Fillmore County, Minnesota - Chapter 67: Topographioaij - Early Settijeiment Early, 1882 (part 2 of 2)

(xrant county, Wisconsin, where he attended school, I linally ent( ring tlie Plattcville Academy. In 1861, : he enlisted in the Seveiitli Wisconsin Volunteer j Infantry, serving tilltlie close of the war, a period j of four yenrs. Ilis regiment was a part of the ( well known '*Iron Brigade" of the Army of the ' Potnmac, and he w;is ])roinotcd to the ralik of \ Adjutant. Was wounded at the battle of Sj)ottsylvania Court House on the 12th of May, 1864, . and confincil in tlie hosjiital at Pliiladelphia four . months, (hi receiving his discharge he returned I to Wisconsin and studied medicine at Platteville this county and engaged at his profession in j Forestville until 1871, then came here where he has I a g<»o<l })ractice. He was a candidate for the State i Legislature iu 1875 and 1878, ou a Republican by a Democrat and next by a (rreenbacker. The , Doctor thinks that he has had enough of politics, I and now devotes his whole time and mind to his j profession. Has tilled the office of Correspcmding j Secretary of the State Medical Society, and Clinirj mau of the' (.\)mniittee on Surgery, and is now

I M. E. MoLsTAi), son of Elling and Rngnild Nilr son, was born in Louthul, Granpaa, Haadeland, ou \ the 16th of October, 1852. At the age of four years his mother died, leaving him in the care of his father who was then seventy-three years old, our subject being the only child of the third marriage. When eight years old his father died, leav-. ing him with but S30 as his share of the estate. He lived with his step-brother for a time, and at | the age of fifteen years came to America, arriving i at Winona on the 24th of June, 1867, a poor, friendless boy. He soon found a farmer of his own nationality, and with him he rode into the country where he soon found employment with Gilbert Gilbertson in the town of Fremont. During the following winter he went to an English school, working mornings and evenings for his board. He worked at farm labor the following summer, then again attended a country school, and subsequently the graded school at St. Charles, Winona county. He continued for three years, attending school, and working during vacations, to earn money with which to purchase books and clothes. In the fall of 1871, he came to Spring Valley and clerked in the store of C. W. Taylor until the fall of 1872, when he entered the La Crosse Business College, but was taken sick at the end of eight weeks, and compelled to return to Spring Valley. He then resumed work for Mr. Taylor, continuing in his employ and that of his successors in business, until forming a partnership with E. O. Hjelle, and engaging in the mercantile business. The latter soon after sold to E.Torgrimson, and the firm is now doing a good business with a capital invested of about $8,000. Mr. Molstad was married in the fall of 1872, to Carrie Hanson, who died of consumption after ne.irly four years of wedded life, leaving two children. After being a widower eight months, he was united in marriage ^vith his former wife's sister, Miss Anne Christine Hanson. Two children have been bom of this union, but one of whom is living.

W. W. MoBDOFF is a native of Ohio, b6rn in Wyoming county, on the 14th of June, 1819. He attended school in the village of Perry, and in 1835 moved to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, with his parents, and there learned the carpenter trade. He was married on the 2d of Octol)er, 1845, to Miss Esther Bounds. Of three children bom to them, one is living. Mr. Mordofi* moved with his family to this township in 1864, and purchased a farm which his son operates, he working at his trade in the village. Since 1872, he hi'R been with Whitman k Brown, general contractors. Mr. Mordofif is one of the leading members of the Methodist church, and has been class leader for the past seventeen years.

F. M. Miller was bom in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of December, 1853. When he was about nine years old, his parents came to Wisconsin, but retumed to Pennsylvania the following year. During the war, they came again to Wisconsin, and opened a store in Columbia county. F. M. attended the State University at Madison, and in 1872, clerked in a store in Milwaukee. He then returned to his home, and went into business with his father, under the firm name of H. F. Miller & Son, but a year later the former sold his interest to a Mr. Morse. In 1875, Mr. Miller again engaged with his father, in this place, continued five years, then bought him out, and now does an extensive business in the dry goods line. He was married on the 9th of May, 1877« to Miss Nettie Jones. The union has been blessed with one child.

