Mower County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches, 1911 (part 14 of 14)

Rev. C. D. Beldex

His niotlior was born at Little Conipton, R. I., ISlay 14, 1815, and died at rrovidence, R. L, April 10, 1900. They were married December 9, 1835. The father was a graduate of Yale College and was principal of a private New England academy which he owned. Jt was situated at Fruit Hill, just north of Providence. The subject of this sketch was educated in liis father's academy. He graduated from the Lyons University Grammar School in Providence in 1864: and in 1868 graduated in the four-years course from Brown University with the degree of B. A., taking an M. A. later in the course. He was principal of a village public school for three years and then entered Crozer Theological Seminary at Upland, Pa., graduating in 1874. In June, 1874, he was ordained as a Baptist minister in the Memorial Baptist Church of Philadelphia. In November, 1874, he located as pastor of the Baptist church in Austin, Minn., resigning in January, 1882, to become county superintendent of schools for IMower county. He continued in this office for nine years, during which time great progress was made in grading the rural schools so that pupils might maive continuous advancement in their studies to prepare for higher schools. ]\Ir. Belden was pastor of the Baptist church of "\Vindom, Cottomvood county, Minnesota, one year, 1891-1892, during which time he completed their new house of worship and it was dedicated free of debt. In October, 1893, he purchased a half interest in the IMower County Transcript, forming a partnership with N. S. Gordon, and took the entire editorial management of the paper. In December, 1898, he purchased Mr. Gordon's interest, becoming sole proprietor of the Transcript, which he still continues to own and edit. Mr. Belden was married at Austin, Minn., June 27, 1877, to Mrs. Francelia Louise (West) Crandall, She was the daughter of Lewis and ^Miranda B. (Husbrook) West, and was born in the town of Stockton, Chautauqua county. New York, November 7, 1843. Her father was a native of Stockton, N. Y., and came to JMitchell county, Iowa, at Otranlo, in 1854. Her mother was born in Addison, Vt., November 29, 1819, and died at Carpenter, Iowa, July 20, 1896. They were married in Chautauqua county, New Y^ork, September 24. 1837. ^Ir. and Mrs. .Belden have one thild, Antoinette Griffith Belden, who was born in Austin, June 24, 1882. She graduated from the Austin high school, class of 1900, and from the University of Minnesota, class of 1905. She was married to C. Earl Varco, of Sidney, Mont., August 5, 1908. ]Mr. Belden, in addition to his newspaper Avork in these later years, lias continued regularly in ministerial work and has had charge of the Baptist churches at Brownsdale, Blooming Prairie and Lansing at ditl'erent times. He has probably officiated at more weddings and funerals than any other minister who ever lived in Slower counlv. He has also taken much interest in agricultural work and was one of the organizers and became general manager of the Austin Co-operative Creamery- Association in 1893. He was for years a member of the Austin board of education and its clerk. He has been vice president of the National Editorial Association, vice president of the National Creamery Buttermakers' Association and president of the State County Superintendents' Association. He has traveled considerably, having visited the chief parts of Canada, the United States and Old Mexico. He has a wide acquaintance with people in all parts of Mower county as few have. He is much interested in horticulture and finds enjoyment among his flowers and fruits. He has come into close relation with this community in many ways.

William Christie, of Austin, has served as chairman of the boards of county commissioners of two counties, and is now serving in that capacity in Mower county. He was born in Highgate, Franklin county, Vermont, March 24, 1844, son of Adam and Mary (O'Heare) Christie, who brought him to Wisconsin in 1855. In October, 1864, the subject of this sketch came to Minnesota and started farming, purchasing a quarter section of his own in 1870, located in Oakland township. In 1898 he came to Austin and engaged in his present business. Mr. Christie was assessor of Oakland township in Freeborn county twenty years, and also served as town treasurer, town supervisor and clerk of his school district. In 1884 he was elected chairman of the board of county commissioners of Freeborn county and served with credit in that capacity for six years. In the fall of 1892 he was elected to the legislature and served one term. In 1904 he was elected county commissioner of Mower county for a four-year term and Avas reelected in 1908. Four years he has served as chairman of the board.

Nicholai Nicholaisen, whose name was afterward anglicized into Nicholas Nicholsen, was an early merchant of Austin. He was born in Norway, and came to America in 1867, locating in New York city, where he was married to Johanna Maria Vestlien, who had preceded him to America by one year. In 1870 they came to Austin, and here Nicholas engaged with Fernald & Kimball. Later he became a partner with S. C. Olson in the furniture business, thus continuing until his death in 1876. His Avife passed away in 1908. Of their five children four are living. They are : Nicholas Nicholsen, sheriff of Mower county ; Lena C, wife of S. M. Peterson, of Blooming Prairie, Minn. ; Jacob N., an attorney of Austin, and Nora A., wife of George Brandner, of Newel], S. D.

Me. And Mrs. Samuel O. Forthun

Nicholsou. He was reared iu his native city, aud in 1889 graduated from tlie Austin high school. Then after eiglit years in the First National Bank, of Austin, he entered tlie hiw offiuc ut Kingsley & Shepherd, in 1897, as student and clerk. Subsequently he took two suinnior courses iu the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. In 1908 he went south as first sergeant of Comi)any G, Twelfth JMinnesota Volunteer Infantry. October 1, 1901, he was admitted to the bar, and a year later formed a partnership with Senator F. E. Putnam, of Blue Earth, ]\Iinu. This lirm served for some time as city attorneys of Blue Earth. September 1, 1909, Mr. Nicholseu returned to Austin, and became a partner of S. D. Catherwood in the firm of Catherwood & Nicholseu. In October, 1910, lie was appointed city attorney. He is a member of the Masonic body, the Commercial Club and other organizations. The subject of this sketch was married September 29, 1903, at Austin, to Annie B. McBride, daughter of E. P. McBride, the pioneer grocer, and Esther Baldwin ^McBride, his wife. Attorney aud Mrs. Nicholseu are the parents of three children : Margaret Esther, born December 7, 1904; Frank Vestlieu, born October 5, 1909, aud Richard ^leBridc, boru January 22, 1911.

