Rice County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (2 of 3 so headed), 1882

Thomas Arthur was born in the seaport town, New London, Connecticut, on the 6th of February, 1825. Since the age of twelve years he has maintained himself. In the fall of 1854, he came to this township and built a shanty on the present site of the elevator, which is supposed to be the first building erected within the present city limits of Northfield. He was married to Miss Eunice Brown in October, 1849. She died in October, 1867, leaving three children; Homer J. A., Thomas W., and Katy, deceased. He married his present wife, Zelia Brown, on the 29th of January, 1870. The latter union has been blessed with three children; Cora May, and two who died. Mr. Arthur located on his present fann a few years since and now has it under good cultivation.

John W. Birch, a native of New York, was bora near Sarati.iga Springs on the 16th of May, 1830. His parents came to Michigan when he was four years old and located in Ann Arbor, where John received his education and grew to manhood. In 1856, he came to this county and settled in Bridgewater township, where he was among the first settlers. He came to his present farm in the spring of 1874. On the Ist of May, 1856, he was married to Miss Louisa Lockerby. They have a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters.

William Bierman was born near the present city of Chicago, Illinois, on the 11th of August, 1834. When he was quite young his parents moved to the northeastern part of the State, in Will county, where he grew to manhood. He has always made farming his occupation, coming to Minnesota in 1854, and first located at Prairie Creek, Kice county, where he remained until coming to this township in 1865. He has a fine farm, all under improvement. His wife was formerly Miss Gustina Prehn, a native of Germany. They have nine children; Mary E., O-scar I., Edward, John L., Charles, Asa, Arthur, Martha, and Jennie. Mr. Bierman's mother came to Minnesota with him but returned to Will county,Illinois, where she died and was buried near her husband who ilied several years previous.

John Beytien, a native of Germany, was born in Mecklenburg on the 12th of July, 1844. When fourteen years old he came with his parents to America, direct to Minnesota, and settled in Bridgewater township. In 1867, he was married to Miss Sophia Sanders, wlio was born in his native place. They have two children; Anna M., and Matilda C. ' They came to Northfleld in 1873, and own a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, well improved. Mr. Beytien has been a member of the school board since coming here.

Sylvantis Bt'nday was born in Orleans connty, New York, ou the 4th of August, 1834. In 1841, his parents came west and settled on a farm near Racine, Wisconsin, where Sylvanus was raised and received his education. He came to Northfield in 1855, bitt returned to Wisconsin the following year. On the 1st of November, 1857, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Ellen Spear. They have seven children; Ida E., Alice M., E. Clarence, Marvin I., Hattie A., Ernest S., and Tesslie W. Mr. Bunday came again to this place in 1865, and located on a farm in section eleven which is still his home.

Nathan S. DAVENroRi is a native of Vermont, born near St. Johnsbury on the 17th of January, 1843. He was brought up to agricultural pursuits, remaining at home until the breaking out of the war when he enlisted and served one year. He came to this place in August, 1865, and has since made it his home. His marriage took place in 1871, and his wife was Miss Alice E. Orr, of New York. They have been blessed with a family of three children, two boys and one girl.

Asa Fkench was born in Springfield, New Hampshire, on the 21st of November, 1814. When young he was engaged in farming pursuits in Vermont, and in 1836, married Miss Louisa Coggswell of his native State. In 1850, they came west to Illinois, and in 1859, to this place. He owns a fine farm adjoining the city of Northfield and displays the taste of a genuine Vermont farmer in the management of the same. Mr. and Mrs. French have had eleven children, ten of whom are living.

Otto Fuller was born in Monkton, Addison county, Vermont, on the 25th of March, 1836. He remained at homo until the age of twenty-two years when he married Miss Minerva Willoughby, who was born near his home. They came west the same year, located in Wisconsin, and in 1861, came to this place. Mrs. Fuller died in July, 1866. Mr. Fuller's present wife was formerly Mrs. Lucy Stam, a native of Maine. The result of this union is two children; Wyron and Oastara.

