"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



Among the enterprising citizens which the old Empire state sent out to assist in the upbuilding of the great West is Elwin Z. Rasey, now living in retirement in St. James, Watonwan county, where he has played well his role in the drama of civilization, benefiting alike himself and his fellow citizens here. He was born at Hartford, Washington county, New York, November 23, 1844, and is a son of William B. and Nancy H. (Hale) Rasey, both born in the state of New York, the mother being of English parentage, and the father of Hollandish blood. William B. Rasey and wife moved to LaMartine township, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, in October, 1848, pre-empting eighty acres of land, and there he resided until he was about eighty years of age, when he moved to Rosendale, where both he and his wife died, he having reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He was very religious and was a strong Methodist in faith. His family consisted of seven children, namely: Samuel H., Sarah Jane, Mary Elsina, Armma, Olive H. Harland and Elwin Z., five of whom are now deceased; Olive H. lives in Washington, and Elwin Z. is the subject of this review.

Elwin Z. Rasey received his education in the common schools of Fon du Lac county, Wisconsin, and assisted his father with the work on the home farm until he was seventeen years of age. On August 21, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Union army in Company H, Thirty-second Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served gallantly and faithfully until the close of the war and was honorably discharged on June 12, 1865, being mustered out at Milwaukee. He participated in many severe engagements and bullets often cut holes in his clothes, but he was never wounded or taken prisoner. Of his three comrades who went to the front with him, all survived the war, but all died of its effects. He fought in fifteen battles mishes, according to government report. He was first under Grant during the advance on Vicksburg, then was under General until the close of the war, and he marched to the sea from Atlanta to Savannah. He was in the Seventeenth Army Corps with gen, Frank P. Blair, who landed his troops at Beaufort, and headed off Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, in a flank movement on the right of Sherman's army, thus keeping Johnston's army from uniting with another Confederate army at Charleston. Mr. Rasey was in the advance of Sherman's army when Johnston surrendered. He then went to Washington City, where he spent a few days and took part in the Grand Review. He reached home June 14, 1865.

After working on his father's farm for six years, he came to Minnesota, locating in Odin township, Watonwan county, taking a soldier's homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and engaged successfully in general farming until his retirement from active life. He moved to St. James, in 1896, but continued to operate his farm just north of this city, also dealing in livestock. He was engaged in the dairy business about fifteen years. He lived on his wife's father's farm near St. James for a period of fourteen years, but has been retired from active farm life since 1912.

Mr. Rasey has been twice married, his first marriage occurring in Wisconsin on March 22, 1866, when he was united to Alice C. Gross, to which union four children were born, namely: Lillian N., Florence E., Myrtle J. and Lester E. The mother of these children died on May 16, 1877.

On July 25, 1878, Mr. Rasey was married to Helen Adele Sargent, who was born in Wisconsin near where Mr. Rasey was reared, and to this union seven children have been born, namely. Roy S., Ruth A., Inez E., William H., Jessie A., Flora E. and Nina O. Mrs. Rasey is a daughter of Samuel W and Emmaline (Chamberlain) Sargent, the former of whom was born August 26, 1822, and died May 20, 1915, and the latter of whom was born June 7, 1823, and died September 6, 1913. Samuel W. Sargent was a native of New Hampshire while his wife was born in Vermont, their marriage taking place on March 31, 1848, at Sharon, Vermont, after which the young couple came west, locating in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, in 1848, where they remained until 1869, when they came to Minnesota, settling in Watonwan county. He was a farmer all his life until his retirement from active life, and died at the home of his son, Henry C. Sargent, of Valdosta, Georgia. His wife died in Mayfield, Michigan, at the home of her eldest daughter. Samuel Sargent and wife were the parents of four children: Henry Curtis, born October 4, 1850, a railroad man living in the South; Adelaide Amanda, born October 24, 1852; Helen Adele, the wife of Mr. Rasey, born March 19, 1855, and Emma Jeanette, born April 6, 1858.

Mr. Sargent was very active in the religious life of his community, being a deacon in the Baptist church for many years. He was a Republican in politics. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sargent were prominent in the early life of Watonwan county, and Rosendale township was given its name by Mrs. Sargent in honor of her old Wisconsin home. Mrs. Helen Adele (Sargent) Rasey has always been deeply interested in educational work, and was the first lady superintendent of county schools in Minnesota, being appointed to that important position in 1874 and serving two years. She received her education in the common schools of her home county in Wisconsin, completing her educational training in the Mankato Normal School, after which she taught school at St. James for two years, then was appointed county superintendent. She began her teaching career at the early age of fourteen. Mr. Rasey is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he and his family take an active and interested part. He has been a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic since it was first organized, having been a state officer in the same, and has served as local commander for the past twenty-three years. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum. He is a Republican in politics.

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