H. W. MiNOTT was bora in Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 15th of June, 1825. At the age of twenty-one years he moved to Nilee, Michigan, then to Illinois, and thence to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He was married in the latter place to Miss Elmira Hill, the ceremony taking place on the 20th of November, 1856. At the beginning of the war, they moved to Sparta, in the same State,*where Mrs. Minott died in 1865, leaving two children, both of whom are now dead. His present wife was formerly Eliza Kendall. Id 1870, Mr. Minott came to this place and opened a small stock of furniture, to which he has sinoe added, and now does a good business.

William Mason was bom in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of April, 1850 When he was fifteen, he removed with his parents to Deoorah, Iowa, and resided with them over four years. He worked at the carpenter trade at that place until 1878, then came to Spring Valley and followed the same trade, contracting and by the day. He was married on the 18th of November, 1873, to Miss Amanda Payne. This union has been blessed with two children.

John W. McNeely was bom in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. His parents moved to Dauphin county in the same State, and when John was eleven years old they came to Bureau county, Illinois, and in 1854, to Carimona township, and located in Waukokee, where they were amoDg the first settlers. In 1862, John enlisted in the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving for three years in Company E, and taking part with Gen. Sibley on the plains, and then went South. He returned to Carimona, and on the 4th of March, 1866, married Miss Hester Ann Kingston. He remained on his father's farm one year, visited Missoari and Arkansas a few months,' and then purchased a farm in Preston, where he lived until 1876, when he came here and located on his present farm in section thirty.

L. J. Odell, one of the enterprising citizens of this town, was born in New York on the 1 1th of December, 1825. About 1830. his parents moved to what is now Chicago, Illinois, later they located about twelve miles north of there, where L. G. lived until twenty-five years old, and worked on a farm and at the carpenter trade. In 1846, he married Miss Mary Taylor. Four years later he came to Dodge coimty, Wisconsin, where he was engaged on a farm until 1856, when he came to Racine, Mower county, and gave his attention to the same employment. In 1868, he removed to his present farm in section four, which he had previously bought. He purchased a saw-mill and run it several years, and has since burned large quantities of lime and brick, and is also engaged in farming. He is the father of eleven children, eight of whom are living.

LuTHEB Payne, who is a son of Almond Payne, is a native of Massachusetts, bom on the 9th of October, 1815. He brought his family to this county in 1864, and located in Sumner township. Luther resided with his parents on a farm until after his marriage, which took place on the 3d of July, 1874, his bride being Miss Melissa Famsworth. The following year he came to this place, and under the firm name of Payne Brothers, was in the livery business two years, then established a mercantile house, which is one of the principal business places in the village. He is also interested in livery business, the firm name being Payne Brothers k Ashly. Mr. and Mrs. Payne have a family of four children.

0. H. Pfremmer was bom in New York City, where his father was engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. In 1856, he came with his parents to this county and they took land in Carimona, section thirty-five, lived twenty years, then removed to Preston where his father still resides. On the . 29th of March, 1862, he married Miss

Sarah C. Smith. The union has been blessed with two children, both boys. In 1862, he enlisted in the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company E, and served through the Sibley campaign against the Indians, then went South, and was honorably discharged in 1865. He returned to Carimona and two years later came to this place. He is a contractor and builder.

W. A. Potter was born in Lake county, Ohio, on the 2d of November, 1834, and reared on a farm. When seventeen years old he learned the moulder's trade, and three years later the machinists trade, at which he worked two years in Paynesville, Ohio. He was joined in marriage, on the 8th of May, 1856, with Miss Eliza M. Brown, of Hiram, Ohio. One year later they came to Spring Valley. In 1867, he, with W. H. Lloyd, started a foundry on a small scale, building the engine from castings received from Rochester, Minnesota. His health failing, in 1868, he returned to Ohio, remained about five years then returned here and has since been identified with the manufacturing interests of the town. He is owner and proprietor of the North Star Iron Works. Mr. and Mrs. Potter have had four children, two of whom are living.

