Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 25: Btkon Township, 1887

Chapter 25: Btkon Township

I V ING on the central part of the south line of the county is the township of Byron. It comprises all of congressional township 105, north of range 23 west, and contains about the usual 23,040 acres of land. The surface, which is nearly level, with gentle undulations, has yet sufficient pitch to drain well, carried off by the waters of Boot Creek, in the eastern part of the township. The soil is a dark, warm, clayey loam, and, for fecundity and fertility, not surpassed by any in the county for some kinds of crops.

Eaely Settlement

Owino- to several causes, the settlement of Byron Township was not as rapid in an early day as in some other parts of the county. The land being more level, in the wet seasons the soil was damp and cold, and until the surrounding country was broken up and occupied, immigrants sought more congenial places, except a few hardy pioneers whose foresight told them that the natural resources of this country could be brought out by persistent work, and who have been rewarded for their pains.

The pioneer settler of this subdivision of the county was Jeremy Davis, a native of New Jersey, who located on the northwest quarter of section 34, in the spring of 1855, and built the first house in the township. Tiiis was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1857. Mr. Davis resided here until September 13, 1863, when he died, and his body lies in the Trenton cemetery, in Freeborn County, Minn. His first wife, Phoebe (Bowenj

Davis, died in Cumberland Count}', N. J. in 1837. His second wife, Keziah (Davis) Davis, is now living in Chicago. He had two sons in the army during the war in the famous Fifth Minnesota, one of whom died in the service.

Daniel C. Davis, a son of Jeremy and Phoebe (Bowen) Davis, came to what is now Byron Township, in 1855, and made a settlement. He preempted one farm and took another as a homestead on sections 28 and 33, where he now lives, his buildings being on the latter section. He was born in Cumberland County, N. J., May 13, 1834. At the age of nineteen years he commenced work in a painting and carriage trimming establishment at Shiloh, N. J., and remained there some four years. He then moved to Walworth County, Wis., where he worked one year on a farm, and the next year delivered brick at the kiln of Coleman & Davis, in Rock County, Wis. In 1855 he came here as above mentioned. July 18, 1861, he was united in marriage with Frances Parvin, the daughter of Benaiah and Elizabeth Parvin, who came to Minnesota in ] 860. They have been the parents of three children : Charles, born July 6, 1863 ; Mary, July 13, 1865, and Hattie L., April 13, 1874. Charles died February 21, 1865, and his body is interred in Trenton cemetery. Mary was united in marriage, September 5, 1885, with Fred. Herrington, and lives on her father's farm in the house he built on coming here. Mr. Davis has devoted most of his time to his farm until within the last two years, during which time he has been writing life insurance, and has been very successful indeed in that line.

William and David Beavins, in 1856, made settlements on sections 23 and 26. David is now a resident of Freedom Township, and William is still living on the old homestead. They came here from Wisconsin.

Isaac Lyng came to this township in 1856, also, and settled on part of section 26. During the war he enlisted in Company F, Tenth Minnesota Infantry, and died during the year 1865, and is buried at Dauphin Island. His wife died here at home about the same time.

J. H. Wightman, one of the representative citizens of New Richland, is one of the pioneer settlers of this township, coming to this part of the county in July, 1857, and locating on section 24. With him came Ira Dane.

Richard Ayers, from New Jersey, came to this township in 1857, and located on section 34. He died at Janesville, whither he had removed, about three or four years ago.

Mrs. Sarah Tibbets Philbrook was born in Brooksville, Me., May 6, 1807, and was married to William Philbrook in 1835. They came to Waseca County in 1857, and Mr. Philbrook bought the southeast quarter of section 14, in this township, where they lived till in 1865, when he was called from this world " to a mansion not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." The widow still lives on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Philbrook were the parents of five children, born as follows : Rowena, born in October, 1837 ; Roscoe, June 16, 1839; Byron, January 19, 1841; Lyman F., February 19, 1842, and George, October 31, 1846. When they settled in this place there was not a house in sight, and their nearest neighbor was a long distance away. Her son, Roscoe, lives with his mother, and carries on the farm, which is a most excellent one, and very productive. On the place is a very neat cottage, and a good commodious barn. Roscoe Philbrook was one of the nation's defenders in the late civil war, enlisting in the United States navy in the autumn of 1864, and served until July, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge.

