Jackson County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 1 of 13)

Biographical sketches

CAPTAIN JAREB PALMER, (1866).* To Captain Jareb Palmer, of Lakefield, belongs the honor of being the oldest settler of Jackson county now living in the county. It was only a few months after the first white man established a home here fifty-three years ago that Jareb Palmer came and took part in the stirring events that marked the efforts of a little band of pioneers to establish a settlement along the Des Moines river near the spot where the village of Jackson now stands. In the annals of frontier settlement and Indian warfare there are few instances of intense suffering and thrilling events as characterized the attempts of the little band of men, women and children to obtain a foothold in the Indian country along the upper Des Moines river, and Jareb Palmer was one of the principal actors in these events. When the Indians swooped down on the settlement in the early spring of 1357 and enacted the terrible butchery of the Springfield massacre - Minnesota's first Indian massacre - it was Jareb Palmer who rallied the terror stricken settlers and directed the fighting that prevented the total annihilation of the settlement as was the case at Spirit Lake - and it was- Jareb Palmer who led the refugees to safety after the massacre.

Not only did this pioneer play such an important part in the early days of Jackson county's history, he preserved the details of the massacre and the less tragic events for future generations. He has written much concerning the early days of Jackson county and he has been referred to as the "historian of Jackson county." To him the author of this volume is under many obligations for data used in its preparation. Had it not been for )iis writings this history of Jackson county must have lacked many of its most interesting features.

The life story of Captain Jareb Palmer is one of interest. He was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, February 29, 1828, descending from old American stock* His parents were Nathan and Matilda (Griffin) Palmer. Nathan Palmer was born in Vermont June 12, 1800, and moved with his parents to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, at the age of thirteen years. In 1836 he located in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming, trapping and hunting. He died in Tioga county in April, 1885. Matilda (Griffin) Palmer was bom and married in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and died in Tioga county in 1858. They were the parents of eleven children, Jareb being the third in line of age and the eldest of the four now living. The living children are: Eber, of Clear Lake, Iowa; David, of Jenny Lind, Arkansas; Jareb, of this sketch; Mrs. Anna Thomas, of Tioga county, Pennsylvania. The father of our subject was married again in the early sixties to Elizabeth Grey, who was born in Delaware^ county, New York, and who died in 1907. Two children were bom as a result of this marriage: U. G. Palmer, a state senator of Maryland; Jessie, deceased.

Jareb Palmer lived with his parents in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, until he was eight years of age and then moved with them to Union township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. Upon his father's farm in that township he was brought up, making his home with his parents until 1851. From 1851 to 1854 Mr. Palmer engaged in farming and teaching school near his old home. In April, 1854^ he came west, lived \yith an uncle at Cedar Falls, Iowa, one year, and then located at Webster City, Iowa, where he made his home until November, 1856.

In company with Nathaniel Frost and Bartholomew McCarthy, Mr. Palmer drove to tlie little settlement that had just been founded and named Springfield in the southern part of Brown county, territory of Minnesota, arriving during the month of November, 1856 The headquarters of this settlement was at a point within the present corporate limits of the village of Jackson. Although the land was then unsurveyed and no provision had been made to secure title to the lands, Mr. Palmer took a claim by "squatter's right" on what is now section 1, of MSddletown township, and erected a little cabin thereon. He did not live on the claim during the following winter, but made his hohic with a neighboring family, engaged in working for the Wood brothers and other settlers. It is not necessary to repeat here the story of the memorable massacre of March 26, 1857, that led to the abandonment of Jackson county. Mr. Palmer left with the others and sought safety in the older settled portions of the country to the south. For a few months after the massacre Mr. Palmer lived in Hardin county, Iowa, witli the family of the uncle who had formerly lived at Cedar Falls, and then again pushed out to the frontier, locating at Spirit Lake.

On November 11, 1857, Mr. Palmer took a contract from a sub-contractor to carry the United States mail between Spirit Lake and Sioux City. He made the first three trips on foot, using that mode of travel because of the snow blockades; each trip took about ten days' time. On the third trip, while passing through Clay county, Iowa, a small band of Indians was encountered, and Mr. Palmer became one of a company of eleven men, who set' out with the determination of driving the redskins from the country. The whites had an unsuccessful encounter with the Indians and were forced to retreat. After this interesting divergence from his official duties Mr. Palmer continued on his way. He served in the capacity of mail carrier until the following spring.

The encounter with the Indians referred to above caused the white settlers of Spirit Lake and other exposed settlements great uneasiness and there was fear that the Indian trou-

They accordingly drew up a petition to present to the Iowa legislature asking for the enlistment of state troops to protect the frontier. Jareb Palmer was chosen to take this petition to the Iowa law making body, and through his presentation of the case the necessary law was passed and Mr. Palmer was authorized to recruit a company of thirty mounted men. This he did, enlisting himself as one of the number of the "Frontier Guard." The command was divided into three squads and stationed in Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. The guards were in active service until July, 1858, and were then temporarily out of service until that fall. Then they were again called into active duty and served until May, 1859.

After the discharge of the Frontier Guards Mr. Palmer organized another small cavalry company upon the order of the governor of Iowa and was elected and commissioned captain. He led his little command of soldiers on several scouting expeditions and made possible the settlement of the frontier regions. They did no lighting and served without pay until their discharge in 1861.

Owing to the massacre of two citizens of Sioux City by Sioux Indians in July, 1861, a scare was created throughout the whole northwest. Sioux City was then a little village of 300 or 400 people, and for its protection and the other exposed settlements the war department at W^ashington authorized the organization of a special company of United States soldiers. Mr. Palmer went to Sioux City and enlisted as a private in this company November 14, 1861, and served a three years' enlistment. This special company was first known as the Sioux City cavalry; later it was made company I, of the Seventh Iowa cavalry It served as a frontier guard to the exposed settlements of Iowa and was in a several months' campaign against the Indians along the Missouri river, going as far north as nearly to Bismarck. Mr. Palmer took part with his company in the battle of White Stone Hill, where the savages suffered a loss of twenty or thirty killed and all their camp" equipment. The company served as Brigadier General Sully's body guard in this battle. Mr. Palmer received his discharge November 26, 1864. -

After his army service Jareb Palmer located in Spirit Lake, where he resided until 1871. That year he again became a resident of Jackbles of the year before were to be repcfitedt son county, taking a preemption claim to the northeast quarter of section 12, Sioux Valley township. He ^gaged in farming that land until the spring of 1882, when he moved to Rost township and bought the northeast quarter of section 26. He continued his farming operations in Rost until 1895, when he retired from active pursuits and located in the village of Lakefield.

During his residence in Iowa Captain Palmer served as county superintendent of schools, prosecuting attorney, clerk of court and chairman of the county board of supervisors. He was also assistant internal revenue collector from 1866 to 1870. After moving to Jackson county he served as township clerk and justice of the peace. He has served as village justice in Lakefield for the last eleven years. In 1892 he received the republican nomination for register of deeds, but was defeated by John Baldwin. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Grand Army post at Jackson.

Jareb Palmer has been twice married and he is the father of seven living children, as follows: Mrs. Louise Strait, of Tennessee; Nathan J., Herbert C. and Bennie C, all of Glenburn, North Dakota; Mrs. Minerva B. Ware, of Bismarck, North Dakota; John G., of Echo, Minnesota; Francis L., of Lakefield.

WILLIAM WOOD (1856), deceased. The first white man to make a permanent home in Jackson county was William Wood, who came during the month of July, 1856, and in partnership with his brother, George Wood, built a home and established a trading post on the Des Moines river where the village of Jackson is now located. Here also, in a primitive way, they laid out a townsite, which they called Springfield. As the story of the lives of William and George Wood after they came to Jackson county is told in an earlier part of this work, this sketch will briefly outline their earlier history.

William Wood was one of a family of fifteen children born to Samuel and Elizabeth (Thomson) Wood, and the date of his birth was about 1830. He descended from colonial stock. One of his ancestors was a Holland Dutch patroon of the then New Netherlands; another was Smith Thompson, secretary of the navy and a judge of the supreme court; his paternal grandfather, James Wood, was a revolutionary soldier, his maternal grandfather, Smith ThompscHi, was a veteran of the war of 1812.

The father of William and George Wood died in 1847, leaving his wife and a large family of children. Being thus early thrown upon his own resources, William Wood became self-reliant. Early in the fifties he Jeft his mother's home in Ridgeville, Randolph county, Indiana, and located at the little village of Mankato, Minnesota, where he took a position as Indian trader with Robert Wardlow, a merchant. WJiile engaged in his work he had occasion to visit the Des Moines river country and selected the site now occupied by Jackson village as a place to make his future home.

During the month of July, 1856, William Wood, accompanied by his brothers, George Charles, came to the site, engaged in business with a small stock of Indian trinkets and supplies, and made his home there until he was killed by the Indians in the massacre of March, 1857.

George McElroy Wood, who also took a prominent part in the affairs of the little community about Springfield before the massacre, was born in 1827. After his father's death he became the head of the family and assisted his mother in supporting the family in various ways. He engaged in school teaching, which in that earlv dav and countrv was considered quite an accomplishment. He was a religious and serious minded young man and was devoted to church and Sabbath school work. He came to Jackson countv with his brother in 1856 and was killed on the same day his brother met his fate. Both brothers were buried where they fell.

