign against the Sioux Indians. The war having expired and the Indians having been quieted, the regiment was mustered out of service December 3, 1865, and Mr. Edwards returned to his home with an excellent record for military service. Deeply interested in the welfare of the country, he supports all movements for the general good and has proved a dependable citizen. Por a quarter of a century he has been identified with Masonry, while in religious views he is in sym- pathy with the doctrines of the Methodist Episco- BIOGEAPHIOAL HISTORY. 393 pal church. His marriage was solemnized Feb- mary 35, 1863, and imited him with Ann Eob- erts, of South Bend, Minnesota. Two sons and two daughters were born of their union, namely: John, bom February 8, 1867, and now holding the responsible position of state grain inspector at Duluth; Daniel, born April. 6, 1869, and now a revenue collector at Washington, D. C. ; Eliza- beth, born August ^3, 1871; and Amy, born November 1, 1873, who is the wife of C. H, Jones, , a farmer of this county. There are three grandchildren, of whom Mr. and Mrs. Edwarda are justly proud and in whose happi- ness they are deeply interested. The family hold a high position in their home town and have a large circle of friends among the people in whose midst they long have made their home. EDWAEDS, JOHN.— From the age of ten years a resident of Blue Earth county, Mr. Edwards has been identified with the agricul- tural development of this portion of the state of Minnesota and has accomplished much as a farmer and citizen. It has been his privilege to witness the transformation of the country from a primeval wilderness, through which roamed wild animals and Indians, into a region dotted with neat farm-housee and thriving towns, and inhabited by a class of people whose superiors are not to be found within the limits of the com- monwealth. In all of this work of development he has borne a part. His influence has been given to movements of a progressive nature, his hand always has been ready to aid local enter- prises, and his means have been used frequently to promote measures whose success was jeopar- dized by lack of capital. The improved farm which he owns and occupies lies on section twen- ty-two, Judson township, near the village of Lake Crystal, from which he receives his daily mail via the rural route. For some time he has been a member of the town board and in that capacity has promoted local projects of un- doubted importance to the well-being of the community. The Edwards family is of Welsh extraction. Hugh and Elizabeth (Evans) Edwards were na- tives of Wales, whence they emigrated to the United States and settled in Steuben county. New York, where their son, John, was bom in 1S45. From there they proceeded westward in 1850 and settled in Emmett, Wisconsin, but five years later sought a new location, and in June of 1855 became pioneers of Minnesota, where they pre-empted a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Blue Earth county. Both of them died at their homestead near Lake Crys- tal, the father in 1870 at the age of sixty and the mother in 1882 at the age of seventy-five. John Edwards received his primary education in Wisconsin and later attended the country schools of Minnesota. From an early age he was familiar with farm work and always has followed agricultural pursuits, in which he has gained a success justified by his experience and sagacity. For ten or more years after Mr. Edwards be- came a resident of Minnesota the Indians proved troublesome and at times dangerous neighbors, and settlers were in constant fear of their dep- redations. As a boy he was often excited by tales of massacres and reports of approaching savages, and he remembers well the excitement caused by their attacks on the white settlers during the sixties. Contrasting those da5's with the peace and contentment of the present era, he rejoices in the privilege of living in the twentieth cen- tury, with its opportunities for the quiet and suc- cessful pursuits of agriculture. When the Civil war broke out he was an enthusiastic sup- porter of the Union cause, and being young, enthusiastic, patriotic, and not yet bound by do- mestic ties, he soon offered his services to the Union. In August of 1862 he was accepted* as a member of Company E, Ninth Minnesota Infantry, with which he proceeded to the center of hostilities. Among the engagements in which he took part were the battle of Guntown, Mis- sissippi, and the siege of Corinth, after which he was present at the memorable battle of Nashville. Later he accompanied the regiment in marches through the eastern part of Mississippi and was with the force that captured JefEerson Da.vi&. Another well-remembered experience was the march through Missouri after Price. The only time he received a wound was at Spanish Port. After an honorable service of three years he was §94 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. mustered out in August, 1865, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Since then he has become promi- nently identiiied with Wilkin Post No. 19, Grand Army of the Republic. Ever since attaining his majority he has voted the Republicon ticket and maintained a hearty sympathy with the prin- ciples of that party. In his religious views he is of the Calvinistic faith. Shortly after his return home from the Civil war Mr. Edwards established a home of his own, being united in December of 1865 with Jane Jones, who was born in Wales and at an early age came to America, settling in Wisconsin. Of their union seven sons were born, all of whom are men of sagacity and irreproachable reputa- tions. The two oldest, Hugh T. and Thomas, are connected with the state wheat force in Min- neapolis. Henry remains on the old home farm. David, also a farmer, is living near the Big Lake in this state. William carries on a farm in Blue Earth county and George likewise has agricul- tural inter^ts in this locality. The youngest son, Charles, makes his home at Janesville, this state, where he has engaged in the milling busi- ness. EAIRCHILD, FRANK P.— Varied occupa- tions to which at different times he has given at- tention enabled Mr. Pairchiid to acquire a com- prehensive knowledge of the world of agriculture and commerce, and he is reputed to be one of the best-informed men at Garden City. For years this village has been his home and in all activities for the promotion of its business growth he has been prominent. With local politics he has kept closely in touch both through his cham- pionship of the candidacy of men whom he con- siders qualified for official honors, and also through his incumbency of various local posi- tions. Perhaps no man in the town is more conversant than he with real-estate values, and he is quoted as an authority in transactions where values are questioned. At this writing much of his time is devoted to the real-estate business. During early manhood he followed agricultural pursuits and after moving to town he became interested in the buying and selling of live stock, later made a specialty of imported stallions, but more recently he has limited his attention to real-estate affairs. A native of Waukau, Winnebago county, Wis- consin, Mr. Fairehild was born September 15, 1855, being a son of Richard and Diantha E. (Coffimann) Fairehild. His father was born in Herkimer county. New York, and during, active years engaged in agricultural pursuits, but more recently has lived in Minneapolis retired from active labors. The mother was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and died at Sauk Centre, Stearns county,- Minnesota, in 1901, when quite advanced in years. A resident of Garden City from boyhood, Frank P. Fairehild was given good educational advantages in local schools, where he enjoyed the ias tractions of Judge Weber and David Kirk. An excellent foundation was thus laid, to which afterward he added by reading and habits of close observa- tion, so that now he is a man of broad informa- tion and unusual intelligence. From youth he has been a believer in the principles of the demo- cratic party and has stanchly upheld its men and measures. The Christian church represents the religious faith of the family, and he has been a generous contributor to its maintenance, as indeed to all organizations for the benefit of humanity. Fraternally he holds membership with Lodge No. 325, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, at Mankato, and is further identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. The marriage of Frank P. Fairehild and Hattie G. Sherwood, a native of Wisconsin, was solemnized September 18, 1874. Mrs. Fairehild passed away November 11, 1907. Three daughters and two sons came to bless their union, namely; Ethel L., who was born on the 4th of July, 1881, and who now holds a responsible position as a teacher in the schools of Lakota, North Da- kota; Alice Mable, born October 2, 1883; Edna Beth, who was born November 5, 1886, and is the wife of William E. Bush, residing at Osh- kosh, Wisconsin; Frank Sherwood Fairehild, born January 36, 1890; and Charles Tusten,. July 8, 1893. The sons still remain beneath the parental roof. Socially the family hold an hon- ored position in their community and enjoy the freindship of the most cultured people of the town. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 395 Jj'ANCHEil, MAKK D. — From Ms earliest brought him into affiliation with various organi- recollections a resiaent oJ: Minnesota, Mr. ij'an- zations, including the United Commercial Travel- cuer IS loyal to tne interests ot tne common- ers, Masonic Blue Lodge, Benevolent Protective weaitn ol nis nativity ana cnerisnes tne utmost Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias and Koyal laitn in its tuture aeveiopment ana progress. Arcanum, in the work of all of which he has jiorn at Mantorvilie, JJouge county, Marcn 5, maintained a warm interest. l»7a, iie IS a son of Jonn Jv. ana Jj'annie ^^jjinasley) Pancher, natives respectively of Os- wego county, JMew lorli, and OJiio. 'I'ne mother PIELDS, JOHN H. — The reconstruction died fcieptember 21, 1905^ at the age of tifty-sis period following the Civil wax oSered large op- years. Smce then the father has led a retired lite portunity to men skilled in all departments of at Dodge Center, Dodge County, where in former activity, and to none more than the farmer, years ne was a prominent factor in the affairs whose labor is the foundation of the national of ills community ana lor years, iield tHe office commonwealth. To such as cast their fortunes of postmaster. Politically he always has been with Blue Earth county in 1866 there was ample an earnest supporter ot Republican principles, reward for labor expended, evidence to that effect His aeep interest in religious work has led tiini presenting itself in the lives of such men as to identify liimself witn societies for its ad- John H. Fields, a farmer of recognized ability vancement and he has been particularly active and standing in McPherson township and owner in the Dodge County Sunday tschool Association, of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, of which at one time he served as president. Born in St. Lawrence county. New York, In a family of three children, all still living, September 10, 1858, Mr. Fields is one of the Mark D. Faneher was the eldest in order of two sons and one daughter of William and Sarah birth. , Keceiving his education in the public (Baxter Fields, the former of whom died in schools, he added to this information gleaned St. Clair November 1, 1887, and the latter in from text-books the more important knowledge the same town in February, 1905. William gained in the school of experience and observa- Fields was born in the state of New York, while tion. In 1891 he was selected as assistant post- his wife was a native of Ireland. They came master at Owatonna, this state, and for five to Blue Earth county in 1866, locating on a years he continued in the same position, after hundred and sixty acres of land in McPherson which he was employed in a lumber business at township, and there conducted general farming MantorviUe for two years and for a similar and stock-raising for the balance of their lives, period traveled as auditor for the Hayes-Lucas John H. the oldest of their children, was edu- Lumber Company. Coming to Mankato in eated in the public schools and had the usual March of 1901, he took charge of the Laird- other advantages of the country reared lad. Norton lumber yards and still continues as man- Under his father he learned practical farming, ager of the business, which under his capable and since the latter's death, he has made steady supervision has almost doubled its former size, advance along the lines of his chosen life work. A thorough-going business man, keen and alert He occupies a commodious and comfortable resi- in mind, vigorous in body, social by disposition dence, has well constructed barn and outbuild- and genial in temperament, he is well qualified ings, and an atmosphere of refinement and appre- to conduct a growing and important business in elation of the artistic is presented by many beau- a manner productive of gratifying returns. tiful trees and shrubs. The marriage of Mr. Faneher took place De- In September, 1881, Mr. Fields was united •cember 13, 1893, and united him with Jessie in marriage to Isabelle Larabee, a native of Blue D. Philpot, daughter of William Philpot, of Earth county, and the daughter of parents who St. Lawrence county, New York. Two children were the first white settlers of this county. To were born of their union, Mildred C. and Ealph Mr. and Mrs. Fields have been born six daughters P. The fraternal relations of Mr. Faneher have and one son — Millie, Ada, May, Sadie, Jennie, 396 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Nona and Harry. In politics Mr. Fields is a Democrat, but he has no political aspirations. With ' his family he attends the Congregational church. He is one of the community's highly respected and most useful farmers, the soul of good humor and geniality, and the center of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. FIRST NATIONAL BANK.— The First Na- tional Bank, of Mankato, the seventh in point of age of the National Banks of Minnesota, was or- ganized in, 1868 with the following incorpora- tors: Jaraes B. Hubbell, John N. Hall, John B. Murphy, A. C. Woolfolk, Stephen Lamm, John F. Meagher, John T. Williams, Daniel Buck, L. C. Harrington, John J. Shaubut, James M. Thompson, J. A. James, John A. Willard, Henry Foster, T. N. Boynton, E. P. Freeman, F. E. Prael, H. DuBoieson and A. T. Lindholm. A. C. Woolfolk, attorney, ex-quartermaster of the United States and judge of the district court was the first president of the bank, John F. Meagher, vice-president, and John N. Hall, cashier. The board of directors consisted of A. C. Woolfolk, Stephen Lamm, James B. Hubbell, John P. Meagher, John B. Murphy, Daniel Buck, J. T. Williams, John A. Willard and L. C. Harrington. September 10, 1868, the bank took over the business of J. J. Thornton & Com- pany, and obtained possession of the .corner it since has occupied. George T. Barr became teller and A. T. Lindholm bookkeeper. In 1869 John J. Shaubut succeeded J. T. Williams as di- rector, and in 1870 Samuel Randall took the place of John B. Murphy. In the winter of 1871 John F. Meagher resigned as director and vice-president. The second president of the bank was James B. Hubbell, the vice-president being John J. Shaubut, and the board of directors Stephers Lamm, James B. Hubbell, John Shaubut, John A. Willard and Samuel Randall. The present bank building was erected in 1876. In January, 1878, James B. Hubbell was suc- ceeded by R. D. Hubbard as a member of the board of directors, and John A. Willard was elected president and Stephen Lamm, vice-presi- dent. These two men held their respective posi- tions until in December, 1896, when Mr. Lamm succeeded Mr. Willard as president, both having served nineteen years. January 30, 1879, Henry Poster, one of the original incorporators of the bank, became a director, which position he held until his death, in 1906, or for a period of twenty-seven years. April 1, 1880, John N. Hall resigned as cash- ier, and was succeeded by Frederick Busch, who, a year later, resigned to become identified with the Goodhue County National Bank, of Redwing. Henry C. Akeis became his successor, and two years later his place was taken by George H. Clark, April 1, 1883. At the same time L. A. Linder succeeded George B. Owen as teller, the latter having held the position three years. Jan- uary 8, 1883, John Klein, M. G. Willard and Nicholas Long were elected directors with Steph- en Lamm, Henry Poster, R. D. Hubbard and John A. Willard. January 12, 1885, George Peter Hoerr succeeded to the place left vacant by the demise of Mr. Long. In the spring of 1897 L. A. Linder became cashier of the bank, and Joseph H. Thro, who had been in the employ of the bank since 1887 became assistant cashier. In January, 1900, George M. Palmer became a director, and in January, 1901, W. D. Willard was added to the board, the other members being Stephen Lamm, L. A. Linder, Henry Foster, George P. Hoerr and John Klein. Upon the death of Mr. Linder September 32, 1901, A. 0. Eberhart was elected director. On November 12, 1901, W. D. Wil- lard became cashier. In January, 1902, P. M. Currier succeeded Mr. Klein on the board of di- rectors, and G. M. Palmer became vice-president. In January, 1904, J. W. Andrews and'B. Ban- gerter, Jr., were added to the board. March 23, 1904, President Lamm died, and was succeeded by his son, Leo S. Lamm, as vice-president and director. In January, 1906, John H. Hohmann became a director, and in August, of the same year, John Nyquist succeeded A. 0. Eberhart. On the death of Mr. Poster, Henry Thielman, of St. Clair, was chosen his successor. The present board of directors are as follows: G. M. Palmer, president of the Hubbard Milling Company; L. S. Lamm, capitalist; W. D. Willard, cashier; J. W. Andrews, physician; B. Bangerter, Jr., jjiUUitArjinJiiij moiuiti. 397 register of deeds; P. M. Currier, manufacturer of confectionery; J. H. Hr.nmann, manager of the Standard Brewing Comj^jany; John Nyquist, clothing merchant; and Henry Thielman, mer- chant. PISCHEE, HEEMAlSr.— One of the well-im- proved farms of Blue Earth county is the home- stead owned and occupied by Herman Pischer, and situated in Danville towi>hip two and one- half miles north of Minnesota Lake, Paribault county. Since acquiring the original tract by the purchase of what i^as then known as the Eischbauch place, he has added by buying ad- jacent property until now his landed posso-;.-ions aggregate four hundred acres in one l,,jdy. All of the land is available for cultivation with t'le exception of the pasture land through which. flows the Big Cobb river with its never-failing supply of water available for the use of the stock carried on the farm. One of the features of the place is a dairy business, the cream from which is riold at the Danville Star creamery. Prom the introductioii of creameries into this region Mr. Pischer has realized the opportunities which they afford to the farmer and has been enthusiastic m their support, having been especially inter- ested as a promotor of the creamery at Minne- sota Lake, which was the first plant of the kind in this section. Among the improvements on the farm may be- mentioned the neat residence, substantial barns and granaries, and the groves of trees whose garments of green add to the beauty of the landscape in the summer and break the rigor of the winter winds as they dash against the grey and leafless branches. Elsewhere in this volume appears a sketch of William, brother of Herman Pischer, and there- in will be found reference to the family history. Their father, who died January 8, 18.84, was one of the honored pioneers of Danville town- ship; where for years he labored with the in- dustry, thrift and frugality characteristic of his countrymen. Twice married, he lost his first wife, Henrietta (Eosenow) Pischer, in August of 1857, and later was united with Wilhelmina Leu, a native of Germany, who is still living on their old homestead in the northeastern corner of Danville township. Beside two children de- ceased, she has a family of four sons and three daughters still living. Herman was a son of the first marriage and was born at Pommern, Ger- many, August 31, 1853. As a boy he attended the schools of his native land and received con- firmation in the Lutheran church prior to com- ing to America. After he had accompanied the family to Minnesota he remained on the home farm until 1872, when he went to Minnesota Lake and learned the blacksmith's trade, after- ward carrying on a shop in that village until he removed to the farm that he still occupies. The years in their peaceful flight have brought him a fair degree of success as a farmer, and in the raising of general agricultural products suited to the soil and climate his time has passed profitably and busily. It is his custom to carry good grades of stock, and a visitor to his farm will find excellent types of the best breeds "of cattle, horses and hogs. The land lies in such a way as to render possible a simplified yet ef- fective system of drainage, with an outlet of suiTicient capacity to control all the water that miglit be carv'efl into it. In a region noted for it"^ energetic farmer-, it is recognized that he has few superiors in ]jm*-i-i'-n.J-<--i^J-i xixo-Luxii. 4U1 that year to the present the representatives of the name have been honorably identified with agricultural and commercial interests of our country. The great-grandfather of Alfred Fol- som was a native of ISTew Hampshire, but in early life crossed ' the state line into Vermont, where he established a permanent home. There the grandfather was born, reared and married, and there occurred the birth of the father, David L., who became a farmer, removed to ?[ew York state, and died in 1893 at an advanced age. The mother bore the maiden name of Catherine Allen, was born in New York and died there in 1849 when her children were yet small. While the family were living at Ticonderoga, New York, Alfred Polsom was bom in 1845. As a boy he was a pupil in the public schools at Stockholm, St. Lawrence county. New York, where he received a fair education. Studies were abruptly terminated by the call for volun- teers to aid in securing success for the Union in the Civil war. Accepting the call, he offered his services, and August 4, 1862, his name was en- rolled in the One Hundred and Sixth New York Infantry, with which he marched to the front. In the fortunes and misfortunes of war he bore his part as a brave soldier and endured the hardships of forced marches, long sieges and exposure to inclement weather. Among the engagements in which he participated were the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Sailors' Creek, Appomatox and siege of Petersburg. In the battle of Cold Harbor he received a serious wound from the effects of which he Avas confined to the hospital for six months. At the expiration of the war he was mustered out at Washington and returned to New York with a record of which he might well be proud. Seelcing a home in the then undeveloped regions of the northwest, ]\Ir. Folsom came to Minnesota in 1867, and at first worked out but m 1875 became a resident of Blue Earth county, where ever since he has lived and labored. As a farmer he is well known throughout Lincoln township, where he owns a well-improved place along the route of the free delivery No. 2, out from Lake Crystal. Quietly and industriously working at the occupation of an agriculturist, he has found little liesure for participation in local politics, but has shirked no duty devolving upon public-spirited citizens. At one time he held the ofl:ice of town clerk and at another time he rep- resented his township as a member of the county board of supervisors. In politics he votes the Eepublican ticket, and in religious views he in- clines toward the Methodist Episcopal church, which his family attend and to which he is a contributor. His marriage was solemnized in 1878 and united him with llary S. Taylor, a native of St. Lawrence county. New York, and a woman of most estimable character. Four sons came to bless their union, namely : David A., Clayton T., Arthur E. and Eufus A. FOBD, CHAELES F.— An identification with knitting mills begun in the east many years ago and continued constantly up to the present time, has given to Mr. Ford an expert knowledge of the business and constitutes him an authority on the industry. However, the object of his present commercial activity is of comparatively recent date, though akin to the work to which he has given a lifetime of skill and intelligent compre- hension. It was during 1904 that he opened a jobbing house for the sale of hosiery and knit 200fl.«, becoming the founder of the Midland Knit Goods Company in partnership with J. A. Farm- er. The latter's interest he purchased and thus became the sole head of the company, which was reorganized January 14, 1907. The goods are sold principally in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ne- braska, North and South Dakota, where a large and increasing business has been established. Born ill lx)well, Massachusetts, October 35, 18.5.5, Charles F. Ford is a son of Charles and Hannah (Hopkins) Ford, natives respectively of Lowell and Camden, Massachusetts, the latter being descended from William Bradford, the second governor of Plymouth colony. A lifelong resident of New England, the father held a large interest in the Dudley hosiery knitting mill at Newton CJimtei-, Massachusetts, and re- mained in that town until his death, ^'s'hich oc- curred September 34, 1904, at the age of seventy- four. Of his six children the eldest, Charles F., received his primary education in Lowell, at- 402 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. tended the high schools of that town, and then took a business course in the Boston Commercial College, after which he studied the industrial arts in the Institute of Technology at Worcester, Massachusetts. On taking up business activi- ties he entered the factory department of the Dudley hoisery mill, where later he had charge of the bookkeeping department and clerical work. As early as 1865 this mill had been the pioneer in inaugurating a d^'flerent method of manufac- turing the knit products and their improved system was recognized as such an improvement upon the old products that it was generally adopted. For years Mr. Ford continued to be promi- nently identified with the Dudley mill, but event- ually he resigned his position with the company, and in 1897 he went to Manchester, ISTew Hamp- shire, for the purpose of installing a knitting plant in the industrial school. During 1902 he came west to Minnesota and became interested in the Mankato Mills Company, but two ^^ears later he disposed of his stock, and turned his at- tention to the jobbing business he now conducts. March 30, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Lillian Standish, daughter of Miles Stan- dish, of Waterbury, Maine, and a lineal descen- dant of the renowned warrior of that name whose name has been carried down in history from the early daj's of the Plj^mouth colony. Mr. and Mrs. Ford are the parents of two children, Fred Standish, and Lucy C, the latter of whom died at the age of seven years. Along the line of fraternal and business organizations, Mr. Ford i;5 a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the Mankato Commercial Club. In- heriting from a long line of New England an- cestors the qualities that have made that region famous in history, he possesses the refinement and culture, the love of art and music, the en- joyment of the society of men of fine mental endowments, and the high intellectual attain- ments given as a heritage to the descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers. FOESTEE, CHAELES.— Among the honored heroes of our country are the men who, when the crisis came between the north and the south, 'bravely allied themselves on the side of the principles they believed to be right and offered their services to aid in preserving the Union. Especially should due credit be given these brave sold^'ers when, as was the case with Charles Fors- ter, they were born in the old .world and did not have the impelling inflaence of generations of patriotic forefathers. Our foreign-born soldiers of the Bebellion are worthy of the undying grat- itude of th.e nation, and those who still rema'in on eartli receive the tributes of a grateful coun- try. Surviving to receive this praise and enjoy the prosperity of an united country, is Charles Forster, a defender of the stars and stripes during the entire war, and now a well-known resident of Lime township. Blue Earth county. The birth of this old soldier occurred in Prussia July 15, 1842, his parents being Charles and Fredericka (Bohteen) Forster, also natives of Prussia, where they were reared. After their marriage, they settled in their native province and continued there until 1854, when they came to the United States and settled in Lake County, Illinois. From there they camQ to Minnesota during the spring of 1860 and settled in Le Su- eur county, where they remained until death, following general farm pursuits. They were the parents of six children, namely: Augusta, Freder- ick, Anna, Herman, Auguet (deceased) and Charles, the subject of this review and the eld- ■ei^t member of the family. At the time of. emi- grating from Germany he was a boy of twelve years. Prior to that he had acquired a rudimen- tary education in the German language, and aft- erward he had the advantage of several terms in American schools. When the Civil War began Mr. Forster eagerly spoused the cause of the TTniob. May 24, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Fifteenth Illinois In- fantry. With his regiment he marched to the front and participated in various important en- gagements with the Confederates. During March of 1864 he was honorably discharged at the ex- piration of his period of service. Immediately afterward he enlisted in Company E, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, and served with this company until the close of the war, his last discharge taking place at Springfield, Illinois, in Septem- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 403 ber of 1865. In the engagements of Hs regiment he proved a brave and fearless soldier and con- tributed his quota toward the success of the northern troops. Upon leaving the army he came to Blue Earth county, but soon went to Nicollet county and purchased land, on which he em- barked in general farming. During 1870 he permanently settled in Blue Earth county and now is numbered among the prominent men of Lime township. The marriage of Charles Porster took place in Blue Earth county March 5, 1866, and united with Miss Alvina Hinze, who was born in Prus- !ija, Germany, February 6, 1846. Her parents, Frederick and Caroline (Hoefer) Hinze, were natives of Prussia and from that country migra- led to the "United States in 1850, first settling in Wisconsin, but during 1856 removing to Min- iiPFota, where until their death they made their home in Blue Earth county. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Porster comprises nine children, namely: Caroline, Theodore, Eosina, Henry. Emma, .4.meHa, Celestia, Flora and Charles. Since at- taining his majority Mr. Porster always has given his support to the Eepnblican party and in his locality he has been prominently identified with measures for the general welfare. Among the offices he lias held may be mentioned those of townsliip assessor and supervisor, and in ad- dition be served about two years as county com- missioner. POSTEE, STEPHEN.— The youth with lim- ited means, scant education and no influence whatever, who desired to embark upon an agri- cultural life, must needs draw deep inspiration from so worthy and useful a life as has been Stephen Poster's. Mr. Foster has won the right to the leisure he now enjoys by almost a half a century of arduous labor, of much conflict with misfortune and discouragement, and much over- coming of obstacles. He was born into an humble walk of life on a small farm in Trumbull county, Ohio, one of the seven children of Henry and Elizabeth Foster, the former of whom was a carpenter, and both of whom died in the state of Wisconsin. Mr. Poster was barely seven years old when he moved with the rest of the family from Ohio to Wisconsin, and seven years later removal was made to Iowa, from which, when three years more had elapsed, a return was effected to the former home in Wisconsin. At the expiration of six years the family came to St. Cloud, Min- nesota, and after a year and a half came to Blue Earth county, four years later moving back to Wisconsin. A short time afterward they re- turned to Minnesota. Stephen Poster during all of these many changes contributed his strength to the clearing of pioneer farms, to the dreary tasks that confronted the people who dwelt in the wilderness and were dependent upon the crude machinery and small advantages of the unsettled frontier. That he had good material in him was proved by his emergency from all these experiences with a competence sufficient to maintain him in comfort for the balance of his life. He has won also what is still better, an honored name, the friendship and good will of the entire communitJ^ And this with the scantiest of early advantages, in all but three months actual schooling. While the ravages of the Civil war still darkened the land, in 1863, Mr. Poster was united in marriage to Miss E. M. Adkins, a na- tive of Kentucky, and to whom has been born eight children, six of whom are living — two sons, both farmers in Blue Earth county, and four daughters, all married, and three of whom live in this county and one in Wisconsin. Mr. Fos- ter has never been active in politics, and while originally a Democrat, for the past few year? he has espoused the Eepublican cause. The family are members of the Congregational church. PEITZ, MICHAEL D.— One of the notably jirogressive, enterprising and successfully con- ducted business houses in ilankato. Blue Earth County and one that is considererl a most pros- perous financial institution, with a future of creat promise on account of its ^\-ide awake and up-to-date business principles, is the Free Press Printing Co. of which Michael D. Fritz is secre- tary and manager. 404 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. Mr. Fritz, Mankato, publisher, was born April 8, 18C8, in Milan, Ohio, and is the son of Daniel and Mary (Wick) Fritz, both of whom were born in Greisheim, Baden, Germany. When six years of age, he crossed the water with his mother, going to Germany to visit his {.n-andparents. There he remained a few months, his mother's death occurring shortly after, at Cleveland, Ohio, where the family of six boys and one girl resided, Mr. Fritz being the fifth child. The death of his mother was the cause of the family being separated and the children wore obliged to care for themselves. Mr. Fritz worked on a farm in Trumbull County, living with Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Davis, now both de- ceased, and attended the public school in Cort- land, Ohio. At the age of fifteen, he began learning the printer's trade on The Poultry Nation, at Elyria, Ohio, in 1884. Here he worked untiringly the first few months for one dollar a week, spending his evenings and nights in the ofiice in study; but this honest vigilance brought its own reward and when the paper was enlarged and emerged into the Elyria Daily Telephone, Mr. Fritz was promoted to the position of foreman, a higli honor considering his youth and the short time with which he had been in the employ of this firm. Here he remained until 1888 going west to accept a position on The Bell at Estelline, South Dakota, where one of his brothers had pi'eviously held a position. The Estelline Bell was owned by Prank A. Parsons who purchased it of Fred Carruth, a noted humorist writer, who had sold the paper in order that he himself could accept a lucrative position as humorist writer on the New York Tribune. After Mr. Fritz' business connection vidth Mr. F. A. Parsons, now of Black Eiver Falls, Wis- consin, they together established a new paper, the Castlewood (S. D.) Eepublican. It was while proprietor of this paper that he married Miss Cora J. Dunbar, ISTovember 11, 1890, at Elyria, Ohio. Mr. F'ritz had met her during the time he was with the Elyria Daily Telephone, she holding a position on the Elyria Democrat, edited by Prof. F. S. Eeefy. In the fall of 1890 the drouth was severer than ever in South Dakota and at the election in November the Populist party gained control of state and county afllairs. These two things com- bined looked anything but promising to a staunch Pepublican paper and progressive newspaper man and Mr. Fritz decided to accept a temporary po- sition with the Mankato Daily Free Press the following spring, leaving his wife in charge of the editorial and mechanical departments of the business. Mrs. Fritz conducted the paper in a most creditable manner for a few months, and her editorial writings were widely quoted by the press of South Dakota. The paper was sold late that summer and Mrs. Fritz joined her husband in Mankato, where they have since lived, Mr. Fritz holding various positions in The Free Press of- fice, and where for five years Mrs. Fritz did con- siderable writing. During 1891 and for many years afterwards in connection with their other duties Mr. and Mrs. Fritz were correspondents for some of the leading pa.pers in New York, Chicago and the Twin Cities. After a service of eleven years with The Free Press Printing Company, Mr. Fritz, in 1902, purchased a one- third interest in the business, becoming secretary and manager. In February, 1909, the Free Press company purchased the handsome office building in which is located the large printing and publishing plant of this firm. The building is one of the handsomest structures in Southern Minnesota. The com- pany employs about fifty people and has a busi- ness extending well over North and South Da- kota., Wisconsin and Montana and in addition to publishing The Daily and Weekly Free Press, handle all kinds of bank and county officers' supplies, do binding, lithogi-aphing, embossing, and also have a general line of legal and county blanks. Mr. Fritz was a member of Mankato City Council in 1898-99, succeeding Dr. J. W. An- drews from the fourth ward. He is also a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Blue Lodge and Eoyal Arch Masons, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Ellcs No. 225, Knights of Pythias, Mankato Lodge No. 36, and Ancient Order of United Workmen, Blue Earth Lodge, No. 30. Mr. Fritz has always voted the Eepublican ticket straight. While in South Dakota he was BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 405 secretary of the Republican County Committee. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz have one daughter, Mildred I., born August 7, 1895. Mrs. Fritz has been much interested in the Order of the Eastern Star, having been secretary several years. She has served as department sec- retary of the Woman's Eelief Corps and is now State Treasurer of this organization. Mr. Fritz is a promoter of sound business prin- ciples, and progress is the keynote of his business method. He has always taken a keen interest in all public matters and is vitally alert to any pro- gressive movement, either business or social. He has a definite plan in the accomplishment of each day's duties and his genial personality com- mand respect and win for him many loyal friends. FUNK, WILLIAM ALBERT.— While Am- erica was still under the government of European powers three brothers crossed the ocean from Switzerland and settled in "Virginia and Pennsylvania about the year 1765. The canton from which they came was adjacent to German provinces and the lan- guage used in the home was that of Germany, but after coming to the new world they ac- quired a mastery of Englisli and soon became typical Americans. I'rom one of the three brothers descended Abraham Funk, of Virgin- ian birth, but educated principally in Ohio, whither he removed with his parents at a very early age. After leaving school he taught for a number of years, but afterward turned his at- tention to agriculture. In 1853 he removed to Illinois and settled on a farm. Since about 1802 he made his home in Odell, that state where he died in 1903. During 1840 he married Miss Margaret Hutchinson, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, of English i descent, she died in Odell, Illinois in October, 1906. Their son, William Albert, was born in La Salle county, Illinois, February 25, 1854, and re- ceived his primary education in the public schools of bis native count)', after which he at- tended an academy. Prom boyhood it had been the ambition of Wil- liam Albert Punk to become a lawyer and pursu- ant upon that object he took up the study of law, which he carried on until qualified to pass the required examination. In September of 1875, when twenty-one years of age, he was ad- mitted to practice at the bar of Illinois. Imme- diately afterward he opened an office at Odell, Illinois, where he had as a partner Hon. J. H. Funk, recently the speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives. The partnership con- tinued until 1878, and was then dissolved owing to the removal of William Albert Funk to Streator, Illinois. There in 1880 he formed a partnership with Joel T. Buckley under the firm title of Buckley & Punk. Two years later the firm of Punk & Glass was formed, the junior member being George E. Glass of Streator. Prom 1885 until leaving Streator Mr. Punk engaged ill practice alone. Upon removing from Illinois to Minnesota Mr. Punk settled in Lakefield, Jackson county, in March 1887, and there carried on a growing practice, besides which he became identified with the real-estate and social affairs of the town. In November of 1895 he came to Mankato, where he since has built up a lucrative practice and has gained a reputation as one of the most scholarly lawyers in the place. His wife was prior to their marriage, in October, 1879, Miss Nellie Douglas, of Streator, Illinois. They are the parents of four children, William D., Jen- nette M., Leslie A. and Edgar N. The family hold membership with the First Presbyterian cimrch of Mankato, in which j\Ir. Punk has been active officially as elder and trustee, and for some years was superintendent of the Sunday School. His responsibilities have been further increased by service as a member of the board of trustees of Albert Lea college. A life long advocate of Republican principles Mr. Punk has been active in politics from youth. As early as 1876 he stumped the state of Illi- nois during the presidential campaign of that year. Later he rendered similar services to his party in Minnesota. For three years he acted a? chairman of the Republican city committee of Streator and for tv/o years he was a member of the board of aldermen of that place. During 1890 he was elected county attorney of Jack- son county, Minnesota, and in 1892 and again in 406 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 1894 he was re-elected to the office^ where he made an enviable record for thorough work. On his removal from Lakefield he resigned the office. The year after coming to Mankato he served as chairman of the Mankato McKinley Club and for forty-seven nights he was on the stump in the interest of the Eepublican candidates. Dur- ing 1898 he served as a member of the executive committee of the Eepublicnn state central com- mittee. Two years later he officiatel as president of the McKintey and Roosevelt Club at Man- kato, and at that time his name was prominently mentioned for congress, but he withdrev,r as can- didate before the primaries were held. As a speaker he has accomplished much in the inter- est of his party, for his logical arguments, ear- nest manner and forceful speech invariably make an impression upon the minds of hearers. Fra- ternally he has been connected with the grand lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in both Illinois and Minnesota, also is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks lodges at Manliato, and upon the organization of the Modern Wood- men of America in Illinois he was chosen counsel for Camp No. 4, later holding the same position with the camp at Lakefield. GAEVAE", WALTEE V.— A large number of the present residents of Blue Earth county have passed their entire lives within its limits and have risen to positions of prominence in their special lines of activity. In this list may be placed the name of Walter V. Garvan, who was bom a.t Garden City, Garden City township, Nov- ember 7, 1862, and during boyhood attended the country schools of his native township, acquir- ing by diligent application a thorough Imowledge of the elementary branches. The family remored to Lyra township during the year. 1877 and upon attaining manhood he began to earn a livelihood as a farmer in that township, but since 1902 he has been a resident of Rapidan township. In the various localities where he has made his home he retains the friendship of a large circle, who en- tertain for him sentiments of the highest regard. As early as 1858 the Garvan family became identified with the frontier settlements in Minne- sota. During that year there came to the north- west Thomas and Sophronia (Pillsbury) Garvan, who were born and reared in the vicinity of Springvale, Maine. After coming to Blue Earth county the father took up land in Garden City tovmship, and for almost twenty years he re- mained in the same locality, but during 1877 he removed to a farm in Lyra township, and there continued until his death in 1891. His wife survived him, passing away in 1903. During the early period of their residence in Minnesota they were in constant peril of their lives through In- dian outbreaks, and the father assisted in bury- ing the Jewett family, victims of the savages. Frequently^ the old Chief, Good Thunder, came to the Garvan home and the mother was accus- tomed, at such times, to furnish him with the best viands the house afforded. There were five children in the parental fam- ily. Clara married Mel vine Crane, a farmer of Garden City township. Charles is living in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Ida and Ross are deceased. The oldest son and second -child, Walter V., attended the common schools until he had completed their studies, after which he was a pupil in the high school at Owatonna. April 3, 1890, he was united in marriage with Emma, daughter of John Rosin, the latter a native of Germany, but a pioneer of Lyra town- ship. Blue Earth county, where he engaged in farming until his death. Since his demise Mrs. Rosin has made her home with her youngest son in Lyra township. Mr. and Mrs. Garvan have two children, Edna L. and Charles. The family are identified with the Baptist church. In poli- tics Mr. Garvan votes with the Republican party. For a number of years he held the office of school director, in which position he endeavored to ad- vance the educational interests of his district. As previously stated, he has made his home in Rapidan township s-nce 1902, when he left the old homestead in Lyra township and purchased the property he now owns. His farm comprises one hundred and eighty acres of land under cultivation. The buildings have been remodeled under his supervision and fences have been built as needed. Dairying forms a specialty and ten cows are kept for that purpose. In addition, there are on the farm shorthorn cattle and BIOGKAPHICAL HISTOEY. 407 Poland-China hogs. The crops bespeak the care and wise judgment of the owner and indicates that he possesses the industry and application necessary to successful agriculture. GARY, WILLIAM H.— William H. Gary, a leading real estate dealer of llankato, is a na- tive of Winona, Minnesota, where he was born May 11, 1861, the son of Harris B. and Nancy (Woodard) Gary. His parents were both natives of Eutland, Vermont, in the fall of 185-1 coming to Minnesota, where the liusband engaged as a railroad engineer and assisted in the construction of a portion of the North-s^'estern line running through sections of that state and what is now South Dakota. He spent many years in this employment, and became so well known in the work that the town of Gary, South Dakota, was named for him. Harris B. Gary removed to Mankato, in 1906, and now resides with his son, William H., the wife and mother had died Sep- tember 14, 1905, at the age of sixty-nine. Four children were born to this union, as follows : Nellie, now the wife of J. A. Sigler, of ISTorfolk, "Virginia; Addie, who married Dr. G. E. Par- sons, of Marshall, Minnesota; William H. ; and George, who resides at Wilhnar, Minnesota. After receiving a public school education at Winona, Minnesota, Mr. Gary entered the first serious business of his life as a representative and solicitor for the McCormick Harvester Company, with headquarters at Mankato. He was thus en- gaged for sixteen years, until 1902, when he opened a real estate office over the National Citi- zens' Bank, continuing the business there until the fall of 1905. At that time he removed to the Saulpaugh Block, his present location, where he has extensive dealings in Minnesota, Canadian and Texas lands; also buys and sells city prop- erty, and has quite a department of loans and collections. His business is systematically and energetically conducted and is constantly increas- ing in volume and importance. Politically, Mr. Gary is a Eepublican, and, fra- ternally, a member of the A. F. & A. M., A. 0. U. W., B. P. 0. E. and IJ. C. T. He was married August 30, 1884, to Emma W., daughter of P. G. Sheldon, of Owatonna, Minnesota, and they have one child, Vernard S. GEDDES, WILI;IAM E. AND CHAELES I). — The Geddes family, parents and sons, have been identified in a leading way, with the pioneer and modern history of Blue Earth County, for more than forty years. Endowed with the keen perception, adaptability and alertness of their race, the later generation has added a thorough education and American training to its natural attractive and substantial traits, earning thereby a broad success along pro- fessional lines and a popularity which seems to be the distinctive fortune of the cultured Irish- American. William E. Geddes, the senior member of the law firm of W. E. & C. D. Geddes, of Mankato, is a native of Albany, New York, and was born November 28, 1855, the son of William and Margaret (Higgins) Geddes. His parents were both natives of County Down, Ireland, and emi- grated to the United States in 1848, moving at once to what was then a far western wilderness. Before the age of railroads had fairly dawned upon the country west of the Alleghany Moun- tains these hardy pioneers drove and slowly wended their way to what is now a land teeming with agricultural riches and the best fruits of civili- zation, their means of transportation being a team of two yoke of oxen. In 1864, when the wilderness had already commenced to blossom, William Geddes pre-empted a tract of land in the Winnebago Indian Agency, McPherson Town- ship, Blue Earth County, and this became th,e family homestead upon which was reared the family of four boys and three girls, of which William E. was the third child. The mother died in April, 1894, at the age of seventy-three years and the father in May, 1896, aged seventy- nine. William E. Geddes obtained a thorough educa- tion prior to pursuing his law studies, passing through the common schools of Blue Earth Coun- ty and taking courses in tlie Normal School, of Mankato, and the Minneapolis Academy. After completing his school work and in 1882, he be- gan the study of law in the office of William H. Piymat, at Mapleton, this county, being engaged as a student and a newspaper man for the winter of 1880, until his admission to the bar in 1891. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Geddes became local 408 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. editor of the Mankato "Free Press," and con- timied in this position for about two years. His next advance in journalism was as publisher of the "Mankato Register/' but upon his admission to the bar he sold his business, and permanently abandoned the newspaper field to devote his en- tire attention to the profession which from the first he had intended to make his life work. He began practice in the fall of 1891, and has since earnestly and successfully cultivated the broad field of the law. He was alone until 1898, when his youngest brother, Charles D., who had just been admitted to practice, was received into the business as a partner, and the firm has since ob- tained a flattering share of the litigation of the county, and earned high professional prestige. Charles G. Geddes, the junior partner, was educated in the public school of this county, and v/hile a student at the Columbian Law School, Washington, was connected with the United States Patent Office. Prior to his admission to the bar he took a post-graduate course at the University of Minnesota, so that he was abun- dantly qualified to at once enter into active pro- fessional work. William. R. Geddes, the senior partner, has also taken quite a prominent part in the public and political affairs of the county, being a Repub- lican of considerable local influence. He is on the County Committee, and from March 1, 1888, until January 1, 1889, filled the unexpired term as sheriff of the county, his service being so sat- isfactory that he was elected for the succeeding term of two years. Mr. Geddes was married in November, 1888, to Lou W. Williams, daughter of Cyrus Williams, a sterling citizen of this county, their children be- ing Alma L., Vira R., Lloyd W., G. Maud, Mar- garet J. and Charles C. In his domestic and social relations he is a man of high and attrac- tive personality, and would be an inspiration for good in any community in which he might cast his lot. GOPP, JOHF A.— No family can point to a more honorable lineage than can those bearing the name of Golf, nor is there any whose ances- tors displayed greater valor in war or greater patriotism in the events that shaped the history of our country. The founder of the race in the new world was John Goffe, who immigrated from England to Boston in 1063. As early as 1676 his name appears in the records of the Boston congregation of Dr. Increase Mather. Prom the narrow confines of Plymouth colony his son, John, moved to the frontier of New Hampshire and in 1719-22 took an active part in founding the city of Manchester, dying many years later at Bedford, in that state. Added lustre was given to the family name by the record of Colonel John Goffe, who was the most renowned Indian fighter of his day and for sixty years was identified with all the stirring events of the country. He was born at Boston in 1701, and died at Bedford, near Manchester, New Hamp- shire, in 1788, between which dates was crowded a lifetime of activity and accomplishment. The history of that day shows that he was with Love- well in 1725, an officer in the New Hampshire militia in 1727, a captain in King George's war from 1745 to 1748, a captain in the French and Indian war, commanding an expedition against Crown Point in 1756, commissioned major in 1757, promoted to the command of the regiment during the service on the frontier and in the Lake George region, present at Fort William Henry at the time of its capitulation to the French and the massacre following, August 9, 1757, and a colonel in 1760 under General Am- herst in the Canadian campaign. From 1763 to 1774 he served as representative from Bedford, New Hampshire, and from 1771 to 1774 was honored with the office of judge of probate. Next in line of descent we come to the name of a warrior scarcely less distinguished than his father, whose name he bore. Major John Goffe was born at Bedford, New Hampshire, February 26, 1727, and died at the same place September 11, 1818. During the Indian wars of 1745-46 he was a sergeant in a company commanded by Captain (afterward Colonel) Goffe. In the ex- pedition of 1756 against Crown Point he served as an ensign and two years later held a commis- sion as lieutenant in the expedition against Louis- burg. In 1764 Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire appointed him captain of Militia and four years later he was promoted to the rank of BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 409 major. At the beginning of the Eevolutionary war he offered his services in defense of the colo- nies and became a private, enlisting at Cam- bridge. During the memorable battle of Bunker Hill he fought with conspicuous bravery on the side of the patriots in the cause of liberty and in the historic struggle at Saratoga his son, Wil- liam, lost his life. Another son, Stephen, enlisted in the navy during the war and was lost at sea with his ship. There was yet another son in this patriotic family who gave his services in the cause of in- dependence. This son, Captain John Goffe, was born at Bedford, New Hampshire, May 9, 1755, and enlisted in his native town in April, 1775, at the age of about twenty years. With others of the family he fought at Bunker Hill and the siege of Boston, and took part in other historic and sanguinary engagements that tested the valor and the loyalty of the hastily-drilled and poorly equipped colonists. After the war was ended he returned to New Hampshire, where he served as a captain of militia. By the act of 1832 he was granted a pension from the United States government, in recognition of his faithful and self-sacrificing services as a soldier. His death occurred February 19, 1848, at Win- fic4d, Herkimer county, New York. When the second war with England began Ephriam and Theodore, two sons of Captain John Goff, eagerly offered their services and aided in securing victory for "the United States. A younger son. Orange, born at Winfield, Herki- mer county. New York, November 29, 1806, was a small child when his older brothers left home for the war, and hence he was deprived of the honor of serving his country in war. However, by a life of integrity and industry he proved the value of his citizenship, for the courage of man is tested by the vicissitudes of private life on less than by the perils of warfare. During the years of early manhood he married Miss Phoebe Slade, a niece of Governor Slade of Massachu- setts. Pive children were born of their union, and two of their sons, Henry Slade and Freder- ick Victor, served throughout the Civil war as defenders of the Union. Another son, John A., forms the subject of this narrative. He was bom in Herkimer county. New York, August 30, 1839, and in 1851 accompanied the family to the then unsettled regions of Wisconsin, where he aided in developing a farm from the wilder- ness. During 1861 he came to Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, where he spent the first summer on a claim and the first winter as a school teacher at Crystal Lake. In the Indian massacre of 1862 he was one of the defenders of the frontier. In 1864 he took up land in Maple- ton township and the following year was joineu by his father, who died here February 24, 1878, at the age of seventy-one years. When the first wife of John A. Goff died she left two daughters, Clara and Aletha. March 23, 1874, he was united in marriage with Augusta Tenney, who was born in New York, accom- panied her parents to Wisconsin and from there came to Minnesota. The children born of their union aie as follows: John T., who assists his father in the management of the home farm; Inez L.^ who married William C. Wood, and lives at Mankato, Blue Earth county; Hiram S., who is engaged in the practice of law at Almontj North Dakota; Hattie A., and Mary B., who are engaged in teaching. The homestead in Maple- ton township comprises two hundred and forty acres, all under cultivation. The best of im- provements are noticeable, including a modern residence, substantial barn and other buildings, modern farm machinery, a gasoline engine for the pumping of water and grinding of feed, etc. While managing his place with energy and sagacity Mr. Goff has not neglected his duties as a citizen, but always has been found ready to aid progressive measures. GEAHAM, JOHN C— Of Scotch paternal an- cestry, broadened and strengthened by identifica- tion with the early history of New England, John G. Graham was born in Cleremont, Sulli- van county. New Hampshire, May 25, 1841, his parents, Alexander and Betsy (Gilmore) Graham, being natives of the same part of the east. The elder Graham was successful and resourceful first as a farmer, later as a hotel operator, and still later as a farmer and brick manufacturer. His death occurred in 1845, while that of his wife occurred in 1879. 410 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. John G. Graham's foundations for many sided usefulness were laid on a liiiiy Aew Jiampsiiire larm, wiiere lie was busily engaged ac tne out- breaJi of tlie (Jivil war. jin iatix ne eniistea m Uompany ti, Third i\ew Hampsnire inlantryj and m the Department of ttie faoutn was unuer command of General blierman and David Hunter, 0. M. Mitchell, J. A. Giimore and J. i±. Terry, in July, 1850, he was honorably Ois- charged from tlie army, having parcicipated m thirty-seven engagements, f-teturning to the New Hampshire larm, in 18(57 he sougat tlie less tried opportunities ot tlie tlien far xNorthwest, and in Garden City, Blue liarth county, estab-. lished one of the hrst mercantile establishments in the place. With three years of mercantile experience be- hind him, iUr. Graham came to Good. Thunder in 1870, opened a general store, and later a hotel, continued the combined interests until 1904. In the meantime he had evidenced considerable politi- cal activity, and twice been postmaster of the town, the first time under tlie administration of President Cleveland. During the candidacy of Mr. Bryan, Mr. Graham joined the Eepublican forces, owing to the Free Silver issue, and ever since has been a stanch supporter of the latter party. He is prominent fraternally, a member of Lodge No. 76, A. P. and A. M., and he is a member, and has been commander for a year, of the local post G. A. E. In conformity with the almost invariable custom that bankers are recruited from the ranks of the early upbuilders of a community, men whose best efforts have gone parallel with its growth, and whose lives have inspired un- questioned confidence, ilr. Graham has been president of the State Bank of Good Thunder for the past ten years, and during that time the bank has become one of the most dependable and solid monetary institutions in the county. He is the owner of a four hundred acre tract of land in Shelby township, three miles from Apiboy, and is recognized as one of the best authorities on general farming and stock-raising in this section of the north. His life furnishes an inspiring lesson in perseverence, thrift, energy and good judgment, and he has the satisfaction, dear to the heart of nature's worthiest sons, of having earned every dollar of his ample fortune by the sweat of his brow and the directing of his brain. GEEELEY, HOEACE B.— For more than fifty years the family represented by this large land-owner and enterprising farmer has been identified with the development of Minnesota, the first to remove hither having been his father, Himan W. Greely, who as early as 1854 became a pioneer in the lumbering regions of the north- west. In his journey to the then frontier he had been accompanied by his wife, who bore the maiden name of Lucretia Griswold and who like himself was of eastern lineage. His birth had occurred in New Hampshire in 1823, while she was born in New York state during the same year, and it is worthy of note that they both passed from earth in the same year, 1883. After coming to the northwest the father for some years engaged in lumbering in Washington coun- ty, wlier* the opportunities for the profitable pur- suit of that industry were as great as its re- sults were injurious to the health through expos- ure to inclement weather. During the year 1870 the family came to Blue Earth county and set- tled in Beauford township, where the parents died twelve years later, leaving to their sons the heritage of an untarnished name and lofty prin- ciples of honor. The religious faith of the fam- ily brought them into sympathy with the Epis- copal denomination. Always interested in public affairs, the father was chosen for various local offices, including those of school director and town treasurer, and both in public affairs and in private life he proved himself to be governed by principles of justice, honesty and patriotism. There were two sons in the family, Willis, the elder of whom married Ella Smith and settled upon a farm in Martin county, Minnesota. The younger, Horace B., was born in Washington county, Minnesota, June 38, 1854, and received such educational advantages as the schools of his day and locality afforded and graduated from the State University. From an early age he was trained to a knowledge of agricultural pursuits and in 1870 came to Beauford township, Blue Earth county, where now he has a farm of BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 411 eight hundred acres in one body. Six hundred acres of the place are under cultivation, while the balance is in pasture and woods. A neat farm- house is surrounded by shade trees and a well- kept lawn. The outbuildings are well adapted for the storage of grain and the shelter of stock. On the land may be seen Poland-China hogs, shorthorn cattle, draft and French coach horses, and all of the stock is well-bred and of good grades. The marriage of Mr. Greeley was solemnized in 1882 and united him with Ellen, daughter of George and Ann Doland, who in an early day removed from New Hampshire and settled, in Blue Earth county, Minnesota. In the family of Mr. Greeley there are six children, the eldest of whom, Gertrude, married Ernest Cramer, a farmer of Beauford township. The other child- ren, George, Lucretia, Burnham, Myrle and Ger- ald, remain with their parents on the home farm. In his ballot Mr. Greeley has maintained inde- jiendence of thought and action, voting for the men whom he considers best qualified to protect the interests of the people, and refusing to bind himself to any political organization. He has served as a member of the town board and as clerk of the school district. Throughout the township, where for so many years he has made his home, he has a large circle of friends ant' enjoys the respect of all with whom business or social recreations bring him into contact. GREIG, A. E.— The identification of the Greig family with the agricultural development of Blue Earth county dates from the year 185G, when Alexander Greig became a member of the historic Taylor colony and thus was led to seek a home in what was then considered the remote northwest. Ever since that time the name has been familiar to the people of Sterling township, who have watched with kindly interest the child- ren of the original pioneer and have rejoiced in the fact that several , of the name continue in the midst of the scenes familiar to their father in the early days. Of the four remaining in the county not the least promiaent is the one whose name introduces this article and who is a native of Sterling township where he still makes his home. Agriculture has been his occupation in life and in the quiet discharge of his duties as a farmer he has lived and labored from year to year, seeking neafthw olficial honors nor ci\ic prominence, but content to pursue the even tenor of his way and devote himself earnestly to pri- vate afl:airs. The traits that have brought honor to the Scots wherever they have scattered throughout the world are noticeable in the members of the Greig familj', who are of ancient and sturdy Scotch stock. Alexander, son of 'John Greig, was born and reared in Kilcondie, Scotland, and there learned the trade of a stone-cutter, which he followed during the early days of his manhood. As a workman he was painstaking and skilled, but he saw that prospects for success in his native land were few, therefore in 1847 he crossed the ocean and followed his trade in Georgia, later in New York. During 1856 he joined the Taylor colony and came to Minnesota, where he took up a homestead in Sterling township. Blue Earth county. On this tract he spent his remaining years in the discharge of the duties of a general farmer, and the land still remains in the family. \Vhile engaged in transforming the unimproved land into a productive, profitable estate, he gave due attention to public affairs, kept well posted concerning the issues of the parties, and was thoroughly loyal to his adopted country. Eond of reading, he became well versed in all move- ments of general importance, and few of the pioneers possessed a wider range of information than did Alexander Greig. When he passed away in September of 1899 he was mourned by those of his own generation who survived him and his body was followed to the grave by trib- utes of praise from those of the present genera- tion who owed to him and other pioneers the high cultivation of the land and the modern civilization they now enjoy. The family of Alexander Greig born of his marriage to Mary Ann Dixon, a native of Cork, Ireland, were nine in number and all but one of these are still living, four remaining in Blue Earth county. The gentleman whose name in- troduces this sketch was the fourth in order of birth and was born at the old homestead Septem- ber 29, 1864. As a boy he attended school dur- 412 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. ing the winter months and helped on the home farm in the summer seasons. Upon starting out to make his own way in the world he bought the Conrad farm, but upon the death of his father he sold that property to W. W. Taylor and re- turned to the old homestead, where he remained until 1904. During that year he bought a part of the original tract owned by Elder Hunt and here he has since carried on general farming. Good grades of cattle, hogs and Clydesdale horses are kept on the farm, and under the careful over- sight of the owner the land is maintained in a high state of cultivation, with first-class improve- ments. In his work he has the assistance of a capable wife, who, like himself, is a native of Sterling township. Mrs. Greig was formerly Anna C. Harriman a daughter of David M. and Elizabeth (Morris) Harriman, and granddaugh- ter of Moses Harriman and James Morris, hon- ored pioneers of Blue Earth county, the latter having come hither from the east in 1856 with the Taylor colony. The only child of Mr. and' Mrs. Greig is Elizabeth Mary. GEIPFIN, FRANK H.— The owner and pub- lisher of the Good Thunder Herald has been identified with the journal ever since its estab- lishment and enjoys the distinction of having printed the first copy of the popular paper. It was on the 2d of September, 1891, that the week- ly was established, with the aid of $100 in cash previously saved by the owner, supplemented by a credit sufficient to provide for the necessary equipment. For several years the work was dif- ficult owing to lack of capital and the editor found himself hampered on every hand by his indebtedness for the outfit, but as time passed he slowly reduced the debt and eventually had placed the printing plant upon a sound financial basis, rendering possible the conduct of an up-to- date newspaper office as well as the accumulation of a stock of merchandise valued at several thousand dollars. At Juneau, Dodge county, Wisconsin, Frank H. Griffin was bom August 13, 1863, being a son of Charles S. and Almeda E. Griffin, the former a farmer, descended from Scotch-Irish an- cestry, and the latter of English lineage. After having attended for some years the country schools near the home farm Mr. Griffin was sent to the high school at Horicon, Wisconsin, where he passed through the common branches and took up the study of Latin and German. At the age of fourteen he left school and began to make. his own way in the world. An opportunity having been offered for learning telegraphy, he was fitted out with a new suit of clothes and an overcoat, besides a $10 bill and railroad transportation to Ortonville, Minnesota. His first night away from home was spent at Hastings, Minnesota. For eighteen months he remained at Ortonville, hajidling freight and baggage, selling tickets and occasionally learning a little wire work. When sixteen years of age he was given charge of Car- ver station as relief agent for several weeks. Later he served in the same capacity at Brown- ton, Renville, Sacred Heart, Bird Island and other stations on the Hastings and Dakota Rail- road for a period covering about two years al- together. Becoming dissatisfied on account of not re- ceiving a permanent position, Mr. Griffin left the railroad business and took up civil engineering, in which he worked for a year as first rodman, then leveler, on the Milwaukee line between Still- water and Hastings. At the expiration of one year he returned to the Hastings and Dakota Railroad Company and resumed station work at Appleton and other points. For six months he was employed in the engineer's office of the Northern Pacific Railroad at St. Paul during the building of the companj^'s general offices in that city. On resigning from that position he came to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and for several years engaged in farming, which occupa- tion he relinquished to turn his attention to the newspaper business. The paper is the organ of the Democratic party in the locality, but the editor is not radical and never considers individ- ual interests in politics; on the contrary, any political movement for the betterment of the people meets his approval and is given stanch support by his paper. Under the last adminis- tration of Grover Cleveland he served as post- master at Good Thunder for four years. When twenty-one years of age he offered himself as a recruit in the army, but on account of heart BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 413 trouble he was rejected by the recruiting office at Fort Snell'.ng. At Manlcato, December 9, 1894, he married Edna B. Thompson, of Sparta, Wis- consin, and they have a son, Kenneth T. Griffin, also a daughter. Hazel. Fraternally he has num- erous associations, including membership in the blue lodge of Masonry, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, U. B. of A., and Order of the Eastern Star, in all of which he has held prominent official positions. GRIGGS, E. WILLIAM.— Into whatever por- tion of the world the Scotch people have gone they have carried with them the traits of integ- rity, frugality and perseverance that character- ized them in their native land, and their descend- ants from a substantial element in tlie civiliza- tion of America. Notable among the mfen of Blue Earth county who trace their lineage to a long line of honored Scotch progenitors, we men- tion the name of E. William Griggs, who is the son of a sturdy Scot, reared amid the influences of his native land, but afterward devoted to the welfare of the United States and a hero of the Civil war, dying while fighting on the battlefield for the preservation of the Union. Though long years have passed since he gave his life for his adopted country, he is remembered with afl'ection by his descendants, to whom he left the priceless heritage of an unspotted name. Concerning the family history it is known that David Griggs, Jr., son of David, Sr., A\'as born and reared in Glasgow, Scotland, and in early manhood came to the United States, where he married Margaret Williams, a native of New York state. Eemoving to Chicago he followed the trade of mechanical engineer and there his son, E. William, was born March 17, 1857. When the Civil war broke out the father, in- spired by a patriotic devotion to his adopted land, offered his services to the Union and was accepted in the Eighty-second Illinois infantry in 1861, his enlistment being for three years or until the end of the war. However, after he had" been in active service for a year he was killed in 1862, in the engagement at Chickamauga. Of his family of four sons and four daughters, two of the older sons served in the Civil war, both enlisting in 1861 in Chicago. The older son, Daniel, is now deceased. The younger, J. D., who is now living in Truman, Minnesota, was only twelve years of age when he was accepted as a drummer boy. After one year he became a bugler. First he served with the infantry, but later was transferred to the cavalry. During the last part of the war he served in Missouri, where he had many exciting chases after Quantrell and other bands of guerillas. At the close of the war he and his brother were honorably dis- charged. The death of the father on the southern battle- field left E. William Griggs an orphan and he was thereupon taken into the home of an aunt in New Jersey, where he remained from the age of five years until eight. Upon starting out to make his ovm way in the world in 1865 he came to Minnesota in company with a family named Archer and settled in Winona county, where he remained for six years. Eemoving to Blue Earth county in 1871, he worked as opportunity offered, and frugally saved his wages with the thrift characteristic of the Scotch. At the age of twen- ty-three years he bought a farm in Pleasant Mound, Blue Earth county, and during the fol- lowing years he laboriou.sly endeavored to place the land under cultivation, put up needed fences, and build the necessary buildings for the storage of grain and shelter of stock. Eventually he dis- posed of the place in 1904 and sought a home elsewhere, but he became convinced by experience that no better soil can be found than that in Blue Earth county, and he was glad to return here in the fall of 1906. On his return he bought one hundred and sixty-seven acres two miles west of Amboy, on the Blue Earth river. The property was known as the old George Cooper farm and is one of the best homesteads in the township. The ground is high and affords the best facilities for drainage, which is an im- portant item in the wet seasons. General farm- ing is carried on with success and stock-raising is also followed, the specialties being Durham cattle, Percheron horses and Poland China hogs. The pleasant country home of the Griggs fam- ily is presided over by Sirs. Griggs, who was Miss Fannie Marks, a native of Blue Earth county, and a daughter of F. 0. Marks, de- 414 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOKY. ceasedj for years a prominent resident of Pleas- ant Mound township. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Griggs was solemnized December 9, 1880, and has been blessed by two sons, Fred D. and Harry W., both of whom are at home and assist their father in the cultivation of the farm. For a number of years ilr. Griggs served as school treasurer and he has been interested in the de- velopment of the schools .of the township, believ- ing that agricultural prosperity can be promoted most effectively by the thorough education and careful training of the boys and girls on the farms. Fraternally he has been an active mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has aided in the local lodge work of that organization. GEUE, OLE 0.— The I\Torwegian element has been a powerful factor in the early development and permanent prosperity of Minnesota, and everywhere throughout the state are to be found the sons of ISTorwa}-, industrious, -economical, in- telligent and alert to grasp opportunities for ad- vancing their own welfare and that of their adopted country. Among such we mention the name of Ole 0. Grue, who was born in Korway, October 17, 1861, and passed the 3'ears of early life in the midst of scenes common to that land. His parents, Ole and Marian (Gorene) Paulsen, remained in Norway all their lives, both dying there at the age of sixty-three years, the father in 1880, and the mother in 1887. Seven chil- dren formed their family, but four are deceased, Peter, Paulina, Christian and Indiana. Those now living are Lars, who remains on the old homestead in Norway; Olene. also in that coun- try; and Ole, who was sixth in order of birth and was the only member of the family to seek a home across the waters. The old homestead was known as Grue farm, and in accoxdanco with a custom common in that locality, he took as his surname the patronymic applied to the estate. Between the years of seven and fourteen Ole 0. Grue was sent to a free school in his native town. After leaving school he began to serve an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and upon the completion of his time he took up work as a journeyman. However, as the years passed by, he soon saw that a high degree of success was impossible in his native land on account of ex- istant conditions, therefore he decided to seek independence and a competency in the new world. Crossing the ocean he proceeded frohi Few York City direct to Stevens Point, Portage county, Wisconsin, where he was employed for a few months in a saw-mill. A later location at College, Wisconsin, found him occupied at simi- lar employment in a mill. Next he proceeded to St. Paul, where he followed his trade. Mean- while he had been a close student of the English language and had already gained a sufficient knowledge of the same to make himself under- stood in conversation. After a few months in St. Paul he proceeded west to Spokane, Wash- ington, and a year later went to Tacoma, where he was employed for three years. Eeturning to St. Paul at the expiration of four years in the far west, Mr. Grue followed the carpenter's trade there for two years. In 1893 he came to Mankato and formed a partnership with J. B. Nelsen under the firm name of J. B. Nelsen & Company, contractors and builders. Since then the firm has been given contracts for extensive business throughout this section of Min- nesota. Among some of their important contracts may be mentioned those for the Nasen hospital at Albert Lea, the Park Hotel at St. James, Independent Order of Odd Fellows' building at Mankato, the Daniels block in St. Peter, the Presbyterian church in Brookings, South Dakota, the South Dakota State Agricultural College building at Brookings, the Cottonwood county courthouse at Windom, Minnesota, the First Na- tional Bank building at Waseca, the Martin county courthouse at Fairmont, this state, and the state hospital at St. Peter. The importance of these contracts indicates the high standing of the company. Since coming to Mankato Mr. Grue has pur- chased property in North Mankato and also is a stockholder in the National Bank of Commerce. His marriage took place April 23, 1893, and united him with Miss Elizabeth Nelsen, of Min- neapolis, this state. They became the parents of three children, but one daughter, Eva, died in infancy. Those ■ now living are Idell Christina BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 415 Amanda and John Martin L'ncoln. The fra- ternal associations of Mr. Grue include member- ship in Mankato Lodge No. 12, A. F. and A. M. ; Mankato Commandery No. 4, K. T.; Mankato Lodge No. 15, I. 0. 0. P., and Mankato Lodge No. 235, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. HADLEY, EUGENE.— The position of presi- dent of a reputable bank warrants no other con- chision than that the incumbent is a man of character, purpose and integrity. Isolated casec, which discredit his calling and plunge the coun- try into paroxysms of alarm fail to disprove the, assertion that every man who has in him the making of, a successful banker is possessed of these strong and fundamental requisites. The pursuit of agriculture in many instances has led to honors of this description, and practically all communities have at the head of some of their financial institutions men who have raised them- selves upon the tillage of the soil. To this class belongs Eugene Hadley, president of the First National Bank of Mapleton. Mr. Hadley was elected to his resident position in 1906, and under his administration, brief though it has been, the affairs of the bank have prospered ex- ceedingly, more than justifying its reputation as one of the most dependable monetary concerns in Blue Earth county. Mr. Hadley's early opportunities were in no v/ay exceptional, and he was early confronted with the responsibility of self support. Born in Richmond township, Walworth county, Wiscon- sin, May 31, 1866, he is a son of Alfred and Lura Hadley, natives of Brattleboro, Vermont, and New York, respectively, and who settled in Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1852. The eight children older than Eugene were born in New York and accompanied their parents by way of stage, canal and lakes to Wisconsin, the father taking up government land which he tilled for the balance of his life. Eugene at- tended the public schools of Wisconsin, and for a couple of years was a student at Milton Col- lege, a Seventh Day Baptist Institution. He re- mained at home until his marriage, October 5, 1878, to Bettie Tajdor, daughter of Joshua Tay- lor, an Englishman by birth, an early settler of Wisconsin, and whose death occurred December 21, 1903. With his newly wedded wife Mr. Hadley start- ed housekeeping on a farm purchased by him in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, on a line between Mapleton and Danville townships, and engaged in general farming and stock-raising with char- acteristic good judgment and success. In 1887 lie removed to Wisconsin and lived in White- water until 1889, when he returned to Mapleton, and in 1896 settled on a farm in Iowa. All of this time he had retained possession of hie farm ia ]Mapleton township, Blue Earth countj^, which he still owns, and he also owns a farm in Bed- ford township, the same county, which now is operated by a tenant. After six years in Iowa he returned to Mapleton, purchased an eleven acre tract in the village of that name, and since has made that his home. The improvement of •this small but valuable property has afforded him interest and- occupation, and taken In connection ■s\'ith his responsibility at the bank, keeps him a busy and much engrossed citizen. Mr. Hadley is an ardent fraternalist, and a member of the Josephus Blue Lodge, No. 128, A. F. and A. M., of Mapleton. He is the par- ent of five children: Lura, deceased; Mary, wlte of I\rr. M. Chenejf, of North Springs, Iowa; Maud; Eugene; and Calvin. Of a kindly and generous nature, he has made many and warm friends along the course of his well directed life, and his wealth consists as much of the confidence and esteem of his fellow men as of the convert- able assets of the business man. HAGEN, CONRAD.— Assiduous- activity in an occupation that formed a. fitting avenue for well-directed abilities enabled Mr. Hagen to win and hold an important position among the citi- zens of Mankato, where he made his home and engaged in the contracting business from 1877 until the time of his death. In early life he had been carefully trained in the trade of a brick-layer and had so thoroughly mastered the occupation that he was regarded as a most ef- ficient and reliable workman. During busy sea- sons, when the building business was being push- ed with unwonted activity in the town, he had 416 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. more contracts offered him than it was possible to fill, for his services were in constant demand by people familiar with his carefulness, relia- bility and promptness. Here he had the con- tract for the largest hotel in this part of the state, also the contract for the Patterson block and many other substantial structures, and long after time shall have blotted out his memory from among the future residents of his home city his work ivill remain to testify concerning his skill and trustworthiness. Of Bavarian birth, the son of a farmer o^* that country, Conrad Hagen was born in August of 1851 and as a boy received a very limited education. Upon leaving home to make his own way in the world he came to the United States in 1874 and settled at Buffalo, New York, where ho was apprenticed to the brick-layer's trade. At the expiration of three years and four months he left Buffalo and came to Minnesota, where he settled in Mankato. From that time he filled contracts for brick buildings, meanwhile gaining a reputation as a conscientious workman, honor- able in his dealings with all, reliable, painstaking and progressive, and all who had business affairs with him became his stanch friends. He was a member of the Bricldayers' Union and bore an active part in all measures for the interests of the trade in general. After becoming a citizen of the United States he voted the Democratic ticket, but took no active part in politics and never aspired to official honors. The marriage of Mr. Hagen was solemnized in February, 1880, and imited him with Miss Mary Obele, who was born in Blue Earth county, June IG, 1862. Her parents, Frank and Chrissie (Kern) Obele, were natives of Bavaria, whence they immigrated to the United States in 1855 and became pioneers of Mankato as early as 1858, afterward residing in Blue Earth county until death. They had a family of seven child- ren who attained years of maturity. To the union of Conrad Hagen and Mary Obele there were born eight children, whose names and re- spective ages are as follows : Henry, twenty-six years; George, twenty-four; Mary, twenty-two; Elizabeth, twenty; Ollie, seventeen; Francis, fourteen; Alphonse, ten; and Carl, five years of age. The family hold membership with the Ger- man Catholic church and Mr. Hagen was a prominent worker in the Society of St. Peter and Paul's connected with that church His death occurred October 15, 1905, and was mourned by a large circle of friends, who followed his body to its last resting place- in Calvary cemetery and who tendered to the bereaved family their deep- <;st and most heartfelt sympathy. HALL, WILLIAM.— As far back as the gen- ealogy can be traced, it is found that the Hall family lived and labored in Scotland, and the virtues of their countrymen were exemplified in their own careers. During the early part of the nineteenth century "William Hall, Sr., found em- ployment as a shoe-maker in Aberdeenshire, and this trade in turn was -followed by his son, George, in the same place. The latter married Helen Sharp, who was born at Longman Hill, in Banffshire, near the shores of the Forth sea, the date of her birth being November 9, 1826. One child, William, came to bless their union, and when he was only three years of age, death entered the little family circle and removed the father from his labors. Three years later the mother married George Clark, and they decided to seek a home in America. Taking passage on the steamship. City of Glasgow, they started on the voyage from Glasgow, but before they were out of the Clyde the steamer struck a rock and sank. All passengers were saved and returned to Glasgow, while the steamer was being raised. They were then given the choice between waiting for the ship and having their money refunded. Mr. Clark chose the latter. Subsequently the steamer made one round trip to America and then started on a second trip, but was never heard of again. Later Mr. Clark and family took passage on a sailing ship, "St. Lawrence," which made the trip to Quebec in forty days, meanwhile encoun- tering heavy storms in mid-ocean. During May of 1854 they arrived at Toronto, where they re- mained one month. On the 1st of July they ar- rived at Cromwell, Connecticut, where they re- mained until the spring of 1857, Mr. Clark meanwhile finding employment at the shoemak- er's trade. From the east they came to the Win- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 417 nebago agency in Blue Earth county, now St. Clair, Minnesota. During the summer season Mr. and Mrs. Clark were employed on the gov- ernment farms in what is now known as Eapi- dan. At the close of the summer's work they went to the agency. During the fall of 1857 they came to Sterling township and bought a rtlinquishment to the farm still occupied by the widow. Hither they came in the spring of 1858, taking up the task of improving the land, erect- ing the necessary buildings, and transforming an unproductive tract into a fertile, profitable farm. A successful farmer and representative citizen, Mr. Clark lived an honored life, and passed away, regretted by all, March 20, 1905, at the age of seventy-five years. Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is the native home of William Hall, and June 3, 1847, the date of his birth. Primarily educated in Min- nesota country schools, he later took a course of study in the Winnebago high school, and after teaching for a time he entered the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, from which he was graduated at the conclusion of the regular course. Afterward for a year he was employed in the Gas Works Manufacturing Company's office in New York. In the course of bis connection with that company he assisted in installing the gas plant for the Estey Cottage Organ Company at Brattleboro, Vermont; also a plant for a large hotel in Alpena, Michigan, and an experimental plant at Eochester, New York. On leaving the gas company's employ he engaged in 1873 with Hall & Brewster, who bandied the McCormick machinery. During the Centennial exposition at Philadelphia he had charge of the wire binder exhibit, that year (1876) being the first they were manufactured. A merited honor came to Mr. Hall in 1880, at which time he was chosen to represent the district in the state legislature. In addition to the regular session he served in a special session called for the purpose of settling the railroad bond question, in which issue he took a most active part. At the conclusion of his legislative work, in the spring of 1882 he went to St. Vin- cent, in the northwest corner of Minnesota, where he remained for a few months as United States custom house ofiicer, and then resigned in order 27 to accept a position as agent for the American Express Company at St. Vincent. It was about this time that he established domestic ties, his marriage occurring June 25, 1884, and uniting him with Ada Brown, of Waterville, Minnesota, daughter of John S. Brown, who was a nephew of John Brown of Harper's Ferry fame. Continuing in St. Vincent until the fall of 1884, Mr. Hall then removed to Winnipeg in order to enter upon his duties as agent for the American Express Company at that point. How- ever, in 1887 the company withdrew owing to their inability to secure a right on theCanadian Pacific Eailroad. Thereupon Mr. Hall went to St. Paul and for a year engaged with the McCormick Company, but later became Winnipeg agent for the Northern Pacific Express Company. The duties of that position engrossed his time and attention during the ensuing fourteen years, at the expiration of which time the Northern Paci- fic sold out. For two years afterward he con- tinued in Winnipeg, giving his attention to the real-estate business, but owing to the ill-health Ol his wife he relinquished business activities and removed with her to Emerson, Manitoba., where she died May 9, 1905. The body was brought back to Minnesota and now lies in the Sterling cemetery. Owing to the death of his step-father, Mr. Hall returned to Blue Earth county and has since conducted the old homestead, also tenderly caring for his widowed mother in the days of her old age. Personally he is a man of many admirable qualities. Nature bestowed upon him the temperament that irins friends and the pro- bity that retains their confidence. Business du- ties have called him to many parts of the coun- try, and wherever he has made his home he is remembered with regard and esteem by old as- sociates. The principles of Masonry appealed to him to such an extent that he rose to the rank of Knight Templar and held official positions in the various societies of the order. The Sons of Scotlknd also have his name enrolled as a mem- ber. Leaving his native land at an early age, hi? memories of its attractions are vague, but he honors its history and the stalwart race its stern hills send forth into the world. Yet more does he honor the land of the free, the country of 418 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. his adoption, whose stars and stripes represent a free and united nation, and whose opportuni- ties are unsurpassed the world over. In evidence of his devotion to the Union he offered his ser- vices during the progress of the Civil war. When scarcely yet eighteen years of age he enlisted, March 3, 1865, as a memher of the First Bat- tery, Light Artillery, under Captain W. C. Clay- ton, and received an honorable discharge, June 3, 1865. While his service was brief, it was none the less indicative of his patriotic spirit and un- swerving loyalty, which in later years was shown in his excellent legislative record and in his care- ful discharge of every duty devolving upon him as a citizen. HALLMAN, CHAELES P.— In evidence of the opportunities afforded by Minnesota to young men of energy and sagacity it is but necessary to mention the names of many of the men now successful in the world of affairs. People who have resided in Mankato for years are familiar v,'ith the life and progress of Charles F. Hall- man who came to this city as early as 1869, and sought employment as a day laborer. While destitute of means and unacquainted with the customs of people in the United States, he was quick to learn our language and methods of work, and did not long remain at the bottom, satisfied with a most meager salary. Little by little his position advanced; by degrees he rose from his humble beginning until now he ranks among the most proficient and resourceful busi- ness men of the city, where he conducts a grocery business in ^ modern brick structure erected by himself for that purpose. Sweden is Mr. Hallman's native land and November 7, 1845, the date of his birth, his pa.rents being Andrew and Catherine Hallman, lifelong residents of their Scandinavian home. When Charles was only five years of age the father died, leaving to the mother the rearing and maintenance of the children, of whom there were four daughters and two sons. With characteristic courage the mother discharged her task, gave the children fair advantages and trained them for lives of honor and useful- ness, and when she passed away, in 1890, at the age of eighty-two years, her children mourned her loss as that of their most devoted friend. The fifth of the six children was Charles F. who was sent to the free schools and later at- tended high school in the city of New Coping after which he learned the blacksmith's trade of his brother. Crossing the ocean in 1869 he came direct to Mankato, where . he found em- ployment by the day with the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad. During the early period of his employment in -this capacity ho was injured by the blasting of a rock which exploded prematurely and inflicted wounds of a serious nature. After regaining his strength and resuming active labors, Mr. Hallman opened a blacksmith shop in West Mankato at No. 402 West Front street. During 1887, he embarked in the grocery business at No. 412 West Front street. From the first he met with encouraging success. At fa-st only a small stock was carried, but this was increased as the need arose. After nine years in the same building, in 1896 he erected a building of brick at No. 402 West Front street (the site of his old blacksmith shop) and here he now conducts a first-class grocery and hard- ware store. In each department a full line of stock is kept and the wants of customers are catered to with, intelligence and promptness. The confidence of the community justly belongs to Mr. Hallman as the result of his long and honorable business career in the midst of the people who are now not only his satisfied custo- mers but also his personal friends. During November of 1871 Mr. Halknan married Mathilda Peterson, of Burlington, Iowa, who died in 1877 at the age of twenty-nine years. Two children survived her, namely; C. Alfred, v/ho assists his father in the grocery and hard- v»-are business; Elnora, wife of A. J. Nelson, of Mankato. The second marriage of Mr. Hallman took place in September, 1878, and united him v.'ith Amanda Peterson, a resident of Burling- ton and a sister of his first wife. Pour children bless their union, George, Henry, Mathilda and Ella. For twenty-five years or more Mr. Hall- man has been identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and furthermore he is a charter member of the Degree of Honor, in which he helped to organize both the local and the grand lodges. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 419 HANNA, MILTON.— While the great north- west was as yet undeveloped and its vast re- sources unknown the Hanna family hecame as- sociated with other pioneers in the development of Blue Earth county, the year 1853 on the thir- teenth of May witnessing their arrival at Man- kato. The head of the famih^, James, was a descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestry and pos- sessed the sturdy traits characteristic of that race, hut he (^ied on May 13th, 1855, before he had laid the foundation of the success toward which he aspired. While he was a farmer by occupation, he also engaged in the building busi- ness and did considerable work in that capacity. Surviving him was his wife, Nancy (Bowden) Hanna, who was a member of a Pennsylvania- Dutch family and a woman of noble attributes of heart. Shortly after she was left a widow she pre-empted a tract of government land and thus became the owner of a farm of one hun- dred and thirty-two acres. Until her death, which occurred in 1875, she continued to make her home in Mankato, where she had a large number of friends among the early settlers as well as the younger generations. During the residence of James and Naney Hanna in Licking county, Ohio, Milton Hanna was born in 1842, and he was a lad of eleven years when the family sought the frontiers of the northwest. Before that he had gained a rudimentary education in the east and after-, ward he attended the country schools of Blue Earth county. The early death of his father obliged him to earn his own livelihood from an early age and he followed farm pursuits up to the time of entering the army. When the Civil war began he was among the first to offer his country his services and June 23, 1861, he was accepted as a private in Company H, Second Minnesota Infantry, which was the first organ- ized company in Mankato. Marching south with the regiment, he engaged at Mills Springs, Ken- tucky, and Shiloh, Tennessee, took part in the siege of Corinth, and fought at Perryville. Sub- sequent to a chase after General Bragg through Kentucky he fought at Stone river (just after this battle Mr. Hanna, with fourteen other men from this company while out foraging were at- tacked by one hundred and twenty-five rebel cavalrymen from the 6th Alabama, but the small party of Union men succeeded in winning the fight with big honors, for which Congress as- signed a medal of honor to each surviving man), Shelbyville, Tullahoma and Chiekamauga, where he was wounded. He was the first man in the regiment to reenlist, the date of the same being December 15, 1863. Later he participated in the • one hundred days' fighting during the Atlanta campaign and accompanied Sherman on his march to the sea, after which he marched to Washington, meanwhile taking part in vari- ous engagements, including the battle of Benton- ville. He participated in the grand review and received an honorable discharge July 21, 1865, at Port Snelling, from which place he returned to his Mankato home. Since then he has devoted his energies to mercantile pursuits and has risen to a position of influence among the business men of Mankato. The days of war service are held in memory through active association with Wil-> kin Post No. 19, Grand Army of the Eepublic. The marriage of Milton Hanna took place November 1, 1869, and united him with Ix)uise N. Purrier, who was born in New York. Two children blessed the union. The daughter died at the age of five years. The son was spared through boyhood and youth, but passed away on the thirty-first anniversary of his birth. The family are Presbyterians in religious views. All movements for the benefit of Mankato receive the stanch support of "^^r. Hanna, who is thoroughly devoted to the welfare of his home city. No plan is proposed of undoubted utility that lacks his co-operation. The need of adequate fire protection for the city has appealed to him especially and has led him to identify himself with the fire department, in which he now serves as second assistant chief. HANNAY, A. M.— The lineage of the Han- nay family is traced to Scotland the original emigrant having been Andrew Hannay, born in Galloway, Scotland, in 1763, and by trade a cooper. At the age of twenty-four years he en- listed as a private in the king's service in the Fifty-first regiment of infantry, under Colonel Thomas Brudenall and Major Montgomery. Af- 420 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. ter an honorable service of six years he received his papers of discharge and these are now in the possession of descendants. For a time he en- gaged in contracting and building in his native land. During 1774 he crossed the ocean to New York City, where he landed with four shillings in his possession. Fortunately he found employ- ment on the day of his arrival. Later he went to Delaware county and took up land in what w"as then a wilderness. From there he removed to Eensselaerville, Albany county, whence he was driven away by attacks of Indians, fleeing to an adjacent settlement. During 1777 he raised a company of volunteers and joined General Gates at Albany. News being received of the sur- render of Burgoyne, the company was disbanded and honorably discharged. His death occurred in 1808 at the age of seventy-five years. Next in line of descent from the original emi- grant was his son, David, who was born in Al- bany county. New York, October 5, 1784, and who married Hannah Ter Bush. Their son, H. T. B., was born in Albany county, New York, March 9, 1807, and married Minerva Mabie, a native of the same place as himself. During 1840 he removed from Albany county to Oneida county. New York, and there engaged in dairy fgrming until his death in 1879. A number of local offices were filled by him and he wielded considerable influence in the affairs of his com- munity. Of his thirteen children five are now living. The third in order of birth was A. M. Hannay, who was born in Albany county. New York, June 6, 1836, and at the age of four years was taken to Oneida county. At the age of sev- enteen years he began to teach school and this occupation he followed until he was twenty-one, after which he spent two years in school at Al- bany and taught two terms in the Ballston Spa Academy, Saratoga County, New York. During 1860 he came west to St. Louis, where he re- mained for eighteen months. In response to the first call for volunteers made by President Lin- coln in 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Third Eegiment of Missouri Volunteers, under Color "1 McNeil, and was sworn in by Captain (later General) Lyon. The enlistment was for three months, after which he was mustered out August 10, 1861. and shortly afterward returned to New York. September 13, 1861, he married Miss Helen, daughter of David Wylie, of Bemis Heights, New York. Born of their union were the following named children: David, ■ deceased ; Frank, who married Miss Elizabeth Fox of Blue Earth county and is now living on a farm near the old homestead; Libbie, wife of George L. Steven?, of Shelby township, Blue Earth county; Grace, wife of Bay Salisbury of Shelby township; and Willard, who has charge of the home farm. The second enlistment of Mr. Hannay in the Union army took place August 38, 1864, and made him a member of Company L, Fifteenth New York Engineering Corps, under Captain I'ond, Colonel Brainard and General Benham, assigned to the army of the Potomac, and sta- tioned at City Point near Petersburg. Mean- time Mr. Hannay was detailed as chief clerk under Colonel Chester, who was brigade inspector and assistant chief in the mustering office 'of the Army of the IPotomac. By special order of the war department Mr. Hannay was continued in the service after his company was detailed home, and he was honorably discharged July 5, 1865, in New York City. Soon afterward he came to Minnesota and purchased a tract in Vernon Cen^ ter township. Blue Earth county, where he brought the land under cultivation, built substan- tial fences and erected needed buildings. Since tlie death of his wife in 1903 he has been practi- cally retired from active cares, giving into the hands of his sons the management of the estate of one hundred and seventy-five acres. Among the offices which he has filled may be mentioned those of school director, chairman of the board of town trustees and member of the board of county commissioners which last-named position he held from 1887 until 1899, a period of twelve ;\ears. With his comrades in the Grand Army of the Eepublic he enjoys recounting the days of the Civil war and the dangers of that national crisis. In fraternal relations he is identified with the Knights of Pythias. For a number of years he officiated as an elder of the Presbyter- ian church at Amboy and always has been generous in his contributions to movements for the uplifting of humanity and the promotion of the cause of Christianity, BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 4-21 HAEEINGTON, M. D., ZINA GOODBLL.— The life of Dr. Zina Goodell Harrington has been raised to observance upon the utilized opportuni- ties of a gi-eat profession, and the benignity con- ferred by a harmonious, gentle and generous nature. He has been a familiar figure upon the streets and in the homes of Mankato since the spring of 1870, and the amount of good made possible by his skill and thorough mastery of medical science is practically inestimable. Dr. Harrington comes of old iS'ew England ancestry, and he was born in Londonderry, Vermont, August 20, 1830, his parents, Emery and Calysta (Goodell) Harrington, being "natives of Orange, Massachusetts. About thirteen years old when the family moved to Bennington, Ver- mont, the doctor was educated in the public schools, at Westriver Academy and Bennington Seminary, thereafter spending three years in educational work in the state of Delaware. For three -years he read medicine with Dr. L. G. Whiting, of Chester, Vermont, and soon after entered the Albany Medical School, from which he was duly graduated in 1857. Eeturning to Chester, he was associated in practice with his former preceptor, Dr. Whiting, for fifteen years, and during that time increased his oppor- tunities for usefulness as superintendent of. the Chester public schools for several years. Since coming to Mankato Dr. Harrington has been actively engaged in the general practice of medicine, and evidenced his characteristic pro- gressiveness during 1900 and 1901 by studying in the great hospitals and medical schools of England and the continent, thereafter traveling extensively with his wife in Greece, Egypt and the Holy Land. He is a Eepublican in poli- tics, and while never drawn to the feverish arena of political preferment, has served on the board of aldermen of Manlcato. He is a member of the Minnesota A'alley Medical Asso- ciation, of which he has been president, and of the State Medical Association and American Medical Society. His marriage to Julia B. Bobbins occurred October 20, 1874, Mrs. Har- rington being a native of Chester, Vermont. The crowning honor conferred upon this noble and high minded citizen was his election to the presidency of the Mankato State Bank in Jan- uary, 1903. Thus has he gained professional, social and financial distinction, compensations which have come without solicitation, and with biit a sunple ]-egard for the fine and worth while aiid splendidly useful opportiTnities of existence. HAEEIS, EVAN L.— No class of people have contributed to the development of Blue Earth county in a higher degree than have the farmers, the men of skill in the direction of agricultural afi'airs, energy in action and wise Judgment in rotation of crops and raising of stock. A goodly proportion of the agriculturists of the county possess these attributes, which have en- abled them to surmount diffieul'ties in the clearing and impro^ang of their land and to overcome obstacles in the path to financial in- dependence. To their eiTorts may be attributed the present high standing of the county as an agricultural community, and as one of their number Evan L. Harris is entitled to his share of credit for the gratifying condition of this part of the state from an agricultural stand- point. Much of his life has been passed within the limits of this county. When he came here he was a mere lad, and ever since then he has made his home on a farm, where at an eerh- age he gained a thorough knowledge ot every department of ani-i cultural work. For years he has resided on section twenty-eight, Ciimbria township, where lie has a farm bear- ing a neat set of buildiiii^'s, improved with, substantial fences, and l)y its air of thrift attesting the proprietor's industry and ability. Born April 20, 1853, Evan L. Harris is a son of William and Sarah (Lewis) Harris, who came to. this country in 1858 and settled at La Cres- cent, Houston county, Minnesota. Eight years were spent in that part of the state, after which they came to Blue Earth county in 1866 and purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. In due time the land was transformed from a barren tract into a fertile estate, and it still re- mains the family homestead, although the par- ents have been taken from the familiar surround- ings by the hand of death. The father died Jan- uary 24, 1892, and the mother passed away March 28, 1898, both spending their last days 422 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. on the old farm. In their family were six sons and one daughter, whose wise training in the home fitted them for honorable standing in their community as well as success in agricultural pursuits. When Mr. Harris was a mere lad he was led to consider national problems by reason of the C'ivil war that cast its dark shadow over our na- tional prosperity. As soon as he attained his majority he began to vote the Eepublican ticket and from that time to the present he has never swerved from his allegiance to the party, casting his ballot for its candidates at all elections. In religious views he is of the Congregational faith and belongs to the church of that denomination, whose missionary enterprises he supports as his means permit. In all of his efforts he has had the constant co-operation of his wife, whom he married December 27, 1883, and who was Amelia Hughes, a native of Wisconsin and a sister of Judge Hughes of Mankato. They are the par- ents of six sons and three daughters, who in order of birth are named as follows: William C, Hannah L., Everett T., Sarah N., Ruth, Robert, Wallace, Bruce and Lewis E. The home farm lies along the line of rural route No. 5, from New Ulm, Brown county, and the family have many warm friends across the line in Brown county, but their chief interests center in Blue Earth county, where they have a large circle of acquaintances among the people in whose midst they have lived and labored for years. HA WES, BENJAMIN P.— The property long known as the Henry Dyer mill estate was ac- quired by Mr. Hawes through purchase in 1888 and since then he has lived on the land, devoting his attention to its management. A part of the present buildings stood here at the time of the purchase of the tract and the balance he has erected from time to time as his means permit- ted or as occasion demanded. The farm con- sists of one hundred and ten acres, of which forty acres are under the plow, and the balance is in timber or utilized for the pasturage of the shorthorn cattle, the Poland-China hogs and the fine horses to be seen on the place. The build- ing up of the homestead represents years of struggle and effort on the part of Mr. Hawes and its neat, orderly appearance is a tribute to his wise management. Near the shores of the Atlantic ocean, in the state of Maine,. Benjamin P. Hawes was born December 15, 1844, being a son of Benjamin and Rachel (Storah) Hawes, also natives of Maine. Led by the spirit of emigration that was impel- ling the easterners to seek homes on the frontier, this family bade farewell to old friends in Maine and crossed the country to Wisconsin where they settled in Dodge county. From there in 1868 they came to Minnesota and settled in Rapidan township. Blue Earth county. The parents pass- ed away while making their home in the village of Good Thunder. In 1869 Benjamin P. Hawes was united in marriage with Lydia King, daugh- ter of Sherman and Ruth King, descendants of colonial families. The father was born in New York and became a pioneer of Columbia county, Wisconsin. At the time of the removal of the I-Iawes family to Minnesota Mr. King accom- panied them to Blue Earth county and took up land here. Eventually he removed to Nebraska, entered a claim from the government, developed a farm, and remained there until his death. There are six children in the family of Mr. Hawes, namely: May, Eflie, Myrtle, Grace, Clarence M. and Stanley. The last-named mar- ried Gertrude Jewell and is now in charge of the old homestead. The family has a high stand- ing among the people of Rapidan township and are welcomed -guests into the best homes of their community. Politically Mr. Hawes votes with the Republican party both in local and general elections, and is in thorough sympathy with the principles of that political organization. Whilt never a seeker for office, he consented to act as justice of the peace upon the solicitation of 'the people of the township and for six years he filled the office, proving himself to be impartial, just and judicious. HAWKINS, HON. JAMES D.— The life his- tory of Hon. James D. Hawkins is a record of obstacles overcome, discouragements ignored and opportunities turned to good account. A well balanced and well trained mind, a capacity for BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 423 painstaking effort, and faith in the saving grace of labor led him into worth while and invariably useful fields of activity, and his name is engraved upon the annals of this northern country as farmer, legislator, soldier and man of genera! affairs. Mr. Hawkins inherited the strong and fundamental qualities of his Green Mountain ancestors, qualities which guided his ambition and directed his life, notwithstanding the fact that he was only eight years old when his family removed to Wisconsin from Vermont, where he was born December 9, 1836. Mr. Hawkins was educated in the great field of human equality, the public schools, and the duties of the home farm engrossed his formative or earlier years. In 1863 his family moved to Dodge county, remaining one and a half years, then located in McPherson towTiship, where he engaged in farming for the balance of his active life, or until his death, July 3, 1894. This farm, now owned and operated by the sons of the ear- lier owner, is one hundred and sixty acres in extent, and was sold by the government to Mr. Hawkins, having been Winnebago Indian land. He was a conscientious and painstaking farmer, exact as to details, and in all ways neat about hi? work. He invested heavily in high grade machinery, and was quick to adopt such labor saving devices and methods as appealed to his practical judgment. As a farmer of this well favored section of the country he was thoroughly representative, and abreast of the best known in agricultural science in his time. Early in his active career Mr. Hawkins evi- denced a capacity for political service, and such capacity was recognized by his fellow townsmen to the extent that he held practically all offices of any importance, culminating in his election to the legislature of the state in 1880, his term ex- piring the following year. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Minnesota Infantry, and served until mustered out of the service at Fort Snelling, at the expiration of hostilities. One of his best remembered and most interesting experiences was his participa- tion in the Spirit Lake Indian outbreak. Mr. Hawkins was survived by his wiie, formerly Pauline Hill, and iiis two sons, James and Dudley. Mrs. Hawkins was born in New York state April 4, 1843, and died at Hewitt, ilinne- sota, July 8, 1907. Of the sons of Mr. Ha^^•kins who live on the old farm, James married. May 1, 190(i, Estella Milnor, a native of Minnesota, and Dudley mar- ried, June 7, 190G, Bessie Matteson. Both young men inherit their father's thrift and enterprise, and are highly esteemed in the community in which they live. HAZEL, C. H. G.