Jackson County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 8 of 13)

Charles Perry lived in his native county -less than two years. In 1861 the family drove through by team from New York state to Winneshiek county, Iowa, the trip being made in thirty-one days. There the head of the family bought land at $6.00 per acre, and on that farm Mr. Perry of this sketch grew to manhood, making his home with his parents until twenty-five years of age. He then engaged in farming for himself in Winneshiek and Fayette counties, Iowa, for several years, later engaging in the same business in North Dakota. He located in Heron Lake in 1898 and for several years worked at the carpenter trade. In 1902 he received the appointment of mail carrier on the first route established out of Heron Lake and has since been engaged in that capacity.

At West Union, Iowa, on December 22, 1901, Mr. Perry was united in marriage to Caroline A. Brooks. She was born in Lyons, New York, and is the daughter of Cliarles and Mary Brooks. Four children have been born to this union, of which the eldest, Henry C, died - when nineteen months old. The others are Bertha, bom July, 1904; Francis, born March 20, 1906; Oscar, bom February 22, 1908. Mr. Perry is a member of the A. O. U. W. and Degree of Honor lodges.

JOHN S. WOOLSTENCROFT (1868), editor and publisher of the Jackson County Times of Heron Lake, is a pioneer of southwestern Minnesota and one of the best known residents of Jackson county. He is a native of Clayton county, Iowa, and was bom December 23, 1848, the son of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Keer) Woolstencroft. The father of our subject was a soldier of the regular army, being a sergeant of company K, First U. S. infantry, and participated in the Blackhawk war, Florida? war, Mexican war and the war of the rebellion. John was raised on a farm in his native county in Iowa. In the spring of 1864, although he was then only a little past fifteen years of age, he enlisted as a union soldier, becoming a member of company L, of the Sixth Iowa cavalry. With his regiment he took part in the memorable campaign against the Sioux Indians in 1864, engaging in two pitched battles with the Indians in the Bad Lands. In 1865 he started again with the forces against the Sioux, but owing to sickness was left in hospital at Fort Rice. While there he was in three engagements with the hostile Indians. Mr. Wool- .<ttencroft was mustered out with his regiment at Sioux City, Iowa, in the latter part of October, 1865, and the regiment was disbanded at Davenport.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Woolstencroft returned to his home and engaged in farming. He arrived in Jackson county on the 29th day of May, 1868, and located in the Graham Lakes country in Nobles county, when there were only five or six families in the whole county. He resided in that frontier settlement until June 19, 1869, and then returned to his old home, where he was married. He came north again in 1872 and took a homestead claim on section 34, Belfast township, Murray county, and upon that claim he lived until March 22, 1881.

On the date last mentioned Mr. Woolstencroft located in Heron Lake, where he went to superintend the large farming interests of J. T. Smith. On the 17th day of November of that year he was caught and wound in some shafting and so severely injured that he was incapacitated for physical labor. In May, 1882, he engaged in the saloon business in Heron Lake and was so engaged until 1888. Mr. W^oolstencroft then engaged in the hotel business and in 1891 built the Wavertree hotel, which he conducted seventeen years. In partnership with C. W. Schultz he founded the Jackson County Times in 1895 and in July of the next year he took exclusive charge of the management and editorial department. He has ever since been the editor and publisher.

Mr. Woolstencroft was married March 31, 1870, in Clayton county, Iowa, to Elizabeth Ann Abel. Two children were born to this union: Carry D., born July 28, 1877; Mary H., born December 11, 1880.

JOSEPH J. PRIBYL (1884) is the assistant cashier of the Brown National Bank of Jackson and has been a resident of the countv since he was five years of age. He is a native of Budweiss, Bohemia, and was born May 19,

Joseph Pribyl came to America with his parents in 1883. After ten months spent in Chicago the family came to Jackson county, arriving in March, 1884. The head of the family bought a farm on section 16, Hunter township, and twelve years later one on section 20. Joseph lived on the farm with his parents until 1895, receiving an education in the country schools and in the Jackson hi^h school. Coming to Jackson village, he clerked in Peter Hansen's store eight months and then accepted a position in the Bank of Jackson (now the Brown National Bank), and has been with that institution ever since, for the last eight years as assistant cashier.

Mr. Pribyl is a member of the Catholic church and of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is one of a family of eight children : Charles, Joseph J., August, Wesley, Frank, Jerry, Mary, Agnes and Bessie.

The marriage of Mr. Pribyl occurred in Jackson May 27, 1901, when he wedded Laura Betlech, a native of Dane' county, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Emil and Sarah (Cerhan) Betlech. Mr. and Mrs. Pribyl are the parents of three children: Marie T., Helen F. and Josephine K.

WESLEY WORSHEK (1891) is one of the successful farmers of Belmont township, in which precinct he owns a half section of land - the northwest quarter of section 28 and the northwest quarter of section 36. He is one of a family of five children and his parents were Joseph and Mary W^orshek. They came from Bohemia to the United States in 1866 and located in Iowa. Mrs. Worshek died in that state in 1889, and after her death Mr. Worshek came to Jackson county, where he lived until his death, February 28, 1905, at the age of 83 years. The other children of the family are Annie, Joseph, Mary and John.

Wesley Worshek was born to these parents in Bohemia November 1, 1860. At the age of six years he accompanied his parents to America and located in Jones county, Iowa. Six years later the family home was made in Guthrie county, Iowa, and there our subject lived until 1891. That year he moved to Jackson county and bought his present farm of

Nicholas Olson, and that place has ever since been his home. He added to his real estate holdings in 1903 by the purchase of the quarter on section 36. Since buying his farm he has added greatly to its value by the erection of new buildings and other improvements. He is a stockholder of the Belmont Creamery company and of the Jackson County Elevator company. For several years he served as a director of school district No. 5. He and his family are members of the Catholic church of Jackson and he belongs to the M. W. A. lodge.

Mr. Worshek was married in Guthrie county, Iowa, to Barbara Benda, a native of Bohemia. Nine children have been bom to this union as follows: Frank, bom May 2, 1887; Tillie, bom June 29, 1888; Laura, bora August 8, 1891; Joseph, bora Febmary 12, 1893; Eddie, born February 18, 1895; Henry, born July 1, 1898; Louie, born April 27, 1901; Blanche, bora April 20, 1903; Agnes, born January 24, 1906.

Since this sketch was prepared, Mr. Worshek, on December 7, 1909, sold his place to John Erickson, of South Dakota, after a residence in the county of eighteen years.

WTIJ.LAM TORDSEN (1893) owns and farms the northeast quarter of section 22, Rost township. He is the son of Peter Tordsen, of Rost township, and Christina (Hendricks) Tordsen, who died in Ida county, Iowa, January 26, 1888.

William Tordsen was born in Scott county, Iowa, January 14, 1879, and when two years of age moved with his parents to Ida county, Iowa. Tliere he was brought up on his father's farm and received his primary education. He accompanied his parents to Jackson county in 1893 and completed his education in the district school in Rost township. He made his home with his father until 1901. That year he engaged in the threshing business in partnership with John Husen until 1903, and two years later sold a half interest to his brother, and has been so engaged ever since. In 1903 he also engaged in farming, renting the Julius Meyer farm in Rost. In the spring of 1909 he moved onto his present farm, which he had lK)ught in 1908. Besides his other interests Mr. Tordsen has stock in the Farmers Elevator company of Lakefield. He is treasurer of gchgol 4ittnct No. lOp,

Mr. Tordsen was married in Jackson June 0, 1902, to Bertha Meyer, daughter of Julius and Marie (Steffen) Meyer, of Lake Park, Iowa. Mrs. Tordsen was born in Holstein, Iowa, June 6, 1884, and came to Jackson county with her parents in 1897.

EDWARD SCHUMACHER (1880) is an Alba township farmer and conducts his father's place, the south half of section 12, « short distance west of Okabena. He is a native of the county, having been bora on the farm he now conducts April 26, 1880.

The parents of our subject, Henry and Caroline (Hohena) Schumacher, were born in Germany, but came to America in an early day, settling 'in Brown county, Minnesota, in the late fifties. There they resided until they came to Jackson county in 1870. They lived on the old tree claim in Alba township until 1903, when they moved to Heron Lake, where they still reside. Mr. Schunmcher is a veteran of the civil war, having served in company A, of the Eleventh regiment of Minnesota volunteers.

Edward Schumacher grew to manhood on his father's farm in Alba, attending the district school and working on the farm. In the spring of 1906 he took a homestead in Lyman county. South Dakota, and the next year moved onto his land. After a residence there of over a year he proved up on the claim and then returned to Jackson county. He has since been engaged in farming his father's farm of 320 acres.

Mr. Schumacher was married in Cottonwood county, Minnesota, March 29, 1905, to Josephine Crowell, who was bom in Fillmore county, Minnesota, January 3, 1881. Her grandfather was the third settler of Fillmore county, having located there in 1853. Her parents, Edwin and Clara (Geuth) Crowell, now reside in Howard county, Iowa. One child has been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher, Russell, bom September 17, 1907. Mr. Schumacher is a member of the M. W. A. lodge.

JOHN DITNKER (1891) owns and farms the southeast quarter of section 12, Enterprise township, which has been his home for the last eighteen years. Mr. Dunker is a (3erman by birth, having been born in the fatherland May 23, 1858, the son $^nd John and Lizzie Dunker.

