Wabasha County, Minnesota - Chapter 91: The Pioneers of Wabasha County, 1884 (part 1 of 3)

Chapter 91: The Pioneers of Wabasha County

One of the pioneers of the northwest was Duncan Graham, who was born in Scotland. He came to this country in the early part of the century, and to Wabasha about 1834. He was engaged for a number of years in carrying the mails between Prairie du Chien and the Red River of the North. His travels extended throughout most of the northwestern states, and one of the islands in Devil's, Lake bears Ills name. The occasion of his final location at Wabasha was the residence of a daughter at that place, who had married Joseph Buisson, an Indian trader and voyager, who had established a trading post at the place as early as 1832.

An interesting item in the histor}' of Wabasha is the naming of the town by Mr. Graham, who wrote the name of the future city and an account of some of the transactions that had taken place here, sealed them up in a glass bottle and buried the same in the ground near the bank of the river. Over the spot he planted a post, which has been seen by some of the early settlers now living, but it is now gone and the exact location is not known. It is supposed, however.

to be near tlie river bank and just back of tlie First National Bank building. Mr. Graham was an educated gentleman and kept detailed diaries, in one of which he describes the occasion of the burying of the record, as above stated. He resided here until about 1817, when he removed to Mendota, where he died December 5, of above date, at the age of seventy-five years.

Joseph Buisson, named above, married the daughter of Mr. Graham, Nancy Lucy Graliam, in 1832, and permanently located at Wabasha a few years later. Mi-. Buisson was born in Montreal in 1797, and at the time of his locationJiere was engaged in carrying goods from St. Louis to different trading posts on the Upper Mississippi. For a number of years after his location here he was engaged in the Indian trade and farming. He was one of the original proprietors and owned what is known as Lot No. -i.

Tiiey had seven children, six of whom are still living. Their names are Harriet Lariviere, Henry, Mary Louise, Antoine, Jose]>h, Cyprian and Mary Jane. Henry, Joseph and Cyprian still reside in Wabasha and are engaged in steamboating, all in the capacity of master and pilot. They run the best class of raftboats on the river between Stillwater and St. Louis.

Joseph married Mary Elizabeth Stevens, November 2l', is 72. They have four childi-en. The names of those living arc Clara Louise, Aiigeline, Ethel and Daniel Shaw. Henry married Emilj' Lariviere. They have had two children, one of whom is dead, and the other, Hattie, is married.

The elder Joseph Buisson died in 1857, and was buried on the summit of Quarry Hill, just west of the city, where also lies the body of Augustine Rocque, a sketch of whom appears in another part of this work.* His widow, and mother of the family noted, is at this writing seventy-five years of age and enjoying good health, and is a resident of Fort Totten, Dakota.

Joseph Buisson, now deceased, settled at Wabasha in August, 1839. He was born at Prairie Madeleine, Lower Canada, about fifteen miles above Montreal ; he was of French parentage. In the many conversations I have had

* Since the writing of the above the remains of Joseph Buisson, Sr., have been removed by his sons, and reinterred January 17, 1884, in the Riverside cemetery.

with him, I learned murh of this country. He came to Minnesota at the age of seventeen, and was in the employ of the American Fur Company for eight years in succession. A man of strong natural sense, but uneducated ; and it will readily be supposed the society in a country without the border of civilization was not favorable to the formation of correct habits in a young man of the ardent temperament of Monsieur Buisson. He was possessed of an iron constitution; bold, coura<;eous, (|ui(k in his resentments, and ready to conciliate in sincerity. He was social tn a i:vvat ilevriT. and as a neighbor ever ready to oblige; hospitable to an extent that was injuridus to liis prosperity, as profligate and undeserving shared e(|ually with their betters. The credit of inviting emigration on the Half-breed Tract, and assisting to shelter the new comers, is well known to many of the early settlers, and is vouched for by the writer. Himself, in connection with Oliver Cratte, were the original proprietors of the town. His decease happened on the Kith day of October last - the day of our annual election - at the age of tifty-threc years.

David Ckatte, cit)' marslial since 1878. David Cratte is the sou of Oliver Cratte and the grandson of Duncan Graham, both of whom were residents in this part of the northwest during the first quai'ter of the present century, and of whom frequent mention will be found in the earlier chapters of this history. David Cratte was born near Minnehaha Falls, in this state, ]\Iarch 15, 1837, and came with his fatlier to Cratte's Landing (now Wabasha) when he was between two and three years of age, and this place has been virtually his home tor the past forty-four years. He was frequently absent from Wabasha when a child, there being no opportunities for instruction here, and spent someof his childhood years with the Prescotts at Fort Snelling. and also with Alex. Faribault, an uncle by marriage, at Mendota. He was also with James Wells, another uncle, at what is now Frontenac. During these years until 1845, he was sent to school as opportunity otfered. In 1846 he returned to Wabasha, and the same fall was sent to Knox College, at Galesburg, Illinois, where he remained four years, and then came home. In 1853 Mr. Cratte went upon the river as a raft pilot, which occupation he followed for twenty-six years, - until 1870 as pilot of floating rafts, from 1870 to 1877 piloting raftboats, - his first steamer down the Mississippi being the L. W. Bardin. He retired from the river in the fall of 1877, and the following spring was made marshal of the city, and so continues. Mr. Cratte's prowess in all athletic sports, and his unusual fleetness of foot and great powers of physical endurance, were frequently evidenced in the early days of Wabasha, and mention of them will be found elsewhere. David Cratte married Eliza J. Harrell, February 5, 1858, at Hannibal, Missouri. Their

Chaeles R. Read, the pioneer independent white settler of Wabasha county, if not of that portion of the northwest now included in the territorial limits of Minnesota, was born in the parish of Farnsborough, Somersetshire, England, March 20, 1821. In 1832 he came to Canada with his brother's family, spending his first winter in Little York (now Toronto), and the following season locating in the old Niagara district, near the forks of the Chippewa, some forty or fifty miles from its entrance into the Niagai-a river. From there at sixteen years of age young Read came into the United States. Retui'ned to Canada the following year, 1838, in the army of invasion that crossed the frontiers during the Canadian rebellion of 1837-8. Was taken prisoner, and narrowl}' escaped hanging. Experiencing the queen's clemency (on account of his youth), he came to the United States ; enlisted in the army for the defense of the southwestern frontier, and was in service in the Indian Territory and Texas until 1841, when he settled at Nelson's Landing, just opposite Read's Landing (named in his honor), and to which he came three years later, 1847. The after history of Mr. Read is closely interwoven with that of the locality named for him that it will be found incorporated. Mr. Read had a very early acquaintance with public aftairs in this county. He was the first justice of the peace appointed in this section after the organization of the territory, receiving his commission from Gov. Ramsey in 1850. He was county commissioner upon the organization of the county in 1853, and held that position either by appointment or election until the year 1860, serving as the first chairman of the board of supervisors for Pepin township, and so by virtue of his oflice was county commissioner (virtually). He was major of the 6th Inf. regt. from 1861-3, and in that capacity was temporarily in command of the defenses on the frontier for some weeks. He was also elected colonel of the 8th regt., state militia. May 3, 1863, but the regiment was soon legislated out of existence. He was married June 7, 1849, at Read's Landing, to Miss Sarah Williamson, by whom he had twelve children, eleven of whom are living. Mrs. Read died Januar}' ^, 1879, after a married life of thirty years, which Mr. Read declares to have been to him one of almost unalloyed happiness. The chil- dren now living are : Jane, born June 27, 1851 ; C. P. (the only one married), born November 7, 1853 ; Wm., born June 30, 1S57 ; Geo. W., b'orn March 12, 1859 ; Ed. M.. born October 10, 1860 ; Emilj O., born November 6, 1862 ; H. B., born April 26, 1864; Frank M., born October 14, 1865 ; Silas S., born April 18, 1867 ; Ralph R., born October 13, 1870 ; H. H., born June 20, 1872. Mr. Read resides on the old homestead, about one mile from the landing, on a beautiful elevation overlooking the entire prairie between the Minnesota bluffs and the Mississippi river, as far down as the Zumbrota river, taking in the swell of the bluffs on the Wisconsin shore, and affording a lovely view of Alma, twelve miles distant, at the foot of the twelve-mile bluffs, one of the grandest ranges of cliffs on the upper Mississippi river.

F. S. Richards, postmaster. Mr. Richards was born in Weatherfield, Genesse county, April 21, 1822, and came west with her father's family, who settled at Prairie du Chien as early as 1836. In their journey to the Mississippi they passed the present site of Chicago, then a growing village, and Mr. Richards recalls earning some money picking up the roots and chips of those who were grubbing where the proudest city west of the Alleghenies now stands. In 1850 Mr. F. S. Richards, then twenty-eight years of age, came up the Mississippi river with a large stock of general merchandise, having a United States license to open trade with the Indians, and settled at Read's Landing. His store was on what is now railway property, very near the northeast corner of Water and Richards streets. Business was successfully conducted until the financial crash of 1858 swept him off his feet and ruined him financially. Since then Mr. Richards was variously employed until 1870 in business - from 1860 to 1868 at Downsville, Wisconsin - since 1870 principally fanning, cutting grass on the bottom lands, taking out cordwood, etc., until he received his second appointment as postmaster at Read's Landing. (See article on postoffice). He was the first village president upon the incorporation of Read's Landing in 1868, and at all times, during his residence of over a third of a century, has taken an intelligent interest in public affairs. Mr. Richards married Miss C. A. Moses, November 5, 1850, in Grant county, Wisconsin. They have six children, five of whom are residents of Read's Landing : Ida, born March 15, 1856 ; Walter B., born June 22, 1858; Lloyd S., born October 23, 1860; Emma May, born October 4, 1864 ; Ruth D., born April 5, 1867 ; Grace, born April 3, 1869.