— The stranger driving through Sterling invariably notes with pleasure the well-kept homestead of Mr. Hazel, which \.'ith its modern residence, substantial barns and general air of thrift convinces the passer-by that its 0T\ner is a man of energy and progressive spirit. A'ot the least pleasing feature of the farm is the grove of poplar, evergreen and other trees, which not only forms a windbreak during the storms of winter, but also adds to the ap- pearance of the farm. The residence, erected iii 1898, contains modern improvements, while all the farm buildings have been arranged to promote ease of work and convenience of ar- langement. The land has been drained by a thorough and effective system of tiling and thus brings excellent returns even in seasons of ex- ceptional rainfall. The acquisition of an ad- joining farm in 1887 gave the place its present urea of two Imndred and forty acres, all of which the owner keeps in first-class condition either for cultivation or for pasture land. The Hazel family became established in Vir- ginia during the colonial period of our country's history. Hugh Hazel, who was a Virginian by birth, removed from that commonwealth to Ohio and spent the balajice of his long life in the Buckeye state, dying in 1896 at the age of one hundred and one years and ten months. Through all his active life he worked as a mechanic. His son, Hugh C, was born in Lorain county, Ohio, and moved from there to Wisconsin, but two years later, in 1861, he proceeded still further toward the west, and settled on section twenty- one. Sterling tovraship. Blue Earth county. Af- terward he engaged in improving a farm and also followed the carpenter's trade, building many of the first frame houses erected in the 424 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. township. Though he never gained wealth he acquired a competency and now, at the age of seventy-five, in the enjoyment of fair health and ample means, he is living at Garden City. In early manhood he married Emma Parrell, who was born in New York state and died in Min- nesota in 1881. Two sons and two daughters blessed their union, of whom the sons are now living. The eldest of the family, C. H. G. Hazel, was born in Sterling township. Blue. Earth county. May 20, 1864, and received such advantages as country schook then afforded. Through all of his life he has remained at the homestead. The scenes familiar to his childhood are those which surround his maturer years. Reared to a knowl- edge of farm work, he selected agriculture as his occupation and has continued in the same with gratifying success. In addition to the rais- ing of general crops, he devotes considerable at- tention to thoroughbred stock and each year raises about one hundred hogs of the Poland- China breed. In horses his preference is for the Xorman, of which he has some fine specimens. A goodly number of fine shorthorn cattle may be seen on his farm. At the head of the herd i'; Royal Ensign No. 204877, weight more than one ton, sired by Baptin Ensign, which received the prize at the St. Louis Exposition. Erom this animal he has fine registered stock, that is admired by expert judges of stock and regarded as exceptional even for a county with as many fine cattle as Blue Earth may boast. The marriage of Mr. Hazel, October 17, 1890, united him with Ida May Lamp, daughter of I. Lamp, a respected pioneer of Sterling town- ship. A daughter, Hope B., blesses their union. Ever since boyhood Mr. Hazel has been inter- ested in educational work and has worked for the progress of local schools. For years he served as a member of the school board and for fifteen years he officiated as clerk of the board. The Eraternal Union has his name enrolled as a member, and in addition he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the township where all of his life has been passed he occupies a prominent position as a public-spirited citizen, substantial farmer and genial neighbor, and the prosperous appearance of his farm gives hun a place among the repre- sentative farmers of the county. HEALY, OSCAR WARREN.— The colonial era of American history witnessed the emigra- tion of the Healy family from the old world to the new, where they settled along the north At- lantic coast. William Healy, Sr., and his son and namesake were natives of Connecticut, and the latter established stores at Pleasant Valley and Pine Meadow, that state, also for some time traveled as a salesman for an eastern firm. His death occurred at the age of sixty-five years. In young manhood he married Clara Higby, a na- tive of Middletown, Connecticut, and a daugh- ter of a gunsmith, who made guns and swords for the American army during the Revolution- ary war. Among the five children of William ITealy, Jr., the eldest was 0. C, born at Mid- d'eton, Connecticut, July 9, 1835. During boyhood he learned the blacksmith's trade at Pleasant Valley and followed the trade in a machine shop, where also he learned the machin- ist's trade. Later he was employed at Bristol and New Haven, also for a time in the Boston locomotive works at New Britain. Owing to ill health which necessitated a change of climate and occupation, he joined the Taylor colony in 1856 and came to Minnesota, taking up a gov- ernment claim in Faribault county. The origi- nal tract of one hundred and seventy-three acres still remains in the family. For some years it v/as his custom to work the farm in the summer, then return to the east for the winter and follow his trade. After the death of his wife he re- moved to Mapleton, where since he has made his home. During the year 1850 0. C. Healy married L^abel Shaw, who was of English parentage, born in Ireland, and brought to America in infancy. After over forty years of happy wedded life Mrs. Healy died in 1892. They were the parents of the following-named children: Hattie, the wid- ow of George Wilde; Ada Belle, Mrs. Joseph Latourell; Oscar Warren, president of the Lin- coln State Bank at Glenburn, North Dakota, and a farmer of Blue Earth county; Emery D., who is engaged in this county; Ralph H., a farmer BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 425 of Beauford township, this county; Edward Shaw, cashier of the Lincoln State Bank at Glenburn, North Dakota; Elbridge B., who for Iwo terms has been county attorney of Clay county, South Dakota, and resides at A'ermilion ; and William Higby, who is engaged in the bank- ing business in North Dakota. After the death of his first wife the father again married, being united November 2, 1894, with Jennie Brown, of Albany, Green county, Wisconsin. The postoSice at Grapeland, Faribault county, was named by 0. C. Healy and for twenty years h(, served as its postmaster. For several terms he also filled the office of assessor and was jus- tice of the peace. His love for the machinist's trade has continued throughout life and he still has on his place a small machine shop, where as a diversion he does much ingenious work. Fond of music, he led a choir in Connecticut and play- ed in the Mapleton Methodist Episcopal church during late years where he found much gratifica- tion in playing a 'cello. Though now more than four score years of age he is hale and hearty and enjoys the full possession of his mental and physical faculties, which enables him to pass pleasantly the declining days of his long and active life. The gentleman whose name introduces this article was born at Grapeland, Faribault county, this state. May 12, 1859, and always has made his home in the immediate vicinity of his birth- place. In 1883 he settled on a farm just across the line in Blue Earth county and from there seven years later he moved to his present place in Mapleton township, where he has six hundred and eighty acres largely under cultivation. Bo- sides the raising of such products as suit the soil, he engages in raising stock, his specialty being full-blooded Herefords. As previously mentioned he acts as president of the Dakota bank in which his brother, Edward, is cashier. The bank has been successful from the start and has met with constantly increasing patronage from the people. Mr. Healy is also a director and stockholder in the Mapleton State Bank and lias served as township treasurer since 1899. February 19, 1883, he was united in marriage with Minnetta A. Whitney, daughter of C. H. Whitney, an early settler of Mapleton township. this county. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Healy is brightened by the presence of their thrcb children, Harold Whitney, Edward Oscar and Elizabeth Isabel, who share with their parents in the esteem and good-will of the community. HELLER, WILLIAM.— The opportunities af- forded by the northwest to men of energy and perseverance have made possible to Mr. Heller the accumulation of valuable property during the period intervening since his service in the Civil war. The farm which he has owned and occupied since the fall of 1866 lies in the south- eastern corner of Blue Earth county and em- braces two hundred acres of section thirty-five, Danville township. Adjoining the homestead he ov.ns one hundred and sixty-seven acres in the township of Minnesota Lake, Faribault county, and one hundred and sixty acres in the township nf Vivian, Waseca county, so that he is a tax- payer in three counties, although the land lies in one body suitable for direct personal super- vision. On the farm are to be seen good grades of cattle, horses and hogs, and a profitable adjunct of general farming has been found to be the raising and sale of stock. Indeed the stock industry has always been a favorite occupation with Mr. Heller, who for some years engaged in buying and shipping stock and meanwhile made his headquarters at Minnesota Lake. The family residence is a brick structure, built in the sub- stantial manner necessary to withstand the rigors of winter and furnished in a cheerful, cozy style indicative of the refinement of its inmates. On the land there is considerable timber, which fur- nishes fence-posts, fuel, etc., as may be needed on a large and well-kept place. The Big Cobb river flows through the estate and furnishes a never-failing stream of water for the use of the stock. All in all, the homestead contains many valuable features and justly ranks among the best in the region. The history of the family shows that in 1856 William and Wilhelmina (Tuckow) Heller, na- tives of Pommern, Germany, left their native land and immigrated to America. Proceeding direct to Wisconsin, they became pioneers in 426 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he improved a farm. There he is still living, in the enjoyment of fair health, notwithstanding his eighty strenn- oiis years. Of his family of five children the eldest, to whom was given his own name, wab born in Pommern, Germany, August 31, 1843, and was a youth of about thirteen years at the time of coming to America. Primarily educated in his native land, he had the further advantage of receiving an English education after settling in Wisconsin. His devotion to the country of his adoption was proved by the offer of his ser- vices at the opening of the Civil war. May 20, 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company E, Third Wisconsin Infantry, under Colonel Hamil- ton, of Pond du Lac, where the regiment was mustered into service. Ordered without delay to the front, the youthful soldier took part in va- rious skirmishes on the Potomac and served as provost guard at Frederick City, Maryland. In the spring of the following year he took part in the battle of Winchester, where he was taken a prisoner by Confederate troops, and afterward for one hundred days remained in a southern prison. On being exchanged he was sent to Washington, and there received an honorable dis- charge. Eeturning to Wisconsin he remained on the home farm until his second enlistment, which took place January 4, 1864, and made him a soldier in Company E, Thirty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry, under Colonel Henry Orff of Milwau- kee. With his regiment he was sent to various points along the Mississippi and participated in numerous engagements near New Orleans, in- cluding a battle at St. Charles in 1864, and bat- tles at Forts Spanish and Blakely in 1865, after which he engaged in the battle of Mobile Bay. From Mobile he was sent with his company on a. transport to Santiago and thence to Browns- ville, Texas, and assisted in driving the ill-fated Emperor Maximilian out of Mexico, after which he received an honorable discharge from the army April 15, 1866, at Brownsville. Eeturning to Wisconsin Mr. Heller spent the summer of 1866 in recruiting his strength after his army service and in the fall of the same year he came to Minnesota, where since he has re- sided on a farm in Blue Earth county. Shortly after coming here he established domestic ties and brought a bride to his farm-house, his mar riage March 28, 1867, uniting him with August; Eeese, a native of Ponmiern, Germany, and i daughter of Peter Eeese, who settled in Wiscon sin in 1856. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hellei consists of the following-named sons and daugh tors: Frank, who is engaged in farming oi section twenty-six, Danville township; Lena, de ceased; Henry, who assists his father in th< cultivation of the old homestead; Mary, whc married William Schultch and lives at Blue Earth City, this state; Tillie, wife of Ottc Brant, of Minnesota Lake; Martha, who mar- ried August Schraeder and resides in Wasecs county; and Hulda, who remains with her par- ents and is her mother's capable assistant in the care of the home. Eemembering the years of his army service with a kindly feeling toward all who gave their country a similar service, Mr, Heller has found pleasure in his association with the Grand Army of the Eepublic. In addition he has been active in the local work of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. His high standing among his fellow-citizens is indicated by the fact that he has frequently been solicited to fill positions of trust and responsibihty, Among such offices which he has filled with fidelity and intelligence may be mentioned those of township assessor, member of the county board of supervisors, members of the school board and treasurer of the township for a period of thirty- five years. HEMINGWAY, P. S.— Shortly after the con- clusion of the Civil war, in which he had borm an honorable part as a Union soldier, Mr. Hem- ingway came to Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, taking up a tract of raw land anc beginning the difficult task of transforming i1 into a productive estate. Ever since his arriva' in the county he has lived upon the same home stead, this being located about one mile north o: Vernon Center in the township of the sam( name. At this writing he owns five hundred anc forty acres of valuable land devoted to the rais ing of crops suited to the soil and climate, anc containing ample pasturage for his herd of fim shorthorn cattle. In addition to raising cattle h BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOKY. 427 makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs and through his stock has been enabled to greatly in- crease his annual income. New Hampshire is the native home of F. S. Hemingway and December 21, 1839, the date of his birth, his parents being Jesse and Lois (Rich- ardson) Hemingway, natives of the same locality as himself and farmers by occupation. For a time the family lived in New York and thence removed to Berrien county, Michigan, taking up land near Benton Harbor and remaining there for a long period. The parents died on that homestead. Primarily educated in the common schools of New York, Mr. Hemingway later at- tended Fox Lake college for one term, he having removed to Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wisconsin, during his youth. At the outbreak of the war he at once gave sympathy and influence to the Union cause and in 1862 was accepted as a mem- ber of Company H, Twenty-ninth Wisconsin In- fantry, with which he went to the front. During the course of the war he traveled by land and water over fourteen thousand miles and took part in seven battles and forty-seven skirmishes. Among his principal engagements were those at Fort Gibson, Champion Hill, Jackson, (Missis- sippi), Eed Eiver, and Mobile (Alabama). For forty-seven days he was stationed with the army iu front of Vicksburg and meanwhile took part in many encounters with Confederate troops. His regiment did not remain in winter quarters for more than a week at one time, but traveled through the Gulf states and saw almost constant active service. Upon receiving an honorable discharge from tlie army, July 2, 1865, Mr. Hemingway returned to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and during the same year took up land in Blue Earth county, where he has since risen to a position of influence among the farmers of his township. September 11, 1862, he married Miss Delia Randall, daugh- ter of David and Candace Randall, natives of New York state, and pioneers of Dodge county, Wisconsin, where they took up farm land and remained until death. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hemingway comprises four children. Louis E. is engaged in farming at Amboy, this connty. Mabel married George Gray, a farmer of Vernon Center township. Fred L. has charge of land owned by his father. Clara, the youngest of the children, resides with her parents. Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Hemingway has been stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party. While not active in politics, he has consented to fill various oSices, including that of assessor, which he held for sixteen years and the duties of whieli he discharged without resorting to the usual method of driving over the township. In addition, he served as town clerk for seven years. Both of his grandfathers were revolutionary soldiers. HERITAGE, JOSEPH W.— Very early in the colonization of America the Heritage family became identified with the history of New Jersey, where subsequent generations lived, labored and died. In that state an ancestor for years preach- ed the Gospel as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. In addition to ability as a thinlier and speaker, he possessed inventive ability and a bent of mind toward mechanics. One of his inventions was a machine for weaving silk, on which he was granted a patent and which was recognized as eminently practical. However, the expense of building the machine was great and was not justified by the very limited amount of siUv weaving done in the United States. The first of the family to seek a home in the northwest was Joseph B., a son of the inventor and preacher, and a native of Seaford, Delaware. As early as 1861 he resigned an excellent sit- uation in the east and sought a home on the frontier. For a short time he sojourned in St. Paul. From there he went to Nicollet county and in 1862 took up a tract of raw land near St. Peter. The uprising of the Indians caused Gen- eral Sibley to take all of the horses and the set- tlers for use in the service, and the farmers were thus forced to do their work with oxen. To add to his troubles, Mr. Heritage lost his bam by fire which took his stock, harness and grain, and made the future look anything but encouraging to a man who had left a good position in the east. His next venture took him to St. Peter, where he and James Nutter carried on a hard- ware store. Afterward he engaged in the lum- ber business for some years, but eventually re- 428 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. turned to the hardware trade, continuing until 1882, when he entered the employ of a large lumber company. Although he is now seventy- six years of age, he is active and enjoys excellent health, and at present is connected with the Rea Lake Lumber Company of Minnesota. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Bacon, was born in Smyrna, Delaware and died in Minnesota in 1869. Of their eight children all are still liv- ing with the exception of three. The third among the children in order of birth was Joseph W. Heritage, whose name introduces this article, and whose birth occurred in Den- ton, Maryland, during January of 1860. His earliest recollections cluster around St. Peter and Nicollet county, where he received a fair education, graduating from the high school, and was a schoolmate, chum and close, intimate friend of Governor John A. Johnson. Later he took a course of study in the Globe Business col- lege at St. Paul, after which for one year he was employed by the Strong and Hackett Wholesale Hardware Company, next conducting a wood yard in the western part of the state for a few months. On coming to Blue Earth county he took up farm pursuits in the summer and en- gaged in teaching during the winter months, but after a time he gave his entire time to agricul- tural work. In 1887 he purchased the Pawson's old honrestead on section twenty-four, Pleasant Mound township, where he has improved a very valuable property, devoted to the raising of or- dinary farm products, and to the breeding and raising of hogs, cattle and horses. The attrac- tive residence stands on a slight elevation afford- ing a view of the country for miles in every di- rection, and protected from the severe storms of winter by a fine grove planted by the owner. The first marriage of Mr. Heritage took place August 15, 1881, and united him with Miss Sarah B. Hewson, of Wisconsin, daughter of Jo- seph Hewson, who was born in England, immi- grated to the United States, settled in Wiscon- sin, and eventually came to Minnesota. Mrs. Sarah Heritage died in 1893, leaving a son, Walter, who is now in the employ of the St. Paul street railway company. June 17, 1896, Mr. Heritage was united in marriage with Miss lone Corbett, who was born in Shelby township. Blue Earth county, being a daughter of A. Corbett, represented elsewhere in this volui The children of the second marriage W( Sfaurice, Bernice and Gordon, of whom i daughter is deceased. The family are identifi with the Christian church. The interest whi Mr. Heritage feels in school affairs has led h to serve as a member of the school board a ill addition for some years he held off: as justice of the peace. He was also a pror nent candidate for the legislature in the f of 1908. H:ERIN'G, M. D., henry H.— An hon( able record as a soldier in the Union army a a subseqiTcnt gratifying success in the pract: of his chosen profession entitle Dr. Hering r;ink among the prominent physicians and si geons of Blue Earth county, where, since the a tumn of 1876, he has engaged in the practice medicine at Lake Crystal. Coming here a you: man without friends or infiuence, he gradua' became known as a promising physician, and t success of his efforts with' his first patients 1 to a steady increase of patronage. Eventua he acquired a valuable practice and an envial reputation for skill in the diagnosis of disc's and in the application of remedial agencies. Born in Greene county, Ohio, in 1842, I Hering was a son of Jacob and Mary (Steel Hering, the former of Swiss descent and t latter of Scotch lineage. Both spent their \h in Ohio, where the mother died in 1868 and t father in 1886. During the years of his activi he had engaged in farming and for a time ma a specialty of raising grapes and manufacturi wine. As a boy Henry H. Hering attended i public schools near the family home, but he Vi not satisfied to remain content with such edu( tional advantages as they offered. Early in 1 he aspired to a thorough education and a knoi edge of the medical profession, and these aspi: lions found their culmination in the conferri upon him of the degree of A. B. by Miami U vevsity at Oxford in 1865 and the degree of D.J by one of the medical colleges of Ohio i uated at Cincinnati, Miami Medical college. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 429 The outbreak of the Civil war found Dr. Her- iug a stanch believer in the Union cause. As a private he enlisted October 8, 1861, in the sev- enty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and out of the ranks he rose to be adjutant of the regiment. Among the engagements in which he participated were those at Perryville, Stone river, Hoover's Gap, Chickamaugua and Chattanooga. After the last- riamed battle he re-enlisted for three years, and foon received a commission as captain of Com- pany E. With his men he accompanied Sherman on the march through Georgia, but after the Atlanta campaign he resigned at Savannah, Georgia, on account of the malaria. Returning to the north he accepted a position as house physician of the Sailor's and Soldiers' Orphans home at Xenia, Ohio, where he remained for one year, and meanwhile also acted as county coroner and health officer of the city for three 3'ears. During the autumn of 1868 he came to Lake Crystal, Minnesota. Along the line of his pro- fession he holds membership with the American, State, Minnesota Valley and Blue Earth County Medical Associations, in the work of all of which he maintains a warm interest. Fraternally he is associated with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, while in religious views he is liberal, a friend of all movements for the uplifting of humanitj^, and especially interested in the work of the Protestant Episcopal church, which his wife at- tends. Mrs. Hering was formerly Miss Alice Murphy and was born in Ohio, where she re- ceived excellent advantages in girlhood, grad- uating at the Xenia Conservatory of Music, and in 1873 having conferred upon her the degree of Professor of Music. Afterward Mrs. Hering occupied the chair of chief instructor in a con- servatory, of music at Madison, Indiana. Their niarriage was solemnized in Xenia in March of 1874, since which time they have made their home at Lake Crystal, and have won a high place in the best society of the county. In his profes- sion Dr. Hering ever has been progressive, and it is his ambition to keep in touch with every advance made in the science of therapeutics. As a consequence of his constant thoughtful read- ing of current medical literature he keeps abreast with the profession and has the advantage of possessing the experience of age, supplemented by a knowledge of the most modern methods and the latest developments in the science. HERZBERG, C. F.— Various interests have lent variety and brought a fair degree of success to the life of C. F. Herzberg, who ranks among the leading farmers of Lyra township and owns a valuable farm situated in the vicinity of Good Thunder. The property comprises two hundred twenty-one and one-half acres of land, one hund- red and sixty-five acres of which are under the plow, the balance being land that is heavily tim- bered. Since the estate came into the possession of the present owner, it has been his aim .to maintain the soil in a high state of fertility, keep the fences and buildings in repair, and add such improvements as the growing needs suggest and circumstances justify. Besides managing the property he holds office as manager of the creamery of Lyra township, which he assisted in establishing and the success of which he has pro- moted by sagacious leadership. As the name indicates, the Herzberg family is of German origin. Ferdinand and Fredericka (Heim) Herzberg wore born and reared in the Fatherland, whence they emigrated during early 3'ears to the new world, settling in Wisconsin, where after 1858 he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Prior to emigration he had served in the army of Germany, but after coming to the United States he devoted himself entirely to farming. For twenty-two busy years he carried on farming in Wisconsin, but in 1880 he came to Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, where at the age of eighty-three (1908) he now makes his home in Decoria township, honored by a large circle of acquaintances. Primarily educated in country schools, Mr. Herzberg later attended the graded schools of Watertown, Wisconsin. His early memories clus- ter around Wisconsin, where he was born in Dodge county January 28, 1859, and where he remained until starting out for himself in 1877. For seven years he was employed in operating stationary engines and for seven years he was in the employ of the Mapleton Milling Company in Blue Earth, county. Since leaving the milling 430 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. business lie has been interested in farming and in running the creamerj'. In politics he has allied himself with the Democratic party. For four years he held office as chairman of the board of township trustees of Decoria township and manager of the Beauford Creamery for nine years and in addition he has officiated as clerk of the school district. Last fall he was elected representative to the legislature from this county. During 1887 he was united in marriage with Mary Kowalk, a native of Germany. They have four children, Hugo, Walter, Bertha ( ?) and Freda, all at home. The family hold member- ship in the Lutheran church and the children have been reared in the faith of that denomina- tion. HILGEES, JACOB.— A recent recruit to the business contingent of Mankato is Jacob Hil- gers who embarked in a general livery business at 115 East Main street, October 1, 1906. Mr. Ililgers gained both his love for horses and his knowledge of their proper care on the farm in Lime township. Blue Earth county, this state, where he was born May 13, 1878. He is of German ancestry, and his parents, Barkley and Mary (Eoemer) Hilgers, were born in Prussia, immigrating to this country in the early history of Wisconsin, and from that state coming to Lime township, where the father died when his son, Jacob, was but nine months old. The mother survives, as do also three of her four children: Albert, a farmer of Lime township; Gertrude, v/ife of Mathew Lensce, of the same township; and Jacob, Rose, the twin of Jacob, died in early childhood. Educated in the district schools of Lime township, and the German parochial school of Mankato, Jacob Hilgers, pursued the quiet exis- tence of the farmer until coming to Mankato in 1906. He has one of the best liveries in the town, and can furnish a variety of equipages and fine, well cared for horses. Many things sustain his expectation of large success, among them a kindly disposition, a desire to be of practical use in the world, and a keen appreciation of his du- ties and responsibilities as a citizen in an en- terprising and progressive community. The marriage of Mr. Hilgers and Clara Albert, daughter of George Albert of Mankato, occurre November 25, 1902. There are two children c this union: Lauretta P., and Margaret 6. Mi Hilgers is a member of the Catholic Benevoleii Society, and is otherwise identified with the sc cial and general life of the community. HILTOlsr, HENEY S.— The gifts of industrj perseverence, good judgment, integrity and pa triotism which found convincing expression in th life of Henry S. Hilton, inevitably won him per manent place among the upbuilders of Blu Earth county, who labored for its welfare fror before the Civil war until the dawn of a ne\ century. January 22, 1901, this able millei farmer, civil engineer and soldier passed beyoni the ken of those who had known and honorei him, and whose memories are fragrant with th sense of his upright and noble nature. Born in far off Maine, January 7, 1842, Mi Hilton -svas a son of Joseph and Sarah (Smith' Hilton, the former of whom died in Maine an{ the latter in Boston, Massachusetts. He wa one in a family of seven children, and he wa reared in comparative poverty and obliged h assume early responsibility. He acquired thi rudiments of education in the country school of Maine, but by nature a student, he late availed himself of every possible opportunity o acquiring knowledge. Seeking a larger opportu nity for his powers than seemed to present itsel iji his native state, he mo^-ed from Maine in ver; early manhood, and after a short sojourn in Wis consin took up his residence in Mankato wher he became interested in saw-milling until th' outbreak of the Civil war. He later settled oj the farm in McPherson township now owned b; liis family and here he devoted his energies t^ general agriculture and stock-raising with excel lent financial results. He also practiced civi engineering to a considerable extent. His farm however, was his chief source of profit and de light, and he improved it continually, addin each year to its effectiveness as a place of resi dence, and its facilities as a money making prop osition. He was a lover of trees and the bean tiful things of nature, and was very orderly i: his methods and habits. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 431 August 17j 1866, Mr. Hilton married Kath- erine Donahue, a native of Illinois, and of the union there were seven children, four sons and three daughters: Eben, a resident of St. Claire; Charley, a painter; William, a civil engineer; Georgiana, wife of Thomas .McCarty, a farmer of Northern Dakota; Libby of Portland, Oregon; Margaret and Ralph, the last two living on the home farm. Mr. Hilton was a Republican in politics, and in religion was a Congregationalist. In 1861 Mr. Hilton enlisted in Company H, Second Minnesota. HIMMELMAN, EDWARD J.— In the com- modious, comfortable and modem hostelry of Mankato, known as the Hotel Heinrich, is seen a fitting tribute to the large-hearted hospitality and generous nature of one of the best known pioneers of Blue Earth County, Henry Himmel- man, whose son, Edward J., is its builder, pro- prietor and developer. He is a native of the city to which he has given so noteworthy an institu- tion, the date of his birth beingthe 28th of July, 1864. His father's long and prominent connec- tion with the community is detailed elsewhere in this work. Edward J. Himmelman was educated in the public schools and at the State Normal School of Mankato, at the conclusion of this literary training pursuing a business course ?it the Com- mercial College, of La Crosse, Wisconsin. For a time thereafter he was a bookkeeper, and then entered the United States Mail Service as a pos- tal clerk on the Northwestern Railroad running between St. Paul and Council Bluffs. After holding that position for several years he was connected with a mattress manufacturing com- pany, and later became bookkeeper for a braneli Oi the Val Blatz Brewing Company at Sioux City, Iowa. In 1903 Mr. Himmelman again fixed his residence in Mankato, becoming pro- prietor of the City Hotel. In 1904-5 he built and furnished the Hotel Heinrich, opening it to the public July 2d of the latter year. The Hotel Heinrich was equipped in modern style, and from the first has attracted a superior class of patrons, its trade having so greatly in- creased that during 1907 Mr. Himmelman will be obliged to materially expand its accommoda- tions. His up-to-date methods and pleasing per- sonality have firmly established an institution of which the entire county is proud, and which ma- terially adds to Mankato'e prestige as a live and progressive place. Edward J. Himmelman was married in 1887, to Miss Marguerite Leader, a native of Nicol- let county, Minnesota, by whom he has had two children — Troy E. and Fred H. Since becom- ing of age he has been an active member of the I. 0. 0. F. and has also been long identified with the Knights of Pythias and B. P. 0. B. HIMMELMAN, SR., HENRY— In the early period of the colonization of Blue Earth county it was the good fortune of the region to attract as permanent settlers an unusually keen, alert, honorable and energetic class of pioneers. Des- tiny favored the upbuilding of this section of the northwest in bringing hither men and women of exceptional character and refinement. With gen- ial good-fellowship these pioneers labored side by side, working for the same great end, the up- building of the commonwealth and giving of ad- vantages to their children. No discouragements were allowed to turn them from their great pur- pose. No obstacles daunted their steady cour- a,'Te. Nn hardships of severe winters whose bit- ter blasts brought suffering into rudely-construet- ecl frontier homes could turn them aside from their ambition. Such men and women form the bulwark on which rests the stability of our gov- ernment and the happiness of its homes. Not the least prominent of the pioneers who aided in securing the early business development of Mankato and who established the citj^'s for- tunes upon a steady commercial basis, was Henry Himmelman, Sr., who belongs to that class of German-American citizens so helpful in the growth of the northwest. Born at Elsass, Germany, in 1834, he received in boyhood the advantages of the excellent German schools of his home town. In accordance with the custom of his country he left school at the age of four- teen years and began an apprenticeship to a trade, his chosen occupation being that of a wagon-maker. While still a mere lad he had 432 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. heard much concerning the opportunities offered by America and had resolved to seek a home in the new world. Accordingly in 1854 he crossed the ocean and Joined friends at St. Charles, Mis- souri, where he remained a year. Coming to Minnesota in 1855, Mr. Himmelman joined the few settlers who were established within the limits of Blue Earth county. The following year many settlers joined the little throng of pioneers and it then became practi- cable to begin work at his trade, so he opened a wagon and blacksmith shop on the present site of the City Hotel. For some years he followed his trade with patient industry and, while no great gains came to him from the work, he se- cured a comfortable income and won many friends among his patrons. In 18G9 he built the City Hotel. Through working at his trade he had made a large circle of acquaintances among the farmers, who for market purposes frequented Mankato from a vast radius of country in every direction. It was natural that these should be- come his best customers when he opened his hotel, and for years his hostelry was the head- quarters of the agriculturists of the county. A few years after building the hotel he erected the Union hall. In 1890 he became interested in the manufacture of mattresses, and as that busi- ness grew it demanded his entire attention, so he tnrned over the management of the hotel to his son, Henry, Jr., who made the house a popular resort for traveling men as well as the general public. While conducting business pursuits Mr. Himmelman maintained the deepest interest in civic affairs, rendered faithful service for fifteen years as a member of the board of aldermen, and from the time of his arrival in Mankato to the present time (covering a period of more than fifty years) he has been a steadfast contributor to all movements for the benefit of the educa- tional, business and moral interests of the city. When Mr. Himmelman came to Mankato he was a single man. His marriage took place August 8, 1858, and united him with Pauline Heinze, who was born in Germany February 5, 1840. At the age of ten j'ears she came to the United States with her pajents, settling near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but removing to Man- kato, Minnesota, during August of 1856. Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Himmelman, four now living, namely: Mrs. H. Engelbert, of St. Paul; Mrs. Ida Schabert, of St. Paul Park; and Henry and E. J., both of Mankato. Mrs. Himmelman was survived by tliree brothers and a sister, namely: F. G. and Frederick Heinze, of Mankato; Herman Heinze, of Oklahoma, and Mrs. Charles Forster, of Eagle Lake. With her husband she enjoyed a wide acquaintance and a circle of warm personal friends, and was particularly interested in the work of the old settlers' association, in which she was a prominent member for many years. HIMMELMAN, JE., HENEY.— A benefiter to a certain extent of the natural law of pro- gression as existing between a father who es- tablishes and a son who builds upon the foun- dations of business, Henry Himmelman has used well his opportunities, and is recognized as a young business man of many excellent quaUtes, whose wealth is as much a matter of character as of finance, and whose future will be guided by a well directed and well controlled mind. A native of Mankato, and born January 35, 1861, Mr. Himmelman is the namesake of a father long identified with the history of Blue Earth county, and mention of 'whom may be found elsewhere in this work. The educational chances of Mr. Himmelman were varied and practical, and included the pub- lie schools of Mankato, the State Normal School, and the German School at New Ulm, this state. His primary independence was secured as a clerk in the county auditor's office during vacation time, and he later worked in a grocery, and in the Cit}' Hotel, the latter established by his father in 1868. A natural aptitude for hotel keeping resulted in his assumption of the man- agement of the hotel May 10, 1886, and for seventeen years he was thus employed, main- tnining a hostelry which fully met the require- ments of latter day trade, and won for the man- ager the credit of possessing courtesy, consid- eration and kindred invaluable qualities to the man who makes a success of dealing with the traveling public. While still connected with the hotel Mr. Himmelman proved his many sided- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 433 ness and resource by purchasing the plant of the Linseed Oil Company, of Mankato, converting the same into a brewery, and as president of the Standard Brewing Company operating the same imtil disposing of the plant to eastern parties in 1D06. The brewing venture proved a profitable investment, and for the last three 3'ears of its existence was managed by ilr. Himmelman. Although no partisan, Mr. Himmelman is a broad gauged Democrat, and among other offices has held that of member of the city council for several years, having also been connected with the board of public works and charter commis- sion. He is a" member of the Conimercial Club and Driving Park vlssociation, and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,' Knights of Pythias and Sons of Her- man. The marriage of Mr. Himmelman and T/juise Schuerer, daughter of Curl and Chris- tina (Emil) Schuerer, of Watertown, Wisconsin, occurred May 4, 1886. Of the union there are three children: Florence P., Louise L. and Farry W. In a community which has watched his progress through boyhood to the period of business responsibility and achievement, j\lr. Himmelman is held in high esteem, and his genial and unaffected nature has drawn to him the closer regard of a host of friends. HODAPP, PHILIP.— Honored among the pioneers of Blue Earth county, where for years he successfully followed agricultural pursuits and where now in the city of Mankato he enjoys a well-earned rest from former activities, Philip Hodapp is a native of German)-, born April 23, 1833, to Wendell and Mary Ann (Hunt) Ho- dapp. When four years of age he was Ijrought ill the United States by his parents, who settled near St. Charles, Missouri, the father spending the balance of his life as a farmer and merchant of that locality. In the family of thirteen child- ren Philip was third in order of birth, and he is one of four survivors, the others being as fol- lows: Wenzel, of Xorth ]\rankato; ilary, Mrs. John B. Thro, of St. Charles, j\Iiss(mri; and Joseph, who makes Mankato his home. When the family settled in Missouri the con- ditions were those of the remote frontier. Few schools as yet had been established, hence the children were deprived of the educational ad- vantages they desired. However, Philip Hodapp ■was enabled to attend school four winter terms in St. Charles and this, with the addition of study on his own part, forms the basis of his present varied knowledge. During 1853 he mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of John ]M. Borgman, a year after his marriage he remained on the heme farm, but in 1854 he joined a colony of five families bound for the northwest. The party started up the Mississippi by steamboat, with St. Paul as their destination. All went well as far as Eock Island, but there the boat stranded and the passengers were detained for six weeks. It was during the period of enforced Plaiting that sickness broke out on the boat and I\Irs. Hodapp's sister. Gertrude, wife of Michael Hunt, died of cholera. jMr. Hodapp also was stricken, but recovered after a serious illnes.^. Early in the month of October the boat cast anchor at St. Paul, and a few days later the party proceeded to Blue Earth county, where they arrived October 15, 1854. Securing a claim of timber land two miles northeast of ^Mankato in Mankato township, Mr. Hodapp diligently entered upon the arduous task of clearing and improving the property. It speaks well for his work when the statement is made that many people consider his farm one of the very finest in this part of the county. The substantial buildings were erected under his su- pervision. From year to year improvements were made as their need was suggested to this wide- awake and capable farmer. Ample facilities were provided for the storage of grain and the shelter of stock. Proper methods of tillage brought the land to a high state of productive- ness. Everything about tlie place indicates the tlirift of the owner. After years of constant and fruitful application. "Mr. Hodapp retired from manual labors and now resides in a com- fortable home on Xorth Fourth street, Mankato, where he enjoys the merited fruits of his years of labor. From the earliest period of ]iis identification vith Blue Earth county Mr. Hodapp has been interested in every movement for the local wel- fare. Time and again it floulil have been pos- 434 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. sible for him to hold such offices as were within the gift of his acquaintances, but he jDreferred to remain in the political background, and tcok no part whatever in politics aside from voting the Democratic ticket. Almost the only position he ever consented to fill was that of treasurer of Mankato township, which he has held for nineteen years. When he came to this county he realized that a place for religious worship was one of the needs of the settlers and he was eager to enlist others in such a project, the result being that a meeting was held in Leo Lamm's shoeshop and it was there decided to enter upon the work of church -building. Mr. Hodapp was one of those who selected the site for building and secured the lots where St. I'eter and St. Paul's church now stands. The first wife of Mr. Hodapp died in March, 1875, leaving the follovring-named child- ren: John B., and Mary (Mrs. George May), both of Mankato; Henry, living in Decoria town- shi^3. Blue Earth county; George, who cultivates the old homestead in Mankato township ; Otilia, deceased; Elizabeth, who married Joseph Bruels and lives in St. Paul; Philip, now of St. Charles, Missouri; Frank, and Gertrude (Mrs. Joseph Keber), both of Madelia, Watonwan county, Minnesota. In 1876 Mr. Hodapp was again married, his wife being Anna C, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Bruels, natives of Germany, and lifelong residents of that country. It has been Mr. Hodapp's privilege to witness the growth and progress of Blue Earth county for more than fifty years. Remarkable, indeed, has been the transformation during that period, and his industrious hands aided in the change wrought by the pioneers. Lack of supplies and the rigor of the winters combined to make those early years full of toil. Those who enjoy the civili- zation of the twentieth century cannot realize how much they owe to the fortitude and endur- ance of the early settlers, who made possible the comforts of the present. More than once it was necessary for Mr. Hodapp to drive oxen to St. Paul for supplies when the thermometer was be- low zero and when from eleven to fifteen days were required for the trip. Flour cost $18 per barrel and other necessities were proportionately high. Conveniences were conspicuous by their aljsence. The improved machinery in common use on the farms now was unloiown then and most of the work was done by hand. Wild game furnished the families with their meat, S((uirrel being the most frequent addition to the table. A coffee-mill was used for the grind- ing of corn, as grist-mills had not yet been built and feed-grinders were unknown. In listening to a recital from Mr. Hodapp of the trials and privations of the '50's, one feels that a special tribute of praise belongs to the pioneers who passed through such tribulations and cheerfully bore such sacrifices in order that their sons and daughters might be blessed by their labors. HODSON, JAMES. — Xotwithstanding the fact that he is of foreign nativity, Mr. Hodson has exhibited a deep and constant devotion to the interests of his adopted country and particu- larly is interested in the progress of his home city of Mankato, where he ranks among the pro- gressive business men and the leading members of the Commercial Club. The shire of Derby in England is his native locality, and July 13, 1850, the date of his birth. At the age of ten years he was brought to the United States by his par- ents, Joseph and Ellen (Shaw) Hodson, settling with them on a tract of unimproved land near Hebron, .Nicollet county, Minnesota. The improvement of the land occupied the attention of the father during the remainder of his active years, and he passed away at the old homestead in 1889 at the age of seventy-one years. Three years before his demise occurred the death of his wife at the age of sixty-six. Of their four children one died in infancy, and three are now living, namely: Thomas, who remains ir Xicollet county; Henry, who removed to South Dakota; and James, who makes Mankato his home. The last-named received a district-school education and remained on the old home farm iu Nicollet county until twenty-two years of age, '.vhen lie began independent farming near his father's place. There he continued until 1901, wl;en he came to Mankato, and embarked in the dragon and implement business at No. Il4 East Main street. The beginning of the business was small, but it was conducted with such skill, ac- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 435 curacy and judgment that an extension of the trade necessarily followed. The original part- ners of Mr. Hodson were E. il. Znel and M. C. Johnson, the firm title heing James Hodson & Co., but in October of 1903 the interests of Messrs. Zuel and Johnson were purchased by W. E. Davey, and since then the title has been Hodson & Davey. During June of 1903 the business was removed to more spacious quarters at Xos. 314-316 South Front street, where now may be seen a full line of buggies, farm wagons, windmills, pumps, and farm implements of every description, and in addition the firm, acts as agent for gasoline en- gines and threshing machines of the most modern types. While giving his attention principally tO the careful and successful conduct of the busi- ness, j\Ir. Hodson finds leisure to assist in the activities of JIankato and Blue Earth county and freely contributes to the aid of progressive enterprises. Believing that the strongest and most permanent growth of a town cannot be effected without the aid of religion, he always has been interested in work for the uplifting of humanity by means of the Gospel, and in his own denomination and congregation (the Cen- tenary Methodist Episcopal church) he has be- come known for his earnest" advocacy of plans for the furtherance of Sunday-school, missionary and other organizations allied with the church. The first marriage of Mr. Hodson took place October 22, 1871, and united him with Minerva A. Trask. daughter of D. P. K. Trask, of Bel- grade, iSTicollet county, this state. Mrs. Hodson died in 1889 at the age of thirty-seven years. Xine children were born of that union, and all are still living except the sixth child, Louis H., who died in 1892 at the age of twentj'-one years. The other members of the family are named as follows: Mary E., who married Merrill Furrier and lives at IJlen, Clay county, Minnesota; Ida L., 'Mrs. John 0. Kenne, of Mankato township. Blue Earth county; George A., of Mankato; Frank H., now living in Stark count}', North Dakota; Joseph E., whose home is at IJlen, Min- nesota; Delia, who married W. N. Dunham and lives at Dlen; and Chester A. and Schuyler C, both of whom are now in Los Angeles, Califor- nia. The present wife of Mr. Hodson, whom he married March 8, 1893, was formerly Addie Furrier, of Belgrade township, Nicollet county, and by this union there is a son. Jay W. Hodson. HOHJIAJSr, JOHN H.— Mr. Hohman is a young man of ability, energy' and metropolitan ideas, and his long training in St. Louis has given him that familiarity with the business, which, added to his personal talents, explains the' remarkable expansion of his enterprise which is now only two years of age. He is a native of the city named, born April 27, 18G9, son of Cas- per and Theresa (Buesclier) Hohman, both na- tives of German]' — the father coming to the United States in 1848 and the mother, in 18.55. They sjient the active years of their maturity in the cit}- of St. Louis, where Ca.-^per Hohman died in ]\Iarch, 1893, at the age of sixty years, and his good wife survived him until January, 1898, when she too departed into the Future, the years of her earthly life having been fiftj'-three. John H. Hohman is the oldest in a family of four children (all living), and obtained his men- tal instruction in the parochial schools of his na- tive city and at the St. Louis University. When quite a young man he engaged in the manufac- ture of bank, store, office and bar fixtures and continued in these lines for fourteen years. In 1005 he located in ^lankato, and, in partner- ship with Otto Lamm, conducted for several years the leading establishment for the sale of furniture and house furnishings in the city, and one of the most prominent in the state, later taking an active part in the management of the Standard Brewery company of Mankato. On November 20, 1901, Mr. Hohman was mar- ried to ^liss Carrie Lamm, daughter of the late Stephen Lamm, of ilankato, and sister of his business partner. They have been the parents of two children — Lambertine and Aloysius J. Fra- ternally Mr. Hohman is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks. Personally, he is so- ciable, popular and able, and in his broader re- lations a progressive citizen of noteworthy enter- prise and judgment. 436 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. liOLBROOK, Dr. JOHX S.— It can no longer be said that the bright sons of the famil)', who have a longing for professional life, turn in- stinctively to the law, for Mith the remarkable advaneemeni; of scientific and clinical methods in medical education and practice, to creditably occupy the field of the physician and surgeon are required an intellectual grasp, a steadfast- ness of purpose and a broad endowment of na- tural attainments, which are bringing into the j-anks of his profession some of the strongest and finest of the country's young men. A good illustration of this type, who would have made a success in any other profession as well, is Dr. John S. Holbrook, of Mankato, this county. Dr. Holbrook is a native of Wisconsin and was born in the town of Arkansas, that State, on the 17th of December, 1874, being the son of Willard F., and Mary (Ames) Holbrook, both natives of Massachusetts. They came to Wisconsin in 1850, where I\Ir. Holbrook engaged iu the manufacture of furniture and died in 1887, at the age of sixty years, his widow pass- ing away in 1889, aged forty-nine. There were five hoys and five girls in their family, of whom John S., was the sixth child. The Doctor's early education was obtained in the public schools of his native town and at the jSTorthfield (Minn.) High School, his medi- cal course at the University of Minnesota cover- ing the years 1893-6. He began his practice as resident Physician at St. Mary's hospital, Minneapolis, and in June, 1887, located at Man- kato, his large clientele being among the best people in the city. Dr. Holbrook's high standing is well es- tablished, both by his patrons and his fellow prac- titioners. He has been president of the Blue Earth Medical Society, and is actively identified with the State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and the Minnesota Yalley Medical Society. He was married in August 1900, to Miss Mary Whiting, of Northfield, Min- nesota, daughter of Dr. D. J. Whiting, of that place, and is the father of three children, Mari- gen Louise, Eleanor and Mary Ames. HOL]\IES, ROY F.— To be in thorough har- mony with one's work, to find one's self an integTal part of it, and in inclination insep- arable from its obligations and compensations, is perhaps as enviable a destiny as rewards the fiiiving of mankind. Such is the good fortune of Roy F. Holmes, an enthusiastic lover of all things musical, and who, with his music, his scund ■ producing instruments, and his business fa]- sightedness, is one of Mankato's most earnest aij'd painstaking merchants. Mr. Holmes was born in Sparta, Monroe county, Wisconsin, July 20, 1881, and is a son of Clark L. and Jennie (Butler) Holmes, the former born in New York state, and the latter in Wisconsin. The family was established in Mankato in 1886, in which year the elder Holmes engaged in the book and stationery business at 321 South Front street, in partnership with John H. Stewart. The firm of Stewart & Holmes caters to a large and de- pendable trade in the town and county, and carry a complete line of the commodities associated with the stationers business. The three children in the family of Mr. Holmes are Grace, Roy P. and Harr)-, all of whom owe their educational and other chances to the city of Mankato. Roy F. Holmes early evidenced musical ability, and Avhile attending the public schools availed himself of every opportunity to cultivate his accomplishment. Finally he bought a half in- terest in the music store of George B. Owen, and in 1905 purchased the business outright, since then conducting it alone with signal success. His show rooms contain many of the best makes of pianos, including the time honored Stein way and Chickering, as well as the Bush & Geru and Estey makes, and a specialty is made of tun- ing, repair work. Mr. Holmes has supplied many homes in the county with instruments, and lias done much to encourage the purchase of thost of high grade and lasting quality. His enthusiasm for music is contageous, and his success is large- ly hinged upon this admirable business quali' fication. Mr. Holmes is a young man of fine mora character and high business and general ideall His opportunities for usefulness extend t( the Young Men's Christian Association and thi BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 4ii7 Baptist church, he being a director in the form- er, and chorister in the latter for the past four years. Fraternally lie is connected with the lioval Arcanum, and he is a member of the C'cmmercial Clulj. His marriage to Greta Han- son occurred in August, 1906, Mrs. Holmes being a daughter of A. L. Hanson, of Faribault, Jiinnesota. Jlr. Holmes commands the respect and good will of all who know him, and his gentle and particularly earnest life in fulfilling a noble and far reaching purpose in the city of liis adoption. HOTALIiYG, HERBERT CLEVELAND.— The Blue "Earth County Enterprise, which was established as a weekly journal in 1888 under the title of the Mapleton Enterprise, has been conducted by Mr. Hotaling from the period of its establishment to the present time, and under his tactful, resourceful management the paper has attained a high degree of popularity throughout this locality. Various other ven- tures, journalistic and commercial, have engaged tlie attention of Jlr. Hotaling, who for several years was interested in the milling business. During 1900, he purchased the Amboy Herald, v,-hich he owned for a number of years. ^Vlso for some time he owned the Independent-Times at Hutchinson, Minnesota, selling the same in 1905, since which time lie has devoted him- self principally to the paper in his home town. From boyhood he has been familiar with the printing business and has displayed genuine ability in journalistic affairs. As a young man he was prominent in prohibition work and in 1888, served as secretary of the prohibition state convention being the youngest person ever se- lected for the position. In August of 18S.5, he established the Third District Messenger, a temperance publication, at JIankato, from which city the paper was distributed throughout this part of the state. The birth of Herbert C. Hotaling occurred at Mankato, Minnasota, August 5, 1865, his par- ents being Benjamin F. and Mary Jane (Cleve- land) Hotaling,, the former a tinner by trade and the owner of a hardware store in Mankato. Eis ancestors came to this country from Hol- land. As early as 1856. he established the first hardware store at Hastings, Minnesota, and two years later he started the first businuss of the kind in ^Mankato. Hmler a commission from Alex- ander Ramsey, ^linnesota's war governor, dated September 1."), l,S{i-2, he served as second lieu- tenant of the ilaidcato Home Guard, Minnesota A'olunteer militia : also under date of Januaiy 29, 1863, he was commissioned first lieutenanr of the Twelfth Regiment, Minnesota state militia, holding his commission during the period of the Indian troubles. His wife, who was a distant relative of the late president Grover Cleveland, descended from Revolutionary stock, five of her grandfather's brothers having served in the ci'ntinental army. Her education was received in the Wesleyan seminary at Lima, Xew York. During the Indian outbreak of lS6'i, she re- mained at her home in ilankato where she hos- pitably furnished food and shelter for many of the refugees from the frontier. After having been educated in the Mankato public schooU and the IMankato State Normal school, Herbert C. Hotaling turned his atten- tion to the printing business of which he had gained a thorough knowledge in boyhood. At the a,no of sixteen years he entered the print- ing office of .1. C. Wise, Sr., where he worked for R\e years in learning the trade. Next he was employed on papers in Janesville, Waseca and New Richland, iliunesota, and for a short time edited the Lake .Alill= North Star at Lake ^lills, Iowa. In 188S he came to Mapleton, ^iinnesota, where he has since been associated with the publication of the Enterprise. The paper is Republican in political views, but places loyalty to city and county above par- tisanship. In 1903, he was elected clerk of the board of education of ^fapleton, which office he sUU fills. Since 1901, he has been a director of the :Mapleton State Bank. During 1904-05 he was village recorder, from ISOT to 1900 he was chief of the fire department, and since 1902 he has acted as resident director of the ]\Iankato Citizens' Telephone ('(.impany. Elected presi- dent of the public library of ^lapleton in 1900, he aided in the establishing of a first class library and secured a donation from Andrew Car- regie for the library building. 438 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. The fraternal associations of Mr. Hotaling are numerous. He has been connected with the Good Templars, Sons of Temperance, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, Masons, Modern Woodmen of America, and is also a member of Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Manliato, No. 225. The work of all of these organizations has enlisted his sympathy and received his support. June 26, 1889, at Brownton, Minne- sota, he married Janie L. Mann, by whom he has a daughter, Mary Evelyn. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Hotaling engaged in teaching, for which v/ork she was prepared by a course of training in the Mankato State Normal school. For years she has been prominent in secret society work and in 1897 she was honored with the office of State president of the Rebekah assembly of Minnesota. The Eastern Star also has had the advantage of her membership and her efficient labors as worthy matron, besides which she has held the ofEice ol: deputy grand matron and represented her lodge in the grand chapter. HOIJK, R. L. — The vice-president of the State Bank of Good Thunder is one of the lead- ing men of his home town, where he has numer- ous interests, financial and commercial. Ever since starting out in life for himself he has made his home in this village and meanwhile has risen from poverty 'to independence, being now the owner of large farming interests as well as other business activities representing large in- vestments. It was not until 1905 that lie em- barked in the milling business. During that year he erected a modern mill with splendid equip- ments and since then he has established a repu- tation for the quality of milling done at the plant. The mill adds an important industry to the business interests of the town and contrib- utes to the general prosperity. Born in Cass county, Indiana, April 15, 1854, R. L. Houk is a son of Levi and Jane (Thorn- ton) Houk, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and after 1860 residents of Lyra town- ship. The farm upon which they settled was brought to a high state of cultivation through the efforts of the father, assisted by his familj and he continued theie until his death. His wif passed away in 1884. At the time of coming t Blue Earth county R. L. Houk was only six year of age, and his education was secured in Lyri township, where he was a pupil in a school hel( in a log cabin. The equipment of the school wa meagre and the methods of instruction wen crude, but he succeeded in gaining a fair edu cation and is now a well-informed man. The marriage of R. L. Houk took place h 1881 and united him with Miss Emma Chapel daughter of John D. and Catherine Chapel, o: eastern birth and ancestry. Prior to the Civi war Mr. Chapel brought his family to Minnesoti and settled in Faribault county, where he tool up unimproved land and gave his attention t( the improving of a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Houl are the parents of three daughters. Jessie is i graduate of the State Normal at Mankato anc also attended the State University for one year since which time she has devoted herself to edu cational work. Nellie also is a graduate of th( Normal at Mankato and a successful schoo teacher. Fanny is a graduate of the Mankat( high school and possesses ability as a musician. Through ' all of his active life Mr. Houk hai retained farming interests and he now owns thre( hundred and ninety acres in Lyra township ad jacent to the village of Good Thunder. Fertiht; of the soil as well as proximity to town give f high valuation to the land, of which two hund red acres arc under cultivation, the balance beinj utilized for pasture. For thirty years or mori Mr. Houk has engaged in buying and selling grain and he also has extensive interests in thi buying and shipping of cattle and hogs. Tb first grain elevator at Good Thunder was oper ated under his management and he has alway' ranked among the most proficient judges of th' grain and stock markets. In politics he vote with the Republican party. In addition to hold ing school offices he has served as president o Die village and as president of the council. H is not identified with any fraternities nor is he communicant in any denomination, but he con tributes to the work of the Episcopal churcl with which his wife was identified. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 439 HOWARD, EICHAED E.— Were a volume to be compiled concerning the experiences of Mr. Howard in the west in an early day, much in- teresting information might be preserved for fu- ture generations bearing upon a period now merging into the remote past. Even now the hardships and sufferings of pioneers are not fully understood or appreciated by those enjoying the civilization of the twentieth century, and still less will their perils be realized by those who fol- low after us. The introduction of civilization, the incoming of settlers, the building of railroads, and the springing np of villages have caused a iransformation in the lives of the people, and have thrown pioneer experiences into the region of romance. Although he has lived in the west and north- west ever since early life, Mr. Howard is ot eastern birth and parentage and was born in Saratoga county, Sew York, May 15, 1831. His parents, Peter and Elioda (Randall) Howard, were natives respectively of Massachusetts and A'ermont and died in Xew York, where they had engaged in farming pursuits. The father was bcrn in 1800 and attained the age of eighty- three years. Of his seven children the third in oi'der of birth was Richard E., who gTew to man- hood upon a farm and received such advantages as the early schools afforded. In the spring of 1854 he left his home in Xew York going to Dodge county, Wisconsin where he was employed in the well business until the spring of 1857, M"hen he went to Miami county, Kansas, and pre- empted a quarter section of land five miles west of Osawatomie remaining there improving it until the spring of 1859, when he with many others crossed the plains to Pikes Peak and Denver re- maining in that mining country till the fall of 18G1, when he went to New Mexico. In the fall of 18G2 he secured employment with the government, first on the fortifications, then pro- moted to overseer of the tool rooms, and from there was transferred to the clothing department, and from there to the Ordnance department, where he was night watch for about one year. He then bought an interest in a train of seven wagons with five yoke of oxen to each wagon, received employment for some -time hauling in- terior freight, he then made two trips from Fort Union, Xew ]\Iexico, to Lawrence, Kansas, where ]i€ loaded with corn for the Guvei-nment, which he hauled back to Fort Union, a distance of about six hundred miles. This work was done at great peril as the Indians were numerous and exceedingly hostile. The route of the government ■wagons lay through a region almost wholly unin- habited. Savages lurked in the distance ready to harass or attack the expedition. At one time three of the men accompanying Mr. Howard were scalped by the red men, and his own life was in the greatest peril, but he continued his work un- di.smayed by dangers, and remained in the gov- ernment employ until the close of the war termi- nated the need for his services. Thereupon he returned to Johnson county, Kansas, and took up farming pursuits. For some years he re- ■mained u.nmarried, but eventually he returned to Wisconsin for a wife, being united in Dodge county with Miss Minerva Bayley, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Horr) Bayley and a first cousin of Congressman B. G. Horr of Michi- gan. Her parents were born and reared in Ver- mont, but lioeame pioneers of Wisconsin and de- veloped a farm in Dodge county, wliere they re- mained during the greater part of their lives. For six years after his marriage Mr. Howard engaged in farming in Johnson county, Kansas. During 18T7 he came to Minnesota and settled in Vernon Center township. Blue Earth county, where since he has developed and improved a farm of one hundred and sixty acres still in his possession. Upon retiring from farm pursuits in 1906 he came to the village of Vernon Center and purchased property in the east part of town, where he now resides. In his family there are six children, Blanche M., L. Rose, Gustava, Ed- win R. and Benjamin L. Ever since the organi- zation of the Republican party he has supported its principles. In local politics he has been A^-armly interested and has served with efficiency as a member of tlie town board, also in other offices of trust. HOWIESOK, WILLIAM.— Xumbered among the progressive farmers of Blue Earth county, and exhibiting as an agriculturist the steady, re- solute forcefulness of the Scot supplementing the 440 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. typical energy of the American, we mention the name of William Howieson, who has a wide ac- quaintance throughout Mapleton township. The son of a pioneer now passed from among us, he has been a resident of Blue Earth county ever since boyhood and has risen to a position among its prosperous farmers. In fact, there are few agriculturists in the county more widely known and none more highly honored than William Howieson and his brothers, Thomas, James A. and Andrew, all of whom own important landed interests. The eldest of the brothers, Thomas, is a Scotsman by birth as well as by parentage, and now makes his home in Lyra township, M'here he cultivates a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. James A., who received fine edu- cational advantages in the State IN'ormal Uni- versity at Mankato and Curtis Brothers College in Minneapolis, has taiight school during the winter for twenty-four years, while the inter- vening summers have been given to farm pur- suits, and he owns an improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Andrew occupies land adjoining the original homestead ' and has the title to two hundred and forty acres. William remains on the old homestead, owning two hund- red and forty acres. These four sons form the family circle, with the addition of a sister, Eliza, now the wife of W. L. McQueen, of Mapleton. The father of this family, Andrew Howieson, was a native of Pifeshire, and married Janet Henderson, of the shire of Inverness. During the year 1857 they came to America and settled in Wisconsin, where they remained some seven years. During their residence at Waupun, that state a son was born whom they named William, and whose birth occurred July IT, 1S59. When he was five years old the family came to Min- nesota and since then he has lived on a farm in Blue Earth county. The father died February 1, 1903, and the mother passed from earth Sep- tember 16, 1906. Honored by all w^ho knew them, they left to their children the heritage of . rtoble characters, imspotted reputations and in- dustrious lives, and whatever of success their descendants may achieve, whatever of prominence the future may bring to- them, not a little of the praise for their success may be given to the stal- wart Scotchman and his gentle helpmate, whose self-sacrificing devotion rendered possible a fu- ture of promise and prosperity for their pos-' tcrity. HUBBARD, JAY.— Is a man who has al- ways shown great interest in the affairs of cor- porations bearing his fathers name, and the welfare of ]\Iankato in general. The family of which he is a member has been influential and honored for many years in thife part of Minnesota, his father, the late Rens- selaer D. Hubbard, having been a pioneer in the milling business at Mankato, where he engaged in that industry until his death ended his successful labors. Born in the city where he now makes his home. Jay Hubbard is now in the prime of life, his birth having occurred January 8, 1871. The rudiments of his educa- tion were obtained in the common schools and in 1890 he was graduated from the high school, after wdiich for two years he carried on the regular studies of the University of Minnesota. The milling enterprise inaugurated by his father early engaged his attention and commanded liis best efforts. For a time he was secretary and treasurer of the Hubbard Milling company and upon the death of his father he succeeded him as president of the Hubbard-Palmer Milling Company. This important and responsible po- sition he filled until 1906, when he was succeeded by George M. Palmer and since then he has given his efforts to other lines of application. He is now president of the Hubbard Company, a corporation to handle the R. D. Hubbard estate. For some years Mr. Hubbard has acted as president of the Heusner Baking Company of Chicago, he is also treasurer of the Hubbard & Palmer Company. The qualities of Mr. Hubbard are such that he is well adapted to the management of large enterprises and averse to being identified with trivial affairs. He has always entered into the management of large affairs with enthusiasm and earnestness, and has proved the possession of executive ability as well as energy and progressive spirit. The first marriage of Mr. Hubbard was sol- emnized in 1898 and united him with Mary BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 441 L. Oeborn of Mankato, who died in 1900. Two j-ears later he was united in marriage with Miss Minnie C. Sehoyen, and their union has been blessed with one son, Eenssclaer D. The politi- cal views of Mr. Hubbard bring him into sym- pathy with tlie Bepublican party. Ho^vever, his interest in politics is that of a public-spirited citizen onl}-, and otficc-seeking or leadership in local party matters have never been sought by him. HUBBAED, EENSSELABE DEAN.— There is no personality more interesting than that of the self-made business man. While it is evident to all that no man is entirely the arbiter of his own destiny, but to a large degree is the creature of heredity, environment and association, yet some there are with the will power to overcome adverse surroundings and carve out for them- selves positions of honor and influence in their community; such men may appropriately be de- nominated self-made. To this class belonged the late E. D. Hubbard, one of the most widely- known and influential men who ever selected Minnesota as the center of their commercial ac- tivities. It was his good fortune to be descended from colonial ancestry of the finest type, promi- nent in the early history of Xew England. On the other hand, the immed'ate family of which he was a member, while standing high in a farm- ing community, possessed limited means, and thus he was forced by dint of circumstances to do without an education, instead of which he left home at the age of fifteen to make his ovm. way in the world. From that time forward he de- pended upon his unaided exertions for whatever of success he achieved. The fact that he became wealthy and eminent proves that he possessed rare qualities of mind and stability of character. The life which this article depicts began in Maryland township, OtsegO' county, Xew York, December 14, 1837, in the farm home of Oliver R. and Lavinia (Chase) Hubbard, natives of Connecticut. The close of earth's activities came in Mankato, Minnesota, in 1905, in the midst of scenes far removed from those of boyhood and early youth. Between these two dates there was compressed volumes of personal history, from which we glean the most salient points. After having studied for a few years in district schools and for a few months in a select school, at the ago of fifteen years the youth began to earn his livelihood, his first work being with a sur\eying party engaged in locating the Albany & Susqhe- hanna Eailroad (now the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company). In the spring of 1854 he sought the far-distant shores of the Pacific coast, and soon secured work as a farm hand in the Sacramento valley. Out of his wages of $50 per 2iionth within two years he had saved $1,13G, all of which he sent home to his parents. After a venture at farming rendered vmsue- cessful by reason of a drought, in August of 1857 Mr. Hubbard went to the Humboldt river country and began to trade with the immigrants. In July of the next year he went to the Fraser river in British Columbia at the time of the ex- citement caused by the discovery of gold in that region. During the fall of 1859 he returned to the east and visited his old hoiue. March of 1860 found him again in Sacramento, where he secured a clerkship in a grocery at $50 per month and in four months was promoted to be head manager at a salary of $160 per month. In January of 1863 he went back to New York in- tending to enlist in the Union army, but was prostrated by a severe attack of pneumonia on the journey, and thus was rendered unfit for military duty. Settling at Sidney Plains, New York, he engaged in the raising of tobacco for two years. In the fall of 1866 he removed to Corey, Pennsylvania, and embarked in the gro- cery business, meeting with such success that his original capital of $2,000 in four years had en- abled him to clear $30,000. During 1870 he made another trip to California, with the in- tention of starting a bank, but he found condi- tions unfavorable, and returned to the east, after which he spent some time investigating various parts of the country in search of a suitable lo- cation. Chance directed j\lr. Hubbard to Mankato, with whose prospects he was so pleased that he settled permanently in this city. Building a warehouse, he engaged in the wheat business. With J. A. Willard and J. B. Hubbell, in ilarch of 1872 he organized the Mankato Linseed Oil Company, 442 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. of which for eleven years he was the manager. Meanwhile in 1879 he established the Mankato Milling Company, Avith himself as president. The plant was operated as E. D. Hubbard & Co., until 1894, when the name was changed to E. D. Hub- bard Milling Company, and in 1897 the title became the Hubbard Milling Company. The early type of the stone system was soon replaced by the roller process, and the capacity was grad- ually increased until twelve hundred barrels comprised the daily output. Over one and one- half million bushels of wheat pass through the mill every year. The business ability and sound judgment of the founder of the business contri- buted largely to its success and under his capable supervision the plant became one of the largest and most important in the southern part of the state. The management of the mill by no means rep- resented the limit of Mr. Hubbard's activities. JDuring 188? he associated himself with J. J. Thompson in the starting of a large live stock busi- ness in Custer county, Montana. About tiie same time, vrith Capt. T. P. Gere as a partner, he es- tablished extensive linseed oil works at Sioux Cit}', which in 1887 were purchased by the nation- al Linseed Oil trust or the Kational Linseed Oil Company of U. S. and he was made president, which position he held for two years. During 1892 he purchased the interest of S. H. Grannis in the firm of Grannis & Palmer and organized tlic Hubbard & Palmer Elevator Company. The concern in 1897 was again incorporated under the title of Hnbbard, Palmer & Co. and by suc- cessive purchases acquired the ownership of forty elevators lying on the line of the Chicago, St. Paul, irinneapolis & Omaha Eailroad. These are used chiefly for the storing of wheat pur- chased from neighboring farmers and shipped to the mill as needed. The first marriage of E. D. Hubbard took place April 9, 18G3, and united him with Mary E. Cook, daughter of Harvey W. Cook, of Otsego county, ISTcw York. At the death of the wife, which occurred April 21, 1877, there was left an only son, Jay, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. The second marriage of Mr. Hub- bard was solemnized October 7th, 1878, and united him with Miss Frank GrifEith, step- daughter of the late James Cannon. Mrs. Hub- bard survives her husband, as do also the two daughters, Katherine Dean, and Mary Esther, born of their union. Mary Esther — now married to Edward M. Eichter and resides in Mankato. HUBEIG, AUGUST H. — Although born across the water in a land familiar to his ances- tors through many generations, Mr. Hubrig has been a resident of Minnesota during almost the entire period of his life, and he belongs to that class of German-American citizens who have been so important a factor in the agricultural develop- ment of the northwest. Ever since attaining man's estate he has engaged in farming in Blue Earth county and now owns a farm of one hund- red and sixty acres on section fourteen. Pleasant Mound township. The land has the advantage of being high and easily drained, which renders jDOSsible the securing of fair crops even in wet seasons. A comfortable residence and substan- tial barns add to the value of the farm, while well-kept yards and a splendid orchard of apples, phmis and cherries bespeak the thrift and energy of the owner. Genealogical records show that father and son, bearing the name of Henry Hubrig, engaged in farming in Hamburg, Crosla, Germany. The son married Lena Smeagle, a native of Hamburg, where their child, August H., was born Septem- ber 8, 1864. About 1869 the family crossed the ocean to the United States and came direct to Minnesota, settling in Eapidan township. Blue Earth county, where the father continued to make his home until death. There were nine children in the family, of whom August was sixth in order of birth, and he was reared principally in Eapidan township, where he attended the com- mon schools. For a time he also was a pupil in the Mankato schools. Since .leaving school he has been a reader of current literature and has thus added to his stock of information. Habits of close observation also have been helpful to him in the acquisition of knowledge. Shortly after starting put to earn his own way in the world Mr. Hubrig established domestic ties, being married, in May of 1889, to Miss Ida Jobe, who was born in Pleasant Mound BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 443 township, being thp daughter of Ludwick Jobe, a resident of this township. Their union was blessed by the following named children : Ar- thur, Frieda, Bruo, Edwin, Edvild, Alvin, Her- bert and Lorina, to all of whom are being given the benefits of educational advantages in order that they may be qualified for positions of social and business responsibility in the world. HUBENER, EDWARD.— The Maple Grove stock farm ranks among the valuable estates ly- ing in the southern part of Blue Earth county and comprises four hundred and forty acres sit- uated on section fourteen, Danville township. The entire equipment of the place suggests the thrift and sagacity of the owner. The barn, resting on a broad stone foundation, is a model of stability and no finer building of the kind is to be found for miles in any direction. The other buildings are well adapted to their varied purposes and are provided with all the conven- iences suggested by the civilization of the twen- tieth century. The attractive effect produced by the substantial buildings and the grove of stately trees is further enhanced by the well-tilled fields of waving grain, the meadow with its heavy crops of hay, and the pastures with their herds and flocks of finely-bred animals. The owner of the farm, who is familiarly known as "Ed" Hubener, was born July 7, 1871, on the homestead where he still resides. His father, Martin, an Austrian by birth, parentage and education, came to America about 1850 and settled in Dodge county, "Wisconsin, where he soon gained a knowledge of agriculture as con- ducted in that region. Ten years were spent in that county, after which in 1860 he came to Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, where he homesteaded a claim on section four- teen, Danville township. Later he added to the oi'iginal tract as his means enabled him to ac- quire larger possessions. The balance of his life was spent on this place and here he died in 1887 at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Wilhelmina Egert, was born in Pommern, Germany, and died in i?lue Earth county in 1895 at the age of sixty- four years. Of the eleven children of Martin and Wilhel- mina Hubener, the youngest eon was Edward, who received a common-school education and early gained a thorough knowledge of every de- tail connected with agricultural pursuits. After the death of his father he became a partner in the homestead, the title to which he subsequently acquired by purchasing the interests of the otheT heirs. February 13, 1900, he was united in marriage with Hattie Coloff, who was born in Gej-many and thence was brought to America by her jjarents at the age of two years. For a time the family lived in Iowa, but later estab- lished their home in LeSueur county, Minnesota. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hubener are Ellis, Leonard and Lilly. Mrs. Hubener is a woman of exceptional ability and great industry. No department of the farm holds more interest for her than the raising of poultry, in which she is an expert. Several hundred hens are kept on the farm, a large number of these being the pure black Spanish fowl. The guinea fowls also are kept, as well as the peacocks, whose graceful beauty blends harmoniously with the background 01 gi'oves of stately trees. Percheron horses are a favorite with Mr. Hub- ener and he has five registered animals of this bleed on the farm, besides a registered stallion, Choppin, one of lams' "Peaches and Cream," and weighing two thousand and one hundred and ten pounds. This is said by competent judges to be one of the finest animals of the kind in the entire state. All of his young cat- tie are sired by thoroughbreds and in their ap- pearance give evidence of being unsurpassed in breed. On the farm there are two hundred' head of Shropshire sheep and at the head of his flock he has eight registered animals. In hogs he has only full-blooded Poland-Chinas and his drove each year brings in a substantial addition to the family income. The raising of stock possesses great interest for him, and with rare judgment he has limited his attention to the finest of blooded stock, keeping no other kind on the land. Energy and intelligence already have brought him gratifying success, with the promise of even gieater returns in the future, while at the same time integrity and self-reliance have brought him the esteem of associates. 444 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. HUFFMAN, JAMES W.— Very early in the colonization of America the Huffman family came from Holland and identified themselves v.ith the agricultural development of the east. Solomon Huffman was born in Pennsylvania and became a pioneer of Ohio, where his son, Leon- ard, was born and reared. The latter accom- panied an uncle to Wisconsin during the early settlement of that state and removed thence to Minnesota as early as 1856, becoming a pioneer of the then sparsely settled regions of the north- west. For a time he gave his attention largely to the preaching of the Gospel, for which pur- pose he traveled all through southern Minnesota. iJuring 1861 he pre-empted a claim in the town- ship of Winnebago, Faribault county, and began to cultivate the virgin soil. While the necessity of supporting his family exempted him from military service, he was stanch in his allegiance to the Union and freely offered his aid to his country. During February of 186.5 he was ac- cepted as a member of Company F, First Eegi- ment of Minnesota Heavy Artillery. Imme- diately he went to the front with the regiment and saw service at Chattanooga, where he died August 8, 1865. His widow continued on the old homestead until 1894, but now, at the age of seventy-five years, makes her home at Cum- berland, Wisconsin, in the enjo3'ment of unim- paired mental and physical faculties. The eld- est of her children, Electa, is deceased. Two married daughters reside in Cumberland, Wis- consin, these being Sarah, wife of Charles E. Lewis, and Amanda, wife of E. A. Hanscomb. The only son in the family, James W., was born in Green county, Wisconsin, October 13, 1851, and at the age of ten years accompanied his parents to Faribault gounty, Minnesota, v/here he remained until starting out for himself in 1878. Meantime he had received a common- school education and had been trained to a thorough knowledge of farm work. Since 1889 he has owned and occupied what was formerly known as the Frank Andrews place, comprising one hundred and twenty acres on section twenty- nine, Shelby township. The land is under cul- tivation and general farm crops are raised, while considerable attention is given to the raising of shoi'thorn cattle, Poland-China hogs and ISTor- man horses. The elevation of the land renders profitable cultivation a possibility and ensures to Ihe owner fair crops each year. The residence is a modern structure and the barns are sub- stantial and adapted to the shelter of stock and storage of grain. The comfortable home is hos- pitably presided over by Mrs. Huffman, who prior to her marriage April 3, 1880 was Albina Euss, a native of Athens county, Ohio, but after 1865 a resident of Blue Earth countv, havino- come hither with her father, Herbert Euss. The eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Huffman is Burt, who married Myra Jenkins and is engaged in farming land one mile west of the old home. The only daughter, Grace, is the wife of Frank Grant, and resides at Nashville, this state. Tht younger son, Leonard, is yet with his parents. In fraternal connections Mr. Huffman is asso- ciated with the- Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the local lodge of the latter order he has pass- ed all of the chairs. As a member of the school beard he has labored to promote the educational interests of the district and has accomplished nmch for the upbuilding of the local schools. HUGHES, THOMAS.— Without the aid of capital or the prestige of influential friends, Thomas Hughes has risen to a position of promi- nence among the attorneys of Blue Earth county, v,-herc he has an important and increasing prac- tice. Ever since his admission to the bar in 1882 he has been associated with the legal talent of Mankato and has held an honored place among the most able practitioners of the city. Elect- ed county attorney in 1896, he filled the office for four jears with the greatest efficiency. For fifteen yeai-s he acted as attorney for the Man- kato Mutual Building and Loan Association, and at this writing he is attorney for its successor, the Mankato Savings and Building Association. In addition he now holds the position of presi- dent of the Wisconsin and Minnesota Land Company, also for some years was a director of the Mankato board of trade. The Hughes genealogy is traced to Wales, wliere Henry and Eliza Hughes were born, the former June 4, 1833, and the latter in 1831. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 445 Early in life they came to the United States and for some time resided at Minersville, Ohio, where their son, Thomas, was born September 23, 1854. Desirous of securing a tract of new land in the northwest the family came to Jlinnesota and settled in Blue Earth county in October, 1855. June of the following year found them settled on a farm in Cambria township, and here Thomas inissed the years of childhood and youth, meanwhile learning to assist his fa- ther in the cultivation of the land. His tastes, however, did not turn toward farming and he determined to acquire an education with a view to professional work. After having completed (he studies of the common schools, in 1874, he entered the preparatory department of Carleton college at Xorthfield, Minnesota, from wliich in- stitution he was gTaduated in -the class of 1880 with the degree of bachelor of arts. Immediately afterward he took up the study of the law in the office of Waite &' Porter at ilankato, and in 1882 he was admitted to the bar of Minne- sota. From February, 1884, he was a partner of M. G. Willard until July, 1887, after which lie practiced by hiinself for ten years, and in 1897 formed a partnership with his brother Evan, which has continued to the present time. A portion of his capital he has invited in ex- tensive real estate holdings in the state, and in other ways he has identified himself with the progress of the commonwealth. The political opinions of Mr. Hughes bring him into active co-operation, witli the Repul)]i- can party. In religion he belongs w\W\ tlie Congregationalists, in whose Sunday school he has been superintendent, while he lias filled the offices of trustee and deacon in the church. Fe\v men in the county are more deeply inter- ested in history than he and probably none is iiiore thoroughly familiar flith the subject. Fre- quently he has prepared addresses of great value for the State Historical Society and the Blue Earth Territorial Association, and in addition ho is the author of most of the English part of the work entitled "History of the Welsh in Minnesota, which was published in 1895, to him also belongs the main credit of editing and publishing the volume entitled the "Semi-Cen- tennial of Mankato" to the pages of which he contributed largely. His marriage took place November 25, 1885, and united him with Alice 0. Hills, who was born on the island of Jamaica, July 2, 18p6, being a daughter of Amos B. and Sybil (Rawson) Hills, both of whom were born near Pekin, Xew York. Two sons, Burton E. and Evan Raymond, bless the union of j\lr. and ilrs. Hughes, and both of these were born ac Mankato, wliere they ha\'e received the best educational advantasi-es the city affords. HUGHES, REV. ROBERT.— Father Hughes, pastor of St. John's Catholic Church, Mankato, needs introduction to but few residents of this city or of Blue Earth County, as for nearly a quarter of a century his large mind and heart hnve so gone out to the various communities to which" his church has assigned him, that thous- ands of admirers and friends, irrespective of creed, have gone to the Beyond with blessings for him on their lips, or are still living to do him honor. Generous, charitable, yet firm in his stand on moral questions, he is richly en- dowed for his high calling, for which he has the enthusiasm of the true Christian. Robert Hughes was born in Prince Edward Island ]\Iarcb 4, 1853, the son of Patrick and Bridget (^Mnonoy) Hughes, natives of Ireland who when young came to that section of Canada with their parents. James Hughes, the paternal grandfather, spent the greater portion of his life in Prince P^dward Island, and Robert Mooney, the grandfatliei- on the mother's side, was a rep- resentative in Parliament l)efore the ConfcdtTa- tic'n. Patrick Hughes was a farmer ami died in tliat portion of the Dominion with which the family had so long been identified, at the age of fifty-.six, while his wife (the mother of Father Hughes) ])asse(l her last days with her son Rob- ert, at Blue Earth City, wliere she died at sixty- seven vears of age. The living members of the family born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Hughes are as follows : Margaret, wife of John Byrne, of Prince Edward Island; Robert; Helen, a phy- sician of Mankato; Daniel, for the past eight years a pastor in the Catholic diocese, who re- ceived his clerical degrees at Rome, and now fills the chair of Dogma in the St. Paul (Minn.) 446 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. Seminary; Patrick, in business at Crookston, Minnesota; Jane, also in. medical practice at Mankato; Mother Superior St. Eosa, of Lima. The deceased are: Mary Ann, formerly wife of Peter McKenna; James, of Waseca, Minnesota, and Phillip, who was a railroa'd man. Father Plughes' education was obtained entirely in the Dominion — at St. Dunstan's College, Prince Edward Island, St. Laurant College, Mon- treal (where he remained two years) and Labal University, Quebec (three years). In 1882 he fii'st came to Minnesota and taught for a time in the public schools at Graceville, in September, 1884, he went to St. Bonavcnture Seminary, Xew York State, and when the Seminary was opened at St. Paul he entered there where he was or- dained by Archbishop Ireland in 188.5, being one of five who made up the first class to be ordained from St. Paul Seminary. He was first sent to care for the Indian children located at Clontarf, Swift county, Minnesota; and was afterward as- signed to St. Mary, Waseca county, that state, continuing in that pastorate for three years; then to the city of Blue Earth, having also charge of the various parishes in JIartin and Faribault counties, in which busy and expanding field of church labors he remained for a period of twelve years, coming to his charge in Mankato in 1901. Since that year he has been the honored pastor of St. John's Catholic Church, and under the stimulus of his personal character and his wise administration of the affairs entrusted to him its membership has been greatly increased and its influence for good continually promoted. That his services were highly valued l)y his superiors is evidenced as in the summer and fall of 1906 he was given leave of absence for four months, and spent the period in European travel, visiting the principal points of interest in Italy, Austria, Germany, France, England, Scotland and Ire- land. HUGHES, WILLIAM S.— About one year after his arrival in the United States from his native country of Wales Mr. Hughes became identified with the early settlers of Minnesota. It was then in April of 1865, and the north- west had begun to attract large numbers of homeseekers, who discerned in its vast nn- tilled prairies a future of agricultural pros- perity. Seeking a location in Blue Earth county the young Welshman selected a claim in But- ternut valley township and this he immediately pre-empted. Ever since then he has continued to live upon the^ same place. The land lies on section four and affords abundant illustration of the industrious energy of the owner, who has transformed the barren waste into a profit- able tract bearing all the improvements of a model farm. In .the county of Anglesea, on the northwest coast of Wales, William S. Hughes, was born February 7, 1841. His parents, Owen and Winifred (Salisbury) Hughes, w^ere lifelong residents and farmers in Anglesea, Wales, where the latter died in 1885 and the former in February of 1893. The schools of Wales af- forded the son fair educational advantages, which afterward he utilized by teaching school. When not in the school room he assisted his fa- ther on the home farm and later was employed for one year in a wine house in Liverpool. Hearing much concerning the possibilities afEord- cd by America to young men of energy and am- bition he decided to seek .a home across the ocean and in 1864 left the associations of boy- hood to form new ties in the new world. June cf that year found him a stranger in N"ew York. From there he proceeded to Utica and secured emploj'ment. During April of 1865, he left Xew York state and came to ^Minnesota, where since he has engaged in the development of his farm in Blue Earth county. Here, as in his old home locality, he has been interested in the education of the young. An experience of five years as a pupil teacher in Wales gave him a knowledge of the needs of the schools and a desire to promote educational work. Shortly after coming to Blue' Earth county he was chosen director of his district and for about forty years he has filled his responsible position. Politically a believer in Eepublican princi- }iles, Mr. Hughes always gives his support to tlie candidates of that party and has maintained a warm interest in local polities. For twenty- one years he held office as clerk of his town and fcr three Years he rendered efEicient service BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 447 a> member of the board of county commissioners. Movements for the benefit of the county receive his assistance yet, at the same time he has guarded the interests of the tax-payers and lias withheld his support from viriionary projects of questionable success. Besides filling the various positions hitherto mentioned and besides maintaining the active supervision of his farm, since 1897 he has filled the office of manager of the Lakeshore creamery in which company he has the office of the secretary. He has devoted considerable time and study to dairy matters and is an authority concerning the same, as well as concerning methods of securing the best results from creameries. He was also one of those instrumental in organizing the Lake Crystal Farmers Insurance Company, which has saved its policy holders liundreds of dollars. Ihe marriage of William S. Hughes took place July 23, 1867, and united him with Catherine Williams, a native of Waukesha county, Wiscon- sin. They became the parents of the following named children : Richard ; Mary, who married Ernest Hughes and lives in Cambria township ; Eobert, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits m this county; Kate, Mrs. Edward Owen of Selby, California; Maggie, who is married to Gomer Jones a farmer of Butternut Valley Township, Blue Earth county, Nellie, wife of I.. T. Lewis, a farmer of Judson, this county •, William, who is married to Myrtle Nelson of Lincoln township, this county, and now lives on a farm he purchased in Butternut Valley; Winnie, who married Griffith Eoberts, a farmer of this county; Jane, Susie, Hugh and Cesiah, who are yet at the old homestead. The family hold membership with the Calvinistic denomi- nation, in which faith Mr. Hughes was reared in his native land. HUNT, FEANK W.— Few business institu- tions in Mankato, in Blue Earth County, or even m Minnesota, can show such rapid advancement as that of the Free Press Printing Company, publishers of the Daily and Weekly Free Press and manufacturing printers, of which Mr. Hunt i? and has been for seven years past, its presi- dent. The Free Press company now has one of the largest printing plants in the state, owning also its hajidsome four story building, built of brown stone and brick, finished in choicest oak, and handsomely carved. The olTice is located at 121-123-12.5 Jackson street, near the post office and is easily accessible from any part of the city. The business of The Free Press extends well over the great states of ^Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and Montana, and in addition to publishing the leading Daily and Weekly papers of southern ilinnesota, the com- pany has a large clientage among the banks and county officers, handling office supplies of all kinds. ilr. Hunt's early education was somewhat re- tarded owing to an affection of the eyesight. However, his natural keen perception and busi- nes.s instincts were put to practical use and he has been very successful. The subject of this sketch was born Septem- ber 24, 18.54, in Edwards, New York, and is the son of Nathan F. and Caroline (Gates) Hunt. He was married in 1877 to Nellie L. Morse and there were born to this union, three daughters, viz: Bertha, Marion and Beulah. Miss Marion is now in Hamline University and the other two' are at home. Mr. Hunt attended the public school at Watertown, N. Y. His first business venture was the importation of horses from Cana- da, in which he was successful. Desiring to ccme west, he moved to IMankato with his fam- ily in 1887 and at once engaged \\'ith The Free Press in the capacity of assistant manager, di- viding his time between office and road work. The business of The Free Press was then in its infancy and less than half a dozen people con- stituted the office force. In 1SS7 The Daily Free Press was established and he assisted materially in putting it on its feet. Shortly after his ar- rival in jMankato he purchased the Mankato Ee- gister of W. E. Geddes and this paper was later consolidated with The Free Press, Mr. Hunt tak- ing an interest in this company which v.as that year capitalized at $15,000. In March, 1902, Mr. Hunt in company with Michael D. Fritz and J. W. True, purchased the entire Free Press printing plant and in 1908 also bought the handsome Free Press building. Fraternally Mr. Hunt is a member of the 448 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. Knights of Pythias lodge, ilodern Woodmen of America, the Mankato Commercial Club, and is also a director of the Citizens Fire Association. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a liberal contributor. Mrs. Hunt was born at Wilna, Jefferson coun- ty, Sew York, and was educated in the B. E. C. seminary at Antwerp, that state. She has been connected witli the Foreign Missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1900 as district corresponding secretary, and since girl- hood has been active in the work. IBACH, JOSEPH.— This retired brewer and substantial citizen of ^Mankato is a native of Baden, German)', born February 17, 1832, the son of Joseph and Celestia (Spier) Ibach, also born in the Fatherland. The father died before he had reached middle age, leaving different members of the family to make their way in the world according to their abilities and fore- sight. The mother afterward came to the United States, and of her two sons one was drowned. Under such circumstances it is but natural that Joseph's education should have been limited, and that he should have commenced to earn his own living at quite an early age. In 1853, when he had just passed his majority, he came to the United States, and, in company with several companions, reached Dubuque and Davenport, Iowa, in search for some permanent means of livelihood. At the latter place the friends en- tered into a debate whether they should journey north or south, the majority deciding in favor of a northward course. They therefore started up the Mississippi Eiver for St. Paul, and while en route the captain of the boat offered Mr. Ibach a pos'ition as fireman at fifty dollars per month. This offer was eagerly seized and re- sulted in extending his career as a boatman on the river and the Great Lakes over a period of five years. Mr. Ibach settled down as a landsman in 1858, when he located at Preston, Minnesota, and there engaged in the brewing business until 1874, when he disposed of his plant and removed to Mankato. He then purchased the brewery of the late Stephen Lamm, and, after operating it for a year, sold out and rented the Pete Welsh establishment, which he conducted fo three years. In 1878, Mr. Ibach established i brewery near what is known as Tinkcom's Addi tiom and operated it profitably until it wa; destroyed by fire in 1887. The plant was no rebuilt, bn.t since that time he has been engagec in taking care of his property and enjoying th< comforts of a business man, who by many yean of arduous labor has earned a period of resi in the declining years of his life. Mr. Ibach was married September 4, 1860, tc Miss Margaret Kreamer, daughter of Jacob anc Barbara Kreamer, of Stratford, Ontario, Canada and by this union has had the following children Louisa, wife of Anton Oberly, of Decoria Town- ship, Blue Earth County; Savina, now Mrs Thomas Lewis, a resident of Judson Township this county; Aiitilla, Mrs. Walter Anderson, ol Mankato; Herman, living in Washington, Dist rict of Columbia; Andrew, of Chicago; anc Eudolph and Arthur, both residents of Man- kato. Mr. Ibach is one of the stanch est anc oldest Democrats in thi'^ section of the county, casting his first presidential vote for Pierce ii 1852; in local affairs, however, he considers th( personal qualifications of the candidate rathei than party afl'iliations. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the I. 0. 0. F. JAMES, DE. JOHN" H.^Some of the earliesl members of the James family have been traced to Westerly, Ehodc Island, whence they emi- grated to Washington County, ISFew Yprk, Among the early annals there is the record thai early county records vrere lost at Hell Gate Xew York harbor, but the definite and contin- uous history of the American branch commeAcei in the Empire State, Washington County, towi of Greenwich, was the birthplace of Dr. Johi I-I. James, of Mankato, a noteworthy membei of the family, who has a high reputation as ai e.vpert in mental diseases and a specialist in th( treatment of disorders of the eye, ear and nose Dr. James was born on the 28th of Febru ary, 18"46, the son of Joseph and Eoxanna C (Brownell) James, who were also natives o Few York, and representatives of the most sub BIOCtEAPHICAL histoey. 449 stantial agi'icultural element in the state. The boy received a common school and academic education, liberally interspersed with farm work, and when somewhat advanced in young manhood entered the medical department of the University of New York City, from which he graduated in 1875. After leaving the university he served for fifteen months in the Insane Asy- lum of Blackwell's Island, and in the fall of 1876 came West to continue that line of prac- tice and investigation. Locating at St. Peter, at tlie time mentioned, Dr. James became assistant physician at the Hospital for the Insane, and after holding that position for fifteen years came to Mankato in 1891, having resigned for that purpose in Sep- tember. Since that date he has continued in that city, engaged in a successful practice, now hmited to diseases of the eye, ear and nose. He is also well knovm in connection with the work of the professional organizations, being a memr ber of the American Medical Association, Min- nesota State Medical Association, Mississippi Valley Medical Association and the Blue Earth County Medical Society, the American Academy of Ophtholmology and Oto-Lar3'ngology, as well as an honorary haember of the Brown County and Southwestern Medical societies. The Doctor belongs to the A. P. & A. M., of St. Peter, and to the Commercial and Social Science clubs of Mankato, and for six years was president of the Mankato Citizens' Telephone Company. Dr. James was married in 1878 to Miss Hattie M. White, daughter of Samuel Ts^. Wliite, of West Brookfield, Massachusetts, who died Janu- aiT 11, 1893, at the age of fifty years. Their son, Dr. Ealph C. James, is a graduate in medi- cine of the University of Minnesota, and is iden- tified with Eood Hospital, Hibbing, Minnesota. The Wlnte family, of which Mrs. James was a rrpresehfative is directly descended from Peri- grin White, the first white child born in New England, and several of its members of the seventh generation are still living on a -farm near West Brookfield. The Doctor's second marriage September 18, 1895, was to Florence W. White, a sister of his first wife who for several years had been a teacher in the schools of Japan and Mexico, as 29 well as at Mills College, California, principal of the Ladies' Seminary at Pittsfield, Massa- chusetts, and at the Downer ' College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During the time of the Chicago fire Mrs. James was teaching in a young ladies seminary of that city, and was also connected with Mrs. Kirland's school at St. Louis, and with the English course of the Mankato Busi- ness College. She is altogether an educator of long and varied experience, an iateresting con- versationalist and a lady of many attractive ffraces and true refinement. JESSUP. CHAELES W.— Mr. Jessup, pro- piietor of the well known express, transfer and siorage office, at Mankato, this county, is an Iowa man and has been successfully engaged in various lines of business here since 1890. Born July 32, 18G8, he is a son of John J. and Leo- nora (Sprang) Jessup, his parents being natives of Indiana and pioneers of Iowa. His father first engaged in farming, but the later years of h.is life have been devoted to the freight and livery business and hauling mail from Port Dodge to Ogden and from Dayton to Levy, Iowa. They are both living, as well as their following children : William E., a mason by trade and a resident of Mankato; Edward B., who lives at Webster City, Iowa, Allie, now the vidfe of A. T. Chiquette, of Port Dodge, Iowa; and Charles W. Charles W. Jessup attended the district schools of his native neighborhood and remained on the home farm until the removal of t"he family to Dayton, Iowa, after which for sixteen years he assisted his father in his stage and freighting business. Then, for two years, he con- ducted a livery at Pringar, that State, and in 1890 located in Mankato, being engaged during the first nine years of his residence here as an excavating contractor for the city. In 1900 he opened his present office at No. 113 West Hickory street, and his business ability, courtesy and accommodating nature, have made of the undertaking a decided success. IMr. Jessup's personal popularity is both in- dicated and extended by his wide identification with the fraternities, as he is a member of the 450 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. ]\Iodem Woodmen of America (trustee for three vears), Ancient Order of United Workmen and lied Men. He was married July 14, 1890, to Miss Anna Chrisman, of Sanborn, Iowa, who v.-ere the parents of three children, Mable, who died in infancy; Floyd J., and Floyd, twins, born June 28th, 1905, the latter died in infancy and Floyd J., is attending school at Mankato. JONES, CHARLES B.— As indicated by their name, the Jones family is of Welsh extraction. The first representative of this branch of the family in America was Thomas, a native of Wales, who grew to manhood in that country, married there, and in 1838 crossed the ocean to the United States, settling in Lewis county, Kew York, and there spending the remaining years of his life. Next in line of descent was William H., bom in Wales, but after 1838 a resident of the new world, first making his home in Lewis county, New York, where his son, Charles E., was born January 27, 1851. The family removed westward during 1854 and iden- tified themselves with the pioneers of Wisconsin, where the father engaged in farm pursuits in Fond du Lac county, and also to some extent followed the mason's trade. Coming to Min- nesota in 1869, he made a sojourn of one year in Mankato, at the expiration of which time he re- moved to Medo township and purchased a farm of two hundred acres. During the remainder of his active life he engaged in agricultural pur- suit?, but in 1898 he retired from his responsi- bilities, removed to Portland, Oregon, and died in that city the following year. Of his nine chil- dren three sons. Thomas, Lewis and Owen, re- side in Portland, two of them having gone to Oregon twenty years ago. Owen, who removed to that state at the age of seventeen years, is engaged in the bridge construction business and has been particularly successful. The eldest member of the family circle, Charles E., spent his life from the age of three years to eighteen, in Wisconsin, where he at- tended the country schools and aided in the work on the home place. October 18, 1874, he was united in marriage with Rose Guthier, a native of Wisconsin, her father, Philip Guthiei having been a pioneer of that state. The child ren of ilr. and Mrs. Jones are as follows : Georg who is engaged in farming in Faribault county Albert, residing at Webster, South Dakota Charles, E., Bessie and Arthur, who are yet a home. At the time of his marriage Mr. Jone embarked in farming independently and for tw( 3ears remained in Blue Earth county, afte: which he spent three years in Faribault county Returning to Blue Earth county, in 1885 hi bought a farm owned by Fairfield Smith in Ma pleton township, where he has since conductee general agricultural pursuits and has met witl encouraging success in his work. While not neglecting the management o: his land, Mr. Jones has found leisure for par ticipation in public affairs and is known as i jirogressive, patriotic citizen, ever interested ii movements for the material upbuilding of town ship and county. In recognition of his fitnesi for office he has been chosen to occupy most o: the positions within the gift of the people o; his township. For four years he was a membe: of the county board of supervisors and for elevei years filled the office of township assessor. Pair field Smith, his predecessor on the present farm had served as a member of the school boarc for twenty-three years, and when Mr. Jonei moved to the farm he was chosen school clerk which position he has since filled, a period o; twenty-two years. During 1904 he was electee county commissioner for a term of four years to represent the townships of Lyra, Beauford Medo, Sterling, Mapleton and Danville. In thi position, as in all others to which he has bee] elected, he has been guided by principles o honor and probity, and his labors have beeJ eifective in promoting the public welfare. Fra ternally he has membership with the Ancien Order of United Workmen and the blu' lodge of Masons in his home town. Known as i capable agriculturist, a citizen of the utmos loyalty, a defender of the public school syster and a champion of all movements for th mutual good, he represents that class of our rui al population so vitally indispensable in the mora upbuilding and permanent prosperity of ou commonwealth. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 40 1 JONES, EDWAED E.— The year made mem- orable in the history of our country by the rush of gold-seelvcrs for the mines of California wit- nessed the arrival in America of the family rep- resented by this now retired farmer of Lake Crystal. It was not, iTowevpr, with any intention of seeking wcptern mines that they had crossed the ocean. Their ambitions were cast toward the ownership of a little home of their own and the peaceful tilling of the soil. To a marked degree they possessed the sturdy characteristics of their fellow countrymen. Tlie parents, John and Elizabeth (Eeese) Jones, were natives of the south of Wales, and were people of little means, but great worth of character and the ut- most probity. For a brief period they lived in Ohio, but in search of cheap lands they re- moved to Wisconsin, and there the father died on his farm in 1866. Somewhat later other m.embers of the family came to Minnesota, where in 1876 occurred the death of the mother. At the time of the emigration of the family to America Edward E. Jones was a child of less than seven years. He was born at Cardigan, Wales, December 29, 1843, and received such ad- vantages as' the limited means of the family rendered possible. When the Civil war opened he was a rugged youth, physically qualified for acceptable service, and stanchly devoted to the cause of the Union. January 20, 1863, he enlisted as a member of Company C, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, -n-ith which he was drilled into the details of military tactics. At the ex- piration of his term ho veteranized and in April of 1864 re-enlisted in the same regiment, with ■R'iiich his period of service covered three years and nine months. During that time he was mostly in the southwest. Among the engage- ments in which he participated were those at Honey Springs, Indian Territory, and Baxter Springs, Kansas. In addition he took part in the Price campaign in Missouri. His record as a soldier was one of which he may well be proud. The political views held by Mr. .Tones early I led him into sympathy with the Eepublican party, whose principles he has always supported by his ballot. In religion he and his family are earnest members of the Methodist Episco- pal church, to which he has contributed of his time and influence and means. For a long per- iod he has been identiiied with the Masonic Or- der and has supported its principles of brother- hood and philanthropy. When he came to Bliie Earth county he was unmarried and it was not until some years afterward that he established domestic ties through his union with Mary Ann Thomas, whom he married September 10, 1873. Two daughters were born of their union, but both have been taken by death. After years of laborious effort as a farmer Mr. Jones retired from active cares and removed to Lake Crys- tal, where in the afternoon of his busy life he enjoys a leisure and comfort justly earned by judicious toil. JULIAIv'. EICHAED J.— Since he came here with his parents in 1880, Garden City township has profited by the earnest and painstaking agri- cultural efforts of Eichard J. Julian, the owner of a iine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of fine land in section thirty. The change in this part of the state during this twenty-eight years has not been more pronounced than has the development of this popular farmer from a >outh of fifteen to a man of broad and compre- hensive views of life, and the ability and deter- mination to make his dreams come true. "Mr. Julian represents the best qualities of the transplanted Englishman, and the first fif- teen years of his life were spent in Cornwall, England, where he was born September 18, 1865. His father. Fred Julian, also was born in Eng- land, a': was his mother, IMary (Stafford) Julian, and the former was by profession a forester, having a thorough knowledge and long experience ir this interesting occupation. With his wife and four sons, Eichard J.. George S., Fred and William, he came to America in 1880 and in Blue Earth county rented a farm for the balance of his active life. He thereafter lived with his children until his death at the age of sixty-five years. He was a life long Eepublican, but never would accept office. Eichard J. Julian was educated in the dis- trict schools of Garden City township, and in 1893, invested his earnings in the farm he now 452 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. owns, upon flhich he has made practically all of the improvements. He has a pleasant and com- modious rural residence, fine barns and machin- ery, and is devoting his property to general farm- ing and stock-raising. In his effort to acquire a fortune in a practical manner he is ably assisted by his wife, formerly Grace Green- wood, who was born in this township Sep- tember 1, 1866, a daughter of J. H. Greenwood, one of the earliest pioneers of Garden City town- ship. To Mr. and Jlrs. Julian have been born a daughter. Myrtle. In political affiliation Mr. Julian is a Pro- hibitionist, and he is a member of the E. P. U, and M. \Y. A., also of the Presbyterian church. He is a wide-awake and progressive man, sen- sible of the many advantages of his time honored calling, and investing it with the thoroughness and' dignity which bespeaks merited and practi- cal! v invariable success. JULIAE, HON". NICHOLAS.