MN AHGP Archives-Big Stone Co. 1882 Bios
Big Stone County biographies from the 1882 History of the Minnesota Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota

City of Ortonville

N. G. Anderson, born in Sweden in 1853, came to America in 1870 and settled in Minnesota. He was employed as clerk in stores at St. Johns and Willmar till coming in 1879 to Ortonville: he is now in business with Mr. Blom. Married in 1877, Bertha Berthelson. Adolph Blom was born in Sweden in 1850 and in 1872 removed to Minnesota. From Carver he went to St. Paul and stayed six years; since coming in 1879 to Ortonville he has been in mercantile trade. Married in 1877, Carrie Johnson.

C. E. Brooks was born in 1859 in Burlington, Iowa. After attending a preparatory school in New Jersev he entered Harvard College in 1876 but failing health compelled him to leave shortly before graduation. In 1879 he was employed in the Ortonville bank and since 1881 has been a partner. Married in 1881, Flora Carpenter of Iowa.

B. Dassel was born in New York city in 1850 and first came to Minnesota in 1859; settled in St. Paul in 1865. He was secretary of the land department for the Manitoba railroad twelve years; in 1879 he came here and established the Ortonville Bank; is now senior partner. He had filled various offices previous to the organization of the county, in which he took an active part, and has since been clerk of courts and is one of the city council. Married in 1878, Caroline Peasley.

Lyman B. Jones was born in 1844 in Sandusky county, Ohio. He enlisted in 1862 and served two and one-half years. In 1878 he graduated from the law department of Ann Arbor University and has since been in practice at Ortonville. Married in 1866, Mary Bardorff of Ohio.

Dr. George McMurphey, born in December,1852 at Prescott, Pierce county, Wisconsin; was educated there and at the Minneapolis University. In 1878 he graduated from the Bellevue Hospital College of New York; practiced one year in his native state and since 1879 has been at Ortonville. The doctor holds the folio wing positions: president of the board of education, county coroner and U. S. pension examiner.

John McCallum born in Scotland in 1847 immigrated in 1855 to Livingstone county. New York and in 1863 came to Washington county, Minnesota. He enlisted the same year in Company A, 12th Wisconsin and served through the remainder of the war. In 1876 he came to Prior and the next year Custer post-office was established at his house; took an active part in organizing the town and was first clerk: was elected f register of deeds in 1881. Married in 1877 Mary Secrest.

C. H. Mero was born in 1843 in Lincoln county Maine. He enlisted in Company E, 20th Maine and served from 1862 till the war closed after which he was farming in Wisconsin ten years and engaged in mercantile trade four year years; held numerous offices there; was in the hotel business for eighteen months after coming to Ortonyille in 1879; took an active part in organizing this county and has since been county auditor. In 1866 he married Mary Ellen Fletcher.

G. A. Moore, native of New Hampshire, was born in 1843 and when nine years old accompanied his parents to St. Anthony, Minnesota. He was in the grocery trade at Minneapolis twelve years previous to coming in 1879 to Ortonville, where he is engaged in the lumber business. In 1877 Jennie Kelly became his wife.

C. K. Orton, born in 1846 in Dane county, Wisconsin, removed in 1853 to Iowa, thence in 1857 to Fillmore county, Minnesota. In 1871 he came to Big Stone county and took 160 acres, on which now stands Ortonville, named in honor of him; he is a member of the city council, president of Orion's Bank, and chairman of the board of county commissioners; he is a large stock-holder in the Big Stone Lake Navigation Company.

A. J. Parker, born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1839, went to Wisconsin when three years old, with his parents, and lived in different parts of that state; was educated at Ripon. In 1862 he entered Company F, 31st Wisconsin; in 1864 was transferred to the 37th and made first lieutenant; discharged that year for disability; was in the pension claim business for a time, and read law. In 1873 he took a claim near Ortonville, and the next year was elected county auditor; since 1880 he has been cashier of Orton's Bank. Married in 1877 Eleanor Phelps.