Duncan Ferguson was bom in Dundee, Canada East, on the 27th of March, 1826. He attended school in his native place.and when twentyone years old weait to New York but returned in 1852. In 1855, he made a trip to California and remained there, engaged in mining, for six years. He located his present farm in 1861, and the following year commenced making improvements and has since made it his home, having two hundred acres under cultivation. He was married ou the Ibt of November, 1863, to Miss Barbara Spink, also a native of Canada, born on the 22d of November, 1841. They have three children; John A., Mary E., and Nellie A. Mr. Ferguson's parents are both from Scotland.

W. R. Green, a native of New York, was born in Morristown, St. Lawrence county, on the 13th of December, 1846. Since the age of sixteen years he has earned his own living, and when eighteen came to Minnesota and was employed on farms in Dakota connty until February, 1864, when he enlisted atSciota inCompany I of the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery. He was under Capt. Kearney, sent south and remained in service eight months, when he was honorably discharged at Fort Snelling. He was married in. December, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth Miller, who was born near his home in New York. They came to this place in April, 1876, and own a good farm in section three. They have two children.

Asa D. Howe, deceased, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Vermont on the 7th of February, 1816. He was brought up on a farm in Ohio, where his parents moved when he was quite young. In 1855, he came to Minnesota, spent a tew days in Saint Anthony and then located a farm in Northfield township, upon which his widow now lives. He died on the 26th of February, 1863, and is buried in the Northfield cemetery. Mrs. Howe has had ten children, only three of whom are living, two sons and one daiighter.

J. S. Haselton, a native of New York, was born near New London in Sullivan county, ou the 31st of January, 1819. There he attended school and learned the cabinet maker's trade, at which he was engaged seven years. He afterwards spent some time teaching penmanship. In 1843, he married Miss Esther B. Webster, who was boiii near Concord, New Hampshire, on the 2d of October, 1820. They had three children all of whom died in their infancy. In 1855, they came to Minneso- ta, and until 1868, resided in Hamilton, Dakota oouuty, then came to this townsliip wbore they own a good farm. Mr. Haselton has held various local offices, and in 1878, was elected by the Republicans to the State Legislature.

A. P. J.\MEsoN, a native of Maine, was I]om in a small village inWaldo county on the 30th of March, 1829. In 1850, he was married to Miss Aravesta U. Fuller of his native State. Two years later Mr. Jameson went to the goldmines of California, returned to Maine in 18G0, and soon after came west and settled in this township, where he owns a farm of two hundred acres. In 1876, he made a trip to the mining regions in the Black Hills but returned to his farm] in August of the same year. He has a family of five children.

John D. Jones, the second settler in the southeast half of this township, was born in southwest Liverpool, South Wales, in March, 1823. He came to America and landed in New York in June, 1842, from thence to Newark, Ohio, where he remained two years. He then followed Horace Greeley's advice and came west to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in June, 1844. The following year he pxirchased a valuable tract of land from the government at the land office at Milwaukee, and since that time has been engaged in the real estate business. Having a desire to improve his education he attended the acadsmy at Waukesha and also the business department of the Carroll Collej.e. Mr. Jones assisted in locating the La Crosse railroad from Milwaukee to the Mississippi River. He came to Minnesota territory in May, 1855, and after several days' explorations located his present farm about midway between the Cannon rivers. He was married in Milwaukee in July, 1865, to Margaret Oliver, who was born in his native land. They have two sons; Burton F. and Oliver W. For eight years Mr. Jones has held the office of Justice of the Peace. In his boyhood, previous to 1842, he visited Great Britain and since has seen the fields in many States, and it is his opinion that none is ijuite equal to the fertile soil of Minnesota* He has a fine farm and has been very successful as an agriculturalist.

Samuel F. Johnson was born near Brasher Falls in St. Lawrence county, New Yurk, on the 19th of April, 1831. He was reared on a farm and learned the trade of a sawyer in the mills near his home. In 1852, he came to Little Fulls, Morrison county, Minnesota, and was employed at his trade iu the mills of Fer_.^uson and Tiittle for two years. He then returned to his native State and in 1856, in Vermont, married Mies Weltha Hall, who died on the 15th of April, 1866. The following year he married Miss Hannah Daw- son, and tlie same year returned to Minnesota, to this township where he owns two hundred and forty aci'es of land, all well improved. His wife died on the 5th of SeptemVier, 18 77, and is buried in the Northfield cemetery. The maiden name of his present wife was Ellen Dawson. He is the father of four children, the three eldest; Eldon L., Hartland C, and Herbert G., by his first wife, and Asa M. by his present. Mr. Johnson has held most of the town and school offices and in 1876, was Chairman of the board of Su]iorvisors. He was President of the Rice County Fair in 1882. He devotes considerable time to stock raising.