— None of the human agencies which have paved the way for the present prosperity of Blue Earth county have risen superior in Judgment and attainment to those of our citizens who claim Teutonic line- age. The thriftv, economical and perservering qualities instilled into the youth of the Father- land lost little when transferred to this side of the water, and their alliance without less con- servative and more venturesome business methods produce naught save the most practical and sub- stantial of results. Many individual instances abound in this part of the state which attest the fact that the well born and representative Ger- man rarely is the victim of unauthorized ag- grandizement, but on the contrary moves with certainty of direction and definiteness of pur- pose that the speculative or uncertain element is almost entirely eliminated from his transactions. Offered in confirmation of this assumption is the career of Hon. Nicholas Juliar, pr&sident of the St. riair State Bank, director in the Farmers' Eire Insurance Company, treasurer of the Union Minnesota Hail Insurance Company, holder of practically all of the offices within the gift of his fellow townsmen, and the owner, besides his splendidly appointed town home, of twenty-one hundred acres of land in Blue Earth county. Mr. Juliar is the son of a weaver, Nicholas Jul- iar, and he was two and a half years old when brought to this country from Alsace-Strasburg, Germany, where he was born December 28, 1841. His mother was Magdalen (Eidling), and siie had, besides Nicholas Jr., ten other children, one daughter, the mother of Eingling Brothers, the world's greatest shovrmen, and one daughter the mother of Gollmar Brothers show. The fam- ily set sail from Havery in the spring of 1845, arriving at Castle Garden, New York, after seven weeks of buffeting with storm and calm. In the vicinity of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the father bought a farm, and 15 years later moved to Bar- aboo, the same state, where he died in 1880, his wife surviving him until 1889. Nicholas Jr., was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee county and when old enough learned the harness trade which he followed in Milwaukee for seven years. He then returned to the old homestead nine miles out in the country, and four years later sold out his interest and moved to Blue Earth county, where he purchased a section of land. He was suc- cessful in general farming and stock-raising, con- ducted both on a gigantic scale, and, adding to his possessions as his business grew, owned in time his present tract of twenty-one hundred acres. His land is among the best in this northern section, and is admirably adapted to the various products known to flourish with extremes of weather. As a natural consequence he established a reputa- tion for important undertakings, his word was recognized as better than his bond, and his ad- vice and council in all that pertains to the landsman's occupation was eagerly sought and as implicitly followed. As banking is the outgrowth of the need of its facilities, and as the property and income of Mr. Juliar transcended in immediate needs, his posi- tion as head of that eminently popular and reli- able banking institution, the St. Clair Stete Bank, seems natural and fitting one. His connection with the insurance companies has added to their strength and standing in the community, and various other concerns have learned the worth of his good name and reputation for worth while accomplishment. He is one of those invaluable BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 453 men who recognize a personal obligation in local undertakings generally, and who willingly sacri- fices business chances to further the well being ot the community. Though in no way desirous of honor, he served in the state legislature on two occasions, in 189o and 1905, in both instances evidencing his keen insight into the political situation, and his knowledge of the needs and possibilities of his townsmen. He is an ardent Eepublican, a conscientious voter, but withal, suf- ficiently liberal and far sighted to follow the dictates of conscience rather than the arbitrary dictates of any particular party. The union of Mr. Juliar and Catherin Stuve, a native of Wisconsin, occurred in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Juliar have had ten children, nine of whom are living, six sons and three daughters, and they have thirty-tflo grand-children. Of their children, Albert and George are farmers in Blue Earth county; Richard is following the medical .profession in ^lountain Lake, this state; Otto and Harry are farmers in this county; Silas is connected with the State Bank of Mankato; Mary is the wife of H. Hubiner, a farmer of this county; Emma is the wife of E. Haedt, also of Blue Earth county; and Sarah is now Mrs. E. G. Goldman, of St. Clair. In addition to all of his other lines of business, Mr. Juliar for twenty- eight years was a public auctioneer. In religion he is a member of the Evangelical Association. Personally I'.e is a man of many fine qualities, one whom it is a pleasure to meet, either in a social or business way. He has the great gift of approachableness, and the kind of tact and consideration which makes everyone at home in his environment. JUST, \V. A.— A spirit of loyalty and devo- tion to the W'Clfare of his native township of Eapidan is noticeable among the characteristics of Mr. Just, who is one of the leading business men of the village of Eapidan and numbers a host of warm personal friends among the people of Blue Earth county. In his Judgment there is no finer land in the entire county than the country boasts which lies around his home town, and he is an enthusiastic believer in the agricul- tural possibilities of the locality, aSirming that prosperity is sure to come to the land-owners who retain their properties in tuis fertile auU proaactive region. His earliest- recollections ait associated witli Eapidan township, \\liere lie was born i^^ovember ^9, 1871, and wiiere he has risen to a prominent position in business circled. The possibilities of America have attracted countless thousands to its hospitable shores and among the many who came hither in an early day were William T. and Dorothea (Mann) Just. After landing in the United States they proceeded westward to Wisconsin and took up land in Dodge county, where they remained until 18G4. During the latter year they came to Minnesota and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land in Eapidan township adjoining what is now the station of Eapidan. Eor years William T. Just industriously engaged in farming on this place, but in 1902, he relin- quished agricultural activities and since then has lived retired in Mankato, where now he enjoys the comforts rendered possible by years of in- telligent industry. In his family there are the following named children: W. A., of Eapidan; Lydia, who makes her home in Winnipeg, Can- ada; Theo; Oscar, now a resident of Dickinson, North Dakota; Walter, who is employed in a bank at Frazee, Minnesota; Karl, who is con- nected with a land office at Winnipeg, Canada; Emmandus, who is employed in a newspaper office at Winnipeg; Mrs. Louise Tank, who mar- ried a minister; and Irene, who remains with her parents. After having completed the studies of the common schools of Eapidan township, W. A. Just was sent to a Lutheran school in St. Paul and there he completed the study of the common branches. On his return to the old homestead he aided his father for a time and later carried on a general store at Lake Crystal for two years. Eeturning to the village of Eapidan, he opened a general store and for twelve years conducted a growing business among the people of the sur- rounding country. At the expiration of twelve years he sold the business and since then he has devoted his attention to the lumber .trade, having built an dffiee with ample yard facilities and the equipment necessary for successful work in the occupation. Since coming to Eapidan he has 454 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. built a comfortable residence and lias been a factor in the life of the village, where he has been a leading worker in the Democratic party and the Lutheran church, also has maintained a warm interest in school aifairs and has held school oflEiceSj beside serving as justice of the peace for five years. Pour children. Alberta, Dorothea, Frederick, and Louise comprise the family of Mr. Just. His wife, who shares with him the respect of ac- quaintances, was formerly Sarah E. Gregg, and they were united 'in marriage in January of 1893. Prior to marriage she had lived on a farm in Eapidan township, where her parents, L. H. and Alice (Hobart) Gregg, pioneers of this county from Pennsylvania, had made settlement in an early day. Mr. Gregg is still alive but now resides in Spokane, Wash. Mrs. L. H. Gregg died in Eapidan in the year 1906, Jan- uary 17. TvAUFFMANlSr, LOUIS P.— While travel has given him a thorough knowledge of the soil of various sections of the country, Mr. Kauff- mann considers that his native country is second to none and believes that energy wisely conserved and industry intelligently conducted will bring as fair returns here as in other regions more widely advertised but not more abundantly blessed by nature. The homestead where he now resides and which he purchased in 1895 coii.- prises one hundred and sixty acres lying on sec- tion eleven, Danville township, Blue Earth county and in addition to the management of this pro- perty he leases considerable land in the same locality, so that the supervision of his large interests fills his days with busy activity. In return for his careful oversight and wise judg- ment he receives an excellent income from his land. A portion of the crops raised each j'ear is sold in the general markets, while the balance is utilized for feed for the droves of fine Poland- China hogs, the herds of Durham cattle of good grades, and the various horses needed in the work of the farm, these latter being of the Nor- man and Clyde breeds. As early as 1856 the KaufEmann family be- came established in the then frontier region of Blue Earth county, accompanying the original colony from the east. Prank Joseph Kauflmann, who was the founder of the family in America and in this county, was born in Alsace, then a part of Prance, and married Catherine Hickle, a native of the same province. On coming to tlie United States he settled in the state of New York, whence as previously stated he came with the original colony to Minnesota in 1856, settl- ing in Blue Earth county and taking up a claim in Danville township. Many busy and prosper- ous years were passed on this farm, whose trans- formation he made possible from a bare stretch of unimproved land into a fertile tract unexcelled for productiveness. At the age of sixty years he was accidentally killed while driving his team in Mankato. Of his ten children the only ones remaining in Blue Earth County are L. P. and Anna, now Mrs. George Kiife, the latter liv- ing at Mankato. Three other sons live not far away, their homes being across the line in Fari- bault county at Minnesota Lake. On the farm in Danville township where he was born August 12, 1866, L. P. KaufEmann passed the uneventful years of boyhood and youth. The neighboring schools afEorded him fair opportunities to acquire a common school education, and since leaving school he has been a close reader of current periodicals as well as a man possessing habits of careful observation, in which way he has gained a broad fund of valu- able information. After having completed his studies in the schools of Minnesota Lake, he spent some time in Mankato and other places, and learned much of value concerning other soils and climates, but returned in 1895 to the old homestead, content to devote the balance of his life to the cultivation of its soil. In all of his efforts he has had the advantage of the wise counsel and efficient co-operation of his wife, formerly Lena Schaub whom he married in Sep- tember of 1897, who used to be a successful school teacher and is a sister to Arthur Schaub of Man- kato, The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Kauff- mann are named Arthur L., Leona, Florence, Edgar A., and Anna to whom will be given the best educational advantages the district and county afford, for the parents are stanch believers in the benefits derived from a thorough educa- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 455 tion. In the public affairs of the locality, Mr. Kauft'mann has long been interested but not promi- nent until his election as a member of the boaru of town supervisors, when at once he became recognized among the other members of the board as a man of sterling common sense and acute discrimination, and he was honored with election as chairnum of the board, in which re- sponsible position he has proved to be impartial, far-seeing, wise and progressive. KEENE, MADISOI!^.— During the period of more than fifty years covering the duration of Mr. Keene's residence in Minnesota he has been identified with the agricultural development of the state and by his pioneer work has aided in fcteuring the gratifying conditions of the present era. It was during 1855 that he came to ilinnesota, from the east and settled in Nicollet county, where he took up a tract of raw land. A record of hardships endured, vicissitudes en- countered and obstacles overcome would not dif- fer in his case from those of other pioneers of tbe northwest. With a stout heart that defied the storms of winter and the incessant toil of summer, he bravely discharged every duty and overcome the obstacles confronting him. From Nicollet county he came to Blue Earth county and now is living in Mankato, retired from life's strenuous activities, yet interested in every enter- prise that tends to the betterment of the com- munity and the development of the county's resources. Very early in the history of New England the Keene family crossed the ocean from England and settled in Maine. There was passed the busy life of Isaac Keene, a Eevolutionary soldier, who lived to be ninety-six years of age. Among the children of this hero was Jeremiah, a native of Maine, who followed farm pursuits and remained in the east until his death. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eebecca Kendall, was like- wise a native of Maine and is now deceased. The common schools of Maine afforded fair oppor- tunities to Madison Keene, but bis wide fund of knowledge has been principally acquired from contact with the world and habits of close ob- servation. Leaving Maine to seek a home in the then unknown west, he came to Minnesota in the year 1855 and took up an unimproved farm in Nicollet county, whence he removed to Blue Earth county in the early eighties. While still a young lad he had learned the carpenter's trade and this he follo'wcd to some extent in the em- ploy of others, but principally in the erection of needed buildings on his own farm. The marriage of Mr. Keene was solemnized in 1853 and united him with Phoebe Ann Eldridge, who was born in Maine and died in ilinnesota in December of 1901. Three children blessed the union, namely : V. M., George E. and a daughter, Ella May, now the wife of S. A. Eouse. Tht; family have always enjoyed the esteem of associ- ates and have been active in the work of the Methodist church. Intensely loyal in his devo- tion to the Union, Mr. Keene was one of the first to tender his aid at the opening of the war with the south. During June of 18G1, he en- listed in Company H, Second Minnesota In- fantry, with whose noteworthy achievements he was thenceforward identified. Accompanying the regiment to Kentucky he took part un the engage- ment at Mills Springs. Next he fought at Perry- ville, then took part in the siege of Corinth, and the engagements at Chickamauga and Chatta- nooga, after which he participated in the Atlanta campaign lasting one hundred days, fought in the sanguinary contest at Lookout Mountain, and accompanied General Sherman in the famous march to the sea. After having served three years he was mustered out at Chattanooga and re- ceived an honorable discharge from the army. Since the organization of Wilkin Post No. 19 he has been active in its work and interested in the welfare of the Grand Army of the Eepublic. KENWAED, HEEBEET C— The establish- ment of the Kenward familv in America was due to the fact that one of its well-known mem- bers, Jesse Kenward of England, having served with distinction in the British army, received from the government of his country a grant of land in Canada. Shortly afterward he made the voyage to the Canadian shores and investi- gated his new property, wliich he found to be lo- cated near Warwick in Ontario. Som.e of his 456 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. elder sons accompanied him to the new estate and aided him in preparing a home for the olher members of the family, who in due time joined him at his frontier farm. From that time until his death he remained a resident of Canada and warmly interested in the welfare of that country. His son, Robert N., was born at Otsego, A'ew York, and grew to manhood in Canada, where he married Jane Shaw, a native of Ireland. Soon after his marriage he removed to the States and settled in Michigan, where dur- ing his residence at St. Clair his son, Herbert C, was born, March 9, 1855. A comparatively brief sojourn in Michigan was followed by his removal to Minnesota in May of 1858 and in this state he secured a claim near Plaipview, Wabasha county. During 1867 he settled in Blue Earth county and secured a homestead that now is occupied by his older son. Since retiring from agricultural activities he has made his home at Minnesota Lake, this state, and still maintains a warm interest in town and county happenings, has decided opinions concerning matters of gen- eral importance, and possesses the ability and in- telligence that enabled him to serve with credit to himself in various local offices. The younger of the two sons of Robert N". Ken- ward is Herbert C, whose earliest recollections are associated with Minnesota, he having been brought to this state at the age of only three years. Educated in the country schools, he has supplemented the information desired from text- books by comprehensive reading and by habits of close observation, and therefore is a well-informed man. No citizen maintains a warmer interest in the growth of Blue Earth county than does he, and his interest is not limited to the department of his special activitiy, that of agriculture, but extends into educational affairs, public enter- prises, business development, and indeed every phase of growth associated with the welfare of the residents and the continuation of their pros- perity. On Christmas day of 1879, he was united in marriage with Prances James, daughter of George James, who came to Danville township, this couniy, during the sixties and assisted in the agricultural development of this region. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kenward are as fol- lows: Jess, now living in New Ulm, this state; Ethel, who is well educated and at this writing teaches school; Ac .lie, who is completing the studies of the Maple ton high school; and Robert, Jr. Since his marriage, ilr. Kenward has lived in Danville township on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres formerly known as the Joseph Hunt property. During the long period since he purchased this tract he has maintained a neat set of farm buildings, has improved the apear- ance of the farm by the planting of shade trees, and has kept the soil in a high state of fertility through care in the rotation of crops. In common with other farmers of the county he finds stock- raising a profitable adjunct to the raising of grain, and he always keeps on the place as many Norman horses, Durham cattle and hogs, as the pastures and buildings will accommodate. For some years he has been a member of the town board, but with that exception he has not partici- pated actively in township affairs nor has he at any time sought the honors connected with official positions, preferring to devote himself ex- clusively to the management of his agricultural interests. KENWARD, PIERCE W.— There are few names more familiar to the people of Danville township than that of Kenward. Two gener- ations of the family have contributed to the agricultural development of the township and liave beefi important factors in all movements for the educational and moral upbuilding of tbeir community. Always stanch in their al- legiance to the principles of free education and public schools, they have been active factors in developing the country schools. As early as 18G9, the father was selected to hold the posi- tion of school treasurer and he continued in that capacity until his removal to Minnesota Lake, since which time his son. Pierce W., has been the incumbent of the office, which he fills with judgment, accuracy and fidelity. Mention of the Kenward family upon an- other page of this volume shows that they be- came established in America through one of their representatives, who had served for twenty years or m.ore in the British army, receiving in recog- nition of his services to his country a grant of BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOET. 457 land situated near Warwick in Canada. Eemu?- ing to that then frontier region, he began the clearing of the land, in which work he had the energetic assistance of his sons. The country was then in an undeveloped condition. Eoads ao yet had not been opened, and everything was carried on horseback, through the trackless forests and over the unbroken plains. The ex- periences endured by the family in their Cana- dian home were of the pioneer type and prepared them for similar experiences which later they endured in the improving of their Minnesota homestead. Born at St. Clair, Michigan, March 23, 1853, Pierce W. Ken ward was a very small child (five years of age) when the family removed to Min- nesota; hence he has few recollections of any home other than this state, and he is thoroughly loyal in his devotion to the interests of the com- monwealth. Upon establishing domestic ties he was united in marriage, November 27, 1880, with Lilly J. Hunt, a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of Joseph Hunt. As early as 1866 the Hunt family removed to Minnesota and set- tled in Blue Earth county, taking up land and improving a farm that now is occupied by the brother of Mr. Kenward. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kenward are named as follows: Eobert N.; deceased; Kit M., who now is engaged in teaching school in Mapleton township; Claude A., Sarah M., and George J., who remain with their parents. It has been the policy of Mr. Kenward to give his sons a business training beginning in their early youth and with this purpose in view he has given them an interest ill some of the stock while they are yet boys. They are trained to care for the animals and to buy and sell in such a manner as to secure a gain for their investment, thus developing along prac- tical lines. The stock on the farm is of the best grades. The cattle are of the Durham type with registered sires, while the dairy cattle are blooded. In horses the favorites are Clydes, while Poland-China hogs furnish a valuable addition to the income from the farm. Having given his attention closely to the care of the land and the stock, Mr. Kenward has had little leisure to participate in public affairs and aside from the school office previously named he has declined official honors. Fraternally he has allied himself with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but with that exception has not become identified with insurance or social organizations. In his devotion to duty, in his industrious habits, in his energetic tempera- ment, in his high principles of honor he fur- nishes a fine example of the farmers of whom the county has every reason to be proud. KEYSOE, CAPT. CLAEK.— Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon those gallant patriots, who during the dark days of the Civil war, and at a time when the perpetuity of the Union was threatened, offered their services in defence of the stars and stripes and bravely en- dured the horrors of a civil war in order to se- cure the end they felt to be necussar}' for the welfare of the nation. Numbered among the brave soldiers whom Blue Earth county contri- buted to the Union was Captain Keysor, who during the course of the war laid aside his car- penters' tools and relinquished the building con- tracts he had taken, in order that he might serve his country in her hour of need. A'aried exper- iences befell him in the course of his service and such was the courage with which he met every issue that at the time of the muster-out he bore the rank of captain of his company. A pioneer of Minnesota, where he has made his home in Mankato since 1858, Captain Keysor was born in Luzerne, Warren county, New York, May 24, 1826, and was one among the five child- ren of Clark and Elizabeth (Frost) Keysor. The father followed the lumbering business until bis death, which occurred in New York state in 1830. Survived by the widow, she eventually came to Mankato and died here in 1877 at an advanced age. Their son, Clark, Jr., received a common- school education in New Y^ork state and grew to manhood upon a farm, early gaining a thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits. However, his tastes did not lie in the direction of the farm and he turned his attention to carpentering, which trade he thoroughly mastered in his early manhood. For a time he followed that occupa- tion near the old home, but in 1858 he identified himself with the pioneers of the northwest and 458 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. suttled in MankatOj where he afterwards carriea ou a buiiamg business and ereettd many oi tlie eany ana suDstantiai structures m tnac growing lown. (Jt recent jears he lias done little active carjjcnLering and lias limited his wort to the tajiing 01 coDtractSj with the general supervis'.ou 01 tue same, in general it ma}' be said tliat reli- ability and painstaking skill have characterized all 01 Ins contracts^ whicu are hlled with a fidelity ciiaracteristic ot the man. The marriage of Captain Keysor took place September 15, 1850, and united him with Amy L. Johnson, a native of Saratoga county, New York. I'our sons and four daughters came to bless their union, and of these the following sur- vive : William W., married and living in St. Louis, Missouri, where he occupied a chair in the St. Louis Law college; Elizabeth F., now Mrs. J. A. Flittie; Amy M., who is Mrs. Charles Car- penter; and John J., who is married and living on a large ranch near Sturgis, South Dakota. The family hold membership with the Methodist church and are contriibutors to its various socie- ties as well as its general maintenance, besides which they have always aided in enterprises for the upbuilding of the community and the welfare of the people. Politically Captain Eeysor has been a Republican ever since the organization of the party and his belief in its platform has led him to cast his ballot for its candidates at all elections. A fitting recognition of his patriotism and ability has been made by the party in his election to various offices of trust, including the position of alderman of Mankato, assessor of the township, and representative of the district to the general assembly of Jlinnesota in the sessions of 1872 and 1879. In these several positions he proved worthy of the trust reposed in him and ever was found voting on the side of progressive measures and public-spirited enterprises. Since the organization of Wilkin Post No. 19, Grand Army of the Republic, he has been one of its leading members and has aided generously in its charities and patriotic services. During the pro- gress of the Civil war he became identified with the Masonic order and ever since then he has retained membership in the fraternity, whose principles of philanthropy he upholds and whose work for the uplifting of humanity he endorses. At the -time Captain Keysor's enlistment in the army, which occurred August 8, 1862, he was assigned to Indian services in Minnesota, but a year later was scut to the front as first lieuten- ant of Company E, Ninth Minnesota Infantry. His first engagement was at Gunton, Mississippi, and he took part in the marches and other activ- ities of his regiment until he became ill with typhoid fever. The attack weakened him to sueh an extent that he was unfitted fur active military duty and hence accepted a post for recruiting service at Port Snelling, where he remained until he was honorably discharged as captain. KIETZER, FRED A.— The sons of pioneers form a very considerable and substantial part of the agricultural population of A'ernon Center towTiship and Blue Earth county in general, and that they inherit the sterling traits which made their father's the center of earlier activities, argues as well for the future as it does for the present, of the county. In the . sketch of G. Kietzer, of Vernon Center township, in another part of this work, may be found a more compre- hensive account of the founders of the family in Minnesota. Fred A. Kietzer was born in Ger- many, October 25, 1848, came with his parents to America at an early day and to Blue Earth county a little later. In 1879 Mr. Kietzer was united in marriage to Christian Pichner, daughter of Ernest and Henrietta Pichner, farmers by occupation and who came from Germany in an early day, settling on government land in Rapidan township. Mr. Pichner is long since deceased, but his wife stni lives and makes her home with her children. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kietzer, August, Emil, Ida and Fred. Mr. Kietzer by fair and commendable methods has become the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres of land in once piece, and conducts general farming and stock-raising on a large scale. He is especially interested in stock, and raises a good quality of cattle, horses, and Poland-China hogs. When this land came into his possession it was wild and uncultivated, almost a stranger to plow or harrow, and having the most inadequate of buildings. The present owner has put up fine BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 459 juildings of all kinds, including a large and iommodious dwelling, and Ms machinery, fences, Irainage and general improvements have been in- .tigated by a progi-essive and generous mind. ^.ll that Mr. Kietzer has is the result of his own rood judgment and ability to utilize surround- .ng opportunities. He started in life poor, had idvantages which most people in the present tvould call meagre and unsatisfactory, yet he has rt'on for himself an abiding place in all that Mustitutes material, moral and general worth, md is regarded as one of the county's most rep- I'csentative and influential farmers. KIETZEE, GOTTLIEB.— The agricultural development of our country may be attributed in large measure to the persistent industry and self-sacrificing efEorts of our citizens from other lands or those who come of foreign parentage. Such people formed the bone and sinew of the pioneer population of the northwest. The storms of winter, the deprivations of life, the absence of every comfort and the necessity for constant toil did not daunt them, and it is the glory of our nation that its possibilities have attracted to its citizens of such energy and worth. Con- spicuous among the German-American residents of Blue Earth county is Mr. Kietzer who was born in Prussia June 28, 1846, and in 1857 settled in Wisconsin with his parents, John and Hosina (Wollfschlager) Kietzer, of Prussian birtli and lineage. The family became pioneers of Wisconsin and there for eighteen years labored as farmers, developing a raw tract into a pro- ductive estate. During 1875, the parents re- moved to Minnesota and settled on a farm in Oeresco township. Blue Earth county, where the mother died in 1895, and since then the father has continued to reside at the old homestead. Coming to Blue Earth county in 1872 Mr. Kietzer bought a tract of unimproved land in Vernon Center township and from that time to the present he has continued on the same place, meanwhile making many important improvements and adding to the original tract until he now owns four hundred and twenty acres in this and Ceresco townships. All of the land is under fence sxeepting twenty acres of timber on the Blue Earth river. For a few years after his arrival he lived in a cabin, but eventually he erected a neat Louse, and he also from time to time buUt barn, granary, etc., to suit the needs of the place. In stock lie has made a specialty of Poland-China hogs. Plis farm is said to be one of the best in the township and its neat appearance bespeaks the energy of the owner. The first wife of Mr. Kietzer, whom he mar- ried in 187;i and who bore the name of Caroline Peever, at her death left the following named children: Emma, William, Frederick, ilinnie, Mollie and Mary. In 1886, Mr. Kietzer married Miss Ida Wolff, by whom he has six children, namely: Lydia, Anna, Ernst, Herbert, Eric and Verona. The family have the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. Besides attending to the management of his land Mr. Kietzer has found time to keep posted concerning movements for the welfare of his township and county and has been particularly interested in the district schools, in which he has served as a director. For one year he served as chairman of the board of township trustees and in addition he held office as a member of the county board of supervisors for two years. KIFFE, GBOEGE.— The list of honored pio- neer farmers of Blue Earth-county includes the name of George Kiffe whose face was once familiar to the people of his vicinity, but who has now en- tered into eternal rest. It was during the spring of 1856 that he sought a home in the then un- developed northwest, concerning whose resources and opportunities he had heard much. For some years before coming here he had lived in Mis- souri, but on the 8th of April, 1856, he and his young wife left that state and traveled toward the north in a "prairie schooner" containing their worldly effects. When they arrived at Dubuque, Iowa, they found that further travel by wagon was impractical and hence they took passage on a steamboat. On the 19th of May they landed at Mankato and shortly afterward secured a tract of land on which they began farming. The first purchase comprised eighty acres, but this was increased until their landed possessions aggregated large areas, and the widow 460 BIOGIUPHICAL HISTORY. now owns two hundred arces of valuable land, ail the result of their economy, industry and sagacity. I'lie son of wealthy parents, George Kift'e was born at Borken Wcsphalia, Germany, June lb, 1^31, and grew to manhood upon the home farm. U pon starting out for himself at the age of twenty years he came to the United States and proceeded rrom New iork westward to Missouri, where he secured employment on a farm near St. Charles. \Vhile living there he was united iu marriage, fi'ebruary 15, 1855, with Gertrude Amptmann, a native of Germany, born Septem- ber 1, 1834, being the daughter of Casper Ampt- mann, a prosperous shoemaker of Brattinghaus, her native village. Of her marriage to Mr. Kiffe twelve children A^ere born, all but three of whom are yet living. The seven sons and two daughters remain in Blue Earth county, where they are well known and universally honored as worthy citizens. The youngest child, Anna, is her mother's companion and tenderly ministers to her comfort in her declining years. The fam- ily left the farm in June of 1896 and moved into Mankato, purchasing a comfortable home on the principal residence street of the city. Here Mr. Kiffe spent his last years surrounded by the comforts his industry had rendered possible and hero he closed his eyes in death, March 28, 1904. His body was interred in Calvary cemetery after appropriate funeral services under the auspices o^ the German Catholic church, to which he be- longed. After having talten out naturalization papers as a citizen of the United States, George KifEe became an ardent supporter of the Democratic party and took a warm interest in its local af- fairs. For some time he served as town clerk and he also was honored by election as a super- visor of Blue Earth county representing Man- kato township. While he was a pronounced Democrat and active in the party, his friends were not limited to men of the same belief. On the contrary, he was popular with all, for his sterling traits of character commanded the con- fidence and good-will of all. Sharing with him in the general esteem was his wife, who has been spared to the age of more than three score years and ten and retains her faculties unimpaired by time. Her pleasant manner and motherly face win the friendship of all, but especially of the little chilUrcn near her home, among whom she IS a general favorite. KiAAEY, J. HUBEET.— The era which wit- nessed the arrival of white settlers in Blue Earth county and the pre-empting of government claims by the home-seekers from further east, brought among other pioneers Horace Ejnney, a descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestry and a native of Herkimer county, New York, where his father, James, was a lifelong resident. Dur- ing early manhood he had married Elizabeth Darling, who was born and reared in Troy, New York, and they had engaged in improving a farm in Wisconsin, having settled in that state during the early fifties together with her father and two of her brothers. All of these came to Minnesota in 1856 and joined the original settlers in Blue Earth county, where they pre- empted adjacent claims in Shelby township. Erom that time until his demise Horace Kinney continued to reside upon a farm in that town- ship. \Vhile visiting in Mankato he was taken ill and died in that city June 1, 1877. Other pioneers who survive him testify in the warmest terms concerning his fine qualities as a citizen, husband and father, and state that he was a man of ability far above the average. His in- terest in the welfare of the county led him to serve as a member of the board of supervisors, which position he filled for a number of years. Nine children comprise the family of Horace and Elizabeth Kinney and all are still living, but only three remain in Blue Earth county, the others having established homes in other sections of the country. Two of the sons, J. Hubert and Walter, are partners in the livery business at Amboy, having in 1903 acquired the stables owned by Strong & Decker, which they now con- duct. Walter was born in November of 1879 and received a fair education. In June of 1899 he married Elsie Merrill, daughter of Allen Mer- rill, who was born in Wisconsin and came from there to Minnesota, settling at Garden City, his present home. They are the parents of four children: Burton, Paul, Ellise and Alice (twins). BIOGBAPHICAL HISTOKY. 461 On the home farm in Shelby township. Blue Earth county J. Hubert Kinney was born May 20, 1872, and his primary education was ob- tained in the neighboring school, after which he completed his studies in the Minnesota State Xormal at Mankato. For ten 3'ears he made school teaching his principal occupation and met with encouraging success in the work, being engaged in this and Martin counties. During 1903 he received an oppointment as carrier of mail on rural free delivery route No. 3, and v.hile on the home farm he also served for two years as justice of the peace. Since coming to Amboy he has officiated as a member of the school hoard for three years. With his brother Walter he purchased the old homestead and had charge of the estate until 1903, when they traded the farm for a livery business in Amboy. The building, 70x100 feet, is equipped for the purpose desired and from twenty-five to thirty head of horses are usually kept here, a general coach and dray business being conducted. In order to raise feed for the horses the brothers purchased and now operate a farm in Shelby township, the same consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. A large number of horses are raised on this quarter section, and a Percheron is kept at the head of the herd. In addition they own a part of the original homestead three and one- half miles west of Amboy, on section seventeen. The marriage of J. Hubert Kinney took place June 24, 1903, and united him with Agnes Otterstein, a native of Shelby township, this county, and a daughter of F. R. Otterstein, one of the prominent farmers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Kinney enjoy the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances in the town and township and stand high in social circles, while in fraternal associations he is an influential member of the blue lodge of Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Jtodern Woodmen of America at Amboy. KLETNSCHMIDT. CONRAD.— The enumer- alion of business enterprises in the city of Man- kato includes the plant operated by the Mankato Interior Manufacturing and Lumber Company, whose original mill, erected in 1897, stood on North Broad street and was equipped for the manufacture of sash, doors, mouldings, lath and shingles. The plant was destroyed by fire, June 13, 1906, and later was rebuilt on the corner of Fourth and Eoek streets. The brick structure is 108x150 feet in dimensions and is divided into departments of sizes suitable for their special purposes, including a space of 31x.->0 feet, which is utilized for a flour mill. The proprietor of the business, Mr. Kleinschmidt, has had years of practical experience as a carpenter and con- tractor, and has an accurate knowledge of building material, their qualities and values, as well as the particular kinds most practicable and economical for ordinary use. Born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. February 15, 1861, Mr. Kleinschmidt is a son of John and Katherine Kleinschmidt, natives of Ger- many, who crossed the ocean a few years after their marriage and settled in Racine, Wisconsin, where the father secured employment at his trade of carpentering. That was in 1861, at the beginning of the Civil war. A few months later he enlisted as a private in the Union army and went to the front, serving for three years and six months, when he received an honorable discharge. On his return to Racine he resumed carpentering. In 1879, removed from that city to Minnesota and settled on a farm in Mankato township. Blue Earth county, where he now resides. Of his seven children Louise, Mrs. Jc'hn Trenhauser died in 1903. Those now living are named as follows: Conrad, the eldest of the family; Katherine, Mrs. William Kittenger, of Caledonia, Wisconsin; John, who is engaged in the real estate business at St. Paul, Minnesota ; Nicholas, living in Mankato; Gustav, who is associated in business with his eldest brother ; and Charles, who remains on the home farm in Mankato township. Leaving home at the age of seventeen years Conrad Kleinschmidt secured employment at carpentering, of which previously he had gained considerable knowledge under his father's train- ing. When twenty-one years of age he was paid the wages of a skilled workman. A year later he had charge of sixty-five hands. On coming to Mankato in 1878, he engaged in farming near the city for a year and then resumed work at 46-: BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. his trade^ buildings farm houses and bams. In 1880 he went to South Dakota, where he had the contract for the erection of three grain ele- vators, those being at Big Stone, Milbank, and Wilmont. Eeturning to Mankato the follow- ing year he resumed work at his trade. In 1883 he was called to St. Paul to take charge of con- tracts for a firm of contractors in that city. Two years later he took up contracting for him- self and continued until 1890, when he became superintendent at Duluth for H. D. Hayes & Company of Chicago. In the employ of the same firm he was transferred to Chicago in 1891. During 1894 he took up his permanent residence at Mankato, where he followed his trade until 1897 and since then has been engaged in the manufacture of interior furnishings. In political opinions Mr. Kleinschmidt always supports the Eepublican party. His was the honor of being the iirst Eepublican elected from his ward (the second) to serve as a member of the board of aldermen and in that capacity he gave his support to movements calculated to benefit the people without unduly taxing the property owners. The Commercial Club is one of the organizations for the development of local tiade which has received his stanch support. In fraternal relations he holds memberehip with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the An- cient Order of United Workmen, also the Sons of Herman. His marriage took place in Eacine, Wisconsin, May 2, 1882, and united him with Miss Anna Boehland, daughter of Theodore and Amalie (Therendorf) Boehland, of that city. They are the parents of two daughters, Amalie ]\r. and Emma K. E. Kleinschmidt. KLEINSCHMIDT, GHSTAV.— Gustav Klein- schmidt, who, with his brother, Conrad, is engaged in an extensive lumber and manu- facturing business in Mankato, is a young man of energy and progress, and one who gives promise of fulfilling a large and particularly useful destiny. Of his family and immediate connections much may be learned elsewhere in this work. He is a product of country train- ing and trade incentive, and spent the first thirty-three years of his life combining farm- ing and the trade of carpentering. Bom in Eacine, Wisconsin, November 12, 1870, he came to Mankato township in 1879, learned the car- penter's trade of his father, Otto Kleinschmidt, and aided the latter in constructing many resi- dences, barns and out-buildings throughout the county. Mr. Kleinschmidt came to Mankato in 1903, and at once identified himself with the brother's lumber and manufacturing business, his former experience as a contractor being of unquestioned benefit to him. He has become associated with many phases of city life, is an earnest Ee- publican, and fraternally is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. October 22, 1896, Mr. Kleinschmidt was united in marriage to Bertha Alfrcda Eoemer, daughter of Bruner Eoemer, a well known resident of Mankato, and of the union there are two children : Florion and Ar- miin. Mr. Kleinschmidt is possessed of keen busi- ness sagacity, and is highly respected by the large number of people with which his busi- ness necessarily brings him in contact with. KLEINSCHMIDT, NICHOLAS.— The scope and efficiency of the Mankato fire department have been materially increased since the elec- tion of its present chief, Nicholas Kleinschmidt, in April, 1905. As a means of insuring safety to the people and institutions of the town the de- partment now -compares favorably with those in larger and older communities, and the bravery and ability of the men who risk their lives whenever occasion demands, makes constant appeal to the gratitude and appreciation of all who have the welfare of the city at heart. Mr. Kleinschmidt has many and other claims upon the consideration of his fellow townsmen, and is a man of varied experience, and thorough knowledge of municipal needs. His family have been closely connected with the commercial up- building of this part of the county, and he in- herits the stability and public spiritedness of his father, mention of whom may be found else- vhere in this work. Mr. Kleinschmidt was educated in the public schools, and in earlier BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 463 life learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed continuously up to 1900, when poor health necessitated his abandonment of this interesting occupation. In 1895 he engaged in the saloon business on North Front street, but disposed of the same in 1897. He then opened the Opera Cafe, which he sold two years later and became tl]f- proprietor of the Stahl House which he conducted for four years. With his brother, John, he fitted up the "Bavaria," in 1903, purchasing new fixtures and furnishings through- out, and conducting the same under the firm name of Kleinschmidt Brothers. Mr. Kleinschmidt subscribes to the princi- ples of the Eepublican part}', and he has been active in the same for several years, filling sev- eral offices previous to his election as fire chief in 1905. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows and Sons of Herman. December 10, 1891, Mr. Kleinschmidt married Anna Arnold, daughter of Adam Arnold, of Mankato town.sbip, and of the union there are six children; Eobert, Esther, Mamie, Eva, Her- bert, and Harold. KN"APP, JAMES K.— This honored citizen of Madison Lake, who was instrumental in secur- ing the incorporation of the town and has held a number of its most important offices, was born in Madison county, Few York, February 18, 1844, being a son of Ambrose- and Jane Ann (Moxley) Knapp. The father was born in Con- necticut, May 2, 1813, and the mother was a native of Ireland, born in December of 1814. Early in life Ambrose Knapp learned the trade of a ship carpenter, which he followed for a time in Connecticut and also removing to ISTew York about 184.3. Seeking the undeveloped regions of the then frontier with the hope of finding op- portunities greater than awaited him in the east, in 1844 he moved to Wisconsin and built the first hotel ever erected in the city of Milwaukee. The following year he moved to land ceded by the government from the Indians in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and was employed by the government to capture a party of Indians who had persistently refused to leave this land. After having successfully removed the party to the reservation near St. Clair, Minnesota, he re- turned to ^Milwaukee and in 1852, settled at Osceola, Wisconsin, where he purchased eighty acres, divided the land into town lots and estab- lished an addition that is now in the heart of that city. Upon removing to Eureka, Wisconsin, in 1855 he worked as a ship carpenter and diir- ing 1858 he became a pioneer farmer near Buena Vista, Portage county, that state. From agri- cultural pursuits he turned his attention to the building of a hotel, which afterward he operated for a time. He moved to Madelia in 1861. Securing land across the river from ^ladelia, Minnesota, in 1861, Ambrose Knapp embarked in the raising of stock. During an outbreak by the Sioux Indians that threatened the lives of the white settlers, in 1863 he was forced to leave his farm, and he then went for safety to Mankato, where during the Civil war he engaged in the freighting business for the government. Afterward he bought and sold land until the in- firmities of age forced him to relinquish business activities and he made his home near his son from 1890 until his death, which occurred Janu- ary 33, 189.3. The education of James K. Knapp was obtained in the schools of the various locali- ties where the family resided. August 18, 1861, he learned that the savages were secretly plotting to massacre the white settlers at ISFew IJlm and he hurried to the settlement to warn the people. Thereupon he was by them dispatched a distance of thirty miios to secure aid from the military station at St. Peter. The undertaking was perilous in the highest degree, hut he arrived there in safety. Later in the same year he assisted in the building of Fort Cox at Madelia. August 28. 1863. he joined a company of state militia under Captain Eeed, in which he served for six montlis. During May of 1863, he en- listed in Company K, First Minnesota Cavalry, under Peter B. Davy, at St. Peter, and on June 6th was ordered out on an expedition against the S'oux Indians. After having followed the trail for several days, July 31 th they attacked a force of three thousand savages at Big Mound, South Dakota. During the charge several In- dians were killed, also two white men, one of the latter being Dr. Weiser, the company physi- 464 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. cian. Mr. Knapp was wounded by being thrown from a horse and dragged several rods, but the injuries were not serious and he rejoined the rngiment in a few days. After having returned to the camp the com- pany started on the march. At Stony lake on tlie 28th of July they were surrounded by twenty- five hundred Indians, but fierce fighting finally drove back the savages, who were followed by the soldiers, driven across the Missouri river the following day, and their wagons, horses and provisions captured. On the 15th of September Company K was detailed as escort to Governor Ramsey and other prominent officials who were cng-aged in making a treaty with the Chippewa Indians. At the expiration of his time Mr. Knapp was mustered out of the service at Fort Snelling, November 28, 1863. At different times he assisted in raising companies for service dur- ing the war. Under the homestead laws, Mr. Knapp took up eighty acres near jMadelia in 1865 and there he followed farming until 1872. During the two following years he engaged as a veterinary surgeon at Mankato, and from 1874 to 1887 followed the same occupation at Rochester, this state. In the vear last named he came to Madi- son Lake, where he followed practice as a vet- erinarv and conducted a drug store. The burn- ing of the bu'lding and stock of drugs in 1899, caused him to remove from the town, and for a time he made his home at Anacortes, Washing- ton, where he had an interest in a clam cannery. .Tune 4, 1903, he returned to Madison Lake, where he has since lived in retirement. Inter- ested in educational work, he has served effi- cientlv as a member of the board of school di- rectors. In addition he has been a councilman and for six terms filled the office of justice of the peace. His marriage was solemnized at Mankato, Julv 3, 1868, and united him with 'Marffaret Murphv, daughter of John and Cath- erine (O'Connell) Murphv, natives of Ireland. The familv hold membership in the Roman Cath- olic church and contribute to its maintenance. T'ive children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Knapp. four of these survivins, namely: James, who married Martha Sorge; George, who married Mary Olmstead; Genevieve, Mrs. Henry Muller- leile; and Estella, who is the wife, of Elmer Casper. KR.UEGER, LOTUS W.— Enthusiasm, self confidence and faith in one's life purpose are among the essentials of success evidenced by Dr. Louis W. Krueger. With the exception of the time spent in post graduate work in Xew York and Chicago all of his professional life, from the time of his graduation from the Medical De- partment of the University of Minnesota in 1896, has been spent in and around the town of Mapleton. Justified by thorough preparation and constant progression in expecting the most satisfying compensation of his calling, Dr. Krue- ger has more than realized his expectations, and today is patronized and appreciated by a large number of the foremost families of the town and county. In addition to a general medical and surgical practice, he has served for many years aft health officer of the town and also has given ill valuable aid as county physician. He is known as a profound, safe and dependable guide to the boon of health, as a sincere student of sanita- tion and the simpler ways of acquiring it. The studentship of Dr. Krueger, both pro- fessionally and generally, is characterized by the thoroughness and patience with difficulties which characterizes tlie Teutonic peoples. His parents, Fred G. and Otilie Bietan, Krueger, were natives of Germany, and" the former bom in Prussia. After immigrating to the LTnited States tbey spent some time in Pittsburc, Pennsylvania, then came to Wisconsin, settling in Ripon, where Louis W., the fourth oldest of five children, was born May 26, 1868. Eventually the family located in Faribault county, Minnesota, where the doctor attended the public schools, and from where he moved to Mankato, where he graduated from the high-school in the class of 1891. He then became principal of the public schools of ICasota, and in the fall of 1892 assumed the position of principal of the Franklin school, in Mankato. He was very successful as an educator, promoted with vigor the qualities which convert pupils into practical and serviceable citizens, and personally gained a kind of insight and ex- perience which has been of great value to him in later years. BIOGfEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 465 The marriage of Dr. Krueger and Eilla F. Mc- Cormick occurred June 29, 1899, Mrs. Krueger being a daughter of George L. McCormickj of Owatonna, Minnesota. Dr. and Mrs. Krueger are the parents of two children: Leslie Emmet and Alice Onalee. Dr. Krueger is a member of the Minnesota Valley ^Medical Association, the Blue Earth county jNIedical Association, .and the Minnesota State iledical Society. Fraternally he is a master Mason, and a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a genial and sympathetic man, having a fine and optimistic nature, and enlists as friends and well wishers all who are privileged to know him well. KEUSE, FEED W.—A practical German, of brisk, enterprising American temperament, such b. a combination which is i-reative of the most progressive and substantial merchants in the country; the foregoing is also descriptive of Fred W. Kiuse, manager and partner with (Jco. E. Brett Inc., for many years, ifr. Kruse was born in the Fatherland, January 5, ISTl, the son of Gottfried and Theresa Kruse. The father engaged in various lumbering and agricultural pursuits in Europe, becoming a resident of ]\ran- k;ito in 1884, and spending his declining vears in that city, where he died in 1898 at the age of eighty-two; the venerable mother still survives. The children of their family were as follows : Gottfried, Jr.; Louis, and Henry J. Kruse, com- prising the mercantile firm of Ivruse Brothers, Mankato, Fred W. ; and Thresa, wife of :\Iartin 'SV'alscr, who is also a merchant of this city. Fred W. Kruse was first educated in the schools of his native locality, and was a student in a German high school at the age of fifteen, when he came to ilankato and continued his studies in the high school of that city, and at Ihe Catholic College. In 1887 he entered the firm ot Geo. E. Brett where he continued to rise un- til 1908 when he left to open the firm of Fred W. Kruse Company, a women and childrcns out- fitters emporium, in the new Coughlan-Hickey Building erected especially for him. This new Company will be one of tie largest and finest in the State and will gradually open up a chain of stores through the Xorthwcst. His past years of experience as buyer has placed him among the authorities on st\des in ready to wear gar- ments for women and children both in the eas- tern markets, where he made frequent visits, as well as at home. Mr. Kruse alwa\s takes a keen interest in the development of, and stands ready at all times to do anything for the advancement of ilan- k-uto. He is the owner of a beautiful home at '248 Clark street, and several acres in "Oaklavm," formerly known as the i\Iarsh Addition. He is, in fact the originator of the plat destined to become a charming resident locality. His wife was formerely iliss Claude Coughlan, daughter of T. E. Coughlan, to whom he was married on the 8th of July, 1903. Domestic in his tastes, and of a broad social temperament, he is respect- ed by all who know him. KUEHXE, FEEDIXAXD A. F.— The junioi- memlier of the Kuehne Wagon Company of Man- kato, is a native of this community and was born July 10, 1874. The third oldest of the six child- ren of Frederick August and Marie (Kratzman) ICuehne. Ferdinand A. F. Kuehne was educated m the public scIkhjIs, and the first Business Col- lege of ^Fankato, and from very early vouth had the incentive to industry which emanated from his father's busy wagon manufactory. It was thus his good fortune to step into a waiting opportunity, the creating of whicli for his sons, ^^■as not the least of the many admirable services attributed to the elder Kuehne. In the atmosphere of the wagon s])op young Kuehne developed marked mechanical ability, and finally mastci'cd every detail rd the industry of which he no\\' is an integral part. He is na- turally active and energetic, having a large fund 1)!: reserve power, and in all ways has contributed to the upbuilding of a concern justly rated as one of the best and most reliable in Blue Earth county. May 2). 1900, Mr. Kuehne was united ill marriage to Louise I\reine, of Cobden, Min- nesota, and of the union there are three children, Carl, Walter, and Heri.iert. ilr. Kuehne takes little interest in afl'airs outside of this imme- diate business, and has no political or public a.-pirations. He votes the Eepublican ticket, and i'- a member of the German Lutheran church. 466 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. KUEHNE, J. H. CARL.— The skill and ener- gy and business foresight of two generations of the family have combined to make the plant of the Kuehne Wagon Company, of Mankato, one of the foremost of its kind in Blue Earth county. F. August Carl Kuehne, the establisher of thff business, was born in Hamburg, Germany, and in early life evidenced marked mechanical ability which found vent when he apprenticed to a wagon .maker at the traditional age of fourteen }ears. Eventually he embarked in manufacturing liacks and other vehicles, and being confident of his workmanship, and ability to weather any kind of competition, readily yielded to the sug- gestion of larger opfwrtunity which came to him across the wastes of the Atlantic. Pre- ceded by his brother, August, who for some time lived in Minnesota and other parts of the coun- try, and now is a resident of Rock Valley, Iowa, Mr. Kuehne disposed of his European interests, and with his family came to America in the early '70s, locating almost immediately in Man- kato, where he found employment with the wagon making firm of Jensen & Hoerr. He afterward worked for other concerns in the county, and in 1884 established his present business on Main street, in 1891 moving to an enlarged and re- built plant on the corner of Second and Mulberry streets. The ability and shrewd business sense of the owner received ready recognition, and his vehicles created a demand over a large part of the county. They were invariably well construc- ted and well painted and finished, and thus the foundation of the business was skill, reliability and progressiveness. In his native land Mr. Kuehne married Marie Kratzman, who bore him six children, all of whom are living and who survived his death in 1900, at the age of fifty- eight years. Mr. Kuehne was a many sided and cultured man, having an especial fondness for good music and good literature. In this he shared the typical traits of the well born and educated German, and his tendency resulted in a gain to Mankato through his organization of the Mankato Liedertafel. He was very socially inclined, and was a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. J. H. Carl Kuehne, who with his brother, Ferdi- nand, succeeded to his father's wagon business, was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1870, and was little more than a baby when brought to this Country by his parents. He was educated in the public schools of Mankato and at the original Business College of the town, and as a boy worked in his father's wagon manufactory, finally be- coming a member of the firm of Kuehne & Company. He is doing a large business in manu- facturing buggies and wagons, and has also a large painting and repairing department. He in- herits the thrift and perseverance of his success- ful father, and has strong, forceful and indepen- dent ideas of business and general affairs. His social side i.'! well developed, and he is popular in the most exclusive German-American circles in this part of the county. Mr. Kuehne married, June 21, 1904, Rugust Prahl, of Few Ellen, Minnesota, and of the union there is a daughter, Elizabeth L. KUNKEL, PAUL.— Germany is the native country of Paul Kunkel and April 36, 1853, the date of his birth, his parents having been Dr. Karl and Adolphenia (Henningsen) Kunkel, who passed their entire lives 'in the Fatherland. Dr. Kunkel was a physician and surgeon of con- siderable reputation and engaged in practice until shortly before his death, which occurred in 1898. There were ten children in his family and all of them are still living. During boyhood Paul Kunkel acquired a fair German education and learned the trade of car- penter and Joiner. TJpon coming to the United States in 1872, he settled at Cincinnati, OMo, where he secured employment in a furniture fac- tory, remaining for a year. During 1873, he came to Minnesota and settled in Nicollet county but after about twelve months he returned to Cincinnati and resumed work in the factory where he continued for four years. At the ex- piration of that time, in 1879, he came to Blue Earth county and purchased a small tract in Rapid an township, where ■ he took up general farming. From time to time he added to his holdings until now he is the owner of two hun- dred and ninety acres in Rap'idan township. During a considerable period after his arrival in Blue Earth county he devoted ijior? attention BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 467 to carpentering than to farming, but since 1895 he has devoted himself exclusively to agricultural pursuits and has been successful in operating his farm. The house and other buildings on the place were erected under his immediate super- vision and he has been interested in making val- uable improvements on the property as his means have permitted. The marriage of Mr, Kunkel took place in 1880 and unitecl him wiih Miss Anna Piel, daughter of Karl Piel, a German by birth and ancestry. After coming to the United States, Mr. Piel settled in Illinois and engaged in farming there until after the death of his wife. As early as 1872 he came to Blue Earth county and settled in Lyra township near the village of Good Thunder, where he still makes his home. The family of !Mr. and ilrs. Kunkel comprises si-K children, namely : August, ilinnie, Otto, Eeinhold, Grover and Paul, all of whom are yet with their parents on the home farm. The fam- ily are members of the Lutheran church. Polit- ically Mr. Kunkel votes the Democratic ticket. LAMM, STEPHEN.— The life which this sketch delineates began at Haslach, Baden, Ger- many, December 33, 1827, and closed at Mankato, Minnesota, in March, 1904. Xear the close of the year 1851, Mr. Lamm crossed the ocean from his native land to the new world and proceeded from the Atlantic coast westward to Missouri, where he sojourned for a number of years. During the period of his residence there he was united in marriage, August 1, 18.54, with Caroline, daughter of Matthias Stilmire. During the spring of 1856, he came to Minnesota and landed at Mankato May 1st. Soon afterward he opened a general store, which he conducted with suc- cess for a long period, but after 1885 he gave his attention entirely to banlcing, loaning money and buying and sellincr real estate. In 1896 ho was elected president of the Eirst Xational Bank of Mankato, and from that time until his death he was an influential factor in financial affairs in his home town. In addition to his association with business and financial concerns, Mr. Lamm gave consider- able attention to public affairs and gave his stanch support to any measure calculated to promote the growth of ilankato or the welfare of her residents. For iseventeen years he served as a member of the city council and from 1857 to 18G0 he held the office of treasurer of Blue Earth county. From the early days of his resi- dence in Jlankato he was a chief supporter of the German Catholic church and no one aided more than he in the establishment of its finances upon a substantial basis and in the extension of its field of usefulness. His children were carefully trained in Catholic teachings and one of his daughters is now Sister M. Lambertine of ililwaukee. The other children also have been generous contributors to the faith. They are named as follows: Julia, wife of Clement Sehroe- der; Leo S., whose sketch accompanies this ar- ticle; Philip, Robert and Otto, of Mankato; and Carrie, wife of John H. Hohman, of St. Louis, Mo. LAMM, LEO S. — Numerous enterprises con- nected with the commercial development of Mankato have enlisted the means and co-opera- tion of Leo S. Lamm, whose association with the progress of the city includes service as treasurer of the Mankato Savings and Building Associa- tion, treasurer of the Standard Brewing Com- pany, (incorporated), vice-president of the First National Bank of Mankato, trustee of the Man- kato public library, trustee of the Calvary Ceme- tery Association and an active worker in the Commercial Club. In addition to the responsi- bilities entailed by these manifold associations, ho has acted as executor of the estate of his father the late Stephen Lamm, one of the honored pioneers and leading men of Mankato. In this city occurred the birth of Leo S. Lamm, July 23, 1861, and here he received an excellent edu- cation in parochial schools, and the Minnesota State Xormal School, On entering the world of business activities he became collection clerk ill the Fir.-jt National Bank, Two years later he was promoted to the position of bookkeeper in the bank, which position he filled for six years. At the expiration of that time he formed a part- nership with Clement Schroeder under the firm name of Lamm & Schroeder and embarked in 468 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. the hardware business on Front street, but after two years he withdrew. The next enterprise in which Mr. Lamm be- came interested was the furniture business, . which h(- conducted with his father-in-law, John Jilein, under the 'title of John Klein & Company. Jan- uary 1, 1897, he retired from the firm in order k) engage in the real estate and loan business with his father, continuing in the same con- nection until his father's death, since which time he has filled the position of executor of the es- tate. In religious associations he is a member of St. Peter and Paul's German Catholic church, wliile fraternally he holds membership with the United Order of Foresters. The movement looking toward the location of St. Joseph's hos- pital in ]Mankato received his stanch support, as have all other plans for the benefit of the people and the enlargements of the city's field of useful- ness. The first marriage of ]\Ir. Lamm united him, June 1, 1886, with Tillie Klein, who died in June, 1897, aged thirty-four years. Four sons were born of the union, namely : William S.. Alpheus A., Vincent de Paul and Gregoir I. Tlie present wif^e of Mr. Lamm, w^hom he married Xovember 1.5, 1898, was Minnie C. Luger, a native of Wabasha county, Minnesota, and a daughter of John Luger, -now residing at North Sf. Paul, this state. The children born of this union are Norbert Leo, Hugo Clements and George Edward. LAMM. OTTO.— Otto Lamm, was born in Jlankato September 30, 1874, and is the young- est son of Stephen and Caroline Lamm. His fa- ther was born at Haslach, Baden, Germany, on the 23rd of December, 1827, emigrating to the United States in December of 1851, and locating at St. Charles, Missouri. Here, on August 1, he was married to Caroline, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthias Stilmire, and in the spring of 1856 came with his 3'oung bride to Mankato. For nearly half a century Stephen Lamm continued to reside in Mankato as one of its most prosperous merchants, ablest financiers, and most trusted, enterprising and liberal citizen. i'rom 1856 until 1885, his pursuits were chiefly mercantile, and after the latter year his time was mainly devoted to real estate, loans and banking. At the time of his death in 1902 he had held the presidency of the First National Bank for a period of seventeen years. He was treasurer of Blue Earth county in 1857-60, was long a mem- ber of the City council, as well as the incumbent of other local offices, and the measure of the public honor conferred upon him was simply his capacity to perform such duties and give his pri- vate affairs the attention which was absolutely necessary. Otto Lamm, the son, was educated in the pa- rochial schools, but was employed at an early age as assistant bookkeeper for John Klein. From 1S91 to 1899 he engaged in the furniture busi- ness with his brother, George S., but in the lat- ter year founded his own establishment at No. 169 South Front street. The enterprise con- tinued to flourish on that site until he entered into partnership with John H. Hohman, and erected the mammoth store on Front street, in 1906. This great four-story building is of brick, it."5 floor dimensions, seventy-six by one hundred and thirty feet, and admirably combined the business requisites of commodiousness, conven- ience and attractiveness. Its stock was remark- ably complete and up-to-date and as both part- ners were practical men, the quality, as well as the style was of the best. But soon the busi- ness was disposed of and the two partners became connected with tha Standard Brewery Company of Mankato. Aside from his devotion to such an institu- tion, and the natural pride which he takes in it as a personal creation, Mr. Lamm is loyal to all movements which tend to advance the develop- ment of Mankato, along business, educational and moral lines. He is a leader in the work of the Commercial Club and an active member of the St. Peter and Paul's church; also identified with the Automobile Club and the fraternities. Knights of Columbus, Elks, and Foresters. Mr. Lamm was married November 20, 1901, to Min- nie Hohman, daughter of Casper Hohman, of St. Louis, and they are the parents of Eugene J. and Theresa M. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 469 LAMM, EDWARD L.— Of the younger gener- ation of business men of Mankato who are pur- suing useful callings,, mention is clue Edward L. Lamm, since liHl.") the owner and proprietor of a drug store at 307 North Front street. iMr. Lamm was born in Mankato October 8, 1879, and is a son of Leo and Trena (Guth) liamm, natives of Baden, German}^, and Quincy, Illi- nois, respeetivelv. Leo Lamm came to Mankato in the summer of 1854, and thereafter plied his trade of shoemaknig until shortly before his death in 1898, at the age of sixty-four years. He is survived by his wife and nine" of his family. Mr. Lamm was educated in the public and parochial schools of Mankato, and in 1896 be- gan to learn the drug business as a clerk for the Seidle Drug Company, with whom he remained about four years. He next found employment Avith the H. I. Parry Drug Company, and in 1905 bought out the business he at present con- ducts, and Avhieh he has greatly enlarged and irr.proved. Among other furnishings he has added a new prescription case and has greatly increased his stock of staple and patent drugs. He has a neat and well kept store, and at night thfc lights throw out an inviting and cheerful glow upon the ])asser.s by. Mr. Lamm draws and keeps trade by his reliability, thoroughness and obligingness, and though an independent merchant for a comparatively brief period, he already has many dependable and frequent pa- trons. Because of his musical ability and appreciation, Mr. Lamm has materially elevated the musical standard of Mankato, and has been the leader of the Lamm orchestra since 1901. The orchestra has delighted thousands with its sane and sym- pathetic interpretation of the best masters, and gives promise of a long and prosperous musical c?reer, having already the reputation of being the best orgaJiization of its kind in this part of Blue Earth county. Mr. Lamm's social side finds an outlet in the Nicollet Council, Knights 01' Columbus, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the Commercial Club. LAMP, BENTLEY.— The family represented by this progressive farmer of Blue Earth county originated in Germany and exhibits in the lives cl' its members the sturdy characteristics of the Teutonic race. Prior to the war of the Eevolu- Ijon George Lamp emigrated from the Fatherland and settled in \'irginia. With him came a broth- er, who enlisted in the war with England and served his adopted country faithfully and well as soldier in the ranks. Some years after his marriage to ftliss Millburn and the birth of their son, Abraham the original emigrant, George Lamp left the Old Dominion and established the family in the wilderness of Ohio, where he remained until death terminated his pioneer ac- tivities. On a farm which he assisted in clear- ing from the primeval wilderness Abraham Lamp engaged in agricultural pursuits until he passed from earth at an advanced age. Among the children born of his union with Eliza Hessen, one was a son, Isaiah, born in Belmont county, Ohio, and married to Elizabeth Burns, a narive of the same place. Her father, George Xathan Burns, was a native of Virginia, whence he re- moved to Ohio, in boyhood in company with his parents, settling on a raw tract of land, which he assisted in developing into a valuable farm. On leaving Ohio for the cheaper lands of the west, where he might profitably engage in farm pursuits, Isaiah Lamp settled in Illinois, but two years later he made a tour of investigation into ilinnesota and at that time selected a location ip the eastern part of the state near Mantorville, Dodge county. Returning to Illinois he brought his family with him to Minnesota, settled on a rented farm, and for two years remained in that place, but at the expiration of that time he remoA'ed to Blue Earth county and bought a claim in Sterling township. The remaining years of his life were passed in farm pursuits on this property and he attained a fair degree of success as fl-ell as a high standing among his neighbors. During March of 1864 he enlisted in Company B, Braekett's Battalion, and was ordered to the western frontier. For a year the company re- mained on duty in Idaho, after which they were transferred to Devil's Lake in North Dakota. In June of 1866 they were honorably discharged from the army and returned to their various homes. In the family of Isaiah Lamp there are four 470 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. daughters now living in Blue Earth county and cne daughter in Kenville county, this state. The only son, Bentley, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, October 4, 1854, and at an early age ac- companied the family to Blue Earth county, where he attended the schools of Sterling town- ship. Eemaining at the old homestead until 1S96, during that year he purchased the M. M. Pi-att farm and on it he has since made his home, still owning however, the original farm, and hav- ing altogether landed possessions aggregating f(rur hundred acres. Plowing water adds to the value of both farms and good buildings increase the ease with which the owner cares for his stock and stores his grain. In addition to raising general farm products, the stock business is con- ducted; dairy cattle of the Jersey breed are car- ried on the land, hogs and good grades are raised for the markets and bring in excellent revenues, while Morgan horses are the type mostly carried for work and for breeding purposes. The excel- lent condition of the farm proves the owner to be a man of judgment, energy and perseverance. The marriage of Mr. Lamp took place in July of 1878 and united him with Ella, daughter of M. M. Pratt, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.' The children comprising their family are as follows : Eugenia and Cora, who are popular teachers in this state; Wallace, who hap started out for himself in Oklahoma and is meeting with success; Glennie, deceased; Inez and Lulu, who remain with their parents on the home farm. Always interested in educational affairs, Mr. Lamp has given his children the best local advantages possible and has served with efficiency as a member of the school board. For some time he also officiated as chairman of the township board of trustees. LANG, JOHF IST. — Among the stock dealers and business men of Mankato and Blue Earth county, John ISF. Lang, is among the most promi- nent, enterprising and progressive and this, al- though he is still a young man in the early "thir- ties. He is a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, born December 4, 1864, the son of John and Jcnette (Ebe) Lang, of Germany, who came to Milwaukee, that state in 1848. and in 1860 migrated to Mitchell County, Iowa. The father is still an active and prosperous stock dealer of the Hawkeye state. There is also an older sister living, ilary, now the wife of Oscar Walker, of Keyster, Iowa. John iST. Lang spent his boyhood days in Wis- consin and Iowa, being educated in the common schools of these states. When he was ten years of age he came with his father to Iowa, and with him obtained a thorough knowledge of the live stock business from the raising of the stock to its disposition in the great markets of the west. When he was twenty-one years of age he left his father's employ and started as an independent dealer at Osage, Iowa. Several years later he came to Mankato, where for six years he was proprietor of a butcher's shop, continuing to buy and sell stock. He is still actively engaged in the latter line, furnishing stock on a large scale to the markets of St. Paul, Sioux City and Chicago. In June, 1906, Mr. Lang formed a partner- ship with Julius A. Anderson in the livery busi- ness, and since that time has assisted in establish- ing a first-class trade, under the firm name of Lang & Anderson which was later disposed of. He is not only a business man of energy and ability, but possesses fine social qualities and is a citizen who has a strong and good influence on the community. Fraternally, he is a member of ths Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Lang was married January 19, 1885, to Miss Mary Louise Blogen, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Boyna) Blogen, of Mankato. LARSOX, DAYID and ELIAS.— During the summer of 1875 Beauford township had added to its capable and industrious farming popula- tion two brothers, David and Elias Larson, who at that time were twenty-one and fourteen years old respectively. They were the sons of Ole and Gertrude Larson, Natives of Bergen, Norway, and were born in Ravine county, Wisconsin in 1854 and 1861, respectively. Ole Larson and his wife were married in Bergen, a seaport and the second city of Norway, in the southwestern part of country, in 1836, and in 1841 set sail for America, thereafter occupying various homes BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 471 ill different parts of the country, and from Ra- cine county, Wisconsin, coming to Blue Earth countv, Minnesota, in 1869. Here the father died in 1871, the mother surviving him until 1901. Both were very religious and highly re- spected people, acquiring a competency as farm- ers and stock raisers, and among other claims upon the consideration of their transplanted coimtr3'men, assisted in erecting the first Norwe- gian Lutheran church in the United States. Be- sides Da\id and Elias, who were the second and third oldest of their six children, there survives John, a resident of Lamberton; and Mrs. A. Sonve, of Beauford township. In Wisconsin David and Blias Larson acquired a fair common school education but the problem of self support confronted them too early to make study anything but a secondary consideration. L'pon coming to the to-ivuship which now is their home they bought three hundred and twenty acres of land two miles north of Mapleton and theii* industry and good judgment has converted this into one of the finest farming tracts in Blue Earth county. They have a comfortable resi- dence and fine barns and general improvements, and they have made a scientific study of the soil and its possibilities in this northern para- dise of farmers. In addition to grain and gen- eral produce they raise horses, cattle and hogs, and in all of their departments of activity main- tain a high and profitable standard. The broth- ers are congenial companions socially, as well a? agriculturally and having no wives or imme- diate kin to minister to their needs and com- fort, depend much upon each other in the every day struggles of existence. Both are kindly disposed and generous gentlemen, devoted to their life work, and always ready to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than them- selves. LATOUEELL, ALEXANDER.— The distinc- tion of being the oldest surviving resident of Danville township, residing continuously on the same property, belongs to Mr. Latourell, who since coming to Blue Earth county in 1859 has made his home on the farm he then took up as a claim. The land lies six miles east and one mile south of Mapleton. Including originally a homestead claim and a timber claim as well, the farm embraces two hundred and forty acres of rol- ling land, with excellent drainage, substantial im- provements and fertile fields bearing their tri- bute of golden grain in return for the owner's care and cultivation. Cattle of the shorthorn variety are raised on the farm, also hogs of Po- land-China strain, while in horses the preference is toward the Norman grades. Some years ago Jlr. Latourell was actively interested in pro- moting county ditch No. 5, five miles in length, extending from section sixteen in Danville town- ship in a northeasterly direction and emptying into the Cobb river in Medo township. By means of this ditch a large amount of territory is drained and it has given the further advan- tage of drying up five small lakes. The Ijatourell family is of French-Canadian extraction. Alexander was born in Leeds county, Ontario, Canada, March 7, 1836, being a son of Francis De Laire and Mary Ann (Touseau) La- tourell, natives of Canada. His father, who was born in the city of Montreal was orphaned by the death of the grandfather. At the time he was about twelve years of age, and three years later he went to Pennsylvania, where he remained for seven years. At the time of his marriage he returned to Canada and there made his home until 1855. A year before his son, Alexander, came to the United States and trav- eled in search of a location, visiting Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, and finally locating in the latter state in Green Lake county. There the father and other members of the family joined him. In 1859 the majority of the members of the family came to ^Minnesota and afterward made their home in Danville township for longer or shorter periods. There were in tTie family the following named sons and daughters ; Caroline, deceased ; Charles W., who died before the family left their Cana- dian home; Julia Ann, the widow of Shadrack Spaulding, ^and a resident of Wisconsin; Alex- ander ; John Wesley, residing near St. Paul ; Reuben Oscar, who engaged in farming in Ore- gon until his death; Angeline, ^Mrs. B. A. Cooper, of North Dakota; Benjamin Franklin, deceased; Francis Washington, residing near 472 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Minnesota Lake; and Lucy Ann of Portland, Oregon. Several of the sons participated in the Civil war as soldiers of the Union. October 11, 1862, Alexander and John Wesley enlisted in Company B, First ]\lounted Regiment of Minne- sota, Tinder Colonel McPhail. The company was mustered in at St. Peter, ordered to Fort Ridgeh', and joined General Sibley in his pursuit of the Indians, driving them across the Missouri river. Returning to Fort Ridgelv, the regiment remained there for a short time and then was removed to Fort Snelling, where they were hon- orably discharged at the expiration of their term of enlistment. During their period of service the company was lined around the gallows on service at the time of the execution of the thirty-eight Indians at Mankato. The family was further represented in the army by Benja- min and Oscar, both of whom were honorably discharged at the expiration of their terms. The former served principally in Tennessee and was a member of Company C, Eleventh Minnesota Infantry. The marriage of Alexander Latourell took place December 38, 1869, and united him with Sophia Neller, a native of Germany, her father, Francis A. Neller, having been a pioneer of 1855 in Minnesota. They became the parents of the following named children : Cora T. and Francis A., both deceased; Charles E., now residing at Duluth, Minnesota; C'lara it., deceased; ilaud C, teaching in Xorth Dakota; Chester Arthur, a telegraph operator in Kanabec county, ]\Iin- nesota; Florence E., a trained nurse in Mankato; Harvey A. and Grover C, both of whom remain on the home farm and aid in its cultivation. The family occupy a comfortable residence and have a position among the most substantial peo- ple of the to-\vnship. In religion they are iden- tified with the Catholic church at ]\Iapleton. While Mr. Latourell has now reached an age and a financial standing that renders unnecessary further continuance in life's activities, such is his energy and perseverance that he finds little satisfaction in rest, and allows himself only the usual amount of recreation. Notwithstanding his exceedingly busy life he does not show his age, but carries his years lightly and gives a stranger the impression of being younger than he confesses to be. .Vll through his long identi- fication with the county he has been prominent in township affairs, at different times has filled all the township offices, for a long period served as a school director and efficiently served as chairman of the township council for fifteen years. In 1907 he bought property in Mapleton village where he now resides and has left the farm in care of a renter. LAURISCIi, CHRISTIAN J.— A young lawyer of Mankato, an active Republican and having a considerable public record. Christian J. Laurisch is a native of Danville, Blue Earth county, and was born on the 2d of October, 1873. His parents, John and Mary (Krause) Laurisch, were natives of Germany and pioneers of Wisconsin, migrating to ]\Iinnesota in 1866 and settling on a farm in Danville township. There the father died in 1900, at the age of fif- ty-seven years, his wife and the mother of C'hristian J. Laurisch- still surviving him. John Laurisch was a faithful soldier of the civil war, serving throughout as a private of the Third Wisconsin Infantry and receiving his share ot honorable wounds. The year after the war he removed to Minnesota and for some time was identified somewhat prominently with Mapleton, Blue Earth county. Christian J- Laurisch was the fifth in a fam- ily of eleven children, nine of whom are still living. Through the public and high schools of Wells, Minnesota, he received his preliminary education, being trained to farm work during this period and at its conclusion turning himself to the task of imparting instruction through the district schools of this, and Waseca county. While teaching he also commenced the study of law in the office of A. R. Pfau, continuing thus from 1893 until 1895, when he left to attend the law department of the University of i\Iinnesota, and when he was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1896, located at Mapleton. He remained at the latter location until Pebru- aiy, 1906, when he became a resident attorney of Mankato as a member of the firm of Pfau, Pfau & Laurisch. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 473 Mr. Laurisch has been an active and leading Eepublican for some years, having served dur- ing six years as Village Recorder and City At- torney at Mapleton. He is a stockholder in the bank at that place and at one time was a direc- tor. He is also influential in fraternal circles through his identiiication with the A. F. and A. M., K. P. and B. P. 0. E. Mr. Laurisch's wife, to whom he was married August 12, 1903, was formerly Anna Lulu Little, of Water- town, South Dakota. LAURISCH, PRANK.— The high standing of Danville township as one of the best agricul- tural communities of Blue Earth county may be attributed to the energy and intelligence of the fanners whose patient efforts and well-directed labors have been fruitful of permanent results for the well-being of the township. Nor have other families been more energetic or industrious than the one represented by the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch and whose father was an honored and resourceful pioneer. The homestead so long occupied by the father is now the property of the son and stands on section one, comprising one hundred and eighty acres of choice farming land. A neat residence affords a comfortable home for the family. Commodi- ous barns furnish protection for the stock from the icy blasts of winter. Granaries provide for the storage of the crops raised on the land. The elevation of all these buildings is such as to provide excellent drainage and prevent an un- healthful accumulation of water even in times of excessive moisture. On the place where he now resides Frank Laurisch was born October 10, 1869, and was the second son in a family consisting of three sons and six daughters. One of his brothers, C. J., a well-known attorney of ilankato, is rep- resented elsewhere in this volume. The boyhood years of Frank were passed in a comparatively uneventful manner, the routine of farm work in the summer being broken by attendance at the district school during the winter months. Prom an early age he displayed an interest in agri- culture and on arriving at man's estate he se- lected it as his life occupation, which he has since followed with an encouraging degree of success. In February of 189"2 he brought a bride to his home, his marriage having united him with iliss Bessie Di.xon, a native of Free- dom township, ^Vaseca county, and a daughter of Thomas Dixon, an honored old settler of that county. Five children bless their union, Elma, George, Troy, Keuben and Charlotte. Of recent years Mr. Laurisch has become in- terested in raising fine stock and now he has on his farm some splendid specimens that are regis- tered. His Shorthorn cattle have the attractive appearance indicative of pure blood, and the same is true of his Poland-China hogs, tliese two departments of stock-raising being his specialties, and in them he has met vsith commendable suc- cess. He owns a number of fine Perchcron horses and also has some high-grade Hamble- tonians. It is not his policy or preference to participate in public affairs, his tastes being rather for the Cjuiet life on the farm and the enjoyment of domestic pleasures with his chil- dren growing up around him. Yet he shirks no duty that devolves upon a true patriot. His interest in the welfare of his township and county is deep, and his affection for the land of his birth is so intense that removal to another section of the country could not lessen in his heart the ties that bind him to the old hom^. LEHilAX, JOHN F.— In the advancement and development of the agricultural prosperity of Blue Earth county the German by birth or descent has played an all important part. In the pioneer days of the state his conservatism v\'as a lever and his dogged perseverance in the face of difliiculties an al)solute necessity. He always has taught the fundamental business prin- ciple that a dollar should be earned before it should be spent and that to live within one's income ^\as the only sure preparation for ac- quiring a competence. The Lehman family, ^.-hich became identified witli the homestead now operated and owned by John F. Lehman, in Lyra township, in the early "TOs, has set an example of dependable and useful citizenship, culminating in the farming, social and political services of the present head of the familv. 474 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Born June 1, 1871, in Lyra township, Blue Earth county, John F. Lehman is a son of Au- gust S. and Henrietta (Braddmen) Lehman, na- tives of Prussia, Germany, and who came to the United States in 1866. Locating in Dodge county, Wisconsin, the elder Lehman engaged in general farming for five years, then moved north to Lyra township, where he tilled the soil, and where now, at the age of seventy-one years, he still takes a keen interest in the affairs of the younger generation. His wife died February 13, 1896, and five of her seven children still are living : Hnlda, Herman, Minnie, John, and Ade- line. John F. was educated in the public schools and April 19, 1895, was united in marriage to Bertha (Ludwag), daughter of John S. and Al- bertina (Voll) Ludwig, natives of Germany and who came to MapleLon, Blue Earth county in 1885. In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig removed to North Dakota, and now are making their home in Lamaire. To Mr. and Mrs. Lehman have been born four children: Lillie, Irene, Ar- nold and Alfred. The Lehman farm consists of a hundred and twenty acres of land nearly all of which is un- der cultivation. General farming is engaged in, and Poland-China hogs and a good grade of cattle raised. Nearly all of the buildings on the farm were constructed by the elder Lehman him- self and are kept in excellent repair by his son. Mr. Lehman votes the Democratic ticket, and has been prominent in local politics, for many years. He has served as constable in Lyra town- ship, supervisor for three years, and treasurer of the school board for nine years. In religion he is a Lutheran. He takes a many sided in- terest in the affairs of the community, and was the promoter of the Lyra telephone company which, through his tireless exertions covering twenty-eight days, now has thirty-seven sub- scribers. For this service he is entitled to and iu large measure has, the gratitude of the rural dwellers of the township. He is a wide-awake and enterprising man, thoughtful of the wel- fare of others, and winning confidence and re- spect because of his business sagacity and up- rightness. LENTZ, FREDERICK.— A goodly number of the men now prominent in the agricultural affairs of Blue Earth county owe their success to the inheritance of sturd}-, thrifty, enterpris- ing and economical .qualities that come as a heritage from a long line of Teutonic ancestors, supplementary to which they have enjoyed, as factors in their progress, the benefit of traits more especially characteristic of the people of the United States. Included in the list of Ger- man-American residents of the county we pre- sent the name of Frederick Lentz, who for a long period has made his homo in Danville town- ship and meanwhile has acquired the title to a farm comprising nearly four hundred acres. In addition to this property, which is his homestead, he is the owner of a quarter-section farm situ- ated in North Dakota. The acquisition of large landed possessions marks him as a man of sa- gacious judgment and keen foresight, while the substantial improvements noticeable on his home place bespeak his love of neatness and order. Besides the raising of general farm products and the fattening of hogs and cattle for the market, he carries a large herd of dairy cattle and is interested in and manager of the Danville Star creamer}', which is located on his farm. As previously intimated the Lentz family is of German origin. Carl and Henrietta (Buss) Lentz were born, reared and married in Pflu- grade Pommern, Germany, from which place they emigrated in 1866 and arriving in the United States proceeded direct to Wisconsin. In 1867 they removed to Minnesota and settled in Danville township. Blue Earth county, where they passed their remaining days. Two of their children are now living. Frederick, who was the youngest of the family circle, was born in Pflugrade Pommern, Germany, February 1, 1852, and received his education in the excellent schools of his native province. After accom- panying his parents to America he aided them in the development of a tract of raw land in Min- nesota and while living there he formed the ac- quaintance of Miss Louisa Schmidt, daughter of John Schmidt, an honored pioneer of the com- munity. Mrs. Lentz was born in Dodge county, BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 475 Wisconsin, moving to Minnesota in 1867, and tliere was united in marriage with Mr. Lentz February 1, 1874, her death occurring March 8, 1907. Surviving her were the following chil- dren: Charles P., who now conducts a mer- cantile establishment at Lake Wilson, Murray county, Minnesota; Lydia, who married Otto Schultz and died February 24, 1907, at her home in Vivian, Waseca county, this state; John, who remains at the old homestead and assists in its cultivation ; Sarah, Mrs. Karl Schultz, of Vivian ; Walter, William, Clarence, Oscar and Ethel, all of whom remain at home. Ever since his marriage Mr. Lentz has been engaged in independent farming in Danville township, where now he owns and occupies one of the best places in the community, and has risen from a position of poverty through con- stant labor to a place of honor, influence and financial standing in his locality. The farm of which he is the owner possesses exceptional advantages for drainage through the fact that the ground is rolling, and thus fair crops can be raised even in seasons when there is an excess of moisture. The neat residence and the sub- stantial farm buildings were built under his supervision and afford .the best of facilities for comfort and convenience. It is the ambition of the owner to have his place compare favorably with the best in the township and he spared neither labor nor time in bringing about the desired result. LEO^TARD, HENRY F.— The Leonard fam- ily comes from Hessen and Prussia, where the ancestors resided as far back as the genealogy can be traced. The founder of the name in America was Quirinus Leonard, who came from his native land to the new world at the age of twelve years and settled in Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, there attending school and growing to man's estate. Early in life and immediately after he left school he followed the profession of a teacher, but after his removal to Mankato, Min- nesota, he turned his attention to business enter- prises. For a time he conducted general mer- cantile affairs and later became interested in the real esetate and insurance business at Mankato, where he remained until his death, December 5, 1898, at the age of sixty-three years. Sur- viving him is his widow, Elizabeth (Keber) Leonard, a resident of Mankato. Also he is survived by four of his ten children, namely : Frank J., who is engaged as hotelkeeper at Virginia, ilinnesota; Peter W., who entered the priesthood of the Roman Catholic church and is now a professor in Canisius College in Buffalo, New York; Henry F., who was seventh among the ten children, and Katherine, who resides in Mankato. During the residence of the family at Jordan, Minnesota, Henry F. Leonard was born May 36, 1871. Brought to Mankato in early childhood, he was sent to the parochial school in this city and received a fair education there. For a time he assisted his father in the mercantile estab- lishment and later became his aid in the general real estate and insurance business, with which gradually he gained a complete familiarity, and then became a partner under the firm title of Q. Leonard & Son. January 1, 1899, he suc- ceeded to the business after the death of his father and has since conducted the same, rep- resenting among other companies the Royal, Liverpool, Germania of New York, Connecticut of Hartford and American of Newark, New Jersey. The marriage of Henry F. Leonard in 1896 united him with Mary J., daughter of Joseph B. Huettl, of Mankato. They are the parents of five children, Elizabeth M., Marie K., Quiri- nus P., William J. and Alfred S. The family are prominent members of St. Peter and Paul's German Catholic church at Mankato and have contributed liberally of time and means to its charities and missionary movements. The benevo- lent society of the church has been under the leadership of Mr. Leonard as its president for four successive years, and he further acts as secretary of the Calvary Cemetery Association. Identified with the Knights of Columbus, he has had the office of financial secretary of the local lodge for two 3'ears and is also secretary of the D. R. K. U. G. V. M. He is also a member of the finance committee of the D. R. K. U. G. V. M. The Booster Club of Mankato numbers him among its members, and he main- 476 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. tains a warm concern in all movements for the upbuilding of the city and the extension of its business industries. Besides the organizations previously named, he is identified with the Ger- man Land Company, in which he now holds the office of president; and in addition he holds the position of president of the Weekly Post Pub- lishing Company, Incorporated. LEWIS, DAVID J.— Many of the most thrif- ty and persevering farmers of Minnesota came to this country from Wales, and among the num- ber, mention should be made of the late David J. Lewis, an honored citizen of Blue Earth county and an industrious farmer occupying a valuable estate in South Bend township. Born in the southern part of Wales, he was a son of Joseph J. and Ann (Rowland) Lewis who were natives and lifelong residents of Wales. The education of David J. Lewis was obtained in the schools of his native land. Under the careful training of his parents he was taught to be eco- nomical, industrious and persevering, and these traits stood him in good stead when prosecuting hi,"^' life work in the northwest. Upon crossing the ocean to the United States in 1842 David J. Lewis settled in Kew York and found no difficulty in earning a livelihood there, but it was his desire to become a land owner and he determined to secure i^roperty in the northwest, where lands were then cheap. In 1855 he came to Blue Earth county and settled among the few farmers of the region. Indians still roamed through the forests and sometimes molested the lonely settlers on the frontier, but he had no difficulty with them, and was able to prosecute his farm work without interruption. Out of an unattractive tract of land he evolved a fine farm and here he remained until his death in January of 1904. Many friends mourned his loss and testified as to his worth of character and generosity of disposition. Upon coming to Blue Eartli county Mr. Lewis was a bachelor. A few years later he estab- lished a home. July 12, 1859, he married Miss Margaret Jones, who was born in the south of Wales ^N^ovember 13, 1837. Her parents, Thom- a'- and Ann (Roderick) Jones, were natives of tiiC part of Wales where her birth occurred. As early as 1841 they came to the United States and settled at Waukesha, Wisconsin, wliere they were pioneers. From there in 1855 they came to Blue Eartli county and settled in South Bend township where the father died in 1861. Llis widow sub- sequently removed to Oregon, where her death occurred in 1877. Although Thomas Jones died s^ix years after coming to Blue Earth county, he in that short time had proved himself to be a Avorthy citizen and progressive man, and the pioneers felt a personal loss through his demise. He brought the first threshing machine and the first mower into the county and interested others in these labor saving implements. In addition, he acted as the first surveyor in the county. While he had received . no special training in surveying, he possessed decided skill along that line and his old surveys are still recognized as authoritative. The family of Thomas Jones comprised nine children, namely; Edward, Ann, Mary, Humphrey Eliza, Margaret, Thomas, John and Roderick. On- ly three are now living, viz : Humphrey, Thomas and ilrs. Lewis. The union of David J. Lewis and wife was blessed with ten children, eight of whom survive, as follows : Joseph R. and Anna R., who make their home in North Dakota; Thomas D., living in Blue Earth county; Eliza- beth, wife of H. A. Alleman, of Mankato; Mary and David E., who are living in North Dakota; Ida j\I. and Humj^hrey E., who reside with their mother on the old homestead, Humphrey now having charge of its cultivation and improve- ments. LEWIS, H. L.— The history of the little set- tlement at Jamestown had covered only a com- paratively brief period when the founder of the Lewis family in America came hither in com- pany with a colony of Welsh families. When the Revolutionary war began Samuel Lewis, a descendant of the original immigrant, enlisted for service and was chosen captain of his com- pany, remaining in that position and enduring all the hardships of that fateful struggle until finally peace was restored. Succeeding gener- ations scattered all over the country, and where- BI0GRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 471 over the name became established it stood for pa- triotism, pioneer spirit and a high degree of in- telligence. During the middle years of the nine- teenth century Rev. G. F. Lewis, a Presbyterian minister, removed with his family from New York to Wisconsin, where he took up preaching in sparsely settled agricultural districts. Among his children was a son, B. S., who was born in New York, studied la^' at Union college, Schenec- tady, New York, was admitted to the bar in early manhood, and during 1866 removed to Minnesota, settling as attorney at Waseca. As the years passed by he built up an enviable repu- tation in his profession and came to rank among the most successful attorneys of the. state. It was said by many that no lawyer had a more thorough knowlege of state laws and their appli- cation than did Mr. Lewis, and his death in 1890 at the age of fifty years removed from the state one of her most brilliant counselors and advo- cates. In addition to hie law practice he accom- plished much in behalf of educational work in his home city and was a stanch friend of the pub- lic school system. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Eaton was born in Wisconsin, the daughter of a pioneer merchant of that state. The only son and one of three children of B. S., and Mary Lewis, the gentleman whose name introduces this article was born at AYaseca, Min- nesota, July 10, 1872, and received his educa- tion in public schools. It had been his intention to take a collegiate course, but after graduating from the high school at the age of eighteen his health was so poor that further study was deemed unwise, accordingly he entered upon business ac- tivities. For a time he was employed at Janes- ville, Waseca county, but after eight months there he resigned to accept an offer from the James Quirk Milling Company at Waterville, this state. Luring the following eleven years he was mostly in their employ and rose to be secretary, treas- urer and assistant manager of the company. However, for eighteen months of this time he v.-as away from the tirm, having founded a bank at Madison Lake, with which he continued for eighteen months. In 1903 he bought out the Mapleton Milling Company, the capacity of which since he took charge has been increased from one hundred and fifty barrels to five hun- dred barrels, running twenty-four hours. The pleasant home of Mr. Lewis at ilapleton is presided over by the accomplished young lady whom he married October 12, 1898, and who was Miss Grace L. Everett, daughter of ]\L E. Ever- ett, an attorney of AYatcrville, this state. Two sons bless their imion, Mahlon and Benedict. In this connection it will not be amiss to make mention of the Mapkton Milling Company, the leading industry of the town flhose name it bears. That the mill has been of gTeat local im- portance may be inferred from the fact that the company not only buys the wheat raised by the farmers for miles in every direction, but also from their treasury is paid out every year thous- ands of dollars in ^Yages to employes, thus prov- ing of inestimable value to the business interests of the place. The history of the enterprise dates back to the year 1880, when Moses Gates and Peter Nelson visited ^Mapleton and secured a bonus of $1,000 for a grist mill. An excellent mill was soon in operation, but the proprietors, being more interested in erecting mills than man- aging them, sold out to Sherman Peet. James Pearson was the head miller of the first mill, and he was succeeded by Charles Eogers. In 1886 the old stone system was replaced by mo- dern rolls. In February, 18S7, the mill was destroyed by fire. Ten days later the people of the village and surrounding country assembled in meeting and subscribed a bonus of $1,500 to i.s^ist in the building of a new mill. The work of reconstruction was taken up so promptly that just four months after the fire a new mill start- ed to grind flour with John Hendee as head mil- ler. In November, 1887, S. Peet took in as partner Daniel W. Brooks. A modern engine was purchased, and James Pearson was prevailed upon to return as head miller. The cash sys- tem was instituted and matters were placed upon a business basis. Another change came into the management of the mill when Starkcy & Ketzeback bought the property in Alay, 1893. The capacity was in- creased, the plant was run night and day to meet the growing demand for their flour, and an ele- vator was erected with a capacity of twenty-five thousand bushels. Early in 1902 Mv. Ketze- back, died, and in order that home business men 47h BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. might retain his interest, it was purchased from his heirs by W. A. and E. B. Hanna, H. M. Qninn and H. C. Hotaling. In March of 1903 J. T. Starkey, sold liis interest to H. L. lewis and W. E. Everett, and a reorganization was effected with Mr. Lewis as manager. A Corliss engine was installed of two hundred and fifty horsepower. About this time the local business men sold their shares to capitalists, so that the present owners are W. J. Jennison and W. J. Eussell, of Minneapolis, and Jlr. Lewis and Joseph Zahalka, of Mapleton. The mill con- sumes about two thousand bushels of wheat daily and its leading brand of flour, Maplesota, is known far and wide. It is the intention of the owners to increase the capacity from time to time and also to adopt every modern improvement as it is presented to the milling world. In fact, it is the policy of the firm to utilize only modern machinery for in no other way can the competition of the twentieth century be met. Everything about the place bespeaks the progres- sive spirit of the owners, and the only spot in the mill where one may find a reminder of the milling system of pioneer days is in the base- ment, where several of the old mill stones are fiimly cemented in the floor, relics of early mill- ing in Mapleton. LEWIS, WILLIAM E.— The changes wrought by the past one-half century in the history of Blue Earth county are familiar to Mr. Lewis, who has been an eye-witness of local progress and a contributor to agricultural development. It was during the year 1856 that he arrived in this section of the northwest with other mem- bers of the family joining his father, who had come here the previous year. At that time settlers were few and houses were five miles or more apart. The arduous task of transform- ing a raw tract of land into a fertile farm fell upon the family and the early years of their residence in this county were years of unceasing struggle and self-sacrificing toil. They also witnessed the horrors of the Indian war of 1862. Eventually they reaped the reward of their la- bors and became known as prosperous and pro- gressive farmers and upright citizens whose identification with the community was advantag- eous to its highest growth. Born in Wales, July 11, 1835, William E. Lew- is is a son of Morris and Mary (Jones) Lewis, the former a miner, who came to the United States in 1839. Two years later the family joined him and settled in Pennsylvania. At first he worked at Pottsville and later at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, from which city he went to Arkon, Ohio, and later worked in mines at Brady's Bend, Pennsylvania. As early as May of 1855 he became a pioneer of Minnesota and took up a tract of government land" in Blue Earth county, where a year later the family joined him. On the land that he pre-empted he remained for many years and here his death occurred in 1882. Eventually his widow re- moved to Mankato, where in 1901 her death oc- curred. The father was one of a family of twelve children, whose parents were humble mem- bers of a Welsh mining community and he had no chance whatever to gain an education or to lift himself out of the poverty to which he was born; but notwithstanding these obstacles he gained independence and won recognition among the farmers of his locality. At the early age of ten years William E. Lewis began to assist his father in the coal mines in Pennsylvania, and after he came to Minnesota he helped to clear and improve the claim on Avhich the family settled. Agriculture has been his life work, but of recent years he has retired from farm pursuits and is making his home at Lake Crystal, where he has many friends among the most substantial citizens. In politics he has always been a stanch believer in Eepublican prin- ciples. During the Civil war his sympathies were strongly on the side of the Union, and De- cember 23, 1863, he enlisted in the United States army in the Civil War as a private in Company E, Second Minnesota Cavalry, with which he en- gaged in service in the Indian Wars of those days. With the regiment he received an honor- able discharge November 22, 1865, at Fort Snelling. Since the organization of A. T. Mur- phy Post No. 108, G. A. E., he has been one of its active members and has maintained an interest in its work. In religion he is identified with the Baptist church. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 479 The marriage of Jlr. Lewis took place July 29, 1862, and united him with Miss Sarah Davis. Eight sons and five daughters were born of their union. The following attained years of ma- turity: John E., who resides at Walla Walla, Washington; Morris M., who died at the age of thirty-five years; Mary Ann, who married Ed- ward E. Nichols a farmer, and makes her home near New Ulm, Minnesota; Elizabeth, wife of William S. Evan.';, a farmer of Blue Earth county; Thomas E., who is emploj'ed in the gov- ernment service in Montana, and who for three years was a soldier in Company M, Tenth Unit- ed States Infantry and spent two years in the Philippine Islands; William M., who is mar- ried and carries on farm pursuits in Blue Earth county; Edwin, a farmer residing near Lake Crj'stal; Mattie, who married Walter Wolfenden and resides in Lake Crystal, Minnesota; and David J., who is now in Montana in the gov- ernment service. LOOK, HENEY LEE.— On a farm in Pleas- ant Mound township adjoining the township line of Shelby on the east, may be found Henry Lee Look busily engaged in the various duties atten- dant upon the management of a profitable proper- ty. The family of which ho is a member has been represented in America ever since the Pil- grim Fathers crossed the rough seas to the bleak and barren shores of New England. His grand- fathers, Samuel W. Look and Columbus Harvey, were natives of New England, and descended from pioneer families of that region. The par- ents, William Henry and Emily Luce (Harvey) Look, were born in "Maine, the former during the year 1849. The second name of the mother. Luce, has been in the family for nine generations and was first borne by a progenitor who came over in the historic Mayflower. The grandfather was a sea captain and com- manded his own ship. At the time of the dis- covery of gold in California he fitted out a ship snd started by ocean to California, where after a long voyage he landed at San Francisco. Fol- lowing the custom usual to the time and place, his crew deserted him. Thereupon he proceeded io Oregon and remained for a year engaged in the fibbing business. After returning to San Fran- cisco he secured another crew for his ship, pro- ceeded to the isthmus of Panama, sold the ship there, and came the rest of the way home in an- other vessel. A year later he started again for Oregon via the Horn. There he made a success- ful trip and engaged in barter with the Indians. On his return he was wrecked near the isth- mus and for a time floated on the roof of a house. After twenty-four hours he was picked up by a French liner. A companion also was rescued, both being unconscious when rescued. Tlie ship was overloaded and comparatively few were saved. As early as 1869 William Henry Look had visit- ed Minnesota and had returned to the east with a favorable impression concerning the northwest. In 1883 he came back and established their home in Shelby township. Blue Earth county, where the grandfather died in 1887. In the fall of 1906 the father sold his interests here and moved to Idaho, where since he has made his home. There were five children in his fam- ily, the second of these being Henry Lee Look, who was born at New Vineyard, Franklin county, Maine, September 12, 1878, and re- ceived oountr}' school advantages, supplemented Ijy attendance at the Amboy high school and the Parker College in Winnebago. At the age of twenty years he started out for himself and since then he has engaged in farm pursuits with a gratifying degree of success. October 6, 1903, he was united in marriage with Clarise Lorena Salisbury, who was born in Pleasant Mound township, Ijcing a daughter of James Salis- bury and a granddaughter of H. E. Salisbury, an honored pioneer. One son has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Look. LOVELL, FEEDEEICK E.