Samuel Olson Forthun, now deceased, lived in Mower county from the closing year of the Civil war until the time of his death, and his example and influence were ever for the good. He was boru at Sogn, Norway, March 3, 1830, son of Ole and Annie Forthun, natives of Sogn, Norway, where they both lived aud died. Samuel O. received his education in his native country and in 1855, at the age of twenty-five, he came to America, living the first seven years in Wisconsin, where he worked on farms in Dane and Iowa counties. Then he went to South Dakota for a time. In 1865 he came to Mower county and located in LcRoy township. A few years later he purchased eighty acres of wild land, which he broke and improved, carrying on general farming and increasing his holdings until he owned 240 acres in the home farm, and other tracts of land which he divided among his children. Iu 1899 he retired from active life, and purchased a lot in the village of LeRoy, on which lie built a pleasant home where he lived until his death, ^lay 5, 1903. Samuel O. Forthun was married ^lay 23, 1863, to Anna Thompson, who was born in Norway, August 14, 1846. Her parents, ]Mr. and IMrs. Thorsten Thompson, were natives of Norway, came to America in 1860. lived in "\Viscon.sin for a while, and still later went to Grand Forks, N. D., where the father died in 1895, and the mother in 1907. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Forthun has been blessed with thirteen cliildren : Ole lives in Thick River Falls. Minn. : Thomas is in California for his health ; Anna is wife of 11. II. Bither. of

LeRoy village ; Samuel is dead ; Christian is at Cresco, Iowa, and is deputy county auditor of Howard county; Elias lives in the state of Washington; Eachel, a milliner by trade, is home with her mother ; John lives in Barnesville, Minn. ; ]\Iartin, a carpenter, lives in Minneapolis ; Serena is dead ; Christina teaches in South Dakota ; Gena teaches in Iowa ; Peter is a student at the Southern Minnesota Normal College, Austin. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church. When Mr. Forthun and family moved from Wisconsin to South Dakota they Avith six other families made the move in covered wagons drawn by oxen, driving through the wilderness. There were very few roads. Bridges also were very scarce and often they had to ford rivers. They made the journey in about thirty days and settled near Yankton, which was then only a very small town. During the summer the grasshoppers came and destroyed completely all the crops in that locality in two or three hours. After that the settlers had to drive ninety miles for provisions. In the spring the danger from hostile Indians drove them out. They then migrated to the vicinity of LeRoy, Minn. Here Mr. Forthun bought eighty acres ' of land. As money was very scarce at that time they lived in a cellar four years. Then they built a small frame house, in which they had lived only two days when it was burned to the ground and everything destroyed. When their three children saw the outcome of their play they ran to a corn field near by for safety. Then they were compelled to set up housekeeping to the best of their ability in the old cellar again until another house could be erected. When he came to America Mr. Forthun had just money enough to buy his ticket.

Jerry B. Yates was born in Lockport, N. Y'., in 1829. He came to Austin in 1855. In partnership with V. P. Lewis he opened the second store here. They also turned their attention to town lots, and in April, 1856, arose the familiar controversy concerning the records of the platting of Austin. At the first election in the county Mr. Yates was elected sherift' on the west side ticket by 46 majority. Yates and Lewis started the first brickyard in Austin. Finally their partnership was dissolved and Mr. Yates engaged in the grain business for a while, then moved to his fine farm near Lansing. He stayed there four years and then engaged in extensive insurance business until the time of his final illness.

George Baird, deceased, was born July 28, 1833, in New Hampshire, of Scotch ancestry, and a direct descendant of Andrew Baird, who came over in the second voyage of the Mayflower. His father was a piano maker and tuner and the boy early went to Avork in his father's shop. At fifteen he Avas bound out to Avork in a cabinet shop until he was tAventy-one. Ere that time he bought his time and went to Avork in a carriage shop. In 1854 ho, with floliii Wriiiht, wont to Chicji^o, and hocamo oiiH:afj;od in oarriago huihling, turning out the lirst liglit buggy iiuulo in tlu> city. Juno 18, 1855, was liis wotlding day, Cluirh)tto lirown Ix'ing the brido. Soon thoy oamo to Kaoino, AVis., and the next spring Mr. Baird eanic to IMower county to k)ok for hind. He preempted a quarter section in Lansing and built a log house. Ton dollars

He camped in a sheet tent on the Cedar willi llio mercury thirty degrees below. He split rails to earn a few groceries for his family. After awhile he sold his claim and did carpenter work. In 18G1 ho moved his family to Austin and a pleasant home w'as begun. AVar interrupted the building, for he enlisted in October, 1861, in the Fourth IMinnosota Infantry. His war record was as honorable at it was brave, and when discharged he held the rank of lieutenant. On his return to Austin he was appointed postmaster, but soon resigned. He was sheritl' of the county for a time. Later he again became postmaster, but died in 1895 while still in ofliee.

Orlenzer Allen was born in Allegany county. Now York, March 17, 1826, and was the twin brother of Judge Ormanzo Allen. He pursued his studies in the university at Alfred Centre. In 1842 his parents came to AVisconsin and he contimied his studies in Milton College. Ho then studied medicine with Dr. Rider, of Milton, and afterward graduated in Rush jModical College, Chicago, with honors. He also took a post graduate course for physicians and surgeons, in New York city. In 1847 he united his fortunes with those of Almeda Coon, an educated woman and successful teacher. He commenced to practice in Milton, but came to Austin in 1856, he being the first physician to settle here. After fourteen years' practice in Austin he went back to Milton, where ho died in 188:?. AViiile hero be tilled many political oftiees in county and city.

Rev. Stephen Cook was born in Vermont in 17D6, but grew up in northoin New York after ho was two years old. He was ordained at the age of thirty-eight. In 1856 lie came to Austin and a year later organized the first church here, with a membership of fifteen. In Alarch, 1860, while lal)oring in a revival at Oakland, he was stricken with paralysis. Si.\ mouths later when partially recovered he preaclied for six months again. He died of a final stroke of paralysis on October 12. 1864. Ho was married at Alalone, N. Y., in 181f), to Jonotte AVyse, who shared and assisted him in his labors and survived liim over a year. They had four children. The oldest, AVilliam AV., l)orn in 1820, was long Austin's chori.stor and superintendent of Suiulay schools, and died of paralysis August 26, 1867. The second, James N.. born September 21, 1821, studied at Oberliu for the ministry till his eyesight failed six months before he would have graduated. He was a deacon in the Congregational church at Austin from its organization till his death, September 12, 1886. The third, John F., was born May 13, 1823, became a successful merchant and owner of real estate in Austin and vicinity. The youngest, Julia A., born in 1826, married Dr. J. N. Wheat.

Rev. Alfred Cressy was born in England April 29, 1838. In the fall of 1856 he and his wife, Hannah Phelps, came by team to Lyle, where Mrs. Cressy 's parents had moved the previous spring. He preempted a claim, but sold a part of it and traded the rest for an eighty in Austin. He began studying for the ministry in Austin, and afterwards went to Hamline University, then at Red Wing, for a four years' course. He had a long and iiseful career as a clergyman and now lives in retirement in Austin.