Andrew Pryts was bom in Sweden on the 28th of March, 1841. He came with his parents to America in 1853, and located in Chautauqua county, New York, where his father and mother still live. He learned the miller's trade and worked at it in different parts of the State. On the 16th of October, 1867, he was joined in marriage with Miss Adaline Esty. In 1868, he came to Spring Valley and bought a mill site of William S. Hill, in section seventeen, on which he built a mill the following year. The firm name is Pryts k E^^ty, and it is called the "Empire Mill." Mr. Pryts carries on the business, as his partner lives in Ohio. They had one child, Mattie, who died in 1881.

O. H. Rose was bora in Herkimer county. New York, on the 25th of November, 1836. In 1847, he came to Wisconsin and made that State his home until 1853, then went to Pennsylvania, remained 4hree years, and returned to Wisconsin where he was engaged on a farm with his father. In 1860, he removed to Spring Valley, and on the 31st of December, 1862, was united in marriage with Miss Urania M. Root, a daughter of Orlin Root, one of the old settlers. He has since made his home principally on his father-in-law's home- stead. He was Justice of the Peace from 1864 to 1866, Assessor for six years, and County Commissioner three years. Mr. and Mrs. Rose have had six children, five of whom are living.

Henry Schrattt was bom in Germany, on the 13th of May, 1840. When he was twelve years old his father died, and in 1854, they emigrated to America, located for a short time in New York* then came to Brownsville, Houston county, Minnesota, where he engaged in farming. He was a pioneer in that place and endured all the hardships peculiar to that life. In 1856, he removed to Caledonia where he learned the shoemaker's trade and worked at it two years, then went to St. Louis, Missouri, and in four years came back to Brownsville and soon to New Albin, Iowa, where he was engaged in a bakery and restaurant until 1879. He then came here and opened his present store, consisting of a bakery, restaurant, and groceries. He married Christine Erstine, a native of Oermany. They have had eight children, six of whom are living.