— Adjacent to the corporation of Vernon Center lies the homestead of Mr. Lovell, who since coming to the township in 1884 has been the owner and occupant of the farm, and meanwhile has made numerous valu- able improvements. The tract consists of two hundred acres, of which one hundred and fifty acres are under the plow, while the balance is utilized for the pasturage of the stock and for 480 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. such other purposes as the needs of the place demand. Farm products suited to the soil and climate are raised on the farm, which is one of the most productive in the township. In addition considerable attention is devoted to the raising of Poland-China hogs and Holstein cattle, and a specialty is made of the dairy industry. Wisconsin is Mr. Lovell's native state, he hav- ing been bom December 10, 185G, in Dodge county, where his parents, John and Rosamund (Chapin) Lovell, engaged in agricultural pur- suits until their death. Primarily educated in public schools in the county, he was later sent to Ripon college in Wisconsin, where he availed himself of the fine opportunities cfl^ered for the acquiring of a good education. ^ATien he had completed his collegiate course he took up school teaching, which profession he followed both in Wisconsin and in ^Minnesota, and later he dis- played his deep interest in educational work by rendering faithful service as a member of the school board for a long period, also as its treas- urer for six years. While still living in Wisconsin Mr. Lovell was there married, September 19, 1883, to Clem- entina Whitcomb, daughter of Joseph and Mar- garet (C'ameron) AAliitcomb, pioneers at Hus- tisford, Dodge county, Wisconsin, engaging in agricultural pursuits in that part of the state until their death. The year after their marriage Mr. and JMrs. Lovell came to Blue Earth county and settled in Yernon Center township, where tliey have since occupied the same farm and giv- en their attention to its improvement. In re- ligious views they are identified with the Meth- odist Episcopal church and give generously to its missionary enterprises and general benefactions. Three children blessed their union, and to them every advantage was given in order to prepare them for the responsibilities of life. The only daughter, iMargaret, married Miles Porter, an at- torney at Lamberton, this state. The sons, John and James, are yet at home, and the form- er is preparing for the profession of the law by a course in the state university. Fraternally Mr. Lovell holds membership with Vernon Cen- ter Lodge No. 131, Knights of Pythias, and also is identified with the local work of the Mutual Benevolent Association. It has not been his custom to bind himself to either of the political parti( for he maintains an independent attitude in pc litical matters and gives his ballot to the me: and measures he deems best qualified to promot the welfare of his town and county or the larg er interesls of the nation. LOVELL J. PIERCE.— During the eolonia era of American history the Lovell faniil crossed the ocean from England to the ne^ world and identified themselves with the grow ing fortunes of the rich colony of A'irginia, h tlie early development of which they material! aided. The tide of emigTation carried them to ward the west,' the first of the family to settle ii the Mississippi valley being Reuben Lovell, pioneer of Illinois and a lifelong farmer. Nex in line of descent was George W. Lovell bori Jan. 39th, 1843, in Schuyler county, Illinois and there married ilary Jane Toland who wa born Jan. 3, 1843, also a native of the same re gion. As early as 1864 the family became pio neers of Minnesota, where soon afterward th father enlisted in Battery F, First Regiment o j\Iinnesota Heavy Artillery. Dnder the com mand of General Thomas he was stationed a Xashville and Chattanooga and at the expira tion of his time received an honorable discharge after which he took up farm pursuits near Nash ville center, Martin county, Minnesota, and eve since he has remained a resident of the sam locality. Among ten children comprising the family o George W. Lovell the eldest, J. Pierce, was bor: in Schuyler county, Illinois, January 9, 186J and has been a resident of Minnesota from hi earliest recollections, receiving such advantage as the country schools of the state afforded an gaining a thorough knowledge of the duties whic enter into successful farming. At the age c twenty years he left the old farm and starte out to earn his own way as an agriculturist, » curing a farm near Nashville Center and opera ing the land for a considerable period. In 189 l.e disposed of his interests in Martin county au came to Blue Earth county, where he owns a far: on section twenty-eight, Shelby township, nef the village of Amboy. The tract comprises ovi BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 481 one hundred acres and the river forms its eastern boundary line. Excellent natural drainage gives facilities for the cultivation of the crops. The ptoek business brings a considerable annual reve- nue, the principle lines being red polled cattle, and Norman and Hambletonian horses. The marriage of Mr. Lovell took place July 2, 1890, and united him with Miss Gertrude Dodd, wlio was born at Catskill, Green county. New York, and was educated at Uie C'atskill Acad- emy. The family was established in America by her grandfather, William Dodd who crossed the ocean in IS'i-i and settled at Catskill, New York. Her father, Thomas Dodd, was born at Westmoreland, England, March 23, 1818, and vas a small child when the family emigrated to the United States, where he received fine edu- cational advantages at llui.aers Coilego, New Eiunswick, N. J. During early manhood he taught in a reform school in the city of New Y'ork. In 1819 he married Elizabeth Stevens, v,ho was born Nevember 13, 1824, at Gilboa, Schoharie county. New Y'ork. Her mother was Nancy Du Boice great grand daughter of Louis Du Boice, relative of Guillaume Du Boice, French statesman and one of the negotiators of the triple Alliance 1717 and from 1721 till his death in 1725 lie governed France as prime minister, and Jier father traced his lineage to England. A devoted Christian woman, she reared her children in that faith and her daughter, Mrs. Lovell, became a member of the Presljy- teriaii church, in which religion she in turn is training her only child, iliss Elizabeth Lovell. The Dodd family left the east in 1.S5G and settled in Wisconsin. For six yeais ]\Ir. Dodd taught in that state, also in Missouri and Illi- nois, after which he returned to New York and remained for four years. His residence in Min- nesota dated from 1863, when he entered land in Martin county. For eight years he was em- ployed as a missionary of the Prcsbvterian board of home missions for which work he was admirably qualified by his profound knowledge of the Scriptures and his consecrated devo- tion to the cause of Christianity. The last four years of his self-sacrificing, earnest existence were passed on his farm west of Aml)ov, this state, and there he passed away in 1875. The only 91 fi'aternal organization in which ilr. Lovell main- tains an interest is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Educational matters always re- ceive his earnest support and he has rendered efficient service as a member of the school board of his district. LUDTKE, HENRY.— The scientific phases of agriculture have appealed with especial interest to Mr. Ludtke who believes that some of the old-fashioned methods of farming have no rea- son for continuance- except in usage and tradi- tion ; and ho has been in distinct sympathy with twentieth-century plans of cultivation of the soil and maintaining the fertility of the same. The origin of his interest in scientific farming dates back to his training in the Minnesota School of Agriculture at St. Paul, where he took the complete course of three years, grad- uating in 1902. During two years of the course he took military training in addition to agricultural work and in his last year at the school he was honored by being chosen captain of his company. His interest in military affairs is inherited from his father, who once served in the German army and always delighted in the study of military tactics. Born in Pleasant Mound township. Blue Earth county, February- 24, 1875, Henry Ludtke is a son of Emel and .Tuli" (Tesky) Ludtke, . natives of Posen, Germany. The paternal grand- father Christov Ludtke, was born in Posen, Germany, and there spent his entire life, following the occupation of farming. During the year 1867 Emel Ludtke crossed the ocean to the Unit- ed States and at once proceeded to Wisconsin, wliere he settled on a farm near Princeton. The 3'ear 1874, witnessed his removal from Wis- consin to Minnesota, where he settled on a raw tract of land in Pleasant Mound township and took up general farming. In a short time he sold the land and hought seventy-five acres where he still lives. Subsequent purchase gave him forty acres on section eleven, eighty acres on section twelve, and eighty acres on section four- teen, all of whicli property he subsequently trans- ferred to his son, Henry, with whom he is now living-. 4H2 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. There were twelve children in the family, of whom one son is deceased. Five sons and six daughters are now living, and all are married and established in homes of their own. The youngest son, Henry, received his rudimentary education in the district schools, after which he spent three years in the State School of Agricul- ture. September 11, 1902, he married Gusta Bergemann, who was born in Illinois, and came to Blue Earth county with her parents, William and Ernestena Bergemann, settling in the town- ship of Ceresco, where her father died. Her mother continues to live in that township. Two daughters, Gertrude and Leola, comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ludtke. Under the management of Mr. Ludtke are three hundred and eighty-five acres. Willow Creek runs through the farm in such a way as to render possible the thorough tiling of all the land, should such drainage be deemed advisable. Cat- tle, hogs and horses are raised on the farm and tlie returns from their sale prove that the" owner is a skilled stock raiser. For some years Mr. Ludtke has been working in association with the Minnesota School of Agriculture to ascer- tain the value of different varieties of commer- cial fertilizer. Different fields are fertilized with different varieties, the results are carefully notect by him and reports are sent to the college where they are analyzed and results recorded, the final conclusions being published for the benefit of farmers throughout the entire state. LIJLSDORFP, GERHARD.— The custom of learning a useful trade which has been grounded into the youth of the German Fatherland for many centuries of its histor)', has aided in the development of the enterprises of this country to an almost unprecedented extent. Not only is the Old World workman the soul of thorough- ness and reliability, having purchased his ex- perience by long service, rigorous self denial and great singleness of purpose, but he maintains a wholesome respect for the work of his hands, and labors unceasingly towards its ultimate per- fection. The splendid possibilities and inde- pendence assured by such preparedness were em- phatically expressed in the career of Gerhard Lulsdorff, whose name is connected with the establishment, in August, 1863, of the hardwar business now owned and managed by his so] and successor, John A. Lulsdorff, in Mankato. ilr. Lulsdorff was born in Cologne, Prussia April 35, 1827, and after a meagre training ii the public schools served an apprenticeship a carpentering from his thirteenth to his seventeentl }'ear. For three years he traveled through Ger many as a journeyman carpenter, at the expir ation of which time he was drafted into th^ army, and exchanged the tools of constructioi for the weapons of destruction. Army life prov ing distasteful to him, through the interventioi of friends he was released from the service, anc returning to his native city, he was employee in one of its largest factories from 1847 unti 1853. With new world ambitions surging in hii brain he embarked in a sailing vessel for Amer ica in 1853, during May of the same year find ing employment as a cabinet maker in New Yorl City, his first piece of work taking the golc medal at the Crystal Palace exhibition, held sooi after. Beginning in 1854 he engaged in shi| building in New York City, and later ii Thomaston, Maine, but after cutting his foo with an ax in the latter city returned to Nev York and found employment in a piano factory The piano company failing and going out o: business, he went on a tour of inspection througl the southern states, spending the winter in Nca Orleans, in the spring journeying through tb northern states. Upon his return to New Yorl he worked in another piano factory, but hii health failing, he came west to recuperate, spen some time in Wisconsin and Chicago, in thi latter place undergoing a severe spell of sick ness, upon recovery from which he again workec at his trade. In the winter of 1857-8 Mr. Lulsdorfl wen into the building business with Theodor Schroeder, filled contracts in several places ii the state, and while working on a building ii Tuscola, Illinois, the scaffolding broke and hi and his partner were painfully if not serioush injured. Soon after this partnership was dis solved, and Mr. Lulsdorff came to St. Paul, Min nesota, July 15, 1858, the last of Februarj 1859, accompanying three companions to th Red River country. The distinction is due Hi BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 4M3 of having helped to build the Anson Forthrup^ the first steamer that ever plowed the waters of that nortliern stream. He also was one of the first passengers on the boat, going to Fort Gary, now Winnipeg, which then was practically con- trolled by the Hudson Bay Company. Return- ing with a cargo of buffalo hides to Fort Aber- crombie, the party went to St. Paul to get their pay and a fresh supply of provisions, and the return trip, as were many others undertaken around that time, was full of incident and ad- venture. Mr. LulsdorfE in after years delighted to recount his experiences in the wild, undevel- oped region of the Red River, the Indians and big game furnishing him material for many a hair raising narrative. He became a regularly accredited employe of the Hudson River Com- pany in 1860, and the following year, while the rest of the country was torn by the dissen- sion of the Civil war, he built for the Minne- sota Stage Company the first building in the present town of Moorhead. He also erected sev- eral houses for the company in Georgetown, and in 1861 helped build the second boat for the Eed River, named the International, and which began to churn the fl-aters of the river in the spring of 18G"?. The same year occurred the great Sioux outbreak, and all of the employes of the company were obliged to flee for their lives to British Columbia. .V few trusted men, however, were sent back to look after the com- pany's interests at Georgetown, 'Sir. LulsdorfE being of that number. His last undertaking in the great wilderness of the Northwest was to take the boat in which he traveled to Fort Abercrombie for protection. Ami after all, per- sonality is the dominant factor in shaping the course of the average man, and it A\a-; a tin- smith whom Jlr. LulsdorfE met in his travels, that diverted his energy from the desolate and compelling wilds, to tlic city of ^lankato in the fall of 1863. He died June 11, 1906. It was a small and unpromising tinshop that Mr. Luladorfl estal)lishcd in Mankato during 1863, but lie applied himself to his work with the settled determination of a man who has seen and experienced much, and who is glad of the chance to tie his craft to stable moorings. Eventually the tinshop was lost in the hardware store which now is one of the best in the city, and the transformation of which \\'as due to the Teutonic grit and determination of a man who, all through his diversified life, had made a point of doing all things well. In 1887 he took his son, John A., into the business, which from then has been operated under the firm name of LulsdorfE & Son. LTJNKElSrHEIMER, JOSEPH.— Numbered in the list of progressive and energetic farmers of Blue Earth county is the gentleman whose name introduces this article and whose entire life has been passed on the old homestead he still oc- cupies. The farm which he owns and operates comprises eighty acres of well-improved land ly- ing on section twenty-seven. Lime township. The improvements on the place bear testimony to the thrift and orderly spirit characteristic of the oviTier. "A place for everything and every- thing in its place" might be supposed to be One of the mottoes of the occupant whose careful supervision is apparent on e'^ery hand. While the farm is small as to acreage, excellent returns are secured from its cultivation, and the crops are always the best the weather renders possible. On the farm where he still resides Joseph Lunkenheimer was born October 12, 1863, and here he gained his first ideas as to general farm- ing. A neighboring school gave him fair ad- Viintages for acquiring an education and careful reading ha,s enlarged his fund of knowledge. Nov- vcmber 9, 1893, he was united in marriage with ]\riss Mary Kubias, who wa'^ born in Germany September 1, 1ST?, being a daughter of .Joseph, and Louisa (■]\ralijek) Kubias, natives of Ger- rrany, but emigrants to the United States, settling in Minnesota in 1892, and now living in Ren- ville county. Their children are Joseph, Anna, Mary and Amelia. The children of Mr. and ?,lrs. Lunketiheimer are as follows: Augusta M., born August 16, 1894; Louisa, January 16, 1896; Ida T., October 14, 1898; Mary J., De- cember 16, 1900; Paulina, April 38, 1901; and Elizabeth, October 3, 1904. The religious views of the family bring them into association with the Roman Catholic church, to whose philan- thropies they have been generous and regular contributors. 484 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. LUNKENHEIMEE, MICHAEL.— The Ms- tor}' of the Liinkenheimer family has been iden- tified with the agricultural development of Blue Earth county for more than one-half century. Few settlers had arrived in this then lonely re- gion fl-hen in 1854 Jacob Lunkenheimer brought I'is family hither in a "prairie schooner" and be- gan housekeeping in the primitive style com- mon to the day and locality. The spot selected as a home ^ras a tract of unimproved and un- broken land lying in Lime tovraship, and the most arduous application was necessary in order to convert the area into a productive property. Eorty years after he landed here he passed from the scenes of time. During that long period he had witnessed many changes in the coimtry and had personally contributed to the agricul- tural development of the county, so that he had worthily won the title of an honored pioneer. Born and reared in Germany Jacob Lunken- heimer married Agnes Leas, likewise a native of that country. In an early day they immigra- ted to the United States and during 1854 they came to Blue Earth county, where the mother died in 1903, nine years after the death of her husband. They were the parents of ten children, but Joseph and Michael are now the only surviv- ors. Michael was born at the old homestead in Lime township March 13, 1870, and grew to manhood upon the estate where he still lives. His marriage took place in Le Sueur county, Minnesota, April 25, 1893, and united him with Miss Theresa M. Winkelmiller, who was born in JSTicollet county, this state, April 34, 1875. Her parents, Joachim and Theresa (Os- wald) Winkelmiller, were natives of Germany, the father born August 21, 1835, and the mother July 22, 1851. Of their five children, only two are living, Mrs. Lunkenheimer and Stephen, the latter a resident of Germany. During 1873 Mt. Winkelmiller and wife came to the United Slates and settled in Minnesota, where she died June 30, 1880. The union of Mr. and Mrs, lAinkenheimer, has been blessed by six children namely: Henry M., born May 29, 1894; Leo J. born August 7, 1896; Frank G., born April 28 1898; August B., February 27, 1900, and Celia M. and Clarence J. (twins) born March 8, 1905 the family are earnest people and up to date agri- culturists. MeCAETY, A. F.— The quiet discharge c such duties as fall to the lot of a farmer hav characterized the years of Mr. McCarty's resi dence in Blue Earth county. Bach season ha brought its discouragements and its sueeesse and the majority of them have brought a nea profit to repay the tiller of the soil for his un wearied industry, so that now the man wh' came here without any capital whatever i classed among the prosperous citizens of Lyr; township. ^Hien he arrived in Blue Eartl county in 1876 he was without money, but h' had youth and health and an abundance o: energy, and he took up agricultural pursuits ii Lyra township with every hope of gaining thi success he has since achieved. In* addition t( raising grain and hay he has engaged extensively in raising Shorthorn cattle and Poland-Chini hogs. In Cook county, Illinois, near the city o; Chicago, A. F. McCarty was born February 20 1845, being a son of Andrew and Catherini (ISToon) McCarty, natives of Ireland, and pic neers of 1843 in Cook county, Illinois, when they took up a tract of land from the govern ment. Somewhat later they removed to Clifton Illinois, and during 1877 came to Minnesota joined their son in Blue Earth county, estab lished a home in Mapleton, and soon becami well known among the residents of the village They died there and were laid to rest in Maple ton cemetery. Of their ten children eight ar( still living, A. F. having been the fifth in ordei of birth. As before stated, he came to Minne^ sota in 1876 and settled in Lyra township, Blu( Earth county, where he has since risen fron poverty to independence by dint of determinec efforts. The marriage of Mr. McCarty took place ii 1872 and united him with Miss Mary Fogerty daughter of Edward and Johanna (HindsJ Fogerty, natives of Ireland, but pioneers o: Washington county, Wisconsin, and after 187' residents of Blue Earth county, Minnesota where they settled on a farm in Lyra townshi] and continued here until death. Mr. and Mrs McCarty are the parents of ten children, all o whom have received excellent educations am several have engaged in educational work witl noteworthy success. The eldest son, Edwaid P. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 485 is an instructor of mining engineering in tlie Minnesota State University and has gained a wide reputation for, accurate knowledge of his spec- ialty. The second son, Andrew L., is superin- tendent of mining engineering at Silver City, J^ew Mexico, and like his older brother is thor- oughly proficient in his chosen sphere of activity. The other members of the family are Mary, Julia, Eaymond, Charles, Mark, Joseph and Catherine, The family hold membership in the Eoman Catholic church. In politics Mr. Mc- Carty has never allied himself with any party, but has maintained an independence of thought and has cast his ballot for the men he considers best qualified to represent the people, irrespec- tive of their opinions concerning the national problems. More than once he has been called upon to serve the people of his township in posi- tions of trust, and he has acted as chairman and member of the board of trustees, also has been interested in securing good roads and in the building up of good schools throughout the town- ship. McCLEAEY, HON. JAMES THOMPSON.— Distinguished in the annals of Minnesota is the name of Congressman McCleary, whose talents have won recognition in the fields of educational progress, civic advancement and economic wel- fare. It has . been stated with emphatic convic- tion by men competent to judge that few citizens of the northwest have wielded a larger influence throughout the United States than he; few have been more intimately conversant with problems affecting the national welfare and few have given their talents more unreservedly than he to the promotion of progressive measures. Any history of the state must necessarily give prominence to the name of a statesman whose labors have been so effective in the upbuilding of a commonwealth along the lines of permanent educational, moral and economic growth. Nor is the value of his statesmanship lessened (but, on the contrary, materially heightened) when it is learned that he IS not a native-born son of the country with whose national problems he has become extra- ordinarily familiar and whose important issues have been thoroughly grasped by his forceful mind. By birth and parentage he is of Canadian stock and his education was obtained in one of the foremost institutions of that country. But ever since attaining his majority he has been a resident of the states, and his adoption of citizen- ship has been contributory to the highest wel- fare of the country. The life which this narrative sketches, began in IngersoU, Ontario, February 5, 1853, in the home of Thompson and Sarah (McCutcheon) Mc- Cleary, the former of whom was an architect and builder of considerable local prominence, and suf- ficiently prosperous to give to his son the best educational advantages which the province af- forded. The latter, upon leaving McGill Uni- versity in Montreal, sought the opportunities of- fered by the United States, whither he came at the age of twenty years. His tastes and educa- tion qualified him for educational work and we find him successfully following that occupation in country and village schools in Wisconsin. Soon his talents commanded a wider scope of usefulness, and he was made superintendent of the schools of Pierce county. It was only a short time until his championship of modern methods of pedagogy attracted the attention of promi- nent educators, who enlisted his services in teach- ers' institute work. In the year 1881 he came to Mankato as professor of history and civics in the State Normal School and ever since then he has been an influential citizen of Mankato, whose residents maintain a feeling of pride in the prestige which his successful career has given to the city. While engaged in teaching in the Normal School during the winter months it was the custom of Mr. JlcCleary to devote the rest of the year to institute work, and as an instructor in these gatherings he became prominent not only in Jlinnesota and Wisconsin, but as far away from home as Virginia, Tennessee and Col- orado. In 1888 he published a work entitled "Studies in Civics," which was followed six years later by a "Manual of Civics," and both of these have since come into general use as text-books in the best schools of the country. In 1883 he served as secretary of the Minnesota Educational Association and in 1891 he was honored with election as its president. While the duties inci- 486 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. dent to his work called him to various parts of the country, he nevertheless was able to spend a considerable portion of each year in his Man- kato home, with his wife, who was Mary Edith Taylor, and their son, Leslie T. In 1892 Mr. McCleary was elected to congress by the Eepublicans of the Second Congressional District, to which oilice he has been returned for seven successive terms. Through his speeches in the House, on matters of vital importance he has become well known all over the country. Defeated for re-election to congress in 1906, he was immediately on the expiration of his term as congressman, appointed by President Roosevelt as Second Assistant Postmaster General, in charge of the transportation of the mails. Whatever of growth our nation may boast in the future, whatever of permanent stability may come to her industries, whatever of progress may be enjoyed by her commerce at home and abroad, and whatever of prosperity may bless the homes of her thronging multitudes, the credit for such achievements belongs to the group of patriotic, far-seeing anl talented statesmen, of whom Mr. McCleary is numbered among the most eminent. McGregor, BYROIvT.— in studying the bio- graphical history of Blue Earth county, it is in- teresting to note the fact that the work so nobly begun by the pioneers of earlier days is now car- ried forward with increasing success under the management of their descendants. The sons and daughters of the pioneers are the noblest heri- tage they have bestowed upon the world, and those who xemain in the county to carry to com- pletion the tasks commenced by their fathers are bringing to their family names additional honor and prestige. Such is true of the McGregor family, influential in the agricultural develop- ment of Mapleton township and ever prominent in circles to which worth of character is the open sesame. Elsewhere in this volume mention is made of Eraser and Lucy (Latourell) Mc- Gregor, natives respectively of Scotland and Can- ada, and early settlers of Blue Earth county. It is therefore unnecessary to the purport of this sketch to reproduce the events of their lives; suf- fice it to say that tlieir names are honored i local annals and in the memory of their posterit Among the four cliildren of Eraser McGreg( the next to the youngc st was Byron, whose birl occurred in Mapleton township December 3i 1873, and whose early education was secured i the district, school near the old homestead. Sine leaving school he has been a reader of currei periodicals as well as magazines pertaining to th occupation of agriculture, and by extensive reac ing and close observation he has gained a larg fund of valuable information. Regarding agr: cultural affairs he is particularly well informec The treatment of the soil, the cultivation of th crops, the harvesting of the grain, the raising o stock, with these and kindred subjects he is thoi oughly familiar from an experience dating bac to boyhood years. It is his ambition to be successful agriculturist, and nothing less thaj the best is satisfactory to him. The marriage of Mr. McGregor took place ij February of 1900 and united him with Amandi Cummings, daughter of William Cunimings, con cerning whom mention is made elsewhere in thi volume. Mrs. McGregor was born in Mapletoi township, received her education in the townshi] schools and has always made her home withi] the environment familiar to her earliest years The three children of their marriage are Laverne Archibald and Grace. Since the death of Erase: McGregor the son, Byron, has been in charge o: the old homestead, which is said to be one of th( very finest farms in the entire county. An abun- dance of water is furnished by flowing wells oi the property, also by the big slough and anothei creek that pass through the farm. The place ii large, aggregating five hundred and sixty acres practically all under cultivation. Adequate build ings have been erected for the care of the ma^ chinery, the shelter of stock and the storage o: grain. Like many other progressive farmers o: the county, Mr. McGregor realizes the importanci of securing the best breeds of stock and he hai made a specialty of thoroughbred. Shorthorn cat tie and Percheron horses. Among the people o the township he is respected for the sterlinj traits and energetic temperament that are bring ing him success. BIOGKAPHICAL HISTOEY. 487 McGEEGOE, B. F.— The cashier of the Ma- plcton State Bank is eminently fitted for his important responsibility by years of experience as a legal practitioner, and by a natural aptitude for precision, painstaking and mathematics. His development from youth to manhood in the en- vironment in whicli he now lives has been a logi- cal one, in strict accord with his practical home training, and his inheritance of paternal Scotch and maternal French characteristics. No more typical Scotsman ever invaded the land of per- fect freedom than Praser ilcGregor, father of B. F. McGregor, the banker of Mapleton. Born in Cromarty county, sixteen miles from the town of Inverness, Scotland, the elder JMcGregor came to Canada with his father, G. F. John Mc- Gregor, in 1846, settling in Kippen, Ontario. Here father and son engaged in farming, and Eraser married Lucy Latourell, of Montreal, and with whom he came to Mapleton, Blue Earth coimty, Minnesota, in 1858. He was one of the pioneers of the neighborhood in which he en- gaged in farming, and he eventually settled in ilapleton, where B. F., the oldest of his four children, was born May 9, 1869. Mr. McGregor possessed those traits which have made the Scotchman a distinctive and substantial factor of every community in which he elects to reside, and up to the time of his death, in 1903, at the age of sixty-three years, was held in highest esteem by all who had come in contact with his forceful, conservative and honest personality. After a course in the public schools of Ma- pleton, B. F. McGregor entered the Llinnesota State Normal, from which he was duly grad- uated in the class of 1889. He then taught school for a couple of years, after which he began the study of law, and in 1895 graduated from the law department of the University of 'SUn- nesota. Locating in New Eichland, Waseca county, this state, he engaged in a general prac- tice of law, relinquishing the same in 1903 to assume his present position as cashier of the Mapleton State Bank. This bank was organized in 1896, and has an excellent rating among the strong monetary enterprises of Blue Earth county. May 10, 1899, :\Ir. McGregor married Cath- erine Brisbane, of Waseca county, and daughter of Alexander Brisbane, a native of New York state, and pioneer of Minnesota. Jlr. and Mrs. ilcGregor are the parents of two children: Fraser and Janet. Mr. McGregor is a man of broad general information, and pronounced views upon the questions which engage the public at- tention. He is esteemed for his sterling integ- rity, his kindly manner, and the well directed in- dustrv and usefulness of his life. McKlBBEN, JOHN L.— One of the pleasant- ly-situated farms of Blue Earth county lies in Pleasant Mound township and comprises two hundred and twenty acres, the estate being the property of John L. Mclvibben. Under his en- ergetic and judicious supervision the land has been placed in a fine state of cultivation, a neat set of buildings has been erected, fences have been built to divide the land into fields of con- venient size, and the \arious improvements have been made that mark a place as bearing twen- tieth-century equipment. Twenty acres of the farm is in native timber and furnishes a grove for the stock as well as fuel for the family. On the farm may be seen good breeds of stock, in- cluding a number of fine horses, and a con- siderable lierd of cattle as well as a large drove of hogs, and the owner has found stock-raising to be a valuable adjunct of general farming. The family was established in the United States by Joseph iMcKJibben, a native of Scotland, who crossed the ocean in early manhood and en- gaged in farm pursuits in the new world. His son, Lemen Fonts, was born near ilarietta, Ohio, and married Jlary Theresa West, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth West. She was born at Schenectady, New York, August 11, 1833, and died in June of 1893. Grandfather ilcKibben removed to Illinois in an early day, but after a few years there in 1858 he came to Minnesota and established himself among the pioneers of Shelby township, Blue Earth county, where he remained during the balance of his life. Upon taking up farm pursuits for himself Leman F. ilcKibben settled in Pleasant Mound township, where he developed a fine farm and became known as a successful agriculturist. There his death occurred in November of 1904. Through 488 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. all Ms life he maintained a warm interest in public affairs and was especially devoted to the temperance cause. At the opening of the Civil war he determined to enlist in the service of the (Jnion. October 1, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Third Kansas Battery under Captain John F. Aduddell. On several occasions he was sent out in command of foraging and re- connoitering expeditions. In recognition of patri- otic services he was promoted to be a corporal, and €s such he was honorably discharged at Leavenworth, Kansas, January 19, 1865, after an active service of considerably more than three years. In a family of five children (all but two of whom are living) John L. McKibben was the next to the youngest, and he was born at Ed- wards, Peoria county, Illinois, January 7, 1867. During boyhood days he became familiar with the northwest and has in maturer manhood felt no desire to remove to other sections of the country, preferring to lead a quiet and contented existence on his well-kept farm. 'In the com- munity he is universally honored and bears a reputation as a citizen worthy of all confidence. Both he and his wife are active workers' in the Methodist Episcopal church and he is officially connected with the congregation in the capaci- ties of trustee and steward. For seven years he has been a member of the school board of his district and meanwhile has accomplished much for the upbuilding of the district school and the extension of its usefulness. December 4, 1890, he was united in marriage with Lauretta B. Salisbury, of Garden City, daughter of H. E. Salisbury, whose sketch is presented upon an- other page of this volume. They are the parents of the following-named children : Elsa, Pearl, Ralph Edward, Esther L., Irma L., Ruth I. and Walter E. It is their ambition to give their boys and girls the training and education which will qualify them for positions of honor and useful- ness in the world. Mclaughlin", JAMES.— in James Mc- Laughlin is found a representative of the happy, resourceful and intelligent transplanted Irish- man whose very persistency and tirelessness brings his way the good things of life, and who is so wide awake and many sided that he touches at many points, and with telling effect, the in- terests which go to make up his prosperous adopted community of Mapleton. Of his early home among the hills of- County Tyrone, Ulster, Ireland, where he was born in 18-12, Mr. Mc- Laughlin recalls practically nothing, for he was but seven years old when brought to this coun- try in a sailing vessel in 1849, settling first in Ohio, and in 1855 moving north to St. Paul, Minnesota. Here a crushing grief awaited the liitle family in the death of the father three days after the arrival in St. Paul, and subse- quently the mother took her children to Scott county, the same state, where they lived on a farm for thirteen years. In 1868 removal was made to a farm south of where the town of Ma- pleton now is situated, and here fair financial returns rewarded the labor and hopes of a fam- ily which suffered many hardships and discour- agements ere a secure footing was made in the protecting land of the stars and stripes. James McLaughlin's youth went hand in hand with hard physical exertion and grave mental responsibility. A cessation of work in the win- ter time enabled him to attend the district school, but for the great part his education has been acquired outside the school room, and when the toil of day was ended. October 16, 1870, he was united in marriage to Margaret O'Brien, daughter of John O'Brien, an early settler of Hartford, Wisconsin, in which he located in the beginning of the '50s. To Mr. and Mrs. Mc Laughlin have been born five children: Mary, deceased; Elizabeth, an educator at St. Cloud, Minnesota; John, George and Mark, all graduates of the University of Minnesota, and the last two members of the law firm of Morris & Com- pany, of Minneapolis. John, the oldest son, at "the age of seventeen years, spent the summer of 1893 visiting the World's Pair, at Chicago, and while there received an appointment as ' inspec- tor, in which capacity he since has visited many parts of the world, including the greater part of the four continents and the larger islands of the sea, Greenland and the two poles being about the only places of importance at which he has not reported. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 4K9 In 1873 Mr. McLaughlin left the farm and moved to the village of Mapleton, the follow- ing year establishing the furniture business with which his name ever since has been connected. From small beginnings and in a store sixteen by twenty-four feet, he has worked up a large and profitable trade, in time moving into a store twenty by forty feet, and eventually into the brick structure which he erected in 1896. The store is a prepossessing building with stone facings and having two stories and a basement, all of which is utilized by the owner in his business. Xot only has he added continually to his stock of furniture, but carries a large line of carpets, rugs, curtains and bedding, and con- ducts an up-to-date undertaking department. For the last named he is well equipped with all that tends to dignify and ameliorate a necessary duty in the passage from earth to paradise. In the conduct of his large business Mr. McLaughlin observes the most modern of method and ethics, is invariably courteous and kindly disposed, and maintains his standing as much by his pleasing personality and willingness to oblige, as by his progressiveness and fair dealing. Independent in local politics, Mr. McLaugh- lin has filled several important offices, including tliat of postmaster under the Cleveland adminis- tration, member of the town council and school commissioner. In the cause of religion he is as active as in business, and lie was largely in- strumental in securing the construction of the present Catholic church of J\[apleton. All of tht members of the community think well of the prosperous furniture merchant and his in- teresting family and wide spread appreciation is felt of his many strong and sterling qualities. A desire for travel and its many advantages has been increasingly manifest in James Mc- Laughlin, .and as he himself says he wants to see as much of this beautiful world as possible before leaving it. Expecting to meet many interesting personalities from all parts of the world in the mansions above, and wishing to exchange ex- periences with them, lie has visited nearly every i^late in the union, also jMexieo and Canada. Ac- companied by his wife, in the summer of 1907, he accomplished an extended tour of Europe, sailing from Boston to Naples, spending a day in the resurrected city of Pompeii, and later visiting other parts of Italy, also Switzerland, Germanj', France and the British Isles. He now is in excellent health and spirits, and has many_ pleasing memories to brighten his remaining days. MeQHEBN, WILLIAM L.— Both through his successful work as an agriculturist and tlirough his able service as a member of the state legislature Mr. McQueen has won the confidence of associates and the esteem of acquaintances. Since 1896, when he removed from his farm in Sterling township, he has owned and occupied a comfortable home in Mapleton, surrounded by six acres of attractive grounds, within the town limits. Though somewhat retired from arduous cares, he still finds his time full}' occupied in the management of his landed interests and the discharge of the duties falling upon him as a progressive citizen and public-spirited man, soli- citous to promote the welfare of Blue Earth county. For a number of years he has been quite active in local politics. A number of township offices were filled with such intelligence and energy as to suggest adaptability for higher trusts, accordingly in 1906 he was elected to represent this district in tlie state legislature. The record which he left as a legislator refiects credit upon his ability and wise discernment. Never allowing his judgment to be biased by undue influence, he quietly solved the problems for himself and studied each bill brought before the assembly with a view to ascertaining its ex- act purpose and end. His support of the bill providing an appropriation for the Xormal school vras particularly appreciated by his constituents, ov/ing to the fact that the Normal school is located at Mankato. Another bill which he as- sifted in passing provided a large appropriation for the Minneopa Falls state park at South Bend, three miles south of Mankato, a pictur- esque resort that enjoys a growing popularity. The McQueen family traces its lineage to Scotland, where James McQueen was an exten- sive farmer and leased large tracts of land. Among his children was William, a native of the shire of Stirling, and married to Margaret 490 BIOGBAPHICAL HISTOEY. Keir, of the same shire. In 1850 after his mar- riage lie brought liis wife to the United States and settled in Wisconsin, where hti took up a claim in the midst of a frontier environment. Aften ton years of pioneer existence in Wiscon- sin, he removed to Minnesota in 1860 and set- tled in Shelbyvillc in the south^^•estern corner of Blue Earth county, where he took up general farm pursuits, March 12, 1865, he enlisted in Company G, First Minnesota Infantry, under Colonel j\Iark W^ Dowie, and was sent to the front with the regiment, being assigned to duty near the point where Lee surrendered. However, the war was near its end and he saw little ac- tive service, being honorably discharged July 14, 1865, and returning to his Minnesota home, lu the spring of 1866 he moved from Shelby- ville to ilankato and became interested in the manufacture of brick. After two years he bought and removed to a farm in Lyra township, and there he engaged actively in agTicultural work until the fall of 1886, when he retired, removed to Mapleton, and there spent the balance of his life. Through all the years of his residence in Blue Earth county he was warmly interested in measures for the benefit of the county and the development of its material resources. Eor some time he served as county commissioner and he also filled other township ofEices. The only survivor of the four children of Wil- liam McQueen is a son named in his father's honor and born in Vernon county, Wisconsin, August 25, 1852. When the family removed to Minnesota he remained with an uncle in Wis- consin and attended district schools, receiving a fair education. In 1862 he joined his parents in Blue Earth county, where since he has beeii an enterprising farmer and popular citizen. In 1881 he bought land in Sterling township and remained until 1896 on the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he owned up to 1900. The land is well adapted to general farming ah well as the stock business and bears a reputa- tion as one of the most fertile tracts in the locality. He now owns the old McQueen home- si cad of three hundred twenty acres in the township of Lyra. About the time of buying his Sterling farm Mr. McQueen married and when he settled on the new place he brought his bride here, so that they began housekeeping on theii own homestead. January 3, 1883, he marriec Catherine E. Howieson, a native of Wisconsir and a member of a pioneer family of Sterling tc«uship, represented elsewhere in this volume, j\lr. and Mrs. McQueen have two daughters, Jen- liie E. and Jessie Margaret, of whom the eldei is ]iow engaged in the millinery business in Ma- pleton. The family are prominent in social affairs of the village and number their friends among the most cultured people of the commun- ity. In fraternal relations Mr. McQueen became affiliated with the Masons many years ago and still retains a warm interest in the blue lodge to which he belongs, contributing with accus- tomed generosity to its charities, as to other movements for the individual or common welfare. 3IACBETH, CHAELES J.— The firm of Macbeth & Gardner control one of the largest packing establishments in -the state of Minne- sota, and one which, as an adjunct of the com- mercial life of Mankato, is important as a large employer of labor, and an extensive distribu- tor of poultry and other perishable products. The plant of the company covers half a block, and in perfection of equipment is not excelled by any other concern in the country. At its head are men who are so thoroughly conversant with their business, and possess such marked good judgment and far sightedness, that they have been able to weather not only general financial depression, but the enormous loss in- separable from certain conditions governing this always hazardous department of human supply. As indicating the capacity and demand for the products of the plant it is only necessary to state that it is not unusual to dispose of twenty thous- and ducks in a single season. The company dis- burse through several retail markets, and also conduct a large wholesale trade throughout the state. They have a strong commercial reputa- tioD, and are quoted as among the most reliable merchants in the central northwest. Charles J. Macbeth, senior member of the firm of Macbeth & Gardner, is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, and was born December 38, 1862. He is a son of Calvin and Ellen (Downing) BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 491 Macbeth, the former of whom was born in Scotland, and the latter in Ireland, and both of whom had the sterling characteristic traits of their respective fatherland. The elder ilacbeth was an early settler of St. Paul, where he first engaged in the meat business, and later was identified with the freighting business of Culver & Farrington. He brought his family to Man- kato in 1866, and with George Peter Hoerr conducted a stock enterprise until his death, Oc- tober 16, 188.J. He Avas survived by his wife, whose death occurred in 1905, and by his six children, the oldest of whom is Charles J. A waiting incentive to learn the stock business was furnished by the activity and success of Calvin Macbeth, and his son found his early ambitions revolving around this ever fascinating and opportunity laden occupation. Eventually he was taken into the firm, and continued with his father's partner until the death of the lat- ter in 1898. Thereafter he continued alone with increasing success until disposing of his stock in 1901, and in March, the same year, formed his present partnership with Thomas J. Gard- ner. Xor do these undertakings represent the extent of ilr. Macbeth's business enterprise. He is a director in the Standard Brewing Company, and for the past ten years has been president of the Young Men's Investment Company. He is socially prominent and popular, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Be- nevolent Protective Order of Elks, and several other fraternal and social organizations. In 188G he was united in marriage to Alice A. Monfore, of Springfield, South Dakota, and of the union there is a daughter, Florence M. Mr. .Macbeth is one of the live-wide-awake and enter- prising men of the town, having ambition and the ability and initiative to carry it to realiza- tion, and possessed of a wealth of that good na- ture and hopefulness which makes smooth the rough places of life, and dra^vs one within the charmed circle of success, good will and unceas- ing encouragement. MADSON, HENEY.— It is a fine trait, which is perhaps more observable among those of foreign birth or foreign parentage, than among those of long-established American forefathers, for a son to have so great a respect for his father's trade that he makes it a life-long pur- suit, striving only after greater excellence with the progress of the times, or -with the advantages of better conditions and more favorable surround- ings. These generalities are deduced from a con- sideration of such families as the Jladsons, whose father, sons and daughters, have been identified with ilankato for nearly forty years. The father has been a lifelong tailor, and, with two of his sons, is still following that vocation in Califor- nia, while Henry iladson, the eldest of the fam- ily, has also walked in the paternal footsteps and is now the well knowm proprietor of the North- western Steam Dye Works and Pantorium. Mr. Madson is a native of Mankato, born De- cember 27, 1880, and a son of Andrew and Car- rie (Alfden) Madson, natives respectively of Denmark and Xorway. The father came to America in 1870, first working on a farm in Butternut Valley township. Blue Earth county, where he remained for five years before locating ii ilankato. He there learned the tailors trade, and industriously and successfully folio -wed it for thirty years, being for some time in partnership with Hans Jorgensen. In 1880 he married Car- rie Alfden, by whom he has had ten children. In 1905 the parents, with most of the family, removed to California. The living children born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Madson are as follows : Henry, the oldest ; Albert and James, who are in business with their father; Minnie and Marian; Julia, now the wife of H. Hansen, also living in California; and Clara. Henry Madson was educated in the public schools of IMankato and learned his father's trade early in life, having followed it continuously in that city, with the exception of the period spent as a soldier in Spanish-American war. He en- listed in the Fourteenth ilinnesota Volunteer In- fantry, and later, for five years, was Lieutenant of Company H, Second ^Minnesota National Guard, but resigned tlie latter position in 1905. For the past seven years he has conducted the tailoring and steam dye works, at Xo. 120 East Jackson street, known as above, and has built up a trade of goodly proportions and profitable condition. 492 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Mr. Madson's wife, whom he married April 23, 1903, was formerly Miss Clara Gulp, daugh- ter of C. \V. Gulp, of Mankato. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Eoyal Arcanum, and a popular, industrious and useful citizen. MAH0:NEY, JAMES P.— During his many years of residence in Blue Earth county James F. Mahoney has demonstrated the possession of practical capabilities as a farmer and many sided worth as a business man and office holder. His present position in the community is indi- cated by a well tilled farming property, and as secretary of the St. Clair Creamery, a stock- holder and director in the St. Clair Bank, clerk of the school board, justice of the peace and treasurer of the Catholic church. As his name indicates, Mr. Mahoney is of Irish family, and he was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in October, 1863. His father, John Mahoney, who died in McPherson, this state, in 1896, was born in Cork, Ireland, as was also his wife, in girlhood, Johanna Sullivan, who survived him until 1897, and who also is buried in the cemetery at McPherson. Mr. Mahoney preceded his prospective bride to America by a few months, and they subsequently were mar- ried in Massachusetts in 1841, the following year coming west to Wisconsin, where they lived cii a farm for twenty-eight years. They then moved to Blue Earth county where Mr. Mahoney took up a farm, the patent to which was signed by Andrew Johnson,_ and as success came his way he reaped a comfortable income from his three eighty acre tracts. He was an industrious and frugal man, ever ready for a Joke or good story, and maintaining to the last the good nature for which his countrymen are famous. A large family profited by his patrimony, seven sons and seven daughters, nine of whom still are living. In political preference he was a Repub- lican, and religiously a Roman Catholic. James P. Mahoney was educated in the com- mon schools of Minnesota, and in youth helped to till the acres of his father's farm. His many excellent qualities of heart and mind not only have brought him into intimate touch with the practical needs of the community, but through earnest and satisfactory service have won him an abiding place in the upbuilding and maintenance of the highest civic ideals. MALONEY, JAMES.— The turning point in the life and fortunes of James Maloney came when he decided to leave his native country, Ire- land, and seek a home beyond the seas, where opportunities were greater than in his own pov- erty stricken home land. The change proved to be for the better and he has no reason to regret the decision ^^•hich brought him to the new world and the northwest. It had not been pos- sible for him to secure an education in boyhood. Instead, it A\'as necessary for him at an early age to take up the task of earning a livelihood. His youth was one of poverty and toil, and wlien he married Miss Julia Cotter the young couple had little or no means with which to embark in housekeeping. Shoitly after his marriage Mr. Maloney Ijrought his young wife across the Atlantic to the United States. For a number of years he was emploj'ed in New York state, but the north- west lured him on tO' its possibilities, and he came to J\linnesota, where he settled in Blue Earth county. The land which he pre-empted after his arrival has continued to be his home to the present time. Many improvements have Ijten made in the tract since it came into his possession. Then it was in the primeval eon- dition of nature. The most constant toil on the part of himself and family was necessary in ordel' to bring the tract under cultivation and make of it a re\'enue-producing estate, but in- dustry eventually brought the desired reward, and prosperity crowned the united efforts of parents and children. The farm owned and occupied by James Ma- loney lies on section thirty-six, Decoria township, and comprifies four hundred acres, the greater part of which is under cultivation. The build- ings have been erected by the present owner, who also has put fences where needed and made other changes as deemed advisable. In his family there were six sons and six daughters, of whom one son and two daughters are deceased. Those now living are as follows: Michael, BIOGKAPHICAL HISTOKY. 493 JohB, James, Andrew, Francis, Mary, ISTora, Ellen (wife of William Honn, a farmer of Wa- seca county) and Sarah. Three sons, one of whom is married, al^sist the father in the man- agement of the home place. Two sons and one daughter own a farm of two hundred acres lying on section six, Decoria township. All of the children are prosperous and have enjoyed the benefit of their father's assistance upon starting out for themselves. The family hold member- ship with the Eoman Catholic church. In poli- tics the father and sons are stanch believers in the principles of the Democratic party. MALTBY, DE. HAEEISOX W.— Modern de- velopments of the art of healing have rendered possible the method of osteopathy, which forms one of the most practicable and popular acces- sions given by recent years to the science of the- rapeutics. Included in the large and growing list of those who have adopted its practice with enthusiasm and are conducting the same with skill and success, mention belongs to Dr. Maltby of Mankato. With the assistance of his wife, also ^ graduate osteopath, he devotes his time and at- tention to the relief of those suffering from the ills to which flesh is heir. Since he came to this city, July 1, 1901, he has become known to an increasing circle of patients, and at the same time has gained many warm personal friends. Descended from an ancestor who came from England to America three generations ago and settled in Kew York state. Dr. Maltby was born in Cresco, Howard countj', Iowa, March 30, 1876. His parents, Henry and Sarah (Forbes) Maltby, were also natives of Iowa and now re- side at Cherokee, that state, where the father has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. Five children formed the family and all are still liv- ing. The second in order of birth, Harrison W., received his education in the grammar schools and Cherokee high school, and by subsequent ex- tensive reading has become a widely informed man, possessing broad culture and an accurate knowledge of current events. That he is patri- otic his record shows in the Spanish-American war, when he enlisted in the Fifty-second Iowa Vohmteer Infantry and for ten months served as a hospital steward. On the expiration of the war he returned to Iowa, where previously he had spent a year of study under a practitioner of allopathy, and also had gained an excellent knowledge of drugs through being employed in a wholesale and retail drug store. After the war he was engaged in general mercantile pursuits at Callender, Webster countj', Iowa. The inclinations of Mr. Maltby had been from youth in the direction of medical work, hence after a year in merchandising we find him re- turning to such studies. This time, however, he turned his attention to osteopathy, concerning which he had read and studied much. In 1898 he matriculated in the College of Osteopathy at Des Moines, Iowa, where he took the complete course of preparatory study and training, and at the expiration of the regular course he was grad- uated June 2G, 1901. A few days later he came to Mankato, where he has his office at No. 301 South Front street. In the years that have elapsed since his settlement in this city he has continued a student of the profession and has kept pace with every development and discovery made in the realm of medicine, so that he is enabled to be thoroughly modern and up-to-date in his practice. As before stated, he has the capable assistance of his wife, a graduate of the College of Osteopathy in Drs Moines, and form- erly ^liss Florence A. Barton, her father being Joseph Barton, of Gravity, Iowa. Their mar- riage was solemnized June 22, 1904, and since then thev have identified themselves with the cultured circles of Mankato, where they are active workers in the Centenary Methodist Episcopal church and contributors to movements for the general welfare. His desire to promote the com- mercial growth of the town Dr. Maltby shows by his identification with the Business Men's Club. In fraternal relations he has membership in the Knights of Pythias and acts as chancellor in the local lodge. Military affairs have engaged his support ever since his service in the army and at this writing he ranks as captain of Company H, Second Eegiment of Minnesota National Guards. l\rAETIN, WILLIAM JASPEE.— For a per- iod of more than forty years comprising the in- 494 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. terval between his arrival in Mankato and his death in tliis city, ifr. Martin was recognized as one of the forces active in the development of local real estate and commercial interests. His keen mind bent its formative energies tovrard the progress of his home town. His influence was ever given to the promotion of progressive projects, and no enterprise inaugurated for the benefit of tlie community lacked his sagacious assistance. To such pioneers as he ^Mankato owes the fact that the foundation of its commercial fortunes was laid broad and deep, forming a substantial basis for the superftructure of pros- perity to be erected by future generations. While in the course of his daily business activities no great fortune ever came to him nor did he boast of any remarkable achievements, yet his industry and energy resulted in the accumulation of a competency sufEicient to provide the declining days of himself and wife with the comforts they so justly merited. The founders of the Martin family in America were natives of Scotland. As early as 1820 they crossed the ocean to the new world and secured land near JefPerson, Schoharie county, Xew York, where they turned their attention to the development of a farm. WhHe living at that place their son, William Jasper, was born January 18, 18-28. The schools of that era were less thorough than those of the present, yet they offered fair opportunities to diligent pu- pils, and William J. Martin was very solicitous to secure a good education, so that he embraced every opportunity for enlarging his fund of knowledge. At tlie age of eighteen years he was graduated from the academy at Blenheim, ISTew York, and immediately afterward he began to teach school, which occupation he followed suc- cessfully for a number of years. The marriage of Mr. Martin was solemnized January 7', 18.i2, and united him with Miss Sarah A. Payne, who was born at Blenheim, New York, January 24, 1835, and received a fair education in the schools of Jefferson county. Descended on the paternal side from a long line of English ancestry, she was a daughter of Will- iam Payne, who came from England to America about 1820 and settled in 'New York. There he met and married Gertrude Crapser, who was born in Pennsylvania of German descent. Seek- ing a home amid the newer opportunities of the Northwest, in 1858 Mr. Martin brought his young wife to Minnesota and settled at Man- kato, where they afterward made their home. Shortly after his arrival he took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of government land and Ijy selling this later at a fair price for those days he secured his start in the business world. The money was invested in his general mercan- tile store, which he conducted for many years, meeting with fair success by reason of his hon- orable dealings with all. Prom time to time he invested in real estate and the increase in valua- tions made him fair profits. Keen business faculties enabled him to lay the foundation for a prosperous old age and to surround his family with the comforts of life. While devoting himself with energy to per- sonal affairs, Mr. ilartin never neglected^ his duty as a citizen, and he was especially active at the time of the Civil war, when his sym- pathies were strongly on the side of the Union. August 19, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Ninth ]\Iinnesota Infantry, in which he held the commission of sergeant, and with which he re- mained at the front until the close of the strug- gle. When peace was declared he received an honorable discharge. May 31, 1865, at Memphis, Tennessee. Afterward he became an active worker in the Grand Army Post at Mankato. Politically he voted with the Eepublican party until the first nomination of Grover Cleveland for president, after which he voted with the Democrats. Tlirough all his residence in Man- kato he maintained a warm interest in local affairs. For a time he held office as member of the board of aldermen. After a long and honorable life William Jas- per Martin passed from earth November 14, 1899. His wife survived him -some years and died April 7, 1906, while in San Diego, Califor- nia, having gone to the Pacific coast with the hope of regaining her health. Her body was brought to Mankato and interred beside the re- mains of Mr. Martin in Glenwood cemetery. Tliey had reared four children to maturity, but two of these had died prior to the death of their mother, namely: Nevada, who passed away BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 495 December 10, 1890; and John J., whose death occurred February 6, 1900. The two surviving members of the family are William A., a mem- ber of the police force of Minneapolis, and ]\Iiss Ida il., who resides at the old homestead, No. 306 Willard street, and numbers a host of warm friends among the people of Mankato. MATTESON", A. H.— Long identification with the farming interests of Blue Earth county has given Mr. Matteson an accurate knowledge of the possibilities of the soil, the cereals to which the lands are best adapted, the best meth- ods of cultivation and the most successful meth- ods of prosecuting the livestock business. The family became established in this county shortly after the close of the Civil war. Ever since his arrival he has followed agriculture and is now the owner of one hundred and sixtv acres lying on section thirty-five, Decoria township. In the organization of this township he was helpful and for twenty-two years he held office as town clerk, in addition to which he has been chair- man of the board for several years, and in every capacity, public and private, had labored to pro- mote the welfare of the farmers of the county. Born in Pennsylvania in August of 1838, A. H, Matteson and his sister were the only child- ren of Soloman and Phoebe A. (Hopkins) Mat- teson, both of whom were natives of the east, the father of Ehode Island. For eight years they made their home in Illinois, and there they sent their son, A. H., to the common schools. A later residence in Wisconsin covered fourteen years, meanwhile the father engaging in the cultivation of a farm. In earlier life he had given considerable attention to the stone mason's trade, which he had learned in youth. During 1865, he came to Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, where he took up a tract of unimproved land and ,sted in the organization of the First Na- tional Bank, and was its vice-president until 1872, when he became one of the founders of the Citizens' National Bank, of which he was president for twenty years, as well as of the National Citizens' Bank (into which it was mer- ged in 1893) until the time of his death June 18, 1897. Besides ably managing his banking interests iMr. Meagher was active and prominent in var- ious business enterprises, building many houseb, dealing extensively in lands, and acquiring much property. But although almost uniformly suc- cessful in such ventures and transactions, he retained the confidence and respect of all, both because of his straightforward conduct and his pleasing and noble presence. The bravery, in- dependence and earnestness which so marked his public career, added to the manifest usefulness of his services, also increased the admiration and gratitude which his fellow citizens felt for him as a private individual. On the outbreak of the Indian War in 1863, Mr. Meagher enlisted for service and was made First Lieutenant of a company, gallantly par- ticipating in the defense of New Ulm, and sub- sequently being commissioned Captain of another company organized foi' the protection of Man- kato. He first entered actively into politics when he was elected county treasurer on the Democratic ticket. In 1870 and 1871 he, was sent to the lower house of the legislature, and in 1873 to the State Senate, making a valuable record in both bodies. That his influence in politics was strong and general is evident, as in 1876 he was chosen by his party as Democratic Presidential Elector at large. He was for many years a director in various State institutions, and among the later positions to which he was appointed was a member of the commission to locate and erect the New TJlm battle monument, he being accorded the honor of making the pre- sentation address at its formal dedication Au- gust 28, 1891. Mr. Meagher married September 14, 1866, Miss Mary A. Battelle, who was born March 14, 1844, and died at Santa Barbara, California, April 34, 1895. She was a most estimable and beloved woman, and her death was deeply mourn- ed by her intimates and universally regretted by those of the community who had been privileged to know her well. The children of this union were as follows: John B. born July 3, 1867; Alonzo E., bom December 2, 1868, and died August 33, 1890; John William, born May 6, 1871, BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 499 and died March 1, 1893; Felix K., born Feb- ruary 5, 1874; Katlierine F., now Mrs. Jamas Spencer; Mary B., and Agnes J. MERTESDOEF, PETEE.— That abundant opportunities are afforded by the soil of Blue Earth county to farmers of intelligence and industry is exemplified in the life and activities of Peter Mertesdorf, who has risen from a position of poverty to one of influence and prosperity. When he arrived in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, in 1854, he had a total capital of only $11, but he possessed an abundance of energy, determination and perseverance, and a robust constitution aided him in his labors, here he stayed eight years, moving to Blue Earth county, Min- nesota, in 1862 where he has been ever since. Landing here he made his home in Yernon Center township and has owned land a short distance north of the village of that name. Through tireless application and rigid economy he has become the owner of a section of land, all of which is fenced and under cultivation. Substan- tial buildings have been erected by the owner, who has maintained the deepest interest in the improvement of the property and also has been extensively engaged thereon in the raising of shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. Born in Prussia near the Ehine, October 11, 1827, the gentleman whose name introduces this article is the son of the late Peter and Barbara (Zimmerman) Mertesdorf, who passed their en- tire lives in Germany. Educated in the excellent schools of his native land, he early determined to seek a home beyond the seas, and in 1854 tools- passage on a sailing vessel bound for Xew York City, where he landed on the 1st of Xovember. From there he journeyed to Chicago and in a Aort time proceeded to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he secured employment as a farm laborer. Wl^ile living in that state he married ]\ri?s JMary Tausch, who like himself descended from German ancestry. Seven daugh- ters were born of that union, namely: Marv, Anna, Hattie. Minnie, Emma, Hannah and Elizabeth. The second marriage of Jlr. :Mer- tesdorf was solemnized October 20. 1875, and united him with Miss Mary, daughter of Gott- leib and Anna (Posan) Kaul, lifelong residents" of Germany. Of this marriage there are four sons, Fredrick, John, George and Edward, all of whom yet remain with their parents. The family hold membership in the Baptist church and con- tribute to its maintenance, as well as to other organizations for the common good. While never aspiring to office, Islr. Mertesdorf has been actively interested' in local politics and has favored movements for the benefit of his township and county, having been particularly interested in measures for the building and improving of roads. ME'SEEVY, ALFEED A.— With the .ex- ception of the period of his absence in the south during the Civil war, Mr. Meservy has remained in Blue Earth county ever since coming to this part of the northwest in 1860, and during the long association with the agricultural interests of the region he has gained a reputation as a sterling citizen, persevering farmer and accom- modating neighbor. While he is a native of Can- ada and has never forgotten the land of his birth during the many years of his absence there- from, he is thoroughly devoted to his adopted country and believes in the principles which form the foundation of our government. The quiet, busy life of a farmer has suited his inclinations, but he has not allowed existence to become nar- row; on the other hand, he has maintained an interest in all movements for the uplifting of the people and the promotion of the common- wealth's prosperity. Born in Canada in 1829, Alfred A. Meservy received his education in his native land in the schools of Few England. During the year 1844, the family crossed over into the states and settled in Wisconsin, taking up a tract of raw land at Fox Lake. At that place in 1858 oc- curred the death of the mother, Margaret, a na- tive of Ireland. The father, Eodney, who was a native of Maine and a farmer and mechanic by occupation, remained at Fox Lake until 1860; during that year he became a pioneer of Minne- sota, where he died in 1891 in Garden City. :\feanwhile the son, Alfred A., had become inter- ested in agricultural pursuits, first in Wisconsin 500 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. and later in Minnesota, where he has made his home since 1860. When the Civil war began his sympathies were enthusiastically on the side of the Union, and he was eager to ofEer his ser- vices to the country, but for a time home duties deterred him from enlisting. However, in 1862 he became a Union soldier, being accepted in the Xinth ilinnesota Infantry in August of that year. His duties were confined to the western depart- ment and at first he served in the Indian cam- paigns under General Sibley, but later he was sent to the front, where he took part in the battles of Guntown, Tupelo, Nashville, and the Price campaign in Arkansas. At the expira- tion of the war he was mustered out at Memphis, Tennessee, and received an honorable discharge with the commission of corporal. As a soldier he proved himself loyal to his adopted country, quick in acquiring a knowledge of military tac- tics and courageous on the field of battle. The deep interest which Mr. Meservy always has felt in school affairs led him at one time to accept a position on the school board, where he freely gave of his time and energies in an eifort to promote the welfare of the local schools. Among the local offices he has held may be mentioned that of chief of police. Interested in movements for the spiritual upbuilding of man- kind, he has been an attendant at the services of the Methodist church and has contributed to religious enterprises with characteristic gener- osity. Ever since his marriage in 1869 he has been blessed by the co-operation of an efficient helpmate, his wife, formerly Mary Eitchie, being a woman of ability as well as attractive character. They are the parents of one son and two daugh- ers, namely: A. C. Meservy, who is now in Garden City; Emily, Mrt. William Shaver of Garden City; and Birdie, Mrs. J. C. Ward, also a resident of this town. ]\rEYEB, JOHN.— A number of the successful agriculturists and business men of Blue Earth county are of German parentage or nativity, and among these may be mentioned the name of .John Meyer, a native of Mankato township and a son of a worthy German-American farmer. Ba- varia, Germany, is the native home of John Meyer, Sr., and 1830 the year of his birth. After having received a fair education in the Germ language he took up the task of earning a lii lihood, and with customary German thrift, sav a part of his earnings, utilizing the same in t payment of his passage on an American-bou: ship. During the year 1852 he landed at N( York and from there proceeded to Milwaub Wisconsin, where he secured emplojanent and i mained for a considerable period. In that ci he married Dora Oehler, who died there, aft having borne him three children : Lena ai Lizzie, both deceased; and George, who resid with the subject of this -sketch. Some yea later the father married ilary Schriver, who w, born in Mecklenburg in 1830 and came to tl United States in 1863, settling in Milwauke During the spring of 1866 the family came ^Minnesota and took up land' in Blue Earl county, where the mother died in 1871. Tl father still survives and makes his home with h son, John. Three children were born of h second marriage. The eldest, Minnie, is the wi: of Charles Timm and makes her home in I Sueur county, this state. The second daughte Emma, is the wife of Peter Williams and livi in Blue Earth county. The youngest member of the family, John, Ji was born in Mankato township November 1: 1870, and grew to manhood on a farm, nieai time attending school in the winter months an aiding in the tilling of the soil during the sun mer. During 1894 he purchased the farm whei since he has made his home, the same comprii ing one hundred and twenty acres of improve land situated about four miles north of Mai kato on section nineteen. Lime township. A yet he has not established domestic ties, but givi a home to his aged father and also has his old( brother with him. For some years he has bee a member of the school board of his distric Other movements for the well-being of the con munity receive his stanch co-operation and actii support. Politically he has espoused the prh eiples of the Democratic party and supports thei principles by his ballot, but he has never di played a partisan spirit nor has he sought tl emoluments of political positions, although abu: dantly qualified to fill such positions with cred to himself and to the satisfaction of all coi cerned. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOKY. 501 MILLEE, ABE L.— Two generations of the lliller family have been identified with the agri- cultured development of Blue Earth county, and A. L. Miller, a representative of the second gen- eration, is a native-born son of the county, hav- ing been born in the town of Shelby, December 17, 18G6. His father, James, a native of Indi- ana, established the family in this part of the northwest, and is remembered and honored for those sterling traits of character that in any community win and retain friends. As early as 1857 he came from Indiana to Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, where he soon won the liking of the pioneers of the region. In com- mon with others he endured many trials in seek- ing to clear a farm from land in the primeval conditions of nature, but eventually he had the satisfaction of owning a tract of vaulable land with good buildings and divided by fences into fields of convenient size. While engaged in the cultivation of his estate he was ever ready to lend a helping hand to others and was known as a man of generous spirit and friendly disposi- tion. His last days were quietly passed at Win- aebago City, Earibault county, where he died April 17, 1907, mourned by the large circle of friends wliom he had won during the long period of his residence in the state. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliza Ann Campbell, was born in Indiana and died October 12, 1888, in Blue Earth county. The schools adjacent to the homestead offered fair advantages to A. L. Miller and in them he acquired a knowledge of the common branches. Up to the time of his majority he remained at home and assisted his father, but afterward he assumed the management of the old homestead, which he conducted for three years, and then moved to his present farm on rural route ISTo. 1, Garden City. Here he is the owner of a fine farm improved with a neat set of buildings well adapted to their special purposes, and presenting an appearance of thrift indicative of the occu- pant's energy of disposition. I Though not a partisan in his opinions, Mr. Miller stanchly supports Eepublican principles and casts his ballot for the men pledged to the promotion of these principles. For himself he lias never sought office, preferring to devote his attention to the care of his land and the en- joyment of his home. In religion he is in sym- pathy with the doctrines of the Christian church, which he attends with his family. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his marriage to Josephine Strum, who was born in Blue Earth county and received her education in local schools, he was united with one of the popular young ladies of the county, and they enjoy the warm friendship of their associates. Their marriage was solemnized Septerpber 1, 1889, since which time they have resided on their present farm. They are the parents of three children, namely : Martha Eliza, aged seventeen j-ears; Walter Dell, fifteen; and Eoy Lincoln, thirteen. MILLS, TITUS F.— Although not a native 01 Blue Earth county, the early recollections of Mr. Mills cluster around this part of the north- west, for he was less than four years of age when the family sought a home in what was then an unsettled wilderness. Born in Lake county, Il- linois, December 19, 1850, he was a son of Sam- uel T. and Permelia L. Mills, the former born ill Massachusetts in 1819 and the latter born in Xow York in lS-34. Early in the year 1854 the family journeyed by "prairie schooner" from Illi- nois to ilinnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, where the father pre-empted a claim oj' one hundred and sixty acres. There were no neighbors, and for six months after their arrival the mother did not sec a white woman or child. The existence was one of great privation as well as loneliness. Indian outbreaks were numerous and more than once the family were in great danger from the savages. The first religious ser- vice in the township was held in their cabin, also the first election. In those days farmers from as far south as the Iowa line and even beyond were obliged to go to ilankato to have their wheat ground, and as their claim was on the main- traveled road they saw considerable passing. In 1856 the father built a log tavern on the farm in order to accommo- date passengers obliged to remain over night on their way to mill. In 18G4 he replaced the log cabin with a frame hotel of suitable di- 502 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. mensioDB. Over the hotel the wife and mother presided, cooking appetizing foods for the hungry travelers and cheering them on their lonely way. Though her life was one of great toil and con- stant privation she looks back on those busy days as among the happiest of her useful exist- ence. JSTor did the strenuous labor impair her health, for she is a remarkably well preserved woman, notwithstanding the fact that she is eighty three years of age (1907.) Throughout the community she is known and honored for her beautiful character and her effective- labors as a pioneer. Although the schools of that day were far in- ferior to those of the present time, Titus F. Mills succeeded in securing a fair education in the common branches, and he is now a well informed man. Agriculture has been his occu- pation throughout life, and his home place on rural route No. 1, Lake Crystal, bears the evi- dence of his thrift and industry. The busy life of a farmer, the sowing and the planting, the cultivation and the harvesting of the crops, en- gross his time and attention, but not to the ex- clusion of duties devolving upon a progressive citizen. At all times he has shown himself to be willing to promote local measures by his time and influence. At intervals during thirty years he served as a member of the town board, while for twenty years he rendered faithful service on the school board. In addition he has served as a state weigher. In religious identification lie and his family are connected with the Chris- tian church at Garden City. The marriage of Titus P. Mills was solemn- ized March 2, 1880, and united him with Miss Li da Sharp, a native of Wisconsin, but from early childhood, a resident of ilinnesota, her parents having come to this state in 18.55 and established a home at Belgrade, I^icollet county. Three children comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Mills. The son. Earl Ray, who is an enterprising young man of twenty- six years, is now in the government employ at Belle Pourche, Butte county, South Dakota. The older daughter, Jessie D., who is twent}'-two years of age, married Rev. John Mitchell, a Presbyterian clergyman now stationed at Houtz- dale, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania. The youngest child, Ruth, has been given an excellent musical education and is now a teacher of that art. Mrs. Permelia L. :\[ills died Jan. 28, 1908, at the home of her son, Titus P. Mills. MOORE, ELI JAMES. — The best training for the merchant is that of the salesman, and it takes a salesman of a very high grade to make a successful commercial traveler. The logical conclusion is that it is almost a foregone conclus- ion that if a superior traveling salesman launches into an independent business his venture will be a success from the start. He has come to understand the art of placing customers at their ease, without overdoing the polite act, and he has the typical air of confidence attaching to those of his profession which inspires confidence and brings sales. A living illustration of these business truths is found in E. J. Moore, of Man- kato, who seven years ago established a hard- ware trade in that city, whose success was as- sured from his long previous experience in the same line, but in the employ of others. Mr. Moore comes of an old Southern family, although he has to his credit three years of brave and honorable service in the Union cause. He is a native of Maryland, born June 27, 1843, the son of John and Ann (Caloway) Moore, who were also born in that state and re- moved to Ohio when E. J. was but a lad. There John Moore engaged in farming and died when only fifty-two years of age, his widow sur- viving him for many years and finally passing away when eighty-four. They were the parents of five children, of whom the following are liv- ing: William T., of Middlefort, Ohio, and E. J., the subject of this sketch. The deceased are John H., who served during the Civil war in the Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry and died at New Haven, Kentucky; Peter H., formerly a resident of Roseville, Ohio, who died in May, 1907, and Elizabeth Ann, who died in childhood. E. J. ]\[oore was educated in the public schools of Logan, Ohio, at Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, and in the world of experience and hard work. He had scarcely reached his majority when he enlisted in the BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 503 Sixty-second Ohio Infantry, Company H, for tlie tliree-montiis' service, at the close of which he re- enlisted in the Fifty-first Ohio Eegiment, Com- pany K, continuing with the latter command un- til his honorable discharge in 1864. He was in all the battles of the Wilderness campaign, and was one of the faithful millions who served their country in the ranks without expectation of prominence and without regret at the outcome. Such as Jie saved the country from disruption. Mr. Moore early engaged in the hardware busi- ness, being first connected with the retail trade at Columbus, Ohio, for a period of about five years, his next experience being as a traveling salesman for the large manufacturing laardware concern of Redeay & Burton, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The firm afterward located him at Kansas City, where he remained as long as it continued in business, and then engaged with the Excelsior Manufacturing Company (hardware), of St. Louis, Missouri, with which he remained until he established himself at Mankato, in 1900. In that yeai Mr. Moore opened a fine and com- plete line of hardware for the retail trade, but later associated himself with Edward W. Tobin, and the firm of Moore & Tobin, thus formed, represents one of the leading business factors of Mankato. The store, which is located at No. 323 South Front street, has the substantial ap- pearance befitting the prosperous and growing state of the business. In 1871 Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Eawson, daughter of the late E. T. and Wealthy Ann Rawson, of Columbus, Ohio, where she died in December, 1875. He is a man of both busi- ness ability and of social qualities, his wide and intimate identification with leading fraternities being indicated by his membership in the G. A. R., A. F. & A. M., I. 0. 0. F., and B. P. 0. E. MORLOCK, F. H.— One of the substantial financial institutions of Blue Earth county is the State Bank of Good Thunder which during the period of its existence has wielded a large and in- creasing influence upon the community and has become recognized as a reliable concern, quali- fied to exert a wise influence upon monetary mat- ters. Much of the success of the bank is due tc the conservatism and sagacity of the cashier. F H. Morlock, who seconds the able efforts of the president, J. G. Graham, and the vice presi- dent, R. L. Houk, in the management of affairs connected with the institution, and who has been relied upon by them to an unusual degree. His identifleation with the bank dates back to its organization, when he was chosen teller and flve months later, in July of 1893 he was elected cashier, in which responsible position he remains at the present time. The genealogy of the Morlock family shows German lineage. Jacob and Mary (Ruehling) Morlock, were born in Germany, but at early ages crossed the ocean to the United States. For a time the father found employment in Buffalo, New York. Later he spent two years in Fort Wayne, Indiana. From there he came to Minne- sota and took up land in Scott county, but in 1862 moved into the village of Jordan and started a meat market. Shortly afterward he turned his attention to the buying of grain and stock, in which occupation he continued for thirty- eight years. At the age of sixty-eight years he is now living at Jordan, retired from business activities. Three of his children, Frederica, Louise and Henry, also reside at Jordan, while the third child and older son makes his home at Good Thunder. He was born at Jordan August 20, 1869, and received his education in the common schools of that village, supplementing the knowlege there acquired by a course of study in the New XJlm college, where he was a student for one year. Since leaving college he has been connected with the bank. The marriage of Mr. Morlock took place in 1894 and united him with Rosalia Juergues, daughter of F. W. and Regina (Schutz) Juer- gues, who settled at Shakopee, Scott county, Minnesota, prior to the Civil war, Mr. Juer- gues there following the trade of a blacksmith for many years. Removing to Jordan in 1880, he invested considerable means in a drug store, of which his son was the manager. x For fifteen years he continued in the drug* business. Since his retirement he has continued to make his home at Jordan. The family of Mr. and I\rrs. ilorlock comprises three children, ^Marie R., Gertrude A. and Wallace J., who arc re- 504 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. eeiving excellent educations in the local schools. Since 1894 Mr. Moiiock has been a member of the school board of Good Thunder and mean- while has accomplished much in the interests of the schools. AVith his wife he holds member- ship in the Evangelical church and contributes t") its maintenance. Ever since attaining his majority he has voted with the Republican party and has been interested in its success. During 1895 he was chosen village treasurer and ever since that time he has continued to fill the office, the bank acting as the depository of the funds of the village. Measures for the up- building of the town receive his stanch and in- telligent advocacy and he has accomplished much in promoting the welfare and prosperity of the community. MORRIS, JACOB COXRAD.— One of the most interesting and instructive farming enter- prises in Mapleton township is that owned and managed by Jacob Conrad Morris, located one and a half miles west of Mapleton, and one hun- dred and sixty acres in extent. This formerly was the Shanbett place, and under its- present ownership many important changes have taken place in its equipment and extension of inter- ests, also in its conformity to the best accepted standards of landscape effects through the me- dium of trees, flowers and shrubs. Many fine apple trees yield large returns in exchange for the time and care bestowed upon them, and a beautiful grove supplies shelter for man and beast in the summer, and serves as a break when the winds howl across the farm lands. All of the property is under cultivation, and the owner is justly proud- of his splendid Percheron horses. Shorthorn and Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs. He also is much interested in chicken culture, preferring Plymouth Rock and Leghorn varieties, and is very successful along this line. He has made a scientific study of all kinds of stock, and his farm is operated with scientific exactness and due regard for economy of time and labor and for thirteen years he has, with his own means kept the one-half mile of high- way running along side of his farm- in the best of shape, until now for ' three miles out from Mapleton the folks have gotten together and. keep up the road, making it the best road going into Mapleton. Mr. Morris, who was born in 1856, has the distinction of being the first white child born in the Taylor colony, and the first fl'hite boy born in Sterling township, of Blue Earth county. His father, James Morris, was a successful farmer, who owned land and was unstinted in his appreciation of this county as a place of resi- dence. He was born in Arama, Ireland, in 1835, and in 1846 he was married to Cristina Harri- son. They had one child born in Ireland, and lived with his father, who ran a small farm and tavern, half way between Dublin and Dairj', until 1849, when he came to this country and lived in New York three years, where there were three children born, but they all three died be- fore he left with the Taylor colony and came to Duluth, Minnesota, where he " purchased a yoke of oxen and a wagon, a cow, two pigs, and some chickens; he then came by boat tO' Mankato, where he lived until his death in 1894. He always advised his sons to remain here as long as they lived, and those who followed his. ad- vice have found that it was to their distinct ad- vantage. The maternal family of Harrison is of Scotch origin, early forefathers having re- moved from Scotland to the north of Ireland in 1?20. T^he maternal grandfather was a miller l)y occupation, having operated a mill and a thirty acre farm. ilr. ilorris received a com- mon school education, to which foundation he has added by constant reading and research. He married July 6th, 1885, Cora V. Chandler, daughter of the late H. M. Chandler, an early settler in Blue Earth county, and a farmer for many years in Sterling township. Pour chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morris; Frank A., xVmy, Mable and James. Mr. Morris is in no sense a politician, casting his vote in- variably for the man best qualified to serve the public interests. He is a genial, whole-souled man, a favorite with his neighbors, and an ex- ample of the thrifty, energetic and practical American farmer of the early part of the twen- tieth century. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 505 MOERIS, JOHN THOMAS.— The Sterling Centre stock farm in Sterling township ranks among the finest estates in Blue Earth county and^ it may be added, in all of southern ilinne- sota. The modern and attractive residence stands on an elevation commanding a view of the sur- rounding country. At a suitable distance from the house stand the five barns and the other out- buildings necessary for the storage of crops and the shelter of stock. Each building has been equipped with conveniences so as to facilitate the work incident to the farm, and the machin- ery as well shows that an effort is made to re- duce to a minimum the amount of hand labor needed. Crops adapted to the soil and the cli- mate are grown on the land, all of which is un- der cultivation; and a goodly number of stock may also be seen, including fine Shorthorn cattle, about twenty cows of milk-producing strains, a large drove of Poland-China hogs and about twenty head of horses, Percherons and Standard- bred trotters being the choice. The farm com- prises four hundred and twenty acres and its soil in places is a black sandy loam with a depth of more than four feet. An abundant supply of water is furnished by means of a hydraulic ram. Born in the city of Xew York December 15, 1854, John Thomas iforris is a son of James and Christina (Harrison) Morris, natives of the north of Ireland. During the year 1849 the father came to America and settled in New York City, where lie secured work as a teamster. When a colony was organized to migrate to the north- west in 1866 he became one of the members and accompanied the party to Blue Earth county, where he secured a claim on section twelve. Ster- ling township. On this place he continued to make his home until his earthly life ended in 1893 at the age of sixty-nine years. Through the long period of ]iis residence here he proved himself to be a loyal citizen and industrious farmer. Personally he was of reserved tempera- ment, retiring in disposition, yet kind-hearted as is the custom of his race, and willing to help anyone in distress or need with self-sacrificing generosity. Out of eleven children comprising the paren- tal family seven are now living. Four remain in Blue Earth county, viz: J. C, James A., John Thomas, and Elizabeth, Mrs. D. J\I. Harri- man, of Mapleton. Those residing elsewhere are as follows : Abraham L., now at Tenstrike, Min- nesota; J. W., who makes his home in James- town, New York; and Ada, \^■ho is married and resides at Canisteo, New A'ork. When the family settled in Blue Earth county John Thomas Mor- ris was a very small child, hence his early recol- lections are associated with the scenes still fa- miliar to his maturer years. At the age of twen- ty-one he left the old homestead and began to till the soil of a farm near Mapleton. In 1899 he bought what fl'as then known as the old ]\Iyron N'rooman place in Sterling township and here he has since made his home, engaging ex- tensively in agricultural pursuits. On his farm is located the Sterling Co-operative creamery, in the work of which he takes a warm interest, con- tributing of his influence and time to promote its success and usefulness. The marriage of ]\Ir. Morris took place October 3, 1885, and united him with Bupheuiia Sharp, a native of Scotland, and a daughter of John Sharp, who came to Sterling in 1874. The fam- ily consists of five children now living ; Eobert, James Edward, Enssell, John and Jessie. The fourtli child, Nellie, was taken from tlie home by deatli in lier infancy. MOEEOW, JOHN.— The local records indi- cate that the first house erected in Beauford township was built by James Jlorrow, who came to Blue Earth county as early as 18(14 and put up a cabin on the banks o£ the Big Cobb river. P>.\- pre-emption and purchase he secured the title to a large tract of land and here he engaged in farming pursuits until his death, which oc- curred in 1898. Of Canadian birth and parent- age, he had passed the years of youth in his native land and there married Jeanctte Currie, who died four years after his demise. On leaving tlie home of their early years they came to Min- nesota in 1863 and settled in Winona county, fl-hence they removed to Blue Earth county the following vear. They became the parents of ten children, namely: James, a farmer residing in the northern part of Beauford township; John, who was born at Perth, Lanark county, Ontario, 506 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. Canada, Xovember 1, 1847, and is now one of the leading farmers of Beauford township; Jane; .Marj-; Jeanette; Angus; Barbara, deceased; William and Eobert, both of whom are repre- sented else-\vhere in this volume; and Maggie, now deceased. The early recollections of John Morrow cluster around the village of Perth in Ontario. When about sixteen years of age he accompanied his parents to ilinnesota and aided them in paying for the land 'Which they purchased. Upon start- ing out for himself he embarked in farming in Beauford township, where now he owns two hundred and five acres of land, one hundred acres of the tract being under the plow. The land is mostly rented to others, but he retains a small tract for his own use and is interested in raising shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. Here he has lived since 1876 and the neat house which he occupies lies directly across the road from the cabin originally put up by his father on coming to the county. The first marriage of Mr. Morrow took plac£ in 1875 and united him with Annie Uhlig, daughter of August Uhlig. Mrs. Annie Morrow died in 1886 and is survived by three children, namely : John C, now a resident of St. Louis count}', Minnesota; Jeanette, who married J. W. Oger, a farmer of Beauford township; and Hat- tie. The second wife of Mr. Morrow bore the maiden name of Eugenia Leeb and died in 1897, leaving three sons, namely : James and Lloyd, who make their home with their uncle, Eobert Morrow; and Archie, who remains with his father. Por many years Mr. Morrow has been prominent in the public life of his township, where he has held ofEiee as assessor and constable. For the long period of thirty-three years he has served as treasurer of the school board, and dur- ing all of the period he has been deeply interested in the welfare and progress of the sehools. In fraternal relations he holds membership with ilapleton Lodge Nc 138, A. F. & A. M., at Maple- ton, and in religious belief he is of the Methodist faith. Beginning without means, he deserves credit for attaining a position of financial sta- bility in his community and for giving his influ- ence to all movements for the upbuilding of the township. MOEEOAV, EOBEET HUGH.— The names of few families bear a more intimate association with the agricultural development of Beauford township. Blue Earth county, than does that of ^lorrow, whose original immigrant, the father of the present generation of farmers, put up the first cabin in the tofl-nship and from that time until his death was connectel with almost every movement for the moral, educational and agri- cultural progress of the community. Eeferenee to the family history will be found elsewhere in this volume in the sketches of John and William ^Morrow, who with their brother Eobert H., oc- cupy a leading position among the farmers of the township. The family came from Ontario, Can- ada, where Eobert PI. was born December 20, 1861. At the age of two years he was brought to ]\Iinnesota and hence his earliest recollections cluster around the sights and scenes in this then frontier region. As a boy he aided in placing the homestead under cultivation and during the sum- mer months gave his capable assistance in the harvesting of the crops, while in the winter he was a pupil in the neighboring school. The establishment of domestic ties, which oc- curred in 1895, united Mr. Morrow with Miss Emma Hermann, a daughter of John and Sophia (Waterman) Hermann, natives of Prussia, Ger- many, the former born in 1831, and the latter in 1842. Upon starting out to earn his own way in the world Mr., Hermann came to the United States and settled in Blue Island, Illinois, where he married Miss Waterman. During 1864 he became a pioneer of ilinnesota and took up a tract of raw land, to the development of which he gave his industrious attention for a long period of years. Upon retiring from agricultural cares he removed to Mapleton, this county, where he now makes his home. Of his nine children all but two are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Morrow have no children of their own, but adopted a daughter, Margaret, and also have given a home and aflfectionate care to the two motherless sons of John Morrow. A sister, who owns an interest in the homestead, also resides with them. The old homestead, which Mr. Morrow occu- pies and operates, comprises two hundred and forty acres of land, the greater portion of which is under the plow, the balance being utilized for BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 507 the pasturage of Shorthorn cattle. Besides his iine cattle Mr. Morrow is making a specialty of Poland-China hogs and has won deserved suc- cess with this popular breed of swine. Since 'nc acquired the property he has made a number of improvements^ chief among which has been the building of a barn. It has been his aim to put up substantial fences and considerable work of that nature has been accomplished under his su- pervision. Devoting his attention to farming with unwavering energy, he has had neither leis- ure nor inclination to participate in public af- fairs and has held no positions except school of- fices, nor has he taken any part in politics aside from voting the Eepublican ticket. In religious connections he and his wife are believers in the doctrines of the United Brethren church. MOEEOW, WILLIAM.— The early recollec- tions of William Morrow are associated with the ftate of Minnesota, but Canada is his native land, his birth having occurred in the province of Ontario February 12, 18G0. Wlien he was three years of age he was brought to the United States by his parents, James and Jeanette (Currie) Morrow, and in 1864 the family set- tled in Blue Earth county, where the father built the first house in Beauford township. The oiiginal caljin stood across the road from where now may be seen the comfortable country home of John Morrow, one of the older sons in the family. Eight of the ten children survive, Bar- bara and Maggie being deceased. The eighth in order of birth was William, whose name intro- duces this article and whose education was se- cured in the country schools of this county. The years of boyhood and youth he passed unevent- fully in the schoolroom and on the farm, and after he had attained manliood he started out to earn his own way as a farmer. The marriage of William Morrow and Nellie S. Taylor was solemnized in 1888, and has been blessed by one child, Agnes, who was born April 2", 1898. Mrs. Morrow is a daughter of Eob- crt Taylor, concerning whom mention is made in the sketch of T. B. Taylor elsewhere in this volume. Through diligent application and wise judgment Mr. jMorrow has become the owner of four hundred and fifteen acres of land. Fifteen acres lie within the corporate limits of Maple- ton in Beauford township. The large farm is improved with neat buildings and fences, and every facility has been provided for the prompt and sytematic discharge of farm work. Upon retiring from the personal management of the land Mr. Morrow^ moved into Mapleton in ISHU and here he has an attractive residence bearing modern improvements. During the summer af- ter his removal into town he sold machinery and in 1906 he began to buy wheat for the Mapleton Milling Company. He is too young a man to enjoy complete retirement from business activ- ities and hence we find him, although no longer on the farm, interesting himself in everything that makes for the improvement of the farm lands of the county or for the upbuilding of the village. It has been Mr. ilorrow's custoju for years to keep posted concerning political issues and he has given his allegiance to the Eepublican party after carefully weighing the platforms of the va- rious political organizations. In his opinion the principles of the Eepublican party will best conserve the prosperity of the nation. At one time he was chosen to act as assessor of Beauford township, but with that exception he has not been personally identified with local affairs. Through all of his life he has endeavored to exe]nplify the doctrines of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a consistent mem1)er, and ho has further striven to live iip to the lofty principles of brotherhood as enunciated by the jMasonie fraternity. In the latter organization he holds membership with ^Mapleton Lodge Xo. 128, A. F. & A. M., and maintains a warm interest in the activities of the order. JMOUNTAIN, JAMES.— The farm in Lyra township upon whicli ifr. Mountain has made his home since 187? embraces two hundred and seventy acres of fertile land, bearing excellent improvements and brought under a high state of cultivation. The neat appearance of the prop- erty is attributed to the energy of the man who has been its owner for thirty-one years. Under his supervision all of the improvements have 508 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. been made and he has been especially careful to maintain the fertility of' the soil by means of proper methods of fertilization and by a sys- tematic rotation of crops. The annual harvests bring him fair returns for his care and cultiva- tion. A portion of the crops is sold in the mar- kets and the balance is fed to the stock, which includes graded cattle and hogs. A special fea- ture is also made of the breeding of French coach horses. Born in Washington count}-, Wisconsin, June 28, 1846, James ilountain is a son of William and Ann (Flynn) Mountain, the father a na- tive of the United States, the mother born in Ireland, but living in this country after IS^J. For a time he followed railroading in his early manhood, but later he devoted his time wholly to farming pursuits. Early in the 40's he be- came a pioneer of Washington county, Wiscon- sin, and took -up a tract of raw land from the government which he converted into a productive tract. During the year 1868 he removed to Minnesota and settled in Lyra township, Blue Earth county, where he died in 1900. His wife passed away in 190^ at the age of more than ninety years. In politics he always voted with the Democratic party. His tastes were averse to public affairs and he never consented to hold office. After having completed the studies of the common schools, James Mountain was sent for one year to the Wisconsin State University at iladison and after\^•ard took up agricultural pur- suits in his native county. During 1876 he married Catherine Gaynor, a daughter of Pat- rick and iMary (Coughlan) Gaynor, natives of Ireland, and pioneers of Washington county, Wisconsin, where they settled the same year with the family of William Mountain. From Wis- consin they came to Minnesota during the year 1877 and settled in Lyra township, Blue Earth county, where the father died in 1900. The mother had passed away in 1886. All of their eight children are living excepting one. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Mountain there are six children, namely : William J., who received his education in the Mankato State Normal and is now engaged in mining at Xome, Alaska; M. Cecelia, who was graduated from the Normal and is now the wife of John E. Flynn, a banker at Park Eapids, Minnesota; Edwin J., who re- ceived his education at the Normal; Louella, a graduate of the Normal at iMankato; Lillian and Rose, "who like the older children are being given excellent educational advantages. It has been the ambition of the parents to prepare their cliildren for -whatever responsibilities may await them and they have spared no pains in giving ti-iem the best opportunities their means afEord. The Roman Catholic church represents the re- ligious viefl-s of the family and they have been generous in promoting its maintenance and philan- tliropies. In politics Mr. Mountain votes with the Democratic party and has kept posted con- cerning the issues before our nation. During the year 1890 he was selected to serve as county commissioner. The other township offices he has filled with care and fidelity, including the offices of supervisor and chairman of the board of township trustees. :\IOUNTAIN, JOHN.— While only a small proportion of the citizens of Blue Earth county trace their lineage to Ireland, those who possess Irish ancestry display in their lives a cheerful acceptance of circumstances, a willingness to make the best of adverse surroundings, and a persistent application that in the end rewards them with a fair degree of success. In this class mention belongs to the ilountain family of Blue Earth county, whose present representa- ti\es are among the most energetic and resource- ful farmers of their various communities. A record of the family in brief outline appears in the sketch of James Mountain, a brother of John and a son of William Mountain, who dur- ing 186-8 settled in Lyra township and there remained until his death in 1900. The wife and mother died seven years later. A native of Washington county, Wisconsin, John ilo'antain grew to manhood in the place of his birth, receiving only a meagre education and at an early age became self-supporting. Farming was his chosen occupation and he re- mained on a farm in Washington county for a considerable period. Five years after his brother James settled in Blue Earth county he came BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOKY. 509 to ■ this part of jMinne'sota and took up a tract of raw land, where he became interested in gen- eral farming. In 1883 he married Bridget O'Connor, daughter .of David and Johanna (Gleason) O'Connor, natiycs of Ireland, hut at early ages emigrants to the United States, set- tling first in Washington county, \VisconsiTi. From there they removed to Blue Earth county, ilinnesota, and about 1873 took up land in Beauford township, where ]\Ir. O'Connor passed away. Later his widow made her home with her daughter, Mrs. ilountain, until her death. Nine children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mountain, namely: Mary A., who married Will- iam Weir, a fanner of Lyra township; David J., Cartherinc, William L., Joanna B., Francis (deceased), Gertrude E., :\rartha E. and Lorettai A. The children have been educated in the county schools and have been trained in the faith of the Eoman Catholic church, with which their parents are identified. The farm owned and operated by John jMoun- tain lies in Lyra township and comprises two hundred and thirty-five acres, of which two hun- dred acres are under the plow. Stock on the place include Xorman horses, (Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, in each of which only good grades are kept. A neat house furnishes a comfortable home for the family. A substantial barn and other buildings add to the equipment of the homestead and furnish needed conven- iences for the care of the stock. Since coming here iff 1882 Mr. Mountain has worked with un- tiring zeal and has wrought a transformation in the appearance of the property which speaks eloquently of his industry and thrift. The fine grove of maple and willow trees was set out by himself years ago and now furnishes a wind- break that is ornamental as well as useful. In politics he always has voted the Democratic ticket. For four years he was a member of the board of trustees of Lyra township and for a long period he served as school clerk, being will- ing at all times to aid movements for the general welfare of the community and particularly for the building up of good roads and good schools. MOUNTAIN. P. H.— While having the ad- vantage of receiving aid from his father in se- curing a start in agricultural affairs, yet the large holdings of ^^Ir. ^Mountain have come prin- cipally through his own exertions, and by dint of energy, perseverance and wise judgment he has risen to a position among' the large land-owners of Blue Earth county, where he owns and op- erates a farm in Lyra townsliip. Born in Wash- ington county, AA'isconsin. Xovcmber 24, 1854, he was a son of William and Ann (Flynn) Mountain, pioneers of Blue Earth county, and the parents of children who have been promi- nently identified with the development of this county. The family removed here from Wiscon- sin in an early da}-, the son, P. H., having re- ceived previously a fair education "in the com- mon schools of his childhood ' home. During 1882 he was united in marriage with ]\Iiss Alice Belson, daughter of John and Bridget (Carey) Belson, natives of Ireland, but immigrants to the United States and pioneers of Washington county, Wisconsin, where they remained until death. The family of Mr. and ]\frs. Mountain com- prises twelve children, all of whoni are yet at home and are being given the best educational advantages within the means of the parents. They are named as follows: William J., Ed- ward F., Len, ilichael J., Catherine M., Cecelia, Theresa, Madeline, Theodore, Arthur and Eve- lyn. Ever since coming to this county from Wisconsin ^Fr. ^Mountain has remained on the same farm, it being the old homestead originally purchased bv his parents after their arrival in Lyra township. At this writing he is the owner of six hundred acres, of which five hundred acres are under the plow and twenty-five acres are in heavy timber, the balance being utilized for pasturage of Shorthorn cattle and other stock. A specialty of the owner is the raising of Poland-Cliina hogs. The greater part of the large tract is operated bv the owner with the assistance of his sons, only a small portion oi the estate being rented out to others. Of recent years a number of valuable improvements have been made. The house is neat and comfortable, the barns substantial and the other buildings well adapted to their several purjioses. the whole forming an estate that may well be the own- er's pride. 510 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. Eeared in the faith of the Eoman Catholic denomination, Mr. ilountain always has been stanch in his adherence to the doctrines of that church and has contributed generously to its charities. In politics he votes independently, giving bib support to candidates whom he con- siders best qualified to represent the interests of the people. For several years he has filled the office of school director and meanwhile has been a stanch supporter of movements for the benefit of the schools of his district. Fraternal or- ganizations do not appeal to his tastes and he has never become identified with any, finding in his farm, his cliurcli and his community a suffi- cient outlet for his energies. Among the people of the neighborhood he is considered a thrifty farmer and capable citizen. ?tIf)I'XTAIX, WILLIAJl.— One of the large and well-improvtd farms of Lyra township be- longs to William j\[nuntain, wlio for a long period has made his home on the place and to whose energetic, judicious efforts may be at- tributed the neat appearance of the homestead as well as its profitable cultivation. The farm consists of four hundred acres, all -ivithin the limits nf the township and near the village of Good Thunder. At the time of the location here of the jiresent owner the land was in almost the primeval condition of nature, few attempts having been made to till the soil hitherto. Un- der his o\'ersight buildings have been put up, fences have been placed where needed, a sys- tematic rotation of crops has been adopted, and satisfactory rtsults have been secured. In stock a specialty has been made of Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. On the 4th of July, 1847, William Mountain was born on a farm in Washington county, Wis- consin, being a son of William and Margaret (Flynn) j\liiuntain, natives of county Cork, Ire- land, and emigrants to the United States during their early life. The family settled among the pioneers of Washington county, Wisconsin, and there the mother died in 1S6G. Surviving her are the father (now ninety-five years of age) and five children, William, Margaret, David, Ed- ward and Ann. The first-named received a com- mon-school education in Washington county and at an early age gained a thorough knowledge of tilling the soil under the oversight of his father. When he arrived at man's estate he started out to earn his own way in the world and during ISTO arrived in Blue Earth county, where he remained for two years. Eeturning to Wisconsin he spent three years there and then again came to Blue Earth county, this time as a permanent settler. AYhile back in Wisconsin he married Winifred Shannon, who died in Blue Earth coi.nty, leaving three children, James, Mary A. and Margaret. Later he was united in marriage with IMary Garvey, daughter of Thomas and Johanna (O'Connell) Garvey, natives of Ireland and for many years farmers . of Washington county, Wisconsin. The second marriage of Mr. Mountain was blessed with six children, all liv- ing, namely: Hannah, Thomas, Winifred, Wal- ter, ]\Iathew and Lloyd. The family are believ- ers in the doctrines of the Eoman Catholic church and have been generous contributors to the charities of the denomination. For many years Mr. Jlountain has held school offices and meanwhile he has been warmly interested in all movements for the advancement of the dis- trict schools. Politically he has been stanch in his allegiance to the Democratic party and always has given his ballot and influence to its men and measures. MUELLEE, LEWIS P.— For more than fifty years the farm on section twenty-six, Lime town- sliip, now owned by Lewis P. ^tueller, has been in the possession of the family. The eventful year of IS.Ki, which witnes'^ed the arrival of many of the pioneers later prominent in the his- tory of Blue Earth count}-, brought hither Philip ^fueller, who secured the land through pre- emption and gave his attention to transforming the wild tract into a productive property. In this his efforts were sucessful. Industry and in- telligent tilling of the soil brought him a fair degree of prosperity. His quiet but useful life afforded another illustration of the thrift and energy of our German-American citizenship. Born in Germany January 9, 1829, he received a fair education in his native language and grew BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 511 to manhood sturdy, self-reliant and economical. In 1856, three 3'ears after his arrival in the United States, he came to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, Joining the small colony of pioneers ambitious to develop this section of the country. During October of 1863 he married Augusta Liedloff, who was born in Germany ilarch 19, 1846, and at the age of about one year was brought to America, but did not come to Blue Earth county until the early part of the year 1863. After their marriage they settled on the claim, which was then a wilderness. The ensu- ing years were filled with toil, but brought in- creasing success and eventually they were enabled to retire from active labors, having accumulated a competency. In 1890 they removed to Man- kato, where the father died ^STovember 3, 1906; since his death the mother has continued to make this city her home. There were thirteen children in the Mueller family, but only two are now living, namely: Adolph and Lewis P. The last named was born on the farm where he still lives. After having completed the studies of the district schools, he entered the Mankato State Normal School and continued there until his graduation in 1888. Two years later he began to teach school and for three years he continued successfully in that work, after which he returned to the old home- stead and took up the work of an agriculturist. October 38, 1902, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Oehler, who was born in Blue Earth county September 13, 1883, being a daugh- ter of Adolph and Mary (Schell) Oehler. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Mueller has been blessed with two children, namely : L. Inez, born De- cember 6, 1903; and M. Harold, March 30, 1907. Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Mueller has been a stanch supporter of Eepublican prin- ciples and never fails to give the party the sup- port of his franchise, but at no time has he sought political positions, his interest being that of a public-spirited citizen, not a partisan or politician. Without solicitation on his part in 1907 he was chosen to fill the office of treasurer of Lime township, and this position he fills with efficiency. In addition for the past six or more years he has filled the office of justice of the peace. In fraternal relations he is identified with Madison Lake Lodge No. 375, A. -0. U. W. Among the people of the township he and his wife have a large circle of friends, who repose ithe highest confidence in their integrity, hospi- tality and fine characters. :\IUEPHY, JOHN.— The fact that he has risen to a position among the most prosperous farmers of Garden City township proves Mr. ilurphy to be a man of considerable native abil- ity, for he had no advantages whatever in youth. Born in Ireland in 1840, he was of humble parentage and it was necessary for him to earn his own livelihood from childhood, so that he had no educational advantages whatever. His parents, Patrick and Bridget (ilaroney) ^^lurph)', were natives of Ireland and came to the United States when their son was quite small. The father secured employment in slate quarries in the east, but wages were small and the struggle to provide the necessities of life for the family was unusually severe. Before he had conquered poverty he died in Brooklyn; hifi wife passed away at Eochester, New York. As already intimated, John ]\rurphy was self- supporting at an age when most boys are pupils in school. ;Vny occupation that offered an honest livelihood was eagerly grasped, and early and late he labored for others. For a short time he was employud in a store at Lyons, New York. When the war broke out he was in sympathy with the cause of the Union and soon offered his services in behalf of his adopted country. Dur- ing January of 1863 he was accepted as a pri- vate in the One Hundred and Fifth New York Infantry, which in 1864 was consolidated with the Ninety-fourth New York Eegiment. During the period of his service he was with his regiment at the front and participated in many of the most decisive battles of the war, among them being the second battle of Bull Eun, South IMountain, Slaughter Mou.ntain, Antie- tam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg. Peters- burg and Appomattox. While fighting at Gettys- burg he fell into the hands of the enemy, but later was sent to the parole camp, where he re- mained for some five months, when his exchange was effected, and he returned to the regiment. 51! BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. At the close of the war he was rmistered out at Washington, where he participated in the grand review. Immediately after receiving an honorable dis- charge from the army Mr. Murphy came to Min- nesota and in August of 1865 became a resident of Blue Earth county, where ever since he has engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning a well- improved tract of land in Garden City township, on rural route Xo. 2, out from Lake Crystal. His neat cottage is presided over by Mrs. ilurphy, formerly ]\Iiss Eachel Pedwin, whom he married in 1ST8. They are the parents of three daixghtcrs. The family attend the Baptist church at Lake Crystal and contribute to its mainte- nance. For years Mr. Murphy has been an in- terested worker in the Grand Army of the Ee- public, holding membership with A. T. Murphy Post No. 108, at Lake Crystal, and sharing with the other members the pleasure of frequent re- unions around the camp-fire, where stories are told of thrilling events connected with their ser- vice in the south during the war. NAYLOE, JAMES.— When reflecting upon the agricultural progress of Minnesota Mr. ISTay- lor may well say, "All of which I saw and part of which I was."' More than fifty years have come and gone since he arrived in what was then the frontier region of the United States. In- dians stili molested the white settlers and on more than one occasion he has shouldered his rifle and gone forth to fight the savages. It was during 18.56 that he landed in Minnesota and six years later he enlisted as a volunteer in the Union army, being accepted as a private in Com- pany A, Tenth Minnesota Infantry, assigned to the army of the west, and later transferred to the Sixteenth Army Corps, army of the south. His service in the war covered a period of three 3'ears and fourteen davs and came to an end with the close of the contest, when he was granted an honorable discharge. After he en- listed his first battle was with the Indians at Devil's lake in Minnesota, and later he took part in the battles at Nashville, Tupelo, and other points in the south, but sickness forced him to remain in a hospital at Memphis for six months and in the battles of that period he had no part. As a soldier he proved efficient, courageous and quick to grasp military tactics, and he served his adopted country faithfully and well. Born in Lincolnshire, England, October 31, 181-2, James Naylor is a son of John and Eliza- beth (Eux) Naylor natives of the same shire as himself and emigrants therefrom to America during the year 1850. Their first location was on a tract of land in Cook county, Illinois, near Chicago. During 1856 they brought their chil- dren to Minnesota and took up a claim' in Steele coanty, where afterward they engaged in devel- oping and improving a farm. On that place the wife and mother died in 1899 and the father in 190.3. They were parents of' eight children, namely: John, Edward, George, Mary, James, Elizabeth, William and Arthur. When the fam- ily came to the United States James was about eight years old and he was fourteen at the time of arriving in Minnesota, where he has since made his home. The marriage of .James Kaylor took place Au- gust 7, 1867, and united him with Carrie Bur- gess, daughter of Joshua Burgess, a native of Massachusetts and a pioneer of Blue Earth coun- ty, Minnesota, where he followed the trade of a carpenter. On account of the failure of his health he went west and traveled in the hope that he might be benefited by the change, but the hope proved futile and he died while stopping in Salt Lake City. Mr. and ^Irs. ISTaylor have three children. The eldest child, Herbert, mar- ried Myrtle Eemick and makes his home in Min- neapolis, where he is employed as a bridge car- penter. The second son, E. J., who married Alice Croswell, now has charge of the home farm. The only daughter. Myrtle, was educated in the ]\rankato State ISTormal and now is engaged in teaching school in ISTorth Dakota. After many years of residence in another part of Minnesota Mr. Na^dor came to Blue Earth county in 1887 and now owns two hundred acres of land in Eapidan township, of which one hun- dred and fifty acres are under the plow. The at- tractive residence, erected by the present owner, is sheltered by a grove of forest trees and pre- Lscnts an appearance of refinement and thrift. The land is under excellent cultivation and bears BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 513 valuable improvements, all made by Mr. Naylor, who deserves to be classed among the progressive men of his township. For years he has been connected with the Grand Army of the Eepublic at Mankato. In polities he is a Eepublican. In- terest in local affairs led him to accept the offices of overseer of the roads and school director, and the movements toward good roads and good schools have in him a firm friend and intelligent champion. XEILSEX, XEIL.— The landscape gardeners art ever has been regarded as one of the most satisfying of the creative industries of man.. The lover of nature knoMs that his opportunities are boundless, and his work one which always is appreciated bv the majority of his kind. Sluch tliat is noble must live in the heart of a man who thus is permitted to spend his days in close com- panionship with liis flowers, shruljs and the vistas of distance whieli he is able to create. One finds the truth of this assertion in Neil Xeilsen, who, though a companative newcomer to ^fankato, has made his influence felt through his success as a florist and gardener.' Practically all of Mr. Xeilseu"s life has been spent in an atmosphere of flowers, and their care and propogation w^as the keynote of the industry which prevailed in the home in Denmark, wliere he was born February 24, 18GG. His father, Christian Xeilsen, was an ardent devotee of flow- ers and plants and shrubs, and his entire active life was spent in developing and selling them. Under his wise direction the son grew in knowl- edge of the fascinating industry, flnally succeed- ing to the management of the paternal business. Thrifty as are his people as a nation, he lived within his means, saved a little, and in 1891 established a home of his own, marrying Chris- tiana Petersen, a native also of Denmark. The young people came to America during the fall following their marriage, and ^[r. Xeil^on se- lected Chicago as a ])nssible field fm- liis future life work. For five years he was employed by various gardeners and florists, and his ability and knowledge received ample recognition, especially when the World's Fair was in process of build- ing, when he served three years in the land- scape department. He next went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and was employed by a leading flor- ist, in 1901 coming to ]\Iankato, which since has been his home. In Mankato Jlr. Xeilsen bought the green- houses establishel more than thirty years ago by Herman Lorentz, and located on the corner of State and Marshall streets. In the meantime he has greatly enlarged their capacity, and his space now is represented by aljout eight thousand feet of glass. He is engaged in a large trade throughout the county, sending to many distant towns cut flowers and potted plants, as well as catering to a gratifying local demand. Mr. Xeilsen is a Republican in politics, and in religion is a member of the Danish-Norweg- ian church. To himself and wife have been born five children: Christian, Letta, Ernest, Holger and Harold. XELSEX^, JACOB B.— It has been the mis- sion of Jacob B. Xelsen to contribute more to- wards the making of his architectural surround- ings than any other man in southern Minnesota. It is a pleasure and satisfaction when walking abroad in ^Mankato to st'e on every hand evidences of his skill and reliability, of his ability to house the institutions and people of the community, and of the confidence reposed in him by individ- uals, singly and in the aggregate. Xor is his reputation dependent upon local estimate, for scattered throughout the state, and even in the adjoining states, are public and private buildings erected under his supervision, and with that thor- oughness and regard for detail and substantiality ^\hich characterizes the man who labors for the love of his work, and who thinks his best is none too good for an expression of himself. 'Mv. Xelsen typified tlie best that comes to our shores from the little country of Denmark, where ho was born April 14, 186.3, and wliere he re- ceived a ])ractical education in the public schools. His immigration to America, in 188.'J, at the age of twent\'-two years, was characteristic of the spirit of advancement which since has influenced his career, leading him to a citizenship as varied and many sided as it is useful and influential. A^'ere the bottom to drop out of the building 5U BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. business he might turn his attention to the miller trade with assurance of success, as it was this line of work which yielded him his first inde- pendent livelihood. For a 3'ear and a half he followed the miller' ^^ trade in Omaha, Nebraska, then came to Mankato, where he since has en- gaged in contracting and building, at first as an employe of 0. E. Mather, with whom he re- mained about six years. During this time he learned every phase of the business, and by his faithfulness and quickness of perception, laid the foundation for his subsequent success. In the fall of 1893 he began to build and contract along advanced lines, and in the meantime has erected the Public Library, Chicago, ililwaukee & St. Paul Eailway Passenger Station, Immanuel Hospital, Independent Order of Odd Fellows Buildings, Eichard's Block, J. I. Case Building, F. M. Currier's Residence and the State Normal School, Mankato, Minn. He also built the Court house at Windom, Minn., the Court House at Fairmont, Minn., also Gustavus Adolphus Col- lege, County Jail, High School and Nurses' Dor- mitory, State Hospital, St. Peter, Minn., the Park Hotel, St. James, Minn., the Presbyterian Chuch and Ladies' Dormitory at the State Agri- cultural College, Brookings, S. D., Nurses' Dor- mitory, State Hopsital, Eochester, Minn., the St. Lucas Hospital at Faribault, Minn., and other buildings. Mr. Nelsen makes his home in North Man- kato, where he has a beautiful residence, and where he is prominent in the political and sncial life of the community. He has been three terms president of the Village Council, and at present is a member of the Board of Education. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the past twenty years, and now is Past Noble Grand. He is also connected with the 32nd Degree of Masons and Shriners, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the Modern Woodmen of America. His business sagacity and substantial wealth have brought him into active association with the banking in- terests of the town and county, and he is a director of the National Bank of Commerce of ifankato, Minn. In 1899 ili'. Nelson was united in marriage to Anna Xelsen, a native of JFankato, and of the union there as six children; Lucile, Engrel, Lillian, Edvold, Esther and Jennes. Adapt- iveness and resource have been important fac- tors in Mr. Nelson's assimilation with American in.?titutions and responsibilities. He has none of the clannishness or norrowness met with in many of our capable representatives from other countries, but on the other hand has given of a sunny and sj'mpathetic nature to the many peoplp and interests with which he has beSn and now is identified. NELSON, JOHN.— While most men are for- tunate if master of one useful trade, it is given to John Nelson to confidently face the future with a thorough knowledge of two. Should he dis- continue his present profitable tailoring business in Mankato, Mr. Nelson could command recogni- tion as a carpenter and builder, an occupation with which he became familiar as soon as he was old enough to handle tools, and which he learned from his father in Norway. Born in that far off and picturesque country September 26, 1864, he is a son of Nels and Amelia Christensen, neither of whom ever left Norway-, and the former of whom died at the age of forty-eight years. Nels Christensen was a farmer as well as carpenter in early life, but latterly has devoted his ener- gies entirely to building. In his family are seven children, all of whom are living. Educated in the public schools of Norway, John Nelson quit the carpenter trade at the age of sixteen, and learned the trade of tailor, to which he since has devoted his energies. In search of larger opportunity than seemed to exist in his native land, he emigrated to America in 1882, locating first in Winona, this state, and in 1887 settling in lyiankato, where in 1902, he established his present tailoring business at 206 South Front street. Mr. Nelson has a growing and depend- able trade, and his reputation for skill, good judgment and reliability has been won by un- ceasing devotion to the best business tenets. He supplies all grades of masculine wearing apparel, and can turn out a Tuxedo or hack about suit with equal facility. April 20, 1889, Mr. Nelson was united in mar- riage to Jennie Enerson, of Faribault county, this state, and of the union there are two chil- BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 515 dren: VAwm Martin and Einer Arnold. Mr. Xelson is prominently identified with the Xor- wegian Lutheran Synod church, and has served as trustee for many years, and as treasurer for ten years. Fraternally he is identified with the lioval Arcanum, and politically is a Eepubli- can. He is tactful and obliging, always keeps his word, and is above subterfuge and misrepresenta- tion dealing with his many customers. XELSOX, OLE.— A really honest and su- perior workman lias his reward not only in the good, tangible, usuable things of the world, but in the unqualified respect which he receives from all classes of men and women. This is the en- viable station in life occupied by Ole Xelson, the expert, reliable and prosperous metal worker of ilankato. Does the householder or business man require first-class furnace work, a steel ceiling, a water-proof sky-light, nr any other thing in the line of tin, copper and galvanized iron work, the first thought is of Mr. Nelson and his where- abouts. The result of his skill and faithfulness in these specialties is to give him the great bulk of the ]\rankato trade. Ole Xelson is a carefvil, industrious, true son of Denmark, son of farmer parents and born September l."), 1868. As his father died when he was a mere lad, at the age of eleven years he came to America to live ^\ith his sister ^laria, whose husband, Hans Knudson, was connected with the Eapidan mill, in Eapidan township, this coiinly. Here Ole was employed for a time, be- fore commencing to learn the tinning trade with Lamm & Schroeder, of ^Fankato, in 188."). He afterward secured em])loyment along these lines in the. Twin Cities and at various points in Xe- braska, but finally returned to ^lankato and be- came connected with Schroeder & ]\Iurpliy. Thus thoroughly qualified to do efl'icient metal work, iir. Xelson, in 1899, made the fortunate venture of opening an establishment of his own at ">23 South Front street, and his reliable work, promptly ext'cuted, has since brought to him there the patronage of the l)est people in the city. l^lr. Xelson is a member of the Commercial Club, of Slankato; is affiliated with the ^lodern Woodmen of America, fraternally, and his politi- cal relations are with the Democracy. He is a kind and indulgent man of family; married to Turena Woge, of iladelia, Minnesota, in June, 189'?. he is the father of four children: Isla D.. Howard 0., Marie A. and George E. XEEBOYIG, 51. D., CHEISTOPHEE H.— Since establishing his home and professional headquarters in ilankato in 1901, Dr. Xerbovig has engaged in the practice of neurology and ophthalmolog}'. Xeurology is the science of an- alyzing the causes of human ills in such a mathe- matically accurate manner that nearly all of them may be found and removed without the use of drugs or operations. Ophthalmology is a branch of neurology and treats of the eyes. If the eyes consume an amount of the body's re- serve force in excess of their natural share, some of the organs must suffer because they have so exhausted the nerve supply that nb organ can perform its functions purely from a lack of nerve forci' tn operate it. Then there are symptoms of deranged functions. Without the use of medi- cine or operations he has been able to effect some remarkable cures, thus proving the practical value of the method he has adopted. The close rela- tion of the eyes to the rest of the nerves and the fact that the eyes are the most delicate and yet capable of performing more labor than any organ in the body, and under normal conditions consumes ten per cent of the nerve force of the body, but when defective can consume as' high as eight per cent more than the normal amount, thus depriving the normal organs of their neces- siiry supply, and causing all kinds of disturb- ances which are called disease, hut in reality are only functional disturbances. Tn preparing for his work he had the advantage of a course of study in the Xorthern Illinois College of Oph- tbalmolo<;T, and also the ^feCorraick Xeurolog- ioal College of Chicago, from both of which in- stitutions he received diplomas at the comple- tion of the regular course. Born in Xorway Xovember 18. 1807, Dr. Ner- bovig is a son of Hans H. and Gurina Xerbovig, also natives, of that country. During 1870 the father brousrht the family to America and settled 516 BIOGBAPHICAL HISTOEY. in Jlinnesota, where for five years lie lived at ilankatOj later resided in Janesville and Winona and since 1903 has made his home at Waseca. From early life he has followed the trade of a jeweler. Uf his family of ten children five died in infancy. John is a photographer; Carrie is the widow of Harry Blanchard, of Wapello, Iowa; Halver H. is a jeweler at Sheldon, Iowa; and George C. is engaged in the practice of neurology and ophthalmology at Faribault, this state. The mother of these children died in 1887 at the age of forty-four years. The public schools of Janesville and Winona ga\'e to Christopher H. Xerbovig the necessary educational preparaticn for a busy career. While still a mere boy he L.gan to help his father in the jewelry business a^xd gained a knowledge of the trade, which he followed for some years, first in St. Charles, and later at Mapleton, Minne- sota. Meanwhile his attention had been called to the science of ophthalmology as early as 1891 and he becaine a close student of optics. When his means permitted the collegiate training he desired he gave up his trade and entered college, where he thoroughly equipped himself for his life work. Since leaving college he has built up a growing practice in Mankato. Sharing with him the esteem of the people of this city is his wife, whom he married November 18, 1891, and who was Anna M. Van Gorder, a native of Few York state, but at the time of their marriage a resident of Winona, Minnesota. Six children were born of their union, three now living, namely : Gertrude Lucille, Myrtle Louise, Har- riet Blanche and Christopher Herbert. Two sons, Harold C. and Kenneth C, died in infancy. The fraternal connections of Dr. Nerbovig in- clude membership in the Eoyal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen of America, the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic order, and the East- ern Star, and in the last-named order he has been honored with the office of worthy patron of the Mankato chapter. He also is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. NICHOLS, L. M.— One of the veterans of the Civil war, whose service covered the entire period of the struggle and a portion of the period of reconstruction afterward, was L. M. Nichols, who came to Blue Earth county in 1869 and was identified with the agricultural interests of this part of the state. For almost thirty years he resided in Eapidan township on the farm which during that entire period he owned and operated. Though not one of the largest farmers of the township, he was an industrious farmer and la- bored Avith the greatest persistence to secure the needed improvements on his property. More than ordinary discouragement came to him, for twice his house was burned down, but each time he rebuilt, and the family now have a neat little home furnished in a manner indicative of their refined tastes and orderly spirit. Near Saratoga Springs in the state of New York, L. M. Nichols was born June 5, 1840, be- ing a son of William and Charity (Hewett) Nichols, natives of New York and pioneers of Wisconsin, where they died on a farm. The edu- cation o-f L. M. Nichols was secured in country schools in Wisconsin. While still quite young he enlisted in a Blackhawk company and later became a, private in Company C, Fourth Wiscon- sin Infantry, in which he served for two years, until the expiration of his time. Shortly after he enlisted in the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry and remained with it at the front until after the close of the war, being in active service for more than five years. On leaving the army he re- turned to Wisconsin and took up general farm pursuits. From 1869 he made his home in Blue Earth county and since 1879 he lived on the present homestead in Eapidan township until his death which occurred September 11th, 1907, at the age of sixty-seven years, three months and eleven days. His was an industrious, persevering life, and he won the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. xA.t the time of coming to Blue Earth county and for some time thereafter Mr. Nichols was a single man, but in 1877 he established domestic ties, being united during that year with Miss Jane Lonlett, daughter of Mitchell and Jane (Tasscy) Lonlett, natives of Vermont and pio- neers of Blue Earth county. The death of Mrs. Lonlett occurred in Madelia, while her husband passed away in Vernon Center township. There are four children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 517 Nichols. The eldest child, Cortenous, is a resi- dent of ilankato. Stella is married and lives in this count}-. Allen B. and Edward V. remain with their mother on the home farm in R.apida,n township. Ever since casting his first ballot Mr. Nichols was a stanch Republican and supported local candidates of that party by his ballot and influence. For years he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Mankato and maintained a warm interest in the reunions of the veterans of the war. NIMS, S. J. — Ever since establishing his home in Blue Earth county in 1865 Mr. Nims has been a resident of Vernon Center township, with whose agricultural and commercial interests his name is closely associated. A^'ery soon after his arrival here as a resident he acquired land by purchase and to the original tract he added from time to time until now he owns a farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres, which under his sagacious management has been transformed from a desolate waste of school land into a val- uable and productive property, bearing neat im- provements and the necessary equipment in build- ings to enable the tenant to carry forward ex- peditiously the work of the place. After having cultivated the land for twentj'-four years, in 1889 he rented the farm and removed to Vernon Center, where he owns a beautiful residence sur- rounded by an acre of well-kept grounds. For some time he has been retired from active cares, but at first after removing to town he had nu- merous business identifications. For six years he engaged in the buying and shipping of stock and wheat, for the latter purpose building an ele- vator that still stands. For four years he car- ried on a lumber yard. While actively engaged in the shipping business he shipped the first shelled corn and the first baled hay ever sent out from A'ernon Center. In all of his dealings with farmers he proved to be thoroughly honest and straightforward, and he won their confidence by his honorable methods of conducting busi- ness. In Saratoga county, New York, S. J. Nims was born June 5, 1841, being a son of Alpheus and Almena (Randall) Nims. The father, who was likewise a native of Saratoga county, fol- lowed saw-milling in an early day and also en- gaged in carpentering. For a time he took con- tracts for buildings of all kinds. During the early '50s he came to the west and settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in carpentering for twenty years. A brief sojourn was then made in Missouri, after "which he re- turned to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, to make his home. During 1887 he removed to Washington and settled in the growing city of Seattle, where his death occurred in 1893. Nine children com- prised his family, namely: Eliza, Martha, De- vritt, who died in the War of the Rebellion in 1863, S. J., Amelia (who died in girlhood), Paulina, Mary, Julius and Julian, who died in infancy. The marriage of S. J. Nims occurred in 1865 and united him with Sarah J. Cook, by whom he has one daughter, Winnifred; the latter in 1884 was united with Joseph D. Morrison, a carpenter engaged in business at Vernon Center. The father of Mrs. Nims was Sheldon Cook, a native of New York state, by occupation a farmer, and after 1858 a resident of Wisconsin, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Dodge county, dying there in 1869 ; his wife, who bore the maiden name of Alma Covley, died in 1ST6. During the year of his marriage Mr. Nims came to Blue Earth county and settled in Vernon Center township, where since he has been intimately identified with farm and business ac- tivities, meanwhile holding a high place in the regard of acquaintances, and contributing his quota to the development of the material re- sources of the township. Deeply interested in educational work, he has held school offices for many years and has done all within his power to promote the welfare of the schools of the township. The only political office which he has held is the position of township assessor, to which he was elected by the Republican party of the town. In religion he holds membership with the Baptist church, while his wife is of the Presby- terian faith. Both were well educated in Fox Lake college in Wisconsin and Mrs. Nims taught school after completing her studies, winning a local fame for thorough work as an educator. Possessed of literary ability, she has written con- 518 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. siderable poetry, has often reported for leading papers of Minnesota, and lias the distinction of liaving written more obituary notices and memoirs than any other resident of tire entire county. Por this work she is qualified by her wide ac- quaintanceship, fine command of language and thorough education, and her influence extends through all of the most cultured circles of the county. NOE, JOHN C. — Intimately conversant with the values of farm lands and real estate in Blue Earth county, Mr. Noe has the necessary equip- ment for the successful prosecution of his special work in the buying and selling of properties, and for a long period he has conducted such an en- terprise with significant success, meanwhile also carrying on a loan agency. Xo one is more deeply interested than he in the promotion of the city's welfare, and his home town of Mankato has been benefited by his residence therein, cov- ering the entire period from February of 1871: to the present time. Meanwhile he has served as president of the Board of Trade, has been prominent in other agencies for the development and extension of Mankato's commerce, and has given proficient and judicious aid to worthy pro- jects in their days of struggle for a business foot- hold. Born in Xewburgh, New York, ilay 2, 1814, John C. Noe was a son of Albert Noe,- a well- known merchant of that city. During the years of his boyhood he received excellent advantages in local schools and later qualified himself for the legal profession by a thorough course ol study of the law. Admitted to the bar in 1866, he took up professional work in his native city, where he passed through the discouragements which fall to the lot of all in securing a start in the midst of older and more experienced law- yers. In 1873 he decided to settle in the west, and in search of a suitable location he came to Minnesota, making a brief sojourn in Winona, where he was admitted to practice in this state in 1873. In February of the following year he came to Mankato, where he has since engaged in the real estate and loan business and the prac- tice of his profession and also has maintained an interest in civic affairs, proving himself a conscientious supporter of every good work. Sharing with him in the esteem of the com- munity is his wife, formerly j\liss Anna Chandler, whom he married June 23, 1868, at Fishkill, New York, and wlio is a member of one of the old families of the east. NORTON, JOHN R.— Very soon after tlie building of the railroad through Mapleton had brought the village into close touch with the outer world, Mr. Norton became a pioneer of the place and since has been identified with its busi- ness interests. Finding a favorable opening for a lumber business, he opened a yard soon after be- coming a resident of the town and from that time to tlie present he has engaged continuously in the business. His yards are situated in the northeast corner of the town and contain a general line of hard and soft lumber of all kinds, as well as doors, sash, lime, stone, cement and all other lines of building material. A generous pro- portion of the trade in his line comes to his yards -and his reputation among the people of the community is that of an honorable business man and progressive citizen. On the western coast of Ireland, in the county of Limerick and near the city of the same name whose sweet-toned chimes have made its name familiar through all parts of the world, there still stands the homestead where the Norton fam- ily followed agricultural pursuits. Thomas, son of John Norton, was born there in 1801, and married Margaret Reedy, a native of the same county, born in 181G. In 1852, years after their marriage, they came to the United States and settled at Sherburne, Chenango county. New York. Four years later they proceeded still further west and identified themselves with the pioneers of Sauk county, Wisconsin, where the father developel a raw tract of land into a fertile farm. Upon retiring from agricultural pursuits in 1880 he moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin, and there he passed from earth in 1885, having sur- vived his -wife six years. They were the parents of five sons and five daughters, the fifth of the ten children being John R., who was born in Limerick, Ireland, March 19, 1840, and at the BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 519 age of twelve years accompanied the family to the new world. Four years later he came west with them and aided in the hard task of clearing the home farm. After having spent the years 1864-G5 as an employe in a machine shop in Rockford, Illinois, during the latter year ilr. Xorton became inter- ested in the raising and dealing of hops, which he continued for ten years, meanwhile also deal- ing in stock. As previously stated, he came to ilapleton shortly after the completion of the railroad and since then he has been a prominent business man of the town. Prospered financially, he has become a director in the First National Bank of Mapleton and has acquired other inter- ests in or near his home town. While devoting himself with assiduous enthusiasm to business matters, at the same time he has discharged every duty devolving upon a patriotic citizen and has been active in his support of educational and public measures beneficial to town and county. As a member of the school board he has earnestly labored to promote the usefulness of the town schools. Though preferring not to accept politi- cal offices, he has been interested in politics and has maintained a stanch allegiance to the Demo- cratic party. O'CONNOR, CHARLES.— The family repre- sented by this well-known citizen of St. Clair traces its lineage to Ireland, where many succes- sive generations li^'ed and labored. It was not until near the middle of the nineteenth century that this branch of the family established a home in the United States, the original immigrant hav- ing been Patrick O'Connor, a native of county Sligo, Ireland, and a man of versatile ability and unquestioned loyalty to the country of his adop- tion. To him belongs the distinction of having been the first man to sign as a volunteer for the Mexican war. When he crossed the Atlantic to the new world in 1838 he was accompanied by his wite, who bore the maiden name of • ]\Iar- garet ifcDerniott and was a native of Dublin. After they had established a home in Albany, New York, there was born to them a son, Charles, December 10, 1843. The family left Albany in 18-17 and journeyed to Chicago in the primitive fashion preceding the introduction of railways. For nine years they remained in Cbicago, where the son attended school and where it was his privilege to study in the famous university, St. JIary's of the Lake. A later place of residence was at Fond du Lac, \Visconsin, where the family made their home for nine years. From there they came to Jlinnesota in 1864 and settled in Blue Earth count}^, where they pre-empted a claim of one hundred and sixty acres. Both in Wisconsin, where he had secured government land, and sub- sequently in Minnesota, the father conducted general farming and earned a livelihood by till- ing the soil. His last years were passed in re- tirement from agricultural cares and he passed away at St. Clair in 1905 one year after the demise of his devoted wife. Among the pioneers of his part of the county he is remembered as a farmer of ability, a kind-hearted neighbor, generous to all in need, and solicitous to pro-, mote the welfare of his community. The marriage of Charles O'Connor was sol- emnized in January of 1875 and united him with i\liss Susan Goodwin, a native of Canada. Three sons and one daughter blessed their union, namely : Arthur, who is engaged in the freight- ing business; Charles, William E. and Laura, all living in St. Clair. The oldest son is mar- ried and has one child. The family are faithful members of the Roman Catholic church and con- tribute generously to religious movements under charge of that denomination. In politics Mr. O'Connor has been a believer in Democratic prin- ciples all of his life, and has voted that ticket ever since attaining his majority. For eight years he held the office of postmaster of St. Clair, to which office he was appointed upon the solicita- tion of prominent members of his party. For twenty years he has officiated in the capacity of town clerk and for a quarter of a century he has been justice of the peace. His qualifications for the latter office, as indeed for all positions held by him, are increased by his knowledge of the law, which he studied in early manhood for a considerable period, thus familiarizing himself with jurisprudence to a degree very useful to him in subsequent affairs. As an attorney his counsel often has been sought by the people of 520 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. the village and surrounding country and his ad- vice upon disputed legal points is considered au- thoritative by his clients. As a citizen he has shown a constant interest in all measures for the upbuilding of the town and has contributed of time and influence to aid important projects. O'CONNOR, FRANCIS.— An enquiring mind, constant progression and well applied industry are responsible for the success of Francis O'Con- nor, who, with his brother, Charles O'Connor, is farming the old O'Connor homestead. In the sketch of Charles O'Connor, on another page of this work, is a more complete record of the fam- ily connection with Blue Earth county. Fran- cis O'Connor is a son of Patrick and ]\[argaret McDermot O'Connor, the former of whom died April 9, 1905, in St. Clair, and the latter died January 24, 1904. Mr. O'Connor was educated in the public schools, and has had the average advantages of the country leared youth. Pie is a natural farm- er, interested in his work, and a believer in its dignity and usefulness. Politically he is a democrat, but aside from the foimality of cast- ing his vote, he is not interested in local political undertakings. In religion he is a Roman Catho- lic. Mr. O'Connor enjoys an enviable reputation in his township, and is a promoter of all that tends to the greater enlightenment and happiness of the community in which he lives. ODJARD, OLE 0. — Specializing in business and manufactures is now as much the rule as following and developing a specialty in the pro- fessions, and it require^ an especially high order of excellence in work and ability of character to succeed in either. In the line of furniture manufacturing, Mr. Odjard, senior member of Od- jard & Knoff, the well known Mankato firm, has e.itablished a fine business in the making and sale of bank, ofEice, church and saloon fixtures, being the pioneer in this specialty in the city, and the interiors of many of the prominent buildings of the locality bear witness to his skill- ful and tasteful workmanship. He is a practical wood worker and before establishing his own manufactory had enjnyed a thorough training in all the details of hL< trade. Mr. Odjard is a native of Norway and was born October 29, 1844 being reared as a farmer's son and, to the age of fourteen years, receiving a limited education in the parochial schools of his Patlierland. His parents lived and died in Norway, having a family of five children, of -whom Ole and two brothers came to America. The former early learned the trade of carpentry and wood working, and in 186G became a resident of Piodgeville, Wisconsin, where for five years he was employed at furniture making and in other lines of his vocation. In February, 1871, he located at Mankato, but before commencing work secured a land claim in Martin County, Minne- sota. Soon afterward he became associated with lierman Knoff in the manufacture of furniture and for over a quarter of a century have worked and prospered together, their output gradually being directed toward supplying the demand in the specialties mentioned above. With the in- . crease of their business they have enlarged their plant from time to time until their present manufactory at 516-518 South Front street is one of the most substantial looking establish- ments of Mankato. Ole 0. Odjard was married in 1872, to Miss Plelen Holverson, also a native of Norway, who came with her parents to Wisconsin when she was five years of age. She was a well educated and refined woman and was for some time a compan- ion to the wife of Governor Dodge, the first ex- ecutive of Wisconsin. Mrs. Odjard died in 1903, at the age of fifty-six years, leaving the following children: Anna Ovedea, who is a gi-ad- uate of Vassar College and is now teaching in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lelia Grace, a gradu- ate of the Mankato Pligh School and the State Normal School, also a teacher; and Cora May, Mho graduated from the same institutions and ib engaged in teaching at Wells, Minnesota. Mr. Odjard is connected with the A. F. & A. M., Royal Arcanum, Eastern Star and Knights ol Pythias. In local affairs he is politically inde- pendent, but on national issues is a Republican, Although reared a Lutheran, he is not a member of the church, but is a supporter of the moral and religious institutions and movements which BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 521 he judges to be for the best good of the com- munity in which he is so useful a factor. OLESOX, GAEL L.— The development of a town is in no instance more permanantly pro- moted than by the establishment of banking in- gtitutions of undoubted stability and solid worth. Such concerns prove of inestimable importance in aiding the prosperity of a community, and those having them in charge contribute to the general welfare in a degree not to be overlooked. The substantial financial interests of Mankato have been promoted by the keen judgment and finan- cial ability of Carl L. and Albert 0. Oleson, who in 1902 inaugurated the enterprise taking form- in the incorporation of the National Bank of Commerce capitalized at $100,000, with the follow- ing officers: Albert 0. Oleson, president; John Diamond, vice-president; and Carl L. Oleson, cashier. Since the establishment of the bank it has been successful beyond the most sanquine expectations of its founders and has won a high place in the moneyed circles of the county. The Oleson brothers are natives of Lansing, Icwa. Carl L., who was born January 23, 1859, attended grammar school, later was a student in the high school at Waukon, Iowa, after which he took a course in a business college. For some years he was employed as a bookkeeper by vari- ous companies. During 1878 he came to Minne- sota and settled in Eock county, where he was employed for six years. In ISS.) he was united in 'marriage with Jliss Hattie ^linard, formerly of Luverne, Eock county, this state, and of this union there are three daughters, Louise, ilildreJ and Loretta. Albert 0. Oleson was married in 1892 to Xora Heath, of Howard, South Dakota, and they have two daughters, Esther and Muriel. Besides the bank at Mankato the brothers have been instrumental in founding other financial institutions and have carried on with unexampled success a number of such concerns, among them being the Wells National Bank at Wells, this state, (of which Carl is vice-president) the First Xational Bank of Howard, South Dakota, (of which he acts as president) and the Security State Bank of Delavan, Minnesota. Possessing keen insight, careful discrimination, sagacious judgment in investments, and aprogressive spirit, he has been-qualified by natural gifts for large success as a financier. Aside from his banking business, he has been prominent in various fra- ternities, including the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he has been gTand Eeceiver in the Xorth and South Dakota Jurisdiction. A stanch believer in the principles of Masonry, he has filled all of the chairs in the blue lodge and also has risen to the Eoyal Arch Cliapter and the Mvstic Shrine. OLIYEE, GEOEGE G.— The traits of in- dustry and economy that almost invariably char- acterize the representatives of the Welsh national- ity in whatever part of the- world they may be found, predominate in the character and life of George G. Oliver, one of the prosperous land owners of Blue Earth county and a leading farmer of Pleasant Mound township, where he owns and cultivates an estate of two hundred and forty acres. Horses, cattle and hogs are to be found on his place, and in addition he is prob- ably the uKist extensive sheep raiser in this sec- tion of ilinnesota, having a large flock that each year brings him a neat income fruiii the sale of the wool and mutton. The improvements on the farm include a neat residence and substantial outbuildings, surrounding which may be seen a fine grove of hardwood trees forming a desirable windbreak in winter storms. William and ]\Iary (Hughes) Oliver, natives of Wales, came to the United States in 181G and stopped for a time in ^Milwaukee, wliich at the time contained only a very few houses. From there they proceeded to Waukesha county, Wis- consin, and took up a tract of raw land in that then sparsely settled region, where the father de- voted the balance of his life to farming. The mother had four uncles who were clergymen in Wales, and the grandfather also was a life-long worker in the ministry. There were eleven chil- dren in the family of William Oliver, among whom we mention the name of George G. Oliver, born on the farm in Waukesha county, Wiscon- sin, November 10, 1856, and reared in the lo- cality familiar to his earliest memories. During 1880 he removed to Minnesota and settled in 522 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. Blue Earth county, where he has since risen to a position of prominence among tlie farmers of Pleasant Mound township. As a stock raiser he has had a long and successful experience and has found the silo the greatest possible aid in the work, enabling him to utilize the feed without any waste and with the utmost benefit to the stock. His silo has a capacity of one hundred and eighty tons and it is his decision after a thor- ough trial of the same that he would not keep stock on the farm without the aid of one of these feed-storage plants. Prior to removing from Wisconsin to Minne- sota domestic ties had been established by Mr. Oliver, who was united in marriage November 20, 1879, with ]\Iiss ilary Eoberts, a native of Dela- ware count)', Ohio, and a daughter of Eev. Hugh and Alice (Evans) Eoberts, natives of the north of Wales. During childhood Hugh Eoberts was deprived by death of parental affection and care, but with self-reliance and determination he work- ed his way along through school, acquired an ex- cellent education and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, to which self-sacrificing labors he devoted his entire ac- tive years. The mother also had two uncles, two brothers, and a half brother who were ministers. In the family of Mr. and ilrs. Oliver there are five sons, namely : William H., who graduated from Parker college with the degree of bachelor of arts, and is now manager of a hardware busi- ness in Michigan; Claude J., now a student in Parker college; Earl, Frank and Burt, students in the local schools. Through all of his life Mr. Oliver has been in symijathy with educational work and by a service of eighteen years on the school board he has been helpful in promoting the welfare of his school district. OLSOX, BAEXEY.— Intelligent and arduous labor merits success, a fair degree of which it ufually b&stows upon its seekers, and thus it has come about that Barney Olson ranks among the successful farmers of Medo township. When ho came to Blue Earth county during the spring of 1866, a few months after the expiration of his army service, he was without means, but he possessed an abundance of energy and a sturdy constitution, so that he was able to endure sacri- fices that might have daunted one of less phy- sical or mental hardihood. When he came to Medo township and bought as a claim the southwest quarter of section thirty-four, he found only a few settlers in this part of the count}-. With the other pioneers he endured many vicis- situdes. Eoads had not yet been opened nor had bridges been built, so that the pioneers were compelled to ford all streams and make then way as best they could .across the unbroken, stretches of land. To sustain his family and pro- vide them -with the necessities of life during that trying period was no easy task, but it de- veloped the best in his nature, and those days of arduous labor remain among the most pleas- ant of his memories. The early years of the life of Barney Olson were passed in his native place, Bergen, Nor- v.'ay, near the rugged Atlantic coast, whose stern and rock-bound shores brought destruction to many of the little fishing craft that furnished a means of livelihood to the toilers of the sea. His father, Ole B. Olson, was a native of Ber- gen and passed his entire life on a farm there. The son was born February 2, 1836, and at an early age was put to work as an assistant in the support of the family. Seeking a more favorable opening, he came to the United States in 1858 and settled in Jefferson county, Wis- consin, but eighteen months later he removed to Deerfield, Dane county. During 1864, j\Ir. Olson enlisted in the union army as a member of the Forty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry and was mustered into service at Madi- son, Wisconsin, from which city he was ordered t'l Benton Barracks in Missouri. Afterward his regiment traveled through various parts of Mis- souri and followed gangs of bushwhackers and rc'bbers then infesting the country. In 1865, he received an honorable discharge at the close of the war and returned to his Wisconsin home, but from there in the spring of 1866, he moved to Minnesota and settled on the quarter-section farm which he still owns, and which is situated east of Cottonwood lake in Medo township. By additional purchase he has increased the size of the farm, which now comprises two hundred and forty acres. Crops are raised such as are adapted BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 523 to the soil and climate^ and a good grade of cattle, horses and hogs are also raised. The owner has been successful in his farming operations and furnishes an excellent example of the Norwe- gian element that forms a sturdy addition to the population of our commonwealth. The marriage of Mr. Olson took place in June of 1859, and united him with Annie Olson, who came from Bergen, Xorwa\-, to the United States in 185G, settling with other members of her family in Wisconsin. Tliey are the parents of the following named children : Betsy, ]\lrs. C, 0. Strom of Fargo, Xorth Dakota; Benner, also living in Fargo; Martha, who is married and makes her home in Fargo; Casper, of Grand Forks, North Dakota.; Albert who has settled in the state of Washington; Peter, Franklyn and John, who still remain -with their parents and assist in the work of the home farm. OLSON, OLE K.— To begin independent farming without any capital except a pair of willing hands, a robust constitution and a resourceful mind, and to attain a position of prominence as an extensive farmer and progres- sive stockman, proves that one possesses more than ordinarv ability. Such may be claimed for Mr. Olson, who is unanimously pronounced to be one of the most enterprising young farm- ers of Blue Earth county, as he i.s also one of the largest farmers of Sterling township. All of his farm operations are conducted upon an extensive scale, yet each is superintended with the most exacting scrutiny and the strictest at- tention to detail. The Norwegian race in Min- nesota, recognized as furnishing a most sub- stantial addition to our population, has no repre- -ientative more industrious, capable and energetic than is Mr. Olson, whose success is well merited by the exercise of qualities, of honor, sobriety and industry. Of American birth and Norwegian parentage, Ole K. Olson ^i-as born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, ifarch 30, 1SG2, being a son of Kettle Olson, who came from Norway in young manhood and settled in Iowa during the '50s. The year 1864 found him in I\Iinnesota, where he bought out the right to a tract of land in Sterling town- ship, Blue Earth county, and since tiien he has devoted his attention to superintending the de- velopment of the fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the practical work of which has been given over to the charge of his son Theodore, although- the father continues to make it his home. When old enough to attend school Ole Iv. Olson was sent to the country schools in Ster- ling tow-nship and thus acquired a fair education in the common branches of study. ITpon starting out for himself he selected agriculture for his lll'e work. In 1882 he rented the Elder Hunt pjace of one himdred and sixty acres. Soon he ac- quired the title to the property Ijy purchase and added to tlie same by buying eighty acres ad- joining. Later he bought the Farrell farm of one hundred and sixty acres. His next pur- chase consisted of eighty acres of tlie old ilonger farm. All of these tracts he still o\vus and oper- ates. In addition he rents the Curry farm of two hundred acres and one hundred sixty acret belonging to his brother, so that altogether he controls and operates more than eight hundred acres. Making a specialty of thoroughbred stock, 3Ir. Olson has a registered animal of fine quali- ty at the head of his herd of Dnrhams and Shorthorn cattle numbering about two hundred head. The cattle are fattened and shipped to the Chicago market. At times he has as many as tv, hundred head of hogs, Poland-Cliinas being his favorites. In horses he breeds the Pcrcherons and lias ' eight registered mares of the finest qjiality, besides which he usually keeps twelve other horses of the finest type of Percheron. The c( Its are sold in the home market and brinsr very high prices. As a judge of fine stock Mr. Olson has few superiors. As a stockman he is progressive, seeking only the best and discard- ing from his herds all animals that give evidence of falling below the accepted standard of per- fection. The marriage of 'Sir. Olson took place in ISi)? and united him with Maggie A. Currv, of Ster- ling township, daughter of the honored pioneer, Robert Curry. They are the parents of four chil- dren, Robert Walter, Theodore Edward, Ole Nello and ;\Iary Eliza. Notwithstanding the large tract of land w^hich he owns or rents and in spite of 524 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. the many duties demanding his constant care, ilr. (Jlgon finds leisure to keep posted concerning local matters and is regarded as one of tlie public- spirited citizens of the township. For one term he served as justice of the peace and during that period his decisions -were recognized as show- ing a wide knowledge of the law as well as an impartial spirit. For four years he filled the of- fice of assessor and for eight terms he was a mem- ber of the town board of supervisors^ during which time he gave his support to many move- ments for the benefit of the to'iviiship and county. OTTEESTBIX, FEAITK E.— In no occupa- tion embodied in the great working forces of the world is greater patience, persistency and good judgment required of its followers than in the science of farming. In it there are no short cuts to success, no magic by which hard work even with the best of modern facilities, can be avoided, of the real issues turned from their counsel. To profit by failure, to anticipate such emergencies as result from the uncertainty of the seasons, and to keep ever burning the lamp of research and advancement are the chief roads upon which one man travels faster or to better advantage than his neighbor of the same calling. It follows, there- fore, that to own a large property when formerly one had no visible asset?, to be influential when in youth one was obscure, there are to be drawn deductions only of the most praiseworthy and encouraging character. In this connection it is gratifying to mention the name of Frank E. Otterstein, the owner of more than four hundred acres of valuable land in section 33, Shelby town- ship, Blue Earth county. j\Ir. Otterstein was born in Dodge county, Wis- consin, Xovember 15, 1853, and is a son of Carl Otterstein, a native of Germany. The elder Otterstein was a widower when he came to the United States as a comparatively young man, and he became one of the early pioneers of Wis- consin, where he farmed and married a second wife, Frank E. being a son of this union. Thfe lad was early depeiident upon his own resources, for his father died when he was eight years old and his mother a few years later. He was vari- ously employed in Wisconsin until 1877, when he came to Blue Earth county and bought a part in his present farm in Shelby township. The land was crude and undeveloped at the time of purchase, but now it is one of the most valuable properties in the county, having ample facilities for the raising of high grade stock, including Durham cattle, J^orman horses and Poland-China hogs. This farm embodied the most advanced agricultural ideals known to the present genera- tion of toilers, and may well be an example to the youth desiring the l^est start in his farming life. July 17, 1879, Mr. Otterstein was united in marriage to Minnie Brown, who was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, October 26, 1861, a daughter of Frederick W. Brown, of Quebec, Canada, and j\Iaria J. (Andrews) Brown, a na- tive of Cattarauguas county, Xew York. Mr. Brown came to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1856, and later bought land in Fillmore county, Minnesota, flhere he remained until 1862. He then moved to Blue Earth county and took up a farm in sec- tion 33, Shelby township, where he both culti- vated his land and followed his trade as carpen- ter and builder. In the neighborhood he built many of the houses and barns which now still stand as monuments to his conscientious work, and continued to make this his home until his death, November 16, 1871. He was the parent of four daughters, two of whom are living : Mrs. Alice M. Covell, of Minneapolis, and Mrs. Otter- stein, "Sir. and Mrs. Otterstein are the parentb of the following children; Nellie, deceased; Ag- I'cs, now Mrs. J. H. Kinney, of Amboy; Earl, of Minneapolis ; Fred W. ; Iva, deceased ; George ; Harold- Eugene; Robert Jlerton; Paul Aklen; and Dorisetta and Alicetta, twins, now deceased. Mr. Otterstein rejoices in his large and interest- ing family, and his children are receiving the best possible advantages within his power to be- slow. The two eldest sons graduated from the Winnebago high school — Earl in 1906, and Fred in 1907. OYEEilAN, ADOLPHITS M.— The business interests of ilankato received an energetic acqui- sition when in 1902 A. M. Overman came to this city, where since he has conducted a music store on the corner of Jackson and Second streets. A BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 525 long experience in the business, dating back to the years of his childhood and his assistance given in a music store owned by his father, en- ables him to buy musical instruments with un- excelled judgment. There are few qualifications more important to a music dealer than an ear trained to tones and harmonies, aljle to detect discords instantaneously, and well versed in the people's preferences and musical tastes; these qualities Mr. Overman possesses and they enable him to conduct a growing l)usiness with judg- ment and success. Among the makes of pianos which he carries are the Schimmel, Chickering, ililler, Whitney, Schiller and the Story & Clark, together with the Cecilian plaj^ers; while in or- gans he makes a specialty of the Kimball, Far- rand and Xewman Brothers varieties. A full line of sheet music is kept in stock, including the very latest additions to the modern musician's repertoire, and furthermore he carries stringed in- struments of all kinds. Knightstown, Indiana, is Mr. Overman's na- tive place, and July 18, 187;i, the date of his birth, his parents being Eeuben E. and Anna (Ashbaugh) Overman, natives of Cleveland, Indi- ana. The father, who for years engaged in the music business, died in Indiana in August, 1906, at the age of fifty-six, and is survived by his widow. Of their three children the eldest, A. M., received a fair education, begun in public schools and completed in Fairmount college. From boy- hood he was familiar with musical instruments and assisted his father in the store. On select- ing an occup_ation it was natural he should choose the one with which he was most familiar, and he has made the selling of musical instruments his occupation. During 1899, he came to Minne- sota and settled in Lanesboro, but in 1902 came to Mankato as offering a more favorable opening for the music business, and his decision in this re- spect he has had no reason to regret. A fe^v months before coming to Mankato he was united in marriage in September, 1901, with Miss Vina Ploff, of Wykoff, Minnesota, who shares with him the esteem of their acquaintances. OWEN, CHAELES CLIFFOED.— No city in the northwest affords a better opportunity to secure a thorough education than does Mankato. Side by side with the State Normal School, with exceptional advantages for the training of teacli- ers, stands the Toland Business Siliool, offering exceptional opportunities to young men and women of limited means to secure a business edu- cation. Four years ago tliis institution formed one of a series of several similar colleges organ- ized Ijy Jlr. F. J. Toland and conducted along the lines of modern business methods for the pur- pose of preparing young people for business activities. The supervision of the Shorthand and Typewriting departments rests with Charles Clif- ford Owen, who has the distinction of being one of the organizers of the school, and who for the past ten years has been connected with the Tol- and chain of schools located in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. In June lOOT, Mr. Owen pur- chased the Mankato school, thereby 1)ecoraiug sole owner, and while it is not the lai'gcst in the state, it is one of the most modern liusiness train- ing schools in southern ^linnesota. In the mod- ern office of today will be found Neostyles, Tab- ulators, ^Mimeograph, ifultigraph, Commercial graphophone and Burroughs adding machine. These will be found in the Toland School, and it is to this thorough and modern preparation that had made the graduates of this school more than ordinarily successful. 'Sh. Owen's "ten years at it" has qualified him to wisely advise and counsel young men and women and plan and direct their commercial education with a degri.'e of assurance for their success that will be un- equalled. Jlr. Owen was born at Black Eiver Falls, Wis., Feb. ir, 1ST4, and is the son of Smith and Carrie (Peck) Owen, natives of Elmira, N. Y., and Springfield, 111. Among five children he was the eldest and he and his brother Lloyd are the only survivors. Mr. Owen received his eaidy education in the public schools at ^luscatine and Lansing. Iowa. After leaving high school with the class of 1889, Mr. Owen took up newspaper work and, as he is an accomplished pen artist, he entered the car- toon department of the La Crosse Daily Press, La Crosse, Wis. A few years later he took his commercial course in the Toland Business Uni- versity of the same city, from which lie graduated in 1899. This supplemented with an academic 526 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. course, fitted him for teaching and he was en- gaged by Mr. Toland as an instructor until 1903. During the year of 1903-'04 he was principal of the Commercial department of the LaSalle-Peru Township High School, La Halle, 111., but at the close of the year resigned at the solicitation of Jlr. Toland to come to Mankato for the purpose of establishing the Toland college. For three years Jlr. Owen was its manager and executive head and its gratifying progress is due to his unceasing efforts and skilled leadership to make the school the representative of Its kind. He has been an active member of the Mankato Commer- cial Club since its organization and is Scci'etarv of the ilankato Boosters' Club. However, while championing every movement and organization for the benefit of the city, he concentrates his attention almost wholly upon his especial work. He was married September 1, 1806 to Miss Etta, daughter of J. J. ^fyrick, ilenomonie, "Wis., and their pleasant home in Mankato is brightened by the presence of their two children, Lelia Bernice and Donald Alvin. OWEJTS. 0^\'EX E.— For more than forty years Mr. Owens made liis home upon the same farm, and during that long period he witnessed many changes in Blue Eartli county, endured many vicissitudes, overcame many oljstacles and surmounted many difficulties. It was during the spring of 18(53 that he arrived in Minneso- ta and shortly afterward he took up a claim frnm the government comprising one hundred and sixty acres. From that time until he retired to the A'illage of Lake Ci'ystal, in 1904, he gave liis attention to the clearing of the land and the improvement of a valuable farm. The early years were times of siifl^ering and self- sacrifice, ^lisfortune often befell the hardy pioneers. Perhaps the greatest of their troubles occurred at the time of the grasshopper plague, when fields of waving grain were left as bare as a table and the settlers were left in desper- ate straits. Many sutfered for needed food and c.'othing, and more than one caljin home bore the mark of destitution before another crop could be raised. Frequently ^fr. Owens walked to the i\rankato mill with a team of oxen and the trip of twelve miles was rendered unusually wearisome by reason of worn-out shoes. Sometimes, too, he went twenty-four miles for a load of lumber. After his crops were ruined by the grasshoppers he was compelled to go elsewhere in order to secure a start for another year. In spite of such ■\'icissitudes, the pioneers never abandoned hope, but continued to be patient, cheerful and optimis- tic, always believing that prosperity in due time would reward their exertions. Owen E. Owens was born in Oneida county, Xew York, January .5, 1833, being a son of Eichard and Ellen Owens, the latter of whom died at the old homestead when her son was a boy of ten years. The former attained old age and passed away in 187 9, in Oneida county. The common schools of that county afforded l\lr. Owens fair advantages considering the time, and he always has been a reader and close ob- ser^■er, so that now he ranks among the well- informed men of his town. Agriculture has been his life occupation and he is familiar with all of its details. The character of the soil of Blue Earth county, the adaptability of the land to certain crops, the possibility of success along certain lines of diversified farming, and the in- tricacies of the stock industry, all these problems have become familiar to him through long and varied experience. While laboring to develop his farm, he neglected no duty falling upon public-spirited citizens. In politics he always has voted with the EepulDlican party and advocat- ed its principles, and npon this ticket he was elected to the office of county supervisor, which he filled with recogTiized efficiency and faithful- ness. In religion he is of tlie Welsh Calvinis- ti'- faith. Upon coming to the northwest Mr. Owens was married, he having been united, December 9, 1856, with Miss ^fargaret Meridh a native of Oneida county, Xew York, and like himself a descendant of Welsh ancestry. Three sons and five daughters were born of their marriage, but they have suffered a heavy bereavement in the loss of six of the children by death. Only twi_' daughters are now living. ilargaret is the wife of Eichard Jones and Imogene married Eobert Hughes ; lioth dangliters reside npon farms in Blue Earth county and share with their parents the esteem of acquaintances and a stand- ing in the best society. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. PALMEE, GEOEGE M.— Inseparably asso- ciated with the city of Mankato is the name of George M. Palmer, who for many years has been connected with the manufacture of flour is widely known through his association with the agricul- tural and commercial interests of the northwest. Though at no time an agriculturist, few men are better informed than he concerning condition of the soil, suitability of certain crops to the char- acter of the soil, and the possibilities of the season's grain output, and this knowledge has come to him largely in his connection with the elevator business. For years he has made a spe- cialty of the buying and selling of wheat. Along the line of the adjacent railway's the elevators of his company may be seen. These are stored with the products bought from the farmers after harvest and are held until sales can be made to an advantage. It has been his task to superin- tend the buying, storing and selling, and when it is considered that in addition to such im- portant and large enterprises, he has also been active in financial matters, has aided in the de- velopment of the board of trade, and for many years has labored hard for the good road cause, has labored for the higher usefulness of the local schools, has been a worker in reform move- ments and in religious affairs, and has ably filled the office of maj'or of ;\Iankatn, it may be seen that his is a busy and useful life. Though born in the west, Mr. Palmer was rear- ed principally in N"ew England. The Palmer family was established in 'New Hampshire from England at a very early period of our colonial history and in 1809, removed to Maine. John Palmer, a native of ^a^etto, Maine, removed to Wisconsin in 1848, and settled on a tract of raw land. His wife bore the maiden name of Cordelia Morrison and likewise was born in Payette of colonial ancestry. The Morrison family came originally from Scotland. In Winnebago county, Wisconsin, George M. Palmer was born Xovem- ber 17, 1853. At the age of eight years he went to make his home with an uncle, who settled in Monmouth, Maine, and there the youth attended the common schools and academy. In 1SG8, he returned to the west, this time establishing him- self at Garden City, Minnesota, where he at- tended school and later clerked in a store. In 1872 he took a course in a business college at 8t. Paul. After leaving the college he became bookkeeper for the Mankato Linseed Oil company, of wliieh B. D. Hubbard fl-as the manager, and this position he filled from 18?3 until the autumn of 1879. Upon resigning as bookkeeper he joined Mr. Hubbard in the building and management of the ]\Iankato flouring mill, with which he since has been identified. In partnership with S. H. Grannis in 1888, Mr. Palmer embarked in the business of buying and storing wheat and erected elevators along the line of the railroad. After four years Mr. Grannis retired and the firm became Hubbard & Palmer, in 1897, being changed to the Hub- bard-Palmer Company of which Mr. Palmer has acted as president from the first. In addition, he is president of the First jSTational Bank of Mankato, in which he has been for years a di- rector and large stockholder. With a firm belief in the prosperity of this region he has investec! extensively in real estate and has bought and sold many properties. As a judge of real estate values he is regarded as an expert. His faith in the commercial and agricultural development of his state gives him an optimistic temperament, which temporary discouragements do not daunt nor depressions lessen. Wiile acting as mayor in 188-5, he was able to promote many movements for the general welfare and accomplished much' for the development of the city; nor did his in- terest decrease with his retirement from office, Init he furnishes an example of the type of citi- zen (seen none too often) whose contributions to the civic progress are as important coming from a private citizen as from an office holder. His marriage occurred in 1888 to Miss Olivia M. Eoberts, whose parents were William E. and Mary E. (Fowler) Eoberts, being then residents of Mankato. Two children bless their union. Earl M., and Euth. The family belong to the Baptist church, in which Mr. Palmer has been a leader in Sunday school work, and he also has been associated with the Young Men's Christian AsiSociation. PALilEE, WILLIAM E.— Early in the his- tory of America two brothers bearing the name of Palmer crossed the ocean from England and rv28 BIOGBAPHICAL HISTOEY. cf^tablished the famil)' in the new -world. One blanch Ijecame identified with the history of the south, while the other became transplanted in the west. From the latter branch descended William H. Palmer, an honored pioneer of Min- nesota and for years identified witli tlie growth of his locality. During the pioneer era he settled in Money creek Talley, Nicollet county, and for some 'time acted as engineer of the Eagle ilills. Eeraoving to ^Mankato in 1880, he held a position as engineer in the oil mill for several years. In this city his death occurred in September, 1905, at the age of sixty-two years. By his marriage to x\lvikla Ballinger, who survives him, he had a family of four sons, namely : John, deceased ; Alfred E., a resident of Grand Forks, North Da- kota; William E., whose name introduces this article, and who was born in Nicollet county Minnesota, December 3, 1871; and George who makes his home in Bemidji, this state. Upon the completion of his education in the Franklin and Mankato scliools, William E. Pal- mer began to learn the trade of a jeweler with C. D. Taylor, of j\Iankato, and remained in the same capacity until he had perfected his trade in 1893. Going to the west, he pursued his chosen occupation at Helena and Missoula, Mon- tana, and at Wallace, Idaho, but the failure of his death obliged him for a time to relinquish his employment. As soon as he was able to re- sume work he secured a position as foreman with C. D. Taylor of Mankato. Here he continued as an employe until the death of Mr. Taylor, after which he purchased the entire stock and has since remodeled and enlarged the store at No. 311 South Front street. Showcases of the finest glass have been purchased for the display of the stock and the interior fittings of the store are rctfined and elegant, while the stock comprises the largest line of exclusive jewelry in the city. The marriage of William E. Palmer and Emma, daughter of Albert Krieg, took place April 10, 1902, and united two of the pioneer families of the state. Two children bless their union, E. H., and Lucile E. Fraternally l\Ir. Palmer holds membership with the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen. Personally he possesses the energy and ability requisite to success in the field of commerce, and at the same time has the genial temperament and strict integrity that win and retain friends. PALMEE, WILLTAil H.— The genealogical records of the Palmer family trace their line- age back to England whence some of the namu crossed the ocean to America during the early his- tory of the colonies. From that time forward for several generations the descendants were iden- tified with the agricultural development of New England. Somewhere near the beginning of the nineteenth century John Palmer was born in Maine. There he passed the uneventful years of boyhood, there he embarked upon agricultural pursuits and there he established domestic ties through his marriage to Cordelia Morrison like- wise a native of Maine, of English extraction. AYhile they -svere living on a farm in Maine their son, William H., was born September 17, 1843. During the year 1849 the family followed the tide of emigration that drifted steadily toward the unknown west. The state of Wisconsin was the objective point of their journey and soon after their arrival they secured land near Oshkosh, wh.ere they spent many busy and useful years. The father died there April 9, 1868, and was survived by his wife for fifteen years. Of their five sons and four daughters, four sons and one daughter are now living. The eldest member of the family circle was V.'illiam H. Palmer, who was six years of age at the time of removing to Wisconsin. While lie had very meagre opportunities for acquiring an education, lie liecanic well-informed through habits of. reading and observation. Nothing oc- curred to mark the years of youth until the out- break of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, ac- companied his regiment to the front, participated in its struggles, hardships, forced marches and encounters ^^■ith the enemy, remaining in the army until the expiration of his term of three years. At the close of the war he came to Minnesota and took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Nicollet county, v.'here he engaged in farming until 1879. From the farm he came to Mankato and secured em- ployment in the old oil mill, but after seven years BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 529 he resigned that position in onler to identify himself with tlie Hnbbard flour mill. Some three years later he and his brother engaged in busi- ness for themselves, having a number 'of thresh- ing outfits through the ivheat country. Up to the time of his death, which occurred September 10, 1905, he continued the business activities which netted him a fair income and left his family in comfortable circumstances at his de- mise. To a man of his temperament politics presented no attractions, and it is not strange therefore that he took no part in tlic same. How- ever, he was well posted concerning the national issues and always voted the Republican ticket. In fraternal relations he held membership with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in religion he was an active worker in the Baptist church. The marriage of William H. Palmer occur- red March 16, 186G, and united him with Miss Alwilda J. Ballenger, eldest daughter of John E. and Theresa (Oyler) Ballenger, natives of Indiana, and descended from old Virginian fam- hes of English extraction. The grandparents left the Old Dominion about 1816 and sought the opportunities of the then undeveloped west- ern frontier, becoming among the earliest set- tlers of the Hosier state. The land they then purchased remained in the hands of their descend- ants and became very valuable. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer there were born four children who attained muturity, namely, John, who died June 30, 1900 i Erve, now engaged in the jeweli-y business at Grand Eorks, North Da- kota; Ellsworth, who has a jewelry store at Man- ksto; and George, who resides in Mankato and is engaged in the dental profession. PARKS, WILLIAM S.— The family repre- sented by this influential farmer of Blue Earth county comes of Irish extraction and was founded in the United States by John Parks, a native of Londonderry, Ireland, who crossed the ocean about 1810. Fext in line of descent ^^as Robert Parks, born January 18, 1809, and one year of age at the time the family came to America. The last-named married Louise Ketchum, who was born in Canada February 3, 1812. Thej n became the parents of the following named child- r€n: Sarah A., now deceased; Richard D., who enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighteenth. Few York Infantry at the opening of the Civil war and was killed in the battle of the Wilder- ness; John S., who was born at Quebec, Canada, April 24, 1835, and was one year old at the time the family removed to New York state; William S , 'ivho was born in Clinton county. New York, January 31, 1841; Eliza J., Mrs. Nelson Lattin; Henry H., living in Slinnesota; Zadie M., who married J. H. Davis and resides in Pasadena, California; Edward S., who remains in the old homestead in New York; and Frank, Mrs. F. 0. Pearl, of North Dakota. At one time Robert Parks thought seriously of coming west but his plans were changed and he remained in New York state, continuing on the original farm and owning another in the same vicinity. There his death occurred April 29, 1857. His son, John S., went to Connecti- cut in the spring of 1861, but soon came west to Wisconsin and in 1863 removed to Minnesota, where he took up land on section twenty-six, Pleasant Mound township. Blue Earth county. Prom that place he removed in 1905 to Amboy, where now he lives in retirement. In March of 1864 he married Helen M. Cra}', a sister of Judge Lorin Cray. They are the parents of five children, namely: R. D., who is a traveling sales- man and resides at Lake Crystal, Minnesota; Walter M., a teacher near Sioux City, Iowa; Elmer Lorin, now in North Dakota; Ray D. and Roy L., (twins), graduates of a splendid busi- ness college in ^linneapolis. For thirty-seven years John S. Parks served as postmaster, besides which he was census-taker, member of the town board and also a member of the school board. When twenty-five years of age William S. Parks came to ]\[innesota and spent several months in Blue Earth county, but the ties of kindred and old associations were sufficiently strong to lure him iiack to New York state, where he remained for twelve years at the old home. In 1879 lie came to Blue Earth county as a per- manent resident. For a time he rented land in Pleasant ^lound Township, but in 1883 he pur- chased his present property on section twenty- nine of that township, where he has one hundred 530 BTOGEAPHICAL HrSTORY. and sixty acres of -well-irapToved land, suitably equipped for the raising of crops adapted to the soil and climate. Good grades of horses, cattle and hogs are to be found on the place. A spe- cialty is also made of fruit business. Apples are grown in large quantities, cherries and plums also are grown, as well as the different kinds of small fruits. The marriage of William S. Parks took place March 11, 1870, and united' him with Cornelia Pearl of Clinton county, Kew York, daughter of Almon Pearl, member of an honored colonial family of the east; when quite advanced in years I\rr. Pearl came to Minnesota to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. Parks, who died Novem- ber 9th, 1892, caused by paralysis, her father sur- viving her till 1897. The family of Mr. and ifrs. Parks corprises the following children: Zelphia, Mrs. Arthur Langman, a resident of Truman, Martin county, Minnesota; Zadia, who married Charles Eoe and lives in Martin county; Ada, Mrs. William Sharp of Faribault county; Robert M., who is married and resides at Shell Lake, Wisconsin; Mellie, wife of Clarence Smith, of Winnebago City, Minnesota; Emma, who mar- red L. Doolittle, of Martin county; Harry and Pearl, who reside with their parents, the latter being engaged in teaching school; Edward, who makes his home at present with his sister, Mrs. Sharp; and Catherine, who is with her father on the old homestead. PAEMELEE, BENSOIST C— Mr. Parmelee, whose long and creditable experience in the im- plement business has earned him a responsible position with the branch of the great Interna- tional Harvester Company, as superintendent of warehouses and repair rooms, and shipping and receiving of goods, has been a familiar figure in this line to the agricultural communities of Min- nesota for the past thirty years. He has been a valued resident of Mankato for the past eight years, coming here as an employee of the Deer- ing Harvester Company. Mr. Parmelee is of old English origin, the family having its distinc- tive coat of arms, and his individual traits of persistency and solid, common sense, are typical of his people. His parents, Egbert and Melina D. (Koise) Parmelee, were natives of Chenango County, Xew York, and in 1858 removed to Dodge County, Wisconsin, where their son, Benson C, was born on the 10th of March, 1859. The father was a farmer and a nurseryman and died in Wis- consin in 1866, while the widow and mother came to Mankato, where she still resides. Of their five children, the following four are living: Benson C; Martin E., residing in Knoxville, Tennessee; Charles M., of Minneapolis, Minne- sota; and Orpheus M., of Chicago. Elizabeth, the fifth child, died in 1875, at the age of thirty- four. ^Ir. Parmelee attended the public schools of his native town of Oak Grove, Wisconsin and also received a high school education there, but he was early employed in the grain and machinery busi- ness, and in April, 1877, removed to Waseca, Minnesota, where he engaged in the sale of farm implements and machinery in partnership with C. A. Wright, under the firm name of Parmelee & Wright. Later Mr. Wright sold his interest to Eudolph Eoesler, and Parmelee & Eoesler continued in business until 1895, when the former entered the employ of the Deering Har- vester Company and removed to Mankato. He continued with that company until its consoli- dation with the International Harvester Com- pany, when he was appointed to his present re- sponsible position. Married in November, 1882, to Miss Eletha Hull of Juneau, Wisconsin, Mr. Parmelee lost his first wife by death in April, 1892, she having born him four children as follows; Bessie L., now Mrs. J. E. Powell, of Savannah, Illinois; Egbert Nelson, married and living in Chicago, Illinois; Horace E., married and living in North Yaki- ma; and Charles B., married and living in Mankato. His second marriage in June, 1893, was to Mrs. Lillie Barnes of Waseca, Minne- sota, she had one child, Laura E., who became the wife of C. W. Dunkelberger, of Clinton, Iowa. By his second marriage Mr. Parmelee had one child, Mildred M. Mr. Parmelee is a member of the A. E. & A. M. and is identified, religiously, with the Centenary M, E. Church. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT. 531 PATTERSON, LESTER.— In Lester Patter- son is foimd a representative of that much needed class of men who start out right in the world, who keep going right, and who therefore reaci^ the end of their business career while still theiv faculties are unimpaired and their capacity for enjoyment keen. The ability to see the end as well as the beginning of his association with opportunities has been a salient feature of his many sided success. ]\Ir. Patterson has browsed pleasantly and profitabl}' in many a fertile finan- cial pasture, but when he has put up the bars be- hind him has always left the soil in good condi- tion for his successors. jMany have acquired ^vealth and influence through his instrumentality, aiid his own competence has not been amassed a< the expense of either principle or his fellow men. He has been a creator rather than a de- structionist, and as a result has carried with him to his present sun kissed California home, the good will of the people of every community in which his social and commercial lot has been cast. Manlcato has profited substantially by Mr. Pat- terson's identification with its affairs. His life began on a farm near Alliance, Mahoning county, Ohio, December 24, 1841, and for twenty-two years he shared in the duties, advantages and pastimes of his native locality. He then was var- iously employed until his marriage, in 186."). to Melissa A. Kibler, of Palmyra, Oliio, and the following year he moved to Deerfield, Ohio, and until 1873, engaged in the manufacture of tow from flax straw. At Yan Wert, the same state, he conducted a similar business, and at the same time engaged in several lines of activity which materially redounded to the prestige of the com- munity. He was a director of tlie First Na- tional Bank at Yan Wert, and one of the in- corporators of the Cincinnati, Yan Wert & Michi- gan Railroad, now an important transportation line. Thinking to enjoy a wider range of oppor- tunity, he moved to Clncago in 1881, and there engaged in the boiler plate jobbing business until h& location in Mankato in 1884. Mr. Patterson's standing with his former busi- ness associates became apparent during his early business career in ]\Iankato, for he succeeded in interesting Van Wert financiers in the Mankato Gas Works, which subsequently developed into the Mankato Gas & Electric Light Company, at best an expensive project. Before his arrival here, he began to plan for the large wholesale grocery business opened in April, 1884, in a two story building on South Front street. Two years later removal was made to a three story building at 214 South Front street and which was destroyed by fire in May, 1897. This was immediately replaced by the four story and basement brick building now occupied by the Company and which houses one of the most widely known wholesale grocery enterprises in the state of Minnesota, being owned and con- trolled by himself and his two sons. Mr. Pat- terson recently has opened a large wholesale gro- cery at Bismarck, North Dakota, in which also his sons, H. A. and Eugene L., are interested. He is a director and one of the heaviest stock holders in the Citizens' Bank, of Mankato, and has heavy land interests in North Dakota and northern Minnesota, owned by the Patterson Land Company of which he is president with offices in St. Paul. There are few enterprises of note in the community which in some way have not profited by the direct qr indirect influence of this prince of promoters. He favors everything which tends to the greatest usefulness and the greatest happiness of the race, and his ethics, business methods, and general principles are con- ceived and maintained with wisdom, consis- tency and forethought. While in Mankato he occupied a self constructed residence which ma- terially adds to the architectural grace and sub- stantiality of the city; built in 1887. PATTRIDGE, ABEL J.— After years of un- ^vearied labors in farming pursuits Mr. Pattridge retired from agricultural activities and now makes his home in the Yillage of Yernon Center re- taining, however. 1he ownership of considerable land, and supervision of which occupies much of his time. While he has disposed of the old homestead, he still owns four Inmdred and ninety- five acres, of which one-quarter section lies in Canada and the balance is located in Cotton- wood and Brown counties. In addition to the farm property he has real estate in town. The 532 BTOGEAPHTCAL HISTOEY. accumulation of this estate represents a life- tirne of intelligent energy and entitles him to the enjoyment of the comforts which a compe- tency gives to the afternoon of his busy exist- ence. Born in Pennsylvania February 16, 1841, A. J. Pattridge is a son of Charles A. and Maria A. (Tullar) Pattridge, natives respectively of New Hampshire and Kew York. In an early day the parents removed to Wisconsin and took up land in Dodge county, where the father im- proved a farm and remained until his death in 1876. Later the widowed mother became an in- mate of the home of her son, A. J., and here she was surrounded by every comfort until she pass- ed away in 1890, at his home in Pleasant Mound township. Six children comprised her family, but two O'f these died in infancy. The oldest son, John M., died Oct 25, 1908, in Jackson county, Wisconsin. The eldest daughter, Emily, m.akes her home with her brother, A. J. The younger sister, Sophronia, Mrs. Mackintosh, is a resident of Massachusetts, where her husband follows the trade of a carpenter and joiner. Dur- ing early life Charles A. Pattridge voted the Whig ticket and upon the disintegration of that party he became an advocate of Republican prin- ciples, which afterward he supported until his death. Educated in the common school of Wisconsin, A. J. Pattridge remained in that state and made his home in Dodge county for a consider- able period. In 1869 he married Sarah A. O'Con- nor, who was born July 30, 1838, in the shire of Somerset, England, and accompanied her mother to the United States, settling in Waukesha county, Wisconsin and moved to Dodge county in 1854. During 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Pattridge came to Blue Earth county and settled in Pleas- ant Mound township, where they resided until 1899, the date of their retirement from farming and their removal to Vernon Center. They are the parents of four children, of whom the eldest, George, is living at Spokane, Washington, Lulu, Mrs. P. D. Dewey, and Olive C, Mrs. M. B. Harrison, live upon farms in Cottonwood county, Minnesota. Archie, the youngest of the family, is a farmer in Brown county, Minnesota. During early life Mr. Pattridge was a mem- ber of the lodge of Good Templars and always has been a strict believer in the principles of p]-ohibition to which he gives the influence of hir example and precept. In former years he has held school offices. A gratifying degree of pros- perity has come to him as a reward of his dili- gent application and wise investments, and he now deservedly occupies a prominent position among the successful retired farmers of the county. PAY, BENJAMIN D.— Had he the descrip- tive skill of a Cooper, Benjamin D. Pay might fashion out of the events of his own life a nar- rative of absorbing interest and adventure, an au- thoritative chronicle of the turbulent events of the third quarter of the last century which marked the iinal subduing of the Indian in Blue Earth county. This prominent business man and nat- ural fighter, whose terms as deputy sheriff dur- ing the Civil war was unequalled for excitement and amount of good accomplished, has been a resident of this part of Minnesota since October, 1856. In his veins runs the blood of courageous English sires, but he himself is essentially Ameri- can, having arrived only at his fifth year when he was brought to America from Dover, Eng- land, where his birth occurred October 3, 1831. His parents, William, and Susanna (Pilcher) Pay, also were natives of England, and upon reaching this country in 1837, settled in Water- town, New York, where the father engaged in the bakery and cracker business for the balance of his active life. Educated in the public schools of Watertown, New York, Benjamin D. Pay learned his father's business from the bottom up, in time represent- ing his father on the road as a traveling sales- man. In 1851 he went to Watertown, Wiscon- sin, and traveled for a cracker- factory Iraewn as, George Head & Bro., of that town, and in November, 1853 was united in marriage to Mary A., daughter of Horatio and Anna (Eeed) Eoper, of Juneau, Wisconsin. In the summer of 1854 Mr. Pay engaged in the livery business at Hori- con, Wisconsin, and in 1856 sold his business and located on a claim on the Watonwan river, in Vernon township. He devoted most of that BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 533 winter to teaming between Mankato and St. Paul and the winter of 1857 and 1858 was spent in logging at Mankato. For a short time he operated a livery in ilankato during the spring of 1858, returning then to the farm in ^"ernon township; upon the improvement of which he was working at the time of the Sioux outbreak in 1863. Then it was that the courage and strength of character of Mr. Pay received practical recognition by his appointment as deputy sheriff, an office in which h'^" evinced a high degree of initiative and effi- ciency. His keen insight into human motives, especially of those which animated the breasts of the deadly Sioux, stood him in good stead, and he was always ready to do anything in his power to assist in the capture and prosecution of desperadoes. He assisted in furnishing mater- ial for the erection of the gallows where occurred the execution of thirty-eight Indians, December 26, 1868, and he helped secure the conviction of the half-breed, John Campbell, for the murder of the Jewett family in Eapidan township, May 2, 1865. The half-breed was hung on evidence furnished by himself in the shape of clothing taken off of him by Mr. Pay, and taken by Mr. Pay and Mr. Charles Slocom, then editor of "The Union" to the families of Mr. Tyler and Mrs. Benjamin Evans of Garden City, who iden- tified it as formerly belonging to the Jewett fam- ily. Subsequently, it was the untiring efforts of Mr. Pay which brought about the expulsion from the timber back of Mankato to the consciousless companions of the murderer. During these ter- rible times Mr. Pay was subject to almost con- tinous danger, and his escapes from death in the open and in ambush, were many and miracu- lous. He never faltered in his purpose however, and a recital of his deeds and daring must always inspire profound admiration in the hearts of all who ever hear of them. Day and night he was in the saddle or wagon intent upon some im- portant detail of his business, entirely forgetful of self, and working always for the welfare of the supplanting white brethren. While deputy sheriff, Mr. Pay engaged in the livery business in Mankato with sheriff D. H. Tyner, but their barn was destroyed by fire dur- ing the winter of 1863 and 1864, and the part- nership dissolved. Soon after, Mr. Pay estab- lished a livery business of his own, which he con- tinued until 190'3, in 1888 taking his son, W. H. Pay, in as a partner. In 1902 father and son sold their livery and opened a candy factory at Mankato, which they eince have conducted with characteristic energy and success. Mr. Pay has been a stanch promotor of Eepublican politics, and not only has been deputy sheriff under sev- eral administrations, but has served as alderman and chief of the fire department. Mr. and Mrs. Pay are tlie parents of four children; William Horatio, his father's business partner; Benjamin P., of the firm of Powler & Pay, of Mankato; Nellie E., of the firm of Porter & Pay, of Man- kato; and Mary L., with Fowler & Pay. Through his intimate association with events in the past, no less than his active participation with the substantial business interests of the present, Mr. Pay is enrolled among the citizens of broadest view and greatest usefulness in the history of Blue Earth county. PEAESON, WILLIAM.— More than forty years with their eventful changes have come and gone since William Pearson, then a young man about thirt}' years of age, landed in Mankato, a stranger amid a strange environment, far from the home of his childhood. It was on the 20th of Maj', 1866, that he walked over the gang- plank of the steamer, MoUie Mohler, and made his advent into Mankato, at that time an insigni- ficant village set on the brow of the hill over- looking the river. Of those whom he met on the eventful morning of his arrival he recalls only one, and that was John Page, who had his pony and dray at the landing and drew up the hill the first sofa brought into the village. Kindly greetings were given to the stranger on every hand, and soon he came to feel at home in the midst of these hospitable westerners. In those days Second street was little more than a cow pasture. State street a cornfield, while Pleasant, Grove and Clark streets were a tangle of hazel brush and fallen timber. In the absence of rail- roads, steamboats were largely utilized by travel- ers, while for those journeying overland the Bur^ bank stage line was a help, and in addition many traveled on the 'Gopher' train, drawn by twenty- 534 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. four yoke of oxen and owned by Young, Thomp- son & Eeid. In Spencerville, Canada, William Pearson was born October 28, 1836, being a son of John and Agnes (Murray) Pearson, natives of Scotland, but after 1830 residents of Canada. The father, a miller by occupation, died in Canada at the age of sixty-nine years, and the mother passed away when thirty-six. As far back as the records can be traced the Pearsons were millers or mill- wrights, while the male members of the Murray family followed the sea. Out of eight children forming the family of John Pearson five sons survive, namely: James, a resident of Mountain View, Oklahoma; William, of Mankato; John, of Syracuse, JSTew York; Murray, of Mankato, who lives a retired life; and Prank, living in Man- kato township. Under the supervision of his father William Pearson learned the miller's trade immediately after leaving school and this he fol- lowed until his removal to the United States. Here, finding opportunities for the same kind of work, he continued at the trade with which he was most familiar. For many years he conducted what is known as the Eed Jacket mill in Man- kato township in partnership with C. P. Halley. Eetiring from that business in 1876 he became connected with the Hubbard & Palmer mill at Mankato, where he remained for ten years. Ow- ing to the ill health of his wife he finally deemed it advisable to give up business activities and twenty years, until death relieved her from her sufferings, he gave her his entire time and the most devoted care. She was Abigail, daughter^ of Jacob Smith, of Elizabethtown, Canada, where they were married April 1, 1856. At the time of her death in 1903 she had attained the age of seventy-three years. Seven children were born of their union, but four died in infancy. Three sons survive, namely : John, living in Mountain View, Oklahoma; Lewis S., who makes his home in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Lorin C, now living in the west. For many years Mr. Pearson has been identi- fied with the Masonic order, and likewise he has been interested in other movements for the bene- fit of humanity and the extending of philan- thropies. He carried the first brick and mortar used in the erection of the Methodist Episcopal church. Many of the early enterprises for th,e development of the village received his gratuitous aid and practical help. It has never been a source of regret to him that he came to Mankato, although fortune has brought him no alluring rewards in return for his labors. Bravely doing his part, he received in recompense enough for his needs, and his only grievance has been tha,t his wants are few and his tastes so simple as to be easily gratified. In the twilight of his life, retired from private cares or public duties, he sees a second generation at the van of progress, while a third generation is now growing up in preparation for the work of the future! Watch- ing these with the interest of a warm friend, he rejoices in each upward step that brings pros- perity to his city and success to its citizens. PEEEIN, HOEACE B.— Hon. Horace B. Per- rin. Secretary and General manager of the Citi- zens' Fire Association, of' Mankato and long identified with the vehicle business in this sec- tion of the state, is at the same time an old soldier, an ex-member of the Legislature and al- together one of the best known and most honor- able citizens of southern Minnesota. He comeb of an old and substantial N'ew England family, whose first members located in Sekouk, Massachu- setts, as early as 1635, 'coming from the Old World in the good ship "Safety." N"oah Perrin, grandfather of Horace B., was the fifth genera- tion in the United States, and became a settler of Vermont in 1800. His son, William Perrin, married Martha Green, also a native of the Green Mountain State, and the son who is of chief in- terest in the progress of this narrative was born to them on the 16th of January, 1843. In 1857 the family came to Wisconsin, and five years later removed to Shelby Township, Blue Earth County, where for many years its different mem- bers continued to do honor to themselves and- their ancestors. William Perrin reached a posi- tion of considerable public influence, serving for twenty years as chairman of the Township Com- mittee and finally was sent to the State Legisla- ture. He died in 1903, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, and his wife, who passed away in 1898, had spanned her eighty-one years of life. BIOGEAPHICAL HlSTOiiY. 535 To this honorable and venerable couple had been born three children — Horace B., the first; Willis L., connected with the Postoffice Department at Washington, D. C. ; and Ada, the widow of T. L. Eice, of Mankato. Horace B. Perrin cajne with his parents to Wisconsin and obtained his education in the district schools and at Lawrence University, and during the second year of the Civil war removed with the family to Shelby Township, this county, where he assisted his father on his farm until August 1, 1864. That was the date of his en- listment in Company C, Eleventh Minnesota In- fantry, and he served for one year as corporal with faithfulness and honor, returning then to Shelbyville. At Amboy, this county, he con- ducted a vehicle establishment for twelve years, and upon his removal to Mankato, in 1894, con- tinued in that line assisted by his son, Harry H., the firm of Perrin & Son being widely and fav- orably known to the agricultural communities and the principal centers of population in South- ern Minnesota. On January 1, 1898, Mr. Perrin became Sec- retary and Manager of the Citizens' Fire Associ- ation of Mankato, and has since devoted his time almost exclusively to its interests, which, under his control, have been much expanded. The as- sociation, which was only organized in 1894, does a business which amounts to four and a half mil- lion dollars. Mr. Perrin is also a Eepublican of prominence, serving as a member of the Legis- lature in 1889, and is influential in all matters of public moment. He is president of the Man- kato Cemetery Association and prominently iden- tified with other institutions. Mr. Perrin was married in 1866 to Miss Alice L. Holmes, of Kenton, Ohio, and they had three children, Minnie, Harry H. and Alice, all residing in Mankato. PEEEIN, HAEEY H.— Harry H. Perrin, jrm- ior member of the firm of H. B. Perrin & Son, dealers in wag-ons and agricultural implements, is a native of Pleasant Mound, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, born March 11, 1876, the son of Hor- ace B. and Alice L. (Holmes) Perrin, of Mankato, a biography of the former also appearing in this work. The business conducted by this firm, which has been under active management of Harry. H. Perrin since 1898, is now one of the most important in Mankato, and is a credit to liis energy, enterprise and good judgment. He was educated in the public schools of Amboy this county, at the Sioux Falls Baptist University and the Sioux Falls Business University, com- ing to Mankato in 1894, and engaging with his father in the vehicle business. Four years after- ward his father withdrew from active participa- tion in it, which, as stated, has since been man- aged by the junior partner. Mr. Perrin was united in marriage in 1897 to Miss Edith S. Esgar, who is a native of England, and they have become the parents of Dorthia and Burnham H. He is an active member of the Commercial Club, which has done a useful work in the development of Mankato's business and in- dustrial interests, and is also identified with the Eoyal Arcanum and the United Order of For- esters. In more ways than have been men- tioned Mr. Perrin is one of the brightest and most progressive young business men of the city, and is a most worthy representative of his family. PETEESEN, NICHOLAS.— Since his arrival in Mankato in the fall of 1878, Nicholas Petersen has made his name a respected one, and as the years have passed has evidenced increasing busi- ness aptitude, and capacity for discharging those ci\'ic obligations which directly affect the entire community. Born in Schleswig-Holstein, the storm center of modern Danish history, January 26, 1851, he gained the rudiments of education in a neighboring school, and developed a far see- ing mind keenly conscious of its surrounding limitations. At the age of sixteen he embarked in a sailing vessel bound for America, and after a stormy voyage walked down the gang plank at the New York docks, soon after securing a posi- tion in the eastern metropolis as clerk in a grocery store. From New Y^ork he went to St. Louis, remained there three months, then spent a year in a grocery store in New Orleans. From 1869 until 1875 Mr. Petersen lived in Chicago, Illinois, during that time availing him- self of clerking and other wage earning resources. 536 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. He had kept his eyes open and karned consider- able of American business^ had parted with much of his foreign brogue^ but his heart beat . loyally for the relatives and friends whom he had left behind in the fatherland. What seemed a small fortune had been accumulated through his faculty of self denial and saving, and a part of this went into transportation back to Sehleswig-Holstein, where familiar faces greeted him, and familiar voices soon wished him God-speed on his journey back to the adopted land. Settling in Mankato, he conducted a cigar factory for three years, then established the business of bottling soda and min- eral waters in which he since has been engaged. He was one of the organizers of the Standard Brewing Company, and has been identified with other enterprises of the town and county, at the present time being vice president of the Citizens Telephone Company. In politics Mr. Petersen takes a commendable interest in the local undertakings. In 1891 he was elected alderman of Mankato, and for six years ably discharged the responsibilities of that ofEice. In 1901 he was elected mayor of the town, and held the position until 1903. The city has known no more conscientious and prac- tical public servant. The marriage of Mr. Petersen and Marie Bode, of Chicago, occurred September 24, 1874. Of this union there is a daughter, Anna, who is the wife of A. W. Paegel, of Mankato. Fraternally Mr. Petersen is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a vigorous and energetic man, of pleasing manner and person- ality, and popular with all classes with whom he comes in contact. PBTRICK, A. W.— The business interests of the village of Vernon Center have a capable rep- resentative in A. W. Petrick, who has been long and honorably associated with the commercial life of the place and in many ways has left the impress of his forceful personality upon local progress. The postofllice building and other vil- lage property, including a neat residence, belong to him, and in addition he owns a stock of gen- eral merchandise, having conducted a store at this point for about twenty-five years. During 1886 the postoffice was brought to his building and since then he has officiated as postmaster. For twenty years or more he has kept the only stock of drugs in the village, this being main- tained as a department of the store. More than fifty years ago Fred and Mollie (\^'einkauf} Petrick left their native land of Prussia and crossed the Atlantic to the United States. While they were still on the ocean, on the last day of May, 1854, a son was born, and he it is whose name introduces this article. The family settled in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where the father entered a claim and began to improve a farm. While by trade he was a tailor, he principally followed agricultural pursuits. During 1867 he came to Minnesota and settled in Wabasha county, ^\•here he died in 1891 on the farm which he had developed from a wilderness. At this writing the widowed mother makes her home with her youngest son in Elgin, this state. The family consisted of ten children, and eight of these are still living, A. W. being the first- born. He received a fair common-school educa- tion in Minnesota and in 1876 had the privilege of a course of study in the university at Roches- ter, this state. During 1882 he came to Vernon C^enter township, Blue Earth county, and settled in the village where since he has made his home. The year after coming to Vernon Center A. W. Petrick married Augusta Kopischke, who died in 1888. His second marriage took place in 1892 and united him with Pauline, daughter of Au- gust and Ernestina (Wodsky) Wojahn. In his family there are four children. The eldest daughter, Sophia C, is now studying music in Rochester, New York. The other children, Sel- ma, Hobart W. and Valeria, are yet with their parents. In addition to their own children Mr. and Mrs. Petrick have taken into their home an adopted child, Marie Z. Felson. The family arc identified with the German Lutheran church and contribute generously to movements for the bene- fit of the people' religiously and morally. The political views of Jlr. Petrick bring him into afl'iliation with the Republican party. Frequently he has been asked to fill local offices of trust, for his fellow-citizens realize that he possesses quali- ties necessary to the efficient office-holder. For thirteen years he served as town clerk, besides BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 337 which he filled the offices of town treasurer and reeorder. For two years he was justice of the peace and for seventeen j'ears he was a notary public. Interested in educational matters, he has been a warm supporter of the local schools and during a service of seven years as director aided in promoting the usefulness of the schools of his village. PPAU, ALBERT R. — To have never known father or mother is to have taken from one's life a lasting joy and inspiration; but, to be left an orphan in infancy and, bereft of all the memo- ries and encouragements of the home circle, to persistently and successfully fight one's way to the front and to an honorable place in the world, as husband, father and public man — this is an achievement which is placed to the everlasting credit of Alfred R. Pfau, the able lawyer and leading citizen of Mankato. He is a native of Prussia, born February 14, 1847, and when he was two years of age his parents started with him for America. Both, however, died on shipboard, and the baby was left an orphan; but he was reared and educated by friends in New York State, and in his youth studied law in the office of Judge R. S. Hart. In the spring of 1868, when he had barely passed his majority, Mr. Pfau removed to Wis- consin, where he was admitted to the bar, and in the following year came to Mankato. His prog- ress here, in his profession and in the best paths of American citizenship, has been continuous and noteworthy. He has served for seven years as County Attorney, one year as City Attorney and four years as Mayor, and at the present time is local attorney for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- way companies. Most of the thirty-six years of his career as a practicing attorney in Mankato have been occupied in independent practice, but for some time past he has been associated with his second son, Albert R., under the firm style of Pfau & Pfau. Professionally, Albert E. Pfau is a lawyer of marked ability — prompt, vigorous and thorough in the prosecution of cases, as well as in the general conduct of all litigation entrusted to him; and possessed of an eminently ready mind to grasp legal propositions. Personally, he is socia- ble, obliging and generous. Politically, he is a Democrat, and there is none in thi.s locality whose influence is stronger or better. In ISTl, Mr. Pfau was married to Miss Corne- lia Brown, daughter of the late Judge Brown, of Mankato, and their children are James F., Albert R., Jr., Caroline, Mrs. L. Pendergast; Edith and Mary. PIHALE, JOHN J.— The best possible proof of a man's worth is to earn respect and substan- tial standing in the locality of his birth, to achieve an honorable position in his own country, where all his acts and his entire character are under review and subject to judgment, froju first to last. John J. Pihale, the well known feed merchant, of ilankato, has run the gauntlet and emerged from the ordeal strong, honored and successful. He was born in the citj-, October 27, 1872, son of George and Theresa (Bruska) Pihale, his parents being natives of South Ger- many. His father, who was a tailor by trade, was born in 1833; married May 13, 18G0; came to Mankato the same year and industriously con- tinued his trade until his death in April, 1906, at the age of sixty-three years. His widow still survives, the mother of five children of whom three are living and John J., the third in order of birth. John J. Pihale is well educated, having attended both the public and parochial schools and pur- sued a business course in a commercial college. In his earlier years he assisted his father, and in 1894 was employed by Bennett & Hertzog in their mill and feed business. Later he was con- nected with A. C. Rockey, in the same line, and in August, 1896, bought his business which he has since successfully conducted as proprietor. His establishment was originally on Main street, but was moved to the corner of Second and Walnut streets, where its growing business is still trans- acted. Although it naturally consumes most of his strength and ability, he is interested in all local affairs and creditable movements, which promise to advance Mankato as a city and benefit her people. 538 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. Mr. Pihale was married May 16, 1900, to Mist liosa Schuttle, daughter of Henry Schuttle, of Lime township, and they have one child, Flor- ence M. He is a member of the German Catho- lic church, and he carries his religion and his morality into his business and all the other activi- ties of his life. PEATT, MAETIN M.— During the era of seventeenth century development in America there came to the shores of the new world two brothers, Boyle and Job Pratt, who became the founders of the family on this side of the Atlan- tic ocean. The pioneer instinct seemed inbred in the race and successive generations contribut- ed their quota toward the transforming of the wilderness into fertile farms. One of the family, Peter Pratt, became the first white settler on the river in Cattaraugus, county New York, where lie had purchased a large tract lying in the Hol- hmd purchase. A nephew of this pioneer, Dar- ius Pratt, was born in Cheshire, Massachusetts, and in 1833, removed from Montgomery county. New York, to Cattaraugus county, that state, ivhere he engaged in farm pursuits until his death. Meanwhile he cleared from the wilderness a tract of two hundred and fifty acres, erected farm buildings, made substantial improvements on the farm, and kept a dairy herd of forty cows. In early manhood he married Jeannette Morrow, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and whose maternal grandfather, Eobert Currie, was the first to establish a mill on the Schoh- arie river, that being about the time of the Eevo- Intionary war. Pive sons and five daughters comprised the family of Darius and Jeannette Pratt, and of these Martin M., the eldest son, was born in Montgomery county. New York, October 29, 1827. During boyhood days he walked two and one-half miles to school and in a building of logs he studied the blue-backed speller, with other text books characteristic of the day. As might be inferred, the broad information he now possesses has been obtained from self-culture and observa- tion rather than from attendance at school. In November, of 1850, he married Carljde A. Orr, a native of Cattaraugus county. New York, and a daughter of Hugh Orr, who removed to that state from Vermont. The children born of their union are as follows: Ella, Mrs. G. Bent- ley Lamp, of Sterling township; Ida, Mrs. Jack- son J. Buel, of Amboy, Minnesota; Homer, de- ceased; Jennie, Mrs. Milton Wood, of Salt Pork township. Grant county, Oklahoma; and Howard, who remains with his father. Taking up agricultural pursuits near the old family homestead in Cattaraugus county, Mr. Pratt continued there busily engaged at his tasks until the Civil war threw its shadows over the country. In response to calls for volunteers he enlisted August 2, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth New York Infantry, under Colonel D. B. Allen. The company was mustered in at Elmira, New York, and ordered to Arlington Heights, Virginia, thence to Hay- market, and remaining there until ordered to Fredericksburg. On the return of General Am- brose E. Burnside they joined him in his march. May 1, 1863, they took part in the battle of Chancellorsville. Later they were in the engage- ment at Gettysburg that lasted three days. From there they were transferred under General Hooper to Chattanooga to reinforce Eosecrans. The lat- ter was superseded by General U. S. Grant, under whom th.ey took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Eidge. In the spring of 1864, they took part in the memorable march of General Sherman to the sea. In the first battle, on the 8th day of May, at Eocky Face mountain, so terrible was the carnage that the regiment to which Mr. Pratt belonged lost one hundred and fifty-four men in less than twenty minutes. Of this number six were color-bearers. At the con- clusion of the march they proceeded to Wilming- ton, North Carolina and from there to Goulds- burg, where they remained some time, moving oat to follow General Joseph Johnson near Ea- leigh, where they heard of Lee's surrender. Pro- ceeding into Ealeigh, they witnessed the surren- der of Johnson to Sherman. Later they march- ed to Washington and took part in the grand review, after which June 11, 1865, Mr. Pratt received an honorable discharge from the army, at Batonsburg, Maryland. Eeturning to his old home he sold his farm in October of the same year and came to Minnesota, arriving at Man- kato October 29 and proceeding to Sterling, where BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 539 be bought a farm. Prom that time until 1895, he engaged in agricultural pursuits and then re- moved to Mapleton, Blue Earth county, where he has since lived in retirement. Por twenty years Mr. Pratt was a member of the school board and he also has held various township ofiiees. Fraternally he belongs to the blue lodge of Masons and is also warmly inter- etted in- Sam Louden Post No. T-l, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has been honored with the office of commander. In December of 1895, he lost his first wife. He was again mar- ried April ly, 1898, his wife being Mrs. Julia Hamm, a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Taylor) Rasey, formerly of Lake George, New York. One of the greatest pleasures of Mr. Pratt's life he enjoyed in 1895, when at the close of the national encampment of the Grand Army at Buffalo, he returned to the scenes of his boyhood and early manhood, where he participated in a reunion of the descendants of the Pratt and Morrow families. More than one hundred and fifty relatives were seated at one table on the occasion of the reunion. Among those present was a brother of Mr. Pratt who for twelve years or more has officiated as judge of probate at Fairmont, Minnesota. A picture \ras taken of these two brothers, together with two other brothers, and four sisters, who at that time survived out of the original family of ten. Another photograph was taken, which Mr. Pratt also prizes highly and which shows the entirt aesomblage as they appeared at the reunion. PRICE, REV. ROBERT D.