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
GRANITE FALLS
S. Anderson was born in 1847 in Sweden and in 1872 came to America. After staying a short time in Mankato, he began business as a railroad contractor. In the autumn of 1878 he came to East Granite Falls; built and conducted a hotel known as the St. Paul House; in 1881 he erected his large hotel near the depot. Mr. Anderson was married in 1879, to Sarah Mickelson who died in September 1880.
W. R. Barnes, native of New York, was born in 1825, in Plattsburg. After receiving an academical education, he taught school a number of years; he lived at Eau Claire, Wisconsin from 1855 to 1872, at which date he came to Minnesota and was engaged in the drug and furniture business at Minnesota Falls till 1877; since then has been at Granite Falls. J. F. Ireland became his partner in trade in 1878. Married in 1853, Miss R. M. Phelps.
Charles A. Bennett was born July 21, 1845 in Baltimore, Maryland. Removed to Ohio and thence in 1856 to Minnesota; settled in Chatfield, where in 1860 he began learning printing. Enlisted in 1862 in Company I, mounted rangers, for one year; re-enlisted and served on the plains in Company D, Brackett's battalion; was mustered out in May, 1866. He was connected with the Glencoe Register until 1874; was employed in the government printing office at Washington until 1879, then resigned and bought the Journal at Granite Falls . Married in May, 1879 Maggie Lee who died March 25, 1872, two children. July 12, 1875, he married Rhoda Kibbey; she also has two children.
Henry Bordewich was born in 1844 in Norway. After gaining a liberal education, he kept books until immigrating in 1864 to Chicago; entered the United States army and served until war ceased then after passing one year south, he was on the lakes three years. Visited Norway for one year then was in business in Iowa till removing in 1873, to Granite Falls, where he was in mercantile trade two years. Mr. Bordewich has been auditor of this county since 1875. Married in 1869, Miss B. Anderson.
C. E. Clark, born in Anson, Somerset county, Maine, in 1839, went, when five years old, with his parents to Ohio. Entered the Western Reserve College, from which he graduated in 1862. He had enlisted in 1861 and served three months: after graduating he re-enlisted; was in the 86th Ohio infantry as sergeant; discharged in 1863, then served one year in the quartermaster department. Mr. Clark was in the mercantile trade four years in Ohio, farming the same length of time in Missouri, and in 1872 removed to Minnesota Falls; was in the lumber business there, and three years at Granite Falls; taught schools winters and has now been county superintendent several years. Married in 1866, Miss I. Hawk.
William Dodge was born in 1834 in the state of New York. At the age of seventeen he went to Wisconsin, thence in 1853 to Red Wing, and from 1879 to 1880, was in the hotel business at Minnesota Falls; the hotel then burned and he went into the livery business. Mr. Dodge entered Company C, First Minnesota and served till the close of the war. Married at Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1855, Almira Conat; they have lost one child and have seven living.
J. D. Dodsworth, native of England, was born in the year 1829. From 1834 to 1843 his home was in Canada; he then resided in Erie, Pennsylvania till 1855, when he returned to England and for six years was in commercial pursuits in London. He married at Mankato in 1861, Jennie, daughter of the late Rev. R. J. Sibley, of that town. Mr. Dodsworth came to this place in May, 1878, and opened the Granite Falls bank; firm name, J. A. Willard and company.
Andrew Eckman, who was born in Sweden in 1840, immigrated in 1868 to the United States. Until the fall of 1876 he was engaged in the wagon making business at New London, Minnesota, then came to Granite Falls and erected the carriage shops where he has since carried on the trade. Miss Clara Gran was married to him in 1875, and has borne five children: Louis, Hjalmer, Phillip; Paul and James A.
Joseph Fortier was born in 1835 in Montreal, Canada. Came to St. Peter in 1854 and in the spring of 1855 located at Yellow Medicine where he clerked in a dry goods store until joining the Renville rangers in 1862; was wounded twice at Fort Ridgely; passed the following winter in St. Paul, and in the spring of 1863 joined General Sibley's expedition; was afterward scout under General Thomas. After visiting Canada he was in the mercantile trade at Yellow Medicine till 1877; the following autumn was elected sheriff; married in 1868, Sarah E. Soward; two of their four children are living.