Jacob W. Pierce was born in Cumberland County, N. J., October 15, 1833. He remained in the State of his birth until he had reached his majority, when he commenced the world for himself, doing farm work and carpentering work. In 1855 he came west and settled in Walworth County, Wis., where he remained some eighteen months, and in December, 1856, he returned to New Jersey and stayed there until March, 1857, when he came back to Wisconsin, where he purchased some ox teams, and came through to Freeborn, Freeborn County, this State, where he followed carpentering, although he took up a claim on section 35, of this town, where he now lives. He resided in Freeborn until 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company F, Fifth Minnesota Infantry. He was a participant in many engagements, and was wounded at the second battle at Corinth. He served until September, 1865, when he was mustered out as first lieutenant and discharged at Fort Snelling. He returned to Freeborn and was a clerk in a store there until 1866, when he returned to New Jersey to visit his father and spent eight months there. Returning to Freeborn he took up his trade of carpenter and followed it for some years, and then turned his attention to his farm, of which he now has 365 acres, with a beautiful grove surrounding his house and other buildings. January 1, 1867, he was united in marriage with Sarah Horning. They are the parents of five

Mrs. Fierce is a lady of unusual courage and presence of mind, as the following incident will show : They had been annoyed by tramps from time to time, and as she had heard of several dastardly acts those gentry had committed, she was determined to stop their coming to her house if cool and determined receptions would keep them away. She did not have long to wait, for one day, when she was alone, a burly, villainous-looking tramp came to the door and ordered her to get him something to eat. She quickly stepped into another room and picked up a shot-gun, which she aimed at his head, and told him if he did not leave instanter she would feed him in a way he would not like. He could see by her determined look that she meant what she said, and did not wait for a second invitation to leave. She has not been troubled in that way since.

Garret Hope owns one of the finest farms in the town, on the southeast quarter of section 6, where he has an excellent dwellinghouse, a horse barn, cattle barn, two granaries and a machine shed. He has an artesian well on his place, and an orchard from which he has raised one year some forty bushels of apples, besides a large quantity of small fruits. Mr. Hope was born in County West Mayo, Ireland, August 15, 1840, and is the son of James and Ann Hope. AVhen he was twelve years old, in 1852, he came to the United States, locating in Bridgeport, Conn., where he remained until 1855, learning the carpenter's trade. He then moved to Beloit, "Wis., where he remained until 1857, when he came to this countj^ and in 1858 settled in this township, where he now lives. The first year he was here he followed his trade, and for a time after locating on his farm did something at carpentering at odd times. On the 27th of May, 1861, he was united in marriage with Mary Mc- Grath, daughter of Patrick and Catherine McGrath. They have been the parents'of ten children, born as follows : James, April 16, 1862; Catharine, September 4, 1863; Patrick, March 5, 1865 ; Ann, October 16, 1866 ; Garrett, June 4, 1868 ; Maria, July 12, 1870 ; Julia, November 5, 1872 ; Agnes, September 22, 1875; Mary, February 20, 1878, and Charles, November 6, 1880. All are living at home except Ann, who is one of the Dominican sisters at Chicago, HI. Mr. Hope has been town supervisor and school clerk, and is otherwise prominent in town affaii-s.