— More than fifty years have come and gone, bringing 'with them remarkable changes to the commonwealth and its people, since Rev. Robert R. Price first came to Minnesota as a pioneer worker in the spiritual interests of the Welsh race in the state, and ever since then he has been a leader among his fellow- countrymen here. Advancing years placed him in the superannuated list, but did not cause him nor did it weaken his desire to promote the spir- itual welfare of the race. Now in retirement from ministerial duties, he passes his time quietly at his home in Blue Earth county and continues, as his strength permits, his association with movements for the uplifting of humanity. The shire of Caernarvon, in the northern part of Wales, is the native home of Robert D. Price, and he was born in Conway August 21, 182 T, being a son of Robert and Margaret (Davis) Price, natives and lifelong residents of Wales. Although by trade a blacksmith and a worker at that occupation in early life, later Robert Price gave his attention to farming and was ap- pointed o\erseer of two large estates in Wales, the supervision of which he continued until his death. In his family there were nine children, namely: Robert D., John, Edwin, Thomas, Hugh, Josiah, Ellen, Louisa and Elizabeth. The eldest member of the family circle, Robert D., received a fair education in his native country and learned the trade of a blacksmith under his father. When twenty years of age he began to preach the Gospel in his home neighborhood. From the first he showed a deep consecration of spirit and a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. Much of his preaching was done gratuitously, and he con- tinued to earn a livelihood as a blacksmith. A voyage of six weeks and three daj's brought Mr. Price to America in 1850. Landing in New York City on the 15th of September, he started at once for the west. His first location was Cam- bria, Wisconsin, and for two years he worked at his trade about six miles from that city. Dur- ing the two following years he had charge of the Welsh mission at Cambria, after which he super- intended a similar work at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, and from there in 1856 he came to Blue Earth county, being transferred from the Wisconsin conference to that of Minnesota. On coming to this county he took charge of the South Bend Welsh mission and continued to preach in the county until 1878, when he resigned. While liv- ing at Cambria, Wisconsin, he there married, April 7, 1853, Miss Ann Roberts, who was born in the shire of Caernarvon, Wales, March 4, 1832, and in 1845 came to the United States with her parents, John and Catharine (Thomas) Roberts, settling in Dodge county, Wisconsin. ]\Irs. Price passed from earth November 2, 1898, leaving to her husband and children the mem- ory of a pure life, amiable disposition, affection- ate ministrations to loved ones and a self-sacri- ficing Christian character. Ten children had been born of her marriage, namely : John R., 540 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Josiah W., Margaret C, Louisa A.^ Edwin C, Abraham L., Jane E.^ Thomas A.^ David A. P. and Lizzie H. Of these Margaret^ Jane and Lizzie are deceased^ and tlie others are established in lionies oi; their own. PUGH, JOHN B.— In studying 'the lives of the pioneers of Blue Earth county we find a, cer- tain similarity. All were constrained by the same lofty purpose to secure homes for themselves and aid their children in securing a start in the world. Alike they labored in storm and wind and snow, resolute in the midst of adversity, heroic when confronted by danger. Under their self-sacri- llcing efforts the wilderness was made to bloom and blossom as the rose, neat houses and substan- tial barns, with the equipment of a modern farm, broke the monotony of the prairie landscape, and a foundation was laid for the prosperity of the present generation. Such in brief was the life of John E. Pugh, who was a pioneer of 1855, in this county, developed a valuable farm, and finally removed to Mankato, there spending his last days in comfortable retirement. Die native place of John E. Pugh was in tht shire of Montgomery, Wales, where he was born in August of 1831. As a boy he lived on a farm owned by his parents, who were prosperous and honored members of their community. At the age of thirteen yeard, in 1844, he accompanied his parents to the United vStates, proceeded direct to Wisconsin, and settled at Watertown, where he attended the common schools whenever possi- ble. Seeking to secure a farm in the regions where land was yet to be secured from the government, he came to Minnesota in 1855 and settled in Blue Earth county where he pre-empted a quar- ter section. Upon this tract he undertook gen- eral farm pursuits. The land was in the prim- eval state of nature. The entire task of sub- duing the soil and bringing it under profitable cultivation fell upon his shoulders. Working with unremitting zeal, he gradually made possi- ble the cultivation of the tract, also built fences and cross-fences, and erected such buildings as were needed for the storage of the crops and the .shelter of the stock, besides building a neat cot- tage for the family. The marriage of John E. Pugh took place August 15, 1859, and united him with Miss Janes Jones, who was born in Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, June 29, 1844, being a daughter of John and Eleanor (Jones) Jones, natives of South Wales. The father, who was a shoemaker by tiade, crossed the ocean with the family in 1838, and settled at Pittsburgh, where he fol- lowed his trade with unfaltering fidelity. While still a young man he died in Pittsburgh in 1849, and soon afterward his wife went to Ohio to make her home with relatives; her death occurred in that state three years after the demise of her husband. Mrs. Pugh attended school in child- hood, but her early marriage took her from the schoolroom and placed her at the head of a home. Ten children were born of her marriage, but only five are now living, namely: John, David, Kath- erine, Harriet and Dora. David married Miss Ida Ma-yer of Mankato, and Dora became the wife of Charles K. Mayer, a twin ■ brother of Ida Mayer. After having devoted more than forty years to active farm pursuits with considerable success, ifr. Pugh eventually rented his farm and bought a residence in ]\Iankato, where afterward he made his home until his death. May 34, 1905. His family held membership in the Welsh Pres- byterian church and maintained a deep interest in religious movements. All through life he remembered with affection his childhood home in "Wales, yet he was a true and loyal American, and never desired to exchange the new home for the old. In politics he voted- with the Republi- can party. The only official position which he held was that of member of the school board, in •which capacity he served with efficiency for a number of years. Educational affairs always aroused his interest and he was a champion of the public school system, which he believed of vital importance to the well-being of our country. As a result of his industrious life his widow now enjoys an income sufficient for her needs, and his cljildren received the educational opportunities he so keenly desired for them. When it is re- called that he was orphaned in youth and had no one to aid him in his struggle for a livelihood, his success is especially praiseworthy. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 541 PTJGH, HON. T. M.— Although the demands of extensive husiness interests elsewhere neces- sitated the removal of Senator Pugh from Blue Earth count}-, yet he retains for his old home a feeling of aflfection and intimacy caused by long residence and endearing tics of blood and friend- ship. Nor is he forgotten by his old associates; on the contrary, no name is more often mentioned among old settlers than his, and the present gen- eration of boys and girls are often interested in tales of his services in the Indian wars, where he courageously defended the lives and properties of the frontier farmers. It has been his privilege to witness the remarkable agricultural develop- ment of Minnesota and to contribute to the same; furthermore, he has had the honor of represent- ing his district in the house and senate, where his influence always has been given to bills and measures for the welfare and benefit of the peo- ple. To the development of Minnesota the little country of Wales has contributed of its brain and brawn, and a fair proportion of the men who aided in the early progress of our common- wealth came from that rugged and mountainous land. There, in the shire of Montgomery, oc- curred the birth of T. M. Pugh September 10, 1831. His parents, Hugh and Mary (Dodges) Pugh, were natitves of Wales, the father born in 1800, the mother in 1803. On the paternal side the ancestors were purely Welsh, while on the maternal side they came from Scotland. Throughout their entire lives the parents re- mained in Wales, where both died. All of their seven children have passed away excepting the subject of this narrative. He was reared on a farm and received a fair Welsh education. Dur- ing 1849 he took passage on a sailing vessel and after a voyage of five weeks landed in the United States in New York harbor, whence he pro- ceeded to Watertown, Wisconsin, to make his home with an uncle. In order to acquire a knowledge of English he attended school for a time after his arrival. After two years at Watertown, Mr. Pugh re- moved to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, and secured em- ployment in the mines. In 1855 he came to Minnesota and pre-empted a claim of govern- ment land in South Bend township, Blue Earth co-untj'^, his claim lying about five miles south- west of ilankato. The land was in the primeval condition of nature. Xot a furrow had been turned in the rich soil. Its productive capacity was unknown. By dint of arduous and pro- tracted effort' he brought the land under cultiva- tion and converted it into one of the finest farms in the entire county. To him belongs the dis- tinction of having raised the first crop of wheat in the entire county, and this crop he cut with an old-fashioned scythe, threshing it with a flail. Other farm work of a pioneer nature was done by him in those early days. As machinery began to be introduced he quickly appreciated its use- fulness and availed himself of its aid. The marriage of T. M. Pugh was solemnized in Blue Earth county Jan. 30th, 1868, and united him with itiss Ellen Williams, daughter of Eobert E. and Winifred (Eoberts) Williams, of whom mention will be found in the sketch of William E. Williams in this volume. Mrs. Pugh was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 15th, 1846, and in 1855 came to IMinnesota with her parents, settling in Blue Earth county. Of her marriage there are two sons, Edward Hugh and John Thomas, both of whom reside in Duluth, ilinne- sota, being members of the board of trade of that city and successful grain-dealers. For some time after his marriage Mr. Pugh made his home on the farm in South Bend town- ship. During 185"', after the massacre at Spirit Lake, Iowa, he enlisted in the ^Minnesota state militia and engaged in active service in subdu- ing the savages. During what is known as the Sioux massacre in 1863 he again took a very active part in quelling the red men and aided in bringing to iMankato ten of the Indians, who were later hanged for their outbreaks. At the close of his service in the war he was appointed provost-marshal and continued in that capacity during the balance of the struggle between the north and south. In 18T4 he was appointed receiver of the land office at Fargo, North Da- kota, and continued in that capacity for nine years, serving with honor to himself and satis- faction to the general public. Meanwhile he con- tinued to make his home at Fargo, where in 1885 he was elected to represent the district in the legislature of Dakota territory and took part 542 BTOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. in the first session held at Bismarck. At the ex- piration of his term he returned to Blue Earth county and resumed agricultural affairs, continu- ing on the farm until 1894, when he removed to Duluth in order to engage in business with his sons in that city. In political views Mr. Pugh has been a stanch Eepublican ever since the organization of that party and served as a delegate to the first con- vention of the party in Blue Earth county. Three years after his removal to Duluth he was elected to represent his district in the Minnesota house of representatives and in 1899 he was re-elected to the position, in which he served for four j^ears altogether. So satisfactory was his service that in 1901 he was honored with election to the state senate and in 1905 he was again chosen to represent the people in the senate. It is scarcely necessary to add that his service has been emi- nently satisfactory to his constitutents, who re- pose the greatest confidence in his judgment and have found by long experience that no one could be more loyal to the people's welfare than is Senator Pugh. PUTEAH, P. J.— The genealogy of the Putrah family shows that they come from French-Canadian ancestry, the original immi- grants to America having come from France in a very early day and settled among the French- speaking colonies of Canada. Joseph and Mar- garet (Parazcau) Putrah were born and reared in a Canadian province and both descended from prominent families of that country. While still young in years they crossed into ISTew York state and while living on a farm there a son, P. J., was born in 1853. "When this son was three years of age the family took up the journey to- ward the frontier and settled among the pioneers of Wisconsin, where they improved and developed a farm. Eventually they disposed of the property there and in 1870 sought a home still further toward the frontier, removing to Canton, South Dakota, where Mrs. Putrah passed away in 1895. Since her death Mr. Putrah has continued to make his home in Canton and now is in the en- joyment of excellent health, notwithstanding his eighty useful years. The children of Joseph Putrah were named as follows: Mary, P. J., George, Ada, Margaret and Theresa. All are still living with the ex- ception of George. The son whose name intro- duces this article had meagre opportunities in boyhood and gained his education almost wholly from self-culture and habits of close observation. In 187G he was united in marriage with Miss Lena Eew, daughter of Ira and Zilphia (Harri- son) Eew, natives of Allegany county, Few York, and pioneers of 1866 in Blue Earth county, .set- tling in Eapidan township, where they engaged in farming until death. Four children blessed the union of P. J. and Mrs. Putrah, namely: Grace, who was taken by death at the age of eighteen years; Bert, who married Margaret Mc- Call and is now engaged in the hardware busi- ness at Garden City, Blue Earth county; Jessie, deceased; and Lida, at home. Coming to Blue Earth county during the year 1872 Mr. Putrah secured work as a farm hand by the month in Eapidan township and by care- ful saving of his wages secured a start in the world. After purchasing the necessary equip- ment he engaged in digging wells and for six years continued in that business. Eventually he sold out and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which have since occupied his time and thought. Since 1901 he has resided on a farm of one hundred and ninety-one and one-half acres lying on the Blue Earth river in Eapidan town- ship. The acquisition of this property represents a lifetime of toil and unremitting industry, and proves him to be a man of thrift and economy. The land is given over to the raising of crops suited to the soil and locality. Cattle are kept on the place, also some fine hogs of the Poland- China strain. All of the improvements, with the sole exception of the house, have been placed there by the present owner, who has devoted con- stant thought and intelligent attention to the best cultivation of the property and the securing of the most satisfactory returns from his investment. He has served his neighbors in the offices of school director and path master and in politics has been stanch in his allegiance to the Eepubli- can party. Fraternally he is connected with Camp No. 2198 at Garden City, Modern Wood- men of America. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. :i43 QUIGGLE, C. M.— The history of the Quiggle family is similar to that of many other colonial families of America in that it records the gradual transplanting of the race from its original east- ern home through the central states toward the fertile lands of the vast western regions. The Pennsylvania-Dutch stock that formed the ances- try of the present generation possessed the fru- gality, industry and perseverance necessary to nation-builders. In an early day the family re- moved lo Ohio, where George Quiggle was born March 3, 1819, and where his father died at a ripe old age. Lured to the west by the possi- bility of securing cheap lands, in 1853 George and Cordelia (Silliman) Quiggle removed to Wis- consin and settled in Green Lake county, where he took up unimproved lands. In the spring of 1868 he followed the westward tide of emigra- tion and settled in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he bought from William Seward a tract of land adjacent to Amboy, twenty acres of which is now in the corporate limits of the village. Agricultural pursuits engaged his attention until his death, which occurred in 1903 at the age of eighty-three years. He was a progressive citizen who maintained an active interest in the devel- opment of the township and was a strong advo- cate of the building of the railroad, toward which he donated a right of way. The village also received his encouraging influence and he gener- ously donated ten acres to the town site. Out of a family comprising five sons and one daughter only two are now living, namely: Wal- lace, a resident of Winnebago City, Faribault county; and C. M., who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, July 5, 1851, received his early education in Wisconsin and later attended the schools of Blue Earth City, Minnesota. The orig- inal homestead is now his property, and under his supervision every detail is attended to with dispatch and energy. A substantial modern resi- dence adds to the value of the estate. The other buildings are well adapted to their varied needs. The entire appearance of the place proves the owner to be a man of orderly spirit, with a love for neatness and thrift. The first marriage of Mr. Quiggle was sol- emnized in 1876 and united him with Miss May E, Cross, a native of Wisconsinj who died at Amboy December 22, 1903. Three children were born of that union, namely: Mabel, who married Oscar Robinson and I'ostdes at Amlioy; Corde, wife of C. M. Cornell, also of Amboy; Wayne, who re- mains with his father; and Clayton, deceased. Mrs. May Quiggle was a daughter of Thomas Jefferson Cross and a sister of D. E. Cross, an influential citizen of Amboy and the present postmaster of the village. In January of 1906 Mr. Quiggle was united in marriage with Miss Effie Reed, , a native of Sterling township. Blue Earth county, where her father, A. B. Reed, was an early settler and an honored resident. For years Mr. Quiggle has been warmly interested in educational work and at this writing he holds the office of treasurer of the school board. In fraternal relations he is a Master Mason and has passed through the chairs in the Amboy lodge-, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. One of Mr. Quiggle's pleasures is in travel, and he has visited many sections of our country, going as far south as Texas, but in his journeys he has found no place as dear to him as the old family homestead nor any state possessing greater at- tractions than does Minnesota. RASDALL, DIWXE F.— So earnest and painstaking an exponent of scientific farming and rational, intelligent country life as Duane F. Rasdall, could find no more satisfying opportu- nity for the exercise of his ability than the old Rasdall farm in section 16, McPherson township, where he owned two Imndred and ninety-six acres of fine land, all of it under cultivation. This farm, a part of the old Winnebago Reservation, is eloquent with reminders of a tribe of Redmen now but sparcely represented, and chief of these evidences of early occupation is the old brick house built for the- Indians by the United States government. The efforts of the late owner of the property are distinctly modern in character, and the old and new shoulder each other in com- parative harmony of action. Mr. Rasdall was engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and he was past master of the science which has outstripped the slow and laborious methods of his forefathers. 544 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Born in Madison, Wisconsin, December 4. 1846, ilr, Rasdall was the son of Able and Lydia Ann Rasdall, the former of whom was a farmer and millwright, and mention of whom may be found in the sketch of M. B. Rasdall, in another part of this work. 'Mr. Rasdall had the usual advantages of the boys of his time and place, and while working hard on the home farm in the summer, -ivelcomed the diversion of attending the district schools during the leisure of the winter. Came to Minnesota in 1863. April 19, 1868, he was united in marriage to Alice J. Paley, and of the union there are two sons and two daugh- ters: Jessie, wife of H. Thielman; Charles, a farmer in ]\IcPherson township ; Grace, wife of Prank Chase, of St. Clair; and Mark, engaged in the transfer business in Montevideo. Mr. Rasdall passed away October 17, 1908. In political affiliations Mr. Rasdall was a Dem- ocrat, and among other offices held by him was that of chairman of the town board for eighteen years. He was a director in the Farmers' Pire Insurance Company, a director of the St. Clair State Bank, and was otherwise connected with local undertakings. Religiously he was connected with the Congregational church. He was ever ready to help in all good works, and has ever held out a helping hand to those whose fortunes were less happily placed than his own. RASDALL, MELVIN B.— Reminiscences of the early settlement of the central northwest cluster thickly around the name of Rasdall, and through the efforts of those who now maintain the prestige of the family in Minnesota, will as surely be regarded by posterity as importantly allied with the present era of progress. The gift of successful pioneering seemed a special preroga- tive of Kentuckians during the first half of the last century, and Able Rasdall was no exception to the rule. The lure of the unsettled lake re- gion drew him hither in early manhood, and he became a cabin builder in Wisconsin while still tlie wigwam and trail were predominating feat- ures of the landscape. He passed through the Black Hawk war as a captain, and he built the first lodge house in Madison thus becoming the unconscious civic father of that now flourishing metropolis. In this house his son, Melvin B. Rasdall, was born November 13, 1848. Mr. Ras- dall, and also his two other sons, all of whom are prominent in the business life of Blue Earth county. Mr. Rasdall also erected the City Hotel, of Madison, in 1849, and he built the grist mill twelve miles north of the village, where he met an untimely death in 1856. He married Lydia Pitcher, a native of 'New York state, and who died in St. Clair this state, in 1882. A varied experience has projected Melvin S. Rasdall among the prosperous business men of St. Clair. He was educated in the public schools, and subsequently became interested in the print- ing business which he continued until the third year of the Civil war. He enlisted in 1864 in Company P, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, under Captain Owens, and thereafter did garri- son duty until the reestablishment of peace, in 1865. For the following five years he was vari- ously employed as a wage earner, thus paying his way through the Normal School, and he then engaged in general merchandising for about three vears. At the expiration of that time he spent a year in the west, and in 1877 established the drug business which, on and off, he has conducted ever since. He is variously identified with local undertakings, is politically a Republican and has served as postmaster several years, and as town- ship assessor six years. He is fraternally promi- nent and popular, and a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is Past Master, and the Masons. He also is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Rasdall is a genial and approachable gentle- man, thoroughly conversant with the drug busi- ness, and connected, commercially and socially with the best element in the county. REYNOLDS, CAPT. IRA B.— The Reynolds family became established in America some time prior to the Revolutionary war, the original im- migrant having been Silas Reynolds of England, who enlisted on the side of his adopted country in its struggle against his native land. George, a son of this Revolutionary verteran, .was born at Highgate, Franklin county, Vermont, August 15, 1803, and married Seraph Pond, a native of Ver- IRA IB. IREYNOLDS. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 545 mont, born in 1810. The latter's mother was a member of the well-known Bateman family and her father, Ira Pond, was one of twelve brothers and in weight w-ds the liglitest of them all, al- though he tipped the scales at two hundred and twenty pounds. During the residence of George Reynolds at Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York, his son, Ira B., was born April 31, 1841. Pour years later the family became pioneers of Wisconsin and settled near ilayville. Dodge coun- ty. At the age of eight years the son received his first educational advantages, being then sent to a school held in an old log cabin that burned down before the term had been completed. Dur- ing 1850 a cousin, George P. Reynold.-;, later a minister of the Wisconsin conference of the ilethodist Episcopal denomination, came from Xew York and began to teach in the Sager school house, near Mayville, where he taught for a num- ber of winters. In addition, at the close of the winter term, he was accustomed to open a select school,, charging $2 per month per pupil, and under his able instruction Ira B., then a youth of about seventeen years, gained an excellent knowledge of the common branches. The great revival that swept over the United States during 18.57-.58 numbered Ira B. Reynolds among its converts, and he was baptized by Rev. I. W. Bolton, of the j\Iethodist Episcopal church, in Lamberson Creek, Dodge county, July 4, IS-^S; among the others baptized at the same time be- ing George P. Reynolds, "Milo Boyingtnn, G. W. Burcb, and the Misses Louisa and Adea Reynold^. Prom that time to the present Mr. Reynolds has never lost his conviction of conversion or his membership in that denomination. Seven days after the first call for volunteers made by President Lincoln, 'Mt. Reynolds, then a young man of twenty years, enlisted in the ser- vice of the Union, and at Mayville, Dodge county, was accepted as a private in Company E. Third Wisconsin Infantry, with which be remained un- til the spring of 1864. During the battle of Chancellorsville, ]\Iay .S, 1863, his left arm was broken at the wrist and an operation was neces- sary for the removal of nine pieces of bone from the arm. He was sent to Chestnut hill hospital, and N"ovember 1, 186.3, was transferred to the Si.\t3--ninth Invalid Corps, under Captain Chand- 35 ler. Afterward he was assigned to Company E, Nineteenth Veteran Reserve Corps, stationed at Mnrtinville barracks, city of Wiisliington, and he was appointed postmaster of the regiment. It was his good fortune to have the freedom of the city and to attend many official receptions at the White House, where he had the pleasure of meeting and shaking hands with President Lin- coln. Receiving from ]\Iajor Foster permission to ap- pear before General Casey's board, in the spring of 1864 Mr. Re3'nolds was examined for a com- mission in a colored regiment and was given a first-class captain's commission and assigned to Company I, Porty-third United States Colored Troops, Camp William Penn, Philadelphia, com- manded by Colonel (afterward General) Lewis Wagner for a time and later by Colonel Yeomans. The regiment joined General Grant's command and accompanied him to Petersburg and Rich- mond, later Company P was sent to guard work- men engaged in rebuilding a bridge between Philadelphia and Baltimore that had been burned by the Confederate troops. When in 1865 Gen- eral Grant made his last move to capture General Lee, the Porty-third was north of the James river, six miles from Richmond. On the morn- ing of April 3, they marched over the Confederate barracks into the city, the lower half of which was burning, with the sole exception of Libby prison. Following General Lee in his hasty re- treat, the Portj'-third captured that day fifteen hundred prisoners and thirty pieces of cannon. On the 4th Captain Reynolds received a pass to visit Libby and found the prison filled with Con- federates, who were being fed the rations they had prepared for their ■"Yankee"' captives. From there the captain went to the capital, where he procured a number of Confederate documents that he still has in his possession, some of these bearing the signatures of Jefferson Davis and the other Confederate officials. At the close of the Civil war the Forty-third regiment was sent to the southern border. It had been ascertained that the Frencli were endeavor- ing to establisli a government in Mexico. Accord- ingly the United States government sent General Sheridan with thirty thousand soldiers to the south for the purpose of operating as necessary. 546 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. The Forty-third was stationed at Brownsville, Texas, just across from Matamoras, Mexico, and remained there until being mustered out of the service September 20, 1865. While the regiment had been stationed in camp at Stafford Court- house, Virginia, in 1864, Captain Reynolds pur- chased a small tract of timber land in Minnesota. On leaving the army he came hither, arriving on the 20th of December, 1865, and found his father, mother and two sisters occupying a log house, built by a brother, Alvin P., in 1857, lo- cated on the east one hundred acres of the south- east quarter of section twenty-one, township one hundred and eight, range twenty-five west. In the spring of 1866 Captain Reynolds en- tered Lawrence university at Appleton, Wiscon- sin, with the intention of studying for the Meth- odist ministry, but the failure of his eyesight obliged him to discontinue his studies and seek an outdoor life. Meanwhile his mother had been attacked by cancer of the tongue and from this she died in February of 1867. On the 11th of July, 1867, Captain Reynolds was united in mar- riage with Miss Susan Anderson, at Tivoli, Blue Earth count}', and their first ride after the wed- ding ceremony was taken in a lumber wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. After his marriage he settled upon one hundred acres in the town of LeRay, Blue Earth county, and there he made his home for more than thirty-eight years, the only change meanwhile being the removal of the little log cabin to the substantial frame house. On that farm two sons and two daughters were born, namely: George A., October 1, 1868; Belle Reynolds Charlesworth, February 17, 1873; Ar- thur A., April 8, 1879 ; and Daisy, November 27, 1886. Only ten acres of the farm had been cleared when Captain Reynolds brought his bride to the home. The balance was in heavy timber. Dur- ing his long residence on the farm he cleared the land, cutting wood with an axe, making ties for tlie railroad, splitting rails for fences, and dig- ' ging out stumps. When the ground had been thus prepared, almost any kind of crop could be raised, for the soil was very rich. The principal products were wheat, barley, oats, rye, peas, corn, potatoes and all kinds of root crops. The small grain was cut with a cradle. The grass was cut with a scythe and raked by hand. Many of the young wives Joined their husbands in raking the grain into bundles for binding. Wheat was threshed with a flail and cleaned by the wind, after which it was carried many miles to the mills to be ground into flour. With later years improved machinery was introduced. The cradle was replaced by the dropper, that by the self-rake, next came the harvester, and finally the binder. The mowing machine took the place of the scythe and the horse rake superseded the hand rake. The walking plow gave way to the riding plow, and on every hand better machinery came into general use. All of these changes Captain Reynolds wit- nessed during the long period of his residence on the farm. While living there he was elected town clerk in 1867, receiving every vote polled in the town (fifty-two in number). In addition he served as justice of the peace, chairman of the LeRay township board, and member of the school board of districts fifty and one hundred and twenty-seven. In May of 1905 he sold the home farm of one hundred and forty acres for $8,400, and removed to Eagle Lake, where he owns and occupies a residence surrounded by six acres of grounds. His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln for the second term, and he has voted either the Republican or Prohi- bition ticket ever since. At the time that Gen- eral Baker ran for congress. Captain Reynolds was nominated by the Prohibition party for con- gressman and received more than fourteen hun- dred votes. It is a pleasure to Captain Reynolds to con- trast the comforts and prosperity of the present with the privations of the past, and no one re- joices more than he in the development of the country. During the early part of the sixties the township of LeRay was a wilderness. A few settlers scattered through the big woods were bravely trying to earn a livelihood. The south two miles of the town was in reservation known as the Winnebago agency. The Sioux Indians were roaming at will through the woods and over the wide prairies south of the town. Settlers, young ami old, were busily engaged in digging gentian, and some men dug from forty to sixty pounds a day. Captain Reynolds has killed as BIOGBAPHICAL HISTORY. 547 many as thirty-five rattlesnakes in one-half day while mo\\'ing grass near his house, but at the present time not one could be found in the en- tire township. Wild game was plentiful in the woods. Fish aboimded in the lakes. Most of Madison lake, all of Eagle, Alice, Indian and ;\Iud lakes, and other small lakes, were in LeEay township. During the first twenty years of his residence in the township Captain Eeynolds aided in building its seventy-two miles of public high- way and in opening the same for travel. In 1872-73 the Winona and St. Peter railroad was built through the township, coming in at Smith's Mill, Waseca county, and going out at Eagle Lake. The advent of the railroad started a new industry, the cutting of wood and ties for pur- chase by the company, which was the means of clearing the entire timber from the land. Fields of wheat and corn have taken the place of the timber, so that not enough timber is left to sup- ply the actual needs of the fifteen hundred resi- dents of the town, and as a result, where for- merly wood was the only fuel, now many of the farmers have adopted coal as their principal fuel. In 1866 Captain I. B. Eeynolds was licensed afi an exborter in the Methodist Episeopal church, and later given a local preacher's license which he has held ever since. EEYNOLDS, JOSEPH E.— The associate, edi- tor of the ]\[ankato Daily Free Press was born in Lockport, New York, Xovember 1, 1863, and has been connected with newspaper work since boy- hood years. His. father. Professor B. M. Eey- nolds, was superintendent of some of the most advanced and important city schools in ISTew York, Illinois, Wiscons'n and Minnesota, and for some years officiated as superintendent of schools of Eice county. Through all of his ma- ture years he has been an educator and his work in the line of his specialty has brought him into prominence. After having gained a practical knowledge of the newspaper business through work in various offices, in 1887, Joseph E. Eeynolds became the telegraph editor of the Daily Xcws of ilshland, Wisconsin. The following year he bought out the Pioneer of Wadena, Minnesota, which he published until 1891, and then sold out in order to accept a position with the Fargo Argus. From 1892 until 1896 he was connected with the Great Falls Leader, during which period, in 1894, he was elected to the Montana legislature. In May, of 1896, he came to Mankato, and was engaged as city reporter for the Daily Eeview until the summer of 1902, since which time he has been editorially connected with the Daily Free Press. While living in Wisconsin he was married at Oshkosh, in ISS.'), to iliss Alice A. Lewis, and they are now the parents of two children, Wil- fred Denver and Marv Grace. EOBB, JOHX B.— John B. Eobb, local man- ager of the ^lankato branch of the Creamery Pack- age ;Manuf acturing Company, one of the most im- portant industries in Blue Earth County, has reached his position of responsibility by persistent and intelligent work and natural ability, both ex- ecutive and mechanical. After being employed for five years by the Mankato Manufacturing Company, in the fall of 1882 he became general foreman of the Creamery Package Manufactur- ing Company, at the Yan Brunt Street plant, Mankato, and has since continued in that posi- tion, having at all times been an active factor in the unusual development of its business and the extension of its works. He has ably assisted, especially in all the details of removal and build- ing, and the general establishment of the new plant in West Mankato, which began operations January 21, 1907. ITis duties include not only a supervision of the manufacture of the tubs, but the operation and necessary repairing of the ma- chinery; in fact, he is in general charge of the practical work of the entire establishment, and what this means may be inferred from these facts concerning the plant. The dimensions of the warehouse are 200x60 feet; factory, 100x40; shed, 60x8; dry kiln, 26x40, and engine room, 26x30. The boiler is of one hundred horse power and the engine of forty. Altogether the plant covers nearly a city block, and the daily output of tubs is twenty-five hundred. The company aims to have from seven- ty-five thousands to one hundred thousand tubs on hand at the time of greatest demand, in sum- 548 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. mer, which accounts for the large warehouses of the plant; notwithstanding which large quantities of the packages are stored in Minneapolis and Sioux Falls. ROBEBTS, EUGENE.— While America was in the colonial period of its history the Eoberts family became identified with the pioneers estab- lished along the bleak shores of the north Atlan- tic and from that time forward the name was honorably associated with the agricultural de- velopment of the country. Industrious in times of peace, they were no less active during epochs of war and gave true patriots to the ser- vice of the colonies during the Eevolutionary struggle. Later Shadrach Eoberts, a native of Massachusetts, took part in the war of 1813. Eive of his brothers-in-law, who bore the family name of Hobling, enlisted during the first war with England and one of them died during this war. Many years after the period of his service in the army Shadrach Eoberts met with business reverses in ISTew York and for that reason sought to start anew in the regions further west. Ac- companied by his family he journeyed westward, partly traveling by wagon and partly sailing on the great lakes. On his arrival in Wisconsin he selected a location and took up the difficult task of transforming an uncultivated tract into a pro- ductive farm. Pioneer work filled the remaining years of his life and eventually he passed away on the place which owed its development to his unwearied industry. Charles Henry Eoberts was born in Utica, ISTew York, and was the son of Sharach Eoberts. Coming west with the family he assisted in bring- ing a Wisconsin farm under cultivation. While ]\rinnesota was still largely in the primeval con- dition of nature he came to this state as a pio- neer and secured land in Mapleton township. Blue Earth county. Somewhat later he took up the homestead still occupied by the family. Here he spent his remaining da3's engaged in general farming pursuits and winning the confidence of acquaintances through his superior education, rec- ognized ability and high principles of honor. At the age of eiglity-two year.'^, in 1903, he passed from the scenes of his activities, since which time the farm has remained the home of his widow, formerly Anna Eliza Louden, and a native of New York. All of the family of Charles Henry Roberts, comprising ten children, are still living. Ella married George Ackerman and makes her home in Sterling township. Clara is the wife of Fred- erick Ackerman of Sterling township. Augusta remains on the old homestead. Mary married Julius Borchardt and lives in Lyra township. AUie E., now Mrs. Leslie Cooper, is a resident of Vernon, this state. Frederick is living in Ster- ling. Eugene, whose name heads this narrative, was born in Sterling township, in 1872, and re- mains at the old homestead. Mabel married Eoy Fale}', a steam fitter, and lives in Duluth. Bes- sie and William continue with their mother at the old home farm. The children were educated in district schools and the public schools of J\Iankato, and on the home farm were trained to habits of industry and usefulness. In social circles they are honored for the sterling qualities of heart and mind that win and retain friends among the most refined people of any commun- ity. The homestead gives evidence of their in- dustry, efficient management and energy. The residence furnishes them with a comfortable home provided with modern appointments. Gen- eral farming operations are conducted and the returns from the raising of crops and the feed- ing of stock form a revenue of no inconsider- able amount. ROBERTS, HUMPHREY J._Wherever the Welsh plant their standard they establish a church if there is not one already there. So when the father of Humphrey J. Roberts settled in Jud- son Township with his family over half a cen- tury ago he found that his scattered countrymen had no way to jointly worship and soon had or- ganized the first Welsh church in that part of Blue Earth County. Both he and his brother (the uncle after whom Humphrey J. is named) were settlers of 185.'), and were among the first dozen to locate in the to.wnship, for years making it their prime business to extend a cordial and brotherly welcome to all new comers. They were of the highest type of pioneers, for they not only BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 549 did their full share in developing the material resources of their section but also gave of their strength and substance to further the cause of morality and religion. Of such a famil}' Humphrey J. Eoberts was born in Wales on the 24th of February, 1848^ the son of Owen and Catherine (Jones) Eoberts, both natives of Anglesey. His parents came to America when he was two years of age, first mak- ing the family home at Bridgeport, Ohio, and later removing it to Mason Citj-, West Virginia. In 1855 they came to Minnesota, pre-empting a claim in what is now section 32, Judson Town- ship, where they resided for the balance of their lives. The mother died in 1890, at the age of sixty-eight years, the father surviving her until August 8, 1906, when he too passed away, aged eighty years. As stated, Owen Eoberts estab- lished the first Welsh church in his locality, it being at his home on section 5, and the date July 11, 1858. Services were first held there and afterward in other houses of the neighborhood until 1865, when a log church was built, the latter being used until the erection of the present structure on Section 6, at Judson, in 1871. This was knoAvn as Jersalem Calvinistic Church, and Eev. William M. Jones was its first pastor. Hum- phrey Jones, the maternal uncle of Humphrey J. Eoberts, previously mentioned, settled in Jud- son Township April 11, 1855. During the early period the settlers wore much alarmed over threatened Indian raids, and upon one occasion the Eoberts family was obliged to actually vacate their farm for three weeks, turn- ing the cattle loose notwithstanding the cer- tainty that they would destroy much of their crops. In the family of eight children brought up amid such God-fearing, yet hard conditions, Humphrey J. was the second, and, besides him- self, one is still living — Henry E., of Lake Crys- tal, ilinnesota. As a boy Mr. Eoberts attended the district schools of Judson Township and the Commer- cial College, at St. Paul. He afterwards engaged in farming and after reaching his majority pur- chased a farm in Butternut Valley Township, which he conducted to sucli good advantage that in 1887, he became the owner of the farm which his uncle Humphrey Jones had pre-empted on sec- tion 5, Judson Township. To the latter he re- moved, cultivating and improving it until 1897, when, having acquired a competency, he retired to enjoy a period of well earned leisure and rest in Mankato. Since he was eighteen years of age J\Ir. Eoberts has been a member of the Welsh Calvinistic Meth- odist Church, and even before that he had passed through a brief experience as a soldier of the Civil war, in 1866 enlisting as a scout under Captain Eobert H. Hughes. The second day out he was accidently shot through the arm with the bullet from a revolver, and w-as obliged to re- turn home. While a resident of Judson Town- ship he was honored with several local offices, serving as treasurer of the School Board and Supervisor. On Xovember 3, 1876, he was mar- ried to Miss Catherine J. Jones, daughter of Evan E. Jones, and they have become the parents of nine children, four of whom still survive : ^ aomi, Catherine Eleanor, John H., and Evan H. ; those deceased are Gononony 0., who died in 1896, at the age of seventeen years, Llewelyn H., Euth; Evan E., and Eichard N., who died in infancy. Mr. Eoberts is a man of practical ability and high honor and the family represent the substantial pioneer element of the county, which the rising generations are commencing to respect and revere more deeply as it is gradually fading into the past. EOBINTSOiS', ANDEEW S.— For more than a quarter of a century Mr. Eobinson occupied a farm in Pleasant Mound township that ranked among the finely-improved estates of Blue Earth county. On coming to the township in 1875 he purchased land on section thirty-five and here he devoted himself assiduously to the cultivation of the soil and the making of needed improvements that would enhance the permanent value of the property. A fair degree of success rewarded his painstaking efforts. As the years passed by ■ he gained an increasing reputation for sagacity, keen perception, wise methods in rotating crops and a profitable knowledge of the stock business. Eventu- ally he retired from the heavy care.- incident to farm work and removed to Amboy, where he erected and now occupies a handsome and commodious residence containing modern improvements. 550 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. The Eobinson family was founded in this coun- try by Joseph Eobinson, who came from Cork, Ireland, in early life and settled In Pennsylvania, there spending the balance of his years. His son, Joseph, was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, and married Jane, daughter of William McCaul- ley, a native of Scotland. As early as 1856 Joseph and Jane Eobinson brought their children to Minnesota and settled on a tract of raw land in Eice county, remaining there until 1863. During that year they removed to Faribault county and settled in the town of Winnebago, where the father died in 1864 at the age of fifty- three. In his family there were nine sons and two daughters, and seven of the number are yet living, the fourth in order of birth having been Andrew S., a native of Punxsutawney, Jefferson count)', Pennsylvania, born August 5, 1842. At the age of fourteen years he accompanied the family to Minnesota and here his sturdy, youth- ful energy was useful in the difficult task of con- verting raw land into a profitable farm. From the opening of the Civil war Mr. Eobin- son gave his sympathy to the Union cause. Au- gust 13, 1863, he enlisted in Company A, Sev- enth Minnesota Infantry, under Colonel Mar- shall. The regiment was mustered in at Fort Snelling and accompanied General Sibley in an expedition after the Indians, whom they pursued across the Missouri river. After returning from that campaign they were sent to the south, join- ing the Sixteenth Corps under General A. J. Smith and participating in an engagement at Nashville, Tennessee, which was their first ex- perience of the horrors of battle. Their second engagement was at Tupelo, ilississippi, after ivhich they joined the Eed river expedition. Thence they went into the Gulf region and as- sisted in the capture of Spanish Fort, Mobile. Shortly afterward they were ordered to the north and at Fort Snelling received an honorable dis- charge August 15, 1865, after which Mr. Eobin- son immediately returned to -his home and re- sumed the avocations of peace. His record as a soldier is one of which he may well be proud, and since the organization of the Grand Army of the Eepublic . he has maintained a deep interest in the reunions of the veterans, among whom he is popular and influential. After having remained in Faribault county until 1875 Mr. Eobinson then removed to Blue Earth county and bought the farm which he oc- cupied until 1903. During the year of coming to this county he married Sarah Oliver, a sister of George G. Oliver, whose sketch appears else- where in this volume. Her death occurred in 1893 on the old homestead. The present wife of Mr. Eobinson, whom he married October 7, 1903, and who bore the maiden name of Ella Clough, was born in New Hampshire, but at a very early age accompanied her father to Wisconsin and there received a fair education. Later she came to Minnesota, where slie has many friends among the. people of the community and shares with her husband in the general good-will. EOBINSON, JOSEPH H.— The genealogy of the Eobinson family indicates a colonial associa- tion with the history of America and shows that those of the name have possessed energy, thrift, high principles of honor and the pioneer instincts that lead men to seek homes upon the frontier and thus become the vanguard of an oncoming civilization. Pennsylvania was the former home of the family and there Joseph H. was born De- cember 37, 1847, being a son of Andrew and Mary (Wait) Eobinson. The father was a native of E[untingdon county, the same state, and for years followed general farming in the east, but during 1851 he journeyed to Illinois and took up a homestead. Four years later he became a pio- neer of Minnesota and settled in Eice county, which as yet had few settlers and no improve- ments. The last years of his life were passed in the home of his son, J. H., with whom he re- mained until his death in 1885. His was the life of the frontiersman, familiar with privations^ inured to hardships and content to receive no other reward than that of having aided in the de- velopment of the northwest. The opening of the Civil war found Joseph H. Eobinson eager to offer his services to the Union, but hindered' by his youthful years. Septembeu 8, 1864, he was accepted' as a member of the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery and was as- signed to the army of the Cumberland. The reg- iment was ordered south and engaged in garri- BIOGKAPHICAL HISTORY. 551 son duty at Chattanooga, Tennessee. At the ex- piration of the war in 1865 he received an hon- orable discharge and returned to the Minnesota farm. In 1879 he came to Blue Earth county and built the first elevator at Vernon Center, where for four years he engaged in buying wheat. Later for ten years he owned and operated a hotel at Vernon Center, but eventually he traded the hotel for a farm on section thirty-two, Gar- den City township, and gave his attention to agricultural pursuits for some yeais. For eighr years he made his home at Lake Crystal, this county, and engaged principally at the carpen- ter's trade, but afterward returned to farming. Upon selling his farm Mr. Eobinson removed to Vernon Center in 1904 and now occupies a pleasant homestead in this place. For two years after coming here he gave his time to carpenter- ing, and then erected a flour mill, which he now conducts in partnership with L. W. Kimble. Considerable wheat is raised in the vicinity of ^'ernon Center and thus a fair trade has come to the partners in the mill. Every effort is made to satisfy patrons with the quality of the product and excellent improvements have been made in the plant in order to secure the best results. In 1867 Mr. Eobinson married Johanna L. Eeed, daughter of Freeman and Eacina (Cole) Eeed, natives of Wisconsin and pioneers of 1863 in the Blue Earth valley and Faribault county. The parents are both deceased. Three daughters comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Eobinson, of whom j\Iao, a school teacher, is the only one remaining at home. EfEie married Eugene Francis and lives on a farm in Vernon Center township. Orpha married Ole Bengtson, a stone mason living in Vernon Center. The family are identified with the Methodist Episco- pal church and Mr. Eobinson has been an active Sunday school worker. His sympathies are with the cause of prohibition, but in party matters he has voted independently. For four years he has served as justice of the peace, also has held office of chairman of the town board and has been a school director and deeply interested in the wel- fare of the schools. For years he has been a member of the Grand Army of the Eepublic. EOBINSON, JOHN.— Since the period of his army service during the Civil war the life of John Eobinson has been quietly passed in agri- cultural labors in Blue Earth county. Some men love excitement and change, but to him no asso- ciations are as dear as those of the past and he has had no desire to leave the old homestead where forty years ago he and his wife, in the strength of early life, began their married exist- ence. Though possessed of means sufficient to maintain him in retirement, it is his preference to remain on the same farm until advancing years render further manual labor impossible. The homestead comprises two hundred and forty acres in Pleasant Mound township and is devoted to the raising of farm produce and to fine breeds of horses, cattle and hogs, in which lines the owner is thoroughly experienced. By reference to the sketch of Andrew S. Eob- inson on another page of this volume the history of the family will be found, and from it may be learned that Joseph Eobinson came from Ire- land to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where his son and namesake was born and reared. The younger Joseph removed to Minnesota in 1856 and settled in Eice county, but six years later he removed to Faribault county and settled on a farm in the town of Winnebago. There he died in 1864 at the age of fifty-three years. In his family there \\'ere eleven children, of whom the fifth, John, was born at Punxsutawney, Jef- ferson county, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1844, and at the age of twelve years accompanied the fam- ily to ilinnesota. The schools of Eice county afforded him fair educational advantages. At the age of twenty years he offered his services to the cause of his country. During December of 1864 he enlisted in Company H, Second Jlinnesota Cavalry, under Colonel McClarrib, and was mus- tered in at Fort Snelling. Being ordered west, the regiment joined General Sully at Fort Eice on the Missouri river. A short time afterward they were ordered on an expedition after the In- dians in South Dakota, chasing them through the Bad Lands and engaging in several skirmishes with the savages. In these encounters a number of the men of the regiment were killed. Con- tinuing to the west, they crossed the Yellowstone 552 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. river and the ilissouri river, and thence went to the relief of Captain Fisk on the Milk river. From there they returned by way of Fort Union to Fort Wads worth, where they remained until the spring of the year, meanwhile guarding the frontier. During the summer they were trans- ferred to various points along the frontier for guard duty and in the spring of 1866 they were returned to Fort Snelling, where they were hon- orably discharged and mustered out of the ser- vice. After his return from the war John Robinson embarked in agricultural pursuits and soon chose a helpmate, his marriage, December 35, 1867, uniting him with Deborah Webster, a native of McComb county, Michigan. Her father, Al- phonso Webster, was born in New York and in early manhood moved to Michigan, later estab- lishing his home in Rock county, Wisconsin, and- from there removing to Minnesota. After one year in Rice county he came to Blue Earth county, M'here he soon won many warm friends. Eventually he returned to Michigan to spend his last days. Three sons blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, but a heavy bereavement fell upon them in the death of two, Sumner and Don. The youngest, Luther, is a progressive agriculturist who conducts a farm in Pleasant Mound township. RODMAN, JOHN P.— The genealogy of the Rodman family in America is traced back to the very earliest attempts at the colonization of the countrj', the first of the race having crossed the Atlantic ocean as early as 1613 and settled among the few white people striving to plant a home amid adverse environments. Their former dwelling place had been in England, where they enjoyed a prosperity and position strangely con- trasting with their lot as pioneers of the new world. It is said that they brought with them from their old English home a clock that had long told the time from its place in the hall in their mansion. This clock, which is now ticking away the hours of the twentieth century in the Mankato residence of the Rodman family, is still an accurate time-piece notwithstanding its great One branch of the Rodman family settled in New Jersey and there John P. Rodman was bom in 1833, while later the schools and academies of the state gave him fair educational opportunities. Upon starting out to earn his own way in the world he came to Minnesota in 1854 and always afterward continued to be a resident of that state, where he built up a large commission business and won many warm friends among his associ- ates. Remaining a bachelor until 1870, he then established domestic ties by his marriage to Miss Abbie Williams, who was born in New Jersey, the daughter of Louis and Mary (Pearson) Williams, also natives of that state. When she was two years of age her father, a wealthy farmer, passed from earth, and afterward her mother, who was a member of a very influential family of Orange, New Jersey, removed to the city of New York, there residing until dea,th. Mrs. Rodman received superior educational ad- vantages and is a woman of intelligence, ability and qualities of heart that endear her to all ac- quaintances. After the death of her husband, wi-dch occurred July 5, 1892, she moved to Man- kato, where she owns a cozy home at No. 401 Clark street. Her elder daughter, Mary, holds a responsible position in the count)' auditor's office at Mankato, and the younger daughter, JMargaret, is the wife of- E. C. Willard, who conducts a large poultry farm here. The only son, George P. Rodman, who is one of the most popular and prominent young men of Mankato, holds a com- mission as first lieutenant in Company H, Sec- ond Regiment, Minnesota National Guards, while in his business associations he is chief clerk for Farmer & Pfau, wholesale dealers in knit goods. ROMACK, JOHN R.— Continuously, since 1863, John R. Romack has occupied his present farm in Blue Earth county. This prop- erty is one of the landmarks of the township, and is justly representative of the methods em- ployed by the scientific and well equipped farmer of this northern country. Mr. Romack's farm is well drained and fertile, and he is engaged in the line of farming adapted to local climatic and general conditions. He raises a good grade of stock, the usual grains, and his place is well BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 553 supplied with fruit and other trees, also' excellent buildings and fences. Born in Shelby count)', Ohio, January ;i7, 1839, Mr. Eomack is one of the six children of John and Xancy (Eiehards) Eomack, both of whom died in the state of Wisconsin. Mr. Eomack left his native Ohio in 185:), intending to locate per- manently in Iowa, but after a two year's so- journ, came to Blue Earth county arriving Sep- tember 18, 1856. He at once took up a claim, re- mained on it until 1863, and in 1861 came to his present farm. With him to the north came his family, of whom at present there are three living of his six children: Mary, wife of G. E. Loomis, of Washington; Ida, now Mrs. J. H. Moonej', a railroad man connected with the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Eailroad; and Ira, a farmer in Blue Earth county. Mr. Eomack is a pleasant man to meet, and an honorable man to deal with. He is the friend of education and progress, and is a promoter of all that advanced communities regard as essential to health, happi- ness and prosperity. EOSEjSTBEEGEE, EENST.— One of the most widely known confectioners in the Northwest, and an inventor of merit, especially in connection with his business, Jlr. Eosenberger is of German parentage, but born in Chicago, Illinois, Septem- ber 2, 1857. He is the son of George and Chris- tina (Eose) Eosenberger, natives of Saxony, who came to tlie United States in 1848 and located in Chicago in the following year. George Eosen- berger was a mercl)ant tailor and died in the western metropolis in 1886, aged seventy-six years, his wife being still alive. Of their family of nine children Ernst was the sixth and, besides him, the following survive : Emil, who resides in South Dakota; Elizabeth, wife of August Beckman, living in Chicago, and jMinnie, Mrs. G. C. Stockwell, also of that city. Ernst Eos- enberger attended the common schools of Chi- cago, but in 1871, then only fourteen years of age, was apprenticed to M. E. Page & Company, wholesale confectioners, of that city, and re- mained with them for seven years. During the following three years he was with Frank Field & Company, of Chicago, after which he was connected with the trade in various cities both east and west, and for a time was engaged in business for himself at Big Eapids, Michigan. In 1888 he went to St. Stevens, Xew Brunswick, and, after several other changes of location settled at Mankato in 1890. Upon locating in this city he organized the firm of C. A. Everhart & Company, wholesale confectioners, the business being afterward sold to L. Patterson ilercantile Company, after which ilr. Eosenberger engaged in the same line with John C. Noble, under the name of Eosenberger & Xoble, their establishment being on Front street. In 1875 F. il. Currier purchased Mr. Noble's interest, and the business has since been successfully conducted as Eosenberger & Currier, their present fine plant at Xos. 801-.3 South Second street being erected in 18i)7. Mr. Eosenberger has been mostly instrumental in building up the establishment to its present magnitude, as he is not only a fine business man, but has so thoroughly studied his line from the manufacturers' standpoint as to originate several devices the facility of production and ensured greater purity of the output. His inventive tal- ents have also been applied in other directions, as he has invented and had constructed, under his personal supervision, a four-wheel drive auto- mobile, which is a rival of any other on the market. The correct inference is that Mr. Eosen- berger is a man of remarkable originality and aggressiveness, his lousiness methods and persona] actions being, morever, aljnve reproaeli. His wife to whom he was married in 1881, was formerly Miss Mar) J. Lnwery, a native of St. Andrews, Canada. EUSS, CHAELES W.— Thorough cultivation and substantial improvements characterize the Euss homestead on section twenty-nine. Pleasant Mound township, Blue Earth county, where Charles W. Euss has engaged in agricultural pur- suits since the year 1892, the date of the pur- chase of the property by him. Two hundred and forty acres are embraced within the boundaries of the place. Tlie land is rolling and has the ad- vantages of admitting of thorough draining. A portion of the acreage is devoted to such crops 554 BIOGBAPHICAL HISTORY. as are suited to the soil and climate; the remain- der is utilized for the pasturage of horses, hogs and cattle. The farm buildings are fully pro- tected from wintry blizzards by means of a grove on the north, east and west, these trees having been planted since the purchase of the property by the present owner. The residence is heated by hot air and has an excellent system of water- works which provides running water and bath. The buildings for the sheltex of stock and stor- age of grain are substantial and erected with a view to convenience and durability. Meigs county, Ohio, is the native place of Charles W. Euss, and May 10, 1857, the date of his birth, his parents being Herbert and Lucy (Comstock) Euss, natives respectively of JSTew Hampshire and Vermont. Very shortly after the close of the Civil war, in which he had served as a drummer, Herbert Euss became a pioneer of Minnesota and settled on a raw tract of land in Dakota county, where he remained for a number of years. Eventually he went to Missouri with one of his sons and remained in that state until he died. The mother resides in Blue Earth coun- ty, making her home with J. Huffman. Of their children only two are now living. The eldest son, Charles W., accompanied the family from Ohio to Minnesota in boyhood and attended the schools of Dakota county until he had obtained a common school education, after which he began to earn his own livelihood as a farmer. Eru- gality and energy gradually brought him a fair degree of success and enabled him eventually to acquire a farm of his own. The marriage of Mr. Euss and Miss Eosetta Carter was solemnized in 1880. Five children were born of their union. The eldest, Guy, is now married and engaged in farming for him- self. The others, Eay, Eoy, Leo and Myrtle, re- main at the old homestead with their parents. Mrs. Euss is a daughter of Eev. E. Carter, for years an honored resident of Pleasant Mound township, but now living in retirement at Edger- ton, Pipestone county, Minnesota. During active years he engaged in the ministry of the Congre- gational church and accomplished much in the spiritual uplifting of his community, where the influence of his consecrated life and earnest ser- mons made an impress for good. EUSSELL, MICHAEL BOHAN.— The life history of this prosperous farmer of Blue Earth county is the record of a man who, deprived of educational advantages in youth and forced at an early age to take up the struggle for a liveli- hood, in spite of obstacles accumulated a compe- tency, aided younger brothers and sisters, and has given to his own children the best educational advantages the- state affords. It may be assumed that such a man must possess talents of no com- mon order. Unwearied industry, untiring energy and keen sagacity have been factors in his suc- cess, added to which was the courage that could not be daunted by the perils of Indian outbreaks and the other vicissitudes of pioneer days. When the family settled in Ceresco township there were few neighbors. The Sioux outbreaks, which had occurred a short time previous, had driven away many of those who had pre-empted claims in this part of the country. Some there were, however, who determined not to be driven away by the Indians and these stood their ground, defending home and property as best they could. During the day they carried fire-arms as they worked around their homes. At night they took turns in standing guard over the houses and stables. Horses were an attractive loot for the bands of marauding redskins and many a pioneer was sorely inconvenienced by the theft of his t^ame. After the Indians had been placed on their res- ervations and peace returned to the settlers, new people were attracted to the unclaimed lands, schools were opened, churches established, and the privations of pioneer existence became but a memory even with the old settlers. The Eussell family came to this country from Ireland, although as the name indicates they ale of English extraction. The ancestors were pro- Irish in sentiment and devoted Eoman Catholics, but on account of their name they were regarded with some distrust by their fellow-countrymen. Francis Tracy Eussell was born in Ireland and there received a thorough education, after which he engaged in teaching school and to some extent also in magisterial work, as he was not only well educated but also a fine penman. When a young man he came to the United States and settled at Hartford, Wisconsin, where he met and mar- ried Anna Bohan. She was a native of Ireland BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. and in her ancestry the Irish predominated, al- though her mother was a member of the Russell family and of English lineage. During the residence of the family at Hart- ford, Wisconsin, Michael Bohan Russell was born September 13, 1849, and in that town he received the rudiments of an education. In 1862 the par- ents removed to Minnesota, accompanied by their six sons and two daughters. Later two sons were born, making ten children in the family. The first school in Ceresco township was taught by the oldest son, James, now a resident of Michi- gan. The second son, Michael B., took up the burden of caring for the farm, as the father, who was never robust, at that time was in ill health. Under these circumstances- he had no opportunity to attend high school or academy, but by read- ing and observation he has acquired a broad knowledge of the world. Since early life he has lived on the land originally purchased by his father; the brothers and sisters have moved away and now own homes in different states. As a farmer Mr. Russell met with really re- markable success and accumulated considerable wealth. However, with a generosity characteris- tic of the man he assisted younger brothers by loaning them money and signing papers for them to the amount of $16,000, all of which he lost owing to his brothers' failure in business in 1905, the failure being caused by nine years of poor crops in the Red river valley. He still owns a large farm and some timber and lumber inter- ests in the northern part of the state. During the long period of his residence in Blue Earth county he has been active in measures for the public good. At different times he secured from the state legislature $750 for the building of a bridge across Perch creek. From 1884 to 1892 he held office as town clerk. For eleven years, beginning in 1888 he served as postmaster at Ceresco. During his service as town clerk he officiated as justice of the peace, and for four- teen years, at different times, he was a member of the Ceresco school board. His political views are Democratic, yet he is broader than any party and in local elections, when he considers the Re- publican candidate better qualified to serve the people than his opponent, he does not hesitate to give his allegiance to the more fitting candidate irrespective of political affiliations. In 1887 he became affiliated with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of which he is yet an acti\e member. Reared in the Roman Catholic faith, he always has been an earnest believer in its doctrines and a supjjorter of its charities. The marriage of ilr. Russell was solemnized at St. John's Catholic church in ilankato, Minn., July 15, 1886, and united him with Mary E. DoUard, who was a graduate of the Mankato Normal school, class of 1819, and afterward taught in the Mankato public schools seven years, until her marriage. She is a refined, capable woman and has given her husband valuable as- sistance in all his business affairs. Her father, Michael DoUard, served in the Civil war from Wisconsin. After a brief service he was honor- ably discharged on account of ill health. After- ward he enlisted from Minnesota and remained in the service until the close of the war. He was highly respected in Blue Earth and Faribault counties, where he made his home from the close of the Civil war until his death, November 28, 1894. • His funeral was held at St. John's Catho- lic church, Mankato, under the auspices of Wil- kin Post, of which he was an honored member. His wife, a lady of refinement and charming hospitalit}', had many friends in Mankato, and their three daughters were teachers in the pub- lic schools of that city. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Russell comprises the following children : Loretta A., who was graduated from the Man- kato High School in 1905 and since was two years assistant editor of the Minneapolis Journal Junior, and is now a Freshman at State Uni- versity; Joseph F., and Thomas P., who are at- tending Christian Brothers college at Minneapo- lis; M. Cecilia, who is attending Sisters Academy at Minneapolis; L. Dollard and Catherine E., who are with their parents on the home farm and attend the district school. SALISBURY, ALilOX J.— The well-improved farm owned and occupied by Mr. Salisbury is situated on section nineteen, Shelby township, and comprises one hundred and twenty acres of the rich soil which has given to Blue Earth county its wide reputation as an agricultural 556 BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. region. Among the improvements on the farm maj' be mentioned the neat residence and large barns, as well as the substantial fences. The land is adapted to the raising of crops of all kinds and is kept under thorough cultivation. Fine horses are raised, also Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs, and the owner finds that his receipts from his stock swell the annual revenues in a gratifying degree. Besides the home farm, he owns one hundred and sixty acres on section eighteen, Shelby township, this being cultivated by a tenant. Also, adjacent to this quarter sec- tion, he has sixty acres, of which twenty acres are in a grove of oak, walnut and red elms. Born near Montreal, Canada, October 1, 1856, Almon J. Salisbury is a son of Henry E. and Elsie (Wallace) Salisbury, natives of the same locality as himself, and a grandson of Lawrence Salisbury, descended from English progenitors early established upon the Canadian soil. The great-grandfather, Jasper Salisbury, spent his en- tire life in Canada. During early years Henry E. Salisbury learned the trades of carpenter, wheelwright and mechanic, and these he followed to some extent, but in addition he has been ex- tensively interested in farming. Coming to the States in 1862, he spent five years in Wisconsin and then removed to Minnesota, where he since has made his home. Though now seventy-four years of age, he enjoys excellent health and with the excejjtion of the loss of hearing he retains all of his faculties unimjoaired. The eldest in the family, Almon J. Salisbury was a child of seven years when the family re- moved to Wisconsin, and five years later he ac- companied them to Minnesota, where from 1868 to 1871 they lived in Garden City township. Blue Earth county. Thence they removed to Shelby township, and settled on a farm in section nine- teen. Here he attended the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he started out to earn his own way in the world. After a short time he bought a farm in Pleasant Mound township, where he remained for two years. Next he re- turned to the old homestead on section nineteen, puchased the one hundred and twenty acres com- prising the estate, and has since placed the pro- perty under cultivation and conducted general farm pursuits. As previously stated, he has been successful in stock raising and has devoted con- siderable attention to this department of agri- culture- Xovember 7, 1878, he married Rebecca Stevens, a native of Canada. Born of their union are three children, of whom the son, Ray E., is engaged in farming in Shelby township. The daughters, Eva and Edith, are with their parents. The family attend the Methodist Episco- pal church and have contributed generously to its maintenance, as well as to other religious and philanthropic projects. SALISBURY, FREEMAN J.— The agricul- tural interests of Shelby township have a capable representative in Freeman J. Salisbury, who, al- though not a native of Blue Earth county, has spent practically his entire life in this part of the country and has a wide circle of friends among the farmers of his locality. His father, George AV., was born and reared in New York, and during early manhood sought a home in the northwest with its bxoad tracts of unsettled and undeveloped lands. After securing a homestead at Easton, Minnesota, he married Millie Arm- strong, a native of the region, and they began to keep house in the pioneer style common to the day and locality. For some years he remained in the same neighborhood. Meanwhile Nebraska was being opened up to settlers and considerable emigration was turned in that direction. With others he joined in the rush to the new region, but conditions there were not wholly to his liking and in 1878 he returned by ox-team to Eaton, Minnesota, thence soon afterward removing to Pleasant Mound township and buying land near the present homestead. About 1893 he bought the Stratton farm in Shelby township and here he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in the spring of 1897. Possessing high prin- ciples of honor, fearless in the defense of the right, loyal to the upbuilding of the community, a firm believer in the fertility of the soil of Blue Earth county, and true to every duty as citizen, husband and father, he was one of that class of men whose migration to ilinnesota proved so helpful to the early development of the common- wealth. He cared little for office and nevef cherished official aspirations, but found his great- BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. ss'; est happiness among friends and family, and pos- sessed a home-loving disposition. Among the six children of George W. Salis- bury the eldest, Freeman J., was born in Valley county, Nebraska, July 11, 1877, and as a boy lived on a farm in Shelby township and attended the neighboring school. After taking a business course at Winnebago City he was emploj'ed as a bookkeeper for three years. Upon the decease of his father he returned to the old homestead and has since then successfully managed the farm. February 21, 189.5, he married Louise Latimer, daughter of Daniel Latimer and a granddaughter of Alexander Latimer, one of the very earliest settlers of Faribault county, as. well as one of its leading citizens and a man of in- domitable energy. Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury. Florence alone sur- vives, Hazel having died in childhood. The home farm comprises- one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is under cultivation, yielding, under the skilled management of the occupant, an excellent return for its care and tilling. In addition to the raising of the usual crops, atten- tion is given to the stock business, and horses, cattle and hogs of the finest breeds are to be found on the estate. SALISBTJEY, SPEFCEE M.— A typically progressive and enterprising Twentieth century farmer is found in Spencer M. Salisbury, who not only is a land owner in his own right, but who is successfully farming the property of his father, Alfred Salisl^urv, in section 21 and 28, Shelby township. Mr. Salisbury is the oldest of his father's four children, and his birth occurred in Quebec at Sutton Flats, July 4, 1877. Both his father and mother, the latter of whom was in girlhood Abbie Squire, were natives of Quebec, Canada, while his grandfather, who established the family in the north, was a native of Con- necticut. The elder Salisbury came from Canada to Minnesota in the early days and since then has lived both on his farm and in Mankato, at present spending most of his time in the town. The education of ilr. Salisbury was acquired in the public schools of Mankato and Amboy, and he remained under the home roof until 1897, when he started out on an independent farming venture on northwest quarter section 10, Shelby township, which he now rents to a tenant and preferably farms his father's land. The paternal farm consists of two hundred and fortj' acrea, and both farms are under a high state of culti- -^alion. Mr. Salisbury has made a practical study of agriculture and stoclv-raising, and has a thorough knowledge of the clicmistry of soils, the best methods of rotation, and the quickest and most certain ways of acliieving results from a given amount of land. He raises Shorthorn cat- tle, Poland China hogs, and a good grade of working horses, also chickens and other fowl. The farm is well supplied with modern machin- ery, barns and general buildings, and is kept with admirable regard for neatness and order. The marriage of Mr. Salisbury and Abbie Brush occurred July 4. 1898, and of the union there are two children, Lois and Lyle. Too much cannot be said of the energy and resource which characterize the career of ^Ir. Salisbury, or the integrity and dependability which make him a valuable friend and a worthy addition to the fundamental element of the community. SAXBOEN, EDWIX L.— The agricultural in- terests of Blue Earth county form the Ijulwark of its pi-()«]ierity and the men who have chai'gc of the same deservedly rank among the most important meml)ers of the population, their work forming the nucleus on wliich the local development is l)asfd and the foundation on which progressive enterprises are built. Of all portions of the county none is more prosperous than Sterling township and none has contrib- uted in a larger degree to the permanent prosperity of the county; that such an end has been attained and such prominence secured bv the township may be attributed to the work of the farmers, a wliole-soulcd, progressive, self- reliant and independent body of men, whose labors have been productive of good to all. Numbered among these farmers we mention the name of Edwin L. Sanborn, secretary of the Sterling Center Creamery Company and own- er of the homestead farm of one hundred and twenty acres, also the owner of a farm of 558 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOKY. similar size situated in Pine county, this state. More than one hundred years have come and gone since the Sanborn family became associated with the village of Sanbornton, in New Hamp- shire, which still bears their name and thus perpetuates for future generations the story of their association with its early history. Wm. Sanborn, born in 1632, sailed from Eng- land March 9, 1633, arrived in Boston, June 3, 1632; Wm. Sanborn, born in 1650, lived at Hampton; Hon. John Sanborn, born Nov. 6, 1680, in Hampton; Jermiah Sanborn, Feb. 12, 1703 ; John Sanborn, born in Hampton, Jan 25, 1742, served in Revolutionary war; John San- born, boru at Bride Hill, Feb. 16, 1787 ; John San- born, born at Sanbornton, April 18, 1815 ; E. L. Sanborn, born Feb. 16, 1867. John Sanborn, Jr., was born in the village of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, in 1815, being a son of John Sanborn, Sr., of Bride's Hill. The family were well situated financially and thus it became possible for him to secure better advan- tages than were oflEered to most young men of his day and locality. Upon completing the studies oi the common schools he took a college course and studied medicine but did not graduate. La- ter he came west with an uncle, passing through Chicago when it contained only three frame houses and was known as Fort Dearborn. Thence they proceeded across the state of Illinois and on to Davenport, Iowa. Later the young man was married at Allen's Grove to Julia Burgoon, a native of Sandusky, Ohio. After his marriage he began housekeeping near Dubuque and con- tinued on the same place until 1855, when he came to ^Minnesota and took up land four miles ctist of Faribault, Eice county. The country was then in the infancy of its agricultural devel- opment. The nearest markets were far distant, improvements were conspicuous only by their absence, and the crude conditions of the frontier jsrevailed ; however, on the other hand, there was an open-handed, generous-hearted hospitality that' gi"aced the giver and cheered the recipient, giving to the pioneer era a charm which later civilizations miss. During March, of 1865, John Sanborn, Jr., came to Blue Earth county and bought land in Sterling township, where he spent his remaining years. Of a quiet, re- tiring disposition, he took no part in public affairs, and at no time sought official honors, yet was always to be depended upon to discharge every duty falling upon patriotic men. Ten children comprised the family of John Sanborn, Jr., and four of these still survive, three remaining in Minnesota, and one residing in Iowa. The youngest, Edwin L., was born where he how resides February 16, 1867, and received jiis primary education in district schools, after- ward taking a course of study in the Minnesota State Normal School at Mankato, June 23, 1903, he married Maude Goff, a native of Wis- consin and a daughter of Victor Goff, concern- ing whom mention is made under the heading ol John Goff elsewhere in this volume. Besides engaging in the raising of grain for the market, Mr. Sanborn raises feed for his stock and de- votes considerable attention to the care of his ■ dairy herd comprising grade stock sired by a full-blooded Durham. While the management of his farm and property interests gives him little leisure for outside matters, 3-et he keeps posted concerning all national issues, is thor- oughly informed in regard to the problems af- fecting our country's prosperity, and maintains a keen interest in all matters of public impor- tance. Fraternally he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the blue lodge of Masons. For a number of years he rendered service as justice of the peace and in addition he has served with efficiency and faithfulness in the office of si-hool treasurer. SAULPAITGH, THOIMAS.— Consistent and steady devotion to duty characterized the entire active life of Thomas Saulpaugh, who during the course of a long and remarkably successful busi- ness career won and retained the friendship of a host of acquaintances brought within the sphere of his influence through the diversified activities of his extensive interests. Equally familiar with many j)ortions of the United States, the course of his business affairs took him to . the south at an early age and later he became a contractor for • the stone work on railways throughout the north and west. Few men were more conversant with the entire country than he; its possibilities BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 559 were to him an open book, and he saw, as he traveled through undeveloped regions, many an attractive spot awaiting the hand of labor and capital for its ultimate development. When death brought to an end his sterling activities of mind and body, he left behind him, as monuments of his skill, a large number of completed sub- structure contracts and skilled stone work, placing him among the leading men in that industry in his era. Milford, Otsego county. New York, was the native home of Thomas Saulpaugh, and April 7, 1822, the date of his birth. At an early age he served an apprenticeship to the trade of stone- cutter, which he followed as a journeyman. At the age of thirty years he went to Tennessee and became interested in railroad contracting. In 1856 he removed to Illinois and settled in Eock Island, where for twenty-five years he engaged in railroad contracting under the firm title of Eey- nolds, Saulpaugh & Co., his partner being E. P. Eeynolds. In 1S81 he removed to Minneapolis and started the business of T. Saulpaugh & Co., his partners being his only son, Clarence H., and John Crubaugh. The necessities of his business demanding a large amount of stone, he was con- stantly searching for localities having deposits in paying quantities, and in this way he was first attracted to Mankato. For some years his firm bought heavily of the Mankato stone. Mean- while he was busily engaged in filling railroad contracts in the northwest. Those years wit- nessed the completion of contracts for bridge substructures at Bismarck, North Dakota, and Minneapolis, (for the Northern Pacific Com- pany,) Blair, Nebraska, and Sioux City, Iowa, (for the Chicago & Northwestern Eailroad) : Omaha, Nebraska (for the Union- Pacific) ; Ne- braska City and Plattsmouth, Nebraska, (for the Burlington road.) From the year 1888 until his death, which oc- curred May 9, 1893, Mr. Saulpaugh was a resi- dent of Mankato, where he erected soon after his arrival a hotel that was conceded to be the largest and best equipped building of its kind in southern Minnesota. The formal opening of this hotel, which occurred November fi, 1899, was the occasion of a large and elegant reception ten- dered by the city in honor of the occasion. The hotel is still owned and conducted in the family name and formed a portion of the estate inherited by the only son, C. H., who is a leading resident of Mankato. During his early life Thomas Saul- paugh formed the acquaintance of Eliza C. Vin- ton, whom he married at Fultonville, New York, December 16, 1850, and who died December 31, 1893, a few months before the demise of Mr. Saulpaugh. The latter was regarded as a saga- cious business man, a public-spirited citizen and a warm-hearted friend, and he was honored by all the people of ^Mankato. On more than one occasion he was tendered ofl^ers of official trusts, but these he declined, with the sole exception of serving as a member of the hoard of aldermen of Mankato in 1891-92; with that exception he declined public positions, the nature of his busi- ness being such that its duties interfered with the discharge of political and official responsibili- ties. SCHABFEE, FEANK M.— The lineage of this prosperous farmer of Blue Earth county if; traced to a long line of Teutonic ancestry and he himself is of German nativit)', having been born in Baden, November 30, 1844, but from the age of eight years he has made his home in the United States and thus has become thor- oughly American in his sympathies and senti- m.ents. His parents, George A., and Margaret (Hofl) Schaefer, were natives of Baden the former born November 28, 1803, and the lat- ter, August 10, 1809. Beared in their native country, they there married and established a home, remaining in the Fatherland until 1853. Upon crossing the ocean to America they landed at New Orleans, Louisiana, and from there traveled by boat up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, landing at Cincinnati. The location did not suit them and they soon proceeded to Day- ton, Ohio, where the father secured employment at his trade of blacksmithing. Two j-ears later the family proceeded to Minnesota and settled in St. Paul, where he worked at his trade. The year 1856, which brought so many pioneers to south- ern Minnesota found the family in Blue Earth county, where the father pre-empted a claim and took up lands on sections thirty and thirty-one, Lime township. 560 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. The most arduous and self-sacrificing efforts were necessary in order to transform the harren tract into a fertile farm. Every privation was endured; the greatest hardships were met, and the family in their lonely eal)in home learned many lessons of self-denial and self-reliance. In tlie end well-deserved success rewarded their efforts. The wild land was '^i-oken and brought under cultivation, a neat house replaced the orig- inal cabin, substantial barns were Ijuilt, and the homestead took on the aspect of prosperity and plenty. Here the father passed away Sep- tember 18, 1884, and here, too, September 11, 1887, the life of the mother came to an end. There were six children^ in tJie family and all of them now reside in ilankato with the excep- tion of Frank M., vrho follows farm pursuits. The members of the family are as follows : Theresa, widow of John P. Sanger; Margaret, the widow of William J. Hoerr; Anna, who is the wife of Nicholas Weis; Catherine, wife of Stewart ilartin ; Prank M. ; and Mary, Mrs. Fred- erick Dittmer. A resident of Blue Earth county ever since h.e was t^velve years of age, Frank ]\I. Sehaefer received a fair English education in the schools of this county and since attain- ing manhood he has followed farm pursuits. In this county, February 9, 1874, he married Mary B. Kern, who was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Xovember 24, 1856, being a daughter of John and Susan Kern, natives of Germany, the father born December 37, 1830, and the mother March G, 1827. During early life the parents came to tlie United States and settled in Wisconsin, where they resided at La Crosse until 1857, and then moved to Xicollet county, Minnesota, later coming to Blue' Earth county. Eventually in 1886, they removed to Oregon, where the mother died March 5, 1900, and the father, March 1, 1905. They were the parents of five children, namely: Marv B., Mrs. Sehaefer; George, now living in Alaska ; John, who resides in Wyoming; Carrie, Mrs. Charles P. Klock, of Illinois; and Joseph, who resides in JTankato township, Blue Earth county. Acquiring the old family homestead through purchase Mr. Sehaefer remained there until 1898, when he bought and removed to his pres- ent farm of two hundred acreiB on sections thirty-two and thirty-three. Lime township one- quarter of a mile north of jMankato Junction. The homestead is one of the most attractive in the entire county, occupying a location on one of the best roads leading to Mankato. The land is in a high state of cultivation. Its appear- ance and productiveness indicates the thrift and energy of the owner. In addition to this place, he owned and presented to a son one hun- dred and twenty acres of good land. In his family there are nine children, namely : Rosie, married to Philip Borgmeier, and residing in lame township. Blue Earth county; William F., Frank M., Theresa, Ottilia, Mary, Agnes, Bertha, and Cyril H. The family are earnest members of the Roman Catholic church. Politically Mr. Sehaefer believes in Democratic principles and votes that ticket in national elections, but in local matters he supports the best men regard- less of party ties. SCHAUB, ARTHUR.— The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is among the best known and most popular (lermans of Blue Earth county — rather a German-American of intense and deep- rooted Democratic principles, who is a politi- cian because he believes class and industrial in- equalities may best be agitated and corrected through the machinery of politics than in any other way. For several years he has also been a large factor in the work and progress of the "Deutsche Land-und-Heim-Cesellschaft," whose office is in ilankato and of which he is now Secretary and Treasurer. A native of LeRay Township, this county, ]\Ir. Schaub was born of German parentage, October 20, 1873, being the son of Kasimir and Magda- lena (Kasper) Schaub, natives of Baden, who came to the locality named in 1868. The -father died in 1899, at the age of seventy-three years, and his wife passed away at Mankato October 26, 1906, when se\'enty-four years of age. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Arthur \\'as the youngest. Mr. Schaub obtained his preliminary edu- cation in the common schools of his native town- ship and the parochial schools of Mankato, and finally, in 1892, graduated from the Cassisius BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 561 College of Buffalo, Few York. His next intellec- tual training was as a law student in the office of C. L. Benedict, of Mankato, and in 1895 he was admitted to the Minnesota bar, continuing in general practice until, The Deutsche Land-und-Heim-Gesellschaft was organized and he was elected its secretary. In 1904 it was incorporated and he became secretary and treas- urer. Mr. Schaub's influence as a democrat may be inferred from the facts that in 1896 he be- came a member of the office force of the State Central Committee; was Chairman of the Demo- cratic County Committee from 1898 to 1900, and was also acting during the latter period as Secre- tary of the Congressional Committee. On- May 14, 1901, Mr. Schaub was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Groschans of Le Sueur, Minnesota. His religious connection is with the St. Peter and Paul's Church, and he is a member of the following organizations : P. 0. E., Leidertafel and Commercial Club. Altogether he is a man of popularity and substantial charac- ter, whose worthy ambition to be an inspiring and uplifting force in the community has been fully realized. SCHERER, ARCHIBALD H.— Noteworthy among the business institutions of Mankato is the establishment owned and conducted by the Scherer-Dackins Carriage Company, the partners in the firm being A. H. Scherer and John F. Backing. The headquarters of the firm at Nob. 423-425 South Second street, are fitted out with a complete line of agricultural implements and vehicles of all descriptions. The business was formerly owned by H. P. Jensen, but was pur- chased by the present company in 1904, and now is equipped with a complete plant for putting or rubber tires. A specialty also is made of re- pairing, painting and carriage trimming. With men of recognized energy at the head of the busi- ness, it has naturally enjoyed a steady growth and receives the patronage of a large propor- tion of those in search of any of the varied ar- ticles of agricultural equipment kept in stock. The city of Mankato is Mr. Scherer's native place, and here he was born June 38, 1870, being 86 a son of Luther and Katherine (Correll) Scherer, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Indiana. During the '60s, while Minnesota was yet an undeveloped frontier region, the father left the east and established himself among the pioneer merchants of Mankato. After a time he took up land in South Bend township, Blue Earth county, and from the raw tract evolved an im- proved farm. Subsequently he ovraed and oc- cupied a farm in Lincoln township, but at this writing he is a resident of Lake Crystal, Blue Earth County. The branch of family which he represents come from the south, having been planted in North Carolina after emigration to America. In the family of Luther Scherer there were six children, but one died at an early age. Those now living are as follows : Ida, who is Mrs. Or- rin Cole : John E., a resident of Yellow Medicine county, this state ; Frank, who is living in Garden City township. Blue Earth county; Oscar A., of Mankato; and Archibald H., the youngest of the family circle. The last named received a fair education in the public schools and commercial college, and while still quite young acquired a thorough knowledge of bookkeeping and kindred office work. For a time he was employed in Minneapolis, later in St. Paul, after which he gave up bookkeeping and removed to a farm in Yellow Medicine coun- ty, this state, where he conducted agricultural pursuits for four years. At the expiration of that time he took up the implement and carriage business in Mankato, where since 1904, he has become known and respected for the possession of sterling traits of head and heart. The com- fortable home which he has established is pre- sided over by Mrs. Scherer, formerly Jennie M. Dackins, whom he married January 26, 1896, and who is a daughter of David Dackins of Man- kato. Three children comprise their family, Harold D., Catherine M. and Bessie. The only fraternal organization with which Mr. Scherer holds membership is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His attention has been given to business affairs to the exclusion of politics and fraternities, yet he is interested in all such movements and is regarded as one of the enter- prising business men of his city. 562 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. SCHEEEE, GEOEGB W.— Ko occupation in which manlcind is engaged has a more direct bearing upon the well being of the community than the laundry business. As now conducted in the model enterprises of the land opportunity is afforded for a degree of excellence in work- manship approaching the artistic, as well as for the observance of sanitary laws which of neces- sity are based upon a thorough knowledge of scientific principles. Dealing with an absolute human necessity, the man who complies with latter day demands in this line of work is as- sured of a steady and dependable trade, and is filling a nitch of large and unquestioned useful- ness. It is to this need that George W. Scherer subscribes in his business life, and as owner and proprietor of the Star Steam Laundry, at 120 and 122 Hickory street, is maintaining a stand- ard which places him above the fear of competi- tion in the city of Mankato. The ambition of Mr. Scherer has been many sided and has embraced a variety of occupations, all of them practical and enlarging. His birth occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 37, 1863, that city being the temporary makeshift of his parents, Peter and Amelia (Pfau) Scherer, whd were natives of Ohio, and who, because of the Indian outbreak in Minnesota in 1863, were obliged to flee from New TTlm, Brown county, to a place of safety. Peter Scherer established a mer- cantile business in ISTew IJlm in 1857, and re- mained one of the successful and substantial men of the town up to the time of his death in 1900, at the age of sixty-seven years. Besides George W., who was his second oldest child, he had six others, all of whom are living. George, his mother and brother returned to Few Ulm the spring following the Indian outbreak, and he subsequently attended the local schools, eventu- ally graduating from the Mankato State For- mal school in the class of 1881. Por some time he taught mathematics in the Few Ulm graded schools, and in 1886 established the Mankato Weekly Post, which he conducted for five years. In 1892 Mr. Scherer was elected county super- intendent of schools on the Eepublican ticket, and was re-elected two terms in succession, serv- ing in all six 3^ears. His administration of the educational affairs of the county met with a high degree of approval, and demonstrated the popular trend towards practical and useful education. After serving as superintendent of schools Mr. Scherer conducted an insurance and real-estate business in Mankato and Blue Earth county, and in 1902 bought the Star Steam Laundry, which he since has improved and enlarged to meet a growing demand. The plant is equipped with, modern labor saving machinery, although much of the work if of the higher grade done by hand. The laundry is a well lighted and well ventilated structure, and employes are shown every courtesy and consideration consistent with the proper ful- fillment of their duties. Twenty people are re- quired in the different departments, and addition- al help is added during the extra work of the summer months. The marriage of Mr. Scherer and Minnie Man- derfeld occurred in 1887, and of the union there are three children: Allie, Waldemar and George Jr. Mr. Scherer is socially popular, and is iden- tified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being past grand master in the latter lodge. He also is a member of the Mankato Commercial club. He is a man of keen intelligence, mental grasp and depth, and thoroughly practical and usable ideals. His identification with Mankato has established a many sided claim upon its history and appreciation, and has conserved to its com- mercial, educational and ethical development. SHEEBE, MAFASSEH.— The genealogical records of the Sherer family show that during the early part of the nineteenth century they be- came identified with American history, Solomon Sherer having emigrated at that time from Ger- many to the United States. With his wife, who likewise was born and reared in Germany and who bore the maiden name of Maria Gidding, he settled in Preble county, Ohio, where their son, Manasseh, was born Fovember 4, 1837. Two years later they removed to Indiana and settled near Lafayette, where they remained on a farm for nine years. Following the tide of emigration toward the west they crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, where they took up a tract of raw land and experienced all the hardships BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 563 incident to existence upon the frontier. Eventu- ally the father removed to Missouri, where he (lied December 13, 1902, at a very advanced age. The wife and mother had died December 7, 1858, m.any years before her husband's demise. During the boyhood years of Manasseh Sherer educational privileges were few and schools few in number and inferior in quality. Primarily educated in Indiana, he later attended school in Iowa, and availed himself of every opportunity for increasing his fund of laiowledge. Habits of observation and self-culture have been im- portant factors in his acquisition of a broad fund of information. As early as 1856, he became a pioneer of Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, whither as yet few white men had come. Selecting a quarter section he secured the same by pre-emption and from the raw land he has evolved a farm of whose improv- ments and fertility he has every reason to be proud. In the early period of his residence in this county he suffered from the depredations of the Indians and remembers the excitement they aroused at the time of the ISTew Ulm mass- acre which brought to the pioneers a realization of the imminent peril in which they stood. The trials incident to life in a new coiintry brought the pioneers into the deepest sympathy with one another, and there prevailed among them a spirit of hospitality and fellowship which the higher civilization of the present cannot equal. While following farm pursuits during the summer months Mr. Sherer frequently taught school in the winter, and in this way he earned the means used in the payment of his land. Through all of his active life he has main- tained an interest in political affairs, keeps posted on subjects of national importance and supports the men and measures championed by the Eepublican party. In religious faith he wor- ships with the United Brethren denomination. By his marriage, which occurred January 29, 1854, he was united with Mary Jane Scott, a native of Virginia and a member of an old fam- ily of that commonwealth. Fifteen children were born of their union. Eight daughters and one son are now living, namely: Euanna, who mar- ried W. F. Miller and lives in Cottonwood county, Minnesota; Phoebe, Mrs. P. H. McCarty; Matilda P., who is the wife of Eev. John Gimp- son, now of Gibson City, Illinois; Maria, Mrs. T. C. Trater, residing in San Francisco, Cali- fornia; and S. W., a farmer on the old home- stead; Estella vho married John Addleman; l^ora, Mrs. David E. Davis; May, Mrs. Herbert Gillman; and Edith, Mrs. G. B. Gillman, all residents of Blue Earth county. SCHLESSELMAK, M. D., J. T.— Thor- ough theoretical training in a well-equipped m.edical institution, followed by practical ex- perience gained in hospital work and under skilled surgeons, has qualified Dr. Schlesselman for the successful practice of his profession, and we find him in charge of a large clientele at Good Thunder, where his time and atten- tion are closely given to the labors of a skilled practitioner. Such is his popularity that he has little leisure, especially in those seasons of the year when disease is lurking in its insidious forms among the inhabitants. In the diagnosis of disease and in the treat- ment of intricate eases he has proved skillful and has gained a reputation extending through- out this part of the county. Born in Eejmolds, White county, Indiana, January 21, 1877, Dr. Schlesselman is a son of Eev. Henry and Christine (ISTiedenberger) Schlesselman, natives respectively of Germany and St. Louis, Missouri. During early life the father became a citizen of the United States and entered the ministry of the Lu- theran church, where his self-sacrificing la- bors and consecrated spirit brought him the esteem of parishioners. The son was given such advantages as the common schools and later was sent to the Concordia college at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he took the complete course of study, graduating with the class of 1893. During the autumn of the same year he matriculated in the Cleveland University of ]\redicine and Surgery and remained a student in the institution until the completion of the regular courses of lectures, graduating in 1897 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. The following year he spent as an interne in a hospital at Cleveland, after which he added to 564 BTOGEAPHTCAL HISTORY. his practical professional knowledge through work with skilled physicians. In 1898 enlisted in the hospital corps of the U. S. A. and serv- ed in the 3rd Division Hospital during the Spanish war. The year 1899, found him loca- ted at Good Thunder, Blue Earth county, where he now owns a comfortable residence and has established a permanent: and profitable practice. It was not until some years after he became a resident of Blue Earth county that Dr. Schlesselman established domestic ties. His marriage was solemnized September 3, 1904, and united him with Miss Elsie Darge, daugh- ter of Herman and Amalia (Graf) Darge, early settlers and prosperous farmers of this county. The doctor and his wife are the parents of a son, Harold. In religion thev are identified with the Evangelical Lutheran church, to the maintenance of which "the Doc- tor has been a regular and generous contrib- utor. While devoting his time closely to pro- fessional details, he has not held himself aloof from other matters; on the other hand, he has been in close sympathy with movements for the welfare of the general public and for the upbuilding of the community with whose ii'terests his own life is now closely associated. SCHMIDT, EDWAED.— The fact that ample opportunities are offered to young men by the fine farming lands of Blue Earth county is evinced in the growing prosperity of those who have adopted the occupation of agriculture and settled in this part of Minnesota. The sons of our pioneers are worthily walking in the foot- steps of their progenitors, and while happily they are not forced to undergo the privations common to the previous generation they are proving never- theless to possess traits of self-reliance, energy, thrift and prudence that were notable posses- sions of the pioneer temperament. The farm which he now cultivates was the birthplace of Edward Schmidt and February 6, 1866, the date of his birth. The well improved tract of ninety acres lies on section twenty-six, Lime township, and in its neat and well-kept aspect bears a mute but eloquent testimony to the energy of the owner. As the name indicates, the Schmidt family comes from Germany. Charles Schmidt was bom in Prussia March 11, 1826, and received a fair education in the German schools. During the year 1857, he crossed the ocean to the United States and at once proceeded to the frontier re- gions of the northwestj settling in Blue Earth county, where he made his home until his death, March 7, 1S98. After coming to this country. he married Wilhelmina Eeiche, who was born in Saxony, August 15, 1826, and in 1861 immi- grated to America, proceeding direct to Min- nesota, where on the 5th of July, same year, she became the wife of Mr. Schmidt. Shortly after- ward they took up a tract of unimproved land in Lime township. A dense forest covered the tract and no improvements had been made. Under the judicious labors of Charles Schmidt the place was transformed into one of the best farms in the township, being considered at this writing a desirable homestead and productive property. The widowed mother still remains at the old home with her youngest child, Edward. Her other children are Minnie and Herman, resi- dents of the country. Eeared to a knowledge of agricultural pur- suits, Edward Schmidt always has followed the occupation of farming, and is considered one of the progressive young farmers of the township. His education was secured in the district schools and has been supplemented by extensive reading and habits of close observation. Since leaving school he has maintained a constant interest in educational affairs and. since 1890 he has served as clerk of scliool district ISTb. 45, in which capac- ity he has proved painstaking and efficient. Since attaining his majority he has been a stanch advocate of the Eepublican party and has never failed to cast his ballot for its candidates in the general elections, but personally he has no politi- cal aspirations, preferring to devote his atten- tion exclusively to the details connected with his estate. SCHMIDT, OSCAE W.— Comparatively few of the men in whose hands rest the business enterprises of Mankato are native born citizens of the place where they now reside; among these few mention belongs to Oscar W. Schmidt, who BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 565 was born in this city March 13, 1865, and now conducts one of the substantial induetries of the town. . While yet a boy he learned the trade of a harnessmaker under the skilled supervision of his father, and this occupation he selected for his life work, pursuing the same as a journeyman iu various places, but eventually returning to his native city and associating himself with his father in the conduct of the latter's shop under the firm title of G. Schmidt & Son.' Upon the death of the senior member of the firm the son succeeded to the business, which he has since conducted upon a larger scale than before. To accommodate the growing trade an addition has been erected to the shop at No. 236 South Front street, and saddlery has been added to the mak- ing of harness. Altogether the store is said to be the most complete retail establishment of its kind in the southern part of the state. As early as the year 1854, Gottlieb Schmidt came to the then small hamlet of Mankato. A native of Saxony, Germany, he had learned the ti-ade of harness-maker in early life and was pro- ficient at the calling, being recognized as a skilled workman. After a brief sojourn in Manlcato he proceeded to St. Paul, but soon returned to Blue Earth county and in 1860, took up a claim in Mankato township. As the country began to be settled by permanent residents a need for a harness-maker became apparent and there- upon he resumed work at his trade, beginning upon a very small scale, but gradually increas- ing the business as demands upon his workman- ship grew more numerous. Living the life of a quiet, peaceable citizen; busy workman and genial friend, he passed his years in contented industry, and at the age of seventy, in 1896, was called to his final rest. His widow, who sur- vives him, was Ida Schmidt, a native of Wiscon- sin. Of their two sons. Otto died in 1880, at the age of twelve. Educated in the grammar and high schools of Mankato, Oscar W. Sehmitt, was given the fair ieducational advantages which the increasing prosperity of his father rendered possible. On leaving school he secured employment in the Citizens' National Bank as an office boy and later became collection clerk. Through an ap- prenticeship covering three years he had gained a thorough knowledge of the trade of harness- maker and his knowledge was supplemented by practical work in various towns, after which he located permanently in Mankato in 1888, and since then has devoted his attention to the busi- ness established by his father. Meanwhile he has become interested in other avenues of business and civic activity and is known as a progressive citizen, ready to co-operate with movements for the general welfare. The Citizens' Telephone Company is one of the concerns which he aided ii! organizing and helped to place upon a sub- stantial basis. Other enterprises, including the Standard brewery, have received his practical aid. In 1887, he was united in. marriage with Miss Catherine Manderfeld, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Manderfeld, of Mankato, and they are the parents of one son, Harold W. Active in fraternal organizations, Mr. Schmidt holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both the local lodge and encampment; Eoyal Arcanum, of which he officiated as regent and treasurer for ten years; and Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, in which he has been a trustee for two terms. SCHMITT, HARBISON L.— The senior member of the law firm of H. L. & J. W. Sehmitt, the gentleman whose name heads this article, is s forcible illustration of the value of concen- trated effort in the development of character and the establishment of a high professional repu- tation. A native of Iowa, born at Waverly, Oc- tober 15, 1866, Harrison L. Sehmitt is the son of Rev. John H. and Maria C. (Lipp.) Sehmitt, the former being a Pennsylvania German and the latter a daughter of the Fatlierland. The father was a clergyman of the German Evangelical Asso- ciation and was a pioneer of his calling in the State of Minnesota, faithfully and ably laboring in his holy field until called away by death in February, 1888, at the age of fifty-eight years. I-lis wife and the mother of his seven children (of whom Harrison L. was the second) is still living, a venerable and honored figure of the earlj days. H. L. Sehmitt was educated in the public and high schools of Mankato, graduating from 566 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. the latter in 1888, and afterward having a suc- cessful experience of several years as a teacher in Blue Earth county and elsewhere. Fortunatelj his choice of a profession and his ability to rise in it were, in line, and after a regular course in law he graduated from the Northwestern Uni- versity of Chicago in the class of 1893, earning his degree LL; B. In July of that year he settled in Mankato and his practice has since brought him botli financial rewards, and an honor- able reputation, for straightforward and meritci- ious professional work. In 1900 lie formed a partnership with his youngest brother, John W. Schmitt which now handles much of the im- portant legal business of this section of the country. Both are members of the State Bar Association and have never allowed their ener- gies and abilities to be diverted from, the prose- cution of. the legitimate business connected with tlieir profession. On August 13, 1894, Harrison L. Schmitt was married to Miss Esther M. Grannis, of Man- kato, and they have had four children, Harrison A., Helen K., Pauline A., and an infant daugh- ter. John W. Schmitt, junior partner of the firm of II. L. & J. W. Schmitt, leading attorneys of Mankato, was bom in Paynesville, Minnesota, August 12, ,1875, received his early education in the public schools of Mankato and gradu- ated from the City High school in the class of '96. After teaching in Mankato for a time, in 1898, he entered the University of Minnesota, v/herein he completed the law course as a mem- ber of the class of 1900, entitling him to the degree of .LL. B. Since that year, as stated he has been in partnership with his brother. In April, ]907, was appointed City Attorney of Man- kato, Minnesota and is now acting as such. Mr. Schmitt wa,s married July 22, 1905, to Miss Laura Elizabetli, daughter of Hon. John E. Beatty, of Mankato. SCHULTE, HENEY.— The earliest recollec- tions of Henry Schulte cluster around the pio- neer scenes of Blue Earth county, whither his parents came from Missouri during his infancy, bringing with them no capital except strong hearts and willings hands. The frontier en- vironment was familiar to his childhood years, and he has been an interested participant in the changes wrought in the agricultural domain of the county during the passing years. The only aid which he had upon starting out for himself was the gift from his father of forty acres of wild wood land, the same being given him ia recognition of his self-sacrificing efforts to as- sist his parents during his youth.; from that be- ginning he has evolved his present homestead in lime township. The family record shows that Peter Schulte was born in Prussia in 1817, and came to the United States in 1847, settling near St. Charles, Missouri, where he secured employment at $4 per month and board. Later he was given more satisfactory wages. Some time after his ar- rival he married Clara Eakler, who as a young girl had come from Germany, to America with her parents and had settled near St. Charles. After their marriage they settled on a farm in St. Charles county, where their son, Henry, was born February 17, 1853. From there in Oc- tober of 1853, they removed to Minnesota and took up a tract of raw land in> Lime tovraship, Blue Earth county, where afterward they la- bored arduously in the building up of a produc- tive property. The father died at the old home- stead December 2, 1893, and the mother passed away September 13, 1904, they were the parents of ten children, of whom the following survive: Henry, Frank, George and August; Christena, wife of Nicholas Bruels, of Eenville county, Minnesota; Mary, who married Henry Heinz- man of Blue Earth county; and Elizabeth, who married Frank Hagen, of Eenville county, this state. The eldest member of the family now living is Henry Schulte, who was reared on the homt.' farm in Blue Earth county and always has followed agricultural pursuits in this locality. November 12, 1874, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Borgmeier, who died March l!