O. J. Foss, born in 1844, in Norway, came in 1850 to America. Lived until 1861 in Texas; went to Wisconsin in 1862 and enlisted in the 2d regiment of cavalry; was mustered out in December, 1865. In 1873 he came to this county and since 1874 has been register of deeds; he is also in mercantile business with R. R. Hotchkiss. Emma Hazelbery was married July 25, 1869, to Mr. Foss and has five children.
H. T. Goodnough was born in 1845 in Bakersfield, Franklin county, Vermont; went with his parents when a child to New York. He was in Canada a short time then returned, and from 1862 until May, 1865, served as a drummer in the army; enlisted in the 28th New York infantry. In 1868 he settled in Minnesota; farmed two years in Stearns county, and afterward was employed four years in New London; came to Granite Falls in 1875; has here been in the drug, the furniture and the harness business. Married Lucretia Rice in 1878.
Hon. M. O. Hall, born in 1853 in Norway, accompanied his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin, and when ten years old to Pierce county. At the age of fourteen he removed to Minneapolis to attend school; he was obliged to work for his board and saw wood evenings to pay for books and clothing; when twenty years old he attained a good education and began the study of law with Hon. Henry Hill, at Granite Falls. At the age of twenty-one he was elected judge of probate for this county; held the office six years. He published the Granite Falls Journal two and one-half years, then sold it; besides filling other offices, he has been clerk in the senate two terms; is now with his brother in the insurance, collection and real estate business. Married in 1876, Julia O. Bruna.
T. O. Hall, native of Norway, was born in 1846. When a child he immigrated with his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin, and at the age of ten began earning his own living; worked on a farm for three dollars per mouth summers, and attended school winters, until he acquired a good business education. At the age of seventeen he went to Pierce county. Wisconsin, where he was in the employ of Professor Wells, also clerked in a store and for a time attended school at Prescott, after which he taught school, clerked and engaged in the insurance business; is now in partnership with his brother at Granite Falls. Married in 1868, Anna Tarbenson; four children.
Honorable Henry Hill, deceased, born in New Hampshire in 1879, acquired an academical education. In 1850 he went to Ohio where he taught school and read law; was admitted to the bar in 1854: and the next year began practice at Minneapolis. Mr. Hill married Mary Mills in 1858; in 1862 removed to the western part of the state and was on the frontier during the Indian troubles; settled at Granite Falls in 1871; laid out the town, built the first dam across the Minnesota, erected a mill and began manufacturing flour and lumber; was also in real estate business. He held numerous offices and was in the legislature three terms. He died March 3, 1879, at Lead City, Dakota.
B. R. Hotchkiss, native of Indiana, was born in 1842, but in 1852 migrated to Minnesota and in 1809 removed to Wisconsin where he enlisted; was in service from May 1861 to July 29, 1864; he was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville. Came to Rochester, Minnesota, and began farming; since coding to this county in 1874 he has been in mercantile business. Marrried at Rochester in 1867, Elizabeth Bostwick: there are four children.
J. F. Ireland is a native of Maine, where he was born in 1851. Received an academical education and then entered a store as clerk. In 1872 he came to Minnesota; after staying a short time at Yellow Medicine, he clerked three and one-half years in a Minneapolis drug store. Returned to Maine but came to this state again in 1878 and settled at Granite Falls; is in the drug trade here in company with W. R. Barnes. Mr. Ireland has been mayor of this city. Married in 1877, Ellen Rowell.
Lewis Jenson, born in 1848, in Norway, came with his parents in 1850 to America, and was brought up on a farm in Iowa. In 1871 he removed to Chicago: worked at the carpenter trade there four years and one at Minneapolis; continued the same business at Granite Falls until the autumn of 1880, when he began the furniture trade. In 1881 he married Miss H. S. Anderson.
B. Johnson was born in 1847 in Norway. Came to America in 1869; worked at harness making about five years in Mankato and four years in Northfield; also attended the Norwegian College at the latter place. In 1878 he came to Granite Falls; engaged in the harness business with A. G. Diegan; since the summer of 1881 he has been alone. Married Caroline Fingalson in 1879. Bertha M. is their only child.
