Fillmore County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (8 of 11 so headed), 1882

A. H. Barnes was bom in Erie county, New York, on the 10th of June, 1847. When six years old, he removed with his parents to Illinois, where his father died one year later, leaving his mother with seven children, the youngest of whom was but six months old. He remained with his mother until 1865, and enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company I, Colonel Hiram F. Sickles commanding the regiment. Was ordered south to Fort Dalton, Georgia, where they joined the command of General Thom^, and remained there until after the assassination of President Lincoln. He remained in the latter State during the year, and received his discharge at Savannah on the 20th of January, 1866. He came to Iowa the following March, and bought a farm in Howard county, where he lived until 1872. Then sold and moved to Chester, in the same State, and in 1877, bought the farm in Beaver township where he now lives. In 1869, he was married to Miss Emily Conklin, daughter of Lewis Conklin. They have three children; Walter, Willie, and Ida.

Asa Barret was bom in Canada on the 19th of April, 1830. He attended school while young, and later worked on a stock farm. In 1854, he came to Illinois and purchased a farm in Will county, where he engaged in raising stock. He married, in 1862, Miss Evalina Avery, a native of New York. They have three children; Lora M., Albert H., and Alta M. In 1868, he disposed of his business in Hlinois, came to this county, purchased a farm in Beaver, and since has given his attention to stock raising and dairying. He brought with him from Illinois a stock of Percheron horses, to which he has since made some valuable additions. They were the first of the kind in the county.

soon after liis birtli. When he was about ten years of age, they came to New York and settled in Monroe county, then to Spring Valley, Rock county, Wisconsin. He lived with his parents until he was twonty-four years old, when he went to Michigan and spent seventeen montlis, then returning to Wisconsin. While in Michigan, in September, 1848, he was joined in marriage with Miss Jane E. Shepard, a native of New York. They have had four children; Herbert, Alice, Ada, and Willis. The two oldest died while young. Mr. and Mrs. Boynton made their home in Wisconsin until 1S56, when they came to Minnesota, settling in this tgwn. He pre-empted land in section one, and built a log house in which they lived until 1859, then built the frame dwelling in which they reside at present. His daugnter, Ada, married Frank Simons on the 22d of February, 1879. W^illis married Rose Broadbent on the 21st of December, 1879.

Hans Christiansen is a native of Norway, born in May, 1810. At fifteen years of age he learned the tailor's trade. When twenly-two years old he was drafted, then attended the military school one year, and afterward served in the army seven years. He was married in 1835. Engaged at his trade until 1853, when he emigrated to America, landed at Queljec, and went to Racine, Wisconsin. He worked at his trade and on a farm there four years, then came to this county and pre-empted land in Beaver, section five. He devoted his time to improving his land, imd in 1862, enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota Volimteer Infantry, Company H, 'vient south, and was at the battle of Corinth. He was taken sick and discharged for disability. In 1871, he sold his farm to Ole J. Hatlestad and bought another in section seventeen, where he lived until 1879, then purchased in section sixteen, where he now lives. He is the father of eight children, four of whom are now living; Christian, Ole, John, and Helen. Bertha died at Spring Valley, twenty years of age; Olive Mo thai was twenty years old when her death occurred, and the other two died in infancy.

DA^aD J. Davis was bom in Wales, on the 31st of March, 1814, and reared on a farm. He first learned to read in tlie Sabbath school, and now is able to read six different languages. In 1844, he came to America, landed in Now York on the 16th of September, went directly to Racine, Wisconsin, remained until spring, and went thence to Columbia county, where he took eighty acres of land. He improved his farm and built a log house, remaining there eight years. In 1848, he married Miss Given Roberts. They have been blessed with seven children, three of whom are living; Claudia, Hugh and Walter. Mr. Davis went to Nebraska, to the Omaha Mission, instruotiiig the Indians in farming; was there three years when the Indians were removed to the Black Bird Hills, and he went with them, remaining four years. He returned to Columbia county and was there one year, then sold and came to this oonnty in 1861, buying forty acres of land on section twenty-five, Beaver township. He has made other purchases, and now owns two hundred and eighty acres in sections twenty-five and thirty-six.

David Bbainabd Gripfin, deceased, was bom in Essex, Chittenden county, Vermont, on the 13th of January, 1831, and was reared on a farm. In 1852, he married Minerva Griffin. One year later they moved to Will county, Illinois, where they resided until 1856, then to Iowa, remaining one year, and thence to this coimty, settling in section fifteen Beaver township. He improved the land and built a cabin, in which he lived until the 23d of September, 1861, when he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company F. Be went south with the regiment and was killed in the battle of Chicamauga, nearly two years from the day he left home. He was the first town clerk in Beaver, being elected without one dissenting vote. He was also the first to enlist from the township, and the first to give his life for the defense of his country. He left a widow and three children; Alice, Ida, and Edgar Lincoln, the latter of whom died on the 28th of April, 1870, aged nine years. Mrs. Griffin was married to Mr. W. D. Andrews in 1868, and now resides in Spring Valley.