M. F. Potter was born in 1843 in Washington county, New York. In 1861 he went to Illinois; lived there, and in New York and Iowa till 1875, then in Faribault, Minnesota, till 1879, since which date he has dealt in general merchandise at Ortonville; he is town clerk and a member of the board of education. Married in 1870 Nettie Taylor.

A. E. Randall was born in 1846 in Lockport, New York. Lived five years in Illinois, then went to Wisconsin, and in 1860 located in Olmsted county. Minnesota; three years later removed to Wabasha county, but in 1876 came to Ortonville and took a claim; has served his county as treasurer and sheriff. Mr. Randall was in the late war eighteen months. Married in 1872, Sophia Bullock.

J. H. Sheets, born in Randolph county, Indiana, in 1848, entered Ridgeville College at the age of twenty, and graduated four years later with the degree of A. B. He located in Long Prairie, Minnesota, and published the Todd County Argus from 1876 till he bought the Big Stone County Herald, of which he is now proprietor; it was established in 1879 by Wilbur Coffin; while living in Todd county he was superintendent of schools and surveyor. Married in 1881 Jennie McClaflin.

D. C. Stam was born in Madison county, New York, in 1840. When fourteen years old he went with his father to Wisconsin, but two and one-half years later returned to New York, and after graduating in 1862 from the Oneida Seminary, went back to Wisconsin, studied law, was admitted in 1866, and lived in different places in that state until 1880, when he came to Ortonville; has since practiced law here with L. R. Jones. Mr. Stam helped organize this county; in 1880 he took an active part in the political campaign, making numerous speeches in different parts of the state; he is attorney for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. Married in 1860 Sarah Winslow.

G. A. Wood, born in Canada East in 1852, came to the States in 1864. Lived in Wisconsin till 1870, then came to Minnesota; entered the State University in 1872, graduated in 1878, and has since been in hardware trade at Ortonville. Married in 1879 Miss C. Rollit, also a graduate of the University.

J. C. Wood, born in 1855 in Canada East, came in 1864 to the United States, and in 1870 removed from Wisconsin to Fillmore county, Minnesota. From 1878 till 1882 was postmaster at Ortonville; he is in the hardware business with his brother. Married in 1881 Lottie Warren, a graduate of the Winona Normal school.

Ortonville Twp.

W. E. Brown was born in Niagara county, New York, December 24, 1824. Removed to Canada and in 1846 went to Ohio; taught seven years in Miami county and completed his education at Augusta College; in 1853 he moved to Wisconsin and was in mercantile business till '57, then settled in Goodhue county, Minn. He was farming and teaching till '73, then went to Kansas; in December, 1874, he came to Big Stone county and took the farm of 320 acres where he now lives. Since May, 1875, has been county superintendent of schools. Married Miss C. A. Grist in 1854 and has four boys living; three children have died.

A. L. Jackson was born in Wyoming county, New York, in 1822. From the age of twenty till 1852 he was in Wisconsin, after which he passed three years mining in California, then spent some years in Wisconsin and Missouri. He was in Goodhue county, Minnesota, from 1861 till 1874, then came to his farm which he had taken the year before in this town ; he was the first treasurer of this county. His first wife, Annie Baker, married in 1849, died September 5, 1860; in 1866 he married Jennie Brown, who died August 29, 1880; Emily Clement became his wife in 1882. He has three children living, and his wife two. In 1862 he entered Company D, Seventh Minnesota and served three years.

A. P. Jackson was born in 1826, in Wyoming, County, N. Y., and went at the age of sixteen with his parents to Wisconsin. In 1847 he married Sallie Hoyle who died in 1854. He removed to Minnesota in 1861: was elected to the legislature in 1871. He removed in 1878 from Goodhue county to his present home in Big Stone county. His second wife was Julia Wing, married in 1854. Of his nine children seven are living.

