Fillmore County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (7 of 11 so headed), 1882

Laurans Aslakson was bom in Norway on the 13th of March, 1821, and reared to agricultural pursuits. He was married in 1846, to Miss Louisa Thompson. In 1852, they came with their three children to America, resided on a farm in Wisconsin two years, then came to this county and wore among the early settlers of Curimona township were they remained two years. In 1856, Mr. Aslakson purchased hmd in section fourteen, York township, and has since made it his home. Mr. and Mrs. Aslakson have had ten children; Ann, Ellen, Thomas, Emma, Knudt, Ole, Julia, Stena, Aleck, and Annie. Th3 three oldest were born in Norway, Emma iu Wisconsin, and tlie other six in this Stata; Ellen died at the age of thirteen years.

Ole Abnehon, one of the early settlers of this section, is a native of Norway, born on the 14th of August, 1832. His father died when Ole was seven years old, and he lived with his mother until the age of twenty. He was married in 1855, to Miss Aalaug Johnson. The following year they came to America, directly to Minnesota, and located in Harmony township, but a year later moved to this place and took their present farm. For the first few years Mr. Arneson was obliged to carry his wheat eighty miles to the mill at McGregor, Iowa. He has a family of six children; Arne, Isabella, Cornelia, Betsey, Julia, and John. Mr. Arneson has filled a number of offices of trust since his residence here. /

Gerritt Boland, deceased, was a native of Holland, bom in 1796. He was twice married; the maiden name of his second wife was Abigal Van Hummel, who bore him three children, William, Henry, and John. When the sons were old enough they carried on the farm and the father was engaged in a meat market. They emigrated to America in 1846; came to Wisconsin and settled in Fond du Lac county, where Mr. Boland died in March, 1856. The following year Mrs. BolantJ sold her land there and moved with her family to this township. She died in 1869. Her youngest son, John, still lives on the old homestead. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Somsen in April, 1866. The union has been blessed with three children; Alice, Henry, and Benjamin. Mr. Boland has recently built a fine frame residence.

Joseph Brown, deceased, one of the early settlers of this place, was born in Orange county, New York, in 1805. When about four yeai-s old he moved with his parents to Susquehanna county, Pennsylvnnia, where he grew to maturity. In 1832, he married Miss Eda Foster, who bore him three children; J. Lyman, Elizabeth, and Jerusha. Mr. Brown then engaged in lumbering and clear-

Columbia county, Wisconsin, and in 1857, came I to this township and located a farm on section j seventeen. In 1869, he had the first contract for I carrying mail from Lime Springs, Iowa, to Spring

V. M. Fairbanks was bom in Lamoille county, Vermont, in June, 1819. At the of twenty-one years he lelt home, and for five years engaged in selling dry goods and notions in the state of New York. He was married in 1846, to Miss Sarah E. Hr>ltou, also a native of Vermont. Mr. Fairbanks was farming one year, then nm a saw-mill, and afterward carried on a farm. In 1851, he came to Iowa county, Wisconsin, and resided until the fall of 1865, when he came to this township and bought land of J. Whitman in sections twentyeight and twenty-nine, upon which he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks have three children; David H., Julia L., and William E.

Mrs. Maria Gue, whose maiden name was Maria Hurlbut, was born in Boonville, Oneida county, New York, in December, 1826. She attended school in the first stone schoolhouse built in the Black Biver district. At the age of sixteen years she began teaching in her native town. In 1848, she was married to Moses D. Gue. They moved to Wisconsin in 1849, and resided in diflerent parts of the State until 1857, when they came to York township, made a claim, but returned to Wisconsin and spent the winter. The following spring they came again to their claim and made it their home until 1869, then sold and bought a i farm in section thirty -two, and in 1880, moved to their present land in section twenty-nine. Mr. and Mrs. Que have nine children; Charles, Cornelia, Frank, AUce, Inez, Grace, Cora, Horatio S., and Herbert. The two oldest were bom in New York, Frank in Wisconsin, and the rest in Minnesota.