Charles Wood, the younger brother who also came in the fall of 1856, was sixteen or seventeen years of age at that time. He had gone to Mankato a few days before the massacre and so escaped the fate of his brothers. He later enlisted and fought for the union cause during the war of the rebellion, meeting his death at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in the line of duty. Five of the Wood boys took part in the war.

JAMES B. THOMAS (1856), deceased. In the account of the early settlement of Jackson county and of the Springfield massacre, in an earlier part of this work, is frequent mention of James B. Thomas, at whose cabin occurred the fight with the Indians during the

James B. Thomas was bom in Licking county, Ohio, in the year 1813. In that county he was brought up and resided until he was twenty-six years of age. Then he located in Cass county, Illinois, where he engaged in the milling business and where he was married. Three years after making his home in Illinois he moved to Iowa and settled near Fairfield, in Jefferson county. A few years later he and his family pushed out farther onto the frontier, locating near Webster City. There he bought and improved an eighty acre farm and prospered financially, working at the millwright's trade while improving the farm.

In the year 1850 Mr. Thomas sold his farm in Iowa and came to that part of Brown county, Minnesota, which is now Jackson county and settled with his family near the "town" of Springfield. There he staked a claim (located on the east side of the river at Jackson), built one of the best cabins in the settlement, and started in to make a new home for himself. At the massacre on March 2G, 1867, his youngest child, Willie, was killed outright, Mr. Thomas received a severe wound in the arm which necessitated two amputations, and from the effect of which he died in 1866, and in escaping from the scene of the fight his little daughter Mary contracted a cold which resulted in her death six weeks later.

Mr. Thomas and his family did not return to Jackson county, but located near Marshalltown, Iowa, where he secured a 160 acre farm and where he died in 1866.

Mr. Thomas was married in Cass county, Illinois, to Irma A. Clark, who was bom November 22, 1824. They were the parents of several children. One son, Frank M. Thomas, who has before been mentioned in connection with the massacre, later, at the age of nineteen years, enlisted in the Second Iowa cavalry and served two years in the war. He was wounded in the left ankle and the limb was amputated in Andersonville prison. Blood poison set in, resulting in his death in 1873. The Grand -^my Post at Marshalltown, Iowa, was named in his honor.

county, having located here when the country was a part of Brown county. He took part in many of the stirring events of the early days and after the county became settled became a prominent citizen.

Mr. Frost was born in Pipe Creek, Tioga county, New York, January 14, 1832. During the first year of his life the family moved to Covington, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and there our subject spent his youth and early manhood. In 1864 he came west, locating in Michigan, where he lived eight months. He then moved to Hardin county, Iowa, where he lived nearly two years. Going to Webster City in Hamilton county, Mr. Frost met an old friend, Jareb Palmer, and with him drove to the future Jackson county, settling near the present site of the village of Jackson. He arrived in the county in company with Jareb Palmer and Bartholomew McCarthy on the twenty-seventh day of November, 186^ Some of the life history of Mr. Frost during these early days is told in the historical section of this work, and in a brief biographical sketch of this kind we can only touch on the principal events.

The massacre of 1867 drove Mr. Frost temporarily from the county. In 1862 he enlisted in company K, of the Fourth Minnesota volunteer infantry. He was ordered to St. Louis, where he was about two years. After his term of enlistment had expired he reenlisted as a veteran and served until the close of the war. He took part in sixteen important engagements of the civil war and was with General Sherman on the march to the sea. With the exception of the four years spent in the army, two years spent at Kasota, Minnesota, and four years in Caldwell county, Missouri, Mr. Frost was a resident of the county until his death, which occurred at Jackson, December 21, 1899.

Mr. Frost was married January 2, 1861, to Maryette Root, of Benson, Vermont, and to them were born three children: Flora J. (Mrs. Wagner), John and Moses.

JOSEPH THOMAS (1868), deceased. For a number of years, in the very early history of Jackson county, there was one man knowii far and wide, who could have justly claimed title to being the "most prominent'' man in Jackson county. This was Joseph Thomas, who came to the county in 1868 and settled on what has ever since been known as Thomas hill, on the east side of the Des Moines river in the village of Jackson. For years he was the only business man in Jackson county, during the time when there was not a railroad or a town in the county. He kept a hotel and postoffice on the hill, and to his place came all who were passing through the country. The hospitality of Joseph Thomas and his estimable wife were known far and wide. He played a prominent part in the county's early history.

Mr. Thomas was born in New Jersey in 1810, and after several westward moves came to Jackson county in the spring of 1858. He and his son and one or two others drove up from Newton, Iowa, carrying their own bridges with which to cross the streams. He selected a site for his home, upon which was a desert* ed log cabin. The small children were brought up to the new home in 1859, and a permanent home was established. Mr. Thomas conducted a hotel for the accommodation of the few travelers, and a little later secured the establishment of a postoffice, of which he was the postmaster.

He and his family were obliged to desert their home in 1862 on account of the Indian massacre and subsequent hostility of the savages, and for a time he lived in Spirit Lake. Mr. Thomas continued to reside at the old home until his death, which occurred February 28, 1891.

JAMES E. PALMER (1858), deceased, was one of the very early settlers of Jackson county, having settled in the county nearly fifty-two years ago. He was bom in the state of Connecticut July 27, 1832, and in an early day moved with his parents to Pecatonica, Illinois, later moving to Freeport, HIinois.

In the fifties Mr. Palmer took up his residence at Newton, Iowa, and in the spring of 1858 came to the new Jackson county country. He settled upon land upon which a part of the village of Jackson is now built and continuously lived in that >illage until his death on May 1, 1896. This was with the exception of two years spent in Spirit Lake during the Indian troubles of the* early sixties. Mr. Palmer served as surveyor of Jackson county twenty-five years.

OLE ANDERSON (1861). There are only a few people living in Jackson county whose arrival antedates that of Ole Anderson, of Jackson. For nearly fifty years he has lived in the county, playing a part in many of the events described in the historical section of this volume. More than any person living is he acquainted with the details of the early Norwegian settlement of Jackson county and the terrible times during and succeeding the Belmont massacre of 1862. He has always taken an interest in preserving the accoimts of the early times, and except for his interest in the matter, much' of historical interest contained in this volume qiust have remained unrecorded. It was largely through Mr. Anderson's persistence in demanding an appropriation from the Minnesota legislature that the handsome shaft in memory of the kille<l in the Indian massacres has recently been erected in the village of Jackson.

Mr. Anderson was bom in Norway June 11, 1852, the son of Anders Olson and Annie (Engebretson) Olson. When five years of age he came to America with his parents and located at Spring Grove, Houston county, Minnesota, where he lived until the spring of

1861. In the month of June of that year he arrived in Jackson county, the family having driven through by ox team. The head of the family preempted a claim on section 3, Des Moines township, and on that place the family lived imtil the following summer, Anders Olson having died there in April, 1862.

1862, and the Olson family, together with all other residents of Jackson county, were forced to flee for their lives. Ole, accompanied by his mother and three sisters, returned to their old home in Houston county. After hurriedly leaving their home in Jackson county they stopped for a short time in Estherville, Iowa, - long enough for some of them to come back and secure their personal efl'ects, which had been left. After securing these, they resumed their journey, making the trip by ox team and deviating considerable from a direct course because of fear of Indians, who were supposed

The family remained in Houston county until the spring of 1864 and then returned to Jackson county, being the first and only family in the county at the time. They located on the land claim Mr. Olson had taken and the- mother of our subject proved up on the place. Ole made his home with his mother until 1866, when he w^as fourteen years of age. Then his mother remarried and he started out in life for himself. From that time until his marriage in January, 1872, he made his living by hunting, fishing, trapping and teaming.

After his marriage Mr. Anderson moved onto his mother's old claim, built a house on it and engaged in farming. There he remained until 1880, with the exception of eighteen months during the grasshopper times, when he lived in Capron, Boone county, Illinois. His health failed in 1880 and he was obliged to give up farm work. He then located in Lakefield, then just founded, where he resided two years. In 1882 he bought a farm on section

16, Des Moines township, where he engaged in farming until he was elected sheriff of Jackson coiuity in 1892. Then he moved to Jackson, where he has since lived, having been engaged in several different business enterprises.

Anders Olson, the father of our subject, was a shoemaker in his native land. He came to America in 1857, lived in Houston county, Minnesota, until 1861, and then came to Jackson county. He enlisted in the union army in 1861 and served until his death, which occurred in hospital at St. Louis, Missouri, in the spring of 1862. His widow remarried and lived in Jackson county until her death, which occurred in 1904 at the age of 84 years. There were four children in the family: Bertha, Christina, Bertha and Ole, of whom the first two named are dead.