Mr. Dunker's parents died when he was seven years of age and he was thrown on his own resources at an early age. He came to America when fourteen years of age, landing in the city of New York May 4, 1872. Locating at Havana, Mason county, Illinois, he grew to manhood there and after reaching mature years engaged in farming. He bought his present farm October 8, 1890, and the following March moved onto it and became a permanent resident of Jackson county. He has been engaged in farming since and for several years was engaged in operating a threshing machine and corn sheller.

Mr. Dunker has been married twice. His first marriage was to Dora Webber, whom he married May 28, 1882. She died September 7, 1891. To this union were bom the following named children: Fred, born August 1, 1883; Henry, born January 12, 1886; Mary, bom December 20, 1888; Maggie, born March 10, 1890. The second marriage of Mr. Dunker occurred October 28, 1894^ to Annie Golz, of Berlin, Germany. To them have been born the following named children: Dick, born September 16, 1895; Lizzie, bom February 19, 1897; Bertha, born March 8, 1898; Charles, bom November 30, 1901; William, bom January 3, 1905; Dora, born May 1, 1908. The family are members of the German Lutheran church of Kimball township. He holds the office of clerk of school district No. 20.

KARL NEJEDLY (1886) is a shoemaker and the proprietor of one of Jackson's shoe stores. He is the son of Joseph Nejedly, one of a family of five children, and was born in Vranej, Bohemia, September 14, 1855. His early days were spent in his native land, where he attended the village school and where at the age of eleven years he began working at the shoemaker's trade.

At the age of twenty Mr. Nejedly joined the Austrian army and served a four years' enlistment during the war between Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a result of which war the two last named countries were added to the Austrian empire. During the last two years of his service Mr. Nejedly saw service in the enemies' country. After the war "Mr. Nejedly went to Germany, where he worked at his trade until he emigrated to America in 1882. He first located at Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked at his trade for a time. During his residence there he was frequently called upon to make shoes for the family of President Garfield. After leaving Cleveland, Mr. Nejedly worked at his trade in the following towns: Menominee, Michigan; St. Paul, Minnesota; Mendota, Minnesota; and Owatonna,. Minnesota.

In 1886 Mr. Nejedly came to Jackson county and opened a shoe repair shop in the county seat village, and four years later opened a shoe store in connection. These he conducted continuously until 1906, when lie sold out and moved to California. He remained in the far west only a short time, and then returned to Jackson and again engaged in business. Besides his business, Mr. Nejedly owns a home in the village. He is a member of the C. S. P. S., the M. W. A. and the Equitable Fraternal Union.

In Cleveland, Ohio, July 24, 1882, Mr. Nejedly was united in marriage to Josephine Simon, who was born in Zop, Bohemia, March 19, 1857, and who came to America a few months before her marriage. To this union have been born six children, as follows: Otto, bom September 14, 1883; Olga, bom October 2^, 1884; Boodie, bora April 8, 1888; Rose, born November 26, 1890; Lumer, born August 8, 1892; Mildred, born May 4, 1903.

JOHN V. KRAL (1904), a resident of Hunter township, has lived in the county but a few years, but in that time has prospered, and he owns 440 acres of well improved land. He is a native of Bohemia, where he was born March 13, 1866, and is the son of Frank and Josephine Krai, both of whom live in the old country at advanced ages. They are the parents of three children, John (the subject of the sketch) being the eldest.

John Krai grew to young manhood in his native country, and there he received a fair education. At the age of seventeen years he crossed the Atlantic to seek- his fortune in the new country. He settled in the city of Cliicago, where he worked a few months in a planing mill. He then became a tailor's apprentice and learned that trade, and worked at it about fifteen years. Having been frugal in his habits, he had saved up a sum of money, and with this he opened a tailor shop of his own and prospered to such an extent that he soon had a large force of men employed in turning out custom work. Mr. Krai conducted his shop until 1904, when, owing to ill health, he was forced to sell and seek other employment. In that year he came to Jackson county and bought 440 acres of land in Hunt/er township, the home place being located on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 27. He has spent the sum of $19,000 on the farm, which includes the improvements made since purchasing the place.

Mr. Krai has held the office of treasurer of the township board the past two years, and for four years has been treasurer of school district 84. He is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and of the Catholic church.

EDWARD G. PAGE (1887), of Jackson, was bom in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 15, 1876, the son of John M. and Mary J. Page, both of whom are dead. When he was two years old the family moved to Mantorville, Minnesota, and there he lived until his mother died when he was six and one-half years of age. Upon the death of his mother Edward was taken into the family of M. B. Hutchinson, and for several years lived with that family on the farm near Spring Valley, Minnesota. In 1886 he accompanied the Hutchinsons to Chester, Iowa, and one year later came with them to Jackson.

Edward attended the Jackson schools and grew to manhood in that village. After his school days he worked on a farm for several years and later for John Muir in the village. He went to Wyoming in 1899 and worked in Laramie until October 20 of that year, when he enlisted in the United States volunteer infantry and was sent to the Philippines. He served in the army twenty and one-half months, during the greater part of which time he was stationed on the islands of Luzon, Samar and Layte and rose to the position of corporal.

He returned to the United States and was honorably discharged at San Francisco July 5, 1901. Mr. Page returned to Jackson and for several years was engaged in various occupations, during the summer of 1905 working in Wyoming on a cattle ranch owned by John Whi taker and was made foreman of the ranch. In 1907 he took a position as manager of Otis Ashley's bam.

Mr. Page is unmarried. He is the youngest of a family of four children, of whom three are living. He owns the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 20, Enterprise township, which he bought in June, 1908. He holds membership in the K. P. and M. W. A. lodges.

HUGBERT J. NELSON (1879) is a tailor by trade and a member of the firm of Nelson Bros., clothiers and tailors of Heron Lake. He has lived in Jackson county all his life, having been born in Weimer township August 14, 1879, the son of Herman and Bertha (Olson) Nelson. His parents were natives of Norway and came to America and to Jackson county in 1876. His father died in Heron Lake in 1882; his mother still makes her home in that village and is 61 years of age.

Hugbert grew to manhood in Jackson county. In 1898 he started learning the tailor's trade. After he had sensed an apprenticeship he opened a shop in Heron Lake, which -he conducted six years. He then opened a clothing store in connection with the shop, and one year later, in February, 1909, he admitted his brother, George, as a partner, and they have since been engaged in business under the firm name of Nelson Bros.

Mr. Nelson was married in Heron Lake Febmary 21, 1907, to Emma Berreau, a native of Minnesota. She conducts a millinery store in Heron Lake. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Yeomen lodge.

H. O. JOHNSON (1897), of Christiania township, was born in Norway February 19, 1863, the son of Ole and Carrie Johnson. He came to America with his parents when three years of age and has lived, respectively, in LaCrossc county, Wisconsin, until 1874, Swift county, Minnesota, until 1877, Mitchell county, Iowa, until 1881, Rock county, Minnesota, until 189.3, Grant county, South Dakota, until 1897, and in Jackson county since the last named date. He received a good common school education and was brought up a farmer. With the exception of six months in the mercantile business at Luverne, Minnesota, and one year as a photographer in Benson, Minnesota, Mr. Johnson has been engaged in farming ever since he reached manhood.

Mr. Johnson was married December 12, 1889, to Caroline Olson, and to them have been born five children: Ida, bom in April, 1891; Alfred, bom May 12, 1896; Ernest, born in November, 1897; Mabel, born in April, 1900; Carl, born in April, 1902. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and Mr. Johnson is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He owns a quarter section of farming land in Marshall county, Minnesota, and has stock in the Farmers Elevator company of Windom.

years he was the agent of the Standard Brewing company, of Mankato, and is now agent for the C. & J. Michel Brewing company, of LaCrosse. Mr. Makovicka is a member of the Catholic church and of numerous "orders. He joined as a charter member of the Z. E. K. J. in 1897, and on January 1, 1899, organized the first lodge of the Catholic Western Union west of the Mississippi river. He also belongs to the C. O. F. and to the K. U. J., a Catholic Bohemian lodge.

On July 31, 1894, Mr. Makovicka was married in Jackson to Miss Thresa Bunderle, who was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Februar}' 2, 1875. To these parents have been bom the following children: Frank, born October 2, 1900, died December 12, 1900; Joseph, born February 19, 1902; Rudolph, bom November 1, 1903; Robert, born February 8, 1906; Blanche, bom February 15, 1908.

JOSEPH V. MAKOVICKA (1891), proprietor of one of the saloons of Jackson, is a native of New York city, having been bom there March 9, 1873, the son of Joseph and Anna (Tupa) Makovicka. In 1877 he moved with his parents from the city and located at New Prague, Minnesota, where he lived until 188S. He was brought up on a farm and was educated in St. Venslous Catholic school at New Prague.

In 1888 Mr. Makovicka moved to Montgomery', LeSueur county, and for three years conducted a cigar factory there. On the first day of Mav. 1891, he became a resident of Jackson county, locating at Lakefield. He conducted a cigar factory there one year and then moved to Jackson, engaging in the saloon business and in the manufacture of cigars. He operated the cigar factory six years and has conducted the saloon ever since. During his residence in the county seat village Mr. Makovicka has been engaged in several other lines of business. In 1893 he opened a meat market and conducted it three years. In 1901 he engaged in the marble business as a member of the firm of Jackson Marble Works, the members of the firm being Joseph Makovicka, J. V. Makovicka and Joseph L. Rakard. He bought his partners out in 1902, conducted the business alone four years and then sold a half interest to Ed. Gilbertson.