Samuel Hamlin, deceased, a son of Simeon and Abigail Hamblin, was a native of Bennington county, Vermont, bom on the 2d of February, 1831. He moved with his parents to New York, where he resided untU 1856. In February, of the latter year, he was joined in marriage with Miss Maria N. Smith, a native of Vermont. They resided in Erie county. New York, one year after marriage, then came to Minnesota and settled in this place. In August, 1862, Mr. Hamlin joined a volunteer company and went to guard the frontier families against the Indians, remained four weeks and returned to his family. On the Ist of January, 1864, he enlisted in the Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, C. mpany K, was transferred to the Eighth Regiment, Company H, and sent west, where he was taken sick and died in August, 1864. He left a wife and five small children; Henry F., Albert L., Clinton E., Frederick E., and Helen J. They remained on the farm which Mr. Hamlin took when first coming here until 1875, then moved to section five, which has since been their home. Two of the children are yet living with their mother.

Iba Henderson is a native of New York, bora in Holland, Erie county, on the 23d of March, 1831. He was engaged in farming and lumbering, and in 1852, came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, remained until the New Year and came to Washington county, Minnesota, taking land near Lake St. Croix. In the fall of 1854, he sold his property and returned to New York, but the following spring came back to Minnesota and settled in this township, having since made his home in section four. He has held the oflSces of Assessor and Justice of Peace. Mr. Henderson was married in Minnesota on the 6th of June, 1857, to Miss garah P. Ingalls. They have had three children; David I., Horace Greely, and Lydia Grace. The oldest died on the 24th of December, 1868, in his tenth year, and Lydia Grace, on the 4th of January, 1869, in her sixth year.

of New Hampshire, born in 1802. They lived a number of years in Bennington county, Vermont, where their five children were bom. In 1849, they moved to New York, and settled in Erie county, where they remained till 1857, when they came to this place. Mr. Hamblin lived just one week after reaching his destination, his death occurring on the 21st of June, 1867. Mrs. Hamblin took a claim in section eight where she resided until 1864, then went to live with her younget son, John P., where she died on the 12th of August, 1874,' aged seventy-four years.

John P. Hamblin, a son of the subject of our last sketch, was bom in Bennington county, Vermont, in 1844. He resided with his parents, coming here with them in 1857, and after his father's death remained with his mother until 1864, when he purchased a farm in section ten. The following August he enlisted in Company I, of the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, went South and served with the regiment until the close of the war. He then retumed to his farm which he sold two years later, moved to section three and in 1869, came to his present farm in section four, havinpj choice land and good buildings. The maiden name of his wife was Mary L. Smith, who has borne him three children; Edward G., Simeon E., and Lewis.

David Ingalls, one of the early settlera and the first Assessor of this place, was bom in Corinth, Orange county, Vermont, on the 8d of June, 1794. His early life was spent in farming, and when twenty-one years old he went to Erie county, New York, first to the present site of Buflalo, and thence to the Holland Purchase. He located a farm there upon which he lived over forty years. He was married in 1819, to Elizabeth Richardson, a native of Vermont. They had eleven children, eight of whom are now living; Susan, Sarah P., Letitia, Ehnina G., Philo H., Kirk B., Mary E., and David J. At the age of sixtytwo years Mr. Ingalls came west with his wife and five children, three having preceded him. They located in this township, on section four, which has since been his home. Mrs. Ingalls died on the 7th of November, 1867, and would have been seventy- five had she lived one day longer.

John J. Jones, a native of Wales, was bom in 1832, and reared on a farm. He came to America in 1855, resided in Oneida county, New York, two years and returned to his native land. In about

1859, he came again to this country, and located in Madison county. New York, where he was engaged in farming about eight years. He then came west and bought a farm in this township, but returned to New York in in two years. He was married in January, 1868, to Miss Ann Hughes. Mr. Jones returned U) his farm in this place after about two years, and has since devoted his time to its improvement, building a new frame house in 1872. He is the father of four children; Robert H., Laura B., Jennie, and Maggie.