J. T. Leet, born in Delhi, New York, accompanied his parents to Racine, Wisconsin, when fourteen years old. He went to Fond du Lac in 1848, worked as salesman five years and was then in business there till removing in 1861 to Goodhue county. Minnesota. Since June, 1874, he has lived at his farm in this town; has been justice of the peace and was the first register of deeds in the county. Married in 1846, Angeline Jackson; four children.

Nels Lindgren was born in 1836, in Sweden and was married in that country in 1865 to Mary Johnson. Immigrated to America in 1870; in 1871 came to Big Stone county, and brought his family the next year; he now owns a farm of 320 acres. The children are John, Emma, P. August, Charlie, the first child born in this town, Christina, Bernt, Botilda and Swen M.

Odessa Twp.

A. D. Beardsley, born in 1846, in Schuyler county, New York, went when ten years old to Wisconsin with his parents. From the age of fifteen till 1879. he was on the railroad between La Crosse and Chicago, and was conductor fourteen years. Since 1879 he has lived in this county, and since 1881, on his farm: previous to that he had kept a store and been depot agent at Odessa. He was the first town clerk and has since been chairman; is also county commissioner. Married Martha Dahl in 1867: four living children.

Julius H. Held, born in Harrisville, Marquette county, Wisconsin, in 1858, removed with his parents to Faribault county, Minnesota, when nine years old. He graduated from Janesville Commercial College and learned telegraphy; he has been employed in different places but since 1881 has been station agent at Odessa. November 14, 1881, he married Susan Swaby.

J. R. Meier was born in 1849, in Switzerland. He learned blacksmithing and in 1869 came to the United States; worked at his trade in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin. In 1878 he came to Minnesota, and in 1879 removed from Ortonville to Odessa, and began business at his present stand. Married Lizzie Ambuhl, January 31, 1880, in Big Stone City.

William H. Mueller, native of Wisconsin, was born in 1854 in Dodge county. In 1874 he migrated to Minnesota; lived in Winona county for a time, and in 1878 took a farm in Lac qui Parle county, which was his home till February, 1882, since which date he has been proprietor of the Odessa House. Married in 1879, Helena Sellin; two boys: Henry and Arthur.

J. M. Sherman was born in Washington county, New York, in 1840 and fitted himself for teaching, which occupation he followed much of his time until recently. In 1862 he came to Minnesota; lived two years in Washington county, then returned to New York, but two years later came again to Minnesota; in 1880 he removed from Dakota county to Odessa, where he is in charge of Pratt's elevator; he is town treasurer. Married in 1864, Jennie Shellenbarger.

H. C. Sutherland, born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1833, came in 1860 to Minnesota. He enlisted in the Ninth regiment of this state and served three years. Removed from Austin, Mower county, to Hastings, where he engaged in farming four years, but in 1878 took a farm in Big Stone county and came here the next spring. Married in 1863, Miss L. Carter; five living children.

Henry Walter was born in 1841 in Perry county, Missouri. He removed to Illinois where he learned blacksmithing; afterward worked at that business in Indiana till the war, then served three months; in 1862 he removed to Olmsted county. Minnesota, and re-enlisted in 1863; served till war ceased, in Company I, Sixth Minnesota. He lived in Nicollet, Ottawa and Camp Release till locating in 1877 on his farm in Yellow Bank; has been town clerk and justice, also county commissioner and notary public; conducts his mercantile and real estate business in Odessa. Married in 1861,Maria Lehman; seven living children.

F. Wildung was born May 1,1840, in Germany. He learned the trade of brushmaker: immigrated to St. Louis in 1860, and there started a brush factory; in 1864 went to St. Paul and soon after to Carver, where he kept a hotel and store three years; afterward engaged in farming and mercantile business in and near Howard Lake, but since 1880 he has been at Odessa; has a large stock of general merchandise and hardware. In 1870 he married Caroline Diens; five children. He served fifteen months in the civil war.