L. H. Kramer, who is a native of Germany, was born in 1852. He immigrated to the United States in 1872; resided three years at Washington D. C., then visited California and Oregon; in 1876 he came to Minnesota and located at Austin, but removed in 1878 to Granite Falls where he is engaged in the butcher business; married in 1880 Miss Katie Faber.
Hans Larson "Ousdahl," was born in the year 1853 in Norway. Upon leaving that country and becoming a resident of America, in 1871, he settled in Wisconsin, but removed in 1878 to Minnesota and has since lived much of the time at his farm on section 10, town 112, Lincoln county, but spends his winters in Granite Falls. Married in 1878, Miss Caroline Knudson.
Ole O. Lende, native of Norway, was born in 1839, received a common school education, and in 1860 came to America. He located in Fillmore county, Minnesota, but in 1867 came to Yellow Medicine county, where he was one of the first commissioners; he is now serving his fourth term as treasurer. In 1863 he married Anna Angels: they have six children.
C. D. Lewis, born in Stafford, Connecticut in 1845, accompanied his parents to Indiana, and in 1855 to Ottawa, Minnesota. He went in 1868 to Minneapolis and worked three years at his trade, that of carpenter, then went to Michigan. From 1874 to 1877 he was in mercantile trade at Minnesota Falls, and returned there after spending two years at Ottawa; since July 1881 he has been in business at Granite Falls. Married in 1868 Miss Manda Smith.
G. W. Lewis was born in 1849 in Indiana, and when a child went with his parents to Connecticut. In 1855 he located at Ottawa, Minnesota; learned blacksmithing and worked there until 1875, then in Minnesota Falls until the summer of 1881, when he came to Granite Falls and began business with J. S. Newell. Married in 1875 Miss Saphrona Brodughdon.
J. A. Lewis, of Vermont, was born in 1825, in Franklin county. In 1852 he migrated to Iowa, but in 1855 came to Minnesota; was employed at carpenter work in Winona about eighteen months, then went to Olmsted county: removed in 1872 to Minnesota Falls; held the office of justice of the peace there till 1878; since coming to Granite Falls he has held several offices.
A. J. Luce was born in 1820 in Ohio. He was employed as teller in a Dayton bank until coming west; went to Chicago, thence to St. Louis, where he was in mercantile trade until 1860, then went to Illinois, where he was farming and superintending mercantile business. Since 1872 he has been interested in real estate in this county, where he was among the first settlers; pre-empted 160 acres joining the present site of Granite Falls; his residence is in East Granite Falls. Married Miss F. L. Clough, January 1, 1850.
E. W. Messer, native of Maine, was born in 1816. He worked there at farming and lumbering until 1856, was then in Pierce county, Wisconsin, till 1869, at which date he came to Minnesota; has since lived in Granite Falls, with the exception of two years in the Black Hills. Mr. Messer was one of the first settlers in the town, and was chairman of the first town board; he worked at farming until the fall of 1881, when he entered the grocery trade. Married in 1840, Adeline Jones.
Ole Nelson, born in 1847 in Dane county, Wisconsin; in 1854, the family located in Lake Prairie, Nicollet county. He enlisted in 1862, in Company B, 1st Minnesota infantry; served a little more than one year; was afterward one year and eight months in the 1st Minnesota heavy artillery; was wounded three times. Left his farm in 1868 and was in the saloon business at St. Peter, till 1878, since then at Granite Falls. Married in 1867, Julia Sanderson; six children.
J. S. Newell, native of Maine, was born in 1847, and lived on a farm until 1863. He then entered the 12th Maine infantry, Company F; one year later he returned to Maine; resided there and in Massachusetts until 1877, at which time he came to Minnesota and entered the blacksmithing business, in company with G. W. Lewis; came to Granite Falls in 1881. Married in 1871, Sarah A. Peper.
F. T. O'Donnell, who was born in 1857. is a native of New York city. When he was two years old his parents migrated to Wisconsin, and settled on a farm; while quite young he began to learn blacksmithing, and has been employed at that trade since. Mr. O'Donnell came in 1878, to East Granite Falls, where he is carrying on his business as blacksmith.