17, 1847. Her parents were Hans and Eliza ^Triam) Hanson, who were born in Norway and who came to America before their marriage and settled in the (then) village of Chicago. They were married in Chicago, later moved to Boone county, Illinois, where they died.

five children, all born in Jackson county. They are: Ella (Mrs. C. A. Stromme), of Kenyon, Minnesota, born December 4, 1872; Hannah (Mrs. A. B. Frederickson), of Balfour, North Dakota, born September 30, 1874; Hattie (Mrs. F. A. Brown), of Fairmont, Minnesota, born September 25, 1878; Wallace, who is married and a resident of Wilbur, Washington, born August 25, 1881; Pearl, who resides at home, born January 31, 1887.

SIMON OLSON (1861), deceased, was one of the pioneers of the county and a gentleman worthy a place in its history. He was born in Tolgen, Norway, June 14, 1837, and came to America in 1856. From that date until 1861 he lived at Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin.

In the spring of 1861 Mr. Olson, in company* with a colony of Norwegian settlers^ came to Jackson county, then very sparsely settled, and took a homestead in Belmont township. In the summer of 1861 he enlisted in Brackett's battalion of the Second Minnesota and served in the army nine months.

He again took up his residence in Belmont in 1862, only to be driven out in August by the Indians. He went to Spring Grove, Houston county, Minnesota, in 1863, was married there, and came back to his former home in Belmont in 1864, being with the first party to return to Jackson county after the ma8- sacre. Mr. Olson engaged in farming from that date until his death on April 27, 1907. During his long residence in the county he held several offices of trust, among them being county commissioner and judge of the probate court.

Judge Olson was married at Spring Grove, Houston county, Minnesota, in 1868, to Bertha Olson. She died April 17, 1877, and in 1883 he married Anna Minde. He was the father of ten children.

HOG AN GILBERT (1864). There are very few residents of Jackson county whose arrival antedates that of Hogan Gilbert, of Petersburg township, and perhaps none has lived upon his original land claim for. a greater length of time. For over forty-five years he has lived upon the northeast quarter of section 34, which he took as a homestead claim during the civil war. He has witnessed the development of Jackson county as few other men have had an opportunity to.

Biogbaphical History

Mr. Gilbert is a Norwegian by birth and was bom February 6, 1838, in Hallingdal, aals Prestegeld, the son of Gilbert and Bertha (Olson) Gilbert. He came to America in the spring of 1852 at the age of fourteen years and after spending one year in Wisconsin, he moved west and became one of the very earliest pioneers of southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. He located in Martin county in 1853 and made his home there three years. He then located at Estherville, Iowa, where for some time he was a member of the Iowa ]iome guards. He enlisted in the fall of 1862, immediately after the Belmont massacre, which occurred late in August, and for some time was with the Iowa guards scouting the country up to the Minnesota line. His headquarters during this time was at Fort Defiance, at Estherville, Iowa. On the first day of June, 1864, Mr. Gilbert became a resident of Jackson county, taking a homestead claim on section 34, Petersburg, and on that farm he has ever since resided.

Mr. Gilbert owns 440 acres of land. He has stock in the Jackson Telephone company and in the Petersburg Creamery company. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

On September 27, 1869, Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Mary Olson and to them have been born five children: Gilbert H., Albert, Bertha, deceased; Esther and Louis.

mustered out of the service as major. Major Bailey took part in some of the important engagements of the civil war and in the Indian campaigns. He assisted in the trial of the four hundred Sioux at Mankato in 1862 and was present at the execution of the thirtyeight who were hung.

In 1865, after his discharge from the army, Major Bailey came to Jackson county, where he resided until his death. Earlier in his career he had assisted in the organization of Mower county, Minnesota, and when he came to Jackson county, he, more prominently than any other, assisted in the reorganization of Jackson county. The first county election was held at his home, in his log cabin, near the village. In partnership with Welch Ashley he platted the town of Jackson and was active in the promotion of enterprises and the settlement of the county. Among the offices he held were county commissioner, court commissioner, superintendent of schools, member of the board of education and justice of the peace. Major Bailey died at Jackson April 20, 1901.

Major Bailey was married at Bishford, Vermont, March 10, 1862, to Jane Wheeler. They had five children: Sidney, who died at the age of one year; Frank E., of Jackson; Wallace M., who died at the age of twenty-one; Freddie, who died at the age of eighteen; Brownie H. (Mrs. W. H. Dunstan), of Spokane, Washington.

MAJOR HIRAM S. BAILEY (1865), deceased. In the early days of Jackson county's history there were few men who took a more important part than did the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. In political matters he was a leader and played a most important part in the organization of the county.

Major Bailey was born in Montgomery, Vermont, in 1829. He received a common school education in the towns of Montgomery and Waterville and completed his education in an academy at Bakersfield. In 1853 he came west and located in Dodge county, Wisconsin, residing on a farm near Waupon until 1850. That year he settled on a farm in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he resided until the breaking out of the civil war. He enlisted in 1861 in company A, of the Second Minnesota infantry, and served four years and three months in the army. He enlisted as a private, but promotion was rapid and he was

WILLIAM V. KING (1866). One of the best known residents of the county is William V. King, a pioneer of forty -three years standing, who now lives a retired life in the county scat village, after liaving spent many active years in public life.

In Oldham, England, on September 26, 1831, our subject was born, the son of John and Hannah (Hilton) King. On the first day of April, 1835, the family set sail for the new world and upon their arrival located near Utica, New York. There until he was ten years old William lived with his parents, attending school and working for a short time in a factory. In 1841 he went to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and that was his home until his thirtieth year. Diu*ing these years he was engaged in farm work, and teaching school. Moving to Crawford county in 1861, he engaged in farming, and the same year, upon the out- break of tbe civil war, he took a position with the government as enrolling officer. In 1864 he enlisted in the 43rd Wisconsin volunteer infantry and served as first sergeant of his company until his discharge from the army, which occurred at Nashville, Tennessee, in July, 1865.

In the fall of 1865, soon after leaving the army, Mr. King took up his residence at Austin, Minnesota, and in May, of the following year, became a resident of Jackson county. He located in what is now organized as Wisconsin township and took as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 28, upon which he lived until 1873. Having been elected to the office of county auditor that fall, he moved to Jackson to assume the duties of the office. With the exception of two years spent in Hunter township, Jackson has been the home of Mr. King ever since.

During thirty-one years of his residence in the county Mr. King has held county office - a record held by no other man. Prior to his removal to Jackson he held the office of judge of probate six years; he was superintendent of schools two years; was county attorney two years; and held the office of county auditor twenty-one years. He owns property in the village of Jackson and eighty acres of land in section 24, Hunter township. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic and Grand Army of the Republic organizations.

Mr. King was married in Walworth coimty, Wisconsin, March 27, 1856, to Antonette L. Porter, who died in Jackson March 26, 1896. To this union were bom the following named children: William P., NelUe G. (Davies), S. S. and John L. The second marriage of Mr. King occurred June 22, 1898, when he wedded Leonora E. Chittenden at Fairmont, Minne^ sota.

GEORGE C. CHAMBERLIN (1866), deceased. In many respects George C. Chamberlin was one of the most prominent men of Jackson county during the pioneer days. He had a large acquaintanceship, was popular and beloved by all who knew him. He played a leading part in the county's political and social life.

Mr. Chamberlin was born in Newbury, Vermont, February 25, 1837, the son of Abner and Mary (Hazel ton) Chainberlin. He was educated in Newbury seminary and learned the printer's trade, later engaging in business at Bradford, Vermont. He enlisted in the union armv at the outbreak of the civil war and served until its close.

In 1866, just as the little town was being founded, Mr. Chamberlin located in Jackson, and on February 26, 1870, he founded the county's first newspaper, the Jackson Republic. Later he sold out and bought a paper at Mankato, but because of failing eyesight he was obliged to give up newspaper work, and he retired from active pursuits. He became entirely blind. He represented Jackson county in the Minnesota senate, was county auditor, prosecuting attorney, and held other county offices. He lived in Jackson until 1893; then he returned to his boyhood home, Bradford, Vermont, where he died in November, 1896.

THOMAS GOODWIN (1866) and wife, who now reside in Wilder, have lived in Jackson county for the last forty-three years and are among the few surviving pioneers who came as early as 1866. Mr. Goodwin was bom in Liverpool, England, November 12, 1839, the son of Thomas and Mary (Bowin) Goodwin. These parents came to America in 1840, lived in Elmira, New York, four years, in Williamsville, Pennsylvania, four years and then in Farmers Valley, McKean county, Pennsylvania, in all of which places they were engaged in the hotel business. The mother died in Farmers Valley January 12, 1897, aged 81 years; the father in August, 1906, aged 89 years.

When his parents came to America in 1840 our subject did not accompany them but was brought up in the family of his grandfather, at New Town, Whiles. At the age of fifteen years he left the home of his grandparents and crossed the Atlantic. He joined his parents in McKean county, Pennsylvania, and until his twenty-fifth year, in 1864, he was employed on a farm owned by his father.

