Rice County, Minnesota - Chapter 57: Liocation and Desoeiption Earlt Settlement, 1882

Chapter 57: Liocation and Desoeiption Earlt Settlement

The location of this town may be thus described. It is the second from the eastern boundary of the county, on the south tier of townships. Its contiguous surroundings are, Richland on the east. Cannon City and Faribault on the north, Warsaw on the west, and Steele county on the south.

The )]rincipal river is Straight River, which flows quite faithfully toward the north, a little west of the center. Mud Creek and Rush Creek with several other branches join it in its course. The river leaves the town from section four, and a quarter of a mile west it returns, moving directly south to turn west and again get beyond the town limits on the line between sections five and six, passing through Faribault. A.s a rule, the creeks and rivers carry a belt of timber that is <iuite heavy for a mile or two wide, making about one-third of the town covered with timber.

On the east side is the noted F.ast Prairie, with its black loam from eighteen inches to two feet in depth, with a blue clay subsoil, and laying so low that artificial drainage has to be resorted to. On the west side the soil is sandy, with a gravel subsoil on what is known as the low prairie, which extends west three-fourths of a mile, and north from the southern line about three and one-half jniles. The rest of the town is known as High Prairie, which is a sort of table land with a black loam and clay subsoil, making the richest kind of soil for any crops suitable to this latitude.

Early Settlement

The first actual settler in this town was Edward H. Cutts, who came from Vermont, having stopped a while at the head of Lake Pepin, in the year 1853. His first visit here was in December of that year, and he selected a claim in sections twenty and twenty-one. Late in February, 1854, he returned with Jacob Chesrown, who was a young man, and another by the name of Rouse, who were hired by Mr. Cutts. They started from Hastings with a yoke of oxen, a cow, and a pony, with supplies on a sled, and for the first day had a good many snowbanks to shovel through. When twelve miles out they lost the trail, and while looking right and left for it one of the men was sent ow ahead to a piece of timber to build a fire and pirepare supper. It was getting dark and they heard a pack of wolves comiL."^. One of them seized the axe and the other got his pistol ready, but they crossed 'at a little distance, evidently on tlie track of a deer. The next day the grouDtl got bare and it was literally "hard sledding." The next night the camp was on the prairie, and liy picking up every stick they could find and usiug what they could spare of the ends of the sled stakes, got up quite a good fire. They got out of hay, and in the night the cattle took the back track and Mr. Cutts had to gallop back on the pony after them fur five or six miles. They mixed up some meal in a handkerchief and baked a cake in the ashes. Before they readied Fa;ibault the sled had to be abandoned and a wagon secured, with which he finally got his things on his place and began to build. In a few days his cow had a calf, and one night a timber wolf undertook to carry it off, but he drove the brute away and took the calf inside. There came up a firghtful snow storm, and as he had no shelter, except the lee side of the cabin, he had to take the cow in also until the storm had subsided. Mr. Outts built the first log cabin in town, and the first frame house; the first house was burned in the winter of 185.5-56. The next winter iie went to get married, and brought his wife as far as Illinois aud returned, having a serious time in getting through. Traveling in those days was not the pastime it is now. When at last Mrs. Cutts came on he went to meet her in an ox cart, and she liad to make a part of the journey on foot, stopping at that noted sod tavern, wheie they met Dr. Jewett, who had also been to meet his family.

The town received a few settlers in 1S53. Nathaniel Meyers, with his family, came and located on section twenty-eight. He was from New York, but has passed on to the great majority. His son, John M., remains on the old homestead.

John Luther Cabot, a single man, also from New York, came at the same time. He was born in 1831, and remained here a few years, removing to Goodhue county.

The spring of 1854 brought a few more venturesome individuals, among whom should lie noted, Richmond Jones, of New York, wliose life has been spared to the present time.

George W. Marks secured a place in section eleven from whence he was transferred to " the other shore" on the 27th of November, 1875. His widow is still in town.

The town was named in honor of Samuel Walcott from Masschusetts, who was a very able, energetic, and talented man, making everything lively around his vicinity, but after a time his mind became distraught, and he found an abiding place in an insane retreat in his native State. He was public spirited, liberal minded, aud with unbounded enthusiasm, and had he remained, who can tell what projects for the improvement of his adopted town he might have carried out.