Big Stone

J. L. Cherry, born July 18, 1849 in Washington county, Ohio, made his home in that state, Illinois and Iowa. From 1864 to 1865 he served in Company H, Tenth Illinois cavalry. In 1867 he removed to Wabasha county, Minnesota; was afterward in Illinois and Kansas, but returned in 1871; he came here in 1877 and now owns 240 acres in Malta; was in mercantile trade but sold in 1880 and has since been handling machinery at Big Stone.

William B. Dow was born June 2, 1830 at Plattsburg, New York. Lived in that state and Vermont; learned the trades of blacksmith and machinist; afterward worked in Illinois, Iowa and various parts of Minnesota; returned to New York for three years but came to this state again. Enlisted in Company H, Eighth Minnesota and served eighteen months. He operated a saw mill in Wisconsin three years; returned to Wabasha county and in 1876 took land in Otrey;in 1878 he was made postmaster at Big Stone. Married March 17, 1857. Caroline Converse; three children: John, Claud and William.

John E. Goodno was born September 22, 1830 at Swansea, Massachussetts, and when eight years old went to Wisconsin. In 1849 he came to Minnesota and took a farm where Carver now stands, but in 1867 removed to Chippewa county and in 1874 came to Big Stone. In 1855 he married Elizabeth Wallace; seven children: Jerome, Elizabeth, John, William, Angie, Hattie and Albert. Mr. Goodno enlisted in Company H, Ninth Minnesota and served till 1865; was with General Sibley the first year.

David Hancock, born April 22, 1812 in Worcester county, Massachusetts, went with his parents to Vermont and learned blacksmithing of his father. In 1836 he began running on a steamboat on the Connecticut; was promoted to captain. He was drum major in the army; served from 1861 till 1862. Lived at Red Wing, coming in 1878 to Big Stone; since coming to Minnesota he has owned and run several steamboats but is now located on his farm. In 1840 he married Adeline Stearns, who died (month missing) 13, 1853; two children, Lucius and Joseph. In 1854 he married Olive Field; her children are Adeline, Frances, May and Howard.

A. A. Randall was born March 22, 1852 in Niagara county, New York. In 1857 he removed to Wisconsin and five years later to Minnesota; he was in Olmsted, Wabasha and Goodhue counties till 1874, then went to Albert Lea and about three years later to Hastings; in 1877 he located on section 22 of Big Stone. In 1873 he married Emma Curtis; their children are Ida and Theta.

Prior Twp.

William H. Bowman, born in Jefferson county, New York, March 24, 1843, removed in 1856 to Wisconsin and studied at Madison University until enlisting in 1861; he served till war closed. Since 1872 he has lived in this town, where he has a farm of 400 acres. Married in 1868, Mary Worden, five children. Mr. Bowman has been supervisor and justice.

George William Buck, born in Germany, February 2, 1835, came when nineteen years old to America. In 1857 he located in Washington county, Minnesota; served in Company G, Sixth Minnesota, from 1864 till war closed; in 1877 he came to his present farm. Married in 1861, Mrs. Miller, net Barbara May: their living children are Mary, William H., Ida J., Sophia E., Harriet D. and George W.

George C. Cranmer, was born May 24, 1857 in Barnegat, New Jersey. He attended an academy and afterward the State University of Pennsylvania. In July, 1876 he removed to Anoka, Minnesota, and in May 1878 came to this town. In January 1880 he married Frances Kelsey, a graduate of the St. Cloud Normal School; she was born September 24, 1859. They have two children.

Sam. M. Dodd, born July 16, 1855, in Schuyler county, Illinois, removed in 1873 to St. Paul, where he attended school, and was employed as clerk. Since June 1878 he has lived on his farm of 320 acres in this town. November 17, 1878, he married Hattie Everett; the children are Harold E. and Mildred L. Mr. Dodd has been constable and assessor.