Mr. Goodwin was married May 3, 1864, at Portvijlle, New York, to Betsy Elisabeth Barrett, who is the daughter of Thornton and Rebecca (Brewer) Barrett, and who was bom in McKean county, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1843. They are the parents of the following named children: Mary (Mrs. W. F. Ridgeway), of Jackson, born January 26, 1866; Lewis L., of Mosier, Oregon, bom June 28, 1868; Cora A., bom December 3, 1869, died November 27, 1897; Elmirs A., bora May 14,

In October, 1866, Mr. Goodwin came to Jackson county and took as a homestead claim the northwest quarter of section 6, Middletown township, and the next year moved onto the place with his family. At the time the nearest railroad point was Owatonna, 120 miles away, and neighbors were scarce. There were only three families between his place and the present site of Luveme, in Rock county. The first three years of the residence of this family in Jackson coimty were spent living in a ^dugout," and thereafter for several years in a log cabin. Incredible were the hardships endured in this frontier coimtry during the ^'starvation period" and the terrible grasshopper scourge. Mr. Goodwin remained on the claim and weathered the storms of adversity. He lived on the farm until 1800, when he retired from active pursuits and moved with his family to Wilder.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Goodwin served as a member of the school board in Middletown township several years, and has served as a member of the Wilder village council several terms.

From the spring of 1867 until 1891 Mr. Sandon engaged in farming in Wisconsin township. In November, 1889, he was elected judge of probate and has held the office ever since, having been reelected nine times. His present term expires January 1, 1911. While a resident of Wisconsin township Judge Sandon served in various official capacities. He was the first assessor of the township, serving during the years 1867-68; was township clerk sixteen years, and was justice of the peace from 1886 to 1890. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Odd Fellows and the Workmen lodges. He owns 205 acres of land in Jackson county and real estate in other parts of the country.

CaaARLES H. SANDON (1866), judge of the probate court of Jackson county, is one of the pioneers of the county and one of its best known residents. He is an Englishman by birth, having been born in Northampton October 7, 1845, the son of Thomas and Eliza (Goodwin) Sandon.

When the subject of this biography was four months of age the family emigrated to America and located at Burke, in Dane county, Wisconsin, and there our subject grew to manhood. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in company G, of the First Wisconsin cavalry, and served until November, 1864, having been discharged at Calhoun, Georgia. After the war Mr. Sandon returned to his old home at Burke and made his home there until the fall of 1866. He then came to Jackson county, bought land in Wisconsin township, and returned to spend the winter in his old home. He came back to Jackson county with his family in the spring of 1867 and has ever since been a resident of the coimty.

Wilbur S. KIMBATJi (1867), deceased. In the early days of the history of the village of Jackson no man had a wider acquaintanceship or took a more prominent part in the affairs of the vUlage than did W. S. Kimball, one of the pioneer merchants.

He was bora in Chelsea, Vermont, in 1835, and early in life moved with his parents to Hlinois. After reaching his majority he moved to Austin, Minnesota, where he engaged in the hardware business. He enlisted in the Fourth Minnesota regiment of volimteers in 1861 and served until the close of the war. At the close of the war Mr. Kimball returned to Austin, and during the summer of 1867 came with his family to the new village of Jackson. He erected the town's second building and opened a small hardware store. Beginning with a small business, he prospered and was soon doing an enormous business. He was a most liberal and enterprising citizen and devoted much time to the upbuilding of the little city. He was in business many years.

Biogeaphical History

City railroad mucli of the trade territory from which he had before drawn was cut off; then came the hard times during the grasshopper period, and Mr. Kimball failed. After retiring from business he took a position as a traveling salesman, and some time before his death he retired and lived a quiet life at Jackson. Mr. Kimball died at Jackson December 13, 1892.

WELCH ASHLEY (1865), deceased, was one of the founders of the village of Jackson and one of the town's prominent men in the early days. The Ashley family is one of the old American families, Robert Ashley having come to the new world from England in colonial days and settled in Massachusetts. Welch Ashley's grandfather, David Ashley, was born in Westfield, Massachusetts. He was a soldier in the French and Ladian war, serving eighteen months. He also served seven years in the revolutionary war and was with Colonel Ethan Allen at the capture of Ticonderoga. He rose to the rank of major. Welch Ashley was born in Hancock, Delaware county, New York, on the first day of the year 1807, the son of Forest and Harriett (Welch) Ashley. Forest Ashley was born June 2, 1771, at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and died in Mainesburg, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1856. He was married in Hancockj Delaware county, New York, in 1794. He was a carpenter by trade.

At an early age Welch Ashley moved with his parents to Troy, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he lived a number of years. He served as sheriff of Bradford county a number of years. Later he moved to Tioga county, in the same state, where he was married and where he lived until he came west and settled in Jackson county. Mr. Ashley was always very patriotic and a strong union man during the civil war. He contributed to the cause and three of his sons were in the union army.

It was during the month of September, 1865, that Welch Ashley came to Jackson county and bought the old Wood homestead, upon which had been enacted the tragedies of the Inkpaduta massacre more than eight years before. At the time there were only a few families living in the whole of Jackson county, and these only recently returned after the fear of the Indians had been removed.

the proprietor of all that portion of the town included in the original plat lying north of White street. About the same time he built the first saw mill erected in the county, which was located on the east side of the river at the site of the present dam. At this mill much of the lumber used for the construction of the first buildings erected in the new town was sawed and prepared.

From the first Mr. Ashley entered into the business life of the town, taking an active part in every movement for the advancement of its interests.^ In company with his son, B. W. Ashley, he built the Ashley House, which ever since has been the principal hotel of the village and is. now owned by his grandson, M. D. Ashley, and, for many years he was its owner. Much of the material used in the construction of this hotel was hauled by team from Mankato. He was also engaged at various times in the mercantile business and in farming. He retained his mental vigor, and in great degree his physical strength until a few days before his death, and his interest in the town which he had founded continued to the last. Mr. Ashley died at his home in Jackson February 23, 1885.

Mr. Ashley was always a strong friend of religion and was a member of the Methodist church. For many years the local Methodist church was largely supported by him and his excellent wife. It was mainly through his efforts that the present church building of that denomination was erected, he being not only the largest individual contributor to the fund subscribed for its erection, but also devoting much of his time to looking after its construction and in the collection and management of the funds subscribed for that purpose, in which matters his experience and sound judgment were invaluable.

Welch Ashley was married in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, to Margaret Smith, who Survived her husband nearly twenty years and died February 17, 1905. To these parents were born seven children, as follows: George G., Benjamin W., Mrs. Margaret Hill, Menzo L., Jesse F., Mrs. Julia F. Downey and John C, all of whom are living except Benjamin W. and George G.

Mr. Roe was bom in Norway September 13, 1844, the son of Osborn and Ragnilda (Roe) Roe. In 1852, at the age of eight years, he came to America with his parents and for short periods of time lived in Dane county, Jefferson county and Columbia county, all in- Wisconsin. He then located in Portage county, Wisconsin, where he took up government land and where he lived until coming to Jackson county.

Our subject served one year in the union army during tiie closing days of the war, being a member of the Fifth Wisconsin volunteers, having been mustered in at Madison, Wisconsin, in September, 1864. With his regiment he took part in the battle of Petersburg, Virginia, on April 2, 1866, and on ^pril 6 he participated in the battle on Sailors creek. In this latter engagement he was slightly wounded but did not leave the ranks. He also assisted in the closing days at Appomattox court house, when General Lee and his army of twenty -five thousand men surrendered. He was mustered out at HalFs Hill, near Washington, June 20, 1865.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Roe returned to his old Wisconsin home, and in the spring of 1868 came to Jackson county. The trip was made by ox team and took four weeks time. Mr. and Mrs. Roe journeyed with three other families as far as St. Charles, Minnesota, when the party divided, all going in different directions. At the time there were on the route taken only two houses between Fairmont and Jackson. One of these was between Fairmont and the present location of Sherbum and the other was near the present location of Sherbum. This point was twelve miles and forty rods east of the old Thomas cabin and was known as Lone Cedar postoffice. On one occasion the team mired in Ten-mile creek and the only way Mr. Roe could get out of the mire was by unloading. They lost their way and had traveled as far south as the present town of Tenhassen before they realized they were off the proper course. They arrived in Jackson county on the 28th day of June, 1868.

Mr. Roe on July 9, 1868, took as a homestead claim the west half of the northwest quarter of section 30, Enterprise township, land which he still owns and upon which he now resides.

He engaged in farming there for a number of years. During the latter part of the grass- Itopper scourge he worked for the John Pa\il Lumber company at their yard in Jackson. In the fall of 1879, when the railroad extended and the town of Lakefield was founded, Mr. Roe moved there and took charge of the John Paul lumber yard, which he conducted until the office tliere was discontinued. He then went to Sherburn, where he conducted the company's yard three years. Mr. Roe again located on his farm, where he has sinde resided.

In the early days of the county's history Mr. Roe served as sheriff of the coimty and he was also judge of probate two years. He is a member of the Lutheran church of Jackson.

On November 27, 1866, Mr. Roe was united in marriage to Elsie Frederickson. To them were born five children, as follows: Julian, born August 16, 1868| died September, 1887; Alfred, born February 2, 1871; Emma, born December 15, 1872; Albert, bom November 8, 1876; Richard H., born January 24, 1884.

ANDREW C. OLSON (1868) is county commissioner of Jackson county and one of the most successful farmers of Christiania township. He is one of the oldest settlers of the precinct and has resided there since he was two years of age. He owns and farms 240 acres of laud on sections 8 and 9 and has other business interests.