Dbtden Smith was bom in Pike county, Illinois, on the 10th of March, 1826. His father, John M. Smith, was of Scotch-Irish blood, and a native of Pennsylvania, bom in the Susquehanna Valley, in 1782. The father of the latter moved into and' settled in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in the spring of 1785, where the boy, John M., grew to manhood and obtained a good education for those early frontier times. With some other young Kentuckians in 1804, he accompanied Lewis and Clark from St. Louis to Council Bluffs in their expedition to Oregon. He was intended by his father for the legal prosession but had military aspirations which the times and society in which he lived was well calculated to keep alive. He raised a company of Tennessee Biflemen and stood at their head at the battle of New Orleans, and after the close of the war of 1812, was for five years a Captain in the regular army, assisting in building Forts Bock Island and Peoria. In 1822, he settled on a farm in the Mississippi bottom, in Pike county, Illinois, and married Mrs. Nancy Ward, a widow add the mother of three children. He commenced business at Galena Illinois, in the fall of 1827, and moved his family there in 1828. In the spring of 1830, he rode on horseback from Galena OCtoss the uninhabited prairies of Illinois to his brother^ s, twenty miles east of Yincennes, Indiana, where he was attacked with a fever and died on the 18th of July, 1880. He was a kind husband, an affectionate father, a brave soldier, a lover of his country, a democrat, and a hater of aristocracy. Frances Smith, the mother of Dry den Smith, was of Scotch ancestry; her father was Abijah Smith, and her mother, Susannah Wilkinson. She was born in Saratoga county, New York, on the 15th of March, 1796. She left Albany in May, 1817, and arrived in HUnois, which was then a territory, in September of the same year. After her husband's death she returned with her children to the old farm in Pike county, Illinois, where she reared them to majority, prepared their meals, made their clothing, watched over and nursed them in sickness, and was their moral, religious, and intellectual educator. She was a mother. She died on the 2d of January, 1877. Dry den Smith, the subject of this sketch, was the fifth child and fourth son of his mother's family. He spent the springs, summers, and autumns of his boyhood in cultivating the old farm, and the winters in studying at home or going to school, obtaining a passable English education. In 1842, he helped a neighbor, who had a contract to furnish the garrison at Forts Crawford and Snelling with beef, to drive a herd of cattle from near St. Louis to Prairie du Chien. During the trip he saw much of the then wild but beautiful country of northern Illinois and southem Wisconsin. He began the study of law in 1848, and voted the free soil ticket for President. He married on the 29th of September, 1849, Miss Elizabeth A. Hines. His health failed on account of too close confinement to books during the winter of 1848 and '49. To restore it he discontinued study and in 1850 and *51, engaged in farming. In 1852, he started north to find a country with less fever and ague than Illinois, visited St. Paul and traveled over the then sparsely settled counties of northeast Iowa, and in July of the same year examined the part of Fillmore county which now constitutes the towns of Newburg, Canton, and Bristol Mr. Smith settled in Decorah, Iowa, in the fall of 1853, was admitted attorney and counselor at law in the spring of 1854, and commenced the practice of that profession in connection with a land dealing business, though spending much of his time as an active assistant of the great statesman, Senator Grimes, in his fight with the then pro-slavery democracy of Iowa. Mr. Smith settled in Spring Valley m 1860, a place he had visited in 1858 and to which he had directed many of its first settlers. A few days after his arrival in this place, Mr. Wm. H. Seward was defeated at Chicago, which Mr. Smith deems the basest act of ingratitude ever done by an assembly of men claiming to have honor and to love their country and liberty. Mach of faith, hope and strength went oat of him when Seward was, as he termed it, "assignated^' at Chicago. He continned to vote the republican ticket up to 1868, but was never, after Seward's defeat, an ardent republican worker. He was Judge of Probate of Fillmore county from 1863 to 1870. When he heard of Grant's nomination for President in 1868, he left the republican party for all time. He is now engaged in the practice of law and farming.

Frank J. Smith was bom in Caledonia county, Vermont, on the 18th of June, 1849. , When sixteen years old he removed with his parents to Orleans county where he was reared as a farmer. In 1867, the family removed to this town and bought a wild farm on section twenty. He assisted his father until twenty-one years of age since which time he has conducted the farm, which is well improved and has good substantial buildings. His father died on thrSOth of June, 1877. Mr. Smith was united in marriage, on the 28th of October, 1879, with Miss Hattie N. Harrris. They have two daughters.

W. H. Strong, the pioneer of Oarimoua village, and one of the successful business men of the county, was bom in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, on the 23d of February, 1827. The family soon moved to Bradford county, where W. H. grew to manhood. When sixteen years old he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he worked four years. In 1851, he was married to Miss Phoebe M. Jaques. Three years after they removed to Cariinona, Minnesota. They lived under the wagon cover the first summer, then he built a house and store, the first on the town site. He put in the first stock of goods there. In 1855, he erected a hotel, which became known in ear]y days as the **Carimona House. In 1855, and '56, he was appointed Sheriff of the county. One year later he built the "old brick store*' in Carimona, which still stands as a monument to his energy. In 1868, he put in a stock of goods in Lanesboro, valued at $30,000, and in 1872, opened a store in Florence, Iowa, which he still runs. He was a resident of Carimona as a merchant, farmer, and capitalist, until- 1876, when he removed to Pennsylvania, but returned tn 1880, aud located in Spring Valley. In January, 1882, he became a member of the banking firm now known as Strong & Farmer, of this place. He has filled many local and county offices. His brick residence is one of the most beautiful in Fillmore county.

D. A. Sullivan was born in Fauquier county > Virginia, on the 24th of June, 1845. Wheo fourteen years old he commenced to work at the harness-maker's trade in Baltimore, worked there four years, and in Washington, D. C, two years. In 1865, he went to St. Louis, and the following year came to Minnesota, in the southern part of which he worked until 1869, then came to this place and opened a shop, which he still conducts. Has been Chairman of the village Council two years, and a member of the same for four years. On the 8th of May, 1870, he married Miss Catherine Mountin. They have five children, all girls.