>, 1879. Of that union four children were born, namely: Theresa M., who is the wife of William Baum- gardner and lives in Eenville county, this state; George P., who makes his home in Lamoure BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 567 ecunty, North Dakota; Eosie M., who married John Pihale, of Mankato; and Joseph, who died in infancy. The second marriage of Mr. Schulte v,as solemnized September 6, 1881, and united him with Mrs. Mary Hilgers, widow of the late Bartholomew Hilgers, and a daughter of Mat- thias and Christina Boemer, pioneers of Blue Earth county. The family came to the United Slates from Germany, where Mrs. Mary Schulte was born April 17, 1852. Four children were born of her union with Mr. Hilgers, namely : Bosie, deceased; Albert, Jacob and Gertrude. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Schulte was blessed with four children, Peter P., Helena M., Leo H. and Wendell J., all of whom are still under the parental roof. The family are identified with the Eoman Catholic church and have a host of friends among the people of their community. For several years Mr. Schulte held office as su- pervisor of Lime township and during that per- iod he favored movements for the benefit of the people here, while at the same time he was ever mindful of the interests of the tax-payers. For five years or more he has served as treasurer of the township. In addition he has been clerk of the school board for nine years and meanwhile has accomplished much to promote the welfare of the schools. ' SCHUMACHEE, GUSTAVE.— Having passed his entire life upon the farm where he now lives Mr. Schumacher is familiar with the pos- sibilities of the soil and understands the meth- ods of treatment which will bring the largest re- turns from the cultivation of the land. Memory carries him back to the environment of child- hood, to the' primitive home, the pioneer sur- roundings, the lack of comforts, the necessity for constant drudgery and the many depriva- tions incident to frontier existence; with those conditions he contracts those of the present day, and realizes that the labor of years has, not been without its reward. Neat buildings bring com- fort to the family, shelter to the stock and ade- quate facilities for the storage of grain. Fences divide the land into fields of convenient size. The heavy growth of timber has been replaced by crops that yearly yield a golden harvest to the careful tiller of the soil. To this farm lying on section twenty-seven. Lime township, came Mathias Schumacher in May of 1854, and here he labored assiduously until his death, which occurred Jilarch 1, 1901. A native of Germany, born April 25, 1826, he came to the United States in early life and settled in the east. October 23, 1852, he was united in marriage with the widow of David Knechler, nee Anna Mary Eberhart. Mrs. Schumacher was born in Germany August 11, 1824, and grew to womanhood in Germany, where November 25, 1845, she became the wife of David Knechler, who died in November of 1850. Three children were born of that union, but all are deceased. June 2, 1851, Mrs. Knechler took passage on a ship bound for the United States and after a tedious voyage of eighty days she landed in New York City, whence she traveled across the country to Buffalo, New York. In that city she married the following year. From there in May of 1854 she accompanied her husband to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and settled on the land out of which was developed a finely improved farm, since her home. During the Civil war Mathias Schumacher of- fered his services to his adopted country, enlist- ing in the Union army November 20, 1862, and remaining at the front until he received an hon- orable discharge, November 28, 1863. Afterward he followed farm pursuits uninterruptedly until his death and since then his widow has remained at the old homestead. They were the parents of seven children. The eldest, Hattie, was born April 25, 1855. Frederick was born September 1, 1856, and died April 15, 1863. Louisa was born June 21, 1858, and died April 8, 1863. Caroline was born March 5, 1860, and died April 27, 1863. Edward was born May 3, 1863; Gus- tavo, July 20, 1866; and Ernst, July 6, 1871. Gustave Schumacher was reared on the home farm and received a common school education. He was married in this county, April 11, 1893, to Mary Hummer, who was born in i>ricollet county, Minnesota, August 15, 1876. Her par- ents, Michael and Theresa (Wagner) Hummer, removed to Blue Earth county about 1882 and at present make their home in Lime township. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher was blessed with two children, namely: Hattie T., born July 568 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 8, 1894; and Ida T., February 24, 1896. The family are respected wherever known and Mr. Schumacher has a reputation among his acquaint- ances as an up-to-date agriculturist. SCHWAN, PEANK EGBERT.— Mr. Schwan is first of all a farmer, and his long and success- ful association with the agricultural and stock- raising interests of the township, entitle him to foremost rank among its thrifty and enlightened upbuilders. Born in Lyra township July 23, 1866, Mr. Schwan is a son of August Schwan, farmers by occupation, and the former of whom was a sol- dier in the Civil war. He was educated in the public schools. June 1, 1892, he was united in marriage to Emma L. Mertesdorf, of Vernon Center, and one child has been born of the union, Juanita Nellie Schwan. SCHWAEZ, JOHN E.— Coming to Blue Earth county with his parents when he was a child of six years, Mr. Schwarz has since been iden- tified with this part of the state. Here he gained his education in the country schools. Here he learned the rudiments of agriculture under the supervision of his father, and upon attaining man's estate here it was that he started out for himself as a member of the farming community. About 1893 he became a resident of Vernon Cen- ter township and settled on the farm he still owns and operates, the tract comprising one hundred and seventy-five acres, all under the plow and improved with substantial buildings erected by the present owner. An adequate sys- tem of fencing adds to the value and the appear- ance of the property, while the crops are aided by thorough ditching. Near the village of Princeton, G-reen Lake coun- ty, Wisconsin, John E. Schwarz was born March 9, 1862, being a son of John and Louise (Jos- ter) Schwarz, natives of Prussia, Germany, and emigrants to Wisconsin during the year 1858. For eight years they remained on a farm in Green Lake county, after which they came to Minnesota and took up a claim in Olmsted coun- ty. The year 1868 witnessed their arrival in Blue Earth county, where they settled on wild land in Ceresco township and took up the task of earning a livelihood from the untried soil. Many hardships awaited their patient efEorts. By degrees the land was brought under cultivation and willing hands aided in gleaning the goodly harvests. There were ten children in the family, John E., being the third in order of birth. It was impossible to give the children many advan- tages, but they were sent to the district schools during the winter months and by careful home training were prepared for the responsibilities of the work a day world. The father died in 1892, and is survived by his wife, who makes her home in Amboy at this writing. The marriage of John E. Schwarz took place in 1894 and united him with Mary Boeck, daugh- ter of Charles and Anna (Weinkopf) Boeck. The parents were born and reared in Prussia and came to the United States at the same time with the Schwarz family. For twenty years or more Mr. Boeck followed the trade of a blacksmith at Pleasant Mound and he still lives in an ad- joining township, but is now practically retired from business cares. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Schwarz are identified with the Lutheran church and in that faith they are rearing their four chil- dren, Lena, Herbert, Celia and Ella. The home farm is utilized for the raising of such crops as are suited to the soil and climate, and excellent results have attended the efEorts of Mr. Schwarz in general farming. Stock-raising forms a no- ticeable feature of his work, and he makes a specialty of Poland- China hogs and a good grade of cattle. In politics he always gives his ballot to the Eepublican party and has been interested in local affairs, although never displaying any trace of partisanship in his opinions. For four years he served as a member of the town board and at this writing he holds the office of assessor of Vernon Center township. SCHWEITZEE, JOHN.— The passing years have brought their eventful changes in Blue Earth county since Mr. Schweitzer came hither from the old world. Hamlets have developed into villages of fair size, farms have been im- proved, emigration has been attracted by reason BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 569 of low prices of land and the fertile soil^ and the early settlers have shared in the general and ris- ing prosperity. It was the good fortune of Mr. Schweitzer to arrive in the county at a time when conditions were ripe for investment and he was thus enabled to place- his small capital in a judi- cious manner. For success he was further equip- ped with an excellent German education and a fair knowledge of business methods. Aided by these qualifications he has risen to a position of importance in Mapleton and has become a prop- erty owner, dealer in real estate and prominent business man. No member of the Schweitzer family excepting John ever came to the United States and he was twenty-six years of age when, in 1873, he bade farewell to friends and relatives in his native Prussia and turned his face toward the setting sun. After landing in Kew York he proceeded direct to Minnesota and settled in Mapleton, which remains his home at the present time. Soon after his arrival he secured employment in a drug store. In a short time he purchased the business, which he has conducted ever since and which is the only store of its kind in the village. A number of times there have been drug stores started in the town, but each was compelled to close out in a short time, for the business had been practically absorbed by Mr. Schweitzer ■ and his patrons invariably remained loyal to him. The substantial building occupied by his stock of goods is owned by himself and in addition he owns the postoflEice building and has other town property, the same representing a valuation of considerable importance. When Mr. Schweitzer came to the United States he was a single man, but soon he estab- lished a home of his own. October 17, 1876, he married Eose Pagenkopf, a daughter of Charles Pagenkopt, who came to America from Germany in young manhood and settled on a farm in Wis- consin. Several years later he bought a farm in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, near Mapleton, remaining there until his death. The family name of his wife was Kleinholt. Six children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Schweitzer: Charles, who married Ada Sever- son; Theo, who is employed as a drug clerk at Dickinson, North Dakota; Flora, who married Edward Ulrich, proprietor of a general store at Good Thunder, Blue Earth county; Peter, who married Cora Schimmele; Julia, wife of William Ulrich; and Kosalia. No one appreciates the value of a good education more than does Mr. Schweitzer and he endeavored to give his chil- dren the best advantages his means rendered possible, so that they might be qualified for the responsibilities of life. His interest in educa- tional matters led him to fill the office of school director for fifteen years. For a long period he also served as a member of the village board. Since becoming a citizen of the United States he has voted with the Democratic party believing thoroughly in the principles for \\-hich it stands. Fraternally he holds membership with the Yeo- men. Movements for the benefit of the village receive his stanch support and he always has been found on the side of projects calculated to pro- mote the general welfare. SELLERS, C. L.— The development of elec- tricity from a scientific as well as a business standpoint has opened up for young men fields of activity unknown to former generations and among those to avail themselves of this oppor- tunity thus presented we mention the name of C. L. Sellers, who since 1898, has filled the posi- tion of city electrician of Mapleton. While he lacked the advantages of technical training and did not enjoy collegiate advantages during his jouth, he possessed native ability and by un- aided efforts acquired a knowledge of electricity superior to that secured by many men of fine educations but lesser natural gifts. To him elec- ti'icity always has presented a fascinating as- pect. Its mysteries have attracted him and its problems have aroused his keenest interest. The entire life of Mr. Sellers has been passed in Blue Earth county, where he was born No- vember 4, 1868, being a son of William A. and Sarah (Gammon) Sellers. The father was born in Nova Scotia in 1831, and in early life became familiar with the stern and rock-bound coast of his native peninsula. Its opportunities for earn- ing a livelihood were so meagre that he was led to migrate to the United States. For some years he made his home in Chippewa county, Wiscon- 570 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. sin, and during a part of his time there he en- gaged in conducting a hotel. During the year 18G8 he brought his family to Blue Earth county, iJinnesota and took up a tract of raw land in Decoria township, where for years he led the quiet, busy and frugal life of the pioneer farmer. Upon retiring from farm cares he removed to liapleton in 1901, and in this village he passed away in 1904, two years after the demise of his wife. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are yet living. Upon completing the studies of the common schools C. L. Sellers took a course in the Man- kato Business College and there gained a thor- ough knowledge of commercial bookkeeping. Aft- erward he engaged in farming in Beauford town- sJiip, Blue Earth county, and he still owns an interest in a farm in Decoria township, but as previously stated for ten years he has given his attention especially to electrical work. In 1900, he was united in marriage with Miss Stella Bowen, daughter of Leroy and Marion (Gilbert) Bowen, natives of New York state, but pioneers 01 Blue Earth county, where they still make their home in Decoria township. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sellers are as follows: Lyle, Lorena and Burnell. Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Sellers has. given his ballot to the candidates and principles of the Eepublican party and has been an enthusiastic supporter of the same. Formerly he was a member of the town board of Beauford township and since mov- ing into Mapleton he has served as a member of the town council. Various fraternities have received his allegiance, among these being Ma- pleton Lodge No. 128, A. P. & A. M., also the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeoman and the Mutual Benefit Association. SEPPMAN, LOUIS.— The changes that one- half century has wrought in the appearance of Blue Earth county are brought vividly to the mind of Mr. Seppman as he recalls conditions during the '50s when he arrived in Minnesota in search of a location. Few white men as yet had cast their lots with the earliest settlers scat- tered through the forests or dispersed upon the unbroken prairies. On every hand primeval nature was unadorned by arts or handiwork of man. The bleak winds of winter blew over a region whose habitations were few and whose future prosperity only an optimist could discern. Indians roamed through the trackless woods and appaled the "pale-face" by their dances of death. Erom that condition to the environment of the twentieth century there is a startling transforma- tion, attributable to the steady courage and per- sistent efforts of the honored pioneers. Westphalia, Germany, is the native province of Louis Seppman, and October 31, 1835, the date of his birth. His father, Henry, who was a stone-mason by trade, died in Germany, in 1880 while the mother, Elizabeth, still makes her home in that country, where her ancestors had lived and labored as far back as the records- can be traced. At an early age Louis Seppman re- solved to seek a livelihood in America, and with this purpose in view he set sail for the new world in the fall of 1852, arriving in New York City on New Year's day of 1853. Prior to emigra- tion he had learned the trade of a stone mason and this occupation he followed for three years in Pennsylvania. Leaving the east he sought a home in Minnesota and arrived in Blue Earth county May 1, 1857. It was possible for him to secure immediate employment at his trade and thus be earned a fair livelihood from the first. With the savings of years of assiduous effort he invested in land, acquiring a farm of fou^; hundred and fifteen acres, and since then he has engaged in agricultural pursuits. His farm lies on section eighteen of South Bend township, and is located on the rural route No. three, from Lake Crystal. In an early day he built a circu- lar stone mill, which was one of the first flour mills in Blue Earth county and brought the trade of farmers from a distance of thirty miles. In national politics Mr. Seppman votes with the Democratic party; in county affairs he sup- ports the men whom he considers best qualified for official responsibilities. For a considerable period he served as township assessor and for eight years was honored with the chairmanship of the board. Eeared in the faith of the Ger- man Lutheran denomination he always has given his allegiance to its doctrines and has maintained a deep interest in religious activites. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 5V1 For some time after coming to Blue Earth county he remained a bachelor, but eventually established domestic ties,'^ being united July 5, 1866, with Augusta Miller, a native of Pommern, Germany, but from girlhood a resident of Minnesota. Thir- teen children were born of their union, and nine ol these are still living, namely : Herman, who if- engaged in farming at the old homestead; Henry, a farmer of Blue Earth county; Anna, who is married and lives on a farm in this county; Mary, Mrs. John LeDuc; Charles and Albert, who follow agricultural pursuits in this county; Clara and Emma who reside with their parents; and Alfred, who also remains at home. SEVEESON, OLE T.— The native sons of Norway contribute very materially to the agri- cultural success of Blue Earth county, and their farms invariably reflect the order, thrift and in- dustry which lies at the foundation of the Scan- dinavian commonwealth. No people adapt them- selves more readily to the radical changes en- countered on this side of the water, or develop greater patriotism and public spiritedness. Ole T. Severson spent the first twelve years of his life among the splendid mountains of Norway, where he was born May 6, 1844, and he was one of the six children of Severt and Anna Bertha (Hoverson) Severson, to embark with their par- ents in a sailing vessel during the summer of 1858, and after about six weeks of storm and calm arrived in New York harbor, whence they came to Vernon county, Wisconsin. Here the older Severson bought a farm, where his wife died in 1866, and where he himself died in 1890, having made this his home for thirty-eight years. Educated in the public schools of Norway and Wisconsin, Ole T. Severson followed the family fortunes until 1872, when he came to Blue Earth county, settling on the farm which now is his home. Erom a crude and uncultivated state he has developed it into a fine and paying prop- ei'ty, containing one hundred and ninety-four acres, and practically all of it under cultivation. He raises general produce and stock, and has a comfortable residence, and well constructed barns. His fences and place generally is kept in good repair, and he is painstakingly mindful of details, an essential of successful farming. As encouragement in his upward struggle Mr. Severson married Tawnete Sofie Nelson on March 24, IS'iO, and has an interesting family, a part of which is self supporting and remote from the family roof, while his two 3'oungest children, Carrie and Oscar, are still at home. His older children, Albert and Joseph, have business inter- ests of their own, the former being a general merchant, in Fairfax, South Dakota, and the latter a farmer in Minnesota. Mr. Severson is a Republican in national politics, and locally votes for the best man. In religion he is a Lutheran. His experience has included service in the Civil war as a soldier in Company B, Fiftieth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry. SHONTS, WILLIAM H.— Industry and in- tegrity are the corner-stones of individual ana national success and prosperity. Without them they labor in vain who strive for honor among men and the esteem of associates. With their aid the humblest will become respected in the circle where chance or destiny has placed him. Among those fl'ho, solely through energy and integrity, lia\e risen to positions of esteem in neighborhood circles we mention the name of William H. Shouts, who has been a resident of Blue Earth county from early childhood and has become familiar with the soil, climate and possibilities of the region. General farming is his chosen work and his specialties are Poland- China hogs, Norman horses and shorthorn cat- tle. The lineage of the Shonts family is traced tu England where Joshua Shonts was born and reared, and where he married a descendant of Welsh ancestry. On coming to America they became interested in farm pursuits. During the '50s they settled in Wisconsin, where they re- mained for seven years, coming to Minnesota in 1863, and spending six months in Vernon township. Blue Earth county. Meanwhile they had purchased a farm in Shelby township and thither they moved, remaining there until 1876, when the property was sold. The next purchase comprised an unimproved tract on section seven, Pleasant Mound township, where Mr. Shonts remained until his death, January 15, 1901. 572 BIOGKAPHICAL HISTORY. .For almost forty years he lived in Blue Earth county and his friends here were as numerous as his acquaintances. William H. Shonts was born in Baltimore, i\[aryland, April 5, 1851, and spent the days of childhood in Baltimore, ^\aEconsin, and lUinnesota. After the death of his father he con- tinued on the homestead where now he has a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, -with five acres of timber. During the year 1877 he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Phillips, v.'ho was born in Canada., but at an early age came to Minnesota, her father becoming a re- spected citizen and prominent farmer of Blue Earth county, where he continued to reside until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Shonts attend the Chris- tian church and are in hearty accord with all movements for the uplifting of humanity. Es- pecially are they in sympathy with measures for the growth of their own community and the development of its large resources. Of their children one died in infancy and another, Percy, at the age of nine years. The eldest son, George, is now employed in Minneapolis. The other sons are at home and are named as follows : Lewis, Bert, Eoy, Frank and Charles. SMITH, BENJAMIK D.— Ever since the ter- ritorial days of Minnesota the Smith family has bten identified with its history and develop- ment. The first of the family to seek a home in what then was considered the far Northwest, was Colonel Benjamin P. Smith who came from Ohio, and thenceforward contributed by personal self-sacrifice to the growth of his new home. The next generation was represented by John S. Smith, a native of Ohio, who died in Mankato March 5, 1906, at the age of seventy-one years. Coming to this state prior to its admission into the Union, he and his wife Mary P. (Dayton) Smith, were making their home at Vernon Cen- ter, Blue Earth county at the time of the Sioux Indian outbreak in 1862, and the danger became too great that they, with the other settlers, fled from the vicinity to Owatonna, this state. They then removed to Martinsburg, Ohio, returning four years later to Minnesota. During the residence of John S. and Mary Smith at Vernon Center their son, Benjamin D., was born May 27, 1860, and he was two years old when the family returned to Ohio. Coming to Blue Earth county in 1866, they lived in the village of Garden City four years, then com- menced farming in Eapidan. He was sent to the common schools, and in 1880, graduated from the Mankato State Normal school. In early manhood' he himself engaged in school teaching, then devoted himself to the study of law, being admitted to the bar of Minnesota in December, 1883 at Mankato, where since he has made his home. While engaged in a general practice of law, in 1886, he was elected county attorney of Blue Earth county, and re-elected two years later, filling -the responsible office with recog- nized ability. For years he has been a leading local worker in the Eepublican party, of whose county committee he has been chairman, and from 1892 until 1894, he was a member of the state central committee, having served also as a member of the state executive committee of Eepublican clubs. In his marriage, which occurred September 15, 1892, Mr. Smith was united with Alice W. Ayres, of Oakham, Massachusetts. They are the par- ents of two children, namely: Winfield Ayres, bom October 19, 1893; and Minnie Francisca, September 4, 1895. The Commercial Club of Mankato has the name of Mr. Smith on its membership roll. Interested in fraternities, he long has been one of the most prominent mem- bers of the Modem Woodmen of America and- has officiated as chairman of the beneficiary commit- tee of the Supreme Court of the Eoyal Neigh- bors of America, in addition to which he has for many years been affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of . United Workmen. Any mention of Mr. Smith would be incom- plete without reference to his association with the Modern Woodmen of America. In September, 1888, he became a charter member of Blue Earth Camp No. 730, in which he served for three terms as first venerable counsel. In 1888, he was elected delegate to the Des Moines head camp. Two years later he attended a special meeting of the BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 573 head camp in the same city, and was a mem- bei of the committee of three from each state by whom the resolutions there adopted were drawn. During 1890, he served as a delegate to the Springfield session of the head camp; later was delegate-at-large for Minnesota to the Oma- ha head camp; delegate-at-large for this state at the Madison head camp, where he was chosen head adviser; (the office corresponding to vice- president) and in July of 1895, was appointed a member of the board of directors of the Head Camp to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of J. G. Johnson, to become general attor- ney. At the Dubuque head camp he was again chosen a director, later re-elected at Kansas City in 1899, and at St. Paul, in 1901. In July 1903, he was honored with the office of general attorney, in which responsible and influential position he since has rendered services charac- terized by a profound knowledge of the law, keen sagacity, unerring tact and wise discrimination. SMITH, CHAELES H.— The natives of Pennsylvania have constituted a very consider- able part of the agricultural timber of Blue Earth county since the foundation of its written his- tory, and to no class of men does the prosperity of the present more definitely point. Eepre- sentative of the Quaker state recruits is Charles H. Smith, the owner of a farm in this county, and member of a family known in the pioneer annals of both Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Mr. Smith is one of the ten children of Charles and Elizabeth (Smyth) Smith, natives of Ireland, and who came to the United States in a sailing vessel in 1843. Settling in eastern Pennsyl- vania, the elder Smith engaged in farming and also worked in an iron foundry, and during his eight year's sojourn in the state his son, Charles H., was born in 1853. Impelled by the promise of the northwest, Mr. Smith brought his family to Milwaukee, and a year later settled on a farm twenty miles out in the country. Upon coming to Blue Earth county in the early day, he bought the farm which since has remained in the posses- sion of his son, Charles H. The father died in this county June 10, 1898, and his wife survived him until March 23, 1892. He was a Demo- crat in political faith, and in religion was a Eoman Catholic. Charles H. Smith was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin, and is a farmer by both training and inclination. He has a fine place, devoted to general farming and stock, and which nets him a comfortable annual income. In 1891 he renounced bachelorhood and married Maria T. Dooley, a native of Wisconsin, and whose father, a native born Irishman, hale and hearty, and eight-eight years young, lives with her on the Smith farm. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two children, Eaymond, aged fourteen years, and Margaret aged thirteen years. Mr. Smith follows in the political and religious foot- . steps of his father, and in all ways is a desirable and helpful citizen and farmer. SMITH, WALTEE WYMAN.— -The greatest praise is merited by those men who, working their way up from poverty and obscurity, without means to aid in the securing of an education and without the prestige of influential friends, nevertheless have risen to positions of influence in their communities and have won a large de- gree of success in spite of hardships to be over- come and obstacles to be surmounted. While still a young man, with the future and all of its possibilities before him, Walter Wyman Smith already has gained a degree of success by no means to be regarded as insignificant. The familv from which he descended has been honored i') New Endand ever since the colonial period of our country's history, but they had little of this world's goods and it was necessary for him to put forth the most strenuous exertions in order to obtain for himself the education which he desired. That he was successful in his efforts i' evidenced hv his high standinc; as an attorney ill Mankato where he has ensaged in practice ever since the close of his university studies. Born at Trempealeau, Wisconsin, January 4, 18G9, Walter Wyman Smith was next to the eldest among eight children, five of whom are still living-. His parents, Eben C. and Emily C. (Wyman) Smith, natives of Vermont. The latter moved with her parents to Wisconsin in 1853, and the former moved to' Hillsboro, Wis- 574 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. consin in 1866 where he taught school. During his residence in the west he made a tour of in- spection through several states, looking for a school and a favorable place to settle. With that object in view he walked from Eochester to Xew Ulm, Minnesota, and later proceeded to Cameron, Missouri, but the results were not fa- vorable, and at the time of the great Chicago fire he returned to Vermont, settled on a farm, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. His death occurred in that state at sixty-four years of age, and his widow is still living in the old home neighborhood. After having completed the studies of district school, Walter Wyman Smith entered St. Johns- bury academy, from which he was graduated in 1889. Later he became a student in Dart- mouth college and completed the classical course in that famous old institution with the class of 1893. Immediately after his graduation he sought a home in the west. In the fall of 1893, he began to teach school in Minnesota. For two years he served as principle of the high school at Slayton, Murray county, and for one year he held the principalship of the Melrose high school. With the money earned through teaching he was enabled to pay his expenses in the University of Minnesota, where he took the regular law course, graduating with the class of 1900. While in that institution he was a member of the Kent literary society, and at Dartmouth he was a member of the fraternity. Phi Delta Theta. Upon graduating from the University of Minne- sota law school was admitted to practice his pro- fession, on motion of Dean Pattce, and he at once came to Mankato and formed a partnership with Jay H. Long under the firm title of Long & Smith. One year later the partnership was dis- solved and since then he has practiced alone, having his office at present in the new ISTational Citizens' bank building. The marriage of Mr. Smith occurred June 20, 1905, and united him with Kithrj-n A. Sav- age, daughter of J. T, Savage of Larrabee, Icwa. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Smith fol- lowed the teacher's profession with gratifying success. Through her mother she traces her an- cestry to Chief-Justice Chase and President Madison. In religion both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are identified with the First Congregational church of Mankato, in which he has held the oSice of treasurer for five years and to which he has contributed as his means permitted. Num- erous fraternal organizations have his name en- rolled as a member, among them being the Modern Woodmen of America and the Modern Brotherhood of America, in which latter or- ganization he has been an office-holder. It has been his custom at national elections to vote the Eepublican ticket, but his sympathies have been with the Prohibition movement and he fa- vors plans looking toward the abolition of the indiscriminate sale of intoxicants. In all mat- ters calculated to promote the prosperity of his town and the welfare of his state he maintains an earnest interest and to such he gives his firm support. SNOW, JOHN E.— Of late years photogi-aphy has lifted from the mechanical, into the fine arts, for, although the primary processes are chemical and scientific, and depend for their performance upon mechanical means, modern photography dif- fers from that of the earlier days in that artis- tic taste, and even genius, has stamped it as a fertile field for the display of originality of a high order. The successful conduct of a business in this line also calls for adaptability, unfailing courtesy and enterprise; so that the field is well calculated to invite men and women of culture and strong character. John E. Snow of Mankato, has made a sub- stantial place for himself in this artistic business, his fine taste and business judgment having brought him a profitable patronage among the educated and cultured people of the city. He is a Canadian, bom August 15, 1868, in the pro- vince of New Brunswick, and is the son of Eufus and Caroline (Nevers) Snow. His par- ents, who were also natives of the province men- tioned, passed over the line into Maine, thence to Wisconsin in 1883, and subsequently resided in Creorgia and Tennessee. Most of his father's life has been devoted to the work of the minis- try, but the later years in Tennessee have been given to agricultural pursuits. Four children have been born into the family: Horace H., who BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Dl.^ ii a resident of Areola, Illinois, Hannah, widow of Daniel Chamberlain, of Menominee, Wiscon- sin; John E. ; and Carrie, deceased, formerly the ■wife of William Norris. Mr. Snow received not only a thorough train- ing in the public schools, but pursued courses in the State Normal and Business College of Dixon, Illinois. His first practical experience in the working world was as assistant superintendent of a lumber company in Northern Wisconsin, his identification with photography commencing in 1885, when he associated himself with his bro- ther, H. H., at Zumbrota, Minnesota. Follojv- ing his profession, he then traveled for a time tlirough Illinois and Kentucky, and in the fol- lowing year was employed by his brother in the management of a gallery at Fort Dodge, Iowa. After being thus engaged for three years, he reiurned to Zumbrota, later locating in Mankato and buying the gallery of S. E. Blake. With the rapid increase of his business, Mr. Snow was obliged to increase his accommodations, and re- moved to his present spacious and finely ap- pointed parlors at No. 313 South Front street. He was president for two years of the North- western Photographers' Association. Mr. Snow is widely known both because of his prominence as a photographer and on account cf his leadership in several of the fraternities. He has filled all the chairs in the order, Modern Woodmen of America, was State President of the Equitable Fraternal Union and is an active member of the United Order of Foresters, B. P. 0. E., and E. A. lodges. His marriage to Miss Margaret Hower, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, occurred February 13, 1893, and they have one child, Cecil J., born May 27th, 1893. SOWERS, THEODORE.— This honored pio- neer of Blue Earth county came to Mankato as early as the year 1855, and for some time followed the trade of a carpenter in the then small village. After five years he relin- quished work at his trade in order that he might take up a claim and begin the im- provement of a farm. Ever since 1860, he has made his home on the same land in Ver- non Center township. Meanwhile he has wit- nessed many changes. The surrounding coun- try has been brought under cultivation, new modes of farming have been adopted, labor-sav- ing machinery has been introduced, hamlets Iiave grown into prosperous towns, and farm- ers have enjoyed a share of the general suc- cess. Born in Fayette count]', Pennsylvania, May 13, 1838, Theodore Sowers is a son of Wil- liam A. and Sarah (Stein) Sowers, also na- tives of the Keystone state. The father was born at Germantown, in 1801, and after gi owing to manhood he engaged in the busi- ness of buying and selling horses, also con- ducted general farm pursuits, and bought and sold sheep, driving his flocks from Washing- ton and Fayette counties to the eastern part of Pennsylvania, where they readily sold at fair prices. During 1841, he removed further v.est with his family and took up timber land in Miami county, Indiana, where he developed a tract of two hundred and forty acres. In Miami county he remained until his death, which occurred in 1885. His wife had passed away one year after the removal of the family to Indiana. After having assisted his father on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, T];eodore Sowers started out to earn his own Avay in the world and for fourteen years he cDgaged in carpentering in Wabash county, Indiana. From there he came to Minnesota, in 1855, and secured work as a carpenter in Mankato, but five years later he came to Ver- non Center townsliip, where by industry and unremitting application he has become the owner of two huntlred and eighty acres of land, all under cultivation, divided by sub- stantial fences into fields of convenient size, drained by means of a thorough system of ditching, and improved with good buildings, including a substantial house erected in 1890. All of the property has been secured by tlie owner's untiring efforts. The marriage of Mr. Sowers was solemnized in 1859, and united him with Margaret Schu- ler, daughter of Robert Schuler, a native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and a pioneer of 1837, in Wabash county, Indiana. With his 576 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. viie and family he settled on a tract of raw land in Wabasli county, where he took up the ttisk of improving a farm and earning a liveli- hood on the frontier. Later, when driving back to his old Pennsylvania home, he was killed by a runaway horse. By precept and example Mr. Sowers has given his influence to the cause of prohibition, and in religion he has been an exemplary member of the Presbyterian church, giving to its missionary enterprises and aiding other worthy movements as his means permit. Of his marriage five children were born, namely: Adra, who mar- ried John P. Kendall, a farmer in an adjoin- ing county; William A., who operates and lives on land adjoining the old family homestead; EfEie, deceased; Madge, who married Eev. T. Ross Paden, a minister of the Presbyterian denomination, now residing at Allegheny, Pennsylvania; and Robert, who married Mamie Townsend and makes his home on a farm ad- joining the property owned by his father. SPAULDIIsrG, CHARLES GUY.— Were a stranger to inquire concerning the prominent men of the village of Mapleton, at the head of the list would appear the name of Mr. Spaulding, who has been identified with the history of the place through a long period of years and in ad- dition to building up extensive business interests has been the incumbent of many offices of trust and responsibility. The position lie now holds, that of postmaster came to him by appointment under the McKinley administration in 1901, and in 1905 he was again appointed to the office under President Roosevelt. The appointment is a fitting recognition of his constant and valuable services in the interests of the Republican party, whose principles he has upheld and whose lo- cal success he has fostered by his fine business ability and wise judgment. Of eastern birth and parentage, Mr. Spauld- ing was born in Lancaster, Coos county, ISTew Hampshire, October 6, 1836, being a son of Sam- uel F. and Luev M. (Cole) Spaulding, natives re- spectively of New York and ISTew Hampshire. The paternal grandfather, Phineas Spaulding, was a native of Massachusetts and traced his lineage to old colonial stock. The years of active life were spent by Samuel F. Spaulding in Few Hampshire, where he accumulated a com- petency. During 1870, he removed to Iowa, pur- chased farm lands, and superintended his proper- ty, although practically living in retirement. Af- ter his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-one, his wido-w remained in Iowa, where she passed away at the age 'of ninety-three years. Of her ten children six are still living, the sixth in order of birth being Charles Guy, of Maple- ton, who received his education in E"ew Hamp- shire schools and started out in the world for himself at the age of twenty-three. For eighteen months he remained in Illinois. During the spring of 1863 he went to Minneapolis, and two and one-half years later he removed to Faribault county, Minnesota. Coming to Mapleton in 1874, Mr. Spaulding immediately -erected the first elevator in the vil- lage and bought the first load of grain ever sold here. The original building still stands, a sub- stantial structure notwithstanding its long use. During 1896, he erected a second elevator with a capacity of twenty thousand bushels, but this he has rented to other parties since 1904. During the long period that he engasjed in the buying of grain, he formed many warm friendships with farmers of the township, who found him to be re- liable, accurate and painstaking. The building of the elevator brought many people to town with their grain and thus increased the trade generally, so that he proved of the utmost assist- ance in the early commercial development of the place. The biiying of grain by no means rep- resented the limit of his activities. The creamery business while still in its infancy found in him an enthusiastic advocate. As early as 1885, he built the first creamery in Blue Earth county, there being: at the time only three other cream- eries in this section of the state. The creamery was located at Mapleton and for nine yoar« he gave it his personal supervision as manager. Along another line he proved helpful to the early de- velopment of Mapleton, and that was through the establishment of what was practically the first implement store in the town. In this business he continues to the present time, having a large warehouse near the depot, and representing for BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 577 the past twenty years the International Harvester Company in the sale of their binders, reapers, mowers and rakes. During Augaist, of ISTS, ilr. Spaulding was united in marriage with DL4ight E. Berry, a na- tive of Wisconsin, and a daughter of J. S. and Mary E. Berry. Their children are Marietta E., Charles G., Lncia E„ E. C, and Arthur M. It is worthy of mention that for forty 3'ears Mr. Spaulding has been a member of the school board. Ten years of this service \\-as in Grapeland dis- trict and, thirty years in ^fapleton, where for fif- teen years he officiated as president of the board. His association with tlie scliools has been produc- tive of an advancement in the standard of educa- tion, the introduction of improved text-books, the transforming of bare school rooms into attractive aj;d comfortably furnished houses, and the rais- ing of the standard of scholarship set for teach- ers and student. During the service of ilr. spaulding as mayor of ]\lapleton for some five terms he proved a capable executive and the coun- cil also had the benefit of his impartial judg- ment for ten years. In addition he was twice honored by election to the Minnesota state legislature, where he served in 1883-84 and 1885-86. During this time he was the author of the first dairy and food law enacted in the state and also aided in the passage of other important bills. Attending- all of the county conventions of the Eepublican party, he fre- quently has been chosen cliairman of such meet- ings, also has been chairman of the loral commit- tee and has been present at numerous state conventions of the partv. Tlie only fraternal or- ganization with which he has ideiilified himself is the Masonic order, in which he became a char- ter member of the blue lodae at IMapleton and since then has been active in upholding and ex- emplifying the lofty principles of brotherhood and philanthropy for whicli the order stands. SPECK, EOBEET.— Noticeable among the large farms of Blue Earth county is the tract in Lyra township that is owned and operated by Eobert Speck, who has resided upon the place ever since 1873, and meanwhile has brought the land under cultivation, maintained the fer- tility of the soil by a careful rotation of crops, added to his holdings from time to time and put up buildings as needed and desired. As a result of his unaided exertions he now owns three hundred and ninety-six acres in one body. Of this large homestead three hundred acres are under the plow, the balance* being utilized for the pasturage of the shorthorn cat- tle and Poland-China hogs kept on the farm. A special feature of the place is the dairy in- dustry, the returns from which form a valu- able addition to the owner's annual income. Born in Germany, August 29, 1855, Eobert Speck is a son of Henry and Sophia (Peale) Speck, the former still living in Germany, and the latter deceased in that country. There were seven children in the family, namely: Max, Eichard, Robert, (Henry deceased) , Ida (deceased), Betty and Margaret. Pour of the survivors remain in Germany, Eobert having been the only member of the family to seek a home in the new world. It was in 1871 that he crossed the ocean and immediately after landing he proceeded to Minnesota, where he spent two years in Nicollet county, coming from there in 1873, to Blue Earth county and settling on the farm he now owns. The marriage of Eobert Speck, in 1881, united him with Miss Amelia Peale, daughter of Charles and Fredericka Peale, natives of Prussia, but pioneers of Blue Earth county, Siiimesota, and for years active farmers of this region. ^Irs. Peale is deceased, but Mr. Peale is still living and makes his home in this county. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Speck consists of two sons, Paul and Hammond, both at home. Parents and sons attend the Luth- eran church and maintain n warm interest in its missionary enterprises. Politically Islr. Speck has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and on that ticket was elected to mem- bership on the town board, where he rendered efficient service. SPEAGUE, WESLEY D.— Tlie pro.rronitors of the Sprague family in Amei'ica were three l)rothers who crossed the ocean during the colon- ial period of our country's history, and thence- 578 BIOGEArmCAL HISTOEY. forward labored to promote the development of the primeval vs^ilderness. From ISTew England tliev followed the tide of emigration toward the west. H. S., son of Briar Sprague, was born in Essex county, New York, and remained there until death, meanwhile following the lumber busi- ness and agricultural pursuits. His marriage united him with Lenora, daughter of Captain Elisha Stanton, a captain in the war of 1812, and a participant in the memorable battle of Platts- burg. The genealogy of the Stanton family in this country extends back to the colonial epoch. The family of H. S. Sprague consisted of seven sons and five daughters of whom seven are now (1907) living. The eighth child was Wesley D., born at Moriah, Essex county, New York, Febru- ary 13, 1844, and reared at the old homestead in the Adriondack region. Nothing of moment occurred in his early life until the outbreak of the Civil war, v/hen the hitherto peaceful current of his days was brought to an end. October 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Ninety-Sixth New York Infantry, under Colonel James Frair- man, and was mustered into service at Platts- burg. New York. From there the men were sent further south to serve under General McClellan. Their first sight of actual warfare was at York- town and Williamsburg, after which they were participants in the battles of Fair Oaks, Long Bridge Jones' Ford, Malvern Hill, Charles City Cross-roads, Blackwater, Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsborough, Swift Creek, Little Wa.shington, Foster's Mills, Gardner's Bridge, Petersburg, Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Fort Harrison, Fair Oaks, and the campaign resulting in the fall of Eichmond. On enlisting in the Union army ]\[r. Sprague had entered for three 3"ears or until the close of the war. In December of 1863, he was dis- charged by reason of his re-enlistment as a veteran volunteer. July 1, 1864, he was promoted to be a corporal, and July 10, 1865, he received a further promotion, being commissioned Sergeant. During November of the same year he was com- missioned quartermaster sergeant of the regiment and continued in that capacity until he received an honorable discharge February 6, 1866, after a service of four years and four months. Dur- ing that long period he was incapacitated for ser- vice owing to sickness in 1862, about ten weeks, after which he was continually with his regiment. At the time of his enlistment he was seventeen, a year younger than the age stipulated. At the time of his re-enlistment the papers describe him as twenty years of age, five feet, eleven and one-half inches in height, with fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair; and by occupation a farm- er. It might also have been stated that he was broad of shoulder, full of chest, strong in limb and firm of jaw. In the battle of Fort Harrison, September 28, 1864, there were one hundred and sixty-seven men who made the charge on the fort. Of these one hundred and thirty-seven were killed or re- moved wounded from the field. Colonel Stephen JMoffitt of the regiment said of sergeant Sprague: "He was a good soldier, always ready to do his duty. On one occasion when several color bearers were shot down. Sergeant Sprague sprang forward and voluntarily took the colors and served in that capacity for one year, or until he was promoted." Ever since the close of the war Mr. Sprague has maintained the warmest in- terest in army affairs and has been active in the Grand Army of the Eepublic. It has been his custom, whenever possible to attend the na- tional encampment and renew his associations with the few remaining members of his com- pany. r'pon the close of his term of service in the army Mr. Sprague returned to Essex county. New York, and remained there until March of 1870. At tliat time he removed to Minnesota and settled near Mapleton, Blue Earth county, where, he engaged in farming continuously until 1903, and then sold his farm, moving into the village of Mapleton, where he resides in prac- tical retirement. His modern residence with its pleasant surroundings forms a comfortable and attracj:ive home, but his children have mostly scattered to other points and are filling places of usefulness in the world. For many years he has been blessed by the companionship of an estimable wife, to whose helpful spirit and noble character he owes not a little of his success. Prior to their marriage July 3, 1866, she was Eose D. Eichardson, and was bom in Clinton, New York, being a daughter of A. C. Richardson, of that BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 579 county. Of the children born to their union one (lied in infanc-v unnamed and Grant A., also is deceased. Hiram A. resides at Windom, this state; .SugJc L. makes her home with her parents; ITarrv L. ; diaries 0. carries on farm pursuits at Windom, this state; John H. is engaged in the land business at Fairmont, this state; ;N"ellie A. married E. Wishert and resides in LeSueur countj^, Minnesota; and Eussell E. is living in South Dakota. In fraternal relations ijr. Sprague is a master Jlason and a member of the Mutual Benefit Association. Enterprises for the benefit of his home city receive his sagacious assistance, and he has been particularly helpful in establishing on a firm basis for future growth a number of progressive municipal and commer- cial projects, notably the First National Bank, upon whose directorate he has been a prominent member for some vears. STEEL, DE. EDWIN" D.— "He died that he might save others; a martyr to the cause of suffering humanity." The above might he placed as a fitting tribute upon the grave of the late Dr. Edwin D. Steel, of Mankato, who passed from the scenes of his self-sacrificing life . on the 21st of September, 1905, at the untimely age of forty-three years — ■ at an age, when, through his professional ability, and his earnest and kindly acts as a man, he geenied at last in a position to be able to ease his burdens of life and calmly enjoy the good will of his fellows. But such were not the de- crees of Providence; for the martyr received his reward otherwise, and passed to the mansions of his Father. Dr. Steel, whose death caused such profound regret and deep sorrow, was the son of ilr. and Mrs. David Steel, and was born in Belgrade, Nicollet county, Minnesota, on the 14th of June, 1862. His father first located in Lime township. Blue Earth county, settling there before the In- dian uprising of 1862, but afterward fixing his home in Nicollet county, where he passed the last years of his life. The son, Edwin D., attended the country schools of the latter county during his boyhood daj-s, afterward becoming a pupil at Mankato and when a young man finished the regular course at the State Normal School, grad- uating from the latter in June, 1889. His help- ful and sympathetic nature however, had always inclined him toward the practice of medicine and he decided to follow his natural bent, toward which end he entered the medical department of the State University and, after completing a four years' course therein returned to Mankato. At the first of his practice Dr. Steele was in partnership with Dr. J. W. Andrews, this asso- ciation continuing nearly three years, when, by mutual consent, it was terminated. Afterward, u.ntil his death, he faithfully and successfully prosecuted his professional labors alone. His skill as a physician and surgeon was pronounced, but not more so than his gentle, sympathetic, hopeful, inspiring and uplifting influence in the sick room; and this essential combination of the ideal practitioner made him one of the most popular, beloved, prosperous and incessant workers in the profession of Southern Minnesota. At the time of his death he was president of the Blue Earth County Medical Society and for years liad l)ccn secretary of the Minnesota Valley Medi- cal Association. In his religious belief he was an Episcopalian and a communicant of the St, John's church. On the 18th of July, 1903, Dr. Steele was united in marriage to Miss Irma Prengel, daugh- ter of ^Ir. and ^Irs. T. F. Prengel, formerly of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and their one child is IMarcclla Eecd Steel. Of the paternal family three brothers survive the Doctor — L. B. Steel, of Belgrade, who resides on the old home farm ; John Steel, of Decoria, Minnesota, and IST. M. Steel, of Mankato. The deceased was well knovni in fraternal circles, being a member of the Elks, Knights of Pythias, A. 0. TT. W., Modern Wood- men of the World, Knights of Maccabees and Eoyal Xeighhors. Notwithstanding his wide ac- quaintance and popularity, he was intensely do- mestic in his tastes and devoted to his wife and child. STEPHENS. .ALBERT M.— About the time of the arriv.il of the Taylor colony in Minne- sota there came to tliis state from Iowa a young farmer in search of cheap and desirable lands, 580 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. a search that resulted in the securing of a tract of unimproved land in Shelby township and gave to Mr. Stephens his first association with the agricultural affairs of Blue Earth county. From that time to the present he has been the owner of the same property, but during 1903, he re- tired from the personal management of the es- tate and came to Amboy, where he owns and occupies a pleasant cottage in the west part of the village. Though retired from heavj' la- bors he still maintains a deep interest in lo- cal affairs and by thoughtful reading has l-.opt posted concerning national problems. For the past twenty-six years he has held office a? justice of the peace, and meanwhile has filled other local positions of trust and responsibility. The family record shows that James Stephens a native of Massachusetts, removed to New York and later went into Pennsylvania, where he trans- formed a tract of timber land into a valuable farm, remaining there until his death at the age of eighty-four years. While he made his home at Cooperstown, New York, his son Alfred was born there, and the latter in early manhood took up land adjacent to the homestead in Pennsylvania, where he remained until the age of eighty-four years, when he was called to enternal rest. Ris marriage united him with Melissa Sumner, a native of Massachusetts. Her father, Jabez Sumner, was born in the old Bay state and sensed in the Revolutionary war with honors. Among the ten children of Alfred Stephens only four are now living. The only surviving son, Albert M., was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1830, and at the age of twenty-two years he started out in the world to earn his own way. For a time he held a clerkship in 'a store " in New York state, but the work was not congenial. In 1854, he started for the then unknown regions of the Mississippi valley. After a sojourn of a few months in Illinois, he pushed on further west and settled iu Iowa, in 1855, but the next year he made another move, this time in Minnesota, where he took up a claim out of which he has evolved a valuable farm. When he came to this county he was a bachelor, but a few years later he es- tablished a home. In April of 1861, he married Angeline Tiffany, a member of the family whose most distinguished representatives are the jew- elers and diamond merchants of that name in New York City. Born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, she came in the spring of 1859, to Minnesota, with her father, Virgil Tiffany, who for years carried on a hotel at Shelbyville. Of her marriage to Mr. Stephens there were the following children : Charles and Frederick, de- ceased; William and May, both of whom now living in North Dakota ; and Mina, deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are fond of read- ing and devote much of their time to a persual of current literature. In religion she is identi- fied with the Christian church and has been one of the most active workers in the Ladies' Aid Society. The family of which she is a member belongs to patriotic lineage. Both maternal and paternal ancestors took part in the Eevolu- tionary struggle and her grandfather enlisted in the war of 1812, in which through daring, patriotic valor and knowledge of military tactics he rose to the rank of colonel, and as such served until honorably discharged at the close of the STEWAET, WILLIAM E.— It has been pos- sible, by a course of frugality and by the exercise of will power; for hundreds of young men to overcome the obstacles confronting them in youth and to attain a satisfactory degree of success. I'he standing of Mr. Stewart as a popular and progressive business man proves what it is with- in the power of young men to accomplish. Handi- capped by the death of his father, the poverty of the family and the difficulty of securing an education he nevertheless discharged every duty toward his mother and the other children, and at the same time was able to advance his own in- terests ixntil he has gained an education and start- ec: in business with every prospect of success. On a farm near St. Clair, Blue Earth county, Minnesota, William E. Stewart was born Febru- ary 10, 1868, being a son of William and Sarah F. (Peabody) Stewart, who descended from Mas- sachusetts ancestry and came from Wisconsin to Minnesota in 1866. The father entered a claim in Blue Earth county, but relinquished the land on his removal to Faribault county. Later he BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 581 l-turned to this county and settled on the farm fbere he died in 1884, at the age of fifty-four j-eais. His widow survived him for a long per- iod, dying in 1899, at the age of fifty-seven. There were four children born to their union, namely: William E. ; Bub}', wife of James David- son, of Janesville, Wisconsin; Bert W., also of Janesville, that state; and Charles, living in Everett, Washington. On account of the lack of means from which the family suffered, William E. Stewart was put out on a farm to work at the age of nine 3ears rtud remained iintil fourteen, meanwhile receiving $6 j)er month during the summer season, while in the winter months he was given the privilege of attending school and vi'orking for his board. The deep snows and rigorous climate caused his attendance at school to be a matter of discom- fort and even of suffering, for he was illy clad, using his wages to aid the family rather than to clothe himself. However, a determined spirit is not easily daunted, and with the optimism of youth he labored and learned, eventualty, by Ihe utmost self-denial, being able to secure the advantages of training in the Mankato State gformal School and the Mankato Commercial College. Meanwhile he worked at such occupa- tions as would aid him in defraying the expenses of an education, and was employed at farming, market gardening, and brick making. As traveling sales agent for the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company since 1901, Mr. Stewart has proved his suitability to the position. The company recog-nized his efficiency by making l^im manager of the ^Mankato branch, and "in 1905, he became manager of the southern district of Minnesota, in which capacity he has rendered excellent service and made a creditable record. He is sole proprietor of the Mankato Brick and Tile Company's plant at j\Iankato, a small business giving employment to sixteen men and three boys. In politics he is a republican and has served as a delegate to the state convention of his party. A resident of North Mankato, ho has filled the office of ^'illage treasurer and has been an alderman for two or more years. fraternally he holds membership with the Ma- '■^ons, Eoyal Arcanum, Elks, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of Ameri- I ca. December 1, 1898, he was united in marriage with Miss Lulu S. Wells, daughter of Wallace and Helen (Cole) Wells, of Lake Crystal, Blue Earth county. They are the parents of thi'eo sons, Xelson Wells, John Peabody and James Cole. STEATTOX, ALFIIED G.— There are few portions of Minnesota that enjoy a wider repu- tation for agricultural pre-eminence than does Blue Earth county and it has been the good fortune of Mr. Stratton to acquire by inheri- tance and purchase a considerable area of ex- cellent farming land. His total possessions aggregate four hundred and thirteen acres, of which one hundred acres lie in Vernon Center township and the balance, including his residence, in Eapidan township near the village of Good Thunder. General farm pro- ducts are raised, and in stock he has a goodly number of shorthorn cattle, Poland-China hogs and Clydesdale horses. Interested in horti- culture, he has devoted considerable attention to experimenting ■with apples in oi'der to dis- cover the varieties best adapted to tlie climate, and he now has a fine orchard of six acres in bearing. In addition he has a vineyard of one and one-half acres of grapes suited to this part of the country, and he also has some fine varieties of raspberries and strawberries on his place. Born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, Xovem- ber 19, 18-58, Alfred G. Stratton i.< a son oi James and Martha (Taft) Stratton, natives of Vermont, but in early life residents of Ohio and later pioneers of Wisconsin, thence reiuov- in^- to Blue Earth county, IMinnesota, where they remained until death. In all the places where they made their home they devoted themselves entirely to farming. Of their nine children only four are living, Alfred G., be- ing the youngest of these. AVhen he was thir- teen years of age he inherited the farm where he now lives, but his success was not due whol- ly to inheritance, for he possesses onerpy, in- telligence and sagacity that would have brought him a fair degree of success under all circum- stances. 582 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. The marriage of Mr. Straiton in 1882, united him with Jliss Minnie Enmrill, daugh- ter of Solon and Eosina (DcWolf) Eumrill, natives of A'ermont and pioneers of Minne- sota. Their advent inio this state occurred prior to the Indian troubles. At first they mfide their home in SLerling townsliip, Blue Earth county, and here Mr,-. Stratton was born and reared. Mrs. Eumrill is still living and makes licr home with a married daughter near Spokane, Washington. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Stratton consist of the following named child- ren : Grace, Sidney, Bert, George, Edward, Claude, Glenn, Allen, William, Eoy, Thomas, Bessie and Wallace. In fraternal relations Mr. Stratton holds membership with the Mo- dern Woodmen of America at Eapidan. Poli- tically he supports Republican principles. In addition to the office of school director, which he filled for six years, and has proved an im- partial, able and trustworthy official. STEONG, GEORGE D.— Early in the colon- ial history of our country the Strong family im- migrated hither and settled in New England, where ever since the name has been represented by people of recognized worth of character and irreproachable integrity. The branch of the fam- ily now under consideration became transplanted into New York during the first half of the nine- teenth century, the founder of the race in the Empire state having been Dwight C, a native of Massachusetts and a son of Hugh Strong, a lifelong resident of the old Bay State. While living at Lowell Dwight C. Strong married Eme- tine Mason Bill, a native of Vermont, her father. Dyer Bill, having been born and reared in that state, where members of the family yet reside. After the family had removed from Massachus- etts to New York and settled at PayettevillSj Onondaga county, a son was born December 1, 1848, to whom was given the name of George. When the latter was eighteen months old the father died, leaving the widow with four sons. He had been engaged in the buying and selling of teazles and cloth and had laid the foundation of a business which, had he survived, undoubtedly would have brought a competency to the family. Some time after the death of Mr. Strong his widow became the wife of Warren White and they removed to the northwest in the spring of 18G5, settling in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where Mr. White took up land in Sterling town- ship and ever since has been identified with the agricultural development of this region. While the family made their home in York state the Son, George D., was sent to district schools, where he acquired a common school education. Prom there he accompanied his step-father to Minne- sota and secured employment on the farm of William Lattimer in Winnebago county. The careful saving of his wages enabled him to secure a start in agricultural affairs and laid the foun- dation of his present prosperity. The marriage of George D. Strong and Ida May Franklyn was solemnized May 16, 1875. Mrs. Strong was born in Waushara county, Wis- consin, and was one of seven children, of whom three now survive, her brother being William Pranklyn of Eapidan, Blue Earth county, her sister is Mrs. Alice Eenyolds. The father, John A. Franklyn, was a native of Herkimer county, New York, whither his father. Mason Franklyn, had removed from New England. The mother bore the maiden name of Martha A. Valentine and was also a native of Herkimer county. As early as 1855 the parents became pioneers of Wis- consin, where they engaged in developing a farm out of a raw tract of uncultivated land. From that state in 1867 they removed to Minnesota and settled in Sterling township. Blue Earth county, where they developed a productive farm. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Strong operated a rented farm in Sterling township, but in a short time he removed to Amboy and be- came grain-buyer for Peavey & Co., whose in- terests he represented in the village for twelve years. At the expiration of that period he pur- chased a farm one half mile from Amboy and for four years engaged in agricultural pursuits on that land. On selling the property he bought a farm two and one half miles south, where he re- mained for four years, and then sold at a fair price. The following four years were devoted to the livery business, but eventually he traded the business to Kinney Brothers for one hundred BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 583 and sixty acres two miles west of Amboy. On this place he now resides. The land is crossed .by the Blue Earth river and is under a fair state of cultivation. liaiubletonian horses of a line strain, Durham cattle and blooded Poland-China hogs are specialties of the owner, and in each he is recognized as an expert judge and an au- thorit)'. An apple orchard provides the family with an abundance of apples of the varieties best adapted to the climate. Other improve- ments include a substantial barn, a neat resi- dence with modern conveniences and other build- ings needed on a farm. A neat grove serves as a protection for the buildings from the storms of winter. During the period of his residence in Amboy Mr. Strong served as a member of the city coun- cil for two terms, and in addition he was engaged as bailiff in court in Mankato for several terms. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Mutual Benefit Association, in the latter of which he officiated as secretary for many years. In religion he is not a member of any denomination, but contrib- utes to the Methodist Episcopal church, with which Mrs. Strong is actively associated. Edu- cational movements and philanthropic enterprises receive his encouraging assistance and practical sympathy, and he especially favors those projects having for their aim the permanent welfare of the agricultural interests of the county. SWENSON, AXDEEW.— The name of this well known resident of Mankato indicates his an- cestry. Many generations of the family lived and died in Sweden, and it is but natural that the race should possess the rugged characters born of contact with the stern and rock-bound shores of their native land. The opportunities afforded by the United States, where the soil was less rocky and the land more fertile than that of the home country, caused Peter Swenson in 1854 to cross the ocean and start anew amid the un- familiar surroundings of a land far-distant from his own. Coming to Minnesota and taking up raw land in Carver county, he gave his attention to the difficult task of transforming an unproduc- tive tract into a fertile farm. The balance of his life was quietly passed in the daily round of agricultural duties, and his death occurred in 18-38 at the age of fifty-one years. During the brief period of his residence in Minnesota he won the respect of acquaintances by his manly character and industrious life. SomB time after his death his widow, Hannah, came to Blue Earth county, and here she passed away in 1890 at the age of seventy-eight years. Of the children of Peter and Hannah Swen- son the following are now living: Andrew, Swen, Peter, Betty (Mrs. Charles Frederick), and Mathias. Those deceased are as follows : Swan, who was drowned at Shakopee, Scott county, this state; Christina; Anna; and Nels, the first-born of the chUdren, who died in Lin- coln township in 1905. The second of the child- ren was Andrew, born in Sweden, December 27, 1834, and twenty years of age at the time of emigrating to the United States. After a brief sojourn in Illinois he came to Minnesota and settled in Carver county, where he engaged in farm pursuits until 1865. Meanwhile the Civil war had come on, and in July of 1864 he became a volunteer in Company H, Fourth Minnesota Infantry. Accompanying his regiment to the front, he took part in the battles of Altoona, Georgia, and Kingston, North Carolina, and ac- companied General Sherman in the memorable march to the sea. For two months sickness kept him confined in a 4iospital at Chattanooga, but with that exception he remained with his regi- ment until hostilities ended. Eeturning to Carver county, Mr. Swenson made arrangements to remove to Blue Earth county, whither he came with two others in 1865 and took up a homestead in Lincoln township. Until 1901 he remained on the same farm. Dur- ing that long period a wonderful transformation was wrought in the appearance of the farm. Sub- stantial buildings were erected as the need arose for their use. Fields were subdivided by excel- lent fencing, a proper rotation of crops brought profitable returns for care and cultivation of the land, and each year saw the granaries filled with the products of the owner's wise management and constant toil. Eventually he reached a posi- tion where the need for continued application no longer existed, and thereupon he bought a cum- 584 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. fortable home in Mankato and retired from ac- tive duties. Always interested in securing good schools, Mr. Swenson served with fidelity as a member of the school board from its organization until his removal from the farm in 1901, being its clerk for twenty-one years. For a time he ofEiciated as a member of the board of supervisors, also held office as town clerk and for twelve years filled the position of township assessor. As Justice of the peace he proved to be the possessor of con- siderable knowledge of the law, and his decis- ions were always characterized by impartiality and wise judgment. During the session of 1883-84 he held the position of sergeant-at-arms of the state legislature. In politics he has been stanch in his allegiance to Republican principles ever since he became a citizen of the United States and had grasped the fundamental dif- ferences between the two leading parties. In re- ligion, a Baptist, he- has been deacon of his church and for some years served as secretary of the Sunday school. The first marriage of Mr. Swenson took place in 1859 and united him with Miss Clara Erick- son, daughter of Rev. John Briekson. When only twenty-five years of age this • estimable woman was taken from her home, in August, 1867, leav- ing three children, namely: James, now living at Lake Crystal, Blue Earth county; Alice, Mrs. George Kimball, x>t Mankato; and Samuel T., now living in Butte, Montana. The present wife of Mr. Swenson was Miss Carrie Granlund, daughter of Andrew and Irene Granlund, natives of Sweden, and emigrants to Carver county, Min- nesota, during the year 1855. For a time Mr, Granlund made his home in that county and en- gaged in preaching, but later he removed to Lincoln township. Blue Earth county, and be- came one of the most influential men of the township, he later moved to Lake Crystal where he still lives, at the age of about eighty-six years. His wife had passed away in 1876 at the age of fifty-four. The children of Andrew and Car- rie Swenson are named as follows : Charlotte B., wife of Ellsworth Acres, of Lake Crystal; Lorinda A., who is engaged in missionary work in St. Paul, Minnesota; Oscar E., now living at Bode, Humboldt county, Iowa; Kora L., and Clara L., who reside with their parents in Man- kato; Mabel E. and Loren A., who are engaged in educational work in this county. TABATT, EDWARD M.— The family repre- sented by this progressive farmer of Blue Earth county was established in the United States by his father, John, a native of Hermansdorf, Ger- many, and an emigrant of March, 1872. After a brief visit in Wisconsin he came to Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth count}', where he took up land in Pleasant j\Iound township section ten. For years he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits with unwearied energy, but after a long and successful afsoeiation with farm work lu' retired in 1898 and removed to Amboy, re- siding there until his deatb, which occurred August 19, 1906. By his juarriage to Wilhehnina Deptke he had nine children, all but one of whom are still living. The youngest, Leonara, occupies the old homestead of two hundred acres ijuproved with a neat residence, substantial barns and a grove that affords excellent protection from the storms of winter. In 1898 Leonard married Minnie Winkoff, who was born and reared in Blue Earth county, being a daughter 01 Christopher Winkoff, a pioneer of Pleasant i\Iound township. Leonard and his wife have two daughters, Irene and A'erona. Fredrick, who was the oldest, emigrated with his father in 1872, owns a one hundred and sixty acre farm in Pleasant ilound township, well improved. John, fl'ho was the second son, married Emma Schwanz, October 13, 1895, lived on a farm in Pleasant Mound township which he owned, but was obliged oji account of his health to retire and he moved to Amboy, where he was sick for twelve years and died October 12th, 1908. The eighth among tlie children comprising the family circle was Ed- ward, born April 23, 1872, and reared in his na- tive township of Pleasant j\Iound. Primarily educated in the country schools, he later attend- ed the liigh school at Worthington, Minnesota, and since leaving school he has been a reader of cnrrent newspapers and periodicals, thus ac- quiring a broad fund of valuable information. October 18, 1894, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Zellmer, who was born in Wisconsin, BIOGBAPHICAL HISTOEY. 585 coming from there in lS7'-i, to Minnesota^ and settling in Pleasant Mound township^ this county, where her father, ^Villiam Zellmer, became a successful farmer. The children of Mr. and ]\[rs. Tabatt are Agnes, Prieabert and Edna. Through a course of energy and perseverance Mr. Tabatt has improved one of the best farms of his locality, the same comprising one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation. The land iri rolling and affords a natural drainage, which is a feature of importance in wet seasons. On the farm may be seen horses, cattle and hogs of the best breeds, for stock-raising is an important adjunct of farming in the estimation of Mr. Tabatt. The condition of the buildings be- speak his careful attention. The barns are large and well adapted to their varied purposes, and the residence is modern in its equipment. The grounds and buildings are sheltered by a grove planted by tlie owner with a view to protection from the blizzards of winter. In all of his work Mr. Ta- batt is progressive and practical, and he is highly regarded throughout the county, occupy- ing a position among the most enterprising farm- ers and patriotic citizens of his community. TAYLOE, BENJAMIN.— In the ability and character of its native-born sons the state of Minnesota vies with all other commonwealths. As we glance over the names of young men who are coming to the front in the professions, in business enterprises and in agricultural affairs, we find many of them to be the sons of pioneers who made the family name an honored one in years gone by. Growing to manhood amid the scenes of birth and childhood, they have be- come familiar with the possibilities and oppor- tunities afforded in this region and have been ready to grasp every chance for securing a foot- hold along the line of their varied specialties. Such might be given as an epitome of the life of Benjamin Taylor, one of the rising young lawyers of Mankato and the son of an honored pioneer, now deceased, who formerly held a prominent place in the flouring interests of Minneapolis. The identification of the family with the history of Minnesota dates from 1868, when Benjamin Taylor, Sr., a descendant of English ancestry and a native of Pennsylvania, sought a home in the midst of the undeveloped opportu- nities of the northwest. A miller by trade, he soon rose to a position of influence in the mill- ing interests of Minneapolis, ^\•here as a member of the firm of Taylor Brothers he founded an industry that at a later date was owned by the Pillsbury interests. At the time of his death in 1887 he was sixty-two years of age. During early manhood he had married Hannah Mon- aghan, who was born in Pennsylvania and traced her lineage to English and Irish progenitors; her death occurred in 1906 at the age of seventy years. Among the seven children comprising the family of Benjamin Taylor, Sr. the fifth in or- der of birth was given the name of the father and was born in the city of Minneapolis De- cember 11, 1871. Primarily educated in the public schools of his native city the education there secured was supplemented by broader studies in large institutions of learning. Prom an early age it had been his desire to enter upon the practice of law and with that object in view he took a course of study in the law de- partment of the University of Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1895. During the same year he was admitted to practice in the courts of the state and immediately came to Mankato, where he formed a law partnership with George IT. Fletcher, son of one of the most influential men of the city. Since the dissolu- tion of this partnership in 1899 Mr. Taylor has engaged in. practice alone, and now has his office in the Odd Fellows block. Both by native gifts and educational advantages he is equipped for the successful practice of his profession and al- ready has won recognition as a skilled counseloi- and sagacioiis attorney. While building up a growdng practice he has become identifled with local politics as a stanch Eepublican and has served as chairman of the city committee of the party, besides taking a warm interest in the political affairs of the state and the larger prob- lems affecting the prosperity of the nation. Since coming to Mankato he has established domestic ties, his marriage June 12, 1901, uniting him wath one of the popular young ladies of the city. 586 BIOaRAPHICAL HISTORY. Miss Lucy Pope, daughter of the late General E. M. Pope, who for years wielded a large in- fluence in the Democratic political affairs of ilin- nesota and held official honors under one of the governors of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor hfs been born one child, Virginia Pope Taylor, born February 17th, 1907. TAYLOE, BE^STJAMIX F.— The prestige of the Taylor family in Sterling township is ma- terially strengthened through the general farm- ing and stoclc-raising efforts of Benjamin Taylor, vrho was born in the township, on the old Tay- loi' place, October 20, 1870, and who has known nc other home during his thirty-eight years of existence. Educated principally in the district schools, and through the application of later years, Mr. Taylor has learned much from observation, and has the practical grasp of men reared in the hard sphere of agricultural experience. His two hundred acres of land evidences the labor of two generations of workers, and is most com- plete in both its home and general equipment. Stock raising is the preferred specialty of the owner, and large numbers of Norman horses, Hereford cattle, and Poland-China hogs attain maturity under the most favorable of conditioub. On the farm are several flowing wells. In 1896 Mr. Taylor became a Benedict, marry- ing Ellis Herman, daughter of -John Herman, an old and respected settler of ilapleton town- ship. Politically Mr. Taylor is identified with the Eepublican party, and has held many offices v.'ithin the gift of his fellow townsmen, includ- ing that of supervisor for several years, and member of the board of education. He is a well informed and agreeable gentleman, encour- aging practical progress, and identifying himself with the principle local efforts to improve the moral, intellectual and commercial growth of the township. TAYLOE, CHAELES T.— There is nothing of the dreamer or visionary in the makeup of the present mayor of Mankato. He is a man who sees things as they are, and as they must be in order to meet the requirements of a prac- tical age and a progressive people. In doing ^\'ell the Ai'ork of today, ho knows that he is laying firm foundations for the civic prosperity of the future, and at the same time he is con- firming the truism that few things are impos- sible to the persevering, invincible and deter- mined American citizen. Mr. Taylor was elected chief magistrate on the Democratic ticket in 1903, and succeeded himself to the same office in the election of 1905, Avith a gratifying ma- jority of votes. Four years as alderman of the third ward had thoroughly familiarized him with the needs and possibilities of the community, and his larger responsibility has afforded in- creasing scope for the elaboration and realization of existing municipal ideals. Conservative and moderate reform lias been the keynote of his ad- ministration, and not the least of his efforts has been to awaken the somewhat sluggish interesi in such important essentials as sanitation, pav- ing and education. Each department under his jurisdiction has profited by the same concentra- tion of resource, and upon the principle that gunnery to be the most effective must play con- tinually upon the same point. There is noted a judicious disbursement of available funds, and a considerable lowering of the municipal debt. Also improvement in the efficiency and morale of the police and fire service, in the regulation and enforcement of taxation, and the lessening of vice, crime and sickness. Altogether, Man- kato is to be congratulated upon having honored so purposeful, strong and honest a chief execu- tive. Born in Bed Wing, Minnesota, December 2, 1860, Charles T. Taylor is a son of Thomas and Ellen (McCormick) Taylor, the former a native of County Sligo, Ireland, and the latter born in St. John's Few Brunswick. Thomas Taylor reached Bed Wing, this state, in the early '50's, and died in Mankato February 13, 1906, at the age of seventy-nine years. He is survived b}' his wife. He was reared on a farm, became a contractor in later life, and eventually re- turned to the outdoor occupation of his youth. His capacity for public service was reqo'gnized in his election to the office of school treasurer, and justice of the peace of North Mankato village. BIOGRAPHICAL HiSTOlfY. 587 Charles T. Taylor was educated in the great field of human equality, the public schools, and inaugurated his independent career by learning the implement business in Xorth ' Dakota. In 1890 began his honorable and useful connection with Mankato, and his assumption of control of the farm implement, hardware and coal busi- ntss purchased of E. I. P. Staede, which he has conducted with gratifying results at 112 East Main street. In 1893 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Mary White, of Bottineau, Xorth Dakota, and of the union there is a daughter, Lucy M., and a son, Clarence T. Mr. Taylor is markedly social in his tendencies, and is iden- tified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen. He is a member of the Democratic Central Committee, and has been very active politically for several years. He is a man of firm convictions and definite purpose, and remains unswerved in the midst of many contending factions. To know him is to know a high minded, genial, disinterested and approach- able gentleman. TAYLOE, THE FAMILY.— The genealogical records show that the Taylor ancestry was of hon- ored Scotch origin. As far back as the history can be traced their representatives are shown to be men and women possessing the sterling traits that have made the Scots famous the world over. Nearly a century has passed since John Taylor and Margaret Baird were united in marriage in tlieir native parish in Scotland, the date of their union having been August IG, 1864. To their ]iiarriage were born five sons and four daughters. The second son, Robert, was born October 13, 1819, grew to manhood in his native land, mean- while learning from his parents lessons of in- tegrity, energy, persevei'ance and L'rugality that proved of inestimable value to him tlirough all of his busy later years. While still living in Scotland he was united in marriage, March 10, 1842, with Margaret Gentles, who accompanied liim on the long and arduous voyage to the new world. They became the parents of five children, but an epidemic caused the death of several of the children, and about the same time, (in May ol 1852) the wife and mother died in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Of the children there is only one survivor, Joim, the eldest S(m, who makes liis home in Lyra township. Blue Eartii couuty, ^Minnesota, and for years has cngiiged in agri- cultural pursuits. After the death of so many of his family Piobert Taylor returnel to Kew York. While there he attended a meeting called for the pur- pose of organizing a colony of emigrants for the west. During the course of the meeting he made several remarks which displayed a thorough knowl- edge of the western region, their soil and the possi- bilities they ofEered to men of energy. His statements brought him into general notice and resulted in his selection as advance agent of the colony to select a suitable location. With that purpose in view he traveled tlirough the new and unsettled regions of Minnesota, the result being that May 11, 1856, the colony arrived at Mapleton and began their identification with the agricultural interests of Blue Earth county which has been helpful to the permanent development of the county and fortunate for the colonists from a financial standpoint. As tlie head of this colony, Eobert Taylor is given a moi'e extended mention in liistory than would be expected in these lines of genealogy. Suffice it to say here, in relation to his life in Blue Earth county, that lie was honored wherever known as a man of the highest integrity and keenest sense of honor and when he passed to his eternal rest, it was regarded as a general loss by the people of the county. In New York City, Xovember 7, 1854, Ro- liert Taylor married Janet Gentles, a sister of his first wife, and a woman of exceptional abil- ity and amiable disposition. Born in Scotland, January 23, 1833, she did not have any con- siderable advantages in girlhood, but has al- waj's been a lover of the choicest reading and is 60 well informed that conversation with her is helpful as well as interesting. Xow that the active work of life is over with her, she spends the greater part of her time with her books and papers and maintains a keen interest in the activities of the world. She is the honored mother of a large family, six sons and two daughters having blessed her union. Of these 588 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. Eobert, the fourth, son, died March 29, 1893. James S. is a merchant at ilapleton and stands high throughout all this region. T. B. itf known throughout Southern Minnesota as a. breeder of registered shorthorns. In addition to his agricultural activities he acts as presi- dent of the Mapleton State Bank. Prominent as a citizen, he has served as mayor and alderman several terms and has become known as a man whose word is as good as his bond. William W.j an extensive farmer of Sterling township has two sons and three daughters, and holds a high place in his township. Ben- jamin P. owns the old homestead on the M'aple river; a man of great energy, he has been prominent in educational work in his district and also has been active at Eepublican caucuses and conventions. One of the daugh- ters, Nellie S., married William Morrow, a re- tired farmer of considerable wealth. The other daughter, Jessie A., who has considerable prop- erty, is a widow with a son, Eobert. The family have remained in the vicinity of the old home- stead and have added to the prestige of the family name by their business honor, moral lives, energetic temperaments and eterling worth of character. TAYLOE, T. B.— While the arid, sombre and accuracy compelling methods of banking have changed but little with the passing centuries, the popular conception of the bank president has un- dergone a marked metamorphosis. Pomierly relegated in the minds of the depositing public to the greatest conservatism of thought and ac- tion in his youth, and in maturity to the fireside, pew and whist table, today there seems no in- congruity in the association of financial strength and dependability with vigorous participation in politics, general business, sportsmanship and so- cial prominence. Neither is length of years or experience required for the establishing -jf popu- lar confidence — the greatest asset of the success- ful banker, for the rapid acquiring of reputa- tion and financial momentum is one of the chief characteristics of this stage of the world's prog- ress. Proof of this truism exists in all progres- sive communities, and in Mapleton a compara- tively young bank president is found in T. B. Taylor, the monetary head of the Mapleton State Bank. Mr. Taylor suljscribcs to the advanced con- ception of the men of his calling. He is wide awake, many sided, resourceful and extremely public spirited. An evolution of the farm, he spent the first twenty-five years of his life in Sterling and Mapleton township, Blue Earth count}', Minnesota, where his birth occurred April 11, 1860. After his marriage, April 16, 1885, to Phoebe, daughter of B. B. and Susan Cornell, formerly of Mapleton, and now of Newberg, Oregon, he located in the town of Ma- pleton, and since has been a moving factor in various grooves of activity. For a time Mr. Taylor was identified with a large stock com- pany, and thereafter became the partner of Mat Olson, of Wells, this state, with whom he con- tinued to conduct a large stock-raising and pur- chasing business until 1900. Since then he has carried on the enterprise alone, and now is do- ing an annual business of about one hundred thousand dollars. His part in developing the live stock interests of this part of the state has been and still is an enormous and far reaching one, winning him an enviable reputation as a maintainer of the highest possible stockraising standards. For the furtherance of his business he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining Mapleton on the west, a highly de- veloped property, having large feed-raising and storing facilities. Mr. Taylor's identification with the Mapleton State Bank began several years ago, and he has been president of the institution for the past three years. The bank is capitalized for $15,000 and is in a flourishing condition, enlisting the confidence and support of the most exacting ele- ment in the community. Politically Mr. Tayloi' is professedly independent, with strong leanings towards the Eepubhcan party in national affairs. Many political honors have been conferred upon him by his fellow townsmen, and his local stand- ing was never more emphatically manifest than during his two elections as mayor of Mapleton, he having no opposition in the first instance, and in the second he received every vote. He also served as alderman several terms, and has BIOGBAPHICAL HISTOEY. 589 been a member of the library board for several years. The town has no more enthusiastic fra- temalist, or one who more keenly appreciates the many advantages which accrue from member- ship with the Masons. He is connected with the Blue Lodge, and largely was instrumental in securing the erection and furnishing of the pres- ent lodge rooms. He is at the present time W. M. The Scotch settlers and institutions of Blue Earth county have found in Mr. Taylor a practi- cal and telpful friend. Particularly has he labored for the best interests of the Maple Eiver Burns Club, to the presidency of which he succeeded upon the retirement from office of the first presi- dent, James Ellis, eight years ago. The Burns Club maintains the original purpose of its or- ganization, celebrates yearly the anniversity of the famous poet, and has done much to estab- lish a local understanding and appreciation of his place among the great human singers of the world. Commendable interest and enthusiasm centers around the Heather Curling Club, of which Mr. Taylor is president. The association is an incorporated one, and is noted for holding its own with the other curling clubs of the state. The rink used by the curlers was insti- gated principally by the president, and he, as well as the club as a whole hold numerous medals and trophies of the game. Too much cannot be said in praise of the sane and successful business career of Mr. Taylor, or of his attitude towards societly, literature and the healthful pursuits of living. His career has broadened ])erceptibly the channels of human brotherhood, and his liealth, well trained mind and vital interest in affairs promises much for the future welfare of the community. TAYLOE, WILLIAM W.— The high standard of agricultural practice attributed to Blue Earth county owes its existence largely to the intellec- tual and manual contribution of such many sided and experienced men as William W. Tay- lor who not only profits by the teachings of an earlier generation of agriculturists, to which belonged his father, but who has improved there- on by reason of excellent educational and gen- eral advantages at the disposal of the young men who have come upon the scene since tlie Civil war. Mr. Taylor was born in Sterling town- ship September 23, 1S6T, received his prelim- inary working training on the old Taylor home- stead, and was educated in the country school?, the Mapleton high-school and the State Normal University. The marriage of 'SLr. Taylor and Emma Daly, occurred October 10, 189fi. and was the occas- ion of his removal from the old farm to his present home, which formerly \\as the Jacob Conrad property. His father-in-law, W. G. Daly was an earlv settler of Blue Earth county, and a veteran of the Civil war. ^Ir. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of five children, Cleo N., Leona J., Vivian P.. William Guv. and Lisle Eobert. Mr. Taylor is the owner of one hundred and seventy-one acres in one body, be- sides two lake lots, and is engag-ed in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Norman horses and Poland-Ciiina hogs. He has a fine modern residence, equipped with hot air heating apparatus, hot and cold water, and all conveniences possible to acquire remote from the cities. He is a great admirer of good stnck, and thoroughly kind and humane in his treat- ment of the same, providing them with warm shelter, the best of food, and the best of care under all circumstances. He is a thorough stu- dent of advanced fanning and stock raising methods, keeps posted upon current events of the day, and is particularly broad and tolerant in his views of life. Of Scotch ancosirv. 'Mr. Tavlor lielps to keep alive in the New World the customs and tra- ditions of the mother country of bis earlv sires, h(M'ng a member of the Thistle Club, and an ac- tive participant in its curling matches and bon- spiels. The annual celebration of the birthday of Eobert Burns, finds him ever ready to do homage to the beloved poet of humanity, and he is also an attendant at the old settler's picnics and meetings. Fraternallv he is a memlier of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ee- bfkahs. Modern Woodmen of .Vmerica and the Fraternal Union. He is popular and higlilv es- teemed, and one of the community's most broad minded and enlightened farmers. 590 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. THEW, J. H.— Coming to Blue Earth county at the age of twenty-eight some years after the close of his honorable and active service in the Union army during the Civil war, Mr. Thew at once identified him, self with the agricultural in- terests of Vernon Center township, and from that time to the present he has been intimately asso- ciated with movements for the permanent up- building of his community. When he acquired land in the township he found himself the pos- sessor of property needing the most careful cul- tivatiotf in order to secure profitable returns. In order to render possible the raising of crops dur- ing wet seasons it was also necessary for him to undertake considerable ditching, besides which he built fences, erected a neat house and sub- stantial farm buildings. Eventually he sold this farm of two hundred acres and in 1904 moved to what is known as Old Vernon, where he Ijought a homestead of two acres and since then has lived practically retired from agricultural pursuits. Born at Plattsburg, New York, July 9, 1840, J. H. Thew is a son of the late Gilbert and Jane (White) Thew, natives of New York state. The mother was born in 1817 and died in 1873; the father was bom in 1820 and attained the age of eighty years. During 1856 the family removed from the east to the frontier of Wiscon- sin, settling in Juneau county, ' where the ft'.ther followed the blacksmith's trade. In 1869 he came to Blue Earth county, whither his son had preceded him by one year. Buying a small tract of land in Vernon Center township, he engaged in farming and also had a blacksmith shop on the land. Upon retiring from active labors he made his home with his sons until he died. When the Civil war broke out J. H. Thew was living in Wisconsin. Shortly afterward he of- fered his services to the Union and was accept- ed as a member of tire Tenth Wisconsin Light Artillery, army of the west, with which he served about three and one-half years, until the close of the war. Altogether he took part in sixty- tiiree engagements, among these being all the skirmisher; and battles during Sherman's march to the sea, and the General Kilpatrick raid around Atlanta, which lasted for five days and nights, with a rest of only t^o hours during that time. He was also present at Corinth, Missis- sippi, at Stone river and in man}- other encounters with the Confederates. In the battle of luka Springs, Mississippi, he received an accidental wound from his own side of the field, but with that exception he was fortunate in escaping in- Upon being honorably discharged at the close of the war Mr. Thew returned to his home and in 1867 he man ied ■ Sarah A., daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Turner) Green wood^^ natives of Maine. For many years ilr. Greenwood fol- lowed the carpenter's trade and also engaged in farming in Adams county, Wisconsin, where both he and his wife died. Six children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Thew, but two daugh- ters, Laura M. and Clara A., have been removed from the home by death. The eldest son, George S., occupies a farm in Vernon Center township near his father's home. The second son, M. T., resides in Mankato. The youngest son, Daniel H., is a farmer of Vernon Center township. The only surviving daughter, Eliza, . married E. P. Eobinson and resides in Old Vernon. Ever since the Civil war Mr. Thew has been stanch in his allegiance to the Eepublican party and has been interested in the activities of the Grand Army of the Eepublic. Among the offices which he has held may be mentioned those of county supervisor, school director and member of the board of township trustees, in all of which positions he proved to be efficient and public-spirited. In religion he is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. THOMAS, PEANK G.— While the business in- terests of Mankato are largely in the hands of men of long experience, there is nevertheless a goodly proportion of the younger element no- ticeable in commercial circles, and these are the men who in future years will bear the respon- sibilities of the city's business progress and civic growth. Prominent in the latter class we "find the name of Prank G. Thomas, who represents that type of enterprising, progressive and keen- witted business man so necessary to the permanent prosperity of any town. The story of his brief BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOT^Y. 591 life is the story of opportunities carefully im- proved, self-reliance developed by an independent spirit and success achieved in the line of a chosen pursuit. Born in Menominee, Michigan, Feb. 27, 1875, Frank G. Thomas is a son of Samuel and Mar- tha (Levar) Thomas, natives of Maine, vcho came to the northwest almost one-half century ago. The father followed the occupation of a stationary engineer throughout much of his ac- tive life and since 1889 has made his home in Mankato. The genealogy of the family shows that their ancestors came from England and Scotland. Out of a family of ten children, Frank G. Thomas was the eldest, and he re- ceived a fair education in the grammar and high school of Mankato. After leaving school he became an employ in the drug store owned by Br. P. FoUman, under whom he made a care- ful study of pharmacy, and became so well versed in the science that he was enabled to pass a highly creditable examination before the board of state examiners in 1898. Returning to his position with Dr. Follman, he remained in that store until 1905, meanwhile carefully saving his earnings for the purpose of investing them in a business of his own. July 13, 1905, he opened a drug store at No. Ill Xorth Front street, where he has a model and up-to-date establishment, provided with every equipment necessary for the successful prosecution of the business. The cozy home which Mr. Thomas has estab- lished in Mankato is presided over by his wife who was Jennie E., daughter of Patrick Madi- gan, of this city. Desiring to aid to the extent of his ability in movements for the development of his home town, Mr. Thomas .has allied him- self with the Commercial Club as offering the best means for aiding public-spirited projects. In fraternal relations he holds membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Among the people of the town he ranks as an enter- prising young man, one who merits success by reason of his enterprise, business acumen and industrious character. THOMAS, JOHN E.— Within the peaceful borders of the shire of Montgomery, Wales, suc- cessive generations of the Thomas family lived .and labored and there they were laid to rest as one by one they passed from the scenes of earth. Among the first to establish this branch of the family in America was Eii'hard J., the son of John and Elizabeth Thomas, who immi- grated to the United States in 1848 and set- tled at Eaeine, Wisconsin. He was born April 3, 1826, at Cumj'-dail, Manafon, ]\rontgomery- shire, and was a young man of rugged health, great education and an exxcellent knowledge of the milling business, which he followed in this country for eighteen years. ]\rarch 31, 1853, at Eacine he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Bax- ter, and a native of Llanfaircaerinion, ilont- gomeryshire, Wales, born August 31, 1830. Coming to Minnesota in 18G3, Eichard J. Thomas settled at South Bend and embarked in mercantile pursuits with a brother-in-law, \A'. W. Davis. During August of 1865 they came to Mankato and opened a grneery. A few years later j\rr. Thomas bought his partner's in- terest and continued the business until 18S3, meanwhile establisliing a large trade tliroughout the city. At his death, whicli occurred April 25, 1891, he left his wife and thi'cp children, John E., Elizabeth and Jennie, to mourn tlie loss of a devoted husband and father. Like many other members of his family, he jiossesscd musical ability of an high order. While living in Wis- consin he was a member of the famous Cambrian quartet led ))y Professor John P. .Tones, and later, for more than twenty years, he led the choir of the First Prcsliyterian church of ilan- kato. Frequently he won prizes at musical con- tests both as a singer and as a composer. Peace- able, upright and kind-hearted, he was esteemed by all. During the residence of the family at Eacine, ^Visconsin, John E. Thomas was l)orn April 20. 1853. At the age of ten years he accompanied his parents from his native city in ^linnesota and settled with them at .South Bend, thence coming to Manlvato in 1865 and attending the schools of this city until he had acquired a fair common-school education. For five years he clerked in his father's grocery. During the year 1875 he entered upon his banking experiences 592 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. wliich have led, through successive promotions, to his present position of influence in the finan- cial circles of Sfankato. First as bookkeeper foi* the Citizens National Bank of ]\rankato he re- laained until January-, 1884, when he went to Minneapolis and for two years was engaged as bookkeeper and teller in the Nicollet Xational Bank. At the expiration of that time he re- turned to Mankato and effected the organization 01 the Mankato Xational Bank, capitalized at $100,000, he being chosen the cashier of the new concern. On its reorganization as the ]\[ankato State Bank, capital stock $50,000, he was con- tinued in the position of cashier, which he holds al' the present writing. In addition to his banking business, Mr. Thomas has other interests and has been a con- stant contributor to movements for the benefit of the city. Through his membership in the Commercial Club he has striven to promote the business growth of the city and has given staunch allegiance to progressive plans. As a director in the Citizens' Telephone Company, he has been identified with an important local en- terprise that has proved helpful to the city's ad- vancement. In fraternal relations he holds mem- bership with the lodge and chapter of the Ma- sonic order, also is identified with and treasurer of the Knights of P3-thias, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and Order of Eagles. The family talent for music has been his inheritance, and for a number of years he has been a member of tlie choir of the First Presbyterian church. Mr. Thomas spent his early years as is usual with farmer boys in New England, obtaining a fair education at the district school and working hard on the home place. Unlike agriculurists of the west the Yankee farmer has seldom enough land to "go 'round to the boys," and it is the rule for the latter to leave home early and assume some form of clerical employment. Percival fol- lowed the rule, leaving the home farm at the age of fifteen and, for a number of years, clerk- ing at various stores in Charleston and Newport, Vermont. Pie then ventured into North Dakota for a year, returned to his native state where he remained for a year and a half, and finally in 1885, located at Minneapolis and became a per- manent resident of Minnesota. Prom 1885 to 1890 Mr. Thomas busied himself at Minneapolis at various mercantile pursuits, and for the succeeding six years represented whole- sale houses throughout the state, by these exper- iences getting a thorough insight into both re- tail and wholesale methods. In 1896 he assumed the management of the Mankato Fruit Commis- sion compan}^, and the qualifications mentioned have made him especially valuable in his man- agerial capacity. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Mankato Commercial Club, and belongs to the A. P. & A. M. and the Eo3-al Arcanum. He was married April 19, 1894, to Miss Margaret B. Parker of ^linneapolis, ilinnesota, and they have one child, Hortense Adelaide THOMAS, PERCIVAL S.— Percival S. Thomas, manager of the Mankato Fruit Commis- sion company for many years is a Vermont man of energy, sound judgment and long business ex- perience. He was born in the Green Mountain State in the year 18()2, the son of Amos and Nancy (Kenyon) Thomas, both natives of New England, wlio as thrifty farmer folk, spent the years of their maturity in Vermont. The mother ])assed away at the untimely age 'of forty-five years, dying in 18G-2, while the father lived until 1888, or into his sixty-fourth year. Five of their seven children are still living, Percival S. being the youngest of the family. THOMPSON, HENRY OSBORN.— Judging from the many sided results thus far accom- plished the key note of the life of Henry Osborn Thompson is emphatic and sustained usefulness and practically. Himself trained in the hard school of practical experience, Mr. Thompson comes honestly by his grit and determination, for beliind him are ancestors inured to the perils and privations of pioneership, men who, without hesitation or backward glance dared the perils 01 the wilderness, and wrought out of little ma- terial and under the most terrible of hardships the character and success which lies at the foun- dation of this commonwealth. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 593 Born in a log house, December 16, 1847, in riartland, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, Decem- ber 16, 1847, Mr. Thompson is a son of John Crozier and Esther Thompson, the former a farmer by occupation who moved from Wiscon- sin to Garden City, Minn., June 1, 1855, where he died Nov. 20, 1908, at the age of 84 years, 6 months and 4 days. William E. Thompson, grand- father of Henry Osborn, was born in New York state of Irish parents, and married Anna Brown an eastern woman of American birth and parent- age, and came also to Blue Earth county in 1855. At thai time the Indian trail still was a fea- ture of the Minnesota landscape, the wigwam was the prevailing style of architecture, and when the settlers went to bed at night they never knew what danger lurked in their midst, whether from prowling wolves or that more in- telligent and wily menace, the hostile Indian. At best the life of the pioneer was one of un- told hardship, and this family had their share in taming the wilderness and establishing civi- lized conditions. Mr. Thompson received a common school edu- cation, and, reared to that occupation, eventually fallowed farming on his own responsibility for; more than thirty years in Ceresco township, this county. He also has been interested in several business undertakings, among them cheese manu- facturing, for which he built a factory and oper- ated the same for two years. For six years he carried the United States mail from Ceresco, P. 0. in Ceresco township to the village of Vernon Center, and back. In 1900 he was elected a director in the Shelby Farmers' Mu- tual Fire Insurance Company, and elected secre- tary of the same in 1905, a position which he still maintains. In 1901, he was elected treas- urer of the Willow Creek Telephone Company, and holds the position at the present time. ^Fr. Thompson is emphatically a Bryan Demo- crat. He has held several local offices, and in 1890, was elected chairman of the board of super- visors. In 1906 he was a candidate for repre- sentative in the state Legislature and in an overwhelmingly Eepublican county was defeated by only ninety votes. In 1890 and 1900 he was, census enumerator. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Brotherhood of America, having 38 Joined the same in 1896. With his family he finds a religious home in the Christian church. At Eapidan, this state, November 26, 1874, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Hat- net A. Eew, a graduate of the State Normal School at Mankato, class of 1871, and who sub- sequently engaged in educational work in the public schools of Minnesota and Iowa for three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born three children : Ealph Henry, Lulu C, and Eay E. Ealph Henry married Marion Jamieson, October 20, 1906, and Eay E. mar- ried Alice Myrtle Mills January 24, 1908. THOMPSON, JOHN C— So many have come and gone since the advent of Mr. Thompson in Minnesota, that, to recall the days of his boy- hood in the east, is like reading a page from a half-forgotten biography. When he was a lad ■ailroads had not girdled the continent, the ships )f commerce had not yet borne our flag to the uttermost parts of the earth, the vast and fer- tile region west of the Mississippi was yet scarce- ly trod by the foot of white man; and the pos- sibilities of our country were unrealized. The state of New York, which so long has boasted its greatness as the empire state of our Union, was still primarily an agricultural region, in which manufacturing enterprises had not been estab- lished. Schools were few and Mr. Thompson, who was born in that state in 1824, found that text books of that day were few in number and crude in quality. His school days were passed at Salem, Washington county, which was the home of his parents, William E. and Anna Desire (Brown) Thompson, the former of whom was a mechanic by trade. Several generations of the family resided in New York, having drifted there from New England during the early days. Upon starting out in the world for himself John C. Thompson was attracted by the possi- bilities of the great unknown northwest and he was influenced to cast his fortunes in with the frontier region of Minnesota, whither he came in 1855, settling in Blue Earth county. Shortly after his arrival he took up a quarter section of -government land and immediately began the^ arduous task of placing the tract under culti- 594 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. vation, turning the first furrows in the sod and erecting the first set of buildings on the farm. Here he lived and labored for many years with varying success. At times fortune favored his undaunted efforts, but there were other seasons when he suffered reverses and endured mis- fortunes. Finally he retired from agricultural pursuits in 1903 and removed to Garden City. The first marriage of Mr. Thompson took place in 1847 and united him with Esther Derby, who died some years afterv^ard, leaving two sons and one daughter. Afterward he was united with Olive Nicholson who was born in Essex county, ISTew York, 1829, and by whom he has five daugh- ters and three sons, namely: Emma, Mary, Nel- lie, Alpha and Olive; Miles, Henry, Myron. Nel- lie and Miles are deceased. All of the children are married and happily established in homes of their own. The family hold membership in the Christian church and always have been generous contribu- tors to religious and educational movements, believing that the permanent prosperity of any region depends upon the moral worth of its citi- zens. Politically Mr. Thompson voted with the Democratic party ever since he attained his ma- jority, and more than once he was chosen, to oc- cupy positions of responsibility within the gift of the people of his township, all of which posi- tions he filled with fidelity and accuracy. Devo- tion to the welfare of township and county was apparent through all the long period of his resi- dence here. As a citizen he was upright, pat- riotic and honorable, and in all of his relations with his fellowmen he proved himself to be worthy of their confidence and esteem. Mr. Thompson died at the home of his daughter, Olive Thurston, Nov. 20, 1908 of heart failure. THOMPSON, JAMES R.— Through an offi- cial connection with the county of Blue Earth extending from the year 1890 to the present time, Mr. Thompson has been influential in pro- moting the material welfare of this locality and has been especially helpful along the lines of surveying and engineering, in both of which he is recognized as an expert. In 1890 he was chosen to occupy the office of county surveyor and continued in that capacity for four years. During 1897 his talents received merited recog- liition through his selection as city engineer of Mankato, which position he filled satisfactorily to all, and during that time many improvements of an important nature have been made. In all of the work which he superintends skill and thoroughness are apparent. Working in a quiet, painstaking manner, he achieves results that prove him to be a thorough and progressive en- gineer, and fis such he has won general recogni- tion. Tracing the history of the Thompson family, ■\vc find them descendants of New England an- cestry.. As early as 1855-56 two brothers, David and William R. Thompson, settled on the Wat- onwan in Blue Earth county, Minnesota. There were three sons in the family of William R., namely : John C. and William, of Yernon towriship; and George, who removed ■ to the state of Washington. David had two sons, namely: Edward, who in 1854 settled in Gar- den City and became one of the very earliest pioneers of that town; and James G., a native of New York, and after 1856 a reside !it of Blue Earth county, Minnesota. The last named, James G., enlisted at the opening of the Civil war as a member of Company E, Ninth Min- nesota Infantry. During the progress of the vrar he was commissioned captain in the Sixty- eighth United States Colored Infantry, and later became major of that regiment. Returning to Minnesota at the close of the war, he later was elected a member of the state legislature, in which he served for one term. For six and one- half years he officiated as collector of customs at Bottineau, North Dakota, and for four years he held office as auditor of the county of the same name. At the expiration of his official labors he returned to Mankato, and May 26, 1899, his death occurred in this city. During the residence of James G. and Erances Thompson at Garden City, Minnesota, their son, Jsmes R., was born March 3, 1860. His educa- tion was received in the various places where the family lived and in 1882 he was graduated from the Mankato high school, after which he took up the study of civil engineering. For three years he was employed in railroad con- struction work, and since then he has been en- BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 595 gaged in liis work as a. county officer for the ' greater part of the time. Official honors liave come to him hy reason of his fitness for such work, rather than as a recompense for political activity. Indeed, he has taken no part whatever in politics aside from voting the Democratic ticket in national elections. In many offices he ; believes that less attention should be given to si- the opinions of the candidate concerning tariff, the currency issue, the trusts, etc., and more at- tention should be given to his personal qualifi- cations, his integrity-, intelligence and fidelity to duty. Fraternally he holds membership with the Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Eoyal Arcanum. October 30, 1889, he was united in marriage with ISTellie J., daughter of Hon. Lysander Cook, a man of considerable pi'ominence in Lyra township. Blue Earth coun- ty. They are the parents of one son, James Lysander Thompson. THUESTOX, FEAXK.