Omer H. Sutliff was born Warren County, Pa., May 2, 1837. When he was only sixteen years of age, he left home to seek his fortune, and that summer worked on the Erie canal, in New York. The next year he spent on a farm in the same State, and then came west to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1856, when he came to this State, where he remained all winter, in the spring returning to Black River, Wis., where he was engaged in teaming for the mills. In 1858 he came to Waseca County, and helped erect the sawmill at the village of Otisco, and when it was finished, worked there for about a year. December 11, 1860, he was united in marriage with Mary Holbrook, and renting his father-in-law's farm in Otisco Township, cultivated that for a year. He then made a claim on the southwest quarter of section 24, this township, where he now lives, and there he built him a shanty of two wagon-loads of poles and a few slabs, aud as they lost the legs of their stove in moving, Mr. Sutlitt' drove stakes in the ground for it to rest on. In April, 1861, he enlisted in company I, First Minnesota Infantry, in w^hich he served three years and three months. He was in twenty-one pitched battles, besides skirmishes, and had his thumb shot off. He was at the banquet given at Washington, and there received the reward of merit granted to all that had served through their term of service. He was mustered out and dischai'ged at Fort Snelling, in June, 1864, and returning home, purchased a house and moved it on his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Sutliff are the parents of five children : Amanda, born September 9, 1864, married Dwight Hatch, in August, 1882, and now lives in Otisco Township ; Minnie, born April 2, 1867, married in December 1884, to P>ed. Heckes, living now in New Eichland Township ; Morris, born May 28, 1869 ; Viola, born October 1, 1872, and Dora, born August 15, 1877. Mr. Sutliff has now a fine farm and a fine modern cottage, in which he lives, and excellent surroundings.

Benaiah Parvin, a native of New Jersey, made a claim in this township, on section 33, and settled here in 1860. He drove the stage, and carried the mail from Alma City to Janesville for a number of years. Charles Parvin, a son of his, was a member of the Fourth Minnesota Infantry during the war, and died in the service. Benaiah emigrated to Arkansas a few years ago and died there. Mrs. D. C. Davis is a daughter of his.

Jesse R. Weed was born in Angelica, Allegany County, N. Y., May 23, 1819, and came to Waseca County, in October, 1860, settling on the northwest quarter of section 34, in this town, which he purchased previous to coming here, on which he still lives. The north part of his house, one of the first built in this neighborhood, is the only one of the old buildings left. Mr. Weed has also eighty acres of land on section 27. When he was nineteen years of age, he started out in the world for himself, engaging in farming, which occupation he has followed ever since June 7, 1838, he was united in marriage with Clarinda Maxon, and they have been the parents of five children, born as follows : Lorenzo, August 29, 1843, died October 12, the same year ; Henry Spencer, May 31, 1845 ; Lucy, June 30, 1847, died July 7, the same year; Harriet, March 31, 1850, died July 11, 1850 ; Susan L., May 27, 1854, died January 30, 1883. Mr. Weed is the son of James and Susan (Rogers) Weed, the father a native of New York, the mother of Connecticut. Mr. Weed was here during the Indian troubles of 1862, and went to the Winnebago agency, and helped guard that place, and both nights he was there the savages had a war dance.

Organic

In 1857 when the first board of county commissioners were districting the county for the first time, what is now Byron Township was made a part of Otisco, and so remained until November 1, 1858, when the board ordered the organization of it as a separate civil town. The first officers elected, according to the best recollections of the oldest inhabitants, there being no records accessible, were : J. H. Wightraan, chairman of board of town supervisors; John Mc- Grath, side supervisor, and David Beavins, clerk. The present officers are: Christie McGrath, chairman , Garret Hope and Michael Heffernan, supervisors ; C. S. Weed, clerk.