Feaijcis Talbot, dealer in hides, furs and peltries ; oflice on Allegheny street, south of Main. This business was established here in 1858, five years after Mr. Talbott came to this city as clerk for Mr. Alexis Bailly, in the Indian trade ; so that his residence here dates from 1853, a period of fully thirty years. Mr. Talbot was born in 1835, at Stonehall, County AYestmeath, Ireland, where he received a good common English education, a tutor being employed in his instruction until his fourteenth year, when he came to America, arriving at New York in 1849. Coming to Chicago, he was engaged in clerking there for John PI. Kinzie, son of the founder of that city, from whom, in 1853, he brought letters of introduction to Mr. Alexis Bailly, who was engaged in trade with the natives at this point. Three years later, in 1856, he bought out Mr. Bailly's stock and engaged in general merchandise for himself, until, with thousands of others, he went under in the great financial crash of 1858. For some time Mr. Talbott was not engaged in business, and since 1858 has only been conducting general merchandising about six years, part of that time in company with Mr. B. Eddy, during his connection with general business here, other than furs, hides and peltries, in 1870. He owns one of the principal corners in the city, at the intersection of Main and Allegheny streets, fronting eighty feet on Main and one hundred and forty on Allegheny. Mr. Talbot has never married. His early association with the natives, in the conduct of trade, led him to take a vei^ deep interest in all the historical legends and landmarks of the early French and aborigines occupants of this ten-itory. For the past eight or ten years he has been quite constantly engaged in collecting data for some future historian who should attempt the narration of the early story of this region. This matter has been placed in the bands of the compilers of this History of Wabasha County, who gratefully record their appreciation of the services thus rendered by Mr. Talbot.

F. H. Milligan, M.D. ; office and consulting rooms corner of Main and Pembroke streets. Dr. F. H. Milligan was born in Philadelphia, December 8, 1830, removed to St. Louis with his parents in 1835, completed his course in the high school of the latter city in 18-lG, and subsequently entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating M.D. in 1851. The class of that year contained many names that have become eminent in the medical profession ; among whom may be mentioned Dr. Thomas A. Turner, Dr. Fleet, surgeon U. S. N., and Dr. James A. Meigs, who has a national reputation as a medical autlior. Dr. Milligan iinmediately located tor practice in St. Louis, was in that cit}' for two years, and then removed to tins place September 1, 1853, where he has now been practising his profession ^ little over thirty years. With the exception of Dr. John H. Murphy, of St. Paul, Dr. Milligan has practiced medicine more years in this state than any other physician now living. The doctor was the original president of the Wabasha County Medical Society, assisted at the organization of the State Medical Society in 1868, and was centennial president of the State Society, holding office from February, 1876, to June, 1877. As president ot the society in 1877, Dr. Milligan urged upon that body the importance of securing the passage of a state phai-maey law, prohibiting all druggists and apothecaries, who could not pass a prescribed pharmaceutical examination, from dispensing medicines. The recommendation was acted upon by the State Medical Society, and a committee presented the matter to the state legislature only to have it slaughtered in committee-room. When the doctor located for practice in Wabasha his circuit rivaled that of the historic " Methodist circuit rider," extending southward to t!ie Iowa line, eastward to Chippewa Falls, west to Faribault, and northward toward Red Wing. It was three years later before any other physician located within the present county limits. Dr. Milligan was commissioned assistant surgeon of the 3d Minn. Inf , October 15, 1861, and served until April of the following year, when he resigned and returned home. In December, 1864, he was again in the service, holding commission as assistant surgeon in the 10th Minn. Inf., and remained with that command until it was mustered out at the close of the war, when he returned home and resumed his active practice. Dr. F. H. Milligan in 1853 married Miss Lucy Ann, second daughter of Alexis Bailly, of this city, who died in 1865, leaving no children. May 1, 1866, the doctor married Miss S. D. Abrams, of Steubenville, Ohio. They have had four children, two only of whom are living, Dora B., born December 19, 1868, and Win. Francis, born October 15, 1870. The family residence is on the bank ot the Mississippi, just above the city, within the corporate limits, in what is here known as the old Judge Van Dyke homestead.

Charles J. Stauff, clerk of the district court of the third judicial district of Minnesota, a position he has now held by successive re-election since 1869, is a native of Germany. Attended school there until he was eleven years of age, when he came to America with his father's family, who settled in Greenfield township, in tliis county, on the farm now owned by George Albertson. The date of their arrival at Read's Landing, Wabasha county, was June 20, 1854-. Charles was still living on the old home farm \^^en the war broke out in 1861, and on tlie 13th of February of the following year he enlisted in the 5th Minn. Inf. regt., followed the fortunes of that command until the close of the war, and, having successively promoted through all the intermediate grades, was mustered out as first lieutenant September 27, 1865. Returning to the old homestead he remained oi>e year, then came to Wabasha and was clerk in the general merchandising house of Prindle, Mullen & Co. until 1869, when he was nominated and elected clerk of the court, and still holds that oflice, his present term expiring in 1886. October 27, 1869, Mr. Staufi" married Miss M. I. Durand, of Cook's valley, in this county. They have one son. Homer C, born December 25, 1874, and now attending sciiool in this city.

G. H. Ajierland, farmer, N.W. J of Sec. 10, R. 10 of T. 110. This farm was taken as a homestead Maj 22, 1854, the old log house, still standing in good repair, was erected that same season and did duty as the family residence twenty-two years, when the present comfortable brick structure was put up. The farm now embraces two hundred acres. His barns were built in 1873, his granary and wagon-sheds in 1883. Mr. Amerland was born in Germany, came to America in 1846 and settled in New Orleans, and was there until 1851 ; then came up the river to Illinois, and, after spending two years there, came to Minnesota, to Point Douglas, and made a claim which he did not perfect. That same fall, 1853, he went to New Orleans to meet liis brother, who had just come over fi-om Europe, and in the following spring they made their claims on the prairie just east of the present corporate limits of Wabasha. September 3, 1856, G. H. Amerland married Christine Frank. Their children are : Mary, born September 13, 1857 ; Emma, born November 20, 1858 ; Lucy, born September 22, 1861 ; Kate, born December 1, 1862; William II., born July 20, 1867, now attending high school at Wabasha.

OuvKR Nelson came to Wabasha county in 1854, and was probably the first settler in Highland township. He was born in Norway January 27, 1835. His parents were Nels and Anna (Oliverson) Olson ; Oliver, according to the custom of his native country, taking the given name of his father and appending thereto the suffix son for his surname. He was fifteen when he came with liis parents to America. The family tirst settled near Madison, Wisconsin, and remained two years. In 1S52 removed to Deeorah, Iowa, coming from there to Wabasha county in 1854. The subject of this sketch was married to Isabella Hulgerson in 1856. She died October 28, 1868, and two years thereafter he again married, this time to Mary Ann Halverson, also a native of Norway. Mr. jSTelson is the father of a numerous family ; of those born to the first wife only three survive, namely, Nicholas, Mary Christina and Anton C. ; of the second marriage there are living, John Henry, Albert, Otis, Joseph, Altred and Cyrus. In 1855 Mr. Nelson pre-empted the farm on which he now resides, one hundred and sixty acres on section 32, to which he has added, by purchase, forty acres. The first year of his sojourn in Wabasha county he went to mill twice, to Deeorah, Iowa, a distance of one hundred miles, and the nearest neighbors were ten or twelve miles distant. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Methodist church and votes the republican ticket.

AB>rEE DwELLE, retired farmer, one of the founders and the pioneer settler of Lake City, was born in Greenwich, New York, January 2, 1805. His grandfather and father bore the same name - the former was a sea-captain - and both served through the revolutionary war. They were of Massachusetts birth. The mother of this subject was Miriam Martin, of New York birth. Her son, of whom we write, passed his youth on a farm, attending the primitive common schools about three months during the winter till eighteen years old. He then entered a woolen carding and spinning establishment, and continued in this kind of occupation sixteen years. January 8, 1829, he was united in marriage to Miss Electa C. Lawrence, a native of Onondaga county. In 1837 he went to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and cleared a farm in Texas township. Here he remained until his removal to Wabasha county in 1854. Ten years after his location in Michigan, deatlx took away his faithful helpmeet. She was the mother of nine children, of wliom seven survived her and are still living, all save one in this state. The eldest and youngest, Carrie M. and Jennie, reside with their father. The eldest son, Elijah, is at Pittsbury, G. M. , Henr}^ and Thomas L. are in Lake City, and Albert A. in Chicago. February 17, 1849, Mr. Dwelle espoused Zilpha Knapp, born in Chase, New York. Since the time of his settlement here he has dwelt on the same spot. He purchased half-breed scrip and secured three quarter-sections of land for himself and sons, on sections i, 8 and 9. His residence is on 4, within a rod of the site of the original log cabin. In partnership with Samuel Doughty and Abner Tibbetts, he platted the city in 1856, and has sold off a portion of his estate in town lots. He still retains a handsome farm on the outskirts of the city, and takes a deep interest in both rural and city affairs. Although seventy-nine years of age, he walks erect, without a cane, and is in the full enjoyment of all his faculties. Every day, summer or winter, rain or shine, he may be seen on the streets of the beautiful city which he founded. His last birthday anniversary was celebrated at his home by a family reunion, at which were present children and grandchildren, to the number of nearly a score. During his residence in Michigan Mr. Dwelle was an active member in the Congregational church, and earned the title of Deacon, by which he has ever since been known. He is now a firm believer in the Spiritualistic faith. Politically he was a whig and abolitionist, and is a republican.