HENRY SAATHOFF (1890) owns a splendid farm on section 28, Wisconsin township, upon which he has resided for the last nineteen years and which he brought up to its present standard. Henry is the eldest of a family of three sons born to Hey and Antie (Woltzen) Saathoff. He was born in Ostfreesland, Germany, August 11, 1860.

The subject of this biography resided with his parents until twelve years of age. Then he joined the crew of a sailing vessel and sailed the seas ten years, during which time he visited nearly all the European and African ports. He came to America in 1881, and from that time until 1890 lived in Champaign and Iroquois counties, Illinois. Mr. Saathoff arrived in Jackson county in 1890, farmed rented property one year, and then bought his present farm of 160 acres in Wisconsin township. The only improvement on the farm at the time he bought it was a little shack, and in this he lived four years; now he has a fine farm, with excellent improvements.

At Danford, Iroquois county, Hlinois, on March 7, 1889, Mr. Saathoff was united in marriage to Frcdericka Hasbergen, who was bom in Germany and who came to the United States in the year 1882. Mr. and Mrs. SaathoflT have three children, named as follows: Heyko Rudolph Albert, born Febmary 1, 1891; Wilhelmiene Annette, born February 14, 1893; Alma Margrata Alberdina. born May 10, 1895. The family are German Lutherans.

ALBERT GOHR (1891) owns a 240 acre farm in Kimball township and has been engaged in farming it for the last nineteen years. He was bom in Germany July 14, 1855, the youngest of a family of five children. His father, William Gohr, died when our subject was nine months old, and his mother, Caroline (Jaffke) Gohr, died when he was thirteen years of age.

Thrown upon his own resources at a tender age, Albert Gohr early learned to take care of himself. He lived in Germany seventeen years, working at odd jobs and spending the last year of his residence in the old world working at the brick layer's trade. He came to America at the age of seventeen, and for eight months worked on a farm near the city of Chicago. Then he took a position with Henry Batsford & Company, packers, of Chicago, and was in their employ twenty years. In July. 1885, he bad paid a visit to Jackson county and had bought the east half of the southwest quarter of section 10, Kimball township, and in 1801 he gave up his position in Chicago and moved to the county, where he has since been engaged in farming. He bought the southwest quarter of section 23, Kimball, four years after his arrival, and he farms all his land.

Mr. Gohr was married in Chicago March 26. 1876, to Minnie Stenke, who was bom in Gernmny in 1858 and who came to the United States when nine years of age. She is the daughter of Anton and Minnie Stenke, both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Gohr have been bom twelve children, of whom the following ten are living: Lena (Mrs. Mens Hansen), Albert A., Minnie, (Mrs. Charles Waswo), Dora (Mrs. Theodore Schoewe), Hattie, Olga, George, Leo, Esther and Clara. The five children first named was bom in Chicago, the others in Minnesota.

The family are members of the German Luthem church. Mr. Gohr was a member of the Kimball township board from 1893 to 1908 with the exception of one year and he was a member of the schodl board of his district for the same length of time.

ALTON B. CHEADLE (1883) is the cashier of the First National Bank of Jackson and has lived in that village since he was a boy thirteen years of age. He is the youngest of a family of four children born to Rev. Henry Clay Cheadle and Emma K. (Keyes) Cheadle, both natives of Ohio. The father was a Presbyterian minister and came to Minnesota in 1872. He occupied the Presbyterian pulpits at Jackson and Lakefield from 1883 to 1894 and then returned to his former home in Blue Earth, where he lived until his death in February, 1906, at the age of 77 years. Our subject's mother died in Blue Earth in 1899 at the age of 63 years.

To these parents, in Amesville, Athens county. Ohio, Alton B. Cheadle was bom on the 12th day of February, 1870. In 1872 he accompanied his parents to Blue Earth, Minnesota, and resided there from that time until 1880. The next three years were passed in Buffalo, Wright county, Minnesota, and then in 1883 he moved with his parents to Jackson. He was educated in the public schools of Jackson and the high school at Cannon Falls, completing his schooling with a two years* course at Macalester college.

At the age of fifteen years he began working, during the vacation periods, for George R. Moore, the present president of the First National Bank of Jackson, but at the time clerk; of the district court of Jackson county, and since taking employment at that early age he has ever since been employed by, or associated with, Mr. Moore. When the latter organized his private bank in 1887 Alton Cheadle became an employe a year and a half later, and has ever since been connected with the bank. When that pioneer financial institution was reorganized into a state bank Mr. Cheadle was not yet of age, but the next year he reached his majority and was at once made cashier of the bank. Wlien the reorganization into a national bank was brought about Mr. Cheadle was made cashier, a position which he still holds.

Mr. Cheadle has been a member of the Jack son board of education for several years and is at present treasurer of the board. He is interested in the Jackson Building & Loan association and has held the office of treasurer of that popular institution for eighteen years. Mr. Cheadle is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the Masonic blue lodge and chapter and the M. W. A. and A. O. U. W. orders.

In Jackson, on July 19, 1892, Mr. Clieadle WHS married to Miss Jessie Fiddes, a native of Jackson and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Fiddes. One daughter and one son have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cheadle, Agn<^ M. and Alexander H.

Bioqbaphical History

PETER HANSEN (1891) owns and farms the east half of the northeast quarter of section 16, Wisconsin township^ where he has resided for the last eighteen years. He is a native of Denmark and was born September 15, 1868, the son of Hans Christianson and Fredericka (Hansen) Christianson.

Peter Hansen came to America at the age of fourteen years, after having received a common school education in his native country, and settled in Brown county, Minnesota. He came to Jackson county in 1891, bought his present farm, and has since made his home on it. He has a good farm and a fine set of buildings. He owns stock in the Farmers Elevator company of Alpha. He has served four years as a member of the ))oard of supervisors of Wisconsin township. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been an elder for two years and a trustee for six years.

NELS A. JOHNSON (1889) is one of the big farmers of Weimer township and resides just outside of the corporate limits of the village in Heron Lake. He owns 500 acres of land on sections 29 and 30, Weimer township, and section 8, West Heron Lake township, and farms it all. He has a nice home and modem conveniences.

Nels A. Johnson is the son 6f the late Andrew Johnson and Mary (Kjos) Johnson, the latter a resident of Weimer township. He is the eldest of a family of five children, the other children being named Annie, Dora Katie and Gilbert. He was born in Lafayette county, Iowa, November 8, 1862, and that was his home until he came to Jackson county in 1889. He was educated iu the Norwegian and English schools of his native county and spent his younger years working out on farms, making his home with his parents. Coming to Jackson county twenty years ago, he bought the northwest quarter of section 8, West Heron I^ke township, adjoining Okabena station, and engaged in farming there fourteen years. In 1903 he bought the land adjoining Heron Lake village and has since made his home there.

born in Chicago in 1868. She is the daughter of M. B. Johnson, who came to Jackson county in 1866 and who is now a resident of Weimer township. Six children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, as follows: Mabel A., Arthur M., Noel K., Ruth L., Fremont L. and Paul J. C. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Heron Lake.

G. E. WIGER (1886). On his father's farm, on the east half of section 18, Enterprise township, G. E. Wiger was born January 15, 1886. Hiff parents came from Norway in 1870 and located in Blue Earth City, Minnesota, coming to M. Johnson, whose wife had just died and who had six sniall children. Ole Wiger, our subject's father, was a tailor in the old country and his services were useful at this time, for there was no ready made clothing there at that time.

In 1872 the family came to Jackson county and located a homestead in Enterprise township, and on that place Mr. and Mrs. Wiger ever after lived. All the property they owned when they moved to the county was a span of oxen and a cow. They had five dollars, with which they bought lumber to use for the inside of a sod shanty. During the first years they did not raise much because they had no machinery, and the grasshoppers destroyed their crops. In later years misfortunes also came. In 1886 lightning struck the house, killing Gerhard Wiger, ten years of age, and striking Ole Wiger so that he was ill for a half year. Six months later a kick from a horse injured him so that he was blind in one eye ever after. On October 20, 1903, the house and all its contents burned to the ground, and tliat fall, while the new home was being built, the family were obliged to live in the granary.

Mr. Ole Wiger died September 2, 1906, after an illness of nine months. He left a widow and nine children, of whom one has died. Following are the names of the living children: Mrs. H. H. Stall, of LaMoure, North Dakota; Mrs. H. A. Stall, of Des Moines township; Mrs. P. J^eterson, of Minneapolis; Mrs. E. Westgord, of Windom; Gilbert O. Wiger, G. E. Wiger, IMiss Christina Wiger and Obert W. Wiger, of Enterprise township.

Our subject received a common school education and was brought up on his father's farm, engaging in farming the home place after his father's death. In partnership with his broth- er Gilbert and J. Paulson, Mr. Wiger owns a threshing machine. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which he was baptised and confirmed.

JOSEPH T. MUZIKAR (1886), bar-keeper of a saloon in Jackson, was born in Zarobic, Moravia, Marcli 13, 1866, the son of John and Antonette (Riss) Muzikar.