Lyman D. Baird has long been considered Austin's most helpful citizen and his interests reach far beyond the boundaries of the city and county. In the city he has been mayor and city attorney ; in the county he has been secretary of the Mower County Old Settlers' Association and an officer of the Mower County Fair Association ; in the state he has been postmaster of the house of representatives, and a member of the board of managers of the Minnesota State Agricultural Association for more than eight years, and in that society has been chairman of the committee on amusements and privileges for the Minnesota state fair. He is at present superintendent of gates of this, the greatest fair in the United States. He is a member of the Loyal Legion, a high degree Mason, and an ardent friend of all G. A. R. projects, his father having been a distinguished and popular officer during the Civil war. However the mere mention of Mr. Baird 's offices does not do justice to his activities. He has advocated the improvement of Austin in various ways, offering his purse as well as his inflvaence and the advantage of his support. He has tendered a considerable sum for the beautifying of the mill pond and the transformation of it into a lake, proA'iding that certain conditions were met. He proffered valuable land for the building of the city hall. He gave the beautiful lamp which adorns the humane fountain; he has been active in getting business houses to locate here ; he was the first of the heavy taxpayers to advocate street paving, and the real father of the cement walks of which Austin is so proud; he has erected more houses than any other man in Austin, and in many other ways has proven a valuable citizen. With all this he has not neglected his own business, and his real estate operations in this and other states cover many hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the present time he is making a hobby of farm lands, and has acquired several tracts of land on which he will conduct agricultural op- orations aloiit;- tlie most niodcni and scientific lines. He believes iu tree planting and the general beautifying of the farm, is a free nser of i)aint on farm buildings and a great believer in the use of drain tile. lie insists that Minnesota will inside of five years raise more corn than Iowa. He is building several silos on his farms this summer, and some idea of his farming operations in the vicinity of Austin eau be had from the fact that this season, 1911. he is sowing over 1,000 acres to flax, 200 acres to corn, and 200 acres to wheat, besides 100 acres to oats, 300 acres to timothy, ten acres to roots and fifteen acres to alfalfa. He is using a gasoline engine to plow, seed and drag one tract of 700 acres. The farm is tAvelve miles west of Austin and Mr. Baird has two shifts of men working night and day. For many years he has devoted considerable attention to live stock breeding, with special attention to the beef -producing qualities of the animals. Of late, however, he is turning his interest to milk breeds. Lyman D. Baird was born in Mower county October 17, 1857. his natal place being on the farm in Lansing township, on the outskirts of Austin, which his father, George Baird, preempted in 1856. Before he was fourteen years of age he had saved $300 by raising and selling vegetables. He also earned money in other ways while at school. After leaving school he clerked for a while in a store, but later went back to the farm. Next he received an appointment as county jailer and thus began his connection with one of the incidents of the famous Page conflicts. Judge Brill fixed young Baird 's compensation at $2 per day. Judge Sherman Page, on his return from his impeachment trial, ignored this action and ordered the pay to be nothing. Mr. Baird thereupon went to the courts and won his case. At the age of twenty-one years he began to study law with G. N. Baxter at Faribault and was admitted to the bar three years later, thus practically beginning his sviccessful career. He has never practiced law. but has devoted his whole life to real estate and banking. In 1901 he was apointed national bank examiner and had charge of the national banks of Wisconsin and the large cities of Minnesota for five years. He then served as receiver of the First National Bank of Faribault for two years. In addition to the offices mentioned above ]\Ir. Baird for twenty-four years has been secretary of the Austin Building and Loan Association. He married Lila ]\I. Hall and has two daughters, Helen and Frances. The former is a graduate of St. Mary's Hall, Faribault.

James M. Sterling was l)()rn in I'itdici'. CdrtlaiKi county. New York. April 3, 1S2-4. where he lived until eleven years of age, when he moved with his parents to Lima, Livingston county, New York. After the death of his father in 1866, he bought the interest of his brothers and sisters and succeeded to the ownership and management of the home farm. In 1853 he married Helen Eldredge, of Cincinnatiis, N. Y. Of their four children, Edward H. and Nellie G. are living and reside in Austin, a daughter, Carrie, died at the age of three months, and a son, Worthy S., died in Austin in 1890, at the age of twenty-four. Having a favorable oportunity to sell the Lima farm in the spring of 1871, he decided to do so and shortly afterward came west. After spending the summer and winter of 1871 in Austin, he decided to locate in Mower county. Early in the year 1872 he purchased the farm just west of the city of Austin, known for so many years afterward as the "Sterling farm." He was a thorough, practical farmer and soon made this naturally attractive place a model farm and was long looked upon as one of the best farmers in the county. In the spring of 1896, at the age of seventy-two, wishing to retire, he sold the farm and moved into the city and built the home at 306 West Water street, where he still resides, respected by all who know him. In 1902 Mr. and Mrs. Sterling celebrated their golden wedding, and, notwithstanding his advanced age of eighty-seven, Mr. Sterling is still active, a great reader and retains his interest in current events and public afiPairs.

Knud Nelson Hougestuen, now deceased, was one of the substantial men of Frankford township. He was an ideal pioneer in every way, rugged in health, persevering of mind and stanch of character. No hardships or difficulties discouraged him, and no hard work daunted him. The Lutheran church counted him as an active worker and a consistent believer, and in his family he was a loving and considerate husband and an affectionate and generoi;s father. In his death the township lost one who had assisted materially in its progress and who was never found wanting when any progressive movement needed a capable helper. The subject of this sketch was born in Norway, September 3, 1822, son of Nels Ekabot and Sarah Neutsen, his wife. After receiving a limited education in his native parish, Knud went to Christiana, where he engaged in a general store and saved money to come to America. In this connection an interesting story is told. A few days before Mr. Hougestuen was ready to sail, one Julius Loe came into the store and their conversation turned to America. Loe expressed his desire to come to America, but also stated that he had no funds. Accordingly Mr. Hougestuen, with that generosity which always characterized his actions, offered to loan him his passage to LaCrosse from Christiana. Years afterward the two men met at LaCrosse, at which time Mr. Loe paid his indebtedness. Conversation at that time revealed the fact which neither was aware of before.