Thomas L. Dwelle, fourth son of Abner Dwelle, was born in Michigan, September 12, 1840, and was therefore nearly fourteen years of age when he came with his father to the site of Lake City. Immediately after the attack on Fort Sumter he enlisted in the threemonths service of the United States. As soon as his time expired he was enrolled in Co. I, 1st Minn. A'ols., and served in the army of the Potomac. At the battle of Ball's Bluft' he received a bullet wound through the right shoulder, by which he was disabled, and was discharged in February, 1S62. Peturning to Lake City he has ever since been occupied in the management of his farm. He now has over two hundred acres, part of his farm being within the city limits, where he resides. He is now doing a profitable business in supplying the city with milk. In October, 1877, he married Laura M. Sears, who was born in Caledonia, Wisconsin. Mrs. D. is a daughter of William Sears, who was born in New York. One child, a daughter, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Dwelle April 29, 1880, and christened Addie Pearl.

WiLLLAM McCracken is the first man who made any improvements in Glasgow township ; he was born in Scotland, August 15, 1815, which was the last day of the great battle of Waterloo. The last of the old family died a few months ago at the advanced age ot ninety-six years. Mr. McCracken landed at St. Johns, New Brunswick, April 1, 1841 ; from there he went to Canada and lived there for twelve years, and came from there to Glasgow township June 7, 1855. He first lived in an old house near where his house now stands. He was united in marriage, March 2i, lSi7, in New York. After getting ready to be married the minister they called on to marry them had no license to marry them in Canada, so they crossed over the river into New York and were married. His wife's maiden name was Magdaline Scott, a native of the State of Ohio, of Scotch descent. Of the five children of this union but two of them are living. The eldest is Ann, who is the wife of "William Jacobs ; have three children and live in West Albany township. Hannah married James Gray ; have two children and live in "West Albany township. Mr. McCracken's wife died June 14, 1867, and was married to Hannah Jacobs in October, 1860 ; she was a native of Germany. Nine children have been the fruits of this union ; six of them still living : Minnie, William, Margaret, Jennie, John and Robert. Mr. Mc- Cracken has a farm of two hundred and forty acres, where he lives, and three hundred and twenty acres in a prairie farm. The narrowgauge railroad runs through his home place, the cars of which ran over and killed one of his children (Mary) a few years ago.

Edward B. Mukrat was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1818. His parents were Edward B. and Margaret Murray. He came to America in 1853 ; worked successively in bleaching at Falls River, Massachusetts, in wagon-shop at Montreal, Canada, and two years as a house-carpenter in Bramford, Canada ; by trade he was a shipcarpenter. He came to Wabasha county in 1855 ; having a few hundred dollars, he bought some town lots in Wabasha ; erected a house and resided there until 1857, when he removed to Highland township and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres on section 14. He now owns a farm on section 16 in the same township, on which he resides. He received a good common school education. The farm on which his parents lived in Ireland had been in the possession of the Murray family for five hundred years. Mr. Murray married in Ireland in 1851 to Margaret Bartley, by whom he had five children, viz : William, Daniel, John, Patrick and Maggy. Daniel is the only one at home, the three youngest residing with their mother in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and William is a dealer in agricultural implements at Minneapolis.

Orville D. Ford was born in the town of Lebanon, Madison county, New York, where he received a common school education and lived till September, 1855, when he came to Mazeppa; here he pre-emp- ted one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 30 ; subsequently he bought three eighties and settled on the south lialf of section 6, where he still lives. He and his father Joseph platted the village of Mazeppa, including the water-power, which is furnished by the north branch of the Zumbro. This land was bought by the Fords of Judge Welch, of Redwing, who owned it under original patent. O. D. Ford sold a number of town lots from his purchase of three eighties, and now has about three hundred acres left of valuable lands. In 1873, in connection with his son Edward L., he established a boot and shoe store under the firm name of E. L. Ford & Co., and which name still continues. At first the trade was small, but increased from year to year, and in order to keep pace with the growth of business and the demands of their customers they have enlarged their space and added to their stock till it now comprises a full line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats and caps, and clothing, etc., and are doing a good business. Mr. Ford has always taken a lively interest in the growth and welfare of his town and has had much to do toward shaping its destiny. He was at one time engaged in milling, he and his associate having built and operated the first merchant mill in Mazeppa. In 1880 he sold his intei'est in the mill and retired fi-om the business. He was the first president of the village council after its organization in 1856, and held the office of register of deeds for Wabasha county for five years. In 1858 he was elected to represent his district in the legislature of Minnesota and served till 1861, when his services were alike creditable to himself and acceptable to his constituents.

Joseph Ford, the father of 0. D. Ford, was born in Delaware county, New York. His father was a cloth-dresser, of whom he learned the business, and afterward moved to Madison county, New York, where he established and carried on the same business for a number of years, when he turned his attention to farming, at which he continued till 1855, when he came to Mazeppa, arriving in the fall of 1855. He at once pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in the north halt of section 6, wliicli he improved and for a number of years carried on farming operations, supervising in person his entire business till he was about eighty years of age, when his son, O. D. Ford, attended to his business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1882, he being at the time about eightythree years old. As a friend and neighbor he was greatly esteemed by all who knew him ; in intercourse he was urbane and genial ; his convictions were strong but sincere, and liis reputation for probity and fair-dealing was above reproach ; his daily line of conduct did honor to his community, his country and his Creator, and is wellworthy the emulation of all mankind.

E. L. FoKD, of the firm of E. L. Ford & Co. , general merchants, was born in Madison county, State of New York, in 1851. When four years of age he came with his parents to Mazeppa, where he grew to manhood, meantime obtaining the rudiments of an education in the school of the village. From here he went to the State University of Minnesota for two or three years, after which he took a course at the Commercial College of Minneapolis, from which he graduated. On returning home in 1873 he and his father established a boot and shoe store under the firm name of E. L. Ford & Co. At first the trade was small, but, being handled with skill and executive ability, it has grown to large proportions ; additions in space and also in variety of goods have been added from time to time till it is now large and comprises a full line of dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, clothing, crockery, queensware, etc. etc. Mr. E. L. Ford is still a young man, but nevertheless has exhibited in his business career capacity and the elements of success, which do him great credit.

G. Maxwell, contractor and builder, and agent for DeLong & Co., lumber dealers, was born in Franklin count}-, Massachusetts, August 20, 1829. He acquired a limited education at the common schools, and was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade. Much of his spare time was devoted to the study of mathematics and civil engineering. After learning liis trade he worked at it till he was twenty-eight years of age, when, in the spring of 1855 he came to Mazeppa and pre-empted a quarter-section of land in section 29, in the town of Chester, a short distance from Mazeppa. After working his land for a few years he traded it for property in Mazeppa, where he has since resided, and carried on the business of contractor and builder, having erected the greater and finer part of the village, including some four or five churches. In connection with his building o])erations he and his brother, E. F. Maxwell, run a lumber yard, dealing in such lumber as was in demand, also sash, doors, blinds, building-paper, etc. On the opening of the railroad to this point in 1877 they sold out their lumber business to DeLong & Co., for whom he has since acted as agent. In Chester he was town treasurer two or three terms. He has been countj- commissioner.

and several times town supervisor for Mazeppa. He was tlie first justice of the peace in Mazeppa and served two terms, and was the first treasurer of the village. In 1877 he was elected to the legislature and served one term.

L. GiNTHNEE, merchant tailor, and dealer in ready-made clothing and gents' furnishing goods, south side Main, midway Allegheny and Pembroke streets. Property fronts twenty feet

Main street, and has a depth of sixty feet. This business was established, as a tailoring establishment, by Mr. Ginthner in 1855, and the ready-made clothing department was added eight years later. Business has been conducted continuously since its establishment twenty-eight years since. Two hands are employed in the manufacturing department. Mr. Ginthner is a native of Baden, Germany, learned his trade as clothier there, came to America in 1852, and after three years, spent principally in the Middle States, came to Wabasha August, 1855. His present store-building was built in

1867 ; his residence, the finest in the city, corner Allegheny and Third, was bnilt in 1882. It is a modern two-story brick, solid stone basement, sills and caps, plate-glass windows, and finished in first-class style throughout. The main L's, two stories in height, are 24x34 feet and 20x30 feet respectively. Mr. Ginthner was married in 1857, to Lugerde Nord. They have six children : George, born November 22, 1858 ; Anton, born April 11, 1860, at work in his father's tailoring establishment ; Anne, born April 11, 1862, at home ; Emma, born March 31, 1866, clerk in the postoflice ; Clara, born April 23, 1871 ; Julia, born September 27, 1S7-, both attending the Sisters' school in this city.