In his native land our subject resided until he was eight years of age. He came to the United States and to the city of Chicago in 1874, and in that city worked at the tailor's trade nine years. His next change in location was in 1886, when he came to Jackson county, arriving on the tenth day of March. He lived on his father's farm in Hunter township, eight miles west of Jackson, and resided on that place with his parents until 1892. He then bought a farm in another part of Hunter township and farmed it three years. Moving to the village of Jackson in 1895, he has since been engaged in several different occupations, during the last six years being engaged in the saloon business.

Mr. Muzikar was married June 28, 1892, to Miss Mary Macek, and to this union have been born two children: George A., born April 6, 1893; Mary D., born September 9, 1895. The family are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Muzikar is a member of the Catholic lATorkmen and Catholic Western Union lodges.

JOSEPH N. PROKES (1892) is a Des Moines township farmer owning land on section 16, known as the Hillmount farm. He is the son of Jacob and Rosa (Kautnar) Prokes, residents of the same township.

Our subject's parents were bom in Bohemia and came to America in 1885. Jacob Prokes followed his trade, brick and stone mason, in the city of Chicago from the time of his arrival to America until 1892. That year he and his family moved to Jackson county and located upon the southwest quarter of section 16, Des Moines township, land which he bought while yet a resident of Chicago. There he resided until 1908, when he retired and moved onto 1^ farm on section 21, where he still lives at the age of 73 years. Besides carrying on his farming operations Jacob Prokes worked at his trade, having erected the following buildings in the village of Jackson: Lindslcy- Anderson block, the Bartosch-Kiesel-Matteson block, the smoke stack of the Livengood mill and other minor buildings. He is the father of three sons and two daughters, all living, as follows: John, of Jackson county; Frank, of Chicago; Marie, of Jackson; Anna (Mrs. Frank Koranda), of Des Moines township; Joseph, of this sketch.

Joseph N. Prokes was born in Bohemia December 29, 1882. He came to America with his parents in 1885, was educated in the public schools of Chicago, and in 1892 came to Jackson county with the family. He worked for his father on the farm until twenty-four years of age; then he bought the farm and has since conducted it.

The marriage of our subject occurred in Jackson February 11, 1908, when he wedded Anna Olivia Cihak, of Alpha, a native of Bohemia, who came to the United States when three years of age. Her parents are Frank and Catherina Cihak, now residents of Wisconsin township. To Mr. and Mrs. Prokes has beeii born one child, Elenora, bom February 20, 1909. Both Mr. and Mrs. Prokes are members of the Catholic church and he is a member of the Catholic Order of Workmen.

J. M. PUTMAN (1901), president of the Jackson County State Bank of Lakefield, was born in Mount Sterling, Illinois, March 30, 1851, the son of James and Letha Ann (Darnell) Putman, natives of Brown coimty and Hancock coimty, Illinois, respectively.

Left an orphan when a baby - his father dying when he waq four months old and his mother when he was two and one-half years old - he was brought up in the home of his grandfather Darnell. His early education was secured in the village schools before he was seventeen years of age and the year prior to reaching his majority he again studied one vear in the schools of Atlantic, Iowa. At the age of sixteen years young Putman left his grandfather's home and started out in life for himself with a capital of $5.05. He worked at different occupations for a few years and then went into the drug business, first at Holland and tlien at Gladbrook, Iowa, in which he was engaged seventeen years. #

In 1890 Mr. Putman sold out his drug business and went into the banking business, investing his money in the Tama County State Bank, of Gladbrook, an institution which was later organized iuto the First National Bank. Two years after becoming interested in the bank Mr. Putman was elected president. lie still has interests in the bank. In 1899 he moved to Grinnell, Iowa, because of tlie more advantageous school privileges, and in that city he remained until he came to Jackson county in 1901.

In July, 1901, Mr. Putman moved to Lakefield and in partnership with H. L. Bond bought the interests of M. H. Evans, the majority owner of the Jackson County State Bank, and they have since been the managers of that financial institution, Mr. Putman being president and Mr. Bond cashier. The subject of this biography is a staunch democrat and was one of Mr. Bryan's warmest supporters during the campaign of 1908. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge.

Mr. Putman was married at Braintree, Vermont, November 10, 1881, to Hattie Maud White, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Julian and Harriett (Burgess) White, both native? of the Empire state. Mrs. Putman died November 21, 1904, being 47 years of age at the time of her death. One child was born to this union, J. Mabel, now the wife of Hugo E. Meilicke, son of Honorable E. J. Meilicke, formerly of Windom. Mr. and Mrs. Meilicke now reside at Dundurn, Canada.

Mr. Putman owns a fine residence in Lakefield, and since the death of his wife his mother makes her home with him that she may have the care of her son in her old age.

OLE O. ENGEN (1868), farmer and thresherman of Chris tiania township, is one of the pioneer settlers of that precinct. He was born in Norway September 19, 1852. His mother, Julia Sivertson, makes her home with her

Ole was brought up on a farm in his native country and in 1866 came to America. He lived in Olmsted county, Minnesota, two years, working as a farm laborer, and then in September, 1868, with his mother and father-inlaw, Thomas Johnson, came to Jackson county. The first winter the family lived in Belmont township, but in the spring of 1869 they moved to Christiania township, Mr. Johnsori taking as a homestead claim eighty acres of the farm on section 26 now owned by our subject.

since. The first house on the place was a combination log and sod shanty with a dirt roof, in which the family lived for several years. During the grasshopper days Mr. Engen went to the eastern counties during the harvest seasons to work to earn money to support the family. When he was still a young man he acquired an interest in the farm and in partnership with his father-in-law conducted it. Mr. Johnson died ten or twelve years ago, and since that time Mr. Engen has been the sole owner and manager. His present farm consists of 180 acres on sections 26 and 35. For the past seventeen or eighteen years he has been engaged in digging wells and since 1875 he has been engaged in the threshing business.

Mr. Engen was married in Christiania township to Carrie Peterson Berge, a native of Olmsted county. She died within a year after her marriage. On child was born to this union, Carol Engen, born November 24, 1878. The second marriage of Mr. Engen occurred in Christiania township December 22, 1880, when he wedded Mary Johnson, who was bom in Norway and who came to the United States in 1869. To this union have been bom the following named children: Gea (Mrs. Alex Elness), of Christiania, born August 23, 1881; Signe (Mrs. Severin Holmen), of Christiania, born March 1, 1887; Thea Olive, who resides at home, born December 6, 1889.

Mr. Engen and family are members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. He served eleven years as clerk of his township, was justice of the peace many years, has been a supervisor and chairman of the board for several vears and was clerk of his school district for several years.

ISAAC G. REED (1870), a farmer who resides in the village of Wilder, is an early day settler of the county and a pioneer of the west. He is a descendant of colonial stock, a history of the Reed family being the authority for the statement that the founder of the American branch of this family came over from England in the Mayflower and settled in Massachusetts. Bezer and Nancy (Lilly) Reed were the parents of our subject and were natives of Massachusetts. They came west in 1852 and from that time until their demise they resided in Dane county, Wisconsin.

of August, 1835. He was brought up on a farm in his native county and in 1851 came west with a married sister and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin. At the time there were no railroads west of Buffalo and he made the trip to his new home by way of the Erie canal and the great lakes to Racine, Wisconsin, and from thence to Dane county overland. His parents came to the same county two years later and with tliem Isaac lived until he became of age.

In 1870 Mr. Reed came to Jackson county and took as a homestead claim the southwest quarter of section 30, Hunter township. Upon that farm he lived until 1898. Then in order to secure better school privileges for his children he moved to Wilder. There he bought land and has since been engaged in farming. While living in Hunter township Mr. Reed held various township offices and since becoming a resident of Wilder he has served as councilman and member of the school board several terms, having been elected a member of the council upon the incorporation of the village. Mr. Reed affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church.

At. Spirit Lake, Iowa, on May 18, 1879, Mr. Reed was married to Sarah A. Tuttle, a native of Iowa. To them have been born the following six children: Linton T., Iva, Isaac G., Rolla T., Harry T. and Verne.

JERRY SULLIVAN (1871) is one of the largest land owners of LaCrosse township as well as one of the township's first settlers. The land holdings of Mr. Sullivan and his brother Alex embrace 1,320 acres, of which Mr. Sullivan alone owns 720 acres. His home farm is on the east half of section 15. He is an extensive feeder of hogs and cattle and a large grain raiser.

Our subject is a native Minnesotan, having been born in Sibley county December 24, 1861. At the age of ten years, in 1871, he accompanied his parents to Jackson county and lived in LaCrosse township. He made his home with his parents until thirty-three years of age, engaging in farming after growing up. After his maniage in 1896, Mr. Sullivan located on his present place, where he has ever since resided. He is a successful farmer and has prospered, as his land holdings would indicate.

Mary (O'Neil) Sullivan, both natives of County Cary, Ireland. They came to America when children and were brought up in Ontario, Canada, where they were married. Later they lived in Chicago, in Galena, Illinois, in Platteville, Wisconsin, and in 1854 located in Sibley county, Minnesota, being the first settlers in that section of the territory. There they homesteaded and resided until 1871. In the last named year they located in Jackson county, ta.king a preemption claim on section 4, La- Crosse township. There they resided until driven out by the grasshoppers in 1878. They moved to St. Paul, and three days after their arrival there, on September 27, 1878, Mr. Sullivan died at the age of 62 years. His widow, ' who is now 87 years of age, makes her home with our subject. There were eleven children in the family, as follows: Eugene, Mary (deceased), Margaret (deceased), Kitty, Nora (deceased), Eliza, Alex and Jerry (twins), Alice Mary and Nellie (deceased).