naiiu'ly. that :\Ir. Loe was a near Tclativ.' of .Mi'. Iloiinvsl ucii 's wife. Kuud NeLson Ilou^cstuou cainc to Aiiicrica in l^!.')!, laiuled in Quebec, Canada, and located in Dane eounty, Wisconsin. In 1854 he came to Frankford township, this county, and settled on section 7, where he pre-empted 120 acres of wild land. His early life here was full of hardships. He made the trip from LaCrosse here on foot, and started life here with none of the conveniences. His first house was a log cabin, and his equipment was of the most primitive. He. however, set about with hard work and intelligence to improve the place. A frame house soon replaced the log cabin, the land soon blossomed with bounteous crops, and at the time of his death, August 3, 1903, he owned 270 acres of rich land, all under cultivation. The subject of this sketch was married January 12, 1858, to Julia Sohus, born in Norway Jime 14, 1836. daughter of Julius Loe and Merit Sohus. Mrs. Hougestuen proved a most able helpmeet to her husband in all his undertakings. Since her husband's death she has rented the land, but still lives on the old place. She is a capable business woman and is well liked in the comnmnity. It is worthy of note here that ^Ir. Hougestuen was a close personal friend of C. F. Greening, of Grand ^leadow, and transacted all his business through him. Mr. and ]\Irs. Hougestuen were blessed Avith eight children. Sarah is now Mrs. David Mink, of Washington state. Julia M., wife of W. J. Emerson, is dead. Emma is now ]Mrs. J. M. Hall, of Tacoma, Wash. Nels lives at home." Bertha is a milliner in Tacoma, Wash. Julius married Martha Svenby and lives in Belgrade, ]\Iinn. Olive graduated from the Spring Valley high school and was teaching at the time of her death. Ardena married O. Finhart, of Frankford and is dead.

Morris E. Hessler, a hustling real estate, insurance and collection man, now residing in the village of Lansing, was born in Canaan, Wayne eounty, Ohio, September 11, 1850. He came to Lansing in 1889 and took up the business which he has since followed. For the past twenty years Mr. Hessler has been agent for the Slower County Fire and Lightning Mutual Insurance Company, being now the oldest agent in the employ of that company. The ancestry of Mr. Hessler is a most interesting one. The founder of the family was a native of Hesse. Germany, and was sent to America to fight with the British against the Colonists during the Revolution. He was captured by the Americans and after being paroled, settled down in New York as a tailor, being known as Henry IIes.sler. Sr. It is interesting to note that while following his occupation in New York Henry Hessler, Sr.. made a suit of clothes for the illustrious General George Washington. Henry Hessler, Jr.. son of the first Henry, was born in New York city and moved to Canajohario, ilont- goniory county, New York. George Hessler, Sr., was the son of Hcury Ilessler, Jr. He was born in 1809, and on October 5, 1830, was married by Rev. Zacariah Paddock to Anna Maria Prentiss. She was born in Cooperstown, Otsego county. New York, and when a child her parents moved to Paris, Oneida county, New York. She was reared by Dr. 0. P. Judd, an early governor of the Sandwich Islands. At the age of sixteen she started teaching at C'asonovia, N. Y., and there met George Hessler, Sr. In 1840 George Hessler, Sr., and his wife wont to Ohio and settled" at a place called Canaan Center. George Hessler, Sr., died at Wooster, Ohio, November 18, 1886, at the age of seventyseven years. His wife, Anna Maria Prentiss Hessler, died in 1892 at the age of eighty-four years. Morris E. Hessler was married July 22, 1874, to May Gardner, daughter of John and Jennie Gardner. This union was blessed with two children : Anna Maude, married Albert Ackerman, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Alice Lunetie married Henry Latham, of Independence, Kans., and they liave four children : Lucille S., Ladorna May, John Wesley and Laurie Belle.

George W. Bassett, a native son of ]\Iower county, farms on 185 acres in UdolpJio, and has been very successful in his agricultural operjitions. He was born on the farm where he still resides August 1, 1862, son of Edward and Jane E. McQuivey Bassett. He was educated in the district schools, grew to manhood on the farm, and married Cora M. Elkius, daughter of Jo.hn and Phoebe (Ricker) Elkins, and this union has been blessed with three children : Alva E., of Lansing township, and Wesley I. and Winfred R. at home. Mr. Bassett is a Republican in politics and was for some time clerk of school district 76. At nineteen years of age lie started farming for himself on the home farm. lie has erected some good buildings and all of his land ex('('])t nvcnly-tiv(> acres of timber is vuidcr cultivation.

Thomas Savage is a well-tliought-of citizen of AVindon; townsliiji, where he li;is lived since 1864. lie has taken his share in llie (lexclopineiil ol the eouiily. hns been justice of the peace, was on Ihe school bojird a juimber of years and has done his town sei-viee in oilier ways. He is a genial, Avhole-souled gentleman and his memory in regard to events in Windom and surrounding townships is as clear as is usually that of a man lialf his age. Thomas Savage was born in County Dublin, Ireland, October 25, 18-i8, son of John and Elizabeth (Danne) Savage. He came to America with his father and brother in 1851 and lived in Rockaway, Long Island, N. Y., three years. From there they went to Middletown Point, Monmouth county. New Jersey, where they lived two years. Thomas came to Illinois in 1856 and two yeai's later, in 1858, took up his residence in Iowa. In the fall of 1864 he came to Mower coiiiity and rented land on wliich was a lo^ house in whieh he lived. Later he pureliased land in Windoin township. On this farm he ereeted a frame house and suffered the privations of pioneer life. The subject of this sketeh iiiarried Elizabeth Guinney, daughter of Timothy Guinney. She died January 24, 1911, leaving seven children : Mary E., wife of Andrew Smith ; Annie S., wife of George AV. Smith ; Nellie, v\'ife of Frank Gerrard; Lillie, wife of Henry M. Rolfe; Thomas D.; Victoria, wife of Lew^ Lewis, and Ollie, a teacher in the AusImi high school. The death of Mrs. Savage will long be moiinuul l)y friends and relatives. She was a loving and sympatheti' wife and an atfectionate and considerate mother. Hand in hand Avith her husband she faced the difficulties of life and lived to see her efforts crowned with the blessings of a contented life and happy family.

Edward Bassett was born in New York city. July 20, 1819. His parents moved to Michigan in 1828 and there died, the father in 1860 and the mother in 1882. Edward grew to manhood in Michigan and received a good common school education. He was twice married. In November, 1848, he married Levina Bruce, a native of Ohio, and moved to Dane county, Wisconsin, where his wife died in 1856. To his first marriage were born three children - Mary. "William and Charles. For his second wife he married Jane JMcQuivey in July, 1857. She was a native of Vermont. In the same month Mr. Bassett came to Mower county to look at the country, and, being well pleased, took a claim and returned to Wisconsin. In the fall of 1858 he returned to his claim and the following July he was joined by his family, who moved into the house he had erected on the south half of section 21 in Udolpho. It is interesting to note that Mr. Bassett met the family at McGregor with an ox team and brought them here iu that conveyance. Jane McQuivey Bassett died November 2, 1864, leaving four children: Edson, of Washington; Judson, of Michigan; George W., of Tdolpho, and Elbra J., of North Dakota. Mr. Bassett was interested in all public affairs and served in many township offices. He gave his religious affiliation to the Baptist church. lie died June 24, 1897.