Events Of Interest

The first religious exercises were by Elder Crist, a Methodist minister, in 1855, in the spring, at a private house owned by Mr. Richardson, on section thirty-two.

An early birth was Laura E., daughter of George and Hannah M. Dorrauce, on the 3d of February, 1855, on section twenty -two in a log cabin. She was married on the 14th of December, 1878, and the following spring removed to Y'ellow Medicine eounty.

The first marriage remembered was on the 25th of December, 1856, when Edward Beach and Elizabeth Beardsley were united in the bonds of wedlock; they have since been united in death.

The fir.st death was that of Mrs. Axta Jones, wife of Richmond Jones, who was struck by lightning on the 4th of July, 1854, while in their tent in section twenty-nine, in the presence of her husband, two children, her brother, aud John Luther Cabot. It was most remarkable that she alone of the whole number should have been stricken down.

The following paragraph appeared in the local papers in November, 1878: "Intelligence has just reached here that a farmer, whose name could not be learned, residing near Walcott, a little station situated between Faribault and Medford, on the Iowa division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, had administered a lesson to two tramps, that by reason of its severity will never be appreciated by them in this world, but will have a wholesome effect in deterring others from attempting similar crimes. The two tramps above mentioned, under cover of the darkness, entered a wheat field where a self-binding harvester had been at work during the day, and deliberately piling the newly cut grain about the machine prepared to cremate both grain and harvester. Unfortunately for the success of tbeir plans, the owner, whose suspicions had been aroused during the day, happened with a douljle-barreled shotgun just as they applied the torch, and with an impartiality which did him credit, gave each the contents of a barrel. Result, two dead tramps and a little damage to the grain. The farmer hurried to Faribault after the dee 1 and gave himself up to the authorities, but instead of being detained was told to go back to his farm, and if another such attempt to destroy his property was made to serve the perpetrators in a like manner."

The first railroad survey was made through the town iu 18.58, and grading began in 1850, but it was not until 18(i8, that the rumbling of the cars was first heard. The road runs through the southwest quarter of the town between the middle of the southern boundary of section thirty-two and the middle of the western boundary of section eighteen. In 1877, a preliminary survey was made through the northern part uf the town for an east and west line.

The first blacksmith shop was erected in 1860, on section thirty-six, by Mr. McLaughlin, who wrought the plastic iron and steel for two years, when he packed up his ''kit" and went "West." From the time when that fire went out. the town had no sou of Vulcan within its borders until 1881, when Hans Floom, a Norsk, started a forge in section twenty-four, and he is still making the sparks fly.

Samuel Livingston, from 1860 to 1867, was known as the "VValcott Lime Burner." He secured his rock from the very bed of the Straight River. E. S. Lord succeeded him, and he took the stone from the bank of the river.

There are a few farmers^on the east side, where the nature of the ground makes it impossible for a threshing machine to visit them, and they get out their grain with a flail, the good old fashioned way; of course this farming is not on a large BCide.

Some excitement was once created by the mysterious disappearance on one occasion of Jack Williams. Blood was found near the wood pile, and murder most foul wss suspected. In a few days he returned, still in the flesh.

section one. The establishment was procured in Richland and moved here by William Mathers and worked by his son. It is now owned and operated by Clifton Tucker.

This town has no public building of its own, and town meetings are held under a tent, in a barn, or under the lee side of a wood pile, as may be most convenient, somewhere on section sixteen.

Straight River Grange. - This was organized on the 5th of September, 1872, with seventy charter members. Its meetings were on Saturday evenings in sehoolhouse No. 50, and the organization kept up until 1881, when it was finally disbanded.

The Hunters of the Prairie. - In 1800, a society with this romantic name was organized, and it was kept up for ten years. The first meeting was in the sehoolhouse, when an organization was effected and officers chosen to lead in a war of extermination against the predatory animals in the vicinity, and a hunt was promptly instituted.