Mr. Sullivan was married in Heron Lake January 4, 1896, to Emma Beaton. She was bom in Boston, Massachusetts, May 4, 1876, and is the daughter of Roderick and Mary (McCarvel) Beaton. Seven children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, as follows: Mary, Geraldine, Dorothy, Roderick, Genevieve, Elenor and Sylvester J.

Mr. Sullivan and his family are members of the Catholic church of Heron Lake and Mr. Sullivan served six years as a director of the church society. He is a member of the Yeomen lodge. Mr. Sullivan is president of the Farmers State Bank of Heron Lake and of the Farmers Elevator company of the same village. For the past seven years he has served as director and treasurer of his school district and he has held the office of supervisor of his township.

THOMAS J. RUSSELL (1869) is one of the pioneer settlers of Petersburg township, where he has resided forty years. He owns 200 acres of land and is one of the county's successful farmers.

Our subject was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, April 26, 1848, the son of Thomas and Elesebeth (White) Russell. He resided in bis native county until twenty-one years of age, and then came to Jackson county, arriving on the first day of October, 1869. He bought a homestead relinquishment in Petersburg town- ship, on section 18, and engaged in farming, and that has ever since been his home. He encountered many hardships during the grasshopper days, losing four successive crops, bnt he stayed with the country and has come upon prosperous times.

Mr. Russell has taken an active part in local affairs during his long residence in the coimty. He was town supervisor eight years, school clerk 21 years and assessor five years. He has been census enumerator of his precinct three times. He holds stock in the Middletown Telephone company.

NELS HOLSTEN (1862), of Heron Lake township, is one of the few residents of Jackson county now living in the county who were present at the Belmont massacre. He came with his parents a few months before that memorable event, and with the exception of a couple of years spent in northern Iowa because of fear of the redskins he has been a resident of the county ever since.

Holsten Olson, the well known pioneer settler, was the father of Mr. Holsten. He came from Norway in 1833 and settled in northern Illinois. There he married his first wife, who died in 1857, and there he engaged in farming until he came to Jackson county. A year after the death of his first wife Holsten Olson married Ingebor Olson Slaabaken, who is now a resident of Jackson county, making her home with her son, Martin Holsten, in Belmont township. Holsten Olson died in Jackson county October 1, 1893, at the age of 73 years. Nels is the youngest of his father's first family and the only other child living is Mrs. Betsy Thompson. Holsten Olson had six children by his last marriage, of whom the following are living: OIosus, Martin, Edward, Tena and Helen.

Nels was bom in Illinois, near the Wisconsin line, June 25, 1854. He came to the wilds of Jackson county with his father and stepmother in 1862. The Indian attack of August of that year drove them from the county, and refuge was sought at Estherville, Iowa. The family returned to their home in Belmont in October, spent the winter on the frontier, and then fled to Spirit Lake, Iowa, because of threatened Indian uprisings. They came back again in 1864 and located upon the homestead on the northwest quarter of section 34, Belmont township. Nels resided on the home farm until twenty -three years of age; then he started in life for himself, working at various occupations for several years. In 1891 he married and bought his present farm, the southwest quarter of section 24, Heron Lake township, and upon that he has ever since lived. The farm was wild prairie land when he bought it, and all the improvements it now has are the result of his labors.

In Belmont township, on July 2, 1891, Mr. Holsten, was married to Julia Frantsen, who was born on section 12, Belmont township, the daughter of John and Johanna (Halverson) Frantsen. To this union have been bom two children: Harry, born August 23, 1892; Josie, born February 2, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Holsten are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

FRANK WAZLAHOWSKY (1874), one of the early settlers of LaCrosse township, was born in Moravia, Austria, October 10, 1855. His father, Frank W. Wazlahowsky, was born in 1829, came to the United States in 1874, and now makes his home in Owatonna, !Minnesota. The mother of our subject, Josefa (Elgner) Wazlahowsky, was bom in 1828 and died in Jackson county in 1897.

Frank lived in Moravia until he was nineteen years of age. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and he began working in the shop when a child and learned the trade. John Haberman, who came from the same part of Austria as did our subject, had come to America and to Jackson county a year or two before, and it was because of the letters he wrote back that the Wazlahowsky family decided to come to the new world. They came over in 1874, arriving in Jackson county April 30. The father of our subject bought the northeast quarter of section 32, LaCrosse township, and on that place Mr. Wazlahowsky has ever since made his home. A little frame house was built on the place at the start, and in 1878 our subject erected a frame building - a part of his present house.

Until 1878 Frank worked for his father, then he married and engaged in farming for himself, his father giving him eighty acres of the home farm at that time. Later Frank bought the other eighty and has since added to the dimensions of his farm by the purchase of forty acres adjoining. Mr. Wazlahowsky has held the offices of chairman of the township board, supervisor, town clerk, assessor and other offices. He has always taken an active interest in school matters, he and John T. Haberman building the first school house in the district. He was the first clerk of district No. 33 and served many years.

Mr. Wazlahowsky was married in LaCrosse township November 20, 1878, to Annie Belzl, who was born in Moravia, Austria, and who came to the United States in 1876. They have three children, Fred W., Mary T, and John A. The family are members of the Catholic church of Heron Lake.

JOHN J. SMITH (1866), of Jackson, has lived in the county over forty-three years. He is a native of Tompkins county. New York, and has born February 27, 1839, the son of Hiram and Lydia (McGowin) Smith.

When a small boy our subject accompanied his parents from Tompkins county to Chautauqua county. New York, and there he lived until 1858j receiving a common school education. That year he came west, driving from his New York state home to Wisconsin. He lived in the Badger state three years and then enlisted in the First Wisconsin regiment. After serving his term of enlistment he returned home and roenlisted in the 35th Wisconsin regiment and served until April, 1866. He received his discharge in Brownsville, Texas, and from that point the regiment proceeded to Madison, Wisconsin, and disbanded.

Immediately after his discharge from the army Mr. Smith determined to locate upon some of the land in the new countries farther west, and on the eleventh day of June, 1860, he arrived in Jackson county, having made the trip overland. He took a homestead claim in Wisconsin township, three miles southeast of Jackson, and lived thereon eleven years, selling the farm in 1877. He then bought a farm in Wisconsin and Des Moines townships, upon which he resided twenty-one years. He then sold out and moved to Jackson, where he has since resided. Mr. Smith was one of the fijst settlers of Wisconsin township and upon its organization he was made one of the first members of the board of supervisors. He is a member of the G. A. R.

Mr. Smith was married to Anna T. Fields in April, 1862. To these parents have been born the following named children: William E., born April 14, 1863; James Edwin, born August 2, 1869; Helen, born in 1877; Christie, bom February 27, 1879; Susie, bom in 1884; Lydia, born in 1886.

TARJE K. OI^SEN (1873). Among the pioneer settlers of Alba township is the gentleman whose named heads this sketch, he having resided on his present farm for the past thirty-seven years. He owns 480 acres of land and is in prosperous circumstances.

Mr. Olsen was bom in Brigham township, Iowa county, Wisconsin, April 14, 1853. Until May 26, 1873, he lived with his parents and worked on the farm in his native county. On the date last mentioned he came to Jackson county in company with his brother-in-law, E. O. Woien, and his sister, Kisten Woien. Upon his arrival he bought the homestead right to the southeast quarter of section 30, Alba township, from Israel Smith, took up his residence on the place, and in time secured title to the land. At the time of taking possession the only improvements was a 12x12 feet shack. This he rebuilt and lived in until 1882; then he replaced it with a part of his present house, completing tlie building in 1900.

Within a very few davs after his arrival came the first grasshopper visitation. Mr. Olsen did not raise anything that year or for several years afterward, and he was obliged to support himself by working at odd jobs, on the railroad section, and threshing in Martin county. After the hopper days Mr. Olsen came upon prosperous times. He added to his holdings from time to time by purchase until ho now owns 480 acres of land. Of this he farms 320 acres, renting out the rest. Besides his general farming he engages in the raising of high grade cattle and feeds many head of hogs annually for market. He is the manager and secretary of the Farmers Creamery company of Brewster and is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator company of the same village. Mr. Olsen has held a number of local offices during his long residence in Alba township. He was township clerk ten years and has served on the township board. He has held the office of treasurer of school district No. 34 since 1881. He has also served as assessor and road overseer.

The parents of our subject were Knute and Mary (Ness) Olsen. They were born and married in Norway, coming to the United States in 1850, shortly after their marriage, and located in Brigham township, Iowa county, Wisconsin, where they lived until their deaths in recent years. They lived a married life of over sixty years. Mr. Olsen died in 1901 at the age of 85 years; his wife died November 4, 1907, aged 85 years. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom are living: T. K.> Carl, Alec and Adaline.

T. K. Olsen was married in Worthington, Nobles county, May 30, 1879, to Tena Rindy, who was born in Norway November 1, 1860, and came to America in 1868. She is the daughter of John and Susan Rindy. To Mr. and Mrs. Olsen have been born twelve children, of whom the following named eleven are living: John B., born February 25, 1880; Josephine S., born April 29, 1881; Clark M., born October 5, 1882; Cora M., born June 29, 1884; Orville K., born September 24, 1886; Ethel N., born February 8, 1888; Clayton O., born August 18, 1893; Tillie T., born May 26, 1894; Knute E., born August 28, 1896; Hazel M., born June 16, 1900; Paul C, bom July 8, 1903. One daughter, Martha M., died in infancy. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Brewster.