— For more than fifty years the Thurston family has been identified with the history of Blue Earth coimty. Coming here during the year 185G, it fell to the lot of Eufus Thurston to experience all the hardships incident to frontier e.xistence. Indians were rumerous and at times outbreaks from them threw the settlements into deadly danger. Their depredations continued for some years and until they were finally removed by the government til points more remote from the white settlers. There were other dangers besides those from savages. The climate was severe and the win- ters long and trying. Often the stock was lost in storms and the farmer found himself cut off from all communication with- the outside world for weeks and even months at a time. Flour and other necessities were hauled from long dis- tances. The log cabins weie illy equipped to carry a family in comfort through the long winter months, nor were the prnvi-ions for the stock any more satisfactory. The log cabin occupied by the family stood in Ceresco township. Blue Earth county, and here Frank Thurston was born October 10, 1856, a few months after his parents, Eufus and Esther (Sharratt) Thurston, had settled on the land. The father was born in Licking county, Ohio, and diTring early life engaged in farming in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, but in the spring of 1856, arrived in Mankato, Minnesota, where he remained for two weeks while seeking for a suitable homestead. During June, he brought his wife to the tract which ever since has re- mained in the possession of the family. In 1857 he was obliged to take his family back to Man- kato where some three or four families lived in the school house during the Spirit Lake mas- sacre, and to remain until the Indians ceased their depredations, and his losses were heavy through the stealing of clothing, groceries and stock by the red men. Countless hardships were endured by him and his wife in their effort to build up a home and rear their children in the midst of such dangers as threatened them from the In- dians, besides the usual laborious tasks incident to frontier existence. He always felt that he should have been paid something for the heavy loss he sustained at the time of the New IJlm Massacre in 1862. It was his privilege to be spared to rejoice in the higher civilization that came in later days and when he died Sep- tember 12. 1896, he left to his descendants the memory of a pioneer life bravely lived and count- less obstacles valiantly surmounted. The labor of clearing and improving a large tract of raw land left Eufus Thurston little leisure for participation in public affairs and he held no official positions except that of treasurer cf Ceresco township. After the organization of the Eepublican party he always voted that ticket. In his family there were three children, of whom the second son, Sherman, is now living in Garden City township, he married Nellie Thompson who bore him one son, but she died when the boy was hut seven years old ; he then married Ollie Thompson, a sister of Nellie: they were daughters of Mr. and Mr=. J. C. Thompson of Ceresco, by the last marriage there were five children. The youngest child and only daughter, Mae, married C. C. Francis, a farmer of Ceresco township and the present town clerk. The widowed mother is still living, loved and honored hy all. and her home is with her son, Frank, on the farm where she came as a young wife more than fifty years ago. The estate 596 BTOGEAPHICAL HTSTOEY. comprises six hundred and eighty acres, of which four hundred and fiftj' acres are under cultivation, while the balance is in pasturage and in timber. All of the improvements have been made by the Thurston family. Poland-China hogs and Oxford sheep are specialties of the present owner, who has met with gratifying suc- cess in raising the same, while at the same time he also is an experienced general farmer. Like his father, he votes the Republican ticket and like him he has served as and is now township treas- urer. In religious belief he is identified with the Christian church and has been a generous con- tributor to the missionary movements and gen- eral maintenance of that organization. TINKCOM, JAMES EAY.— For more than half a century a resident of Mankato, James P- Tinkcom, the veteran druggist, real estate dealer and all-round good citizen, finds him- self more firmly fixed in the confidence and af- fection of its people than when he came to the place as an energetic able young New Yorker with most of his life lying in the unknown future. Whatever his individual opinion as to the out- come, if his relatives and many friends could have him live it again they would not have it different, as it has been filled with good and useful works prompted by the ambitions of the nonnal man, by the faithful forehandedness of the ideal American of family, and by the higher spirit of Christian helpfulness, charity and up- lifting grace. Such men make the United States what it is — a nation whose inspiring messages to the world also carry with them the weight of piactical achievement. Mr. Tinkcom is a son of the Empire State, born at Mayville, January 29, 1821, the son of Hezekiah and Anna (Sprague) Tinkcom, his father being proprietor of a hoted there for many years, as well as Sheriff of Chautauqua County and altogether a citizen of weight and honor in the public affairs of his locality. The boy was industrious and studious, and after re- ceiving an academic education, seemed destined for a professional career. In 1841, he began the study of medicine, but although he was a student for two years he never engaged in practice. His investigations in the field of materia medica, however, induced him to venture into the manu- facture of medicines for a short time, then he kept his father's hotel for a brief period and for five years before coming to Mankato was engaged in the grocery business. Arriving at Mankato on the 10th of Novem- ber, 1856, Mr. Tinkcom was so taken with the beauty and promise of the place that he decided to look no further for a western location. After purchasing some property he returned to his home i:i May^alle, closed up his affairs there and in the following spring, with his wife, commenced hi? long and honorable life in his adopted town. At first he formed a partnership in the general merchandising business with A. E. Hawley, a New York acquaintance, and they erected a store on the lot now occupied by the L. Patter- son wholesale house, and under the firm name of A. F. Hawley & Company they conducted the enterprise until 1861. In the spring of that year the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Tinkcom entered the drug business, to which his early studies and natural disposition especially adapted him, his thorough knowledge, courtesy and ability bringing to him so large a trade that he was soon proprietor of two prosperous stores, one was in charge of Jason E. Wickersham. He had the foresight to invest his business profits in real estate, and in 1873, laid out an addi- tion on the south side of Mankato. Since 1863, in fact, he has devoted his entire attention to his large real estate interests, that is, in the field of business, but not to the exclusion of public and religious affairs. He is an old-time Demo- crat and has well served the people of Mankato for one term as City Treasurer. In religion hr is a firm believer in Episcopalianism and was one of the organizers of the local church. Married on the 2d of May, 1851, to Miss Laura A, Davis, at Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania, Mr. Tinkcom was blessed with a happy married life whose span even passed the limits of the golden anniversary, his wife leaving him in 1904, at the venerable age of seventy-four. They were the parents of one child Mary L., wife of 0. G. Lundberg, and herself the mother of Auglde Estella. Mr. Tinkcom has one sister of the five children in his family, Mary by name and a resident of Conneautville, Pennsylvania. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 597 TKAVEBSE, C. W.— Lifelong residence in Vernon Center township, attendance at its schools and acquaintance among its leading citizens, have endeared to Mr. Traverse this portion of Blue Earth count}-. While he is yet a young man he already has won a distinctive position among the farmers of the township and displays wise judg- ment as well as energy in the management of his quarter section farm. Care and cultivation have been bestowed upon the tract, all of which is under the plow and divided by fences into fields of convenient size. The crops are such as suit the soil and latitude, and in addition to general farming the owner gives some attention to the raising of shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, in which he has been successful. Born in Vernon Center township July 22, 1877, C. W. Traverse is the only surviving son of Thomas J. and Margaret M. (Hinton) Tra- verse. There were eleven children in the family, but all are deceased except C. W. and three sis- ters, namely: Eva, who married George Blair; Jane, Mrs. Arthur Edgerton; and Julia, who is the wife of Walter Fleming. The father was born at Ogdensburg, New York, in 1837, and upon starting out to make his own way in the world sought a home in the northwest, where he bought a tract of raw land in Vernon Center township as early as 1861:. Diligent industry re- sulted in the improving of the land and the placing of various important improvements on the property, and here he remained until his death, which occurred in 1906. Politically he al- ways voted with the Eepublican party. While Qot solicitous for office he consented to fill a number of local positions of trust. Loyal to the welfare of the county, he was helpful in promot- ing movements for the benefit of the pioneers and under every circumstance proved himself to be courageous, resolute and public-spirited. After the brutal murder of the Jewett family by In- dians he joined the whites in pursuit of the savages, whom he had the satisfaction of assist- ing to capture. The marriage of C. W. Traverse and Libbie M. Thompson was solemnized in September, 1902, in Blue Earth county, the bride being a daughter of J. G. and Elizabeth Thompson, prominent and honored old settlers of the county. Two children, Margaret and Eoyal, bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Traverse and brighten their home with their cheerful presence. The mother of Mr. Traverse also makes her home with them and the evening of her life is brightened by their affectionate ministrations. The home of the fam- ily attracts many visitors from among their neigh- bors and friends, and a hospitable welcome awaits all. For years Mr. Traverse has been active in the work of the Christian charch and a contribu- tor to its maintenance, as well as to other worthy movements for the well-being of the community. TEUB, JAY W.— The lineage of the True family is traced back to colonial patriots of New England. One of the ancestors enlisted at the opening of the Eevolutionary war and endured all the hardships of that memorable struggle, re- maining at the front until the colonies had gained their final victory. At the close of the war he settled on a farm at Centre Harbor, New Hampshire. Two generations lived on that old homestead. There Charles 0. True, a grandson of the Eevolutionary hero, was born and reared. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted, bui was rejected on account of poor health. How- ever, in 1862 he was accepted as a soldier and remained in the service until the close of the re- bellion. During early manhood he was employed in the Baldwin locomotive works, but after 186y he engaged in farm pursuits in Minnesota. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah A. Page, was a descendant, both on the paternal side and through the maternal side (the Cam- bridge family), of Welsh and English progenitors identified with the early settlement of New England. Jay W. True was born at Lowell, Massachus- sets, February 7, 1867, and was two years of age when the family came to Minnesota. After studying in the country schools and Winnebago high school, he entered the Mankato normal school, from which he was graduated in 1891; Soon afterward he took up civil engineering in a special course, but owing to poor health was obliged to relinquish hope of entering that pro- fession. From childhood he was fond of country life and enjoyed spending his vacations from 598 BIOGRAPHICAL. HISTOEY. school upon the farm, engaged in duties devolv- ing on an agriculturist. While in the normal school he was business manger of a school pub- lication and in this capacity obtained a business acquaintance with the Free Press Printing Com- pany of Mankato. When obliged to abandon civil engineering, he secured a position in the business department of the Free Press Printing Company. Under the postmaster, W. W. P. Mc- Connell, he was appointed assistant postmaster of Mankato, and filled the position until the change of administration in 1894. For a time he engaged in the retail grocery business, after which he embarked in the. printing and box making business, and later was connected with Brown, Tracy & Sperry, manufacturing printers, ■ of St. Paul. January 1, 1896, he returned to the Free Press Printing Company's office and for six years worked constantly to build up the manufacturing department of the business. In 1902 he and M. D. Fritz and F. W. Hunt each purchased a one-third interest in the newspaper and manufacturing business of the Free Press Printing Company, which since they have con- ducted with gratifying success. Although reared a Democrat, Mr. True was not in sympathy with the theories advanced by William J. Bryan concerning a silver standard, and he is now an ardent admirer and supporter of the Eoosevelt administration. When twenty- one years of age he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and since then he has become identified with the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, United Order of Foresters and Modern Brotherhood of America, also in 1905 became a member of the camp of Elks at Mankato. His early religious training and associations were with the Universalists, but as this denomination has no house of worship in Mankato, his family attend' the Presbyterian church. July 13, 1892, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Eliza- beth Bottomley, of Nashville, Minnesota, the daughter of an English family who after a num- ber of years in New England came to Minne- sota and engaged in farming. Her father, Seth Bottomley, was one of the best-known advocates of farmers' interests in the northwest and was a writer of no small ability on political and farm topics for the agricultural .papers of this state. ULRICH, WILLIAM A.— The commercial activities of Blue Earth county have a well- known and resourceful representative in the per- son of William A. Ulrich, a native-born son of Minnesota and one of the rising young men of his county. The family of which he is a mem- ber belongs to German stock, his father, Julius, and grandfather, Gottlieb Ulrich, haviag been natives of Germany. As early as 1853 the lat- ter crossed the ocean to the new world and pro- ceeded westward until he had arrived in Wiscon- sin, where he secured a tract of raw land and embarked in the tedious task of transforming the same into a fertile farm. For years he lived in that state, industriously following his chosen occupation. During the year 1871 he moved to Minnesota and secured land near Waseca and Janesville, where again he engaged in the toil- some labor of building up a good farm. Early iu the '90s he came to Amboy, Blue Earth county, and here made his home until death. On the home farm near Janesville, Waseca county, Minnesota, William A. Ulrich was born in 1875, and there be passed the uneventful years of boyhood, alternating attendance at school in winter with work on the farm in sum- mer. After leaving school he gave his entire attention to farm work for some time, but at the age of twenty-five years he went into the village of Janesville and engaged as clerk in a store for seven months. From that village he came to Willow Creek, Blue Earth county, where he clerked in the general store of his cousin for iwo years and three months. Meanwhile the cousin purchased a store at Lewisville, Minne- sota, and Mr. Ulrich was sent to that place to assume the management of the business, in which he bought an interest at the expiration of four months as manager. Two years later the store was sold and he returned to Willow Creek, where he bought his cousin's store and has since conducted the business. The trade extends for miles in all directions and by fair treatment he has made friends of his customers. The stock includes merchandise, groceries, hardware, and the various additional items to be found in a first-class country store. At the age of about thirty years Mr. Ulrich established domestic ties. His marriage oc- ADOLPH J. VEIGEL. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 599 curred June 14, 1905, and united him with Miss Emma Ludtke, who was born in Pleasant Mound township, Blue Earth county, being a daughter of Amel Ludtke, one of the industrious farmers of the locality. During the period of his resi- dtnce in Lewisville Mr. Ulrich was a member of the village council and also served as a notary public. Since his return to Willow Cieek he has acted as treasurer of Pleasant ilound township and has evinced a warm interest in town affairs,, being a leading local worker in the Eepublican party and a member of the county central com- mittee. Progressive citizenship and devotion to the welfare of the town have won for him the confidence of the people and have contributed to his well-deserved success. ULEICH, WILLIAM P.— Conspicuous among the improved farms of Eapidan township is the homestead of William F. Ulrich, who owns One hundred and ninety acres, all of which is under cultivation excepting ten acres. When he ac- quired the property no attempt had been made at improvement and the present thrifty condi- tion of the estate proves his judgment and en ■ i.'igy as a farmer. The wild land has been transformed into fertile acres under his intelli- gent oversight. All of the trees on the place have been set out (since he came here and other improvements have been made conducive both to beauty and to comfort. Barns furnish facili- ties for the storage of grain and the shelter of stock, of which latter he owns some fine Short- horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. All of his property has been accumulated by hard work and furnishes conclusive proof as to his ability and sagacity. Born in Prussia October 36, 1852, William P. Ulrich was fourteen years of age when in 1866 he crossed the ocean with his parents, Charles F; and Dora (Moore) Ulrich, natives of Germany. Immediately after landing they pro- ceeded westward across the country until they ar- rived in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where the father took up a tract of raw land in Eapi- dan township. The property is now owned by a son, Charles Jr. While living in the old country the father had followed the blacksmith's trade. hut after coming to the United States he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until his death at the old home. Of his family of eight children all bu^- two are still living, the youngest being William F., who received a fair German and English education and is a well-informed man. While it was not possible for him to attend school regularly after he came to the Uunited States he possessed habits of study and close observation and in that way acquired considerable knowledge of the most valuable kind. Thoroughly under- standing the soil of the county he knows how to secure from its cultivation the largest returns and by experience he has become a skilled farmer. The marriage of Mr. Ulrich took place during the year 1875 and united him with Miss Lena Wingen, member of a pioneer family concerning whom mention is made in the sketch of A. J. Wingen. Three sons comprise their family. William and Edward operate a general store at Good Thunder. Jacob, the youngest, is a grad- uate of the Mankato Business College. The principles advocated by the Democratic party have received the stanch support of Mr. Ulrich ever since he attained his majority and he may always be relied upon to support party mead- ures. While not solicitous of official honors, he consented to fill the position of roadmaster and in that capacity accomplished much toward im- proving the highways of his township. Giving- liis attention closely to farm pursuits, he has not had leisure for participation in public af- fairs or in fraternities and does not hold mem- bership in any social or fraternal organization. VEIGEL, ADOLPH J.— The postmaster of Mankato is a native of the county where he now resides and was born near Indian Lake on No- vember 30, 1872, being a son of Charles and Susan (Lentz) Veigel, natives of Germany. Dur- ing the pioneer history of Minnesota, the parents became residents of the state, where they grew to maturity and were married. As early as 1855, the father came to Blue Earth county and took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Mankato township, where from a raw tract of land he developed an improved farm. To se- cure such a home, many privations were encoun- 600 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. tered and bravely endured. In addition to meet- ing all the hardships incident to building up a homestead in a new region, he suffered the hard- ships of war, being for three years a soldier in the Civil war. Before old age had come to him he had won a fair degree of agricultural suc- cess and ranked among the prosperous men of his township. He died in 1899 at the age of sixty-three years. Surviving him are his widow and their four children, the latter being named as follows : Walter E., who is employed as United States surveyor and city engineer of Dickinson, Stark county. North Dakota; Adel- bert L., a farmer of Mankato township residing on the old homestead, and also filling the posi- tion of manager of the Mankato Dairy Associa- tion; Amanda V., wife of P. D. McKellar, county auditor of Jackson county, this state; and Adolph J., of Mankato. A. J. Veigel, after completing his studies in the public schools, attended the Mankato Normal School, graduating from the advanced course in 1893, and also the Mankato Commercial Col- lege. He taught school in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and on his return to Blue Earth county secured a position as traveling salesman for the Mankato Free Press. June 1, 1898, un- der Postmaster L. P. Hunt, he was appointed assistant postmaster of Mankato, and afterward continued in the same position with C. L. Bene- dict, his retention under the two administrations proving conclusively his intelligence, ability, and fitness for the position. He was appointed post- master of Mankato by President Eoosevelt and took charge of the office on March 17, 1907. Stanch in his allegiance to the Eepublican party, he has taken an active interest in national and state politics and wields considerable influence in local affairs of that character. October 10, 1898, he was united in marriage with Mary A. McGivney of Mankato, daughter of Peter and Catherine McGivney. He is an active worker in the Mankato Commercial Club. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of. Odd Fel- lows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the Eoyal Arcanum, in which latter he has been prominently associated with Mankato Coun- cil No. 1520, and at this writing officiates as its Eegent. VEANIZAN, PD^REE L.— After a long ill- ness bravely borne, and at the end of a life in which were blended practical business achieve- ments and more than average travel and adven- ture, Pierre L. Vranizan passed from^ the ken of the people of Mankato, many of whom had known him intimately and well as a promoter of the commercial, social, intellectual and moral v\- elf are of the community. Mr. Vranizan intro- duced in his adopted city human elements singu- larly interesting, alert and adaptive, which, doubtless came of association with many parts and peoples of the world. His very origin sug- gested a multiplicity of characteristics more or less picturesque and unusual, for he was born in the Island of Cittavechio, Dalmation, on the west coast of the Adriatic sea, November 3, 1839, and his formative period was spent among the wanders from many climes who persue their diversified occupations in this particular part of the Austrian empire. From the ships which came and went cease- lessly, bringing news of the possibilities of other parts of the world, Mr. Vranizan gained that noble unrest which resulted in his uprooting himself from his native island in 1859, and with all the enthusiasm and faith of a lad of twenty, he started upon a, tour of -adventure, visiting many parts of Europe and Asia, and finally ar- riving in London, England, where seemed to be centered the well worn avenues to all the nooks of the world. In his quest for adventure he was inspired by still another motive, that of escaping conscription duty in Italy, as the army of that country occupied Dalmatia at that time, and was forcing all able bodied sons of the land into ihe service. At the port of London he took passage to Auckland, New Zealand, and on board ship met his future bride, Anna Dabner, Avith whom he was united in marriage August 16, 1866, in the quaint city of Auckland. In April, 1873, Mr. Vranizan left Auckland on the United States steamer, Nebraska, and the following June arrived at the port of San Fran- cisco. Journeying eastward to La Crosse, Wis- consin, he engaged in business until 1876, in which year he moved to Eochester, Minnesota, ten years later locating in Mankato, which re- mained his headquarters for the balance of his BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 601 life. Por fourteen years he engaged as a com- mercial traveler, but finally retired from active life, his industry and thrift having insured him against the emergencies of the future. Two years before his death he retraced his steps around the viforld, visiting his birthplace among the still unchanged conditions of the Adriatic, and for a time sojourning with his brother in New Zealand, a miner by occupation, and who at one time visited in Mankato. He journeyed also to London, England, renewing his acquain- tance with landmarks with which he had fa- miliarized himself at the beginning of his wan- derings, and while in the foggy paradise of the English contracted the illness which weakened his system, and directly led to his regretted transition. He is survived by his wife and one . of his three daughters, Mrs. W. G. Hoerr. Miss Pauline Vranizan and Mrs. Grove E. John- son are the two deceased daughters of the house- hold. Eminently social in his inclinations, Mr. Vranizan was a member for many years of the Masons, and had attained the rank of Knights Templar. He was a valuable addition to the lodges, having a splendid memory, and diversi- fied social attainments. He was one of the most interesting conversationalists in the city, and his accounts of the peoples and incidents in other lands always- was entertaining and informing. He was a man whom to know was to respect and admire, and his life and character might well serve as an inspiration to the forceful, inquiring younger generation. WAENEE, AMOS.— No contradiction will be given the statement that the present prosperity of Blue Earth county may be attributed primarily to the self-sacrificing efforts of pioneers. Every- where it is recognized that such is the bare state- ment of an established fact. A noteworthy position among the pioneers of Garden City township is held by Amos Warner, who as early as 1856 brought his young wife to Minnesota and settled in the locality whose development he has since witnessed and whose progress he has fostered. Contrasting the past with the present, he recalls that Indians were numerous in those far-distant days and often bands of hostile savages would bring peril to the little frontier settlement. The few white settlers were bound together by the ties of common danger and a common ambition and friendships were formed that naught but death could sever. While more than fifty years of the life of Amos Warner have been passed in Minnesota, he is of eastern birth and parentage, and was born in 1822 in Chenango county, New York, his birth occurring five days after the death of his father, Ephriam Warner, a native of Massachu- setts and a farmer by occupation. The mother bore the maiden name of Sarah Hill and was born and reared in New York. The scarcity of schools and the poverty of the family, made it impossible for Mr. Warner to receive first-class educational advantages, but he availed himself to the utmost of the meagre opportunities offered. Upon starting out to make his own way in the world he was led to the then frontier in search of cheap lands. His first experience was in Indi- ana, where he remained from 1811 to 1846. Next he removed to Iowa, and two years later estab- lished himself among the pioneers of Wisconsin, where he remained until his removal to Minne- sota. During the period of his residence in Wis* consin he was united in marriage in 1854 with Aurelia Dilley of that state. They are the par- ents of three sons and two daughters, one daught- er is married and lives in Minneapolis and the other is a widow and lives with her parents. The sons reside respectively in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth, where they occupy responsible posi- tions and possess many friends. Prom the organization of the Republican party j\lr. Warner has been in sympathy with its tenets and a voter for its candidates. While making his home in Wisconsin he was chosen to occupy a number of important local positions and these he filled with faithfulness and efficiency. Since coming to ^Minnesota he has ably repre- sented his township as a member of the county board of supervisors and also has officiated in the capacity of township treasurer, to both of which positions he was elected on the Republi- can ticket. Years ago he and his wife identified themselves with the Methodist Episcopal church and ever since then they have been contributors 602 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. to its missioDary enterprises and faithful to its doctrines. In the twilight of their busy years they are surrounded by the esteem of friends, the devotion of children and the coniidence of associates. In their neat and quiet country home they welcome their many friends and frequently tliey entertain them by thrilling narratives of their experiences with Indians and their constant danger from the depredations of the red man. WAENEE, M. D., CHAELES P.— During the long period of his residence in Mankato, Dr. Warner has been a leader in all movements for securing the permanent progress and prosperity of the place. Not alone in his profession, in which he long has been recognized as skilled and painstaking, but along all lines of important ac- tivity he has been an influential local factor, con- tributing of time, influence, judgment and means to the furtherance of progressive projects. As an instance of his far-seeing judgment, it may be mentioned that he was an ardent worker in the plan for the purchase of .Sibley park by the city. There are few spots in Minnesota more beautiful than this picturesque tract of seventy acres and its ownership by the city renders a convenience for the citizens to enjoy delightful days near home during the summer months. An admirer of attractive scenery, the doctor has en- joyed with particular pleasure the landscape en- vironment of Blue Earth county, with its thirty or more lakes and its five rivers rendered beauti- ful by high bluffs, sharp curves and wooded islands. Indeed, in our own midst are the beau- ties of land and water that many seek in other climes in vain. Of eastern birth and parentage. Dr. Warner was born at Covington, Genesee county. New York, August 30, 1832, being a son of Dr. Eben Warner, who for twenty years practiced medicine at ' Covington and for years of his later life held rank among the successful physicians of Nunda, New York. The education of Charles F. Warner was begun in local schools and continued in the Wesleyan seminary at Lima, New York, after which he took up medical studies in his father's ofEice. Upon the death of his father in 1852 he matriculated in Jefferson Medical col- lege, of Philadelphia, where he took the com- plete course of lectures and was graduated in March, 1854. Eeturning to Nunda, he took up the practice of his profession and soon rose to a position of prominence as a rising young physi- cian. At the opening of the Civil war he offered his services to the Union and was accepted, be- coming first assistant surgeon of the One Hun- dred and Thirty-sixth New York Infantry. Later he was commissioned surgeon of the Pifty-eighth New York National Guard. Discontinuing his practice at Nunda, New York, Dr. Warner closed out his interests there in 1869 and removed to Minnesota, opening an office at Mankato, where he has continued in ac- tive practice up to the present time. Por two terms he held office as county physician, and for about twelve years he was city health officer. Upon the founding of the Minnesota Valley Medical Association he was a prime worker, he was honored with the office of president in 1882. Prom that time to the present he has retained a warm interest in the society. Por twenty-four years he has been a member of the American Medical Association, and since 1893 he has affil- iated with the International Eailway Surgeons' Association. Besides his regular practice he has acted since 1882 as local surgeon for the 'Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Chicago-Northwestern, and the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Eailroads. Immediately after leaving the medical college and entering upon professional life. Dr. Warner established a home of his own, being united with Miss Esther S. Town, of Nunda, New York. Three children came to bless their union, and two of these lived to mature years, namely: Clayton E., who died in February, 1901; and Mrs. Lillaette W. Baker. Aside from his prominence professionally. Dr. Warner has been active in civic affairs and has served his fellow citizens in various capacities. In 1873 he was elected an alderman and was honored by being chosen presi- dent of the common council. Not the least im- portant acts of his civic life was his identification with the securing of waterworks for the city, a needed improvement that has contributed much to the growth and health of the city. At on€ time he was president of the Mankato Driving DR. C. F. WARNER. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 603 Park Association. The fact that he was in- fluenced to cast in his lot with the people of Mankato many years ago is to be regarded as a fortunate happening for the city, for the citizen- ship of a progressive, public-spirited man is of unquestioned value in securing to any city its most substantial progress and permanent devel- opment. WARREN, M. B.— More than one-half cen- tury has passed since Mr. Warren sought a home amid the primeval surroundings of Blue Earth county and began the arduous task of developing a tract of raw land into a profitable estata. Through all of the period that his since elapsed he has made his home in Vernon Center town- ship and engaged in agricultural pursuits untiJ advancing years and the accumulation of a competency rendered further efforts undesirable and unneeded. Looking back over the past fifty years he sees the wonderful transformation wrought by the pioneers. Indians were numerous in the early period of his residence here and more than once his life and property were im- periled by their depredations. Pie witnessed the execution of the 38 Sioux Indians. White settlers were few, but these few were bound together by ties of a common ambition and a common peril. New settlers were given a hearty welcome and hospitality was a part of the creed of the pioneer. Born in New York state in 1826, M. B. Warren is a son of Sylvanus and Betsy (Fair- child) Warren, natives respectively of New York and Vermont. The father was by occupation a farmer and in search of new land he removed from the east to Michigan, two years later going to Wisconsin but later returning to ilichigan, where he and his wife remained until their death. Fourteen children comprised their family,- of whom the survivors are Harriet, Marshall, and M. B. The last-named grew to manhood on the home farm and early learned lessons of self-reliance and patient industry. The family being poor and the children numerous, he took up the burden of self-support at an age when most boys are attending school. During 1851 he married Sarah J., daughter of John and Lu- cinda (Brooks) Nicholson, natives of Ohio and farmers by occupation. Her mother died in Wis- consin and her father passed his last days in Blue Earth county. The identification of Mr. \\'arren with the agricultural development of Vernon Center town- ship dates from the year 1857, when he took up land here and began to till the soil. At this writing he owns sixty acres of land, forty acres of the tract lying within the corporate limits of Vernon Center village. All that he has came through his unaided afforts. No one as- sisted him to secure a start in life and he did not even possess the advantage of a good edu- cation; in spite of such handicaps he attained a competency and became a farmer of consider- able influence in his township. Of recent years he has been retired from active labors and has turned over to others the management of his land. His tastes have rendered him averse to official positions and he has refused all offices except such as are connected with the schools. However, he has never failed to keep posted con- cerning the issues before our countr}- and has been stanchly loyal to his county and common- wealth. In early manhood he voted with the Prohibitionists, and he still is in hearty sym- pathy with the movement for the suppression of the liquor traffic. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Warren con- sists of six living children, and two, Alice and Grace, are deceased. The eldest son, Ira E., operates a farm in Vernon Center township. The second son, Edward, is proprietor of a store at Vernon Center. Willis received an excellent education, studied theology, became a minister in the Congregational denomination and at this writing makes his home at Lake City. The youngest son, Carlos, is engaged in farming the old homestead. Ada is living at Clear Lake, South Dakota, and Sadie married Edward Barnes, who is interested in farming and also carries on mercantile pursuits at Vernon Center. WEBSTER, M. D., I. DANIEL.— At an early period in the colonization of America the Web- ster and King families became identiflcd with the settlement of Lancaster county, and, being stanch members of the Society of Friends, they 604 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. organized a congregation of that sect in their new home. Later generations were prominent in the development of the county and in the growth of the churcli. The two families be- came connected through the marriage of I. Daniel Webster^ Sv., and Phoebe Eing, both of M'hom were born and reared in Lancaster county, and settled after marriage upon a farm in the vicinity of their birthplace. When the Civil wax began he enlisted in the Union army and rose to the command of his company. During the closing year of the war he died at the age of thirty-three. A few years afterward the widowed mother removed to Minneapolis and ill 1869, settled at Mankato, where ehe passed away in November, 1883, at the age of forty- nine years. Of her three children the youngest, his father's namesake, alone survives. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 12, 1865, and was four years of age when his mother brought him to Mankato. After her death he returned to the county of his birth and spent one year in college preparatory work, after which he matriculated in Swathmore col- lege. Completing the course of study in the spring of 1887, he then traveled in Europe for a few months, and in the fall of the same year returned to America, entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1890, winning the first prize for surgical dressing at the time of his graduation. While in college he made a record in athletics and won the amateur championship in running high jump. After a year's work as interne in a hospi- tal and a few months in post-graduate work, during the fall of 1891, Dr. Webster returned to his childhood's home, Mankato, where he since won a high position as a physician and surgeon. May 10, 1893, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Anna Mary Jackson, who was born at Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, being a daugh- ter of Howard M. Jenkins, editor of the Friend's Intelligencer and Journal, of Philadelphia. Dr. and Mrs. Webster are earnest members of the Society of Friends and in that faith they axe training their children, Dorothea, Agnes, Eliza- beth, Allan King and Phillip Jenkins. The doctor's fraternal connections include member- ship in the Knights of Pythis, Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. While he has to a large degree limited his attention to the care of his large practice, this has not caused him to lose sight of his duties as a citizen. Measures fox the general welfare receive his hearty co-operation. When a company was organized for the estab- lishment of a telephone system, in Mankato, he gave his enthusiastic support to the plan and has since served as a director of the com- pany owning the system. The Citizens Bank of Mankato also numbers him among its directors. As a silent partner he has membership in the S. D. Worlis Company and the Works-Evarts Lumber Company. All through the years of his residence here he has been a champion of educational, religious and commercial move- ments, believing each to be essential in the up- building of an ideal city and a contented citi- zenship. WERGES, KASPER H.— The establishment of the Werges family in the United States had its origin in the emigration in 1848 of Frederick AV. Werges, a native of Hanover, and of ancient Teutonic ancestry. Prior to his emigration he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the shoe- maker's trade while serving as an apprentice, and this occupation he followed fon a time in the new world. After having spent two years in St. Louis, in 1850 he removed to Cincinnati, and in 1852 became a pioneer of Iowa, whence, in 1857, he came to Minnesota, settling in Sib- ley county. With two other families he settled in Kelso township twelve miles from their near- est neighbors. Privations and haxdships fell to his lot, but eventually he won a fair degree of success. On his farm there was a rich black loam with a clay subsoil, practically the same a.s in Blue Eaith county, and a soil of such depth and rich quality enabled him to produce crops of considerable magnitude as well as fine quality. After a long period on the farm, dur- ing which time he witnessed the development of the country and the improving of valuable farms, he sold his place, and in January of 190(5' he passed away at the age of eighty-three years BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 605 and nine months. By his marriage to Catherine Marting, a native of Hanover, Germany, he had four eons and two daughters, all of whom are happily married and established in homes of their own. The eldest of the family, Kasper H., was born ir Clayton county, Iowa, May 19, 1856, and from his earliest recollections has been familiar with agricultural life in Minnesota, where he first attended country schools and then for a year was a pupil at St. Peter. Leaving the old homestead in 1874, he took up the trade of a carpenter and soon began to follow the same with such industry and application that he rose to be a contractor and builder, and took con- tracts for many buildings at Gaylord, Minnesota, his home town. Meanwhile he also became in- terested with a partner in the furniture business. During 1889 he sold out his interest in the fur- niture establishment and accepted a position as a'gent at Gaylord for the lumber firm of N"elson Tenney & Co., of Minneapolis. The following year he came to Amboy in the interests of the same firm, for whom he opened and conducted a yard. When the firm sold out to the C. L. Coleman Lumber Company in 1895, he was re- tained in the same position, which he has since filled satisfactorily to all concerned, having built up an extensive and important business in the town. His yard has a frontage of sixty-six feet, with a depth of one hundred and fifty feet, and a considerable portion of the space is under roof. Building material of all kinds is handled, also cement, tile, stone, ladders and fuel. On Christmas day of 1880 Mr. Werges was united in marriage with Minnie K. Mansfield, a native of Germany, and a danghter of Martin Mansfield, one of the pioneers of Dryden town- ship, Sibley county, this state. They are the parents of two sons, namely: W. H., now in the employ of the Northwestern Railroad Com- pany; and Martin H., who remains with his parents and is a student in local schools. In addition to his extensive lumber-yard interests, Mr. Werges has other business association of an important character, including the agency for the Hartford Fire Insurance Company and the Phoenix of Brooklyn. With Charles W. Cham- berlain as a partner, he has engaged extensively in taking contracts for cement sidewalks, for foundations of fai-m buildings, cement floors in stables, and indeed cement work of every de- scription and for the varied uses to which it is so admirably adapted. The recognized business ability of Mr. Werges has led to his selection to fill the important of- fice of president of the village council, while his deep interest in the securing of good schools has influenced him to accept ofliice on the school board, of which he is president at this writing. The schools of Amboy owe much to his intelli- g(.nt oversight and wise supervision. In frater- nal relations he is associated with the Modern Woodmen of America as clerk for Linden Camp No. 2330; the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, having passed the chairs in the Amboy lodge, of which he is now financial secretary, also past chief patriarch ; and the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen, of which during his association with Shelby lodge he acted as finan- cial secretary. WHEELEE, ALMON L.— The above named gentleman has just cause to take pride in the work of his hands, for through his industry, per- sistency and good business judgment Mankato has been generally benefited, and he has the special satisfaction of seeing in the construction of some of its finest buildings the honest and attractive output of his brick manufacturing plant. He was trained in the business and the industry '"Irom the ground up," or in his case the saying might be paraphrased, "from the ground down." With limited opportunities for acquir- ing an education, or advancement of any kind, he came to Mankato forty years ago, with just two dollars and fifty cents in his pocket, but with determination in his eye, he has since be- come one of the most prosperous brick manufac- turers in Southern Minnesota, and a most hon- ored citizen of his adopted city. Mr. Wheeler comes of Englisli ancestry on the paternal side and of Scotch on the maternal, his birthplace being Stockbridge, Wisconsin, and the day, January 30, 1851. The son of Samuel F. and Alice C. ( Dudley ) Wheeler, his parents were natives of Massachusetts, who removed to that 606 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. Wisconsin town a few years after their marriage, pre-empted land, returned to Massachusetts for twelve years, and then made the Badger state their home for seven years before coming to Min- nesota. For twenty years the family resided in McLeod and Meeker counties, Minnesota, after which the parents migrated still further west to Oregon, where they still live — the father, at the age of eighty-two, and the mother, aged eighty. Almon L. Wheeler is the second in a family of nine children, six boys and three girls. When he was a lad in Wisconsin he learned the art of brick making, and was superintendent of several plants before he located at Mankato. In 1887 he first established an independent business by purchasing twenty-six acres of land in N"orth Mankato from Dr. Lewis, and opening a brick yard in partnership with Oscar E. Bennett, under the firm name of Wheeler & Bennett. This con- nection has since continued and the enterprise has developed to large proportions. The twenty-six acres mentioned now embraces a portion of the village of ^STorth Mankato, where Mr. Wheeler has not only erected his own fine brick residence, but attractive homes for others. He has the honor of building the first house in the village of liorth Mankato, which is still well preserved and occupied. Many public buildings 'of the city of Mankato also contain evidences of the fine out- put of his firm, which has also established a plant at Wrenshall, Minnesota, with an annual capacity of siz million brick. Personally Mr. Wheeler is the owner of six hundred and twenty acres of land in Northern Minnesota, and is in every respect esteemed an enterprising, substan- tial and honorable member of the community. In 1873 Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Maria Cook, daughter of Andrew C. and Phelje (Belcher) Cook and granddaughter of the late Ex-Governor Belcher, an old and well known resident of N"ew Jersey. Outside of his domestic and social family circles, he is quite active in his fraternal relations, having filled all the chairs in tlie I. 0. 0. P. lodge and being identified with the B. P. 0. E. He is also active in the work of the Commercial Club, whose aims are both sO'- cial and toward the development of the business and industrial progress of Mankato. WHITE, PRANK W.— An influential position among the business industries of Amboy is held by the firm of White .fe Dredge, the senior mem- ber of which has been a resident of Blue Earth county since a lad of nine years. Long exper- ience in the lumber business qualifies him for the management of such interests, for he has gained a thorough knowledge of prices, values and materials, and is competent to buy and sell with sagacity and keen intelligence. In earlier years he carried on business with A. E. Salis- bury, now of Mankato, but at the expiration of seven years he purchased his partner's interest in the business. Since then he has had John H. Dredge as a partner, and the firm has car- ried a complete line of building material, stone, lime, cement, wood, coal, -^voven fire fencing and tile. The White family descends from old colonial ancestry, John White, a lifelong resident of New York state, was the father of Warren White, who was bom at Fort Edward, Washington county. New York, and in 1865 became a pio- neer of Minnesota, settling on a tract of unim- proved land in Sterling township, Blue Earth county. During the more than forty years that since have elapsed he has been identified with tJie agricultural development of the township and, although now eighty-four years of age, his interest in public affairs has not diminished nor has his progressive spirit waned. By his mar- riage to Emetine Bill, a native of Vermont, he became the father of five children, of whom Prank W. was fourth in order of birth, and was born in Onondaga county. New York, Septem- ber 27, 1856. At the age of nine years he came with the family to Sterling township, where for a few years he attended the country schools, and later engaged in teaching school. Upon starting out to earn an independent livelihood after he left the schoolroom, Mr. White engaged in the threshing business, and tlien bought land in Sterling township. Some- what later he formed a partnership with John Moore at Amboy, but at the expiration of a year he sold out and returned to Sterling township. Twelve months passed in agricultural work, af- ter which he again came to Amboy, where ever BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. 607 since he has been interested in the buying and selling of lumber and kindred lines. In June of 1886 he was united in marriage with Sarah E. Blair, ■nho was born in Delavan township, Blue Earth county, and is a daughter of Thomas Blair, one of the honored members of the Tay- lor colony of 1856. Born of their union are three children, Edna F., Agnes E. and Franlc L., who are being given the best advantages that the schools of Amboy afford and under the judi- cious training of their parents are being quali- fied for positions of honor and usefulness. In every respect ]\[r. White has proved him- self a progressive citizen. The prosperity of his town is of •\'ital interest to him. Its indus- tries receive his encouraging support, its pro- gressive merchants have his co-operation, and its schools and churches have never lacked his hearty sympath}-. In various capacities, as a member of the school board and of the town- ship board, he has accomplished much of im- portance to the well-being of his community, and by all who know him the testimony is that he has done his full duty as a citizen. Some years ago he aided in promoting the Amboy State Bank and acted as president of the in- stitution, which since has been merged into the Minnesota State Bank. Keen and discriminat- ing in financial matters, cautious in investriients, wise in counsel and aggressive in action, he may be classed among those substantial men of com- merce to whose enterprise the business develop- ment of the county may be attributed. WIDELL, GENEEAL GUSTAF.— The op- portunities which the northwest affords to young men of energy of purpose and determination of character find a fitting illustration in the life and achievements of General Widell, a successful business man of Mankato. Born at Lidkoping, Sweden, April 38, 1862, he was a youth of twenty years when he sought the advantages of the new world and settled in the northwest. Since then he has been identified with the his- tory of Mankato. Coming here without means and friends, he accepted any work that was of- fered and for two years received the wages of a day laborer. While satisfied with the work as a stepping stone to better things, he was too ambitious to be content with the situation, and we find him in 1884 working in the McMullen quarry, where he made a careful study of the business. While many of the laborers emploj'ed there took little or no interest in their work, he strove to become skilled and aspired to acquire a knowledge sufficient to enable him to conduct a business of his own with success. During 1886 his brother Fred started in the stone quarry busi- ness and chose Gustaf as his foreman, later pro- moting him to be superintendent and finally, in 1894, rewarding him for his application by mak- ing him a partner in the business. On the death of the brother in 1895 Gustaf Widell became the sole owner of the quarry and since then he has continued the business giving employment to several hundred men every year and securing many contracts for railway bridge substructures in southern ^linnesota, Nebraska, the northern part of Iowa and South Dakota. It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of the business. Many families are comfortably supported by the excellent wages paid to the skilled workmen, and more than one young man has received as an employe of the business his first start on the road to independence. Due credit should be given to Gustaf and Fred Widell, whose business acumen renders possible a busi- ness of sucli magnitude and whose rise from the position of day laborers proved them to possess sterling worth of character. The marriage of Gustaf Widell took place September 21, 188G, and united him with Miss Clara E., daughter of Lewis S. Burt, of Lime township. They are the parents of five children, Nellie M., Carrie May, Eleanor C, Inez E., and Lewis G. Politically a Eepublican, Mr. Widell has served as a member of the common council of Mankato and has been a delegate to the national convention of the party. In 1900 he was appointed on the staff of the governor with the rank of colonel. Three years later he was promoted to be brigadier-general, and until 1907 he served as inspector-general. For eight years he officiated as a director of the Citizens National Bank and upon the organization of the library board of trustees he was chosen a member of the same. The Commercial Club also has received 608 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. the benefit of his Iveen intelligence and civic pride. Fraternally he has been prominent in various organizations, and is an honorary mem- ber of Ravelins Post, G. A. E., in Minneapolis. The Knights of Pythias, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Ancient Order of United Work- men, Boyal Arcanum and Degree of Honor, num- ber him among their members, and he has been especially influential in Masonry. The highest honor that can be conferred by the Masons in Minnesota came to him January 34, 1907, when in the city of St. Paul he was elected grand master of the grand lodge, and this position he now fills with distinction and efficiency. WEIDENHEFT, HENRY C— The early years in the life of this well-known business man of Good Thunder were passed in Prussia, Germany, ii-here he was born December 14, 1837, and ^vhere he received an excellent edu- cation in his native language. Following a cus- tom that was common to the country he was taken from school at the age of fourteen years in order that he might be apprenticed to a trade and during tlie ensuing years he labored dili- gently to acquire a knowledge of shoe-making. While still quite young he lost his father and mother by death and therefore was obliged to earn his own livelihood at a time when most boys are care-free. The experience was trying, yet a degree of self-reliance was thus developed that otherwise might not have become interwoven in his character. After having worked as a journeyman in the old country for a number of years, in 1868 Mr. Weidenheft crossed the ocean to the Uni- ted States and settled in Wisconsin, there fol- lowing his trade for a time and also gaining some experience as a farmer. Three years were spent in Wisconsin, from which state he came to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, in 1871, and settled in Good Thunder, Lyra Township, where ever since he has made his home. Shortly after his arrival he opened a shop for the manufacture and repair of shoes and soon became known for skilled work in his specialty. During 1888, he became the proprietor of a general shoe store, which from the first proved a successful venture. For a long period he had sole charge of the business, but in 1907 his sons, Gustavo A. and Otto J., assumed the management of the business, with which they had acquired a thorough famili- arity through years of practical work and careful training. The marriage of Mr. Weidenheft took place in 1865, in Germany, and united him with Miss Ida Heft, a native of that country. They are the parents of nine children, namely: Lena, who married F. C. Darge, a farmer by occupa- tion and a mason by trade; Otto J., who married Mary Euwald; Herman; Martha, wife of Rev. F. Pasche, of Webster, South Dakota; Gustave A., who married Otteile Otjen and owns one-half interest in the shoe store; Mrs. Ida Zemke and Mrs. Clara Otjen, both of whom married minis- ters, the former living at Fairmont, Minnesota; Elsie, wife of Frederick Bruscke; and Anna, who is employed as a clerk in the shoe store operated by her brothers. Since his retirement from busi- ness Mr. Weidenheft has superintended his farm of thirty-six and one-half acres in Lyra township and also has devoted considerable time to the supervision of the residence he has erected in the village. In religion he always has remained faithful to the doctrines of the Lutheran faith, in which he was reared and to which he has been a liberal contributor. After coming to the United States he affiliated with the Eepublicans for a time, but more recently he has been stanch in his advocacy of Democratic principles and has cast his ballot for the men and measures of the last named party. WIGLBY, WILLIAM W.— Nearly fifty years have come and gone since Mr. Wigley was born in the township of Judson and through all of his life he has remained a resident of Blue Earth county, attending its schools , in boyhood years, taking up the duties of patriotic citizenship with the advent of manhood, laboring to promote its agricultural prosperity and proving himself to be loyal in every respect to its material, edu- cational and moral welfare. Around his early years there cluster memories of the struggles in- cident to a pioneer existence, while in his later days it has been his happy privilege to witness BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 609 the increasing prosperity of the people, the intro- duction of the comforts connected with the high- est civilization, the building of substantial schools and churches, and the improving of valuable farms, in all of which work he has been a per- manent factor. During the year 1857 there came to the United States Eichard^'and Marry (Williams) Wigley, natives of Wales and descendants of ancient families of that country. A year after crossing the ocean they settled in Minnesota, where they endured all the vicissitudes incident to frontier life and the building up of a homestead from the primeval soil. Indians were numerous in those days and more than once the family were in the greatest peril from attack by the savages. Hunger, too, was an enemy that often invaded their cabin on the frontier, and during one year they had little for their table besides corn bread and the game that fell beneath the hunter's gun. From such homes as these have come men and women of self-reliance, fortitude and courage, and the traits noticeable in the character of Wil- liam W. Wigley are in part due to his brave battling against early privations. The second among eleven children, he was born April 13, 1859, and at an early age began to assist his father in the support of the younger children. It was not possible for him to attend school regu- larly,, yet he managed to gain a common school education and by subsequent reading became a well-informed man. Ecared to a thorough knowl- edge of farm work and possessing a fondness, for the same, it is not strange that he chose agri- culture for his occupation and always has fol- lowed such pursuits, having remained on his present farm at Lake Crystal for about twenty years. While devoting his attention closely to the care of his , land and the raising of stock, Mr. Wigley has not neglected his duties as a citi- zen, but always has been found ready to give aid to measures for the benefit of the community. For several terms he served as a member of the town board, in which capacity he gave his support to movements calculated to enhance the local prosperity ^ilthout unduly assessing the tax- payers. The public highways received his care- ful supervision while he was acting in the office 39 of road commissioner, and he has always been solicitous to secure the best possible roads in the township. Calvinistic doctrines express his relig- ious views, but he displays no sectarian bias and ever concedes to others that freedom of relig- ious opinions which he demands for himself. His family consists of two sons, born of his marriage in 1886 to Miss Jane Jones, a native of this state and a lifelong resident of this part of the country. Both enjoy the esteem of ac- quaintances and the respect of all who have come within the circle of their influence during their long residence in their present neighborhood. WILDEE, EMMETT P— Agriculture is the principal industry in Blue Earth county and no portion thereof boasts of better farm land than does Pleasant Mound township, where Mr. Wil- der owns and occupies a homestead of one hund- red and sixty acres. The beauty of the place is enhanced by n grove of native timber consisting of black walnut, oak and basswood. Willow creek runs through the farm and affords abun- dant facilities for watering the stock. The resi- dence is neat in its appointments and attractive in interior finishings, while the barns are sub- stantial and well equipped for their purposes. Modem methods are utilized on the farm, proof of which is furnished by the presence of a gaso- line engine used for pumping. The high-grade stock to be seen on the place include Durham cattle, Poland-Chiga hogs and Hambletonian horses. The Wilder family comes of old colonial stock. Eiee Wilder, a native of Vermont, went to New York in early life and for many years continued in that state as a farmer. Eventually he came to Minnesota and spent his remaining days in Pleasant Mound township, Blue Earth county, where he passed away in 1878 at the age of eighty-seven years. John E., son of Bice, was born in N"ew York and married Lucy J. Clark, also a native of that state. During the latter part of the '50s he removed to Wisconsin and took up a tract of raw land, which he transformed into a productive farm. The autumn of 1866 found him a pioneer in Ceresco township, Blue Earth county, where he remained for eighteen 610 BTOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. months. From there he came to Pleasant Mound tofl-nship and settled on section thirteen, where he passed the balance of his life, dying June 27, 1893. A man of public spirit, he always maintained an interest in local affairs and for seven years served as a town officer, beside which he held the office of school treasurer for eighteen years. During the latter part of his life he was a member of the christian church. In a family comprising three sons and three daughters, Emmett P. Wilder was the youngest son, and his birth occurred in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, April 2, 1863. In early childhood he was brought to Blue Earth county, Minne- sota, where he acquired a common-school edu- cation and gained a practical knowledge of agri- cultural pursuits. As soon as old enough he re- lieved his father of much of the manual work connected with the management of the land and gradually assumed the entire charge, so that upon the death of his father there was no change in the cultivation of the estate. May 20, 1885, he married Annie M. Hewson, who was born in Wisconsin, and at an early age came to Minne- sota with her father, Joseph Hewson, settling in Shelby township. Since the retirement of Mr. Hewson from farming he has made his home with his son-in-law, Mr. Wilder. There are three children in the Wilder family, namely : Fern, John Poland and Fay, all of whom are at home. The family hold membership in the Christian church and Mr. AVilder has been a regular contributor to its maintenance. For ten years he has held office as town clerk and for iifteen years he served as school treasurer, mean- while doing all within his po^er to promote the usefulness of the schools and the general prosper- ity of the township. WILDES, MAKK L.— Travels through various parts of the country, prior to settling perman- ently in Minnesota, gave Mr. Wildes an insight into conditions agricultural and commercial, and enabled him to form a careful estimate of soils, prospects and environments such as would have been impossible to a less experienced man. Many years have come and gone since he arrived in Blue Earth county. Towns have sprung into existence, farms have been laid out and developed, roads have been opened, forests have been cut down, and highways of commerce have opened to the people new possibilities. In all of this advance he has been an interested witness and to it he has contributed of his energy, acumen and intelligence. Great credit, belongs to the pioneers of the county for its present high agri- cultural standing and the names of the early settlers are worthy of a permanent place in the annals of the region. The family records show that the name of Wildes has been identiiied with the history of Few England ever since the colonial era. Dur- ing the eighteenth century the family flourished in Maine, where in 1799 William Wildes was born in what is now the county of Sagadahoc. During early manhood he settled on a farm in Lincoln county, Maine, where he married Lydia Little, born in that county in 1797, and from the time of marriage until death they remained residents of Sagadahoc county. Of their seven children the sole survivor is Mark L. Wildes, who was born April 6, 1828, in what is now the township of Phippsburg, county of Sagadahoc, Maine. The schools of his boyhood were far inferior to those of the present day, yet he received a fair education and is a well-informed man. After attending Bath academy for a time he became a student in the Litchfield Liberal Institute, where he availed himself of the excel- lent . opportunities for mental training. A period devoted to school-teaching in Maine was followed by a trip in 1850 to what was then called the west. The impelling motive for the expedition was a desire to reach the gold-fields of California, but by the time he had arrived in New Orleans, going then by ship, unsatisfac- tory reports reached his parents, regarding delays and yellow fever, so after solicitations from home tn return he yielded, but upon reaching Kentucky and learning their desire for a northern teacher in their public schools he made application to Dr. E. J. Brcckenridge, the superintendent, who em- ployed him in Scott county where he taught till the spring of 1851, when he went home to engage in the lumber business with his father and broth- er. April of 1860, found him landed at Lake Wash- ington, Le Sueur county, where he secured em- BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 611 ployment. During the spring of 1863 he came to Lime, Blue Earth county and shortly after- ward enlisted as a sergeant in Company B, Min- nesota Mounted Rangers, in which he remained until the mustering out of the company. He was on duty at Mankato at the execution of the 38 Sioux Indians. On his return to Minnesota from the field of service he resumed teaching school and for some years ranked among the best educators of his locality, but eventually he relinquished teaching in order to devote him- self to agricultural pursuits. In 1865, he mar- ried Miss Rebecca J. Burke, who was born in Baltimore, Md., and died in 1898. After his marriage he made his home near Lake Washing- ton, but some time during 1880 he moved to Lime township. Blue Earth county, and since then has made his home on section twenty- three. E'ght children were born of his mar- riage, namely : William F., Hattie R., Anna L. (deceased), Mark L., Samuel H. M., Sarah B., Nettie L. and Grace M. Politically Mr. Wildes gives his vote and influence to the Demo- cratic party. In social circles he is respected by all and with his family has an assured position among the best people of the township. ]\[r. Wildes was the first County Superinten- dent of Schools in LeSueur Count)', was also County Commissioner, and chairman of the Board. He has taught school at various times and places forty years, practiced Dental Surgery gratuitously, sixty years, was justice of the peace twenty years, and has held town offices in both Washington and Lime towns. WILL, DAVID.— Five miles cast of Mapleton lies one of the finely-improved farms of Blue Earth county. Its thrifty appearance bears testi- mony to the industry of the owner, David Will, to whose energy and ambition is due the trans- formation of the land from its primeval wilder- ness to its present state of cultivation. When this section of the country was beginning to at- tract the attention of men seeking homes in the northwest, he came hither in 1865 and purchased a homestead lying on section 31, Medo township. ■ However, it was not until seven years later that he brought his family to the state and began life amid pioneer conditions. To the original prop- erty he has added until he now owns a farm of three hundred and sixty-five acres, all practically under cultivation. The Big Cobb river runs through the farm and the land being consider- ably above the level of the river the matter of drainage finds a ready solution. The elevation of the land is such that the higher buildings of Mapleton are visible, in spite of the distance in- tervening. A substantial two-story residence pro- vides the family with a comfortable home, while they also find enjoyment in owning an orchard of apples, plums, and other fruits. Stock of the best grades are to be seen grazing in the pastures, and it is noticeable that the owner's favorites are Shorthorn cattle, Percheron horses and Poland- China hogs. A glimpse into the genealogy of the Will fam- ily takes us back to Scotland, where years ago David Will followed the carpenter's trade. This occupation he taught to his son, David, who re- mained in Scotland until death and always fol- lowed carpentering. Born of his union with Ann West were six children, of whom the third was given the name of David, and was bom in Dundee, Scotland, February 17, 1836. It is of this David Will we write. When he had reached man's estate and sought a home and means of livelihood, he decided to come to America. Ac- cordingly during 1856 he became a resident of Wisconsin and in due time established a posi- tion among the farmers of Waukesha county, where he remained until his removal to Minne- sota. The marriage of David Will and Elizabeth Mehdlle was solemnized October 37, 1859, in Wisconsin. lyfrs. Will was bom in Perthshire, Scotland, and during the '40s accompanied her father, Peter Melville, to Wisconsin, settling near the town of Lisbon, where her father passed his life in, farm pursuits. While Mr. and Mrs. Will have met with a gratifying degree of success financially, they are far more proud of their children than of any financial success they may have achieved. Their eldest son, James, is a progressive farmer of Bcauford township. Blue Earth county. The second son, David, is also a farmer and lives in Polk county, Minnesota. The only daughter, Elizabeth, married Charles 612 BTOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. Ellis and makes her home in Mapleton. John follows ranching in Idaho. Edward settled in Polk count}', this state, where he carries on a farm. Charles remains at the old homestead and aids in its cultivation. Peter went to Grant count}', Minnesota, and took up land, which he still operates. Alexander lives at Grand Forks, Xorth Dakota, where he is employed by the fed- eral government in the postoffice. William, a graduate of the medical department of the Uni- versity of Minnesota, has built up a growing practice at Bertha, Todd county, Minnesota; May 14, 1907, he was united in marriage with a daughter of Dr. Ira Bishop, of Mapleton. Mel- ville is now a student in the dental department of the Minnesota State University, and Eobert, the youngest of the large family, still remains with his parents. Loyal to the interests of his adopted country, David Will has taken an active part in local af- fairs, has contributed to enterprises for the com- mon good, and has proved himself to be a law- abiding and patriotic citizen. Especially has he been interested in educational work. Projects for the upbuilding of the free schools and the extension of their usefulness find him to be a co- operating friend, and for many years he served as a member of the school board. For five years he was a member of the township board of trus- tees. Personally he possesses a cheerful, optimis- tic disposition. The trials and shadows incident to life on the frontier did not daunt his cour- age nor lessen his faith in the over-ruling provi- dence of God and the sympathy of his fellow- men. When the Burns society was organized he was deeply interested in the movement and be- came a regular attendant at its meetings. On the occasion of its annual reunions it was the cus- tom to call upon him for the song, 'Tlantin' Eovin' Eobin," which he rendered to the delight of all. This sturdy Scotsman stands among the most honored farmers of his county and enjoys the warm friendship of a large circle of ac- quaintances. WILL, JAMES. — Inheriting the iron of hon- esty and determination from worthy ancestors, and profiting by a capacity for hard work in- telligently directed, James Will has prospered ill his affairs, and has advanced from a com- paratively poor country school boy to a man whose opinion carries unquestioned weight in the community of Beauford township, and whose financial standing is indicated by the possession of ■ a farm of three hundred and ten acres one and a half miles north of Mapleton. Mr. Will came to his present home in the fall of 1890, and then as now it was known, as the James Gilmore farm. To the improvements of the fc^rmer owner he has added very materially, and not only has become known as a progressive and successful general farmer, but he raises as fine Percheron horses. Shorthorn cattle, and Poland Cliina hogs as are to be found anywhere in Blue Earth county. In his specialty of stock raising he wields a broad influence, and his manner of and facilities for caring for his dumb charges represent the height of consideration and hu- manity. Mr. Will was born in Waukesha county, Wis- consin, July 28, 1860, and is a son of David Will, mention of whom may be found elsewhere in this work. He was educated primarily, in the public schools of Wisconsin, and at the age of twelve years, in 1872, removed with the family to Blue Earth county, remaining on the place purchased by his father until 1884. Desiring to identify his fortunes with another part of the state, he went to the vicinity of Grand Forks, in the northern part, and remained there en- gaged in general farming for three years. In the fall of 1887 he returned to the old place in Blue Earth county, and in 1890, as heretofore stated, purchased his present farm. Encouraged by the success of two profitable years, Septem- ber 28, 1892, he was united in marriage to Jean- ette Ellis, a native of Sterling township, Blue Earth county, and daughter of James Ellis, an early settler of this part of Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs. Will have been born four child- ren: Mary, David, Euth and Lawrence. Since casting his first presidential vote Mr. Will has subscribed to Eepublican principles, and he has promoted the general well being by serving as a member of the board of education and town clerk, both of which positions he is holding at the present time. He is an energetic, progreg- BIOGfiAPHlCAL HiSTOfiY. 613 sive, and well informed landsman, and his char- acter and labor contribute to the substantial up- building of his adopted township. WILLARD, JOHN A.— Born near Holland Patent, Oneida county, New York, November 9, 1833, John A. Willard was of English ancestry, and a son of Daniel S. and Catherine (Williams) Willard. Studiously inclined from early youtn, possessed of fine intellectual powers, and with but limited means with which to acquire the higher branches, Mr. Willard turned his atten- tion to school teaching during, his later teens, and thus was enabled also to qualify for nia chosen profession of law at Utica, New York. After being admitted to practice at the bar of New York state in 1855, he sought a field of endeavor in the less settled and more promising northwest, arriving in Mankato during July, 1856, and thereafter devoting his energies to the practice of law and the purchase and sale of real estate. June 1, 1858, he formed a part- nership with S. F. Barney. About 1870 Mr. Willard became interested in railroad promotion, and was president of the company that built the railroad from Manlcato to Wells, now a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system. Forming a partnership with R. D. Hubbard and James B. Hubbell, in IBTv! he organized the Mankato Linseed Oil Company. As- the years passed, other enterprises engaged his attention, including the Mankato Novelty Works, the Standard Fibre Ware Company, the Jtankato Knitting Mills, and the St. Paul White Lead & Oil Company. Notwithstanding his va- ried interests, he continually sought new outlets for his remarkable energies, and it was not strange that, having worked his way up from small beginnings to a foremost place among the community's accumulators as well as investors and promoters, he should turn his attention to- wards the need of local banking facilities. Thus he became one of the founders of the First Na- tional Bank, which entered upon its successful history May 4, 1868, with a capitalization of $60,000. Of this institution Mr. Willard was president from 1878 until 1896, resigning there- from because of ill health. In addition, he was president of the National Bank of Commerce, at Duluth, president of the Granite Falls Bank, and president and director of many otlier corporations in this part of the state. Realizing that Duluth held great municipal possibilities by reason of affording an outlet to the lakes for the shipment of the grain of the northwest, as early as 1885 Mr. Willard invested heavily in that town, and later years brought him large benefit from these wise and timely investments. He was first of all interested in his home town of Mankato, however; its wel- fare ever was dear to his heart, and its growth ever was a source of pride and delight to him. For many years he was president of its board of trade, and since his passing on, it often has been said that no one other man did more for the permanent upbuilding of the city during his forty years of residence here. In recognition of his local devotion he was chosen mayor by unani- mous vote in 1891, all parties agreeing that nu one was better qualified to further home inter- ests than he. Had he cared for such responsi- bility other and higher honors would have been conferred upon him, but his mind was concen- trated upon business rather than politics, and partisan affairs held little attraction for him. When, with thousands of others, Mr. Willard fell a victim to the memorable panic of 1893, hij business obligations preyed heavily upon his mind, and ia the maelstrom of effort to discharge the indebtedness that keenly affected his high sense of honor, he died December 15, 1897. The effect of his personal integrity and tireless en- ergy still is felt in the business and general his- tory of Mankato, and over its present fortunes still broods somewhat of his zeal, devotion and faith, ilr. Willard was the parent of seven children, three of whom survive him. His mar- riage with Anna M. Sibley, of Oneida county, Xew York, occurred August 23, 1865, Mrs. Wil- lard being- a daughter of R. J. Sibley, with whom she came to JIankato at an early day. WILLARD, MYRON G.— To an unusual de- gree the city of Mankato has been fortunate in having a citizenship composed of progressive, public-spirited men, whose abilities have been 614 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. enlisted in behalf of civic improvements, whose sj^mpathies are on the side of beneficial enter- prises, and vi^hose time has been given unre- servedly' to the development of the local v?el- fare. J^umbered among these citizens may be mentioned Myron G. Willard, whose identifica- tion with the city as an attorney and as a man of large commercial interests has been helpful to the growth of his adopted town. The date of his arrival in Manliato, December 1, 18()8, marked his association with the vital interests of the growing place, and from that time to this he has been regarded as a man .of talent, com- mercial acumen and genial social qualities. While life has not been without its misfortunes, he has weathered every financial storm and has won an important standing financially among the people with whom he has had years of association. The ancestry of the Willard family is traced to Captain Simon Willard, a seafaring man who settled in ISTew England in 1664. Myron G. Willard was born at Trenton, Oneida county, New York, October 23, 1842, being a son of Daniel S. and Catherine (Williams) Willard. During the uneventful years of boyhood he re- mained on the home farm and attended coun- try schools. Later he became a student in Whitestown seminary and still later had the ad- vantage of taliing the regular classical course in Hamilton college, from which institution he v.'as graduated with high honors in 1868. Three years afterward he received the degree of Master of Arts from his alma mater. During the progress of his literary studies Mr. Willard had carried on a special law course and after leaving college he completed his stud- ies in the law office of Senator Francis Keman at Utica, New York. During October of the same year (1868) he was admitted to practice in all the courts of New York, having passed a successful examination at Syracuse. The other members of the family had preceded .him to the northwest and during the latter part of 1868 he Joined them at Mankato, Minnesota, where on tbe day of his arrival he was admitted to prac- tice in all the courts of the state. Opening an office he became successful in corporation and real estate law, in which lines he was regarded as an authority. For a time he was associated with A. E. Pfau, Sr., now District Judge of Sixth Judicial Distiijt, and later had Thomas Hughes as a partner. In the fall of 1885 Mr. Willard gave up his law practice in order to embark in the manufac- turing business. AYith his brother, John A. Willard, he built and equipped a plant for the manufacture of fiber ware, and became manager of the business, which was incorporated under the title of the Standard Fiber Ware Company. During 1892 he became associated with the erec- tion of a plant for the manufacture of hosiery, operated as the Mankato knitting mills. The plant had scarcely received its equipment when the financial depression began and the infant industry was ill-fitted to withstand the storms that brought bankruptcy to many old and sub- stantial concerns throughout the entire country. However, it weathered the storms until 1897, when the plant for knitting as well as that for the manufacture of fiber ware suffered the fate incident to financial panics. However, within one year the mills had been started again with W. L. Hixon as president and Mr. Willard as superintendent, and from that time the plant enjoyed a growing business along the line of its specialties. Mr. Willard sold out his inter- est and retired from the business in the fall of 1903 and is now engaged in the real estate, in- surance, loan and investraent business. The first marriage of Mr. Willard took place in 1870 and united him with Miss Julia E. Knowlton, of Holland Patent, New York, who died in July of 1876. Three years later he mar- ried Mary W. Willard, of Holland Patent, a niece of the late General H. W. Halleck. Two children were born of his first marriage, both of whom are sons, namely : Charles K., formerly manager of the Mankato Citizens Telephone com- pany, but at present engaged in the manufacture of brick, tile and building blocks at Heron Lake, Minnesota; and Elldns C, formerly assistant manager of the Mankato Mills Company, is at present proprietor of a chicken ranch near Man- kato, known as "West Lawn Farm." A daugh- ter, Clara E., was born of the second marriage. The family hold membership with the Presby- terian church of Mankato, in which Mr. WiUard has officiated as a ruling elder for thirty years BIOGEAPHICAL HiSTOEY. 615 or more, and of whose Sunday school he served as superintendent for thirteen years. It has been Mr. Willard's aim to aid all movements for the material, educational and commercial upbuild- ing of his home city, and while serving as sec- retary of the Board of Trade he was able to be especially helpful to the town, although in the capacity of a pri\ate citizen his work has been no less advantageous to local interests, and his ambition constantly has been to arouse an inter- est in securing for the city more railroads and more factories, for he realizes that upon these two depends the ultimate prosperity and perma- nent growth of the population. An everlasting monument to Mr. Willard was his beautifying the park and boulevard system and giving to the city "Willard Park-Way," lying adjacent to and abutting either side of Glenwood avenue lor about half a mile. WILLAED, WILLIAM D.— The second gen- eration of the Willard family in Mankato iu forcefully represented by William D. Willard, cashier of the Pirst National Bank, and sou of John A. Willard, the latter of whom arrived ill this community during the summer of 185G, and for forty years was one of its foremost citi- zens and promoters. Because of the success of his father, the youth of William D. Willard was not characterized by the hardship which tested the mettle of the older man. His education was gained with less difficulty, and after finishing the training in the public schools he graduated from the University of Minnesota in the class of 1888. The first important business responsibility of Mr. Willard was as manager of the Mankato Linseed Oil Company, which he maintained for eight years. He also helped to organize, and for three years assisted in the management of the Mankato Mills Company, manufacturing hos- iery, and for the past eight years he has been secretary and treasurer of the Mankato Citizen's Telephone Company. He ako is secretary and treasurer of the Mankato Electric Traction Com- pany, and as a member of its board, has been instrumental in promoting keen interest in, and hearty co-operation in the upbuilding of, the local Public Library. His most active respon- sibility is that of cashier of the First Nationa: Bank, which position he has held since 1901. Mr. Willard married Louise Bobbins, daughter of the late George S. Bobbins, in Chester, Yt., June 24, 1890. WILLIAMS, WILLIAM E.— The superinten- dent of the ilinneopa Falls state park is one of the well-known residents of South Bend town- ship, Blue Earth county, and has filled his pres- ent position since May of 1907, beside which he has served as sexton of the Minneopa Falls cemetery for a number of years. The neat house which he occupies is situated about five miles southwest of Mankato, in convenient proximity to the park. In the midst of scenery alluring to the eye of the artist he passes his time in the care and oversight of the grounds and in attend- ing to the many details connected with his two positions, besides which he discharges the duties of road overseer and also is serving as clerk of the schools. As early as the year 1855, when he was a child of five William E. Williams came to Blue Earth county. Born in Oneida county, New York, July 15, 1850, he is a son of Eobert E. and Winifred (Boberts) Williams, natives of Wales. The father was born in March of 1821, and the mother in June of 183?, but at an early age they crossed the ocean to the United States, where they were married in Oneida county in 1844. A few years later they went still further westward and sojourned for a time in Cleveland, Ohio, from which city they removed to Water- town, Wisconsin, and in 1855 they moved with a colony of thirteen families to ^linnesota, setttling in Blue Earth county and pre-empting a claim to government land. It was their priv- ilege to be spared to witness the development of this county and in return for their years of pioneer struggle they reaped a fair share of suc- cess. The father died in September of 1900, and the mother survived him some years, dying in ilay of 1905. Six children comprised their fam- ily, namely : Ellen, who is the wife of Senator T. M. Pugh, of Duluth, Minnesota; William B., whose name introduces this article; Margaret, 616 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOEY. deceased; Jennie, the widow of L. D. Lake, of Madison, South Dakota; Mary, deceased; and John E., who makes liis home at Minneapolis, this state. Prom the time of arriving in Blue Earth county until he started out in life for himself, William E. Williams remained with his parents and alternated attendance at country schools with work on the home place. After leaving the farm he worked at various occupations and gained a thorough knowledge of engineering, which trade he followed for a time. His mar- riage took place at Grafton, North Dakota, October 24, 1883, and united him with Miss Margaret Olson, who was born in Howard county, Iowa, August 2, 1861. Pier parents, Ole and Tillie (Gunderson) Knudson, were natives of Norway, where they were reared and married, emigrating thence to the United States about 1854, and settling in Iowa upon a farm. Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Williams filled a position as night engineer in a flouring mill at Grand Porks, North Dakota, but this work he soon relinquished and moved to Texas. That country did not prove alk he desired and he re- moved north as far as Nebraska, where he se- cured employment in Omaha. Soon afterward he went to Polk county, Nebraska, where he worked for a short time. Eeturning to Blue Earth county he settled at the old homestead near Minneopa Falls where his boyhood years had been passed and where his parents had remained throughout the most active period of their lives. Since returning to this locality he has been active in township affairs, has stanchly supported Eepub- lican principles and has contributed to the local work of the party. In his family there are ten children. The eldest son, Clarence E., born July 19, 1884, is a telegraph operator, but at this writing lives in North Dakota for the purpose of securing title to a homestead claim. The eldest daughter, Dora E., born July 6, 1886, was educated in the district schools, Mankato high school and Mankato State Normal school, since which she has engaged in teaching. The remaining members of the family are as follows: Arthur J., born January 39, 1888; Abbie J., January 23, 1890; Edward J., October 15, 1892; Alta G., July 1, 1894; Eobert L., September 8, 1896; Bernice I., September 6, 1898; Wallace I., January 1, 1901; an J Eichard P., January 24, 1903. WINGBN, A. J.— Three miles north of the village of Good Thunder lies one of the finest farms in Rapidan township. Three hundred acres are situated within the limits of this town- ship, bat in addition there are two hundred and two and one-half acres under the same title, thus giving to Mr. Wingen an aggregate of over five hundred acres, all of which he rents at this writing. The family residence is neat and com- fortable, and is equipped with the modern con- veniences, while the various farm buildings are substantial and adapted to their needs. Poland- China hogs and shorthorn cattle have been spec- ialties of the owner, and have brought him im- portant additions to his annual revenues. Since acquiring this property in 1879 the owner has remodeled buildings, put up fences, improved the place and brought the land under a high state of cultivation, all of which indicates his ability as a farmer. Born in Clayton county, Iowa, September 13, 1854, A. J. Wingen is descended from German ancestry. His parents, Jacob and Sophia (Dor- weiler) Wingen, were born and reared in Prus- sia, and on crossing the ocean to the United States proceeded direct to Clayton county, Iowa, where the father took up land and improved a farm. Later he removed to Minnesota and set- tled in McPherson township. Blue Earth county, where he remained until his death in 1865. His widow survived him for many years, passing away in 1897. All of their nine children are yet living. When the family removed to Min- nesota A. J. Wingen was a small child, and af- terward he attended the country schools near the farm. Arriving at man's estate, he took up ag- ricultural pursuits for himself, and remained on the homestead in McPherson township until 1879, when he removed to the farm he now owns and occupies. The marriage of A. J. Wingen took place in 1879 and united him with Minnie Schutz, daughter of Prederick and Minnie (Kurth) Schutz, natives of Prussia, Germany, but pio. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. 6l7 neers of McPherson township. Blue Earth coun- ty, and owners of a farm here until their death. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wingen there were four children, but one son, Jacob, died at an early age. Frederick, the eldest son, married Louise Buscke and operates a farm owned by his father in Vernon Center township. The second son, Edward, is employed as a book- keeper in the Bank of Commerce at Mankato, Jlinnesota. The only daughter, Leona, has fitted herself for educational work and already has met with success in the work, although she has taught only a short time. In former years Mr. Wingen filled school offices and he still main- tains a deep interest in all measures for the development of the schools of the county. Lodges have not received his support, nor has he been prevailed upon to take any but an independent attitude in politics. Through unwearied labors he has accumulated a competency and attained a position among the large land owners of the county. WISE, CHAELES E.— Charles E. Wise, busi- ness editor of the Mankato Daily Eeview was born in Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minne- sota, October 23, 1860, and is a son of John Glagget and Amanda (Flory) Wise, the former of whom was one of the pioneer editors of Min- nesota and established the above paper as a weekly in 1869. Mr. Wise secured his educa- tion in the public schools of his home town and while "attending school inaugurated his newspaper career as carrier boy for the paper with which he now is connected. Eventually he advanced to the bottom round of the ladder in the printing office, and worked his way up through the var- ious stages of the business to a thorough mastery of the printer's trade. In 1878 he graduated from the Mankato high school, and for several months thereafter continued in the printing office where he remained until accepting a clerkship in the County Auditor's office, under J. J. Thompson. When Mr. Thompson went out of office January 1, 1881, Mr. Wise was employed as bookkeeper for W. T. Mills, wholesale produce merchant, and August 15, 1881, he went to El Paso, Texas, where he was connected with the customs service under Col. Abner Tibbetts, collec- tor at that port. Eesigning this position, July 1, 1883, he returned to Mankato, where, on August 1, 1883, he was taken into partnership -wiih his father, John C. Wise, in the publishing of the Eeview. Since the death of the elder Wise in 1900, his two sons, Charles E. and John C. Wise, have conducte'd the daily and weekly Ee- view, and in connection therewith maintain a job printing and book binding trade, under the former firm name of J. C. Wise & Sons. The Eeview holds its own as one of the reliable and conservative newspapers of the state, and enjoys a reputation for the fairness of its attitude to- wards political and general issues. A stanch Democrat in his political preferences, Mr. Wise has no political aspirations, and never has held an elective office. Nevertheless, ho has filled a number of appointive positions. In addition to thofee previously mentioned, he was assistant postmaster under John C. Wise, his father, during 1885-6, under P. H. Carney dur- ing 1888-9-90, under W. W. P. McConnell dur- ing 1890-1, under John C. Wise from 1894 until 1898. The last named postmaster was the first to occupy the new federal building, April 1, 1896. Mr. Wise was a member of the Library Board for six years, secretary one year, president two years, and vice-president one year, appointed by Mayor Cliarles T. Taylor. He is also a member of a commission appointed to frame a new char- ter for his city. Mr. Wise's responsibilities extend also to the National Citizen's Bank, of which he is a direc- tor, and was a member of the building commit- tee which had charge of the erection of the new bank building. In 1908 he was made president of the North Star Daily Press Association, com- prising smaller dailies in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and he is a member of the Inland Daily Press Association. Fraternally Jlr. Wise is identified with Blue Earth Lodge No. 30, A. 0. IT. W. ; Boyal Arcanum Council No. 1520; and Mankato Lodge No. 225, B. P. 0. E. He has held the chair offices and that of secretary in the latter society and was a delegate to the Grand Lodge at Denver in 1906. He is not a member of any church, but attends the Episcopal church. 618 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. At Mankato, Minnesota, September 26, 1893, Mr. Wise married Minnie Lee, daugliter of Natlian P. Lee, an early settler of Sparta, Wis- consin. Of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Wise, Charles Edward was born July 18, 1894; Katherinc was born March 21, 1896; Elizabeth was born May 30, 1900, died July 2, 1901; and Alargaret was bom January 30, 1903. Mrs. Wise is identified with local club and church work, is a charter member of the Clio Club, literary or- ganization, and president of the Ladies Aid Society. She attends and is an active worker in the Episcopal church. For many years Mr. Wise has been a pro- moter of the sportsman's idea in this part of the state. Prom boyhood he has been an enthusi- astic follower of rod and gun, and active in field games of all kinds. For many years he was a member of the Mankato Gun Club, serving also as its president and secretary for a part of that time. May 3, 1904, at the Gun Club grounds, Mr. Wise sustained the loss of his right eye through being struck with clay target thrown from a trap, and since then he has been less actively interested in the affairs of the field than heretofore. WISE, JR., JOHN CLAGGETT.— Not only in their home city of Mankato, but also throughout this portion of the state, the firm of J. C. Wise & Sons is well known and highly honored for those substantial business traits that mark a long and useful commercial and journalistic ca- reer. As editors and publishers of the Mankato Daily Review, they have been able to secure for their patrons a bright, newsy and readable sheet, filled with the latest local happenings, and pre- senting also a resume of important national events. The business was built up by the father, John Claggett AVise, and since his death has been continued by the family, whose aim has been to achieve the Journalistic ideal cherished by the father. John Claggett Wise, Jr., was born at Man- Icato, Minnesota, April 14, 1867, and is a son of J. C. and Amanda (Flory) Wise, deceased. Primarily educated in the local public schools. he later attended the high school and the nor- mal, hut did not remain until graduation. While attending school he devoted his leisure hours to working in the office of the Review and at an early age acquired a thorough knowledge of journalistic work and the printing business. After leaving school he gave his entire time to the newspaper business and at the age of twen- ty-one he was given an interest in the company, since which time he has continued his connec- tion with the paper. His native city has been his only place of residence, and since the death of his parents he has remained at the old home- stead with his sisters. Misses Helen and Flory Wise. In political views a stanch Democrat, Mr. Wise has always been steadfast in his allegiance to party principles. Under Mayor Taylor he received appointment as a member of the board of trustees of the Tourtellotte hospital in Man- kato. In January of 1905 he was appointed by Governor Johnson as resident director of the Mankaio normal school and in this capacity he is serving at the present time. For six years he was a member of the Minnesota state militia, being for three years of this time a member of Company H, Second Regiment, of Mankato, and for three years a member of the second regiment band. In religious identifications he is a com- municant of St. John's Episcopal church at Man- kato. Fraternally he has many associations. Among the socities with which he is connected may be mentioned the following: Mankato Lodge No. 12, A. F. & A. M.; Blue Earth Chapter No. 7, R. A. M.; Mankato Commandery No. 4, K. T.; Zuhrah Temple, A. A. 0., Nobles Mystic Shrine, Minneapolis; Mankato Lodge No. 225, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; Mankato Lodge No. 36, Knights of Pythias; Mankato Council No. 1520, Royal Arcanum; and Man- kato Aerie of Eagles. In the orders of Elks, Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum he has passed through the chairs in the local lodges, which also he has represented in the grand lodges. For one year he officiated as grand dis- trict deputy exalted ruler of the Southern Minne- sota jurisdiction in the Order of Elks, and for one year also he served as a member of the grand lodge committee on charters in the same order. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 619 WISHAET, CHAELES S.— The genealogy of the Wishart family extends back to the early his- tory of Scotland, in whose annals the name ap- pears with a frequency indicative of the influence and prominence of the representatives of the clan. One of the ancestors (whether in direct or collateral line the records do not clearly show) was Bishop Wishart, a loyal and leading sup- porter of Sir William Wallace. Another mem- ber of the family, Eev. George Wishart, vras a popular preacher of the Eeformed church during the sixteenth century. Unfortunately he fell un- der the suspicion of having plotted the murder of Cardinal Beaton, for which he was burned at the stake, February 28, 1546. His sad death aroused a deep feeling in his large circle of ad- mirers and associates, by all of whom he was re- garded as an innocent man. From the highlands of Scotland the Wishart family became transplanted in England, where James Wishart w^as born in the shire of York. At an early age he accompanied his father and other members of the family across the ocean to the United States and settled in New York. From Oneida county, that state, in 1844 the family removed to Wisconsin and settled about forty miles west of Milwaukee. By trade a black- smith, James Wishart followed that occupation during early manhood, but later in life he de- voted his attention almost wholly to agricultural pursuits. Both he and his father died in Wis- consin when advanced in years. His wife bore the maiden name of Joyce Taylor and was a na- tive of Yorkshire, England, whence she came to America with her father and settled in New York. Ten children were born of their marriage, and the sixth of these, Charles S., was born in Clinton, Oneida county, New York, December 17, 1841. Almost from his earliest recollections he lived on the frontier. At a youthful age he be- gan to aid in the development of the land from its primeval condition to one of productiveness and profit. Coming with other member of the family to ilinnesota in 1878, Charles S. Wishart bought the Mills place three miles east of Mapleton, Blue Earth county, and on this farm he devoted 3areful attention to the details connected with agriculture, so that little by little he accumulated a competency and became known as a prosperous, progressi\'e farmer, as well as a public spirited citizen, an accommodating neighbor and a help- ful friend. Eventually he retired from the heav- iest of his responsibilities and since then has lived in retirement, enjoying the comforts ren- dered possible by a lifetime of endeavor. Shar- ing with him the esteem of acquaintances is his wife, whom he married October IS, 1870, and who was Elizabeth Taylor, a native of Yorkshire, England. The lineage of the Taylor family shows that they are of very ancient English an- cestry, long identified with Yorkshire, where her parents, George and Ann (Grieves) Taylor, were born, reared and married. The grandfather, Joseph Taylor, was a lifelong resident of that shire. Three children bless the union of Mr. and ilrs. Wishart, the second of whom, Horace K., has charge of the old homestead; his wife. Flora, who died in August of 1903, was a mem- ber of the Dobie family, well known in Blue Earth county. The oldest child, Etta, is the wife of W. L. Dobie, and the youngest, Nellie, married J. Eay Ward, of Medo township. WOODS, WALTEE A.— From the age of six years until his death Walter A. Woods was a resident of Blue Earth county and made his home in South Bend township upon the farm now occupied by his widow. A native of Ohio, he was born at Bethel, Jackson county, April 20, 1850, and was a son of Isaac and Margaret (Evans) 'Woods, natives of Wales. In early life they had left their childhood homes and had crossed the ocean to the United States, settling in Ohio, where they were married. During 185G tliey came to Minnesota and settled in Blue Earth county, where the father secured a claim from the government and began the difficult task of clearing and improving a farm. By dint of arduous exertions he transformed a raw tract into an improved estate. Here he died September 13, 1878, at the age of sixty-four ye&Ts. The mother passed away at the old homestead December, 31, 1891, at the age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of two children, Walter A. and David, both of whom are deceased. By a former marriage Isaac i20 BIOGEAPHICAL HISTORY. roods was the father of one child, Sarah, who i the widow of Roland W. Price and resides in 1 inneapolis, this state. As previously stated, Walter A. Woods was !X years of age when he accompanied his par- nts to Blue Earth county. Reared on a farni, ic early was trained to a knowledge of agricul- ure and always followed that occupation until [is death, which occurred June 1, 1903. Throughout life he proved himself to be an arnest Christian, a generous supporter of re- igious movements, a kind husband, devoted ather and accommodating neighbor. In his ieath the township lost an honored citizen and lublic-spirited man. His mariage took place in his county October 9, 1880, and united him sith Miss Margaret E. Roberts, who was born lear Clayville, Oneida countj'. New York, July 16, 1853), being a daughter of Robert W. and jrace (Williams) Roberts. Her father was born n Wales in 1816 and her mother, a native of he same country, was born in 1818. When 'oung they immigrated to the United States, he mother coming at the age of ten years, and he father crossing the ocean in 1836. His first lome was in Oneida county. New York, while ler people established a home in Steuben county, hat state. His ancestors were prominent in /Vales, where his grandfather. Rev. Robert Rob- irts of Clynog, was a famous preacher and an lonored leader in his church. The marriage of Robert W. Roberts and Grace Villiams took place at Utica, Oneida county, \ew York, in 1847, and in 1854 they removed .s far west as La Crosse, Wisconsin, where they emained for four years. During 1858 they ame to Minnesota and took up a claim in Jud- on township. Blue Earth county, where they ngaged in farming until 1864. Removing from his county to Martin county, they engaged in arming for ten years, and in 1874 became resi- ients of Le Sueur county, Minnesota, where the ather died June 18, 1882. His' wife survived j'm seventeen years and passed away February , 1899, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. '/oods. There were six children in the family, ohn M. resides in the village of South Bend; largaret E. was second in order of birth; Lewis ]ed in infancy; Catherine A. is the widow of John D. Evans, of Mankato; Ellen died in in- fancy; and William B. makes his home at Will- mar, Kandiyohi county, this state. There were six children bom to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Woods, namely: Isaac, born October 7, 1881; Lillie, born June 20, 1884, and deceased Octo- ber 9, same year; Elizabeth I., bom November 27, 1885; Robert C, May 16, 1888; Grace L., January 11, 1891; and David E., October 4, 1893. The family have a high standing in church circles and general society and enjoy the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. WORKS, SAMUEL D.— The family repre- sented by this influential citizen of Mankato has been identified with the history of America since a very early period of our national development. Genealogical records show that James Wallace Works, who was a native of Rhode Island, served with conspicuous gallantry in the war of 1812 and years afterward went to the front as a sol- dier in the struggle with Mexico. While he served on many a sanguinary battlefield in both wars he was wounded only once, that being in the battle of Lundy's Lane. Much of his life was passed in the state of New York, where was born and reared his son, Leonidas, a farmer and grain-buyer by occupation and a man of local prominence, serving as a member of the legisla- ture and in other offices of responsibility. The death of Leonidas Works occurred in 1884 when he was fifty-eight years of age, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Miss Gazleigh, died in 1892 at sixty-three years of age. Born of their union were seven children, of whom four are liv- ing, viz. : James W., of Cleveland, Ohio; Arthur, a resident of Buffalo, New York; Robert, now living in Salt Lake City, Utah; and Samuel D., who was sixth in order of birth, and was born in Steuben county. New York, February 3, 1862. On the completion of a thorough academic education, Samuel D. Works matriculated in the University of Chicago in 1887 and there pursued the studies of the classical course. Afterward he became a student in the Baptist Theological Sem- inary at Louisville, Kentucky, where he com- pleted the regular course of study and was then ordained to the ministry of that denomination. BIOGEAPHICAL HISTOEY. 621 Returning to the east he accepted a pastorate at Venice, Cayuga county. New York, and from there in 1893 removed to North Dakota as a home missionary of the Baptist denomination. During the period of his residence in that state he held for two years the position of president of the state convention of the Baptists. On re- signing from the missionary field he went to South Dakota as pastor of the Huron Baptist church and during his pastorate in that town he officiated as editor of the Church Messenger. Coming to Minnesota in 1897 Mr. Works has since been identified with the history of this place. For three 3'ears he was pastor of the First Baptist church, but finally resigned in or- der to engage in commercial enterprises. Since then he has acted as secretary and manager of the Minnesota Immigration Company, in which he has as associates G. M. Palmer and F. M. Currier. During 1903 the lumber and land firm of S. D. Works & Company was organized, which since has established an important business in the line of its specialties. In October of 1904 the Works-Everts Lumber Company was organ- ized, which now carries on a wholesale lumber business and has its headquarters in the city of Minneapolis. These various enterprises do not represent the limit of the activities of Mr. Works, whose interests are further enlarged through his association with C. N. Andrews in the Mankato Investment Company, which was organized Jan- uary 1, 190G, and of which he is president. The company transacts an investment business and engages in the building of houses for sale, having during 1900 erected seven residences within ]\Ian- kato. The marriage of Mr. A\'orks took place June G, 1888, and united him with Miss Agnes Owens, of Steuben county, New York. Of their union two sons were born, namely: Donald Harper, April 6, 1896; and Phil, July 28, 1898. There is also an adopted daughter, Katherine. The family are warmly interested in the growth and prosperity of the First Baptist church, with which they are identified, .and in which Mr. Works has been an officer ever since retiring from the ministry. Politically he always has been a believer in Democratic principles and in J906 he was his party's candidate for the office of state senator. His wise judgment and ripened culture have been helpful in his work as a trustee of the Carnegie library. Notwithstanding the many business interests demanding his attention, he finds leisure for identification with the fra- ternal, social and educational affairs of Mankato, is prominent in the blue lodge of ilasonry, the Eoyal Arcanum, the ilankato Choral Club and the ^lankato Social Science club. WYSONG, ALLISON D. and J. B.— The. pro- prietors of Mankato's flourishing laundry are re- liable and capable business men, having worked their way from a small and unpromising begin- ning, to a large and dependable trade. They have been residents of this city for practically their entire lives, and the general opinion of those who have watched their progress is that they are unquestionably solid and irreproachable in their business methods. Allison D. Wysong, who is about ten years older than his brother, was born May 5, 1863, in Winchester, Indiana, the son of Perry and Caroline (Seed) Wysong, who came to Mankato in 1865, and engaged in the brick laying and contracting business. Within, recent years, how- ever, the father has retired from active trade, and at the age of seventy-four, is enjoying the comforts and leisure earned by earlier applica- tion, both himself and wife, who now is four years his junior, being in excellent health and spirits. Besides their wide-awake and capable sons, the couple had a daughter, Annie, who died at the age of eight years. The Wysong sons were educated in the public schools, and Jay E. was a member of the first class to graduate from the local high school. Their earlier efforts were directed to brick-laying and clerking in stores, but they finally bought their present laundry business in 1898, from G. A. .lost. They immediately began to push the enterprise in an energetic and systematic manner, employed good help and modern meth- ods, and soon were obliged to enlarge their ca- pacity and modernize their machinery. At the present time they employ twenty-five hands, and are the leading laundry purvejors to the public in Mankato. BIOGEA.PHICAL HISTORY. Personally these energetic business men are so- iable and popular, enjoying a broad identifiea- on with affairs in general, A. D. being a mem- er of A. F. and A. M., A. 0. U. W., Maccabees, lagles, the Samaritans, Degree of Honor, and le Commercial Club, while Mr. Jay E. Wysong > identified with the E. A. YAEGEE, GEOBGE E.— Eepresentative of a ioneer family of Blue Earth county and him- ili a native-born son of Eapidan township, rcorge F. Yaeger has spent his entire life with- 1 the limits of this township, receiving his edu- ation in its district schools and early acquir- ig a thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits n the old homestead. When he was ten years f age he was orphaned by the death of his ather. but his mother is still living and under er wise training he was prepared for the re- ponsibilities of a busy existence. Ever since tarting out to earn his own way in the world e has engaged in general farming and now owns small farm on which he has erected a neat cot- age, a substantial barn and other buildings eeded for the shelter of stock and machinery nd the storage of grain. The identification of the Yaeger family with le agricultural development of Blue Earth Dunty dates back to the year 1864. The ances- )rs were of Teutonic origin. Andrew and iouisa (Mouser) Yaeger were bom and reared a Germanv, whence they immigrated to the 'nited States and settled in ^N'ew York state a lort time prior to their marriage. During 1864 ley became pioneers of Minnesota and purchased md in Eapidan township. Blue Earth county. where he died in 1879 and where she still con- tinues to make her home. The property which they first bought and which remains her home comprises two hundred acres, improved with buildings and good fences, and maintained under a high state of cultivation. The family of Andrew Yaeger consisted of twelve children, seven of whom are still living, the third oldest now living of these being George P., who was bom at the old homestead August 3, 1869, and received such advantages as the township afforded. In 1899 he married ^liss Emma Preuss, daughter of Ferdinand and Au- gusta Preuss, natives of Germany, who came to the United States when quite young and settled in Le Sueur county, ilrs. Yaeger was educated iu Blue Earth county and is a woman of refine- ment and intelligence, a capable assistant to her husband, and a wise coimselor in affairs of im- portance. Their forty-acre place is improved with a neat house and substantial barn erected by the present owner, who bought the place about 1893 and has resided thereon ever since his mar- riage. While not neglecting the care of his land and its cultivation Mr. Yaeger has found leisure to participate in township affairs and has given his eneoiiragement and sympathy to movements for the improving of the roads and the upbuilding of the country schools, in which he has worked efficiently as a director. For ten years he filled the office of assssor and always he was spoken of as fair, impartial and efficient, an able official in that responsible post. In politics he is a Democrat, but he is independent in thought and opinions and gives his support to the men and measures he believes best calculated to promote the general good, irrespective of political ties.