J. H. Smith, a successful farmer of Udolpho township, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, Marcli 2, 1861, son of Samuel and Emma (Sanford) Smith. At the age of three years he came with his parents to IMower county and located on section 33, T'dolpho township, where he still resides. He married Jennie York, daughter of O. R. York, and this union has been blessed with three children: Oscar Sanuiel, Eleanor Elizabetli and Alice Louise.

of English descent. His great-grandfather was the tirst settler of Windsor, Vt. The Smith family came from England in 1635 and settled in Hartford, Conn. Samuel Smith and wife first came to Mower county in 1857 and Samuel had much to do with the early history of Udolpho and Lansing as a religious and educational leader. He taught the A'illage school in Lansing when there were more than seventy-five pupils of all ages in one room. He knew what pioneer life was. The folloAving children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Ida, Mrs. Julia Bloss, James H., Mrs. Emma Ullerick, Sophia and Mrs. Mattie Johnson. Samuel Smith died in December, 1870, at the age of thirty-six. His wife, Emma Sanford Smith, was born in Rockford, 111., her father being a native of Connecticut and a minister of the gospel, riding a circuit in Illinois and Michigan until his deafness caused his practical retirement.

Oscar R. York was born in North Stoniugton. Conn., April 27, 1843, son of Reuben and Elizabeth (Brown) York, also of that place. He remained in his native village until 1866, when he came to Brownsdale and for two years worked for his uncle, A. D. Brown. Then he purchased the southwest quarter of section 2 and built on section 9. In 187-1 he returned to Connecticut and on February 17 of that year married Sarah Stanton, of VoIuqtown, Conn. This union was blessed with one child, Mrs. Jennie Smith. Mr. York worked on his farm until after the death of his wife, November 29, 1905. In 1908 he went to Udolpho and took up his home with his daughter, Mrs. Smith. His wife, Sarah Stanton York, was born August 9, 1845, in Voluntown, Conn., daughter of Gen. William Stanton. LTntil the time of her death she was an active worker in the Baptist church and Sunday school at Brownsdale.

John Reding, assessor of the city of Austin, was born in Luxemberg, Germany, March 15, 1863, the son of Peter and Mary Reding, who brought their family to America in 1869 and settled in Union township, Mitchell county, loAva. Here Peter Reding farmed about eighteen years and here his wife died, May 24, 1881, after which he moved to Adams in this county and retired. John Reding came to America with his parents in 1869 and located in Mitchell county, Iowa. There he attended the district schools and later entered the Mankato high school. After completing his schooling he returned to the home farm. Later he engaged in the hardware business five years at Adams. Subsequently he again took up agricultural pursuits and farmed four years in Mitchell county, Iowa. Then he rented the farm and moved to Lyle, this county, where he once more engaged in the hardware business, at the same time conducting a farm near the village. In 1901 he came to Austin" and engaged in the land business, being- coniieeted for two ycai's with Ilci'bert St. I.c(l<;-er in tlie Southern ^Minnesota Land Conijiany oflicc. Jn IDlU ho was made assessor of Austin. The same year he ereeted a comfortable resideiiee on Freeborn street, where he owns ten lots. Aside from this projierty he lias several other land holdiiv^s, among them a 240-a<'re faiiu in ^litehell county. He is still interested in farming and is one of the stockholders in the Austin Cement and Tile Company. ]\Ir. Reding married Nellie Smith, daughter of Charles Smith, and they have three children : Marie L., Agnes V. and Esther E. The oldest is a milliner in Minneapolis. The others are at home.

M. N. Clausen, city engineer of Austin, was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, oldest son of Rev. C. L. Clausen and ]\Iartha Rasmussen, his wife, natives of Denmark. His early education was received in the public schools, in Decorah college at Decorah, Iowa, and in the Cedar Valley seminary at Osage, Iowa. He was at the latter institution in 1867 when his father decided to visit the old country. M. N. accompanied his father across the water and entered a theological school in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he studied three years, twice translating the New Testament from the Greek to the Danish language. At the end of this period he entered the Polytechnic school in the same city and there studied civil engineering. Then for two years he taught language. In 1878 the steamship line of Copenhagen selected four men to come to America and look over the southern states, especially Texas, with a view to locating Danish colonies. Mr. Clausen was made chairman of the delegation. After completing his task he went to New York city and then visited his parents in Virginia. He remained in the latter state three months. Then he took a trip with his mother to AVa.shington, D. C, and subsequently returned to his childhood home. At the end of this trip he had a call from Osage, Mitchell county, to become county surveyor of that county. This he accepted and held the position nine years. In 1889 he moved to Austin, purchased two lots on the corner of Baldwin and Third streets and there erected a home. He was made city surveyor of Austin and has at intervals since served in that office, occupying the position at present. He has also served as county surveyor. In 1892 he sold his property here and purchased a tract of timber land on Puget Soiind, wjiich he still owns. On ]\Iay 20, 1911, the Austin Humane Society was organized through his efforts and he was made its president. In politics he is a strong advocate of prohibition. He is a member of St. Olaf church and was choirmaster of that congregation for many years. !Mr. Clausen was married in 1886 by his father at St. Ansgar, Iowa, to Minnie Matheson, who died February 1, 1890, leaving one son,

Clarence L., who is now in the office of his uncle, C. W. Clausen, at Olympia, AYash. Mr. Clausen has recently been made a member of the National Geographical Society.