C. A. Durand was born August 14,1845, in Lagrange county, Indiana. The family came to Minnesota, and from 1851 till 1860 lived at Red Wing and Cannon Falls, engaged in the hotel business; then located in Washington county; in 1879 he came to the farm which is now his home. In 1879 he married Jennie Kemp; one child: May. Mr. Duraud is town clerk.

J. M. Foren, born in 1843, in Knox county, Kentucky, migrated in 1860 to Minnesota. November 16, 1861 he enlisted in Company G, 3d Minnesota; served till September, 1865; his home was in Rice county, this state, until 1868, then in St. Paul until 1879; now resides at his farm in Prior. January 7, 1869. he married Mary Sullivan; six children.

E. B. Hagaman was born December 31, 1823, in Montgomery county, New York. In 1845 he went to Wisconsin, where he worked as carpenter and mill-wright, but moved in 1879 to the farm where he now lives. Married Harriet Bartlett in 1845; seven children. Mrs. Hagaman's grand-father, a pensioner of the war of 1812 is living, aged eighty-nine years.

C. H. Hiffernan was born in Toronto, Canada, December 9, 1854, and in 1856 came with his parents to Winona, Minnesota. He worked as brakesman on a railroad three years, and was in the employ of J. B. Cook, of St. Paul, one year; came to his present home in 1876. In 1880 he married Anna Grist, born July 16, 1864, in Pennylvania.

A. S. McPhee, born September 5, 1842, in Ontario, Canada, removed when about ten years old with his parents to New York. In 1861 he enlisted in the Sixteenth New York; participated in many severe battles and was badly wounded. He came in 1867 to Minnesota, and in 1878 to his farm in this town. Married in 1869, Annie McGilles; five children, John A., Mary M., Joseph D., James L. and Lewis M.

M. Irwin Matthews, born August 7, 1844, in Erie county, Pennsylvania, went, at the age of two years, with his parents to Wisconsin. In 1869 he removed to Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he taught school; he came in 1872 as one of the early settlers of Big Stone county, owns 467 acres of land: he has been county superintendent and commissioner, and was the first notary public. Married Miss C. Henderson in 1870; four children.

Amos Mireau was born November 22, 1848, in Canada. At the age of nineteen he left home; visited Massachusetts and in 1868 came to Minnesota; afterward located in Grant county, and in 1875 came to the farm where he still lives. March 10, 1880, he married Emma Bailey, born July 27, 1866, in Tennessee.

E. W. Newell, born December 13, 1843, near Hamilton, New York, removed in 1853 to Wisconsin and in 1863 to Minnesota. Excepting the time spent in the army he was in Goodhue county until locating, in 1878, on his present farm. In 1873 he married Mary Wheat; the children are Jean C. and Allen W.

George W. Peterson was born December 12, 1837, in New York. He learned the trade of carpenter and has worked at that business much of his time. Mr. Peterson, six of his brothers, and their father, served in the late war. Since 1876 he has lived at his farm near Foster. His wife, Mary Mosely, married in 1861, died May 2. 1870, and in 1872 he married Mrs. Mary Wilcox; nine living children.

Addison Phelps was born February 1, 1816, in Ashtabula county. Ohio, and learned the trade of carpenter. In 1855 he came to Minnesota; lived at Owatonna till 1869; then at Appleton, and in 1874 came here; has a farm of 100 acres and a general store at Foster, which was the first one in the town of Prior. In 1840 he married Sarah Chilsen, who died in 1874; he remarried in 1880; five living children.

F. G. Phillips, who is a native of New York, was born February 7, 1854, near the city of Oswego, and in 1855 accompanied his parents to Ohio. He migrated in 1875 to Minnesota and in 1878 came here: bought 160 acres of land of the government and his mother who resides with him, also owns 160 acres.

George W. Ransom was born in New York, December 4,1842; his father died in 1849 and he accompanied his mother to Massachusetts. He enlisted in 1862 and remained in the army till near the close of war. Mr. Ransom was engaged in fruit culture some time in Florida previous to coming here in 1878. Married in 1876, Wilhelmena Cox.