John Livingston was born near the village of BiDghamptim in Boone county. New York, qn the 26th of March, 1837. When he was eight years old he moved with his parents to Wisconsin, located a farm in Eock county and remained until 1857, when he came to this township. In 1861, he enlisted in the army, served .aliout fifteen months and was discharged for disability. He then returned to this place, and in the fall of 1867, purchased his present farm. Miss Matilda Hoyt became his wife in 1868, and the union has been blessed with three children; Lynn, Mary E., and Clara B.

T. H. MuKP.Ai" is a native of Pennsylvania, born near the village of Milton in Northumberland county on the 1st of July, 1825. He was married in 1847, to Miss Mary J. Taggart, who was born in the latter State on the 11th of July, 1827. The same year they came west and located in Kalamazoo county, Blichigan; remained until 1854, and came to Minnesota, settling at ! White Bear Lake. They came to this place in 1868, and own a fine farm in section two. Mr. Murray's parents are both dead, his father dying thf 17th of March, 1869, and his mother the 21st of July, 1879, and are buried in the cemetery at White Bear. Mi's. Murray's father died in February, 1851, and her mother on the 11th of December, 1858.

1). H. Ork, a native of Madison county. New Y'ork, was born on the 27th of August, 1825. He received an academic education at Oneida Castle, after which he taught school, spending his leisure time studying. In 1857, he came through Northtield to Watonwan county and pre-empted a claim, but soon after returned to this township and staked out his present land. He lived on his farm one summer then returned to New York, and in 1861, volunteered his services in the war but was not accepted on account of poor sight. He was married in 1862, to Miss Catherine Tiffany, and immediately returned to his farm in this place. They have had five children, four of whom are hving.

Alvah M. Olin, a native of AVisconsin, was horn in Waukesha, Waukesha county, on the 1st of August, 18i3. At the age of twelve years he came with his parents to this State and located within the present city limits of Northfield. Alvah received his education here and afterward taught school. In 1868, he married Miss Sarah E. Jameson, who was born in Appleton, Maine, on the 19th of June, 1844. She came with her brother to Minnesota in 1860, and when sixteen years old engaged in teaching school, which she continued until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Olin have had two children, one of whom is living, Gertrude E., born on the 7th of May, 1872. Mrs. Olin's mother died on the 19th of April, 1873, and is buried in the Northfield cemetery. Her father died in the East.

to New York, but soon returned to his native place. On the 7th of October, 1852, he married Miss Margaret Dodds, a native of Glasgow, Scotland. They have had six children, five of whom are living. In the fall of 1857, they came to Minnesota, located first at Cannon Palls, then in Stanton, Goodhue county, and in 1864, came to this place. Mr. Riddell owns a good farm, part cultivated and part timber.

J. C. SoMMBKS, a native of Illinois, was born in Monee, Will county, on the 28th of March, 1854. His parents located in this place when he was an infant of one year. He remained at home until his marriage on the 20th of July, 1879, with Miss Sarah M. Holmes, adopted daughter of Mr. Stallcop. She was born in Wisconsin. Mr. Sommer's farm is three miles southwest of the claim taken by his father. He has one child. Amy Grace, born on the Ist of October, 1880. His father, who was born in Germany, still lives in this place and his mother died on the 19th of September, 1875.

Daniel B. Satlor was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of April, 1851. His parents came to Minnesota in 1861, and located in Warsaw, Goodhue county, where they still reside. Daniel was joined in wedlock in September, 1875, to Miss Janette King, who was born in the latter place. They came to Northfield and Mr. Saylor purchased a farm in section one, upon which he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Saylor have two children; Adaline B. and Bertha Ann.