E. Steffens, one of the pioneers of Sumner, was bom in Canada on the 4th of January, 1828. Ten years later he removed to Illinois with his parents, and lived on his father's farm imtil twenty-one years old, then went to Wisconsin and engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber, at whicn he worked six years. In 1855, he came to Sumner, and took one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty, on which he lived until 1874, when he sold his farm and moved to this village. He has since retired from a very active life, and has a large brick house with finely kept grounds. He was united in marriage, on the 30th of June, 1869, with Miss Susan M. Johnston, a native of Canada.

O. Treat was bora in Orange county, Vermont, on the 4th of April, 1816. When he was eight years old his father died. His native State claimed him as a resident twenty-five years, working on a farm the last four years. In 1839, he moved to Ohio, and followed the same employment until 1852, returning to Vermont once in that time. He the came to Linn county, Iowa, and staked out a claim near Cedar Eapids, which he sold ijn 1855, and came to his present farm in Spring Valley. In 1856, he was married to Miss Marcia Wright, the ceremony taking place on the 2d of January. They have one child, Lydia E.

scent, a maa of considerable experience, and had a large practice in Ohio. In 1848, the family removed to Wisconsin, and after attending school there French entered his father's office. In 1853, he attended the academy at Joliet, Illinois, after which he lived at home. During the war his father was appointed surgeon of the celebrated Eighth Wisconsin, or the "Live Eagle Regiment," and French was appointed Second Assistant Surgeon of the same. In 1866, he attended the Cincinnati Medical College, graduating in 1867, then returned to Horicon and commenced practicing with his father. In 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Minnie 0. Smith, the ceremony taking place on the 29th of January. In 1869, he and his father were located in Austin, Minnesota, where they had a large practice, and in 1872, our subject came here and located as a resident physician. Besides his practice he has a farm of thirteen hundred acres in tbis and Mower counties. He is the father of four children, three of whom are living.

C. W. Taylor, for many years one of the active business men of Spring Valley, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in May, 1838. Lived with his parents on a small farm until he was thirteen years, old, then worked on neighboring farms. When twenty-one years of age he came to Wisconsin and learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and worked at it seven years. In 1860, he came to Minnesota, living in diflFerent places until 1866. On the 2l8t of October, 1861, he married Marietta Tnimon. He came to Spring Valley and opened a small store, but his rapidly increasing business demanded the erection of a fine brick block, in which he did business until 1875, when he sold and opened a grocery store in Austin. He has since conducted it, spending much of his time there but living here. He also has a farm of five hundred and fifty acres of improved land, and buys and sells horses. He is the father of three children, only one of whom is living.

Cutter Colonel Thayer, deceased, was one of the prominent religious workers of Spring Valley, and died on the 29th of June, 1882, .in his sixtyninth year. From the * 'Spring Valley Vidette" we clip the following :

'*In his seventeenth year he experienced religion and identified himself with the First Baptist Church in Cliateaugay. After some years the township was divided, and a Baptist Church was then organized in the new town of Burke, of which he then became a member, and was appointed deacon of said church, which office he held up to the time of his removal to Minnesota.

On the 8th of March, 1837, he was married to Miss Sarah L. Turner, of Clinton county, New York. She soon after united with the church, and they worked side by side for many years in the Master's service.

He was a true Christian, and a worker in the cause of Christ's Church, lending his energies and means to upbuild the cause he so much loved. About the year 1853, he had the supervision of the erection of the church edifice built by the Baptist Church and Society in Burke, and spent much time and money in its completion. Some years afterward the house was destroyed by fire, and he went forth with a determination, and succeeded in rebuilding a fine edifice on the old church grounds, and during his Arduous labors iu the Master's cause he lost his health, and in tbe year 1862, at the advice of his physician, made a trip for his health to Spring Valley, and during his sojourn in this place he, with » the scattering few, succeeded in effectuig the organization of the first Baptist Church in Spring Valley, with thirteen members. He returned to his home in Burke, New York, and after disposing of his effects there, in the spring of 1864, he removed with his family to Spring Valley. He united with the Baptist Church, was made Deacon, which office he held until death retired him therefrom.