Rev. C. L. Clausen, now deceased, the pioneer Lutheran preacher of Mower county and vicinity, was born in Denmark, November 3, 1820, and there received his education and was ordained to the ministry. There he was married to Martha Rasmussen and together they came to America in 1843. She died in November, 1846, leaving one son, M. N. Clausen, city engineer of Austin. Rev. Clausen next married Bergetha Peterson, who bore him four sons : C. W., state auditor at Olympia, Wash.; L. F., an attorney in North Dakota; E. E. ; and B. A., a druggist at Seattle, Wash. Mrs. Bergetha Clausen was born May 29, 1819, and died December 2, 1887. On coming to America Rev. Clausen located at Muskeego, Wis., and began his professional career. He established and built of logs the first Scandinavian church there. The church stood until about five years ago, when it was taken down and removed to the Augsburg Seminary grounds, midway between St. Paul and Minneapolis, and preserved, log for log, as at first constructed. The expense of the removal was borne by the clergymen of the United Lutheran congregations. In its interior is a life-sized oil painting of Rev. Clausen, as a mark of appreciation from the United Lutheran Society, showing by this honor their gratefulness for the valuable services rendered by him to the organization. Mr. Clausen preached at' Muskeego only a short period, after which he removed to Rock Prairie, Wis., and there established and built another church, as well as a residence, all of limestone. In 1852 he went to Iowa and purchased a tract of government land on which now stands the village of St. Ansgar. In 1853 he returned to Rock Prairie and moved his family to his new location, making the trip by ox team. He established his new residence, organized a congregation and became its preacher. Shortly afterward he had the government surveyor plat the townsite of St. Ansgar on his property. He immediately erected himself a new residence on the townsite and was the prime mover and fountain head of what is now St. Ansgar. He constructed a dam across the Cedar river, biiilt a saw mill, sold lots and made various improvements. In 1861 he became chaplain of the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served until he received a partial stroke of paralysis, after which he was honorably discharged and returned to St. Ansgar, where he resumed his professional work. In 1872 he settled in Virginia, thirty miles north of Richmond, on the Rappahannock. After recovering his health he came back in 1878 and took up his home in Blooming Prairie, Minn., preaching for several con- gregations. About 1887 ho roeoived his second stroke iiiid resigned. He then retired and took up his home in Austin. lie made sevei-al visits to his sons in Washington and on his last trip received the fatal tliird stroke, which caused his death February 20, 1892. He was brought back from Wa.shington to Austin for interment. Mr. Clausen's history is a part of the story of the growth of the Lutheran religion in America, and his career is told in the sketches of the various Norwegian churches of the coiuity as presented in this present work. It is worthy of note that just after the close of the Civil war a controversy arose in the Lutheran Synod as to the right of slavery. Rev. Clausen held that it was wrong according to the Scriptures. ]\Iany other clergymen of the synod held that slavery w^as right. This caused no little trouble and discord in the congregation. In 1867 Rev. Clausen decided to take a trip to Christiana. There he consulted two of the leading theologians in the University of Christiana and they agreed with him on the question of slavery. This trip Avas partly for the above cause and partly for the purpose of visiting his old home and friends. The governor of Iowa, hearing of his intended trip, bestowed upon him the honor of representing that state at the Paris Exposition of 1867. The portrait of Rev. Clausen which appears in this volume was taken on his native island, Aero, in Denmark, at forty-seven years of age.

Erick Hanson is one of the modern farmers of JMower county. He owns a fine place in Marshall township, has a comfortal)le residence siirrouuded with trees and shrubs, and a suitable complement of barns and outbuildings. He was born in Norway in 1871, son of Hans Hanson and Gertrude Peterson, his wife, who came to America in 1873 and in due time purchased eighty acres in section 25, Marshall township. Erick, who was brought to this country at the age of two years, w^as here reared to manhood, working on the home farm and attending the public schools. AVhen twenty years of age he purchased seventy-five and a fraction acres in section 13, Marshall township, and to this he has added from time to time until he now owns 192 and a fraction acres, the fraction being caused by the fact that the farm is crossed by the right of way of the Chicago, Mihvaukee & St. Paul. IMr. Hanson has recently erected a large house and some excellent barns equipped with a windmill and gasoline engine, as well as with a fourteen-horsepower steam traction engine, which is used for feed grinding and various other work, both for himself and his neigli])ors. He was formerly interested in raising grain, l)ut now devotes his attention largely to cattle for beef and dniry purposes, his favorite breed being the Aberdccn-Arigus. of wliich hr lias a lin-d (»f some fifty or sixty pure bloods. The subject of this sketch is a Lutheran in religion and a Eepublican in politics. In 1894 he married Susie Slindee, daughter of Ole O. Slindee, of Marshall township. This union has been blessed Avith one bright son, Irving, who is making an excellent record in the public schools.

William FurloEg, now deceased, one of the early pioneers of Windom township, was a man of solid worth and took his part in the development of the country in the pioneer days. He was born m Tipperary, Ireland, January 6, 1798, and there grew to manhood, devoting his time to agricultural pursuits. There he was also married to Sarah Carter, who was a native of the same county. In 1852 they left their native land and started for America, landing in New York, but locating at once in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where they remained on a farm two years. In 1854 they went to Galena, 111., where they rented a farm until the spring of 1857, when they came to Mower county and entered the northeast quarter of section 8 in what is now known as the town of Windom. Here he erected a log house and endured at first all the hardships incident to pioneer life. Gradually he improved his land and when prosperity warranted it, erected a new home and barns. He died March 24, 1879, and his wife passed away July 27, 1872. They were the parents of seven children : Thomas, Mary, Patrick, James, William, John J. and Ellen.

Hon. John J. Furlong. John J. Furlong, son of William and Sarah (Carter) Furlong, was born in Tipperary county, Ireland, February 2, 1849, and came to America with his parents in 1852. (See life of William Furlong.) He attended the public school in Austin, and like all the boys of those early days, spent most of his vacation and spare time in hard work on the farm. May 25, 1880, he was married to Agnes Ryan, daughter of John and Johannah Ryan, of Albert Lea. She died October 23, 1897, leaving four children, May V., Loretta D., William A. and Charles, the latter of whom died at the age of sixteen. There are few men in the state with a wider acquaintanceship than Mr. Furlong. His success in agriculture, his natural aptitude in politics, his genial nature, combined with hard common sense, won him friends in all walks of life. A man of great will power and tireless energy, he was a good fighter in politics and a good loser when the battle went against him, which was seldom. For ten years he represented his district in the legislature. He was the state treasurer of the World's Fair Commission in 1893. His success in thoroughbred stock raising won him prominent positions in the various stock breeders' associations, a few of which we mention: President of the Swine Breeders' Association of Minnesota, president of the Minnesota Live Stock Breeders'

Hon. J. J. Furlong David H. Stimson

Association, member of tlie exeentive hoard of tlie Slieef) Breeders' Association of ^Minnesota, president of the First Congressional Live Stock Breeders' Association, president of tlie Live Stock Sanitary Board of Minnesota. He has also taken a great interest in agricultural fairs, and is a life member of the Mower County Agricultural Society, of which he was president for fifteen years. He has been connected with the Minnesota State Fair Association and for two years was its vice-president and came within a few votes of being elected president in 1910. He is now president of the Federation of County Fairs of Minnesota. Mr. Furlong is a strong believer in mutual insurance and he has been president of the Mower County Farmers' Mutual Fire & Lightning Company for many years. This company ranks first of all the mutual insurance companies of the state. He has also been vice-president of the National Association of Insurance Companies. He is a life member of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society and was a member of the board of managers five years. He is also a member of the State Horticultural Society. In township affairs he has been chairman for a number of years and is now a justice of the peace. AYhile Mr. Furlong has been prominent in these various roles of life, his greatest work for Mower county was on his 320-acre farm, "Columbian" stock farm, which is located three and one-half miles east of Austin. This beautiful and well-kept farm won the $1,000 prize offered by James J. Hill for the best farm in the First Congressional district. Mr. Fiirlong is a breeder of registered Shorthorn cattle, Cotswold sheep, Poland-China swine and highgrade Pereheron horses. Mr. Furlong is past exalted ruler of the Austin Lodge, 414, B. P. 0. E.. a member of the Austin Lodge, A. 0. U. W., Knights of Columbus, St. Augustine's Abstinence Society and was for a time a prominent member of Austin Lodge, I. 0. O. F., and Austin Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He has held township offices and is interested in all movements for the upbuilding of MoAver county and the state of Minnesota; is president of the Catholic Cemetery Association, which perpetuates continual care, and was secretary of St. Augustine's parish of Austin for a good many years, both during and for many years after its organization.