Two captains chose their respective follow^ers, and tlie whole community was thus divided into two clans. Everything was game, from the tail of a mouse up to the fiercest denizen of the forest. The troi^hies of the chase were the caudle appendages, and each had a value accordiuj to a preestablished scale, and the losing party had to pay certain prizes. In July, a regular picnic, which went by the name of a "Gopher Picnic" in honor of the rodent that was most numerous here, was lield, where men, women, and children gathered to participate in the sport, and after tlie contest was dei'ided bj counting the game, a dinner and other festivities were enjoyed. The number of animals takeu would run up into the thousands, and these hunts were of gi'eat value in ridding the country of the swarming pests.

Redfield Old Settlehs' Assoc.i.vnoN. - This society was organized in the schoolhouse of district No. .50, in 1858, meetings being held annually. All were admitted, men, women, and children, regardless of age, that had corae fmni the township of Eedfleld in New York State, and members were eligible from any (lortion of Rice county. In 1868, the last meeting of the society was held, the membership having dwindled down to ten. During their time of jjrosperity, meetings were held at the residence of M. S. Seymour, on section twenty-two, the fleeting hours being occupied in having a general good time.

Post-Office. - The first and only Post-ofBce in town was established in 185.5. It was on the northwest quarter of section thirty-three, with M. Richardson as Postmaster. In 1858, William Babcock was appointed. The mail was brought by a stage which run between Faribault and Owatonna. In 18B2, the office was discontinued.

In 1856, Samuel Walcott, having contracted the prevailing epidemic which inspired so many to lay out villages and cities, proceded to plat a village which was given the name of Walcott. The location involved parts of sections twenty, twenty-one, twenty-eight, and twenty-nine. There was nothing small aliout the plan, the proportions of which were magnificent, but it did not progress far enough to be recorded. But a single house was built, and that was for a hotel by Charles Smith. There was a steam saw-mill with a twenty-live horse-power engine ready to cut lumber to build the prospective city. This was owned by E. H. Auldou and run for a while, but was subsequently taken down and carried to Shicldsville where it still is.

A golden wedding, one of the rare occasions that so few may expect to experieuci' in their own persons, took place in Walcott on the 19th of March, 1881. The groom and bride of half a hundred years were Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Sexton, Mr. Sexton being 76 years of age and Mrs. Sexton 74. They were married in central New York (ju tlie r.ithof March, 18H1. Six persons who were then ])resent assembled at the golden wedding. Their names were Mr. and Mrs. Baker, of Tomah, Wisconsin, Mr. John Castle, Mrs. Nesbitt, the mother of Mrs. T. B. Spencer, and the bride and groom. Mrs. Anna, wife of Gaylord Sexton, made the bridal cake tor her own wedding, for the weddings of each of her three sisters, and now for the semicentennial of her father and mother's wedding. This notable gathering was one long to be rememliered by tliosi- who were fortunate enou; h to be present.

On the 21st of November, 1861, Judge Isaac Woodman had a burial ground surveyed on section eight, a single acre, and divided up into forty lots, seventeen of which have been taken. The first burial here was Helena, a daughter of Mr. J. S. and Mrs. S. A. House, who died on the 2d of March, 1860, at the age of two years and three months, a shocking and most horrible death. It seems that her mother was called out for a few moments in the performance of her domestic duties, leaving the little girl tied into a high chair, which slie upset directly upon the stove and was liurued in such a terrible way that she survived but a few hours.

Walcott, in the war of the rebellion, was well represented, tliere being twenty-four men who volunteered and who, strange to say, returned without a missing man. No draft in town was had, but the citizens voted at different times recruit bounties amounting in the aggregate to !J4,800.

In 1872, the town voted bonds to the amount of -52,000 to build a bridge across the Straight River at the Walcott mills. A bridge bad existed at the mills partly constructed by the proprietors and partly by the town, but it washed away and the mill owners being disinclined to repair the damage so as to make it available for a road the town had to rebuild it, which was done about twenty rods north of its' old position at the mUl.