FERDINAND MILBRATH (1876) is one of the pioneer settlers of Rost township and one of the township's most successful farmers. He owns 400 acres of land on sections 18 and 20 and is an extensive farmer. Possessed of almost nothing when he arrived in the county in the early days, he has prospered and has one of the fine farms and fine homes of Rost township.

Ferdinand Milbrath was born in Germany June 17, 1857. At the age of twelve years he accompanied his parents to the new world and located with them at Watertown, Wisconsin.

In 1875 the father of our subject came to Jackson county and took a homestead claim in Rost township. Ferdinand* came to the new home in 1876, but on account of the grasshoppers he did' not remain long, the whole family returning to their old Wisconsin home. In the spring of 1877 he went to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he worked as a day laborer.

In 1880 Mr. Milbrath again came to Jackson county, this time to reside permanently. As a result of his savings from money earned in Fillmore county, he now had a team of horses, some farm tools and $20 in cash. With the money he bought a cow in the village of Jackson while on his way to his mother's home in Rost township. His father had been killed in an accident the year before, and Ferdinand came to assist his mother in caring for the homestead. He resided with his mother until she proved up on the claim; then they sold the place and our subject, in 1881, filed a claim to the northeast quarter of section 18, Rost, having bought a relinquishment to the quarter for $800. On that farm our subject has ever since made his home, having added the other lands by purchase.

In the early days the family dwelling was the usual sod shanty of pioneer times. Later they sold a span of oxen and with the proceeds bought lumber and built a frame houFe, 14x20 feet, Avhich was considered a palace at the time. In 1884 Mr. Milbrath erected one of the largest barns in the vicinity on his own farm. Besides his farming operations Mr. Milbrath is interested in several other lines of business. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' creamery and elevator at Okabena and in the First State Bank of the same village. He is also a stockholder in the Western Implement company. During his long residence in the county he has held many offices of trust within the gift of his neighbors. He was township assessor twenty-seven years, was on the township board a number of times and for four or five years was chairman of the board, was township treasurer several terms and has held a school office ever since the district was organized. He has been treasurer of the school district for the last ten years. Mr. Milbrath is a member of the German Lutheran church and was one of those who organized the Rost township church in 1884.

and located at Watertown, Wisconsin. They came to Jackson county in 1875, homesteaded the northeast quarter of section 32, Rost township. The father met his death August 12, 1879, in an accident while cutting grain with a reaper. He was 54 years of age at the time of his death. His widow proved up on the homestead and afterward made her home with her son. She died April 15, 1895, aged 70 years. They were the parents of five children. Ferdinand Milbrath was married in Rost township December 15, 1881, to Matilda Meister, daughter of Frank and Annie (Pine) Meister, who were the first settlers of Rost township on the west side of the Little Sioux river. Mrs. Milbrath was born in Menominee, Wisconsin, July 31, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Milbrath liave five children, as follows: Frank Edward, born May 7, 1883; Carl Theodore, born October 1, 1885; George Reinhold, born March 27, 1888; Carl August and Anna Clara (twins), bom August 1, 1890, died September 16 and 25, respectively, of the same year; Bertha Louisa, born September 18, 1891; Herminia Hulda Theresa, born October 14, 1894.

Mr. Peterson lived on his homestead a quarter of a century. In 1896 he moved to Heron Lake, where he bought fourteen acres in the north part of town and where he has livni ever since. During his long period of residence in Weimer township Mr. Peterson served in various official capacities. He was chairman of the board of super\isors four years, was assessor sixteen years and was a director and clerk of the school district for several years. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

In Norway on the second day of January, 1862, Mr. Peterson was married to Betsy Gulekson, who was born January 12, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson now live a retired life in Heron Lake, after having spent nearly a half century of married life together. They are the parents of seven living children: Adolph, bom March 29, 1863; Amel; Olof, bom May 16, 1872; Julia (Mrs. Oscar Benson), bom June 8, 1868; Clara (Mrs. Albert Robson), born May 23, 1877; Ella, bom June 9. 1880; Lena (Mrs. Charles Weiland), bom March 24, 1883.

ANDREW PETERSON (1870), who now lives a retired life in Heron Lake, is one of the first settlers of Weimer township and has been a resident of Jackson county for nearly forty years. He was bom in Norway September 19, 1833, the second eldest of a family of five children. His parents were Peter and Bertha Peterson. The former was bom in 1798, came to the United States and to Iowa in 1868, and located in Spring Valley, Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1874. He died at that place aged 84 years. His wife died in Norway in 1866.

Andrew was educated in Norway and learned the shoemaker's trade. He came to the United States in 1866 and located in Fayette county, Iowa. There he resided four years, conducting a farm and working at his trade. In 1870 Mr. Peterson sold his farm and moved to Jackson county, taking as a homestead the iiortheapt quarter of section 22, Weimer township, when the only other permanent residents of the township were Charles Winzer and Nels Moe. During the first summer of their residence in Jackson county Mr Peterson and his familv lived in a stable. Then he built a little log house, 12x16 feet, in which the fam-

JOHN JACOBSON (1872) is one of the pioneer settlers of Christiania township, haying resided on the farm on the bank of Fish lake ever since he was nine years of age. He owns lot five on section 4, consisting of thirty-eight acres.

Mr. Jacobson was bom in Norway January 29, 1863, the son of Jacob Nelson and Mary (Franson) Nelson. His father died when he was a baby, and in 1868 he came to America with his mother, settling in Dane county, Wisconsin. His mother died there in 1872 and thereafter John made his home with his grandfather, John Franson. In June, 1872, he moved with his grandfather to Jackson county, the latter taking as a homestead the land which our subject now owns. There he grew to manhood, receiving a district school education. After the death of his grandfather in 1889 John became the owner of the farm, and upon it lie has ever since lived.

November 24, 1891, Mr. Jacobson was married to Matilda Olson, a native of Norway. To them have been born two children: Clinton M., bora June 22, 1893; Grant E., born April 2, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson are members of the

JENS J. JOHNSON (1870), ex-sheriff of Jackson county and a successful farmer of Delafield township, is oiie of the pioneer settlers of the county. He owns a 120 acre farm in Delafield and Christiania townships, on which he has lived many years.

Mr. Johnson was born in Norway July 21, 1842, and lived in his native land until he was twenty years of age. After becoming old enongh to earn wages he went to work in a saw mill, making his home with his parents until fifteen years old. At that age he was confirmed and until 1859 made his home with a minister. He again took up his residence with his parents and lived with them until he sailed for the United States in 1862. Arriving in the new world, he located at Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin. There he worked two and one-haif years and then he located at Grand Kapids, of the same state, where he worked in a sawmill during the winter and rafting logs during the summer. He again returned to Dane county, where he engaged in farming three years.

In ^1870 Mr. Johnson ca)ne to Jackson county and on October 8 took as a homestead claim the south half of the northeast quarter of section 12, Delafield township. Here he built a house, 14x18 feet, of lumber, in which he and his family lived until it was supplanted by a commodious structure in 1883. In the old shack he passed the early days, fighting grasshoppers and striving to make n living in the devastated country. He planted the groves and has made all the improvements his farm now has.

In 1883 Mr. Johnson conducted a grain elevator at Windom in addition to his farming operations, and in 1887 he moved to Windom, where he engaged in the lumber business ten years. Mr. Johnson was elected sheriff of Jackson county in 1876 and served four years. He has been justice of the peace and clerk of his school district, and was a federal census enumerator in 1880. He is a member of the Nor« wegian Lutheran church and of the A. 0. U. W. lodge.

Our subject is the son of Johannes Nilson and Ingeborg (Peterson) Nilson, who came from Norway in 1873. The former died in Windom April 15, 1892, aged 80 years; the latter died in Jackson county in 1881. Jens is one of a family of eleven children bom to these parents, of whom three are now living.

Mr. Johnson has been married three times. His first marriage occurred at Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, June 30, 1866, when he wedded Mary Peterson. She died October 26, 1860, leaving no children. Mr. Johnson's second marriage occurred September 3, 1870, when he wedded Sarah Johnson, who was born in Norway and who came to America when six years of age. She died April 28, 1890, aged fortythree years. The following named eleven children were born as a result of this union: Julia (Koeford), Mary (Peterson), Oscar E., Carl G., Casper E., Sophia (Barber), Albert B. and Jens E. Mr. Johnson was married to his present wife at Windom, Minnesota, January 13, 1894. She was Mary Ann Nelson, a native of Norway. They have no children.

JAMES R. ROST (1871), blacksmith and dealer in farm machinerv at Lakefield, comes from one of the well known and pioneer families of western Jackson county and is himself a native of the county, having been bom in Rost township December 26, 1871. He is the son of Herman and Augusta (Newman) Rost.

Herman Rost and family came to Jackson county in 1869 and homesteaded the southwest quarter of section 22 in what is now known as Rost township. Frederick Rost, the father of Herman Rost, also came at that early date and homesteaded on section 26, of the same township, and. it was in his honor the township was named. The father of our subject was born in Germany and came to America when nine years of age. He still lives on the homestead he took forty years ago. James is one of a family of five children, named as follows: Mary, James R., Herman A., Reinhart R. and Clara M.