Ole Kettelson, whose family was the third to locate in this township, is a native of Norway, born on the 6th of January, 1811. He was married to Miss Sophia Sandisson in 1830. They have two children, Ann and Ole. Mr. Kittelson left Norway and brought his family to America in 1848, came directly to Dane county, Wisconsin, where they resided until 1854, then in Bristol township one month and came to this place. In 1861, they sold their farm here to Henry Spies and moved to Union county, Dakota, but two years Inter returned to this township. In 1877, they moved to Bristol township and purchased a farm upon which they lived two years and again returned to York, settling in section fifteen where Mr. Kittelson, wife and one son now live.

ORViiiLE F. Mann was bora in Watertown, New York, on the 23d of September, 1810. When nine months old he moved with his parents to Solon in the same State, there attended school and afterwards kept books for his father, who carried on a tannery, shoe shop, and also a farm. When Orville was sixteen years old his family removed to Livingston county. He was joined in matrimony, in 1841, to Miss Harriet Torrey, a native of Allegany county, New York. They had three children, two of whom died in infacy and the other at the age of seven years. Mrs. Mann died in September, 1848. Mr. Mann resided with his parents until 1854, when ho came west, was employed on a bridge in Ohio a short time and then came to Rock Island, Illinois, thence to Michigan engaged in farming and shoe-making. In the spring of 1855, he returned to his native State but cam'.* back to Michigan aft«r a short visit, and in August, 1856, came to this township and bought his present farm. He then went to New York and assisted his father in moving to Cattaraugus county. Orville's father had five children, two bijys and three girls, only two of whom are now living. The present Mrs. Mann was formerly Adaliue Spooner, who was born in Genesee county, New York. Tliis latter union has been blessed with six children ; Mary M., Clara B., James L. S., Emegine, William N., and Orvnlle E. Mr. Mann, although quite aged, is still hale.

pETEii McCra(!Ken, one of the early settlers of th's place, is a native of Scotland, born in Newton Stewart, Wigtown county, on the 25th of December, 1832. In 1846, he came to America and resided in Erie county. New York, about ten years. While there he was married to Miss Elmlna G. lugalls, the ceremony taking place in March, 1855. They have had five children, only two of whom are now living, Jesse L., and William P. Mr. McOracken came west, arriving in this township in June, 1855, and took a claim in section three. In October he returned to New York for his wife. They resided in Forestville township in a log house until the autumn of 1876, then came to the fai m which Mr. McCracken pre-empted on his first arrival. In 1870, he built the fine frame residence in which he now lives. He was appointed J astice of the Peace in 1857, and elected to the olBce at the first town election, holding the same sixteen consecutive terms, after which he refused to serve longer. In 1869, he was chosen a member of the board of County Commissiopers, resigning in 1871, to fill a seat in the State Legislatu»-e, to which he was re-elected in 1873, '78, and '80. Mr. McCracken was admitted to the bar in 1874.

M. Mensink is a native of Holland, bom on the 28th of March, 1819. He attended school until the age of thirteen, and worked on the farm till the age of eighteen years, when, he joined the army, enlisting for a period of five years. He had served two years when peace was declared, and he attended college the remaining three. In October » 1846, he came to America, resided in Albany, Now York, during the winter, and in the spring located in the Mohawk Valley. He was joined in marriage in 1848, with Miss Johanna Sylvester. They came to Wisconsin the following year and located in Fond du Lac county where Mr. Mensink was one of the leading men. He helped to organize a church and was sent as a delegate to the conference held at Utica, New York. He resided on the farm until 1856, when he was appointed overseer of the State Prison at Waupun,and remained six years.

In 1864, he sold his fanns in WiBOonsin and came to this township, which has since been his home. Mr. and Mrs. Mensink have had eight children; Henry, Jacoba, Herman, Johanna, Mina, who died on the 14th of October, 18G3, Emma, Mannas, and Benjamin.