Francis W. Shaw, son of Oliver and Jane S., was born in New Hampshire, May 26, 1836. In May, 1855, he came with his parents to this state and township. They were hardly settled when the father died, leaving Francis (the eldest son) the responsibility of caring for a large family. Many were the trials and hardships of those early days. Mr. Shaw settled on a farm in section 3, now owned by Isaac York, and there built the first house and dug the first well in the western part of Wabasha county. He was married July 4, 1856, to Mary A., daughter of "William York, and to them have been born two children, William F. and Ethal. In 1861 Mr. Shaw enlisted in Co. C, 4th Minn. Inf., and served three years and eleven days. He was at the siege and battle of Corinth, Mission Ridge, Altona, siege of Vicksburg, and many others. Upon returning to this county he engaged for several years in agricultural pursuits. In 1878 he opened a general merchandise store at Jarrets, and has been doing business there since that time. Mr. Shaw is one of the oldest and most enterprising citizens of the county.

Benjamin Lawrence was born October 16, 1813, at Freetown, Bristol county, ten miles east of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was the son ofSpencerandMary P. Lawrence, who, when Benjamin was seven years old, moved to Plainfiekl, Vermont, in the year 1820. He had little opportunity to acquire an education. In reciting poetry it would be diflicult to find his match, his memory is so true. At the age of twenty, for four weeks and for the last time in his life, he attended school at Marshfield, Vermont, wliile working as a farmer. The next summer he worked at farming near Bangor, Maine, and during the winter in an iron foundry in High street. Providence, Ehode Island, which he continued for the next two years. In 1837 he went to Van Buren county. Iowa, then part of the ten-itory of

Wisconsin. To reach this he started with an emigrating company of Freethinkers, led by Abnon Neehand, editor of the Boston "Investigator." He returned to Montpelier, Vermont, where, through tlie summer, he worked on a farm, and the following year was employed in Fairbanks (scale) foundry. In 1855, with A. P. Foster and others, he came to Plainview. He left immediately to settle his business in Vermont, and returned for a permanency in October of the same year. His lifetime has been one of continuous hard work, being known to have repeatedly worked drawing stakes, etc. , as early as two and three o'clock in the morning. His ambition for business life prompts him now, even in his feeblest moments, at the age of threescore and ten, to entertain prospects and devise plans for building a gristmill, hauling ten thousand feet of lumber, etc. etc. He was the first overseer of the poor by appointment of the board of supervisors, May, 1858. It was Uncle Ben, as he is now styled, who, with A. P. Foster, stopped over night May 31, 1855, while prospecting for a settlement, at Mr. Bryant's, in Elgin, six miles west of the town he helped to found.

Francis Jerry (deceased) settled in Chester August 18, 1855, taking a claim on section 28. He opened up three farms, and left his widow eighty acres on section 33, where he died July 24, 1874. Mr. Jerry was a native of New York, born July 6, 1814. He was i-eared on a farm in Canada by an uncle, his parents having died when he was an infant. He served in the United States forces during the Black Hawk war, and afterward settled near Galena, Illinois. He was married there May 2, 1838, to Elizabeth Grishaber, who was born in Hoffwehr, Baden, Germany, November 15, 1819. After farming on rented land in Illinois he came to Minnesota, as above related. He was deranged by a sunstroke in June, 1867, and was entirely helpless during the last three years of his life. Besides his widow, five children were left to mourn him, now located as follows : Francis M., Barron county, "Wisconsin ; Basil, in Missouri ; Mary (Mrs. William Evans), Plum City, Wisconsin ; Joseph (rendered totally deaf by measles while serving in the 3d Minn. Inf.) with his mother ; Augustus, Winfield, Montana ; Isadore, Washington Territory. Basil served through the war of the rebellion, and Francis three years in the same struggle. Mr. Jerry was reared a Catholic, but did not adhere to that faith.

and the second house built in the town. Mr. Bailey is a native of Ireland, born in the parish of Lome, County Tipperary, about 1 822. He was reared on a farm, and received a fair common school education. When about thirty years old he came with his father's family to America, and engaged in farming in Iowa. Here his father died, and he set out to look up a home for the family. He arrived in Zumbro (then Mazeppa) in June, 1855, and located on section 25, where his home has been ever since. He now has two hundred and sixty acres here, besides twenty acres of timber. On this he has placed large and handsome buildings. He liad little means when he came here, and has just reason for pride in the success which his labor has wrought. His religious faith corresponds with that ot the "Wesleyan Methodists. Politically he is an independent democrat. In the winter of 1859-60 he married Mary Little, born in New York of Scotch parentage. She died in 1S6-4, leaving two children, of whom only one is now living, christened Elizabeth. In 1S66-7 he was married to Isabel, a sister of his first wife. Her father was one of the pioneers in the adjoining town of Farmington, Olmsted count3\ Five children have blessed this union, and are named thus : Frank, Andrew, John, Robert and Mabel. Mr. Bailey's parents were Thomas and Jane. The latter came here in 1856, and died in 1864. Benjamin, the eldest son, took land in this town, and died in 1870, without any family. Tliomas and Andrew, two other sons, still reside in the town.

Orein Pencille, blacksmith, Zumbro, son of John and Fanny (Jackson) Pencille, was born in Waterloo, province of Ontario, May 28, 1833. His parents were born, i-eared and died in the same localitv. Up till nine years of age he remained with his fiimily on the farm, and was then apprenticed for twelve years to a blacksmith at Kingston. He had opportunity for limited common school training before and during his apprenticeship. His preceptor was a very severe man, and discharged him at the end of nine years. The cause of this action was young Pencille's interference to rescue a favorite son of his employer from the hitter's inhuman flogging for a fancied offense. Pencille at once bought a shop, four miles away, on credit, and at the end of six months had his shop and tools clear, and from that time has followed the calling. He came to Lake City from Canada, in May, 1855, and built a shop at Central Point. In the fiill of the same year he took up his residence on a claim on section 13, whicli he held over two years, and then sold. Built and operated a shop at Zumbro Falls, which was carried away by the flood of 1S59. July 19, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Dennison, who was born in Floyd, New York, daughter of Alonzo and Mary (Knox) Dennison. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Pencille is a consistent republican. Has always been active in sustaining and managing the public schools. For the last eighteen years he has dwelt on section 25, where he has operated a blacksmith-shop. He now has two hundred and eighty acres of land in this town, of which one hundred and fifty are under cultivation. Besides this, himself and son are holding half a section of land in Bigstone county under the United States tree culture laws. The family includes five children, two having died in early childhood. The third, IdaM., married Frank Fisher and resides at Castleton, Dakota. The others are at home, their names in order being as follows : William D., Anna L., Grace E. and Kate A. All the family is gifted with musical faculties. In early yeai'S Mr. Pencille taught singing schools in the town, and is now considerably engaged in the sale of organs and other musical instruments.

JoHX E. Hyde, i-etired merchant, is a grandson of Zabdiel Hyde, who commanded a regiment of militia during the defense of New London when it was burned by the British in 1781. William Hyde, father of this subject, was born in Connecticut. Early in life he went to Maine to engage in teaching. Here he met Miss Julia Douglas, another teacher, born within ten miles of his own native place. An attachment sprang up between them and they were married. William Hyde became well known as a newspaper and book publisher, his establishment being located at Portland. Here was born the subject of this sketch, in the year 1819. In infancy he was small and puny, but grew to be strong and rugged, though small in stature, and in early manhood endured great fatigue and extremes of heat and cold. In the early years of his business in Mazeppa he was compelled to depend on neighboring farmers for a team, and coiild not often get their oxen in winter except on days when it was so cold their owners did not care to be out. On these days Mr. Hyde was accustomed to go after wood, or to Red Wing after goods. At the same time Mrs. Hyde was not much troubled with customers in his absence, so a double advantage was gained. It grew to be a common remark with the Red Wing merchants on a cold morning, "Well, I guess Hyde will be in today." Mr. Hyde's early life was passed mostly in Portland, and his education was furnished by the schools of that city, and high school in Boston. He was filled with a desire to be a farmer and aonceived a great liking for stock, especially hoi'ses. Great was his delight when he was permitted to spend a winter with an nncle in the eastern part of the state. When but two or three years old he was one day taken to his father's place of business to ride home with him on a horse. When ready to go his father seated him on the horse, and before he could himself mount the youthful Pegasos seized the reins and struck the horse a blow with the whip. The steed at once set oft' at high speed, but was soon stopped by a crowd of men without any accident to its rider, who experienced none of the alarm which his freak had caused in all the observers. He was kept at school and in his father's store as much as possible to prevent his haunting livery stables. When eighteen years old he engaged at farm labor for very low wages, rather than be confined in his father's business. He continued to follow this pursuit and finally purchased a farm. He also followed lumbering in winter. In 18i2, at Paris, Maine, he married Miss Sarah Stowell, a native of that place. Her father, Daniel, was born in Vermont, and Ann Stowell, his wife, was born in Paris. In 1849 Mr. Hyde sold out his property and set out for the west. His funds sufliced to carry him to Platteville, AVisconsin, where he was employed for some time in a powder-mill. At one time the mill was blown up, b\it he escaped without injury. In the spring of 1S55 he set out for St. Paul, but was induced by a brotherin law to stop at Mazeppa. After helping his brother-in-law to build a log structui-e he went back to Galena, Illinois, and secured a stock of merchandise, which he brought here with his family in October. He soon bought the store in which he was conducting business, and afterward the store now occupied by E. L. Ford & Co. Here tlie business was continued till 1872, under the management of Mrs. Hyde, from the early part of 1865. In February of this year Mr. Hyde enlisted at Chicago, in the 156tli 111. regt., as a private. He was soon made ordei'ly sergeant, and when his ability as clerk and accountant was discovered, he was made captain's clerk. This regiment was chiefly occupied in chasing guerrillas, and on three different occasions Mr. Hyde went through a forced march of ninety miles in three days in excellent form. In July, at Cleveland, Tennessee, he received a sunstroke, from which he never recovered, and is now unable to walk about without assistance. In religious faith Mr. Hyde coincides with the Congregationalists. He is an enthusiastic republican and has always evinced a commendable public spirit. It was largely due to his influence that the Mazeppa schoolhouse, now inadequate to meet the demands upon it, was built as large as it is. He was town clerk for several years, and nearly always a member of the village school board while in active life. He was the first postmaster at Mazeppa, his commission dating January 2, 1856. He came here in debt and secured his independence by untiring industry. He claimed a quarter-section of land south of the village, by mortgaging, and afterward redeeming which he was enabled to tide over several mercantile billows. As high as ten dollars was paid by him for one hundred dollars of exchange on Boston. His estate now embraces a large and fine residence and two lots in the village. In partial compensation for his loss of health the United States government pays him a liberal pension. He was one of the most active business men of the town, and his inability is regretted by liis fellow citizens. His mind is unaffected and he is an interesting companion despite his impaired hearing. Eleven children were given to Mr. and Mrs. Hyde, of whom nine are living, as follows: Eliza, with parents; Mary D., teaching, Wilmington, North Carolina; Frank D., Dubuque; Edward S., Zumbro Falls ; Anna M. (Mrs. A. T. Pomeroy), Dubuque ; Julia, teacher, at home ; Ella F., teacher, Minneapolis ; Minnesota S. (Mrs. Eugene Ruth), Mazeppa ; Lizzie F., teacher, Minneapolis ; Joseph W., third child, was killed by a fall from a horse, at nineteen; Willard, the youngest, lived but one year.