Walcott Mills. - Early in the seventies this mill was constructed by Grant k La May as a feed and flouring mill. It embraced two stories and a basement and was 3()X46 feet. Its situation is on Straight River, on section sixteen. At first there was ten feet fall, Imt it was afterwards increased to twelve. In 1874, it was bought by M.B. Sheflield, George E. Skinner, and Henry ChalTee, un- der the finn name of Walcott Mill Companv. and a ninetT horse-povrer steam engine was put in and great improvements made, to the extent of 824,000. In 1S51. Mr. Sheffield became sole proprietor, and since that time the mill has gone throngh a transfonaation. It is now. after an additional expense of s27,00l'. a lirst-elass roller mill with five floors and a daily capacitr of 2-50 barrels. It hHS been a merchant mill since 1S74, and has a wide reputation as a Minnesota patent process milL

EiCEKios i Compaxy"s Mux. - In 18-56. this firm e:>mmenced the erection of a saw-mill on the straight Kirer in Walcott_ township, on section three. It was completed and commenced nmning in the fall of 18-57. with a Parker reaction water wheel, and an upright saw. with a capacity of ab-out 3.i>Xl feet of lumber per daj. The companv became insolrent. the mill continued to run, howerer. until the dam joined arms with a freshet and went careering down the stream in the spring of 1858. A dam was again erected, but after the debts began to push in a short time, the boss of the company, in a colloquial phrase, '^ook his iooi in his hand and crossed the river to Charlie," disappearing for good, and the mill from that day to this has been sQent. The bmlding was finallv removed to East Prairieville for a barD.

A steam mill had been started before this one, bv Samuel Walcott on section thirtj-three. It was of twenty-five horse-power, and cotild cut 4,000 feet a day. It was on the land of Lewis Howard, but in about a year it went to Owatonna.

Thomas Harlow built a saw-mill on section four. on Straight Biver. This was a good mill, run by an overshot wheel and could rip out 8,000 feet a dav. It 18-57. it was burned and again built up, but at the end of a year the dam accepted the urgent invitation of a flood to join its mad career down stream. The dam was reconstructed and the mill started, only to be again abruptly closed bv tlie emigration of the fJa"! at the end of another year.

Towx Oegaxizatios

Pursuant to notice, the first town meeting for the election of officers and organization of the town was held at the house of .Jacob Chesrown.on the 11th of May. 18-58. The moderator was Isaac Woodmaji. and the clerk was Isaac E. Pentz. An assessment of S200 was made for town expenses; what should cocstitnte a lawful fence was agreed upon. It was voted that horses and cattle could ran at large from November to the first of April, and that sheep and hogs be prohibited from being at large.

The second town meeting was held at the house of -James Williams, and was an adjourned meeting to elect officers, which was not accomplished at the first meeting on account of the other business upon which so manv had to ventilate their ideas.

The town officers elected at this meeting were: Supervisors. Isaac Woodman, Chairman. E. P. Jones, and D. C. Hunkins: Assessor. James Denison: Collector, Elijah Austin; Clerk. Isaac B. Pentz: .Justices of the Peace, William Hester and George Dorrance; Overseer of the Poor, Isaac Woodman: Constables, Jacob Chesrown and Charles B. Kingsbury.

The first meeting of the Supervisors was on the 22d of May, at the house of the clerk, where the first division of load districts was made. The salary of the first clerk was S1.30 for the first year. At the first State election, in the fall of 18-58, there were twenty-eight votes cast.

The officers of the town for 1882, are : Supervisors. James Denison. Chairman. A. L. Austin, and A- M. Harris; Clerk and A^«ssor. J. H. Petteys; Treasurer, -John D. Beardsley: Justices of the Peace. T. C. Adams and M. S. Seymour; Constables, T. J. Neil and John McNasney.

DiSTBicT No. 3.5. - The first school here was in the summer of 1857, in a blacksmith shop on section thirty -two. The district was organized in the spring of 18.57, in the house of Jacob Chesrown on section twenty-nine. In 18-58, Miss Francis taught in a house owned by Mr. Bird on stction thirty-three. The same year a log house was hired on section twenty-one. The schoolhouse was built in 1875, Miss Emma Cabot being the first teacher.

District No. 50. - In 1858, a part of the foregoing district was set off and anew one formed. A frame dwelling house was bought in Medford and moved to where the schoolhouse now ^stands, on section thirty -two, Miss S. Francis being the- first teacher, with twenty scholars. The present house was built in 1876.

District 2so. 12 was _"rgaiiized at the house of EJwarJ Jones in 1856, in section twenty-fonr, and in the spring of lf*57. a log house was got np on the same section, with two half windows for light: and Miss Ajminta Newcomb called about twenty pupils to order. In 1S72. a frame honse was constructed in section thirteen, near the town line and so it is a union district.