David Hopkins Stimson, deceased, was born in Danby, Vt., August 29, 1846, son of William and Aurora (Hopkins) Stimson, prominent farmers of Bennington. Vt. The father was one of seven sons and seven daughters and the motlier was one of six sons and six daughters. They, however, had but three .sons, David, ^Yiliam and Homer, the latter two of whom are dead. David, the subject of this sketch, received his education in Danby and graduated from the Manchester college at Manchester, Vt.

Subsequently he came west to Chicago and engaged in the carpenter business until 1872, when he came to Mower county, and after locating in Austin, engaged in contracting for a period. Later he was appointed deputy sheriff and served under Sheriffs Hall and Corey. Afterward he engaged in the real estate and loan business until 1902, when he was made superintendent of the Odd Fellows' Home at Northfield, Minn. There he removed his family. In 1905 he took his family to the Pacific coast and subsequentlj^ returned to Austin, where he resumed his previous business. He died July 26, 1907. Mr. Stimson was interested in many public movements and among his offices and activities may be mentioned the following: In the Odd FelloAvs he passed through all the chairs of the local lodge, was state representative to the national grand lodge and was grand master of the state grand lodge; in Oakwood cemetery affairs he served as president of the board until his death and was active in the movement which resulted in the erection of the chapel; in the Austin Building and Loan Association he was an active worker and for several years an officer; in the county fair projects he was also a hard worker and a member of the board ; in the Austin Dairy Company he was instrumental in the organization and was treasurer and director at the time of his death. In addition to his many other interests he purchased 160 acres of land in Lansing township, near Ramsey, erected a home and buildings thereon and kept some forty head of cattle, thus conducting a dairy farm in connection Math his dairy interests in Austin. The farm is now rented. Mr. Stimson also owned a residence at 310 Mankato street, Austin, where the family has resided for thirty-three years. The subject of this sketch was married, at Chicago, December 1, 1875, to Dora E. Jones, born October 28, 1853, at Tryonville, CraAvford county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Lyman L. and Elizabeth J. (Hartwell) Jones, natives ,of Chautauqua county, Ncav York, who went to CraAvford county, Pennsylvania, about 1848 and located at Tryonville, Avhere jjyman L. engaged as a hotel proprietor. In 1878 the family went to Brookings, Brookings county. South Dakota, and there Lyman L. become a carpenter, contractor and builder. He erected some of the first buildings in that place. After several years he was elected judge of probate and served in that office until ill health caused his retirement. He died in Austin. His Avife died in Sioux City, Iowa. Judge and Mrs. Jones had four children. Albert is dead. Dora E. is Mrs. David H. Stimson, of Austin. Arthur lives in Illinois. Georgetta is Mrs. F. R. Preston, of Minneapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Stimson had three children. Ora L. was born March 24, 1878, and died November 23. 1893. Rayburn L. is in the real estate business Avith E. H. Smith, of

Austin. He is a stockholder and directoi- in I lie Anstin Dairy Company and lives at luniie. rlessie A.. Ixn-n '\\;\y !», 1SS4, is also a stockholder in the Anstin Dairy ('()nii)any and also lives at home. Since her hnsbaud's death I\lrs. Stinison has been treasurer of the Austin Dairy Company.

Frank Johnson, of IMarshall township, is one of the prominent Swedish-Americans of Mower county and is highly regarded among his friends and neighbors. He has taken an active interest in township and educational affairs and has served on the town board for ten years and on the school board of district 82 for fifteen years, his services in both capacities meeting with the favor and approbation of his fellow citizens. He was born in 1842, son of John Daniel Johnson, and came from Sweden to the United States in 1869, first finding work as a railroad bridge carpenter, in which work he was engaged for thirty years, working at different times for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Northern Pacific, the Great Northern and the Canadian Pacific. During this period he traveled extensively, saw much of the country and gained a wide knowledge of men and events. In 1893 he came to Mower county and purchased eighty acres in section 7, ^Marshall township, where he now has 240 acres. ]\Ir. Johnson has brought his scientific knowledge and long experience to bear on farm problems and has planned and erected every building on the place himself. He farms on an extensive scale, raises general crops and makes a specialty of grain raising and the breeding of Black Polls. In 1894 Mr. Johnson married Mary Peterson, a native of Sweden, and they have three children.

A. B. Vaughan, one of the most honored of the early pioneers of ]Mower county, was born in Clinton county. New York, June 6, 1806. He received a good education and took up the profession of civil engineering. In 1843 he moved to Kock county, "Wisconsin, and there practiced his profession in connection Avith farming until 1849, when he engaged in the mercantile 'business, which he conducted until the summer of 1854, when, in company with his sons, P. D. and John G., he came to IMower county. Here they took a claim, hired a house built and returned to AVisconsin the same fall. The next spring he returned to Mower county with his family of five sons and two daughters. He brought with him from "Wisconsin his stock of merchandise and after reaching Mower county, erected the first store in Austin, engaging in trade with his oldest son, P. D. Vaughan. ]\Ir. "Vaughan was the first postmaster in Austin, keeping the office in his store. In 1855 he purchased a (luartcr interest in the towiisite of Austin. In the fall he was elected a member of the territorial legislature as the first representative from Mower county, but was eheated out of the ojiiKjrtunity of serving by "W. B. ("ovell. who was defeated at the poUs, but who filed a certifieate of election with the register of deeds of Houston county. lh\ Vaughan was a delegate to the state constitutional convention and was also the first judge of probate in this county. He was one of the charter members of the Austin lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also attained higher IVlasonic degrees. He was also a justice of the peace and held that office at the time of his death. The subject of this sketch was one of the incorporators and directors of the Minnesota Central railroad, by the failure of which he lost heavily. He was prominently connected with the building up of Austin and with the organization of the county. He was also proprietor of the townsite of Lansing. His death, October 3, 1876, was sincerely mourned. His wife, Hepzibeth Bean, whom he married in January, 1828, was born in Milton, Vt., March 10, 1805, and died in Lansing, December 14, 1864.