Levi Seeley was born March 20, 1843, in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and about 1856 went to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where his parents died. He enlisted and served from 1861 till war ceased. In 1880 he came to Prior: his farm contains 160 acres. Married Mary Hagaman in 1865; three children: James W., Harriet E. and Charles E.

Charles A. Wheeler was born May 24, 1828, in Oneida county, New York. He learned cabinet-making; removed in 1855 to Indiana, and in 1874 to St. Paul; he was several years in the employ of N. B. Harwood; in March, 1877 he came to his present farm; has 320 acres. In 1855 he married Sarah Sawyer; two sons: Clarence and Charlie.

Browns Valley

W. W. Beardsley was born in Schuyler county, New York, in 1852. He grew up in Livingston county, and in 1873 went to Pennsylvania: in 1874 he went to Illinois and the next year to Wisconsin; in 1878 he came to Big Stone county, Minnesota and located on section 17, town of Browns Valley; he is proprietor of the town site of Beardsley. In 1878 he married Helen Oleson; have had two children; Charles Frederick is living.

L. P. Burdick was born at Waddington, St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1844. June 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, 142d, New York, and served till April 1865; received wounds for which he draws pension. In 1874 he came to Minneapolis and started a barrel factory; was burned out three times and in 1878 came to Big Stone county; is now a resident of Beardsley and one of the proprietors of Burdick and Spencers addition to the village. Married Mary McPhee in 1868.

J. M. Cole was born in Bucksport, Maine, in 1834, and at the age of fourteen'shipped as sailor and followed the sea twenty-two years, in different positions; made one trip around the world. In 1872 he came to Hancock station, Minnesota, and while there held various town offices; in 1881 he came to Beardsley and built the first hotel, which he is now keeping. In 1859 Caroline Page became his wife.

Henry Covart was born in the town of Wheeling. Rice county, Minnesota, in 1857. March 15, 1881, he came to Browns Valley, Big Stone county, and located on section 18, town 125, range 48; he raised a crop in the season of'1881, and marketed the first load of wheat sold to the elevator at Beardsley; is now employed by W. P. Brackett at the elevator.

George W. Freer was born in Tompkins county, New York, in 1844, and when a child was taken by parents to Wisconsin; lived in Sauk and Dodge counties till 1878, then came to Big Stone county, Minnesota; he located on section 31, and is now in the grain and produce business at Beardsley; has been chairman of the Browns Valley town board since its organization. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, 12tb Wisconsin infantry, was promoted to sergeant and discharged in 1865. Jennie John became his wife April 4, 1868; of the four children born, two are living: Lota S. and James Osman.

Patrick J. Green was born in Ireland, in March 1851, and came to New York when a child; moved to Canada, and when thirteen went to Ogdensburg, New York; in 1878 he went to farming in Clay county, Minnesota, and in July, 1879, came to Beardsley, and is section foreman for the railroad company and owner of several village lots.

A. W. Jones was born in Richland, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, in 1857. He attended a seminary and the state agricultural college at Lansing; he lived in Howard Lake, Minnesota, two and a half years, and in 1878 returned to school one year; May, 1879, he engaged in mercantile business at Howard Lake, and in June, 1881, came to Beardsley and built the first business house in the village; is now dealing in general merchandise. Married in June, 1880, Cora Bonniwell.

W. H. King, native of Pennsylvania, was born at Wilkesbarre, in 1840. In 1849 his parents moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, then to Marquette county; he engaged in lumbering at Grand Rapids, and in 1860 went to St. Louis, Mo. June 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company K. Seventh Missouri infantry: October 1, 1863, was promoted to first lieutenant in Company C, Fifth U. S. artiller; promoted to captain in same company and discharged May 20, 1866. He came to Minnesota and bought a farm in Mower county, which he sold and went to Kansas in 1871; returned to Austin in 1873, and in 1878 came to this town. In 1868 he married Eliza Stone: Eva M., Frank Julius, Sarah Edith, Mabel Caroline, Hulda Viola and an infant are their children.

