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


MINNESOTA FALLS

A. Buffum, native of New Hampshire, was born October 31, 1826, in Cheshire county. He removed to Sheboygan county, Wisconsin and enlisted from that state in Company E, 36th Wisconsin; was discharged at the close of the war at Washington, D. C. In 1874 he came to Minnesota Falls.

Scott Bundy, who is a native of Otsego county, New York, was born February 27,1853, and after leaving the common schools, studied several terms in a seminary. He removed to Minnesota and in the spring of 1876 came to Minnesota Falls. Mr. Bundy has been town clerk several terms. In 1879 his marriage occurred with Julia Kelehan; one child: Catherine Luella.

Lewis Dibble, a native of New York, was born October 8, 1829, in Delaware county. In 1856 he located in Cottage Grove township, Washington county, but removed in 1867 to section 26 of Minnesota Fails. In 1848 Mr. Dibble married Hannah Franklin who died in 1867: she has borne him seven children; five are living.

Joseph Doncaster was born September 16,1823, in England, but since 1853 has been a resident of America. After residing two and one-half years in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, he removed to Crawford county. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, 12th Wisconsin, and in 1863 was discharged for disability. He located on section 15, of Minnesota Falls in 1866. He married in 1854, Caroline Fuszard.

George S. Johnson was born December 18, 1838, in Newark, New Jersey. From 1861 to 1863 he served in Company F, 57th New York, and from January to August, 1865, in Company E, 33d New Jersey. In October, 1865, he located on his farm on section 24 of this town. Married in 1859, and his wife died in 1862. Mary Sharp became his wife in 1866.

Peter Kelehan, who is a native of Ireland, was born in 1826. He emigrated from there in 1849 and became a resident of America; his home was in Bridgeport, Connecticut, until 1872, at which date became to Minnesota Falls, and in 1874 took a claim of 160 acres on section 8. Catherine Gelshon became his wife in 1854, and six of the eight children she has borne him are living.

J. F. Langmaid was born in April, 1836, in Merrimac county, New Hampshire. When eleven years old he removed to Grafton county, and at the age of sixteen went to New Jersey; he taught there and subsequently in his native county, also engaged in farming. Since the spring of 1880 he has lived on section 24, of Minnesota Falls. Married in 1859, Mary Ann Morden. They had three children: one died in infancy; Josie was murdered October 4, 1875, in New Hampshire, while returning from school, and Waldo died of grief.

George L. Letts, native of England, was born June 28, 1846. He served seven years at black-smithing, also learned locomotive blacksmith work; upon coming to America in 1868 he located at Meadville, Pennsylvania; worked at his trade some time there and was afterward employed eighteen months in car shops at Minneapolis; followed blacksmithing at Minnesota Falls until 1881 when he began in the machine trade at Granite Falls; Mr. Letts is town treasurer. Married Myra Palmer in 1866; they have seven children.

B. H. Monroe was born July 31,1823, in Alfred, New York. After being in business there four years he engaged in farming for some years, was also in the lumber business in Wisconsin: in 1865 he settled in Dodge county, Minnesota, then kept a store eighteen months, after which he was employed in farming and clerking; finally opened a hotel at Minnesota Falls, but it burned. Mr. Monroe has been county commissioner and sheriff, also held town offices. Married in 1843 Samantha Hunt; three living children. Martha Rood was married to him in 1861.

J. Q. Parke was born August 1, 1824, in Lee, Oneida county, New York, and remained there until 21 years old. He was employed four years as clerk in Deerfield, Massachusetts, and eight years in Springfield. From 1859 to 1862 he was in Missouri; on a farm at Springfield; afterward went to Illinois and New York. From the fall of 1864 till the war closed he served in Company L, 115th New York engineers. In 1866 he came west, and has a farm in Minnesota Falls. He has been town supervisor and treasurer. Married in 1861 Sarah Jane Reed; one child, Henry, is deceased.

D. W. Sherman was born in Oswego county, New York, March 4, 1834. At the age of five he went with his parents to Illinois, where he lived in Fulton county and Chicago until 1853, then went to California and stayed six years; he returned to Illinois, and two years after came to Minnesota and located at Rochester. In 1862 enlisted in Company B, 10th Minnesota, and took active part in the Indian war; served until the close of the war, and in 1868 settled in Minnesota Falls. Married Caroline Young in 1861: they have three children living.

E. H. Sorlien was born in Norway January 16, 1846. In 1857 he came to this country and after one year at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, moved to Watonwan county, Minnesota, and from there to Linden, Brown county. In 1876 he came to Minnesota Falls and started a mill. Was supervisor two years and is county commissioner. Josephine Christine Holdorson became his wife in 1876; two children living.