Knud Olson, one of the two first to settle iu this township, was born in Norway on the 28th of February, 1826. He was married in his native country in 1848, to Miss Julia Owen. They came to America the following year, being on the ocean eleven weeks. Came immediately to Wisconsin, by way of the lakes, and resided on a farm in Watertown one year. They afterward lived in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and in August, 1854, came to this place, taking land in section twentyfive. In 1859, Mr. Olson started for Pike's Peak, but without stopping there went on to CaUfomia and engaged in mining, remaining in that State until 1863, and returned to Minnesota. In 1866, he sold his original claim and purchased his present farm in section fourteen, and in 1873, built the house in which he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have four children; Betsey, Julia, Tilda, and OleK.

Owen D. Owens was bom in Wales in August, 1838. When twenty years old he emigrated to America, coming directly to Wisconsin and locating in Portage City. In 1860, he moved to Minnesota, bought land in Bristol township, but resided with hia sister in York township until purchasing land here in 1865. He was married in 1868, to Miss Jane Williams. They have had seven children, five of whom are living; Ellen J., David, Thomas, Mary A., and Price,

Rev. J. W. F. Roth, Jb., was bom in Cape Town, in the Bouthem part ef Africa, where his father was stationed as a missionary. He attended school there, spending five years in the college, then continued his theological studies in Holland, and in 1875, came to America. He entered the Northwestern College of Chicago, and remained until the spring of 1878, when he moved to Baldwin, St. Croix county, Wisconsin. In September of the latter year he was joined in marriage to Miss Hermina Heiner. The union has been blessed with two children, John W. F., and Engelina E. Soon after kis marriage, Mr. Roth re- | ceived a call from the Presbyterian Church in this place, and has since made it his home, also preaching for the Bethel Church, at Canfield.

Joseph Richards is a native of England, bora . in Comwall county on the 26th of January, 1828. He learned the stone-cutter*s trade, at which he worked in England until 1852, when he came to America. He was engaged at his trade and bridge building in Canada for some time, then employed in a tunnel for the Ohio Central Railroad. He afterward returned to Canada, and in company with his cousin constructed a bridge for the Grand Trunk Railroad, thence to Isle La Motte, Vermont, in the same business. He resided at Rouse^s Point, New York, and assisted in the building of Fort Montgomery, then again retumed to Canada and was employed in railroad work. Mr. Richards was married on the 15th of July, 1857, to Miss EUzabeth Viment, also a native of Comwall county, England. They have had nine children, six of whom are living: Joseph, Mary, William H., Martha, John, and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Richards came to Minnesota in the spring of 1858, bought land iu section ten of this township, built a house the following year, and have since made it their home.

G. J. SANDEitsoN, on© of the early settlers of Fillmore county, was bom in . Oneida county. New York, in May, 1832. When six years old he moved with his parents to Chautauqua county, where he attended school and learned the harness maker's trade. He was married in 1855, to Miss Annie Dutton. They came to Minnesota in 1857, and resided in Forestville township four years, then bought a farm in this place, upon which they lived one season. In 1862, Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson entered the Normal School at Winona and graduated two years later. They then opened a school in Fillmore township, and in 1867 retumed to their farm in this place. Mr. Sanderson has since taught in the district schools here, and also in Lime Spring, Iowa. Mrs. Sanderson was engaged as first assistant in the Normal School at St. Cloud two years, then held a similar position in the Winona school. She has been connected with the State Institute for some time. In 1880, she was appointed census enumerator for this township.

Jesse B. Spencer, deceased, was a native of Allegany coimty. New York, where he was bom on the 5th of September, 1833. He was reared on a farm, and when twenty-one years old, on account of poor health, went to Texas, where he was engaged in farming and carpenter work. After two years he returned to New York and married Miss Lnna Lewis, of his native county. They came to this place in 1861, and purchased a farm, but Mr. Spencer's health was so poor he returned to New York, remained two and a half years, and came back to his farm, where he died in October, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer had four children, two of whom are living, Augustus and Augusta. Those dead were named William and Norman. Mrs. Spencer was married to her present husband, B. F. Chapman, in 1875.