S. Olander, born in Sweden in 1846, came to America in 1869. He worked at the blacksmith's trade three years in West Mitchell, Iowa; in 1872 came to Minnesota and took a claim in Granite Falls; since 1874 he has been employed in blacksmithing. Ellen Anderson became his wife in 1870; their children are Emil, Willie, Elida, Minnie, Alford and Hulda.
H. L. Olson was born in Norway in 1849. He immigrated to the United States in 1872, and engaged in photography in Iowa; has continued in that business at Granite Falls since 1879. Married in 1875, Miss G. Olson; have two children: John E. and Anna M.
C. S. Orwoll, native of Wisconsin, was born in 1854 in Dane county. After living in Adams county twelve years he came in 1868 to Minnesota; lived on a farm in Sandnes three years, after which he was employed as clerk in stores at Yellow Medicine and Granite Falls; since 1880 he has been engaged in business in company with K. A. Hawley. Mr. Orwoll married Miss Carrie Hawley in November, 1878.
B. F. Pillsbury was born in Merrimac county, New Hampshire, March 29, 1831. He attended the common schools, after which he followed lumbering, farming and mercantile pursuits; came in September, 1878, to Granite Falls, where he is engaged in elevator and lumber interests. Married in March, 1871. Susan Wright.
W. W. Pinney, born May 8, 1834 in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. In 1844 he went to Wisconsin, in 1864 to Iowa, and in 1866 came to New London, Minnesota; he engaged in mercantile business; was appointed county auditor and in 1868 elected for two years; also practiced law. Removed to this place in 1876 and bought the Granite Falls flouring mill; has been postmaster since 1877. He married Kate Jesmer, December 13, 1857; Leslie H. and Will J. are the children.
A. L. Poole was born in 1854 in Philadelphia, where he acquired his education. In 1874 he went to Detroit and thence to Chicago where he learned telegraphy; came in 1880 to Minnesota; was for a time at Shakopee, Renville and Sacred Heart; is now located at Granite Falls in the office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company.
Gorham Powers was born in September, 1840, in Somerset county, Maine. In 1862 he enlisted in the Fourth Maine battery; two and one-half years later was transferred to 13th United States colored artillery; served as second lieutenant until October, 1865; was wounded in 1863 and disabled for life. In 1866 he graduated from the Albany law-school; practiced at Minneapolis two years in company with Alonzo Plummer. He located in 1868 in Yellow Medicine; was attorney of this county five years; since 1876 he has been in practice at Granite Falls; firm name is now Powers & Rathbone; he was elected to the legislature in 1878; married in 1866 Addie Ireland; the children are Minnie, Mantie and Edward.
J. L. Putnam, born in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1850, lived in his native state and Pennsylvania until moving in 1865 to Olmsted county, Minnesota. He learned harness-making, and in 1873 came to Granite Falls; his was the first harness shop in the town. Mr. Putnam has officiated as constable, town clerk and justice. Married in 1875 Josephine Vermilya; Pearl and Madge are the children.
A. B. Regester, born in 1820 in Columbiana county, Ohio, removed in 1847 to Indiana, in 1856 to Iowa, and from 1857 to 1870 lived in Fillmore county, Minnesota. After going to Minneapolis and to Rice county, he came in May, 1871, to Granite Falls; was on his homestead five years, and has since resided in East Granite Falls. His daughter Addie taught the first school in town; he has been notary public and justice; also postmaster since 1880.
B. Roessler, native of Austria, was born in 1840, and since 1865 has been a resident of America. He clerked in a store three .years at Faribault, then lived at St. Paul, Mankato and many other places; since 1878 he has been in the saloon business at Granite Falls. Married in 1870 Johanna Harde; they have five children.
G. J. Rolfstad, whose native land is Norway, was born in the year 1856, and in 1868 accompanied his parents to the United States. Until 1873 he lived at St. Peter. In 1878 he came to Granite Falls; after clerking two years in a drug store he bought the business, but soon after sold, and has since been in the saloon business.