Jeffery Spencer was born in England in 1839: in 1867 he immigrated to Massachusetts and five years later came to Minnesota. He lived in Meeker county till 1878, then came to the town of Brown's Valley; he is with Mr. Burdick, proprietor of an addition to Beardslev village; has held town offices in this and Meeker county. He married in 1861 Emma Gallimore; two children, Thomas and Sarah Ann.

Elizer Stoemach was born on Feb. 29, 1823 in Dresden, Germany and came to the United States as a young man, landing in Boston in 1847. He came to Minnesota in 1869 and has had a fine farm in this township for many years; married Susan Strenfeiffer in 1860, four children.

Henry Stonebraker was born in 1850, in Switzerland; in 1863 he went to Ohio and worked on a farm; learned the saddler's trade at Trov. He traveled through the western states and territories; went to Alaska and returned to California; in 1880 he went into the restaurant business at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in May, 1881, came to Beardsley and put up the building where lie now has a saloon, and deals in coal, wood, lumber, etc.

George M. Telfer was born at Elroy, Juneau county, Minnesota, in 1855. After leaving school, in 1876, he went to Wabasha county, Minnesota, and went into the nursery business; in 1878 he engaged in selling fanning mills for N. T. Davis, of Wisconsin, and in 1880 came to Big Stone county, and is a justice at Beardsley; is also assistant postmaster and is notary public and collection agent.

Graceville Twp.

M. Beaudoin was born in Canada in 1858 and when fourteen years of age went to Massachusetts; in 1876 he moved to New York and learned the trade of harness maker; in 1877, went to Minneapolis, and in the fall of that year began the harness business at Graceville.

D. J. Burke was born in Ireland in 1854 and received a classical education in Kilkenny; in 1873 he emigrated to Canada and was in business till 1878, then returned to Ireland for six months; came to Graceville, Minnesota, and engaged in general merchandise business: is postmaster and school district treasurer.

J. N. Huey was born in Pennsylvania in 1853, went to Wisconsin while young, and in 1867 to Iowa, in 1874 he removed to Stillwater, Minnesota, and in 1877 went into machinery business at Morris; in June, 1880, he came to Graceville, and is engaged in the drug business. January 2, 1881, he married Anna Murphy.

James Mullooly was born in Western Virginia in I860, and was raised on a farm; in 1880 he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and worked in a hardware house, and from there to Graceville and engaged in liquor business.

James O'Donovan was born in Ireland in 1840 He came to Graceville, Minnesota, in 1881, and is now engaged in the flour, feed and grocery business; is a member of village council. January 27, 1866, he married Margaret O'Connall; they have six children: John, James, Stephen, Jeffrey, Humphrey, Thomas.

Strong Brothers, proprietors of the Graceville roller mill and dealers in all kinds of merchandise, lumber, cement, etc. The firm is composed of M., D., & H. Strong, who came from Ontario in 1860, and separated; D. Strong went to Memphis, Tenn., and engaged in raising cotton till the yellow fever drove him out; M. Strong went to Ontonagan as a railroad contractor; H. Strong went into carriage and wagon-making in Michigan; in 1881 they met at Graceville and formed a partnership; they put up a roller flour-mill with a capacity of 125 barrels per day; have a hay-press, with capacity of twenty tons a day; also a saw-mill at Hinckley, on the St. Paul & Duluth railroad, which cuts 50,000 feet per day: they cut 1,000,000 ties this year.

Almond Twp.

J. H. Rathwell was born August 11, 1849, at Pawtucket, Massachusetts and when seven years old went with his parents to Wisconsin where he learned blacksmithing. In 1874 he came to Minnesota and in 1877 to his present home; since 1878 he has been postmaster of Central post-office. Married in 1875, Miss P. Percy; one living child: Archie A.