DisTKicT Xo. 38 came into existence on the 25th of June. 1858, in section nineteen. A tax of .?1.50 was raised to build a log house, which was lSs20 feet with six windows, one door, and a cottage roof, located on section eighteen. James Denison was the first, instructor. lu 1862, the honse was moved to section twenty. The schoolhouse now stan'ding was constructed in 1878. Miss Mary Auldon had the honor of wieldirg the rod of authoritv. The school now has twenty-five scholars.

It is quite likely that a new district wiU be formed from the eastern part of No. 50. as it is so inconvenient for many to get across the river to school. In 1882. a private school with fourteen pupils was taught on this side in a granary owned by Bartlett Smith; Miss Maggie Foster was the teacher.

District Xo. 17. - This district was organized in 1856. in the house of Isaac Woodman. The house was built the same year, of logs or slabs, and was 16s2J: feet and had four windows and one door and it was got ready for school purposes the next vear when Susie Frisbegwith taught the first school. This building served until 1875, when the district constructed a rrame edifice, 18x28 feet, in section eight, at a cost of S500. Miss Hattie Howard inaugurated the first classes in the new house.

Bioge.Vphicai

liAUKiTS A^rDESSEX. a native of Denmark, was born on the 22d of October, ISio. He emigrated to Wisconsin in 1868, and one year later married Miss Anna C. Johnson, the ceremony taking place on the 9th of April. They have one child. In 1871, they removed to Steele county. Minnesota, and four years later to Rice county, where, in 1880, he purchased his present farm of one hujdred acres in Walcott, in sections eight and nine:-

Jesse C. Castle was bom in Rome. Oneida county. New York, on the 21st of .July. 18.58. and removed to Minnesota in 1879. In ISSl, he purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Walcott, sections tweatv and twentv-one.

Chaxdleb O. Castle was also bom in Uueida county. New Tork, on the .3d of -June, 1826. He was married in 1851. to Miss Elmira Knotgrass, the ceremony taking place on the 20ih of November. In 1878, he removed to this county where he has two hundred acres of land in Walcott, sections twenty and twenty-one. Mr. and Mrs. C^tstle have had four children, three of whom are living. JiiiEi^ Dexison was bom in New York, ou the 3d ui May. 1820, and while young removed with his parents to Ohio. In 1840. he was united in matrimony with Miss Mary McC<^cliran. the ceremouv takinff place on the 13th of March. They removed to Indiana in 1842, and in 1855, came to Minnesota and located in Walcott. v%-here he preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land to which he has since added one hundred and forty acres. He has had a family of nine children, but live of them are now dead. Mr. Denison was Treasurer of the town in 1856. and Assessor and Collector in 1859. and is the present Chairman of the board of Supervisors.

E. O. Destsox. a son of -James and Mary Denison. was bom in Indiana, his birth dating the 1st of ApriL 1850. He came with his parents to this township in 1855. He was joined in marriage with Miis Barbara McEachran. on the 30th of ApnL 1874. They moved to Redwood cotmty, but soon returned, and in the spring of 1881, purchased eighty acres of land on section eighteen adjoining his father" s. His house was burned the same spring, in April. Mr. and Mrs. Denison have a family of three children.

Fbaxk Deckeb was bom in Tompkins county. New Tork, on the 15th of Jtdy, 1S4S, and in 1864, came to Minnes^^ita, where he purchased land in Walcott in section seventeen. His farm was rented until three years ago. previous to which time he was engaged in a feed store in Faribault. His mother and sister reside with him on the farm.

H. E. RASTLTsa was bom in Canada on the 1st of Janoary, 18 - and removed to Michigan in 18i32. and one year later -to Rice cotmty, Minnesota, where he pttrchased eighty acres of land in Walcott. section twenty-nine. He was married in -June, 1865. to Miss EUen Jane Kenslow. who has borne him seventeen children, but eight of whom are living, three girls, triplets, and five boys.