Mr. Olson was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, March 30, 1866, the son of Carl Olson, who died December 21, 1881, and Ingeborg (Simonson) Olson. His parents came to the new world from Norway in 1858 and located in Iowa, from which state his father enlisted and fought with the union forces during the civil war. He was with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea and was wounded in the service. Andrew accompanied his parents to Jackson county in 1868 at the age of two years, and his home has ever since been in Christiania township. His father home* steaded land on the south bank of Fish lake, and there our subject lived until he was twenty-two years of age, securing an education and working on the farm.

At the age of twenty- two Mr. Olson was married and began farming on his own account, locating on a farm on the west side of Fish lake. In 1890 he bought the farm he now owns and in 1897 he moved onto the place.

Biogeaphical Histoby

He has a fine home and a well improved famu He has large interests in the creamery company of Bergen and the Farmers Elevator company of Windom and other cooperative concerns. He is a director of the Farmers State Bank of Windom. During his long residence in the county Mr. Olson has many times been called upon to serve in an official capacity. He is at present a member of the board of county commissioners, was chairman of the Christiania township board twelve years, clerk of his school district twenty-two years, and township assessor five years.

Mr. Olson was united- in marriage to Carolina Anton, of Christiania township, December 13, 1888. To this union have been bom eleven children, as follows: Ella C, bom October 21, 1889; Eva M., born January 10, 1891 ; Clinton O., born May 16, 1892, died July 19, 1893; Bert M., born December 23, 1893; Cyril, bom October 3, 1895; Irvin, born August 7, 1897, died September 5, 1897; Morris, born August 7) 1897, died September 3, 1907; Marion, born February 21, 1901; Kermit, bom December 29, 1903; Grace, bom November 18, 1905; Alvin C, bom May 20, 1909. The family are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Olson is a member of the Odd Fellows and Modem Woodmen lodges of Windom.

JAMES W. HUNTER (1868), deceased, was an early day merchant of Jackson and a man who took a prominent part in the affairs of the county. He was a native of Scotland and was born August 16, 1837, the son of James and Agnes Hunter.

When eighteen years of age, in 1855, Mr. Hunter came to America. He spent three years clerking in Dubuque, Iowa, was a short time at Wilton, Minnesota, and then returned to Scotland for a short visit. Eetuming to America, he located at Waseca, Minnesota, where he built a store and engaged in business with his brother. Selling out there, he engaged in business in Estherville, Iowa, two years, and in 1868 located in the new town of Jackson. In partnership with a brother he engaged in the general merchandise business under the firm name of Hunter Brothers. He continued to live in Jackson until his death, which occurred August 13, 1900.

from Jackson county. He was married in Scotland August 19, 1870^ to Beasie Ross. There are three children in the family, namely: Mrs. H. B. Gillespie, William D. Hunter and Agnes Grace.

PETER P. HOLDEN (1868), of Petersburg township, is one of the oldest settlers of that precinct, having resided there nearly fortytwo years. He is a Norwegian by birth and was born August 30, 1845, the son of Peter and Lilly (Olson) Olson.

Our subject resided in liis native land until he reached his majority. Then he emigrated to America, arriving in May, 1866, and located in Lafayette coimty^ Wisconsin. He spent two winters working in the pineries of northern Wisconsin and then came to the new country of Jackson xK)unty, where he arrived in March, 1868. He located on land in Petersburg township, and that has been hie home ever sinee. For several seasons he spent his winters on his place and his summers working in Fillmore and Winona counties. He suffered many hardhsips during the trying times of pioneer days, in storms and the terrible grasshopper scourge. Like everyone else he endeavored to raise a crop every year during the time the grasshoppers were here^ thinking that each year must be the last of the pests, and each year lost his crops. Fortunately he early turned his attention to stock raising, and so weathered the storms of that never-to-be-forgotten period.

Mr. Hoiden owns the northwest quarter of section 36, Petersburg, and has stock in the Jackson Telephone company and in the Petersburg Oeamery company. He has been a member of the township board of supervisors and of the school board and has held the office of road overseer. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

On September 14, 1874, Mr. Hoiden was married to Annie Bottleson, of Petersburg. This union has been blessed with the births of the following named children: Olef B., bom October 23, 1876; Ida, bom August 14, 1879; Genton P., born June 23, 1881; Lillie, bom September 22, 1875, died January, 1908; Esther, born March 16;, 1883; Henry, bom September 1, 1888.

now reside in the county is B. H. Johnson, who lives a retired life in the village of Jackson. During the early days Mr. Johnson took an active interest in the affairs of the new county and participate in its organization.

Mr. Johnson was bom in Plymouth, Litchfield county, Connecticut, August 1, 1834, the son of Louis and Nancy (Marsh) Johnson. He received a public and academic education in Watertown, Connecticut, and at the age of eighteen years came west and located in Baraboo, Wisconsin. He farmed in the vicinity of that town ten years and then enlisted in the army. The date of his enlistment was December 4, 1862, when he became a member of company F, of the Third Wisconsin cavalry. He served in the union army until September 29, 1865, when he was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Immediately after his discharge Mr. Johnson returned to his old home in Baraboo. He immediately made preparations to seek a home in the new country of Jackson county, and on Christmas day, 1865, landed on the Des Moines river. He bought sixty acres of land, partly in Des Moines township and partly in Wisconsin township, and also filed a homestead claim to land in Wisconsin adjoining his sixty acres. His life during this pioneer period was full of hardships, as were those of nearly all the settlers of that day. In January, 1868, while ho was away from home, his house and everything in it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Johnson and his family then moved into a little log house which was located on another part of his farm.

Until September, 1873, Mr. Johnson continued to farm in Jackson county. Then, on the fifteenth of the month, he set out with a team for Kansas to make his future home in that country. He located at Burr Oak, in Jewell county, bought an eighty acre farm near town, and engaged in agricultural pursuits about five years. He then moved to town and for about fifteen years was engaged in the drug business. He was street, commissioner of the village for three years and during the rest of the time he was a resident of Burr Oak he lived a retired life. In 1903 Mr. Johnson returned to his old home in Jackson county, and since that time has made his home in Jackson.

Upon the organization of Jackson county in January, 1866, Mr. Johnson received the appointment of clerk of the district coiu*t and served until his successor was elected and qualified. As there were practically no duties to perform the office was a nominal one only. He was a member of the board of county commissioners in 1807 and 1868^ and during those years served as chairman of the board. He held the office of justice of the peace four years and was assessor in both Wisconsin and Des Moines townships. Mr. Johnson is a Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge.

Mr. Johnson has been married twice. His first marriage occurred at Keedsburg, Wisconsin, November 9, 1859, when he wedded Emma T. Cornish. She died October 3, 1871, aged 29 years. To this imion two children were born: Rollan W., born December 4, 1860; Irving v., bom January 16, 1870. His second marriage occurred April 3, 1873, in Jackson, when he wedded Martha Moore. As a result of this marriage the following children were born: Louis L. and Lloyd W., twins, bom October 6, 1879; Ethel W., born January 31, 1881; Gretla H., born May 16, 1886, died May 20, 1891; Alice C, bom September 3, 1887.

MENZO L. ASHLEY (1866). With the exception of a little less than three years the gentleman whose name heads this sketch has lived in the village of Jackson over forty-three years and has seen it grow from a grasscovered prairie to the substantial city it is today. During these many years spent in Jackson Mr. Ashley has taken a prominent part in the affairs of his village and county and has participated in many of the stirring events of pioneer days.

On July 5, 1847, in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, Menzo L. Ashley was born to Welch and Margaret (Smith) Ashley. In that county he passed his boyhood days, attending the district schools winters and working on the farm during, the summer months. At the age of sixteen and one-half years he entered the army and took part in the closing events of the war of the rebellion. Being under age he was required to secure the consent of his parents iHjfore enlistment. January 7, 1864, he enlisted in the Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry, and later became a member of company B, of the 97th Pennsylvania volunteer infantry. He served until his muster out at Weldon, North Carolina, August 28, 1865, being finally discharged at Philadelphia a little later.

Bioqeaphical Histoby

ley returned to his old home in Tioga county, remained there ten months, and then came to the site of the village of Jackson, arriving during the month of July, 1866. Here he joined his parents, who had come out the year before. Soon after his arrival Mr. Ashley was engaged in carrying the mail between Jackson and £sthervil1e, Iowa, over the first route opened in the county after the Sioux war. When the second mail route was opened into the county - from Madelia to Jackson - he carried the mail on contract with the government three years. In those days there were no bridges or beaten paths on the routes and it was necessary to ford streams and undergo other hazardous risks in the discharge of his duties. In the way of a pioneer "tree blazer" he was considered among the best, and many tales are still told of his exploits and deeds of heroism in those days. After giving up the Madelia route Mr. Ashley carried the mail for some time between Jackson and Sioux City. When the Sioux City and St. Paul railroad was built through to Windom, B. W. Ashley, our subject's brother, took the government contract to carry the mail from Windom to Jackson, and Menzo Ashley opened and operated the line.