George Ddncan, farmer, is one of the first settlers of Wabasha county, having located land in the town.ship of Mazeppa June 8, 1855. Four years later he sold out and settled on section 28, Chester, where he remained till 1876, when he moved to his present home on section 27, same township. Here he has one hundred and twenty acres, and has a like amount in 26. In 1872 he served against his will as town supervisor, being induced to accept the oflice on account of receiving a unanimous vote. He has always been a republican. Was reared under Presbyterian teachings, to which he still adheres. Mr. Duncan was born in Kergill parish, Perthshire, Scotland, November 2, 1830. He was reared to farm labor, and on ])assing his majorit}^ (March, 1852) set out for America. He spent three years in farm labor in Monroe county, New York, and in the Pennsylvania pineries, and then came here as above related. He butchered and sold tlie first beef so handled in Mazeppa in the fall 1855.

His capital was very limited when he came to this state, and his own toil and sagacity have made him independent. He was married June, 1S58, to Martlia A., daughter of Lewis Blunt, one of the pioneers of Mazeppa. After bearing ten children, Mrs. Duncan was taken awaj' by death, March 16, 1875. Of the children eight survive, as follows : Minnie (Mrs. "William Lancecum, Fort Worth, Texas), Cynthia A. (Mrs. H. H. Judd, Chester), George J. , San Antonio, Texas; the rest are at home, Ulysses Grant, William W., Verona, Stella May and Libbie.

William Waskey (deceased) was among the pioneers of Chester township, where he died in 1872. In May, 1855, he located on section 32, and fourteen years later exchanged this farm for one on section 35, on which the remainder of his life was passed. The youngest of his living children, Margaret V. (now Mrs. James Bennett), resides on the latter farm, which she received by inheritance. Mr. Waskey was a native of Maryland, and married Harriet Goodwin, of Virginia. While on an Ohio river steamer, moving west, Mrs. Waskey died, and was buried at Covington, Kentucky. The eldest daughter, Mary J. , died in Illinois. Two sons, Joseph and William, died here. The eldest living, Sarah, dwells in Missouri. George W. is at Sioux Falls, Dakota, and James M. in Dixon county, Tennessee.

AxEXANDEE Waskey, the fourth living son of the above subject, was born within one mile of the natural bridge, in Virginia, August 8, 1843, and was therefore but twelve years old when he arrived in Wabasha county. He was reared on the home farm, and on reaching his majority traveled over many different states. Tiring of a wandering life, he returned, June, 1877, to this locality. May 19, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Almira Harrison, daughter of Henry and Maggie Harrison, of Zumbro township. Two children have been given to Mr. and Mrs. Waskey, thus : Edward Alexander, June 6, 1881 ; Gussie, July 17, 1883. Mr. Waskey is now settled on a farm in Zumbro and is prospering.

Elijah Lont (deceased) was one of the pioneers of Mazeppa, and died in the village March 15, 1878. He was born in Koot, Montgomery county, New York. About 1842 he moved to Madisou county, where he married Martha A. Conick. She preceded him to the other shore several years, departing May 4, 1873. Both were Spiritualists, and firm in their faith to the last. Mr. Lont was a farmer, and a man of sterling integrity. His whole life was a tern- perance lecture, and he died regretted by all. He becanio a citizen of Mazeppa in the fall of 1855, and passed the remainder of his days here. Two children survive him, Stephen O., and Electa, wife of Evander Skillman.

Feancis a. Stowell was one of the pioneers of Mazeppa, taking a claim near the village in 1855. He was seven years justice of the peace in Mazeppa. He is a native of Maine, born in 1818. In 1849 or 1850 he went to Platteville, Wisconsin, and there married Eunice L. Demming. He became a resident of Minnesota, as above noted, and in 1S70 removed from Mazeppa to Lac Qui Parle county, settling on a farm near the village of same name. His eldest child is now a resident of Chester. Besides a son and daughter near Portland, Oregon, six children are with him at home.

Albert D. Stowell, farmer, was born August 5, 1851, and has been a resident of this state since four years old. LTntil eighteen years of age he attended the Mazeppa schools, and afterward spent a year and a half at the state university. He is now engaged in farming in Chester township. September 19, 1873, he was united in marriage to Melinda, daughter of D. L. Philley, named elsewhere. His views on theology are as yet unsettled. In public policy he is a republican.

Joseph Caswell, carpenter, was the first postmaster at Bear Valley, having settled in the township, then known by that name (now Chester), in June, 1855. His father, who bore the same name, settled here at the same time. This family is of English descent. Mary Mabie, whom Joseph Caswell, Sr., married, was descended from the early Dutch settlers of New York. The elder Caswell died in Vernon county, Wisconsin, in 1S6S. The subject of this paragraph was born March 19, 1826, in Cayuga county, New York. By the time he was ten years old he had dwelt with his parents in four states besides his native one. All his early life was passed on a farm. On August l-l, 1851, he married Mary Nicholson, a native of Wisconsin. In 1S55 he made a claim on section 26, where he dwelt seven years. In 1864 he removed to Waukee, Iowa, where his home has ever since been. He is the father of nine children. Clarence, the eldest, is in Worth county, Missouri ; Charles, in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. The rest are at Waukee. Their names are Belle, Jane, John, Herbert, Elsie, Lydia L. and Harriet. Mr. Caswell united successively, as circumstances made most convenient, with the Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and United Brethren churches. He has always been a democrat.

Cyrus L. Caswell, farmer, is a brother of the above subject. He was born April 4, 1831, while his parents dwelt in La Grange county, Indiana. His mother died when he was but seven years old, and he was brought up by Triplett, who was subsequently one of the pioneers of Chester. Messrs. Triplett and Caswell came here at the same time as those above mentioned, and made claims. Mr. Caswell's was partly on the Half-breed Tract. In 1861 he traded land for the eighty acres on section 27, where his home has been ever since. He still retains sixty acres on section 25, where he first settled. He was elected supervisor in 1868 ; he is a republican. In theological matters he agrees with the Methodists. He was married July 14, 1856, to Margaret Jenkins, a native of England. They have buried three daughters, and have one living, besides three sons. John married Carrie Lewis, and resides in the house with his parents. The others are William, Charles and Mary.

John Bricher, one of the numerous well-to-do farmers of High, land, is a native of Luxemburg, Germany, where he was born January 5, 1835. His parents were Peter and Susan (Ley) Brucher, (or Bricher), and John was their firstborn of a family of four girls and six boys. He received an education in the common branches. At the age of eighteen he bade farewell to his old home, and leaving his family and old associates behind, came to America. He did farm work near Aurora, Illinois, and in Dubuque county, Iowa, until the fall of 1855, when he came to Wabasha county, and pre-empted eighty acres on Sec. 35, in the township of Glasgow. In 1860, after having made many improvements on his pioneer farm, he sold it and bought eighty acres in section 2 in Highland, on which he now resides. His farm now consists of two hundred and forty-six acres, - one hundred and thirty of which is in a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Bricher's residence is a large two-story brick house; it was erected at a cost of about $2, 500, when building material was cheap in the summer of 1879. Mr. Bricher's matrimonial life dates from May 18, 1861, when he espoused Mar}' Sehearts, born in Bohemia in 1 845. A large family of children have been born to this worthy couple : Lizzie, born June 20, 1862 ; Frank, May 2, 1S64 ; Joseph, June 5, 1866 ; Elizabeth, April 13, 1868 ; John, August 13, 1870 ; Anna, April 3, 1873 ; Susan, November 8, 1875 ; Nicholas, March 3, 1878; Catherine, July 18, 1880; Christian, May 30, 1883. Joseph clerks in Brucher Bros', store at Hammonds on the Zumbro, of which firm Mr. Bricher is a partner. The family are members of the Highland Catholic church. Mr. Bricher has taught school several terms, and has been township assesssor for six years, and at present is a member of the board of su]3ervisors.