Representative People

Mrs. Calista J. Wilson was born in Madison County, N. Y., December 11, 1831, and with her parents, whose names were Campbell, moved to Rock County, Wis., where, December 11, 1849, she was united in marriage with Edwin A. Crumb. They remained there about eight years, and then removed to Winnesheik County, Iowa, but after three years' residence there, they came to this township and took up a homestead of 160 acres of land, the northeast quarter of section 32. Since coming here thev lived some time in the village of "Wilton, where Mrs. Crumb carried on a millinerv establishment, and her husband a wagon-making shop. After three j'ears spent there the}' returned to Wisconsin for Mr. Crumb's health, which was failing. Eig-hteen months later thev returned here, and on the 20th of Januar}', 1878, death claimed her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Crumb were the parents of five children: Xevonia A., born May 15, 1851, married Truman Davis in 1870, and now resides at Cartright, Wis.; John M., born December 3, 1853, married Ada Cummings, and now lives in Freeborn Count}', Minn.; Lovell A., born February 12, 1857, died October 12, 1877; Carloss H., born March 8, 1858, married Elizabeth Erb, and lives in this town, and Mary A. born October 12, 1864. Wlien they came to Byron Township, in 1864, Mr. Crumb was drafted, and as he had no shelter for his family but a rough shanty, and nothing to cover his teams, his distress was great, but on examination he was pronounced unfit for the service, and returned here. After her husband's death, she remained on the farm with those of her children that were unmarried, and carried on the business. On the 28th of February, 1880, she was united in marriage with John N. Wilson, who was born in Canada, September 1, 1833, who, when he was twenty-one years of age, came to " the States," and settled in Rock County, Wis., where he engaged in farming. From there he removed to Colorado, where he enlisted in Company G, First Colorado Regiment, and served to the end of the war. At the time of his marriage with Mrs. Crumb, he was a widower with two children : Claude S., born February 19, 1869, and John M., born April 2, 1872. In December, 1881, the family removed to Dodge Centei', this State, in order to send the daughter. JNIary, to school, but she being taken sick, they brought her back, as she was anxious to see her old home once more, and here she died, April 24, 1882. Zalmon M. Partridge is a native of Berkshire County, Mass., born January 15, 1834. He remained at home with his parents among the hills of his native place, where he was reared until lie was fourteen years of age, when he commenced life for himself. In 1857 he came to Minnesota, locating in Dakota County, where he worked at farming and carpentering for about three years. He then removed to Virginia, where he followed the occupation of brick molder until August, 1S61, when he enlisted in Company H, Fourth Loyal Virginia Infantry, and served a little over three years, and ^vas mustered out in 1864. On the 2d day of November, 1864, he was married to Narcissus Samples in Kenawha County, W. Va. He remained in that State for two years, and then removed to Dakota County, Minn., where he resided until 1870, when he came to this county and settled on the 160 acres of land on section 36, of this township, that he had purchased the year previous, where he is now living. At the time of his coming here the land was without improvement, but he has now a fine residence and other buildings, and has 115 acres of land under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Partridge have been the parents of five children : William S., born in Virginia, July 28, 1865 ; John Henry, born March 18, 1867, died April 3, 1867, and is buried at Castle Rock, Minn. : Ulysses, born May 30, 1868 ; Philip S., born March 9, 1S70, and Mary V., born December 14, 1875.

Harvey Cummings was born in Bureau County, 111., September 20, 1834. He remained a resident of the Sucker State until 1870, when he removed to Farmington, Dakota County, IMinn., where he rented a farm and resided there until 1874, when he came to Waseca County, and purchased 160 acres of land, the southeast quarter of section 31, Byron Township. At that time he did not build any house on his land, but renting the adjoining farm, which had a house on it. cultivated both places. In 1876 the grasshoppers came here in great nuni- bers, and besides devastating- the land, deposited their eggs in the ground in such numbers that Mr. Cummings, fearing that there would be no crops the next year, returned to Illinois, where he remained until 1880, when, returning here, he built his residence and other buildings, and has made this his home ever since. June 29, 1856, he was married to Mary Donaldson, and they have had a family of eleven children, all of whom are living, except one : Ada, born in Illinois, April 10, 185Y, married J.M. Crumb, m 1877, and lives a near neighbor ; Francis, born January 12, 1859 ; Lilian, born October 14, 1860, married \yarren Ladd in 1882, and lives in Nebraska ; Viola, born March 16, 1863, and died the following September; William Henry, born January 6, 1865 ; Charles Henry, born November 8, 1866; Clara, born October 31, 1868; Melvin Ellsworth, born in Dakota County, Minn., February 19, 1871 ; Rilla Mabel, born December 27, 1872; Edna, born December 22, 1874, and Pearl Evalina, born in Illinois, October 17, 1879. Mrs. Cummings is a native of Mason County, Ky., born April 2, 1834.