In 1869 Mr. Ashley bought an eighty acre farm in Des Moines township and later bought an additional ninety acres in the same township, property which he still owns. In addition to his other occupations he engaged in farming these tracts part of the time. After giving up his mail contracts Mr. Ashley devoted his time to teaming, farming and other occupations. He resided at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a little less than three years, from 1889 to 1891. He owns his home in the city in addition to his farming land. Mr. Ashley served as deputy sheriflf of Jackson county five years during the eighties. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was the captain of Jackson's first fire department, organized in 1874, and he has been a fireman ever since. He is an honorary member of the Minnesota State Fire Department association.

Mr. Ashley was married in Jackson July 6, 1872, to Hattie 0. Benton, a native of Columbus, Ohio, and a daughter of Porter W. and Harriet Benton. To Mr. and Mrs. Ashley have been born four children. Of these Porter W. lives in the state of Washington and Benjamin H. lives at home. Alice B., the eldest child, died March 22, 1895, aged 20

HANS C. SETHER (1869). Among the old time residents of Jackson coimty and one of the most successful farmers of Belmont township is Hans C. Sether, who has resided upon his present farm more than forty years. He is an extensive stock raiser and his farm embraces 440 acres in Belmont and Christiania townships, the home place being on section 2, Belmont.

Mr. Sether was bom in Norway April 23, 1854. His father, Claus H. Sether, died December 31, 1898, aged 72 years and 4 months. The mother of our subject died in 1896, aged over 81 years. Her maiden name was Gure H. Bjerken. Hans was brought up on. a farm in his native land, and when fourteen years of age came to America with his parents. The family left the old country in April, 1868, and after a journey of three months and three weeks arrived in Goodhue county, Minnesota, which was the family home until the next spring.

During their residence in Goodhue county a Lutheran minister named Hanson visited the Jackson county country and upon his return reported that there was an excellent country open to homestead entry along the Des Moines river. The Sethers decided to make their future home there, and they came to the new country, driving through with oxen hitched to covered wagons, arriving on May 3, 1869. The family were very poor. When they landed in America they had absolutely nothing in the way of earthly possessions and owed $170 for passage money. Arriving in Jackson county, their possessions consisted of one two year-old heifer. But they set to work with a will to carve out a home in the new land. The head of the family took as a homestead claim the north half of the northwest quarter of section 2, Belmont, the present home of our subject.

During the first sununer the family lived in the covered wagon in which they had come from Goodhue coimty. Then they built a dugout in a side hill and completed their first domicile in Jackson county with "Minnesota bricks;" in this primitive structure they lived three years. The sod shanty and dugout was replaced with a log building, 16x16 feet with addition, which was made from logs cut from the timber along the river. The log house answered the purpose until 1896, when Air. Sether erected his present commodious house - one of the finest in Belmont township. Very hard times were encountered during the grasshopper period, but the family had at once engaged in raising stock on a small scale, and as they were not entirely dependent upon their grain crops, did not suffer as did many who did not engage in raising stock.

Hans Sether took the management of the home place after his marriage in 1875 and has ever since conducted it. He has an excellent farm, improved with excellent buildings and one of the finest groves in the neighborhood. He has added to his original farm by purchase, the land costing him from $7 to $33 per acre.

In school, township and county affairs Mr. Sether has taken an active part. He was appointed county commissioner from the Fifth district September 23^ 1886, to succeed A. E. Kilen and was elected to the same office on the republican ticket in 1886 and again in 1890, serving over eight years. During his incumbency two of the county seat fights took place and Mr. Sether took part in those history making tiroes. He served as clerk of Belmont township several years and he has been treasurer of school district No. 100 for many years. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and of the M. W. A. lodge.

Mr. Sether was married in Belmont township July 9, 1875, to Minnie Anderson, daughter of the late John Anderson, of Enterprise township. Mrs. Sether was born in Norway and came to the United States in 1869, arriving in Jackson county on the same day her husband- to-be did. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sether, of whom eight are living, as follows: Clarence, born August 12, 1876; Just, bom February 8, 1878; Gea, bom January 21, 1880, died September 9, 1881; Ingman, bom March 12, 1882; Gea, bom September 15, 1884; Martha, bom September 9, 1887; Clara, born Febmary 28, 1890, died December 10, 1905; Henry, bom May 3, 1893; Harry, bom January 3, 1896; Helen, bora July 30, 1898.

CHARLF^ MALCHOW (1869), ex-sheriff of Jackson county and secretary of the Delafield Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance company, resides on his farm in Delafield township, just east of the village of Wilder. He is a pioneer, having spent over forty years of his life in Jackson county, and was one of the very first to locate in Heron Lake township.

Mr. Malchow is a native of Prussia and was bom June 25, 1846, the son of Frederick and Henrietta (Kuhn) Malchow. He came to the United States with his parents when quite young and located with them in Waushara county, Wisconsin. He resided at home imtil February, 1865, when he enlisted in company F, of the Fiftieth Wisconsin volunteer infantry. He served in the army until June, 1866, the longest part of his service being spent in Dakota territory under Colonel John G. Clark in frontier warfare against tlie Indians.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Malchow spent a few years working on farms in Wisconsin and Minnesota. In the spring of 1869 he moved to Jackson county and in* May of that year filed a soldier's homestead claim to the southwest quarter of section" 8, Heron Lake township, being one of the three first settlers of that precinct. The others were Fred Ebert and Albert Hohenstein and all settled on the banks of Lake Flaherty. On this farm he lived twenty-nine years, passing through the grasshopper days and other trying ordeals of pioneer life and witnessing the development of Jackson county from a wilderness to the prosperous condition of the present time. In 1898 Mr. Malchow moved to his present location just outside the village of Wilder and has since made his home there.

During his long residence in the county Mr. Malchow has held many offices of trust*. He was sheriff of the county from 1879 to 1887 and has many times been called upon to serve as township officer. He is secretary of the Delafield Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance company, which was organized May 10, 1888, and began business September 1, 1888. In January, 1909, the company had in force $1,619,- 894 of insurance. The assets of the company on that date were $2,546.70 and the disbursements for the past year were $2,135.56. For the past ten years the company has maintained a record of levying an assessment of only one and one-half mills on the dollar. The officers of the company are Herman Rosso w, president; C. F. Morley, vice-president; Charles Malchow, secretary; August Pohlman, treasurer; August Wolf, John Nestrud, T. J. Egge, August Milbrath and John P. Eoster, direc-

The marriage of our subject occurred in Jackson county March 4, 1872, when he wedded Christina Rilen. She was bom in Norway and died in March, 1893, at the age of thirty-eight years. Nine children were bom to this union, as follows: William 6., bom May 1, 1873; Hannah B. (Mrs. S. A. Smith), born September 7, 1874; Fred E., born February 16, 1877; Lydia C, born December 6, 1878; Blanch, born December 12, 1880; Edith R. (Mrs. Chauncy Hamlon), bom March 16, 1882; John C, born August 17, 1884; James S., bom January 9, 1886; Otis M., born January 14, 1888.

Mr. Malchow's second marriage occurred at Mason City, Illinois, October 6, 1897, when he married Katie A. Skinner. She was bom in Long Island, New York, moved to Illinois when a baby, and resided in that state until her marriage. Mr. Malchow is a member of the Evangelical church; his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church.

BROWNELL H. LEE (1865), of Jackson, has lived in the county ever since he was five years of age and during his long residence here has been engaged in many different business enterprises. He was bom in Madison, Wisconsin, January 29, 1860, the son of Halvor and Martha (Hansen) Lee.

When Brownell was one year old the family moVed to Primrose, Wisconsin, and after a residence of four years left there on May 26, 1865, by ox teams for Jackson county, arriving June 17, 1865. During the first four months of the residence here the family lived in old Fort Belmont, and in the spring of 1866 the head of the family took a homestead claim on section 2, Des Moines township. Brownell lived at home until he was twentytwo years of age, receiving his education in Belmont and Des Moines townships. Ss parents both died on the old homestead, aged 60 and 58 years, respectively.

In 1883 Mr. Lee set out in life for himself and moved to Charles Mix county, South Dakota, where he took a homestead claim and where he remained about one and one-ha^f years. Returning to Jackson county in 1884, he spent two years on the old homestead. In

1880 he moved to Jackson and was employed as cream buyer for the Wilson & Avery creamery, and two years later bought the creamery, conducting it one year. He then sold an interest in the creamery and started a brewery^ which he managed a year, and then sold out. In 1890 Mr. Lee purchased a building on Main street, one door north of Berge's store, and for the next twelve years was in the restaurant business. In 1895 he purchased the old brick yard and a little later in the same year took in John Stroble and William Finnern as partners, was interested in the business two years, and then sold out to his partners. After disposing of the restaurant business in 1902^ Mr. Lee was not engaged in active business for a couple of years, but in 1904 he leased the West hotel and was its landlord three years. He then took charge of the hotel at the north end of Main street and conducted it one year. Leaving the hotel he started a feed barn, in which business he has since been egnaged and in breeding Percheron horses. Mr. Lee is a member of the Episcopal church and of the M. W. A. lodge. Mr. Lee was married in Jackson to Miss Eva Simpson. As a result of this union three children have been born, named as follows: Margie M., Ruth S. and Hubert B.