About the year 1868, he purchased the High School building with his own means - afterwards, sold it to the church - ^which was soon afterward removed to a new site, and rearranged and dedicated as the First Baptist Church of Spring Valley, and is now used and occupied by the Church as a house of worship.

His efforts have always been to maintain and build up the Church of Christ here on earth. In February, 1873, he was called to mourn the loss of his dear companion, after which he made his home with his only son, H. B. Thayer, of Spring Valley. In the year 1881, and the month of October, his health began to fail, and his labors in an active form for the church ceased, and he was confined to his home; still his heart was in the work and welfare of the church, and among his last e£forts was to contribute to the support of the

He was a man of sterling qualities, a true Christian; self-denying, ever ready to do for bis Master; and while we mourn his loss and miss his cheerful presence and valuable counsels, we can truly say and feel - ^in the language of the Scriptures - *Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' His work is done, and well done. He lias gone to receive the crown that awaits him in that beautiful home over there.

The funeral took place from tho residence of H. B. Thayer, Saturday, July 1st, 1882, at 2 o'clock p. M., Rev. S. S. Utter, pastor of the Baptist Church, assisted by Revs. T. F. Allen and E. W. Merrill, officiating.

The pall bearers who bore the remains to their last resting place were E. Rose, Charles Beverley, Silas Hubbell, C. C. Stoddard, A. Payne, and Gteo. Lyman,

The choir, Minnie Johnson, Mrs. Mary Rossman, George and Luther Payne, sang a moat beautiful dirge, aud thus was committed to earth all tliat death could wound or destroy of Deacon Thayer. Our fathers! where are they ?

Tlie deceased leaves Mrs. Irena Dodge, Mrs. M. E. Robinson, of Plainview, Minnesota; Mrs. Nellie Crane, and H. B. Thayer, of this city, children, to mourn his loss."

Henry C. Van Lbuven was bom in Schoharie county. New York, on the 19th of March, 1844. In 1856, the family came west to Milwaukee, from whence they drove an ox team across Wisconsin to Prairie du Chieu, thence into Howard county, Iowa, to the Upper Iowa River, where they located a claim. There Henry assisted on the farm, studying at home during his leisure moments, as school privileges were very limited. At the early age of fifteen he began teaching school, and in 1860 enlisted in the army for three years. Betuming from the war he was appointed Postmaster of Lime Spring, Howard' county,. Iowa, on the recommendation of Hon. William B. Allison, now U. S. Senator from Iowa. His father, George M. Van Leuven, assisted in building up the latter village, and has lived there tweuty-six years. During Andrew Johnson's administration, Henry G. tendered his resignation as Postmaster, for the reason that he could not endorse the **My Policy" programme of the President. He was afterwards commissioned by the Postmaster General, Mail Route Agent from McGregor to Algona, on which route he was four years, resigning to accept the ofl&ce of Special Mail Agent, his appointment coming directly from President Grant. Retiring from the mail service after ten years of continuous labor, he went into the office of the **McGregor News," published by W. L. Osborne, now of the **La Crosse Chronicle." He served for two years, dividing his time between the type and the I. N. G., a military organization that has become the pride of the Hawkeye State. He was joined in marriage in 1866, with Miss Dora Carey, of Freeport, Illinois, the ceremony taking place on the 27th of March. They have three children ; Maude, Mabel, and Carl Schurz. In June, 1877, the Governor of Iowa appointed him Quartermaster of the First Light Artillery Regiment, I. N. G., subsequently he was elected Colonel thereof, with only live dissenting voices. He went to Lime Spring and established "The Tribune, an enterprising newspaper now, and in August, 1879, came to Spring Valley and purchased the "Vidette" of Hon. J. Q. Farmer, and has since managed the same with marked success and growing popularity. In February, 1881, Governor Pillsbury appointed him Colonel and Aid de camp of the M. N. G., which position he now holds. Colonel Van Leuven is a graduate of Osage College, having earned the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