John G. Vaughan, an early and respected pioneer of Mower county, was born in Saranac, Clinton county, New York, May 30, 1832, second son of A. B. Vaughan, of honored memory. He came with his parents to Rock county, Wisconsin, and in the fall of 1854, in company with his father and elder brothei", and took a claim, returning to Wisconsin the same fall. In the spring of 1855 he came back to Mower county, bringing teams and supplies. He at once settled on his claim in Lansing township and there he still resides. He is a prominent citizen and has held various offices. He was married, March 18, 1854, to Mary R. Frost, born in Vermont, September 30, 1834. To this union eight children were born, of whom six are living - Clara, Burton F., Harvey A., George E., Stanley H. and Mary. Clara is the wife of John Beattie. Burton F. married Mary Long. Harvey A. married Gertie Wheeler. George E. married Mary Case. Stanley II. married Mary D. Young, and they have three children. ]\Irs. Vaughan died October 6, 1902.

J. A. Pinkava, a representative citizen of Red Rock township, was born in Bohemia, March 6, 1863, son of Joseph and Ann (Potochek) Pinkava, who brought him to America in 1880 when he was seventeen years of age. The family came directly to Austin and the men of the family worked out for a time. In 1882 Joseph went to Winnipeg, Canada, and a year later started firing on the Canadian Pacific. Eight months after this he went to Calgary with a view of taking a homestead, but not liking the locality, he went to northern Minnesota. In 1886 he went to Jlinneapolis and worked in a sawmill for a while, after which he learned the molder's trade. In 1887 he came back to IMower county and helped his brother pay for a farm he had purchased in Red Rock township. Then he bought a threshing machine, the first in Red Rock township, and followed farming and thresh- iug with Ernest Sachese for throe yciirs. Tlicii he |.iirch;ised his partner's interest and conducted tlie Imsincss iiloiic two years, subsequently selling to his brother, James, and Edward iMott. In 1890 he purchased a farm of 160 acres in the northwest quarter of section 20, Red Rock township, and erected a new home and other buildings. He has also acquired forty acres in an adjoining section and 160 acres in section 31, AVindom, both of which he conducts, using modern methods and breeding Durham cattle and Pereheron horses. He has been treasurer of school district 68 for several years. Mr. Pinkava is a man of sociable disposition and has allied himself with the Bohemian Benevolent Society. The subject of this sketch was married, February 16, 1890, to Anna A., daughter of Vit and Sarah Seifert, a family which came to America at an early day. In the Pinkava home are five children: Adolph, William, Joseph, Arthur and Iva, all on the home farm.

John A. Stephan, banker, mei-chant and postmaster o£ Waltham, was born at Ottawa, Waukesha county, AVisconsin, May 22, 1859. son of William and Theresa (Zimmerman ) Stepluin, who reared him to agricultural pursuits, in the meantime atfording him the means of obtaining a good common school education. At the age of twenty-four he became a carpenter, and Avorked at that trade in Wisconsin for one year, after wliicli he caiue to AValtham and followed the same trade another ycai-. Tlien he opened up a general store in a building which he liad erected for the purpose, the first goods being sold over tlic counter September 26, 1885. The original building has received a number of additions, and the business has prospered. In March, 1886, Mr. Stephan was appointed postmaster at AValtham, a position he has since filled with honor and credit. The subject of this sketch has not, however, confined his interests to his store. He owns a fine 240-acre farm in the township, is vice president of the Waltham State Bank, is interested in the telephone business, and Avas one of the organizers and is still a stockholder in the Waltham Co-operative Cheese Factory. He is a Republican in politics, and at the incorporation of Waltham village was named as its first president, a position he held for several terms. He was married October 2, 1884, to Ada Lurbey, who died in April, 1900, leaving three children: Ethel AI., Gladys L. and B(>ulaii M. Ethel M. was born June 22, 1888, graduated from the Austin high scliool and is now assistant in the postoffice at AValtham and bookkeeper for her father. Gladys L. was born November 22, 1893, and now attends the Austin high school. Beulah M. was born December 26, 1897. ]Mr. Stephan was married September 22, 1903, to Lillian Hayes. Tii.- fainily faitii is that of tli.« Episcopal church.

William Stephan was born in Germany and married Theresa Zimmerman. They came to America about 1847, and lived in New York city a year. In 1848 they came west to Wisconsin, and located in Ottawa township, Waukesha county, and engaged in farming. William Stephan died about 1890 and his wife still lives on the old homestead at the good old age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of eight children : William is dead ; Katie is now Mrs. Gust Baach, of Blooming Prairie; John A. lives in AVaUham ; Lena is Mrs. Philip Kramer, of Kenyon, ^linu. ; Margaret is Mrs. Fred Baach, of Austin ; Fred lives on the old homestead in Waukesha county, AVisconsin ; Annie is Mrs. Elliott Cory, of Elkhorn, AVis., and iSarah is Airs. Fred Seifert, of Staubvilie, N. D.

Charles L. Schwartz, one of the efficient county commissioners of Alower county, has occupied a number of important positions, having served as a township supervisor, clerk and chairman of his school district many years, and also township assessor for some years. He was born in Ohio, February 7, 1851, son of John C. and Caroline (Schmidt) Schwartz, and was brought by his parents to Sheboygan county, where he received his common school education and grew to manhood. At the age of seventeen he started out in life for himself by securing employment in a mineral water bottling plant in Eochester, Alinn. Later he took up farming, and located in Sargent, in 1877, where he followed agricultural pursuits from 1877 to 1907, this span of years forming a period of hard work, successful labor and efficient service. In 1907 he gave up farm life and moved to the village, where he was saddened the following year by the loss of his wife. He was elected to his present position in 1908. The subject of this sketch married Otellea LaBudde, born in Gerniany of French descent. This union has resulted in four children : Antonie, wife of Frank I\Iartin, of Sargeant township ; Ferdinand C, Cora A. C, Oscar A. and Eeinhold F. Cora is the wife of John F. Ziemer, and they have four children: Raymond, Florence, Harold and Lynn. Ferdinand C, who is a rural mail carrier, married Kate Wiedeman. daughter of Jacob and Katharine (AVegmann) AViedeman, and they have two children, Esther and Mildred H. Oscar A. married Anna Hanson, and they have one child, Fern. Eeinliold F. married Bertha Tauta, and they have one child, Evelyn.

John C. Schwartz, father of Charles L. Schwartz, was a niillv/i'ight by trade, a native of Germany. He came to America in 18-17, lived in Ohio seven years, then resided some time at Sheboygan, Wis., and about 1873 located in Rochester, Alinn., where he died in 1879, his wife passing away a year later.