Thomas Rathwell was born December 21, 1840 in England. Immigrated with his parents to Massachusetts and in 1856 removed to Wisconsin. Enlisted in 1861, in the 3d Wisconsin cavalry and served till war ceased. He came to Minnesota in 1876 and the next year to the farm where he now lives. Married December 14, 1873, Ella Vandemark; one living child: Joseph Edward.

Malta Twp.

C. A. Miner was born July 13, 1850, in Dodge county, Wisconsin. His father went to California and he stayed with his mother in New York seven years, then the family removed to Dodge county, Minnesota, and in November, 1876, he came to his present home; was the first settler in the town and now has a farm of 320 acres. Married in 1875, Elizabeth Nunn; two children: Alfred C. and Jennie H.

Otrey Twp.

R. H. Chapman was born May 17, 1824, in Provincetown, Massachusetts. For thirty-four years he followed the sea, and was captain of a vessel twenty years; he owned shares in several different vessels. Mr. Chapman was awarded a gold medal from the Massachusetts Humane Society, for his efforts in saving the passengers of a wrecked vessel. Since 1878 he has lived in Otrey. Married in 1857, Miss J. Commons; six children: Isalinda, Edward H., John M., R. H. Jr., Samuel and Robert L.

William Otrey was born December 12, 1845, in Cook county, Illinois. He enlisted in 1864 in the Chicago board of trade light artillery and served nine months. In 1866 he came to Minnesota, and lived in Goodhue and Kandiyohi counties, then came to Otrey and in 1869 settled on section 20. June 10, 1870 he married Hannah Johnson; five children: Joshua B., Nellie M., William W., Josephine C. and Ida M.

Artichoke Twp.

John Keefe, native of Ireland, was born in 1822 and resided in that country till immigrating in 1849 to Provincetown, Massachusetts. He followed the sea twenty-four years; owned interests in several vessels and for a time was captain. In 1879 he came to Artichoke, where he owns 326 acres. Married in February, 1847, Mary Commons; four children: Charles, Alice, Jane and John.

Akron Twp.

H. L. Holmes was born in 1835 in Mesopotamia, Ohio. He was farming in Illinois four years previous to removing in 1861 to Goodhue county, Minnesota. In 1862 he entered Company H, Eighth Minnesota and served three years, after which he did carpenter and farm work; in 1876 he took a farm in Big Stone county and since 1878 has resided here with his family. He kept the Correll post-office over a year. Married Erneline Parker in 1855; five children.

E. L. Kingsbury was born in 1831 in Madison county, New York. He did carpenter work in that state till twenty-three years old, then went to Michigan, where in 1855 he married Elsie Curtis. He worked at his trade and farming in Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he located in 1856; took a claim in Akron in 1876 and in 1878 brought his family; he owns a farm of 300 acres. Of their three children two are living.

John Mitchell, born in Norway in 1853, came when fourteen years old to America. He lived in Wisconsin two years and the same length of time in Illinois. In 1871 he came to Minnesota; worked in different parts of this state and Wisconsin till 1876, when he came to Big Stone county, and since 1878 has lived on his present farm. February 22,1878, he married Miss T. Nelson.

Adam A. Vie was born in 1833 in New Brunswick, where he learned the business of veterinary surgeon and horse shoeing at which he worked six years in Washington county, Minnesota, where he settled when nineteen years old. He continued working at his trade eight years in Minneapolis; was in Illinois two years and then in Goodhue county till coming in 1876 to this town. His first wife, married in 1856 died in 1863; two living children; his present wife. Kate Price, married in 1878, has two children also.

C. E. White, born in 1845, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, removed when ten years old with his father to Mower county, Minnesota, which was his home till he came to this town. He came here in 1876, and began making improvements on his land; has lived here since 1878. In 1862 he entered Company I, Fifth Minnesota and served two years. Married in 1878, Ella Hudson; they have two children.



� 2005 Minnesota AHGP