CHARLES WINZER (1869). Among the substantial and influential farmers of Jack son county and one of the county's pioneer settlers is the gentleman whose name heads this biography, who resides in Weimer township on the east bank of Heron lake. He has an elegant home and is one of 'the large landowners of the vicinity, owning over a section of fertile land in one body. He has lived on his present place over forty years and was the first to file a homestead claim to land in Weimer township as well as the first to make settlement in that precinct.

Mr. Weinzer was bom in Saxe-Weimar, Germany, June 14, 1845, the third of a family of eight children. His father, Christopher Winzer, was a weaver by trade. He died in his native land in 1867, aged 56 years. The mother of our subject, Barbara (Hoffman) Winsser, was one of an old German family whose ancestry can be traced back to the thirteenth century. She died in 1893 at the age of 76 years.

his native land, attending the mechanical school at Weimar and learning the carpenter's trade. At the age of seventeen he left home and came to America. He showed his patriotism for his adopted country by enlisting from the city of New York, one week after his ar- ^ rival, in the union forces. He was mustered in as a member of company K, 173rd regiment of New York volunteer infantry, and was in the service until after the close of the war. His regiment was ordered south and he participated in a number of severe engagements in Louisiana under General Butler. Dm*ing the second day of the engagement at Port Hudson, on May 27, 1863, Mr. Winzer was so severely wounded that he was in hospital nine months. After a partial recovery he was transferred from the New York regiment to the Invalid corps, and later, being of a musical turn, he was transferred to the famous Twenty-second regiment veteran reserve corps band, and as such served the balance of his enlistment. He was honorably discharged November 2, 1865, at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio.

After his army service, early in the year 1866, Mr. Winder located at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he was married the same year and for a few months worked at the carpenter trade there. He then moved to Chicago and in partnership with his father-in-law, Carl Peter, engaged in the grocery business. In 1869 he gave up that business and started on a prospecting trip through the west, touring Missouri and Kansas and finally landing at Duluth, then just starting, where for a few months he assisted in erecting some of the first buildings of that future city.

In the fall of 1869 Mr. Winzer came to Jackson county and decided to make his future home here. He filed a homestead claim to the southeast quarter of section 26 of what is now Weimer township, on the east bank of Heron lake, his being the first entry made to land in that township. He did not pass the winter of 1869-70 on his claim, but returned with his family the next April and became the first resident of the precinct. For two years he and his wife lived in a dugout in the bank of the lake, and there on June 29, 1871, their first' child, and the first while child bom in the township, was given birth and named Charles. Very hard times were encountered during the first decade of Jiis residence in Jackson county, but he weathered

In 1873, other settlers having located in the vicinity, Mr. Winzer circulated the petition asking for the organization of the township and did all the preliminary work incident to the township beginning an existence, and to him was given the honor of naming the new township. He gave it the name Weimar, In honor of his old German home. The spelling of the word was changed to Weimer through error, although the name was correctly spelled on the original petition.

In addition to his other interests, Mr. Winzer is a director and stockholder of the First National Bank of Heron Lake and is a director of tlie Farmers Bank of Wilder. He was one of the first to make use of the lake front as a hunting resort. Heron lake having a state wide reputation as a hunter's paradise.

During his long residence in Weimer township Mr. Winzer has been often chosen to responsible positions within the gift of his neighbors and he has taken an active interest in all nuitters pertaining to the -public welfare. He was chosen the first chairman of the Weimer township board and served two terms. For many years he has served as either a member of the township board, township clerk or justice of the peace. For many years he was clerk of school district No. 30. Mr. Winzer is associated with a number of lodges. He is the commander of the G. A. R. post at Heron Lake and has held the office for a number of years. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., the L 0. 0. F., the M. B. A. and the D. of H.

At Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, May 20, 1866, Mr. Winzer was united in marriage to Ida Peter, who was bom in Germany March 22, 1848, and came to the United States and to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, when seven years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Winzer have been bom the following named children: Charles, proprietor of the Winzer hotel of Sibley, Iowa, born June 29, 1871; Ernest, who manages the home farm, bom February 22, 1876; Minnie (Mrs. Gerhard Kuhnau), of Weimer, born May 17, 1879; Dasie (Mrs. Rudolph Kuhnau), of Weimer, bom September 21, 1885; Lena, born October 14, 1887.

ever since that date his home has been on land that now is within the corporate limits of the village of Jackson. He is the son of the late Major Hiram S. Bailey and Jane R. (Wheeler) Bailey. He was born in Waupun, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, on April 11, 1855.

At the age of one year Frank Bailey was taken with the family to Hamilton, Mower county, Minnesota, and in September, 1865, came with them to Jackson county, the father taking as a homestead land which he afterward platted as a part of the townsite of Jackson. Frank was educated in the schools of Jackson and in Carleton college, of Northfield, Minnesota, where he was a student during the years 1872-73. After securing his education he engaged in farming until 1875. Then he took up teaching as a profession and during the winter of 1875-76 taught in Aiartin county. He taught in Olmsted county during the summer of 1876 and during the next three years was employed in teaching in McHenry coimty, Illinois. He then returned to Jackson county and continued in that line of work.

Mr. Bailey owns village property, eighty acres of land in Des Moines township and 160 acres of land in North Dakota. On his land in the south part of the village is an immense sand pit which he opened a few years ago and from which he supplies the needs of the village. Mr. Bailey served as deputy sheriff of the county in 1884 and 1885, and was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1909. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Woodmen lodges.

On the first day of the year 1880 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bromaghim, and as a result of this union have been born the following children: Frank E., born March 13, 1881: Herbert B., bom July 2, 1883; Earl W., born November 10, 1886; Helen, bom May 14, 1889, died November 27, 1892; Linden K., born July 22, 1897.

JOHN T. SMITH (1871), president of the Minnesota Fibre company and manager of that company's tow mill at Heron Lake, is the oldest resident of that village and a man in whom both the village and county take pride. He came to Heron Lake before the railroad was builded and when the site was raw prairie land. For thirty-eight years his home has been in the village he helped to found, and none has taken a more active part in the business life and in public enterprises than has Mr. Smith. So closely identified is he with the interests of the town that when one thinks of Heron Lake one thinks of John T. Smith.

John T. Smith was born in Wales October 3. 1843, the son of William L. and Sophia (Thomas) Smith. At the age of seven years, in 1850. he came to the United States, locating in Herkimer county. New York, where he resided ten years. There he attended the public schools, completing his education in Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, to which place he moved in 1860. From that place Mr. Smith enlisted in company B, of the First Iowa cavalry, in January, 1864, and served with the imion forces until his discharge at Memphis, Tennessee, in October, 1865.

After his discliarge from the army Mr. Smith returned to Lyons for a short time and then went to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where he resided about three years. In 1868 he went to Whalan, Fillmore county, Minnesota, and there for one year was engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with John Can*. About the first of September, 18^9, Mr. Smith and C. H. Carroll, of LaCrosse, formed a partnership and a little later started a general store at Big Bend, Cottonwood county, to which place it was rumored the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad would build. Cottonwood county was then very sparsely settled, and the store was the first one in the county. Mr. Smith also has the distinction of having been the first postmaster in that county and of having issued the first marriage license there. The railroad failed to come to Big Bend, but Was built to the south of that place, and after conducting the store two years Messrs. Smith and Carroll moved to the point where Heron Lake was to be founded.

It was during the month of October, 1871, that Mr. Smith and his partner first set foot on the site. They at once erected a store building, hauling the lumber from Windom, and started the first store. The following year our subject bought out his partner's interest, and in 1874 took as a partner George Carr. For several years times were prosperous in the little village of Heron Lake, and the pioneer merchant built up a marvelous business. He opened a branch store at Brewster in 1873, one at Adrian in 1876, and one at Fulda in 1878. Mr. Smith continued in the mercantile business until 1885.

county than any other business enterprise ever founded there was the tow mill, which Mr. Smith erected in Heron Lake in 1881. It was the first tow mill ever built in Minnesota, and at the time it was the largest industry of the kind in the United States, if not in the world. He conducted the mill until 1898, when the plant was destroyed by fire, bringing a loss of $75,000. After that event he helped to organize the Northwestern Tow company (now the Union Fibre company), of which Mr. Smith owned thirty-eight per cent of the stock and of which he was general manager until he sold out in 1902. In 1902 he organized the Minnesota Fibre company, built a new mill, and has since been president and general manager of the company.

In addition to the manufacturing plant, Mr. Smith is the owner of 1,000 acres of Jackson and Cottonwood farming lands. He has never sought political preferment and the only public office he has ever held was postmaster of Heron Lake, which he held from the time of organization in 1871 until 1878. He is a member of the A. 0. U. W. lodge.

Mr, Smith was married at Heron Lake March 9, 1875, to Miss Jennie Weir. To this union have been born three children, Alice C, born in 1877; Morton W., born in 1878; Jennie M., born in 1884.

PETER A. OLSON (1866), Belmont township farmer, has spent the entire forty-three years of his life on the farm upon which he now lives, having been born in the old fort located on the farm, which was built by the early settlers as a protection against the hostile Indians.