Peter Bumgerten was boi-n in Prussia, June 27, 1832, and lived in his German home until 1857, when he came to the United States, settling in Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming for twelve years. He then came to Waseca County, and purchasing eighty acres of land in St. Mary Township, lived there for about six years, and then purchased 160 acres of land on section 16, Byron Township, where he now lives. He has since added to his farm, 160 acres on section 20, and has now a fine place of 320 acres well improved and well stocked, and has a fine frame barn 28x48 feet in size, 16 feet studding, which was the first frame one in the town. When he came to this country he was almost penniless, but by energy, industry and thrift, he has accumulated quite a fine property. In the early days of his struggle with the world he cradled and thrashed grain for twenty-five cents per day,

Lawrence W. Concanon was born in Ireland, July 20, 1827, and came to the United States in 1851. He landed in New Orleans, where he remained until the following spring, and then went up the river to the State of Illinois, where he was engaged in farming some twenty-four years. In 1877 he came to Waseca County, locating in St. Mary Township, but three years later he removed to Byron Township, purchasing 160 acres of land on section 19, where he has a good house, and a well improved fai-m, and a beautiful grove of cottonwood, maple, willow and box-elder trees. He does a general farming and stock-raising business and is one of the solid men of the town. He was united in marriage, April 11, 1856, with Bridget Broderick, and they have been the parents of eight children : Mary, born July 4, 1858; William, born October 11, 1859 ; Catherine, born March 27, 1861, died March 18, 1868 ; Lawrence, born February 15, 1863 ; Bridget, born April 9, 1865 ; Ellen, born May 11, 1867 ; Margeret, born Ma}'^ 10, 1869, and Honora, born A])ril 9, 1871. His daughter INIargeret is a school-teacher and Honora is fitting herself for the same profession. Mr. Concanon being a great believer in education, has given his children every advantage he could in that direction.

John Dinneen was born in Ireland, in June, 1828, and lived in the country of his birth until 1850, when he came to the United States. He remained in the State of New York, where he worked on the railroad for a time, and then purchased a farm, which he tilled until 1875, when he sold out there and came to Waseca Countv, and took a home- stead of 160 acres on section 20, where he is still living. He has purchased since then 320 acres of land on sections 20 and 29, and has -a fine farm of 480 acres, where he carries on general farming and stock-raising, giving considerable attention to the breeding and rearing of fine cattle. He has a fine cottage and several convenient buildings in which to shelter his horses and cattle, and fine machinery sheds. In February, 1856, he was united in marriage witli Mary Burke. They have been the parents of nine children : Maggie, born December 25, 1856, who died June 1,1860 ; EUen, born June 15, 1858, who died June 1, 1860 ; James, born May 15, 1862; Timothy, born January 7, 1864, died January 22, 1879; Daniel, born October 31, 1865; John, born January 7, 1867; Nicholas, born November 31, 1869 ; Mary E., born February 8, 1873, and Catharine, born March 23, 1876. Mr. Dinneen has held the office of chairman of the town supervisors one year, side supervisor three or four years, school director ten years and school treasurer ten years.

Peter Obrine was born in Ireland, June 29, 1837, and remained a resident of the Emerald Isle until 1863, when he came to the United States, and after a few months' residence in Wisconsin, in 1864 came to Waseca County, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 17, in this town, where he now lives. He was united in marriage with Mrs. Margaret Dwyer, nee Ryan, who was the widow of Thomas Dwyer, and had at the time of this last marriage two children : Alice, wife of Thomas Ryan, living in Waseca, and Honora, born April 10, 1847, wife of Barney Agnew. Mr. and Mrs. Obrine have but two children living: Catherine, born November 25, 1859, now the wife of Emmons Smith, of Waseca City, and Mary, married November 22, 1868, to Frank Smith, but who, having separated from her husband by divorce, resides with her parents with her two children : George Edward, born August 26, 1881, and Maggie, born August 29, 1883. In the Avinter of 1864, Mrs. Obrine started to visit a neighbor distant about four miles, and was caught in a snow storm and got lost on the ])rairie. She wandered around from Wednesday until Friday evening, when she arrived at her sister's house. She was so badly frozen and so exhausted that she could not get into the house without help. She lost about one-half of each one of her feet, and was injured otherwise.