Patrick M. McInerney, merchant. Lake City, is a native of Mount Eivers, County Clare, Ireland, and was born in 1822. His early boyhood was spent on a farm, after which he received a classical education, which was completed by a collegiate course at Ennis, the seat of government in his native county; soon after he received a government appointment as superintendent of public works. These works were suspended in 1848, and on April 22, 1849, he sailed on the Lady Harvey from Kilrush, on the Shannon, for New York. This bark was commanded by Capt. Douglass, who sailed her safely into New York harbor on the 27th of the following May. The first position of trust filled by Mr. Mclnemey in this country, was in the Blooniingdale Asylum for the Insane, in the city of New York. This position he resigned in a few months,notwithstanding the many and urgent protestations of Dr. Nickols, who was at that time at the head of that institution, to acce]it a position as assistant bookkeeper for a large wholesale house in New York city. For a short time in ISol he was connected with the New York & Ei'ie railway, and in 1852 came to Chicago, to take charge of a constraction train on the old Chicago & Galena railroad. He subsequently accepted a position on the Illinois Central railway at Freeport, Illinois. In 1855 he arrived at Pepin, Wisconsin, and there engaged in the transaction of a real-estate business ; was postmaster at Pepin dm-ing the administration of James Buchanan, and, upon the organization of the county of Pepin, was appointed clerk of tlie circuit court for the Eighth judicial district. In the fall of 1874 he removed to Lake City, and the next spring embarked in a general merchandise business and is now in trade on Centre street.

Samuel Doughtt, president of Lake City bank, was born at Rockaway, New York, in 1818. His ancestry on both sides includes the earliest emigrants from England to Long Island. His maternal grandfather, Henry Nelson, served the colonies through the revolutionary war. Samuel and Betsey Doughty, his parents, were born on Long Island. Our subject was reared on a farm, three miles from any schoolhouse, and there were no free schools on Long Island in those days, within eighteen miles of New York city, the commercial and literary metropolis of America at that time. Thanks to a noble mother, his education was not wholly neglected.

It is a matter of honest pride to Mr. Doughty that, through his earnest and shrewdly-directed efforts, a free school was established in the same disti-ict. This was after he had learned the blacksmith's trade and set up a shop at his early home. At fifteen he went to acquire his craft, and began business, as above noted, before twenty. lie was soon elected a member of the school board, and took great pains to secure to the youth of the community advantages which he had himself been denied. In 1839 he married Hannah Rider, also a native of Long Island. Thirteen years later he removed to Bloomington, Illinois, where he continued to operate his craft. In 1855 he came thence to this point, and has been since identified with the growth and pi'ogress of Lake City. He became an owner in the town site, and was many years occupied with the care of transfers and other matter, attendant on the upbuilding of a thriving city. In 1874 he assumed his present position as president of the Lake City bank. In regard to matters of theology, Mr. Doughty is a total unbeliever. Politically he was a democrat till a few years before the civil war, and has been a republican ever since. He has four sons. The eldest, Maj. Edward, and the youngest, Frank, reside with their father ; Calvin, at Heron Lake, this state, and J. Cole, in business here.

James L. Kimble (deceased) was the first settler in Chester township, where he resided from April, 1855, until his death, which occurred May 9, 1881. He was a son of Nancy Ainsley and Erastus Kimble, and was born in Palmyra, Pike county, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1813. His parents were born in the same town, where their parents had dwelt since the Wyoming massacre. Up to eighteen years of age Mr. Kimble lived with his parents on the farm where he was born, attending the common schools ; then removed to Marshall, Michigan. Here he was enrolled in the United States service for the Blackhawk war, and served until its close. Returning to Michigan, he was married, November 8, 1836, to Miss Maria J. Benson, daughter of Abijah and Burneche Benson, all natives of S wanton, Franklin county, Vermont. After some years of farming in Michigan, he was compelled to move on account of ill health. A year was spent at Joliet, and another at Summit, Illinois, and he then settled at Sheboygan, Wisconsin, tilling a farm there nine years. Here he joined the I.O.O.F., of which he was an enthusiastic member of full degree. In February, 1855, he set out from St. Paul to look up a farming location, and selected one-fourth of section 30, on which, with a companion, he remained three weeks, with a tent for shelter. A temporary shanty was put up to hold the claim, and he returned to St. Paul for his family, with which he came on the following April. A comfortable log house was then built, but this was long since superseded by a large and handsome frame dwelling. Mr. Kimble was many years a great sufferer from asthma, and was therefore unfitted for the active life for which he was by nature qualified. He was a staunch democrat, but took no part in public concerns. At the time of his death the estate included two hundred and thirteen acres of land lying on Trout Brook, and most beautifully situated for general farming. Six of the nine children are now living. Emily J., the eldest, died at four years old. De Grove A. served in Co. G, 3d Minn. Vols., and died of wounds received in the battle of Wood Lake. Albert L. served two and onehalf years in Hatch's battalion at Fort Abercrombie ; married Ada Martin, and resides with motiier on homestead ; has one child, Jennie Albertie. Nancy B. died at eighteen months old. Sarah J. is now Mrs. L. P. Hudson, dwells at Lake city. Erastus B. at Aberdeen, Dakota ; Ada and Ida, twins (the former married J. L. Phillay), lives in Appleton, this state; latter is Mrs. Hugh K. Blanding, at Aberdeen. Charles D., the youngest, is at Aberdeen.

Geoege "Washington Judd, blacksmith, is a son of Se^'mour Judd and Abigail Eeed, both of whom were bora in Lenox, Massachusetts. Seymour Judd was a blacksmith, and settled in Smyrna, Chenango county, New York, where his son, George, was born, February, 28, 1815. When the subject of this sketch was but fifteen years old his father died, and he became largely responsible for the care of the family. He had already worked a great deal in the shop with his father, and continued to follow the trade all his life. When he was seven years old the family had moved to Nelson, Madison county, and here he remained until 1844, then going to Georgetown, same county. He was married June 28, 1840, to Miss Amanda; daughter of Elisha and Phoebe (Perkins) Emmons, who removed from their native Connecticut to New York, where ilrs. Judd was born. Mr. Judd became a resident of Wabasha county in the fall of 1855, locating a claim to eighty acres of land in section 31, GBiester. He built the first blacksmith-shop in Mazeppa. It stood on land now traversed by the C. M. & St. P. railway, near where Dr. Lont's barn now stands. A room was finished off in one end of this building, in which he dwelt with his family for some months. He continued to carry on blacksmithing in Mazeppa till 1874, when he rented a farm in Bear Valley, and tilled it three years. At the end of this time he moved on a iarm, owned by himself and son, in Pine Island township, adjoining the village. This estate includes one hundred and thirty acres, of which Mr. Judd took eighty in exchange for his claim soon after the latter was taken. He is a member of the Mazeppa masonic lodge; has alwaj's espoused the cause of the republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Judd have three children living, and lost a pair of twins at six weeks old, while in New York. Lewis, the eldest, has been twice married, and lost both spouses. He was united with Miss Cornelia J. Eussell, who died, leaving one child, Nora Elva, born November 13, lS6fi. On the 30th of March, 1868, he married Fannie E. Smith, who left four children at her death. They were born as follows : George Wells, February 2, 1869 ; Kittie May, December 20, 1870 ; Franklin E., January 10, 1875 ; Harry Granville, August 28, 1876. Parmelia, second child of G. W. Judd, was born May 10, 1843 ; is now the wife of Francis M. Brown, Lake City. Eveline K., December 14, 1848 ; married E. M. Woodbury on the 14th of December, 1868, and dwells in Zumbrota township. When Mr. Judd arrived here ; he borrowed money to pay the freight on his goods, but paid it by January following. He is now in independent circumstances, as the result of liis blows with the hammer.

William Wallace Day, liveryman, became a resident of this county in 1855, taking a claim on section 31, Chester, which he owned ten years. ' His residence has been most of the time in the village of Mazeppa. He has dealt a great deal in horses, and the fall of 1883 is the first in twenty-five in which he has not run a threshing machine. He now owns two and one-half blocks of village property, aside from his residence, and in the fall of 1883 built the handsome livery barn on Walnut street which he occupies for business. He is a member of the Masonic order ; has always been a republican ; was three years elected president of the village board, and is now serving the fourth year as treasurer of the village school funds. His father, Marvin Day, was a Connecticut Presbyterian of the strictest type, and Mr. Day's theological preferences are represented by that sect. Epaphroditus, father of Marvin Day, was also a native of Connecticut. The latter married Ehza Dunham, a native of the same state, and settled on a farm in Madison county,

New York, town of the same name, where Wallace Day was born. He was reared on the farm and resided there till he came to Minnesota. His education was received at what was known as the " Frog Schoolhouse, " in his native town. In 1860 he married Eliza J. Goodell, who was born in Munson, Maine ; her parents, Joseth and Cynthia Hitchcock-Goodell, were natives of Westminster, Vermont. Their second child, Frank, died when two years old. The living were born on the dates accompanying their names below : Carrie E., November 9, 1860 ; William Harlan, September 20, 186-i ; Ernest Ellsworth, October 6, 1868 ; Homer Goodell, January 1-i, 1870 ; Herbert Wallace, August 20, 1873. Frank Waren, the second-born, died before two years old.