Andrew Steele, native of Scotland, was born in February, 1848. Emigrated to Canada in 1856; learned the miller's trade and in 1872 came to Minnesota; worked at his trade in Dundas three and one-half years, then came to Minnesota Falls and worked in a mill until it burned; since then he has been farming. Married in 1872, Julia H. Sabin, who has four living children.

James Walker was born in Ireland, in October, 1849. In 1850 his parents emigrated and settled at Mentor, Ohio; he lived there until he came to Minnesota Falls in 1872; is chairman of town board. In 1864 he enlisted in Company I, 23d Ohio, and served till the close of war. In 1870 he married Mary Thompson.

S. M. Yearly was born in Cheshire county, New Hampshire, October 15, 1827. Accompanied his parents to Vermont where he studied law, and was admitted to practice in Wisconsin in 1850; he began practice in Boston, Mass., and continued till 1856; came to Owatonna, Minnesota, and was appointed county attorney before the first term of court in that county; practiced there until 1874 then came to Minnesota Falls. Has been court commissioner six years and justice of the peace. Married in 1851, Clara Culver; she died December 25, 1870. In 1874 he married Lydia Glasgow; two children living.


LISBON.

Gust. Halvorson was born in Norway, October 13, 1853. After the age of sixteen he was dependent upon his own exertions; came to America and lived in Wisconsin and Iowa until settling in Minnesota; since March, 1878, his home has been in Lisbon. Married in 1875 Anna Ottoson. Mr. Halvorson has taught school since coming to Lisbon; they have two boys and two girls.

Ole S. Heimark, native of Norway, was born January 5, 1846. He came to this country in 1866 and lived on a farm in Winneshiek county, Iowa, until coming in the spring of 1875, to his farm in Lisbon. Martha Johnson, was married to Mr. Heimark in 1871; they have six children.

Lewis E. Larsen was born April 28, 1857, near Rochester Minnesota; his father was among the first settlers of Olmsted county; lived on the farm with his parents until coming in October, 1881, to Lisbon, where he keeps a general store, the only one in the place. Mr. Larsen has one brother and one sister, Stark J. and Martha E. who live with their parents in Olmsted county.

Timan H. Lee, a native of Norway was born May 19. 1849. At the age of nineteen he came to the United States. Was employed on a farm in Wabasha county, Minnesota, but has lived since 1870 in Lisbon where he has held some town offices; Christiana Foss became the wife of Mr. Lee in January, 1880; they have one child, Oliver.

N. J. Nelsen was born August 30,1845 in Norway; while he was a young boy his father died and his mother still lives in Norway. Mr. Nelson immigrated to Wisconsin in 1867, but removed in 1870 to Minnesota, and since 1873 has been a resident of Lisbon: he has served his town as chairman of the board. In 1875 he married Louisa Olsen, a native of Wisconsin, and has three children.

Ole Olson was born September 13, 1850, in Norway; came to America in 1870; was in Michigan, also in Wyoming and Utah territories mining. Returned in 1875 to Norway but the next year immigrated to Wisconsin and remained in that state until coming to Minnesota; in 1879 he came to his farm in Lisbon. Married in March, 1877, Emma Rosse.

Theodore Stoltenberg was born March 19, 1832 in Norway, and was ship's mate on the seas for a number of years. In 1866 he immigrated to Olmsted county. Minnesota and in 1873 moved to Lisbon. Mr. Stoltenberg has been county commissioner, also justice of the peace and supervisor. Anna Johnson, became his wife in 1866. They have seven children.


WOOD LAKE.

A. H. Cook, born September 14, 1832, in Canada, went to New York when twelve years old, in company with his parents. Seven years later removed to Washington county, Minnesota, which was his home for twenty-seven years, he then came to Wood Lake. Enlisted in Company F, Hatch's battalion and served one year. Married in 1861 Melissa Palmer; Mary E., Henry R., George S., Cornelia A., Jennie E. and Ettie O. are their living children.

R. B. Cooley, native of New York, was born in 1837. Enlisted in Company M, 10th New York artillery, and served nearly three years. In 1867 he came to Minnesota; lived two years in Steele | county and three years in Waseca county, then j settled in Wood Lake where he has filled various i town offices. Married in 1861, Sarah Kenney; Rosa Belle is their only child.

Hon. S. A. Hall, native of Jefferson county. New York, was born in 1835. In 1845 accompanied his parents to Wisconsin and in 1861 graduated from the Madison University: immediately afterward took charge of the Wesleyan Seminary at Eau Claire. He raised a company in the 5th Wisconsin, and became its captain: was mustered out in 1865. Since 1869 he has lived in Minnesota; is now located in Wood Lake; has served in the state senate and was chairman of the board of education. Married in 1868, Miss E. L. Knapp; the children are Charles F., Addie L., Mary R., Benjamin and Albert H.