John J. Thomas was bom in Wales on the 13th of May, 1838. He resided with his parents until the age of nineteen years when he came to America. He located in York county, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the slate quaries for six months, then came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, and was engaged in farming. In 1867, Mr. Thomas moved to Minnesota, first settled in Bristol township and a year later came to this place, his farm being situated in section twenty - three. In 1868, Miss Elizabeth Jones became his wife. She died in 1874, leaving three children; Lizzie, Katie, and Ida. The maiden name of his present wife was Mary Williams, whom he married in September, 1876. This union has been blessed with three children; Johnie, Mary and Robert.

AnsTBN TosTENSEN, a native of Norway, was bom in July, 1833. In May, 1854, he emigrated to America, landed in Quebec and came directly to Wisconsin, where he was employed in farm labor until 1855; then worked in the pineries one season. In 1857, he located a farm in this township, built a log house and immediately began improving the land, which has since been his home. He was married in 1860, to Miss Isabelle Olson, who has borne him six children; Betsey, Jane, Sarah, Thomas, and Ole; one died in infancy. Mr. Tostenson erected a new frame residence in 1875.

John R, WiiiLiAMS is a native of Wales, bom in 1838. He came to America in 1858, directly to Wisconsin, and in 1860, to this place, taking land in section thirty- six. He built a log house in which the first religious meetings held in this part of the township were conducted. Mr. Williams was married in 1861, to Miss Jane Owens. Their children are, Robert, David, Maggie, Thomas, William, John, Ellen, and Owen. In 1868, they built their present frame house. When first coming here Mr. Williams was obliged to drive an ox t^am

John D. Williams was bom in Caernarvon county, Wales, in November, 1814. He was reared on a farm and attended school during his leisure time, and when eighteen years old began to leam the trade of a carpenter and ioiner. In 1845, he came to this country, remained in New York a short time and came west, locating in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, but soon after moved to Beaver Dam and worked at his trade two years, then returned to his farm. In 1847, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Mary Hughes. They have three children, Daniel, William, and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Williams came from Wisconsin to this place in 1866, bought a farm of James Hipes upon which they lived until 1873, when he purchased an interest in the flour- mill in Foreston, Iowa, (about one mile from the latter farm) moved his family there and has -since made it his home. He is now sole proprietor of the mill.

William J. Williams is also a native of Wales, i his birth dating the 27th of July, 1829. He waa employed in a slate quarry near his home and in 1852, came to America. He was engaged at Middle Granville, Washington county. New York, in opening a slate quarry, which was then a new industry, remaining there four years. He afterward resided in Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he married Miss Ann Williams. Their children are, Maggie, John, William, Leah, and Dinah. In 1868, they came to this township, purchased land in section twenty-three, and in 1875, built ttieir present fine residence. Mrs. Williams* parents came to make their home with her in 1874. Her mother died in March, 1881, and her father still survives.

Knud O. Wilson, one of the early settlers in this place, was bom in Norway, on the 2d of January, 1837. In 1853, he came with his parents to America, and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, where they resided three years, and in 1856, moved to York township. Knud took a claim in section twenty-eight, commenced immediately to improve it and in 1860, built a house. He was married in the latter year to Miss Sarah Johnson, the ceremony taking place on the 15th of Febraary. The result of the union is seven children; Annie, Jane, Isabella, Ole, Allen, John, and Gertie. Mr. Wilson is now serving his sixth term as Town Clerk.

Herman Wesselink, a native of Holland, was bom on the 19th of July, 1836. When young he learned the carpenter trade, and in 1866, emigrated to America. He came directly t.o Minnesota and took land in this township, in section two. In 1868, Mr. Wesselink was married to the widow of William H. Kragbrink. They have three children ; Gerret, Mary, and Henry, and Mrs. Wesselink had one child, Jane, by her first husband. In 1881, they built their present frame house.