G. B. Warner, one of the pioneers of the village, was born in Upper Canada, on the 30th of September, 1827. He is a son of Zara A. Warner, who was born in New York, where he lived until twenty-five years old, then he went to Canada and engaged in farming and also conductied a distillery. Then he came to Michigan and carried on a farm twelve years, and in the summer of 1853, came here with his family, taking land in sections twenty-seven and twenty-eight, on which he lived until the time of his death. G. B. learned the joiner's trade, and worked at it at diflFerent times. In January, 1854, he came here and staked out a claim in section twenty -eight, which is still his home. On the 25th of

July, 1864, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Ellen Cole. The result of this union is eight children. His wife died on the 8th of March, 1882. Mr. Warner has a fine brick veneered house, and t%o hundred and ten acres of land. All of which has been acquired by his own industry.

W. W. Washburn was bom in Milton, Vermont, on the 11th of May, 1854. His father, Reuben Washburn, was a Methodist minister and preached in the latter State until about 1866, when he came with his family to Northfield, Minnesota, and subsequently moved to Owatonna. W. W. lived with his parents until 1874, when he entered the La Crosse Business College, and after graduating taught school for a tima In 1876, he opened a grocery store in this place, and has since continued in the business, having taken a partner, the firm is now Washburn k Horton.

Dr. Alvah F. Whitman is a native of New York, bom in Saratoga county on the 29th of November, 1880. When eight years old he came to Illinois with his parents who were among the pioneers of Peoria county. He attended school there, and when young began teaching. Entered the Wisconsin State University in 1851, where he remained three years, teaching daring his vacations and thus earning the means with which to complete his education. He commenced the study of medicine in Waupun, Wisconsin, and completed at the Ann Arbor University, Michigan, graduating from the latter in 1865. He was joined in matrimony on the 2d of October, 1865, to Miss S. Matilda Smith. Dr. Whitman began practice in Charles City, Iowa, and in 1868, came to this place and has since received a good patronage.

Charles H. Wagner, M. D., M. F. H., a native of Wisconsin, was bom at Wyocena, Columbia county, on the 12th of Febraary, 1853. He lived with his parents, who moved to St. Charles, Winona county, in 1860, his father being a boot and shoe dealer and a farmer. Having received the full instraction of a High school, Charles entered the State University in 1870, where he continued the study of medicine, as he had previously done, to prepare himself to enter a medical college which he did in the winter of 1871 and '72, at the Homeopathic Hospital College, Cleveland, Ohio. The following spring he engaged in the practice of medicine, continuing the same until fall when he re-entered college to complete his studies, graduating on the 12th of February, 1873, when, for literary merit, he received the degree of M. F. H. He permanently located here in 1873, has been County Physician three years, and is now Chairman of the Village Board of Health. Dr. Wagner is progressive, being liberal in his views, not confining him. self to any school of medicine. He was united in marriage on the 5th of June 1874, with Miss Luella F. Brown. They have had four children, three of whom are living.

James E. Whitmak, a member of the firm of Whitman k Brown, a manufacturing company of this village, was bora on the 14th of Jane, 1839, When he was eight years old his father died, and three years later his mother again married. They moved to Dane county, Wisconsin, then to Fond du Lac county. In 1857, James attended *the Northem Illinois Institute, at Henry, returned home and taught school for some time. In 1864, he enlisted in the Forty-first WisconBin Volunteer Infantry, and served four months in Company B. The same year he came to this county and commenced farming in Bloomfield and also taught school. In 1866, he commenced manufacturing in this place, which he still continues, owning a half interest in the business, which is being successfully conducted.