J. F. Hannah was born March 24,1847, in Canada. Went to Michigan at the age of thirteen, and seven years later to Cleveland, Ohio; after living several years in Faribault and Hastings, Minnesota, he located on section 12 of Wood Lake. Married in 1877, Mary McCulloch; they have two children: William J. and Robert T.

L. W. Olson, native of Illinois, was born in 1851. Accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, thence to Minnesota and located at Red Wing; his home is now in the town of Wood Lake. The marriage of Mr. Olson with Betzie Harrison took place in 1881; they have a daughter, Esther C.

John Purington was born in 1844 in Massachusetts. While he was a boy his father died and he went with his mother to New Hampshire. Enlisted in Company C, 1st heavy artillery of that state; served about two years. Came to Minnesota and lived in Owatonna until 1872, then came to Wood Lake. Cornelia Dix, born in 1845 in Wisconsin, became his wife in 1868; two children: Jay and Merton.

F. Robson, born in 1833, in England, came in 1856 to America. Lived in Olmsted county, Minnesota, until coming in 1874, to Wood Lake; he owns a farm here, has served in different town offices and since 1879 has been postmaster. Mr. Robson was in the federal army three years; enlisted in Company F, 9th Minnesota. He married in 1860, Mary Potter, who has had five children; Eunice C. and Sarah L. are living.

Lorenzo Satchwell was born in 1839, in New York. When twenty years old he went to Wisconsin; four years afterward he came to Minnesota and stayed about five years then returned to Wis-consin; since 1878, his home has been in the town of Wood Lake. Miss Sarah Barr, native of Wisconsin, was married to him in 1861, and has borne him seven children: the living are Theodore H., Mary A., Ernest R., Sherman D., Ransom E. and Roscoe E.

Daniel Smith was born in 1814, in Vermont and when twelve years old went with his parents to New York. From 1837 to 1841 he was in Ohio, and then till 1870 in Illinois, at that time he came to Minnesota; his home is now in Wood Lake, where he has filled various town offices. Married, in 1845, Eliza James; she was born in 1823, in England. They have an adopted son, George A.

Henry T. Sowl, deceased, was born in New York, in 1803. The children by Mr. Sowl's first marriage were Polly, William R., Charles W., Phoebe M., Henry D., Cynthia, Lydia M. and Dela Verne. His second wife was Rhoda B. Newton, born in 1823, and married in 1849. They came to this county in 1870 and located in Wood Lake, where his widow and family now live. The children are Joseph B., Benjamin F., Samuel S.. and Abraham L. The death of Mr. Sowl occurred June 9,1881.

O. J. Swan, native of Maine, was born August 27, 1839. From 1850 till 1861, his home was in St. Anthony; he then enlisted in Company K, 5th Iowa, and served over three years. After living fourteen years in Dakota county, he removed to Wood Lake. Miss O. V. Nichols became his wife in 1868; they have three children: Frederick R., Albert B. and George L.

H. N. Tibbils was born in 1836, in Auburn, New York. He went to Wisconsin, and in 1869 came to Minnesota, and lives on section 22, Wood Lake. Mr. Tibbils has served his town in different offices. He was married in 1858 to Anna Hall, she was born in Jefferson county, New York; they have an adopted child, Isabelle.


ECHO.

Friedrig Machlanburg was born in Germany in 1828. In 1858 he came to America and located in Watertown, Wisconsin; twelve years later he went to Columbus, and in 1872 removed to Brown county, Minnesota; in 1877 came to Echo. In January, 1865, he enlisted in Company A, Third Wisconsin, and served till the war closed. In 1852 he married his first wife, who died in 1869; in 1870 he married his present wife; he has eleven children, five by his first wife.

Samuel Mather was born in England, August 23, 1829; he learned the trade of machinist; in 1850 he removed to Virginia, and in 1855 to Hastings, Minnesota, where his father ran a machine shop until his death, in 1868. Samuel Mather went on a farm in 1858, and in 1865 enlisted. In 1873 he came to Yellow Medicine county, and owns 1,200 acres of land in different towns, with about 500 acres under cultivation. In 1853 he married Catherine De Pue, who has borne him six children: three are living. Echo post-office was started in 1878 at his place.

G. B. Miller was born in Lanark county, Canada, February 8, 1839. He came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, at the age of twenty-six years, and lived there and in Goodhue county until 1869, when he came to this town. Married in June, 1866, Miss Ann Radford; Martha E., Thomas A., Mary E., Ella J., Sadie M. and William G. are their children.

William J. Radford was born in Canada in 1843, and at the age of eighteen began working in the lumber woods; in 1869 he moved to Minnesota, and in May of that year took a homestead in this town; he was one of the first settlers. He has been chairman, supervisor, justice and assessor. In 1868 he married Isabella Robinson; their children are William, Wallace, Jennie A., Maggie and Anabell; one child died in Canada.

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