Manuel B. HurcmNsoN was bora in Franklin county,New York,on the 7th of May, 1849. In 1855, his parents moved to Bloomfield, Minnesota, where they were among the first settlers. Manuel attended schools in winter, after schools were organized, and worked upon his father's farm until he was twenty-two years old. He then bought a farm of his father in section four, Beaver township. He remained a bachelor until 1873, when he was married to Miss Alice Griffin, the ceremony taking place on the 25th of December. His energies were devoted chiefly to raising small grain until 1878, since which time he has dealt in stock and produce to a considerable extent, and h is demonstrated the fact that stock-raising can be made profitable in Minnesota. Mr. Hutchinson has the esteem and confidence of the community, and has served several terms as Town Clerk.

G. B. HiTNGERFORD was born in Chenango county, New York, on the 8th of August, 1837. When he was eight years old, his parents removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, where his younger days were spent at school and on a farm. He made his home with them until 1856, when he married Miss Amanda Winslow. One year later they came to Foimtain, Minnesota, buying land in section seven, on which he built a house and made other improvements. In August, 18f)2, he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company D, went west, up the Yellowstone River, and as far as Idaho with Gen. Sully's expedition. In 1864, they retiu*ned and went South, joined Scofield's division, went to the Tennessee River, and from there to Cincinnati, thence to Washington, thence to South Carolina, and from there to North Carolina, where they joined Sherman's army and were with it until the close of the war. They were mastered out in St. Paul on the 18th of July, 186.5. He returned home and in 187^, sold out and bought wild land in Beaver township, which he has improved, and still makes his residence. Mr. and Mrs. Hungerford have had four children; Viola, Judson, William, and Fannie.

Rudolph Miller is a native of Switzerland, born on the 19th of May, 1825, and was reared on a fann. In 1851, he married Miss Rachel Smith. In 1855, he left his native land and emigrated to America, landed in New York and came to Lansing, Iowa, where he remained about a year. He then returned to Switzerland for his family, and ^ith them settled in Leroy, Mower county, Minnesota, in section twelve. He improved the land, built a house, and lived there twelve years, when he purchased a farm of his father in the town ot Beaver, where he now lives. In 1869, he built a frame house, and in 1877, a barn, 36x64 feet. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been blessed with eight children; Anna, Henry, who was bom in Switzerland and died in 1863, at the age of nine years lacking one day, Maggie, Mary, John, Lizzie, Louisa, and Albert.

New York, and reared on a farm. On the 16th of December, 1840, Miss Hannah Shepard, also of New York, became hii wife. In the fall of 1851, he came west to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he spent the winter, then moved to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he remained until 1858, then came to this county and settled in section nine, Beaver. He improved the land and built the frame house where his widow now lives. His death occurred in 1879, at fifty-eight years of age. Mr. Nichols was the father of thirteen children; Horace B., James G., Dwight H., Dutton D., Emma M., who died at Battle Creek, in March, 1852, three years old; George G., Charles R, Albert T., Mial J., Willis A., Cassius, Eliza, and Arthur.

Horace Nichols, son of Mial Nichols, was bom in Herkimer county, New York, on the lat of OctoVuT, 1841. He attended school and worked on a farm. In 1852, he came west with his parents, witli whom he made his home until 1871, when he married Miss Emma Pillsbury, a native of Wisconsin. In 18G5, he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section ten. He improved the l.iud and in 1871, built the frame house in which he now lives. In 1880, he purchased more land in section ten, and is engaged in the dairy business as well as farming. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have two children; Myrtle M. and Grace F.

Mary Peters, daughter of Knud Christiansen, was born in Norway, in 1822. In 1847, she married Andrew Peters. In 1851, they came to America, landed at Quebec and came to Wisconsin, where they lived until 1855, then moved to this county and settled in secticm twenty-one. Beaver, where she now lives. Mr. Peters is in Canton, Dakota, at the present time. Tht^y have had seven children; Emma, Lynden,bomon the ocean and died in Wisconsin when a year old; Betty Elmira, Lynden Lee, Millie Juel, Mary Ann, and Clara Alta.

Thomas R. Roberts, the youngest son of Evan and Mary Roberts, was born in Machynllath, Wales, on the 15th of July, 1826. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and emigrated to America in 1849, lauding in New York on the 4th of May; remained there till the 13th of September, then moved to Scran ton, Pennsylvania. In 1850, he went to Morrisville, New York, where he remained until the latter part of September, 1855, then returned to Wales on a visit, coming again to this country in June, 1856. He married Miss Eliza- beth J. Williams, a daughter of Morgan and Jane Williams, the ceremony taking place on the 10th of September, 1857. They have two children ; Jay, bom the 24th of April, 1859, and May, bom the 24th of May, 1864. In 1878, they removed to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he remained one year, then came to Beaver, Fillmore county, and located in section twenty-five where he still resides.

Hiram Winsix)w was bom in Cattaraugus county. New York, in July, 1837. In 1854, he came west with his parents to this county, where they were among the first settlers. He made his home with them until he was twenty -two yecirs old, then engaged to learn the blacksmith trade. In 1860, he purchased a farm in Fountain, which he worked on in the summer and did blacksmithing in the winter. In October, 1861, he married Miss Lorinda Post. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company D, went to Fort Snelling and from there to the frontier* where he was t«iken sick in October and returned home. Six months later he was discharged. In 1876, he sold his farm in Fountain and purchased one in section twenty- two. Beaver, where he now lives. The same year he built a blacksmith shop, the only one here. He is the Postmaster of Alba Post-office, which is located in his house. Mr. and Mrs. Winslow have had five children; Cornelius, Fred, Maurice, May, and Bertha.