Cathaeixb Gkant was born in Canada on the 5tli of May, 1812. She was married to William (}rant in 1829, and removed to Ohio in 1861. Her hu.sband died in 186.5, and the following year she removed to Minnesota with her six children, three of whom are now married. She resides with her son, D. W. (Jrant.

A. M. Hakkis, a native of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, was born on the 1st of February, 1839. He was married on the 24th of February 18116. In 1868, they removed to Minnesota and purcha.sed eighty-eight acres of prairie land in Walcott, section two, and Mr. Harris has since devoted his time in improving the same.

J. N. HoWLAND was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts, on the lOth of May, 1838, where he resided until 18.52, then went to sea, was on the water six years, and on his return engaged at the blacksmith trade. In 1862, he enlisted in the Fortieth Massachusetts Infantry, Company E, served fourteen months, then went to Boston, where he engaged in gas fitting. Fe married Miss Jane H. Mayhew, who died on the 27th of February, 1862, and in 1868, he was again married, his bride being Miss Ellen P. Weeks, the ceremony taking place on the 20th of January. In 1869, Mr. Howland came to Iowa, and in the spring of 1872, returned to Boston, and two years later came to Minneapolis. In 1878, he purchased his jjresent farm in Walcott, section thirty-two. Of a family of five children, only two are living. He was Assessor in 1879.

W. J. Johnstone was born in northern Ireland on the 20th of June, 1830, and there prepared for college, and in 1842, emigrated to New York, where he finished his education at Union College. In August, 1852, he married Miss Jessie Mills, and the same year went to Freeport, Illinois, where he taught a district school, Luther W. (iuiteau being one of the trustees, and his son Charles J., then eleven years old, one of bis pupils. In 1851, Mr. Johnstone turned his attention to theology, and in October, 1855. was ordained as a Presbyterian minister at Rock Eiver, having charge of two parishes for ten years, then changed his views and became an Episcopal clergyman. He came to Faribault, assisted Dr. Breck in the schools, and was the first to propose the graded system in that place. In 1866, he was rector of the parish, the next year went to Rochester and assumed the same duties, then returned to Freeport, Illinois, and in 1871, went to Chicago. After the great fire which destroyed his parish there, he came, in July, 1872, to Stillwater on account of failing healtli, and in 1874, to St. Paul. He returned once more to Freeport, and in 1876, came to his present place, where he has since been engaged in farming. He has one son now living in St. Paul.

George W. Marks, deceased, was born in New York on the 3d of May, 1819. He was married in 1842, to Miss Phebe Jane Smith, the ceremony taking place on the 4th of July. In 1854, they came to Minnesota and pre-empted land in Walcott, in section eleven. They had two children, one of whom is living. The father died on the 29th of November, 1875. His widow and only child, Charles W., are living on the old homestead. Charles was born on the 22d of March, 1846, in New York and came to Minnesota with his parents in 1854. In 1863, he enlisted in the First Minnesota Mounted Rangers, Company H, and in 1864, re-enlisted in the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company H, and was discharged in September, 1865. On the 23d of October, 1875, he married Miss Phoebe Jane Fish, who has borne him one child.

John E. McLean was born in Quebec, Canada, on the 27th of October, 1833, and when ten years old moved to Upper Canada. In 1845, he removed to Illinois and in 1850, to Faribault, where he remained until 1864, then came to his present farm in Walcott. In 1866, he lost his house by fire, then returned to Faribault, and in 1868, came again to this place. He married Miss Catharine Faribault, who was born at the old trading post of Meiidota, and is a daughter of Alexander Faribault, the first settler in this county.

F. MandeijTj was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts, on the 4th of April, 1852, and remained there until 1874, when he came to Minnesota and loc^.ted in Walcott in section twenty-nine. On the 30th of October, 1879, he was married to Miss Lenora Nichols, who has bjrne him two children.

John M. Myers is a son of Nathaniel Myers, a native of Washington county, Penn.sylvania. The former was born in Ohio on the 8th of January, 1828. On the 4th of July, 1854, he l-wjded on his present place in section twenty-eight. Mrs. Myers was formerly Miss Hannah Dring. Of twelve children born of this union, nine are living.