Until he was nineteen years of age James Rost attended the district school and worked on his fathf^r's farm.. He then moved to Lakefield and for four years worked in the blacksmith shop of R. D. Pietz. In 1896 he bought the blacksmith shop of Ernest Tank, and in the fall of the same year moved to the present site, erecting a building, which has since been enlarged until now it covers an area of 42x50 feet. He does a general blacksmithing and repair business and conducts a wagon and machine shop. In 1900 Mr. Rost started in the farm machinerv business in connection with his blacksmith shop and handles a full line of farm machinery, threshing machinery, gasoline and steam engines and automobiles.

Mr. Host was married in the township which bears his name on December 6, 1893, to Ida C. Webber, a native of Rost township and a daughter of August Webber, a pioneer settler.

From 1902 to 1907 Mr. Rost was a member of the Lakefield village council. He has been a member of the Lakefield fire department since December 5, 1902. He was chief for four years and has held the office of treasurer for the past five years. He is a member of the Lutheran church.

CLAUS WIEBENER (1887) owns and farms a half section farm in Sioux Valley township, where he has lived many years. He is a German bv birth and was born July 8, 1865, in the province of Holstein. He spent his early years attending school and helping his father, who was a brick mason by trade.

At the age of nineteen years Claus emigrated to the United States and located in Cedar county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand three years. He came to Jackson county in 1887, V'Orked out in Sioux Valley township* two years, and then bought the northwest quarter of section 29, of that township, and engaged in farming. He made all the improvements on that fram, which was his home until 1904. That year he bought the southwest quarter of section 20 and moved onto his new place. He still owns his old farm and farms the whole half section. Mr. Wiebener raises considerable stock and is an extensive hog feeder. He raised 2,500 bushels of corn during the year 1909. Mr. Wiebener is a member of the German Lutheran church and of the Masonic and Woodmen lodges. He has held a school office during nearly all the time he has lived in the county.

Claus is the youngest of a family of four children, his brothers and sisters being Gretchen, Fritz and John, all living in Oklahoma. His parents were Peter Christian Wiebener and Anna (Struve) Wiebener The former died in Sioux Valley township in 1905, his mother having died in 1895.

Mr. Wiebener was married on his farm in Sioux Valley township in 1894 to Mary Died* erich, who was born in Germany December 12, 1876. They are the parents of the following named seven living children: Christiana, born October 19, 1894; Anna, born October 11, 1896; Marie, born September 6, 1898; Lilly, born April 30, 1901; Harry, born March 12, 1902; Elza, born September 19, 19U7; Christina, born St?ptember 8, 1908. One child, Claus, has died.

WILLIAM PETER (1870) is a homesteader of Weimer township and one of the oldest settlers of that precinct, haWng resided on his present farm continuously for nearly forty years. He is a German by birth, having been bom in the fatherland April 25, 1848, the son of August and Catherine (Matthews) Peter.

At the age of five years William accompanied his parents to the new world and grew to manhood in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, which was his home until he came to Jackson county in 1870. In 1866, at the age of eighteen years, Mr. Peter enlisted in the regular army for frontier service and served an enlistment of three years and six months. The first year of this service was in Arkansas, where troops were stationed to preserve order during the turbulent times following the civil war. The next year was spent in Kansas and Colorado, acting as a detail to escort mail stages over the plains and protect them from the ' Indians. Nine months were spent in the command of General Brooks, who subjugated the roving bands of Navajo Indians, captured seven thousand of them and placed them on reservations in Mexico and Arizona. After his service in the army Mr. Peter was for a time employed as a government mail carrier on the plains of eastern Arizona and New Mexico, between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

Returning to his old Wisconsin home from the western frontier, Mr. Peter soon decided to make a home for himself in some new country, and being then of age decided to take up government land and engage in farming. In 1870 he arrived in Jackson county and at once filed a homestead claim to the northwest quarler of section 26, Weimer township, where he has ever since resided. The land at the time was, of course, raw prairie and he has made all the improvements on the place. He encountered many hardships in the early days, but successfullv weathered the terrible times, and is today in prosperous circumstances. He owns an eighty acre tract adjoining his homestead,

Mr. Peter was married in Jackson county in February, 1875, to Kate Dobriner, who was born in Germany in 1857. To this union have been born nine children, of whom the following eight are living: John, William, Eddie, Arthur, Katie, Minnie, Etta and Bertie.

Mr. Peter is one of the members of Weimer township's board of supervisors. He has also served as a director of school district No. 30 and as road overseer. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank of Wilder and of the Farmers Elevator company of Heron Lake. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Heron Lake and of the M. W. A. and Degree of Honor lodges.

CHARLES W. ROST (1870), of Petersburg township, is one of the early settlers of Jackson county and one of the very first in Rost township, which was named after the family. He is of German birth and first saw the light of day October 18, 1844. His parents, Frederick and Rika (Reitz) Rost, are both deceased.

Charles Rost came to America with his parents when a child, and imtil the year 1860 lived with them in Dodge county, Wisconsin, forty miles west of Milwaukee. From the age of sixteen years until he was twenty-six he engaged in farming. In the early summer of 1870 Charles accompanied his parents on their overland trip to Minnesota and arrived in the county of Jackson, in June. They passed through the county and camped one night on the banks of Okabena lake at a point which is now the center of the village of Worthington. There they decided to turn back and locate at a point on the Little Sioux river which they had passed on their way west, and this they did, taking a claim in what is now Rost township. The nearest neighbor the family had lived seven miles away.

During these pioneer days Mr. Rost suffered all the trials of the pioneer settlers. During grasshopper times he suffered severely. He would buy grain each year, plant it, and then would come the grasshoppers and take everything. On season he had a fine ten acre field of barley which he inspected one Sunday. By Monday noon it had entirely disappeared, having been eaten by the ravenwis pests. Many stories of the doings of these pests are told by Mr. Rost - how they would dull the edges of scythes and other sharp instruments left exposed, eat holes in the women's dresses while making a trip to the neighbors, and make the dogs and chickens seek shelter from their onslaughts.

Mr. Rost made his home in Rost township until 1903. He then moved to Martin county, but after a residence there of three years returned and located in Petersburg township, where he has since lived. He now lives a retired life, leaving the working of the farm to his sons. During his residence in Rost he served on the township board twenty years. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.

OLE J. OLSON (1862). There are few residents of Jackson county who have a period of continuous residence of greater length than Ole J. Olson, of this sketch, who owns a farm on sections 34 and 35, Belmont township. He is the son of John Olson and Anna (Ellingson) Olson, wbose arrival in the county and adventures in this frontier region have been told in the historical part of this volume.

John and Anna Olson were born in Tolen, Norway, and soon after their marriage in 1851 they came to America. They resided in Rock county, Wisconsin, several years, and came to Jackson county in 1862, where they took a homestead - the land upon which the son now resides. John Olson died in 1879. His wife, who is now 84 years of age, resides with her son on the old homestead. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are now living, as follows: Christie, Anna, Lena (Mrs. P. H. Berge), of Jackson; Ole J., Peter J., Petria (Mrs. Louis Ellingson), of Polk county, Wisconsin; Mrs. Ingebor Hoaas, deceased; Peter, deceased.

and in 1862 he was brought to Jackson county. The head of the family homesteaded the south half of the southeast quarter of section 34, land which had included part of the old Belmont townsite, and on that place Ole J. Olson has ever since resided^ excepting one year. For many years the family home was in a log cabin which had been erected by the townsite boomers. Soon after their arrival to the frontier country came the terrible Sioux war and the Belmont massacre. The family were on the west side of the river on that memorable Sunday and escaped the slaughter that took many of their neighbors. One of Ole's uncles was killed and a cousin was badly wounded and left for dead.

After the massacre the family fled south and for a year lived at Spirit Lake. Then they returned to Belmont. Ole was a member of the party which met disaster in a prairie fire on the return while near the present village of Jackson, a detailed account ot which is to be found in the historical section of this volume. He continued to make his home with his parents and as a child and young man encountered many hardships and adventures incident to the settlement of a new country. After his father's death in 1879 Mr. Olson conducted the farm a few years for his mother and then bought the place and has since operated it on his own account. Mr. Olson has never married. He makes his home with his mother and a sister. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

PETER E. FREER (1874), of Heron Lake, is an early day settler of western Jackson county. He is the son of Johannes D. and Ann-E. (Hasbrook) Freer, descended from pioneer New York state stock, the family originally coming from Germany in colonial days. The mother of our subject was a cousin of John Jacob Astor, the founder of the American branch of the Astor familv. The father of our subject moved from New York state, to Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1856, and settled with his family at Frankville. There he erected and conducted a flouring mill seven or eight years. Later he engaged in farming in Winneshiek county, and in 1874 came to Jackson county and homesteaded in Alba township. He located in Heron Lake in 1889 and died in that village in 1894 at the age of 78 years. His wife die4 ip ISO^i aged 78 years,

Peter E. Freer, the fourth child of this family, was born in Ulster county, New York. He accompanied his parents to Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1856 when eight years of age, and in that county he grew to manhood, receiving his education and working on his father's farm and in the flouring mill at Frankville. He came with the family to Jackson county in 1874 and took a homestead claim in Alba township. He remained on the homestead until the fall of 1879, and then took a position as brakeroan on the St. Paul and Sioux City railroad, running between Heron Lake and Woodstock. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Freer took a position in the tow mill of J. T. Smith, and operated one of the brakes in the mill the following winter. In the Summer of 1881 he was employed on the large farm of Hugh Paul, and that fall operated a threshing machine.