William Davis (deceased) was one of the pioneer settlers of Chester township, taking a quarter of section 33 as his claim, in June, 1855, and leaving it to his family at his death. May 20, 1864. The birth of William Davis and his wife, formerly Amelia H. Bishop, took place in Horton, Nova Scotia, the former in August, 1796, and the latter Februar}' 4, 1799. They were married December S, 1818, and shortly moved to New Brunswick and settled on a ferm. In 1851 went to Princeton, Illinois, and four years later came here. Mrs. Davis is still living with her j'oungest son on the original claim. Mr. Davis affiliated with the republicans dm-ing his brief citizenship in the United States. The family is of Presbyterian training. Five of the twelve children are now living, as follows: James A., Atkinson, Nebraska; Amy A., Mrs. Alfred J. Miller, Zumbrota township ; Robert H. , noted below ; Sarah J. , wife of Samuel Augur, Atkinson ; Miner, on old homestead.

RoBEET H. Davis, farmer, became a resident of this county at the same time as his parents, as above stated. His farm embraces one hundred and twenty-seven acres, the residence standing on section 34. This is part of the claim taken in 1855. His birth occurred January 2, 1833, in St. Martin's parish. New" Brunswick. The various removals of his father's famil}' since that time describe his own. In April, 1858, he married Maria, relict of Charles Armstrong, and daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Corcer ; she was born in Linden, Vermont, in 1827. In February, 1864, Mr. Davis enlisted in the United States service and was assigned to Brackett's cavalry battalion, serving on the plains until May, 1866. The youngest three of his children are at home, the others as below noted : Walter, born November 5, 1848, Atkinson, Nebraska ;

Sarah, February, 1859, now wife of Tliomas Jones, Cavalier, Dakota ; Frederick, December, 1S61, same place ; Mary, April, 1864, wife of Philemon Irwin, at Danville, Wisconsin ; Gladys, March, 1867 ; Frank, March, 1869 ; Georgiana, August, 1871.

William Boatman, one of the pioneers of 1855, was born in Brown county, Ohio, on February 2, 1817. His parents were Henry and Rachael (Laenex) Boatman. His early life was spent on a farm in Ripley county, where he received a fair common school education. He worked at the carpenter trade for fifteen years in Brown county, Ohio, and three years in Indiana. In 1855 he came in the early spring to Plainview township, where he located a claim on section 11, and was interested witli Gen. Sharp, E. B. Eddy, Mr. Geisinger and Mr. Todd in the planning of the shortlived town of Greenville.' In 1861 he disposed of his claim on section 11 and bought out the Geisinger claim on section 10, where he continued to reside for ten years. In 1871 he removed to Wisconsin, and engaged in lumbering, building a sawmill at Humbird. Here misfortune visited his enterprises in the shape of fire, that twice destroyed his property within a period of five years. He finally sold out his Wisconsin interests and returned to Plainview.

Lucas Kuehn, general merchant, corner Main and Alleghaney streets. Mr. Kuehn has been a resident of the county since 1855, a resident of the city since 1S58, and one of its business men since 1862, at which date he established a bakery, and two years later, abandoning that branch of business, engaged in drygoods trade, which he has now successfully conducted for twenty years. His block, two store-rooms of which are occupied witli stock, fronts sixty feet on Main street and eighty feet on Allegheney. It is a solid brick and stone structure, two stories and basement, the upper story occupied for offices, storage, and the composing and editorial rooms of the Wabasha "Herald." He has also a branch store about sixteen miles from the city in Glasgow township. The corner building of the block was erected in 1868, the forty feet on the west in 187-4. In 1879 Mr. Kuehn erected the Commercial Hotel corner of Main and Bailly street, which will be more jjarticularly noted elsewhere. He is also president of the Wabasha bank, and in every way, as a liberal and public-spirited citizen, has fully identified himself with the interests of the city. Mr. Kuelin reports a gratifying increase of ti-ade over that of 1882, sales in his clothing department being twenty-five to fifty per cent, in advance of previous season.

His establishment gives employment to a force of from six to eight clerks, and one wagon for the delivery of goods. He is also engaged in furnishing ties and timber for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, his contracts averaging about one thousand dollars per month for the past ten or twelve months. Mr. Kuehn is a native of Baden, Germany, born October 18, ISS-t, came to America in 1S52, and three years later settled in this city. He married Miss Clarrie Genthner, of his native city, born there December S, 1S40. Marriage celebrated in this city November 30, 1858. Tlieii* children are: Magdalena, born November 23, 1861; Louisa, July 11, 1866; Emil, November 27, 1868; Clara, August 16, 1871; Frank, April 17, 1877.

Chaptee Xcii

F. J. Collier, superintendent of the county poorhouse, is a native of New Tork. At six years of age he came into Lorain county, Ohio, with his father's family, and thirteen years later into Kane county, Illinois. He learned his trade as a cooper, and worked at it in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, until 1855, when he came to Wabasha, and opened a hardware store here, which he carried on for two years. He then purchased a farm of one liundred and sixty acres in Cook's Valley, and farmed it there until 1865, when his health rendering farm work impossible, he returned to this city, was elected justice of the peace and city recorder, which latter office he held until 1878, when he was appointed superintendent of the county poorfarm. His office as justice of the peace he retained until the expiration of his terra in 1879. Was nominated and elected to the state legislature in 1870, and was judge of probate for the term ending December 31, 1881. May 9, 1852, Mr. F. J. Collier married Miss Nancy Purcelle, a native of Prescott, Canada. They have five children. ^ W. D. Collier, born July 28, 1854 ; Oliver F., born August 6, 1858 ; George O., born April 8, 1860 ; Elmer, born February 2, 1862 ; Charles H., born December 2, 1865. The boys are residents of the city, unmarried, and with the exception of the two eldest, at home. O. F., the second son, is proprietor of the Wabasha ''Herald."

O. F. CoixiER, senior member of the firm of 0. H. Collier & Co., editors and proprietors of the Wabasha "Herald," is a native of Wabasha county, born on his father's farm in Cook's Valley, August 6, 1858. Toung Collier received his education in the public schools of this city until he entered the printing-office of W. S. Walton in 1873, with whom he remained until 1866, with the exception of a year at school. He then went to Lake city and for five years was foreman in the office of the Wabasha county ' ' Sentinel," until 1881, when he purchased the Wabasha "Herald" from Messrs. Matteson and Lewark, which he conducted two years and sold a third interest to one of the old proprietors, W. Lewark, and by them the paper is now published. Mr. Collier is unmarried and quite an enthusiastic sportsman with rod and gun.

E. M. YoKK, son of John and Eliza York, was born January 6, 1 823, at Webster, Maine. Received his education at the common scoools and spent his youth on the farm. In 1851 he removed to New Hampshire, remaining there till 1855, then came to Zumbro township, this county, settling on section 31. He owns two hundred acres of land. He has been assessor for some years and supervisor once. His political proclivities are democratic. He married Mary Sinclair, her parents being natives of Maine. They have nine children : Edward N., Jennie L. (deceased), Dora A., now Mrs. Oleson, living at South Troy ; Mintie, Elnora L., Isaac (deceased), Arthur (deceased), Lora A. and Estella A.

William C. Weight, tarmer, is a native of ]S'orfolk county, England, where he was born March 25, 1827, being the second of six children born to William and Ann Wright, the former of whom is still living in England. When our subject was ten years of age he lost his mother, and shortly after took to the sea. So efficient did he prove, that at the age of fourteen he was second mate. His experience as a sailor was mainly in the Bi-itish coasting trade and the trade with France, though he also made voyages to America. While lying in the harbor of Quebec he sustained a severe injury, which confined him to the hospital six mouths and ended his career as a sailor. The next few years were spent farming in different places in Canada, and in the spring of 1856 he located in West Albany, where he yet lives, being one of its earliest settlers. He was married in Canada October, 18-16, to Christina Smith, a native of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, who died September 12, 1869. She was the mother of eleven children, eight of whom are living :

Mrs. Elizabeth Jennings, of Sack City, Iowa, William H. , George L., of Cass county, Wisconsin, Mrs. Susanna O'Conner, of Polk county, Wisconsin, Mrs. Harriet I. Burke, Christina, Jeanette and David. In politics Mr. Wright is independent. He has well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and is a prosperous farmer and a reliable citizen.

P. G. DicKMANN, farmer, was born in 1841, in Germany. He is the third son of George C. and Wiebke Dickman, natives of Germany. They came to Cook county, Illinois, when our subject was about twelve years old. In 1856 they came to Oakwood township. In 1861 Mr. Dickman served in the 8th Minn. Vols, for three years on the frontier, in the Bad Lands, and in Schofield's army at Murfreesboro. Kingston, etc. In 1S65 he was discharged, and, returning home,' took charge of the old homestead, his father going to Winona. He now has four hundred acres, nearly all improved, of very fine land, with one of the finest residences in Oakwood. He is a member of the Masonic order. He is one of Oakwood's supervisors. He has been a democrat for the last few years. He is one of our most enterprising and intelligent citizens. He was married, in 1867, to Annie Schach, native of Germany. They have nine children.