Peter Olson*? parents were Anders Olson Slaabaken and Patnella (Peterson) Olson Slaabaken. The former piloted the first Norwegian families to Jackson county and for many years was the most influential man in the Norwegian settlement - a man who had the respect and confidence of all his neighbors. Much of his life's history is to be found in the chapters in the first part of this volume. He and his wife were both bom in Norway and came to tlie United States when young. They resided several years in Wisconsin, a short time in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and came to Jackson coimty to reside permanently in 1860 with the vanguard of the Norwegian settlers. Anders Olson Slaabaken, also known by the name of Anders Belmont, homesteaded the north half of the southeast quarter of section 34, Belmont - part of the site of the old town of Belmont - and upon that farm he lived until his death in 1895. He was a veteran of the civil war, enlisting from Jackson county, and was with the army at the time of the Belmont massacre. His wife also died in 1895. They were the parents of three children, of whom only our subject is living.

Peter A. Olson was bom May 23, 1866. He helped his father work the home farm until the latter's death. Then he bought the place and has since been engaged in farming it. In addition to the home farm he now owns eighty acres on section 27, Belmont, and eighty acres in Enterprise. He engages extensively in general farming, raises Holstein cattle and feeds hogs for the market. He served several years as treasurer of school district No. 5. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Mr. Olson was married in Belmont township June 4, 1897, to Lena Ree, a native of Norway and a daughter of Hans J. Ree, a Belmont settler of 1870. Three children have been born to this union, namely: Albert, Harry and Alma.

BENJAMIN W. ASHLEY (1866), deceased. Among the men who took the lead in affairs 4n Jackson in the early and later days, and one whose name is inseparably linked with that of the county seat village, was Benjamin W. Ashley, who came to the little village at the time of its birth and continued to make his home in it until his death, which occurred December 19, 1905.

Benjamin W. Ashley was born in Sylvania, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1839. He came to Jackson county in 1866 and in company with his father built the first saw mill that was operated. In 1870, in company with his father, he erected the Ashley house and was its proprietor many years. Mr. Ashley was a man held in the highest esteem and had a host of friends.

In 1864 Mr. Ashley was united in marriage to Juliet Bobbins. She died August 29, 1904, aged over sixty -two years. They were the parents of the following named children: Mark D., Otis M., Mrs. Maud Wold, Virginia, Will W., Mrs. Neva Buraham, Benjamin W., Jr.

HANS TOLLEFSON (1870) is one of the early day settlers of Christiania township and one of the best known residents of that precinct. He has a farm of 400 acres, well improved with fine buildings, and has made a success of his agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Tollcfson was bom in Norway April 6, 1835, tlio son of a carpenter, Tollef Christopherson by name. His mother was Ingebor (Hansen) Christopherson. He received a common school education in the land of his nativity and after growing to manhood worked at the stone mason's trade. He came to America in 1868, resided one year in Wisconsin, one year near Estherville, Iowa, and in June, 1870, arrived in the county of Jackson, which was destined to be his home ever after. Upon his arrival he took as a homestead claim 80 acres of his present farm, and upon that place he has lived nearly forty years. Besides Ids farming interests, Mr. ToUefson has stock in the Christiania Creamery company, the Farmers Elevator company of Windom and the company which owns the store at Bergen. He served two years as a member of the township board of supervisors, is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Christiania and is a member of the Sons of Norway order.

Mr. Tollefson was married in March, 1865, to Vil Nelson. To them have been born the following named children: Tollef, who is in the mercantile business in Spokane, Washington, bom June 6, 1866, Ingebor (Mrs. Claud Stofer), of Duluth, Minnesota, born Febmary 2, 1871; Nettie (Mrs. Peter Ryan), of Minneapolis, born January 24, 1874; Mary (Mrs. James Morrison), of Spokane, born June 5, 1877; Hannah J. (Mrs. Henry Chester), of Christiania, born October 30, 1879; Henry, who resides at home, bom November 7, 1881; Anna, a school teacher, born December .4, 1883; Christian^ of Spokane, born January 15, 1886.

DUNCAN McNAB (1871) is a member of the board of commissioners of Jackson county and one of the large land owners and prosperous farmers of Alba township, as well as one of the early day settlers of western Jackson county. He owns 800 acres of land in south - em Alba and northern Ewington townships and his home has been on his present place nearly thirty -nine years,

Mr. McNab is of Scotch birth, having been bom April 17, 1837. When ten years of age he left his native land and came to America with liis parents, the family locating -in Ontario, Canada. Duncan received a common school education in that province and until he was twenty-two years of age lived in Canada, working in the lumber camps and on farms. For several years after he was twentytwo he divided his time between Michigan and Ontario. He married in 1866 and three years later located in Minnesota. Near the village of Sleepy Eye, in Brown county, he bought an eighty acre farm, which he conducted two years.

It was in the month of November, 1871, that Mr. McNab came to Jackson county. U])on his anival he took as a homestead claim the noi*theast quarter of section 32, Alba township, and the northwest quarter of the same section as a tree claim. He moved to his claim and began the erection of his first house the same day carpenters began the erection of the depot in Hersey (now Brewster). The house was a little one, 16x20 feet, and it stood on the place until 1908. Mr. McNab weathered the hard times period of the seventies, making a living by shooting and shipping prairie chickens, which were then in great abundance. He has prospered and is rated among the most successful men of the vicinity. He has been prominent in an official and social way ever since coming to the county.

Mr. McNab has represented the Fourth district on the board of county commissioners for the past five years and his present term will not expire until 1913. He has served as a member and as chairman of the Alba township board and he was assessor of the precinct for twenty-one years. For the past twenty years he has been clerk of school district No. 34 and he has served as justice of the peace. He was census enumerator in the federal census of 1900.

Our subject is the son of Finley and Jannet (McArtliur) McNab. They came from Scotland to Canada in 1847, the mother dying in quarantine below Quebec soon after landing. Finley McNab lived in the province of Ontario many years, dying there about twenty years ago. There were seven children in the family, of whom the following three are living: Margaret, Duncan and Jennet Montgomery.

in Ontario, Canada, January 18, 1866, to Catherine Montgomery, a native of Scotland and a daughter of Godfrey and Jennie (Thompson) Montgomery. To Mr. and Mrs. McNab have been bom the followoing named eleven children: Jessie, John, Findley, Katie, Godfrey, Dan, Arthur, Hugh, Archie, Willie and Andrew. The family are members of the Presbyterian church of Brewster.

JOHN B. HABERMAN (1872). Among the oldest settlers of LaCrosse township and one of the most successful farmers of that precinct is John B. Haberman, whose home is on section 10. He owns 400 acres of land on sections 19 and 20, 240 acres on section 25, Graham Lakes township, Nobles county, and 160 acres in Cottonwood county. He farms three-quarters of a section of his land and rents out the rest.

Mr. Haberman was bom in Austria March 31, 1855, being one of a family of children bom to John and Annie (Hager) Haberman. . The father of our subject, who is now 79 years of age, resides in LaCrosse township. The mother of our subject died in her native land M'hen John B. Haberman was six years of age.

The subject of this biography was brought up on a farm and received his education in Austria. At the age of seventeen years he accompanied his father to the new world, arriving in America on August 10, 1872. After spending one month in Watertown, Wisconsin, he and his father came to Jackson county and they have ever since been residents of La- Crosse township. When he reached his majority our subject took as a homestead claim the west half of the southwest quarter of section 20, and when twenty -three years old he began farming the place, having worked for his father and other farmers before that time. He met with success in his ventures and later added to his holdings by purchase.

Besides his farming operations Mr. Haberman is interested in other lines of business. He is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Heron Lake, of the Heron Lake creamery and of the Sontag Lumber company of Heron Lake. For twenty years he served as a member of the township board of supervisors and was chairman of the board for twelve years of that time. He is a member of the M. W. A. lodge of Kinbrae.

JOHN W. BENSON (1872). Soon after the founding of the village of Heron Lake John W. Benson came to the little town and engaged in the mercantile business in *a modest way. That village has been his home ever since. From the modest beginning thirtyseven years ago the business operations of Mr. Benson have advanced to such an extent that he is now interested in concerns capitalized at several hundreds of thousands of dollars and is one of the wealthiest men of Jackson county. He is president of the Firs*^. National Bank of Heron Lake and of the First National Bank of Westbrook. He is president of the Benson Grain company, having a line of elevators in Minnesota and Nebraska and capitalized at $150,000. He is president of the Benson-Cabot company, incorporated, which does a general merchandise business at Heron Lake. He is secretary and treasurer of the Western Implement company, whose headquarters are at Heron Lake and which has several branch houses. He is president of the Sontag Lumber company of Heron Lake and Wilder. He is president of the Karamin Lumber company of Republic, Washington. In addition to his interests in these companies Mr. Benson owns, in partnership with a sister, Mrs. F. M. South wick, 6,000 acres of farming lands in Jackson, Cottonwood and Murray counties.

John W. Benson descends from colonial stock. The American branch of the Benson family was founded in 1620, when his ancestors, who were seafaring men, came from England and settled along the coast of Massachusetts. On his mother's side Mr. Benson is of Scotch -Irish descent. His great grandfather, John Moore, was granted land near Madison, Maine, by the government, in recognition of services during the revolutionary war.