Mr. Freer went to St. Paul in the spring of 1882 and for three months was engaged in teaming there. He was in White Bear Lake for a time and then returned to Jackson county, locating in Heron Lake. In partnership with his brother, W. S. Freer, he rented the Pioneer House, which he conducted for a number of years. He also conducted the Chapman House livery barn until the spring of 1884. Returning to the farm that year, he engaged in agricultural pursuits until the fall of 1889; then he moved to Heron Lake, rented the Pioneer House from his brother Walter, and conducted it eleven years. Thereafter until the spring of 1909 he engaged in teaming in Heron Lake. On that date he rented the Waver Tree hotel, which he conducted until the fall of 1909. Mr. Freer owns his home in the village of Heron Lake. During his residence in Alba township Mr. Freer served two terms as treasurer of his precinct.

Mr, Freer was married to Maggie Golda in Heron Lake March 7, 1893. She was born in Germany and came to America with her father, Joseph Golda, when one year old. They have six children: Milton S., bom February 11, 18945 Merlin M., born July 26, 1896; Maud

PETER BURRESON (1874), whose farm lies in Des Moines township a short distance northwest of the village of Jackson, is a native of the county, having been born on the farm he now conducts November 21, 1874. His parents, William Burreson and Christie (Olson) Burreson, were among the very earlie<^t of the settlers of Jackson county. They were born in Norway and came to Jackson county in 1860 with the vanguard of the Norwegian settlefs and were living in the county at the time of the Indian massacre of 1862. William Burreson and his wife etill live on the old homestead he took in 1860. Eleven children were born to them, of whom the following seven are li\nng: Burr, Emery, Peter, Belle, Bedena, Obena and Annie.

Peter Burreson attended the Jackson county district schools and grew to manhood on his father's farm. Until he was twenty-three years of age he worked for his father; then he Fented the home place on sections 14 and 11 and engaged in farming for himself. In 1909 he bought eighty acres of his father's farm. His place is known as the "Fairview Farm."

JOHN A. MANSFIELD (1904), county attorney of Jackson county, resides at Lakefield. He is a native Minnesotan, having been born at Mankato July 12, 1879. His father, Charles Mansfield, was of English origin and came to Mankato in 1856. He died there in 1884, aged 50 years. The mother of our subject, Louisa (Burchard) Mansfield, is of German birth. She still resides in Mankato.

John A. Mansfield grew to manhood in his native city and was graduated from the high school there in 1890. He then took a three years' course in the law department of the Michigan state university and later read law in the office of Pfau & Pfau, Mankato. In 1903 he began the practice of his profession at Park Rapids, Minnesota, and in the spring of 1904 located at Lakefield, where he has since resided. He was elected county attorney on the republican ticket in 1908 and assumed the duties of that office at the beginning of the year 1909.

field served as a member of company A, of tht Twelfth Minnesota volunteer infantry, and was stationed with his regiment at Chickamauga, Georgia. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the M. W. A. and I. 0. O. F. lodges.

JOHN A. SPAFFORD (1872), farmer and storekeeper of Ewington township and formerly postmaster of SpofTord postoffice, is one of the oldest residents of his precinct. He is one of the best known residents of western Jackson county and a man who has taken an active part in the business, social and political affairs of the community in which he has lived so long.

]Mr. Spafford descends from one of the oldest families of America. For several centuries before the American family was founded the Spaffords, or Spoffords, as the name was originally spelled, were a people of high rank in England. So early as 1066 we find the name in the Doomsday Book, which is a book of record of the lands of England as parcelled out after the conquet of William, Duke of Normandy. The American branch of the family was founded by John Spofford, who came to America in 1638 with a colony under the leadership of Rev. Ezekiel Rogers. The colony was composed of many families from Yorksliire and made settlement in April, 1639, between Newbury and Ipswich, in Massachusetts. The name of John Spofford appears on the record of the first division of lands into homestead lots, which was made in 1643. His lot consisted of one and one-half acres, and was located on Bradford street, so called, near the center of the present town of Rowley. In the i?pring of 1669 he moved to Spofford's Hill, in "the west part of the town, and he was without doubt the first settler of Georgtown and the progenitor of all of the name in the United States and Canada. His wife was Elizabeth Scott, who came to America in the ship Elizabeth in 1634, when nine years of age.

The John A. Spafford of this sketch belongs to the eighth generation in this descent. One of the sons of the original John Spofford was also named John. He lived on the site of the original settlement on Spofford's Hill, in what is now (Jeorgetown, Massachusetts, where he died April 27, 1696. Jonathani son of John, was a resident of Rowley, where lie died January 16, 1772, aged 89 years. Jacob, son of Jonathan, emigrated to Salisbury, Connecticut, where he lived for many years, and where he died. Colonel Solomon Spaflford was a son of Jacob Spafford. He moved from Connecticut to Hallowell, Canada, at which place he died February 2, 1837. One of the sojis of Colonel Solomon Spafford, was Tra Spafford, who was born in Vermont, emigrated with his father to Canada, and settled at Hallowell, now Athol. One of his sons was Heraan Spafford, the father of the subject of this sketch. Heman Spafford was born in Prince Edward county, Ontario, Canada, February 8, 1805, and died in Picton, Prince Edward county, August 26, 1876. He was married to Cecelia Abrams, who was born in Ireland in 1812, and died in Bloom - ington, Illinois, June 14, 1894.

To Heman and Cecelia Spafford was born John A. Spafford. His birthplace was Picton, Prince Edward county, Ontario, and the date of his birth was August 20, 1837. In his native county he grew to manhood. His early life was spent in securing a common school education and in working on the farm. When twenty- four years of age he left home and sought his fortune in the west. He departed from his native town on the 15th of April, 1861, and arrived in Cliicago three days later. There he secured employment in the grain commission house of Baker & Spafford, for which firm he worked two years. In August, 1863, . Mr. Spafford moved to Wapella, DeWitt county, Illinois, where for two years he was grain buyer for a Chicago commission house.

During those two years he made considerable money but owing to a general collapse in prices at the close of the civil war, he lost it all, and what was still worse he found himself considerably in debt. During the winter of 1865 he was engaged in buying and sacking corn and oats for the commissary department of the government through a subagent, who, at the close of the war, found himself over-stocked with grain for which the government would have no use. Mr. Spafford had contracted for much grain from the farmers, advancing some money on each lot, and when the deimrtment's demand was cutoff, and the markets in the large grain centers tumbled fifty per cent or more, there was nothing left for him to do but take in the contracted grain at former prices, to-wit: 65 to

70 cents per bushel for oats and 75 to 80 cents per bushel for corn, and put it on the Chicago market at 30 to 40 cents per bushel. In this deal his fortune was swept away, and for six or seven years he knocked about at various occupations until his removal to Jackson county.

With the rush of homoseekers to southwestern Minnesota in the spring of 1872 came Mr. Spafford, the date of his arrival being May 9. For a time he made his home in the new town of Worthington, engaging in teaming for I. N. Sater, the pioneer lumber dealer, and other business men. In June he filed a homestead claim to the nortliwest quarter of section 26, in Ewington township which is now his home. Three months later he returned to his old home in Illinois, straightened out his business affairs there, and on October 6 returned with his family. He lived in Worthington until the spring of 1873, and then moved onto his homestead. He began farming then, but the grasshoppers took nearly everything, and late in the fall of 1875 he was forced to return to Worthington and seek employment. He secured work in the flouring mill, in the fall of 1876 being promoted to the office of head bookkeeper. His residence was in Worthington about a year and a half, and then he returned to the far* which has been his home ever since.

Mr. Spafford holds a record as a township officer which is equaled by few men. With the exception of the first year he has held a township office ever since Ewington township was organized. He was elected town clerk in 1881 and held the office for twentyfive consecutive years, finally giving up the office in 1906. Still longer service has he seen in the school district. When the district was organized in 1875 he was elected to the office of treasurer and a few years later to that of clerk, which he held for a continuous service of thirty-three years. Besides the offices mentioned he has been township assessor, member of the board of supervisors, and for a short time was chairman of the board.

In 1894 Mr. Spafford applied to the postoffice department for an office to be located on his farm. He was successful in his efforts, and in September of that year the office, named Spofford in his honor (although the name was incorrectly spelled), was put in operation, with Mr. Spafford as postmaster. The next year he opened a general store and operated it in connection with the office. He continued this LuHiness six years, and then sold out the store and resigned the postraastefship. In the spring of 1909 Mr. Spafford again engaged in the mercantile business, opening a store on his farm in April.

Mr. Spafford was married in Bloomington, Ulinois, April 5, 1865, to Mary Stoutz, daughter of George Stoutz, a coach builder in shops of the Chicago & Alton Railway company. To this union have been born seven children as follows: Edith Cecelia (Mrs. Joel Edward White), Aberdeen, South Dakota; George Walter, Ewington township; William Charles (died in 1874, aged four and one-half years) ; Frank Addison, Ewington township; Clara Augusta (Mrs. Robert Edward Davis), Worthington; Emma Elizabeth (Mrs. Charles E. Gehrke), Ewington township; John Heman, Ewingtpn township.

Mr. and Mrs. Spafford were both charter members of the Methodist church of Worthington, having brought letters from their church in Illinois.