T. J. NEAt; was born in St. Joseph county, Miohigiiu, on the ICth of September, 1840. In 18(;4, he came to tbis county, and 1868, bought his present farm of eighty acres in soctiou thirtytwo, Walcott, moving on it in 1874. Twenty-one acres were covered with heavy timber. th(> balance was grub laud, and he now has Hiirty-two acres under cultivation. When he first came to the State he worked in a saw-mill for Charles Wood.

HrLLi.\KD Nichols was lioru in Maine on the 29th of June, 1809. He was united in marriage in 1834, ta Miss Abbie Copp, tlie ceremony taking place on the 1st of April. In 18.5:i, he went to Massachusetts and run the express line in to Boston twelve years, then engaged in a grocery store. They were blessed with one child, Aseneth, and the mother died in December, 185.5. In 18(58, he removed to Minnesota, and two years after located on his present place in Walcott, on .section twentyfive. On the 20th of March, 1872, Mr. Nichols was married to Blrs. Rebecca Boyington, whose maiden name was Williams. She was born in the city of New York on the 2d of May, 1812, removed with her parents to Ohio in 1824, and in 1830, to Indiana, wiiere one year after she married Gilbert Vail whom she bore eight children, six of whom are living. She came to Minnesota in 1855, and after her husband's death she married David Boyington who died soon after the marriage, and in 1872, she was united in matrimony with the subject of our sketch.

Is.i.w'R. Pentz, a native of Pennsylvania, was born on the 12th of Octolier, 1813, and removed to Indiana in 1837. Miss Elizabeth Hall became bis wife on the 24th of August, 1846, and in October, 1854, they removed to Iowa. In May, 1855, Mr. Pentz visited Minnesota and the following May brought his family and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Walcott, section twenty-seven, and also oui^huudrel and sixty acres in section twenty, all of which he has now nnder cultivation and well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Pentz have been blessed with nine children, six of whom are living, four boys and two girls. Mr. Pentz served as Town Clerk in 1858, and was Justice of the Peace a number of years.

A. B. Sexton was born in Oneida county, New York, on the 15th of December, 1805. He was married in 1831, to Miss Eliza Castle who has borne him five children, four of whom are living. In 1859, they came to Minnesota and purchased their present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section eight and he has since devoted his time to its imi)rovenient. He was a member of the board of Supervisors in 1862, and again in 1866; Assessor in 1865 and 1868. His daughter, Ann Eliza Sexton, married Gaylord Sexton, who was born in New York on the 29tli of October, 1830, and in 18(!7, came to this section of the country. The marriage ceremony took place on the 12tli of January, 18."i8.

E. F. Smallidoe was born in Massachusetts on the 2d of March, 1841. In 1855, he removed to \\'alcott. Rice county, Minnesota, where he remained three years then went to Faribault. In 1862, he was married to Miss Nellie Townseud, the ceremon_y taking place ou the 11th of March. They have two children. In 1864, he removed to Illinois but returned in two years to Walcott, where he has eighty acres of laud in section seven.

S. Baxter Thompson, a native of New York, dates his birth tlie 18th of July, 1830. In 1848, he came to Wisconsin, fnun whence he went to California in 1852, and in the fall of 1855, returned to the former State. In 1856, he removed to Warsaw, this county, and in 1862, jjurchased his farm in Walcott, section eighteen, to which he has added one hundred and sixty acres. He was married on the 10th of December, 1862, to Miss Harriet Woods, who bore him one child, who soon died. Mrs. Thompson died on the 3dth of May, 1867. The maiden name of his present wife was Miss Emma Lewis, whom be married in 1876. They have a family of two children, both boys.

OijE ToRGtisoN, a native of Norway, was born on the 15th of February, 1825. He emigrated to -America in 1851, and worked in Iowa until 185fi, when he came to Minnesota and purchased land in Walcott, in section sixteen, to which he has added, making an aggregate of one hundred and thirtyfive acres. He has a timber farm about half of which is under cultivation. On the 15th of March, 1860, Miss Martha Madelia Gabrielson became his wife. The result of the union is ten children, eight of whom are living.

D. C. Wi«)D was born in Canada East ou the 1st of .\pril, 1850. In 1873, he removed to Rice county, Minnesota, and in 1880, purchased a farm in this township of hisbnither, .1. W. It contains three hundred and forty acres and is located in sections seven, eight, and eighteen.