I. O. Russell was born in 1840 in Bartlett. New Hampshire. In 1852 the family went to Illinois; from 1857 till 1872 lived in Faribault county, then came to Granite Falls; drove stage from here to Willmar three years, and for five years was interested in mail contracts, then embarked in the grocery trade at East Granite Falls; has been town clerk several years. Married Miss J. E. Russell in 1858; four children: Elva, Charlotte, Ira and Josephine.
Charles E. Shannon, born in Brown county. Indiana, in 1848, went with his parents to Illinois, thence at the age of seven years to Shelbyville, Minnesota. In 1865 he removed to South Bend; from 1867 to 1869 he was in Hamline University, and in 1870 graduated from Groveland Seminary. Mr. Shannon studied law with Daniel Buck; was admitted to the bar in 1872, after which he was recorder one year at Mankato; from 1873 till 1876 he practiced at Minnesota Falls, then came to Granite Falls, and has since been attorney for this county. Married in 1872 Martha Gibson.
M. C. Sullivan was born in 1842 in Indianapolis, Indiana. His home was at Dayton, Ohio, from two years of age until the year 1859, and then at New Haven, Connecticut, till 1861, when he enlisted in the First regiment heavy artillery of that state; served three years, then re-enlisted; was in service till the war closed; came to Minnesota; removed from Rochester to St. Paul, where he clerked till 1874, then began mercantile trade at Minnesota Falls, but in 1878 came to Granite Falls. Married in 1869 Ellen Carr.
S. M. Teachout was born in 1842 in Racine county, Wisconsin. Accompanied his parents to Minnesota in 1860, and located in Olmsted county; in 1874 he removed to Granite Falls and engaged in the grocery business two years, then went to Owatonna, but returned in 1878; enlarged his building, and has since used it as a hotel. Adelaide Kemp was married to him in 1864; they have three children.
William Wallace, native of New York, was born in 1832 in Essex county. After clerking one year in Burlington, Vermont, he worked four years at the tinners' trade; removed to Wisconsin and shortly after returned to New York, but soon went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was in the tin business; continued that line of trade at Winnebago City, Minnesota, from 1863 to 1875, then came to Granite Falls: his was the first hardware store here. Married in 1854, to Miss A. F. Kidd.
Dr. F. H. Wellcome was born in 1856 in Wisconsin, and at the age of two years accompanied his parents to Minnesota. Lived three years in Zumbrota, twelve years in Garden City and five years in New Ulm. After attending high school at Mankato two years he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago; graduated in 1879 and the same year settled at Granite Falls. Mary Taylor became his wife in 1879; they have had one child; Mamie, now deceased.
Benjamin Wethern, who is a native of Maine, was born in the year 1801, and resided in that state till 1851. Mr. Wethern was in mercantile trade in Pierce county, Wisconsin, from 1851 until 1872, when he came to East Granite Falls. He has married three times; in 1872, Mahala Putnam. became his wife.
H. J. Wilkinson, born in 1858, is a native of West Virginia. When he was nine years of age he accompanied his father's family to Minnesota, and until 1879 lived in St. Peter. In 1879 he came to Granite Falls and has since been engaged in the book and stationery business. He married Miss Mina Ripley in 1880.
Andrew Winter, native of Germany was born in 1847. Upon coming to America in 1866 he located in Wisconsin, where he worked until 1873 at his trade, that of tinner; he was employed for a short time in St. Paul, after which he resided at Prescott, Wisconsin, till 1878, the date of his coming to Granite Falls; he built the store where he is engaged in the hardware business. Married in 1874, Frances Ferner; Joseph and Theodore are their children.
John Winter was born in 1868, in England. When thirty years old he embarked in the mercantile trade in Canada, but removed in 1858 to Minnesota; was interested in grist and saw mills in Le Sueur county, until 1865 when he located at the Upper Agency; he was the first settler in this county. In 1878 he removed to Granite Falls and became proprietor of the Merchants' Hotel. Priscilla Parr, married to him in 1846, died in 1856; his second wife, Victoria Walker died in 1864, and in 1871 he married Mrs. Jane Winter; they have six children.
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