Charles E. Tbabian was bom in Bichland county, Ohio, on the 15th of September, 1836. Three years later he removed with his parents to Perry county, Illinois, where he lived on a farm until fourteen years old, then was engaged in a retail store six years. He next located on a farm of his own, where he remained until 1862, and enlisted in the Eighty -first Illinois, serving one year and a half as Drum Major. He then returned to his farm, and in 1866, engaged in mercantile business, but three years later went to farming again. In 1873, he came to Washington, in this county, and was in a store until 1880, then came to Spring Valley, and was landlord of the Valley and Central Hotels. In the fall of 1881, he started a store with a stock of groceries and crockery, in which business he is still engaged.

John Quincy Fabmeb, once Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and still later a member of tlie State Senate, is a native of Caledonia county, Vermont, having been bom in the town of Burke, on the 5th of August, 1823. Hia parents were Hiram and Selina (Snow) Farmer, the father belonging to the hardy yeomen of the

-'Green MonntaiD State." The grandfather of our subject, Benjamin Farmer, who was early in the struggle for American independence, was among the pioneers in Caledonia county, being of English descent. The Snows were originally from Scotland. When John was nine years old the family moved to the Western Roserve, Ohio, settling on a farm in Madison Lake county, on which the son lived till about nineteen years old. Not satisfied with the education he received in a district school during the winter terms, he now spent portions of three or four years at academies in Painesville, Twinsburgh, and Austinburgh, teaching five or six winters. He supported himself entirely while engaged in securing his education. Mr. Farmer read law with Perkins k Osborne, of Painesville; attended the law school at Ballston Spa, New York, one year; was admitted to the bar at Painesville in 1851 ; practiced law at C!onneaut, Ohio, six years, and the same period at Ashtabula, in company with Ii. S. Sherman, now Judge of the court of common pleas in Ohio, and in 1864, removed to his present home, coming here on account of the poor health of his wife. In company with his younger brother, James Duane Farmer, he has had a law office ever since settling in Spring Valley. Here, as he had in Ohio, Mr. Farmer has an extensive practice. He is well read in law, a candid and strong reasoner, and has great influence with a jury. In addition to law, Mr. Farmer has done considerable farming, largely, however, by proxy. He has sixty acres well improved in Spring Valley, and farms at Grand Meadow and Austin, west of his home, - in all, five hundred or six hundred acres. As a business operator, he is a success. He is president of the Minnesota Farmers* Mutual Fire Insurance Association, and is well known all over the State for his strong mental qualities.

While a resident of Ashtabula county, Ohio, Mr. Farmer served c ne term as County Attorney was a member of the Minnesota House of Bepresentatatives in 1866, 1867 and 1868, and speaker the last two years, and was a member of the State Senate in 1870 and 1871, being Chaiiman of the judiciary committee both sessions. IntellectnaUy, he was a tall man in either branch of the Legislature. In 1880, he was elected Judge of the district court, and still holds the position. He was originally a whig, and since 1855, has been a republican. He would not be called a bitter partisan, and has striven to keep out of politics as much as he could, Office has sought him, not he office. Mr. Farmer is deeply interested in school matters, and is president of the Spring Valley board of education. In all that pertains to the best interests of the village he is a leading man. He is a blue-lodge Mason, - in religious sentiment, is quite liberal. Mr. Farmer has a second wife. His first was Miss Maria N. Carpenter, of Painesville, Ohio; married on the 17th of November, 1852. She died of consumption on the 18th of March, 1866, leaving two sons; Gteorge R., who is in the law office with his father, and Charles J., a student in the graded school of Spring Valley. The second wife, who was Miss Susan C. Sharp, of Fillmore county, and a native of Ohio, was married on the 13th of January, 1869. She has five children, all sons; John Frederic, John Coy, Dan, Earnest, and Frank. Mr. Farmer is a disciple of Izaak Walton, being one of the most noted anglers in southern Minnesota. He has done a gre&t deal toward replenishing the local streams with the choicest kinds of fish, and drew the bill for the present fish law of the State, which bill passed in the session of 1877.