Isaac J. Cutter was born in Pennsylvania, November 2, 1829. His parents were both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Cutter is a butcher by trade. He moved to Glasgow township in July, 1856, and settled where he now lives. He has a farm of two hundred acres, well improved. A fine wind-engine furnishes him power enough to pump all water for his stock, besides running a small feedmill. Mr. Cutter has also a steam thresher. He was married, in 1853, to Mary Stowman. Mrs. Cutter has quite an extensive creamery. She sells about three hundred and fifty dollars' worth of butter per annum, besides what they use on the table. Mr. Cutter enlisted in the 2d Minn. Sharpshooters, and was mustered in at St. Paul, in February, 1862. From St. Paul he went first to Washington City, and then down the Potomac river. He was in the battles of Williamsburg, second Bull Kun and Antietam ; was in the battles in front of Richmond, and was in the seven days' retreat. In the battle of second Bull Eun a ball passed through the sleeve of his blouse, and in the battle of Antietam his gun was struck by a ball and broken in two, but he never received a scratch. He was discharged March 5, 1865, at Petersburgh, Virginia. He belongs to the "Wapahasa Lodge, No. 14, A.F.A.M., of Wabasha City, of which lodge he has been a member for twelve years. Mr. Cutter has been county commissioner three years.

William Lord Cleaveland was born in Koyalton, Windsor county, Vermont, December 17, ISl-i. His father, Jedediah Cleaveland, was of English descent, and his mother, Harriet (Handall) Cleaveland, of Scotch parentage. He acquired a fair common-school education in Vermont by working for his board and attending school winters. He then taught a term or two of school in his native state ; in 1837 came to Ohio and did carpenter work for a year, then went to Clinton, Michigan, where he continued to reside for sixteen years, working at his trade, that of a millwright, and teaching school. From ISSi to 1850 he followed his trade in Pittsburgh, Indiana. In th^fall of 1856 came to Wabasha county, and the following spring pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres on section 17, in Highland, which land he still owns. He married Lucinda Hooper at Tecumseh, Michigan, in 1843 ; her death occurred November, 1877. Mr. Cleaveland now has a home with his eldest son, John D., of Highland. The following are his children now living, namely : John D., born in Michigan, June 22, 1875 ; Jennette C. (Mrs. W. H. Phillips), of Winona, September 1, 1847; William E., of Highland, a grocer, November 28, 184-9. Mr. Cleaveland professes to be a Spiritualist. He has been a justice of the peace in Highland township continuously, with the exception of three years, since its organization. He was chairman of the first board of supervisors and held that place for three years. He is a charter member of Plainview Lodge, No. 16, I.O.O.F.

George W. Carpenter, farmer and thresher, was next to the oldest of a family ot four boys and four girls, born to T. P. and Emeline (Webster) Cai'penter. He was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1832. While a small child he was adopted into the family of his grandfather Webster, and lived with him on a farm near Warrentown, Pennsylvania, where he attended country school winters till 1846. In the spring of this year he accompanied his grandfather toMc- Henry county, Illinois, and soon found a home, a well-to-do farmer by the name of Pliny Hayward, attending school winters and working on the farm summers. January 1, 1855, he espoused Miss Lucy J. Judd, a native of Connecticut. In the spring of 1856 he came to Wabasha county, and located on a quarter-section in Plainview, this farm he cleared and improved, and sold in 1866. He did not engage in business again until September, 1870, wlien he purchased eighty acres on section 35 in Highland, where he now has a comfortable home. He is widely known among the farmers as a thresher, being the first man who ran a threshing-machine in Greenwood prairie. He is a member of the Methodist church, and also of the Plainview lodge of Odd-Fellows. Mr. Carpentei- has been twice married. By his first wife he had three children : Oscar E., a farmer in Big Stone county, Minnesota; Clara A. and AVillie H., both living at home. His second wife was the relict of the late George Clark, of Highland, to whom he was married January 27, 1S7S. Mrs. Clark had at the time of her second marriage two children, namely, Willie F. Clark and Lucy A. Clark.

Matthew Kinsella, Jr., farmer, was born August, 1832. AVhen he was about twenty years of age he came to the United States, and settled in Madison county, Illinois. After three years he came to Chippewa lumber region, remaining a few years. He tlien came to his present farm, as one of the earliest settlers of Oakwood township, enduring the hardships of those early days. He liked the wooded region best, and on that account chose his present farm. It contains one hundred and sixty acres, with enough added since his settlement to make seven hundred and forty acres of land - five hundred and forty under cultivation and some woodland. His farm is well improved, and one of the best in the township. He is one of the most devoted members of the Catholic church, and a leader in public enterprises of value. He has been township treasurer and chairman of supervisors for a number of years. He has been a democi-at, but is now more independent, and is one of our most influential reliable citizens. He was married (the first in the township) in September, 1859, to Catherine Finley, native of Ireland. He has four children.

Jas. H. Sandfoed, retired farmer, was born in Topsham, Maine, August 14, 1814. He was kept at school until fifteen years of age, when, shortly after, his father died, when he went to sea, entering the foreign merchant trade. For about twenty-seven years his principal occupation was that of a sailor. Occasionally, however, he would stop at home for a time, and on these occasions he would make a trip or two in some coasting-vessel. He also made several trips into the western wilds in the employ of the fur traders. In 1856 he immigrated to Minnesota, and settled in the town of Mazeppa, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 29, on which he continued to reside up to 1882, when he rented his farm and removed into the village of Mazeppa. Mr. Sandford is full of amusing and intei'esting reminiscences of the early days. He saw much of the Indians, as his place was near the Zumbro, which afforded fine camping-grounds for them, and who frequently called at his house for the purpose of begging. In those days he had to carry his supplies on his back some four miles, and the idea that the lazy Indians had the face to beg of him, when they knew how he had to pack his provisions, was too much for him, so he told his wife, in the hearing of several of them, that he would not give them anything more, whereupon they, seeming to understand, at once left. Shaska, one of the Indians hung for the massacre of settlers, at New Helen, came to his house one day and said he was sick, so Mrs. Sandford offered him a bottle containing No. 6, composed of gum myrrh, brandy and capsicum, a very hot, powerful medicine; but Shaska would not take it till Mrs. Sandford assured him by appearing to take some herself, whereupon he raised the bottle to his mouth and gulped down a good dose, before he was aware of how hot it was; it was down, though, and he had to stand it; but his grimaces and antics were amusing for a few moments. It seems the Indian had faith in Mrs. Sandford's ability as a doctor, for he repeated the dose for several days, till finally one day he came and said he was all right. On one occasion in the winter, when Mr. Sandtord was away, a lot of Indians called at his house to warm themselves, leaving their guns outside; finally, when they left, -Mrs. Sandford went to the door with her son George, a small boy, when they suddenly drew up their guns and aimed at Mrs. Sandford, who, instead of darting into the house with fear, stood and laughed at them, believing they meant no harm, while her little boy thought it meant business, and was considerably alarmed. Mr. Sandford is now in his declining years, enjoying the fruits of an industrious life as he justly deserves, being the owner of several farms; his means are ample. He has been twice married, and had two sons by his first marriage, one of whom is living. His second wife was Miss Arabella Pierce, of Bath, Maine, by whom he had one son, George, who is postmaster of Mazeppa.

J. J. Beatt.' was born in the State of Massachusetts, in the year 1856. After receiving a good common school education he learned the carpenter trade. He came to this county in 1856, and resided for one year in Lake City, where he built the first mill. In 1857 he removed to this township, and has since given much of his time to farming. Mr. Beaty enlisted in Co. E, 11th Minn. Inf., in 1864, and served until the close of the war. The people of the county and township have honored him with many jDositions of trust, all of which he has filled with credit to himself and general satisfaction to the people. He is at present county surveyor, which position he has held for eight years. Mr. Beaty is a member of the State Grange Association, the Masonic lodge of Lake City, and the Good Templars lodge of Oak Centre. Mr. Beaty was married in 1844, to Mary Snondon, to whom were born twelve children, eleven of whom are living.

John Link was born in England, September 21, 1820. In 1854 he came with his family to this country, and settled for three years in Ogle county, Illinois. In the fall of 1S56 he came to AVabasha county, and after taking a claim in Gillford township returned for the winter to Illinois. On April 18, 1857, Mr. Link and family arrived at their new home, or rather the place where their home was to be, for there was nothing but the wide fields and the open sky to welcome them. In course of time, patient and persevering toil surmounted pioneer difficulties, for house and barn were soon erected, and the land yielded large crops of grain. Mr. Link now owns two hundred acres of tillable, well impi-oved land on section 24, besides other property elsewhere. He was married February 17, 1848, to Margarette Lewis, and five children have been born to them, four of whom are living.

Geo. W. Price, farmer and stock-dealer, came to this county from Ohio, in 1856. He first settled in Hyde Park township, on the farm now owned by Mr. Kiley. He removed to Gillford township in 1863, where he has since resided. Lie was married in 1860, to Elisabeth C. Craig, and five children have been born to them, all of whom are still living. Mr. Price has a farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres on sections 27 and 33, and is all under cultivation.