Washington County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (7 of 11 so headed), 1881

William Atwater was bom in New York in 1816. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, during which time he learned carpentering. He continued in the busi¬ ness six years, then bought five-hundred acres of land and opened a farm, on which he remained nearly fourteen years. He then engaged in the mercantile business six years when he sold, and removed to Prescott, Wisconsin. In 1864 he and his brother-in-law purchased a ferry which they run between Prescott and Point Doug¬ las five years. He sold his interest to his brother-in-law, then bought the ferry which is plying, at the present time, between Point Doug¬ las and Hastings. He is the present postmaster at Point Douglas. He was married, in 1842, to Anna E. Fowler, who died in 1858, leaving two children. Mr. Atwater was remarried to Sarah P. Clark.

Henry Behrens, a native of Germany, was bora in 1855. He came to America, with his parents, in 1867, and after a few months stay in New York, they proceeded to St. Paul, Minnesota. Locating on a farm, four miles from St. Paul, they re¬ mained there three years, then removed to Wood¬ bury, where they still live. Mr. Behrens at twenty-one years of age, rented a farm in Den¬ mark, Minnesota, where he still remains. He was married in 1878 to Miss Mary Raths, who has borne him one child, Elizabeth.

George J. Bush was born in upper Canada in 1839. At the age of fourteen he removed with his parents to Illinois, where they resided a short time, thence to Point Douglas, Minnesota. George remained at home until 1863, when he purchased a home. He resided a few years in Waseca county, and finally located at Denmark. His wife was Ann Hetherington, whom he married in 1863. They have had four children: Linden G., Alvey, Cora and William E.

Prescott, Wisconsin, then to Baytown, Washing- I ton county, Minnesota; lie remained in that lo- i cality about nine years, then removed to Den- \ mark, where he still lives on his farm. He mar- \ ried in 1880, Elizabeth Oldham.

Malcom Black, a native of Scotland, was bom in 1832. His parents died when he was quite young, leaving him alone. In 1849, he went to Glasgow, where he remained until coming to America in 1853. lie lived in Livingston county, New York, three years, then came to Washing¬ ton county Minnesota. lie engaged in lumbering and farming several years, and in 1805, bought a farm near Denmark, on which he has resided since 1871. lie was married in 1807 to Miss Lydia Eastwood. Their children are, Jessie S., Mary E., Katherine and Elsie.

Frank Brendemuhl, a native of Germany, was born in 1830. Ilis family came to America in 1841. In the spring of that year they located on a farm near Watertown, Wisconsin. The father died in 1854, soon after which Frank went to Kansas, thence to Princeton, Minnesota, where he made a claim. In 1802 he enlisted in Com¬ pany I, Sixth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers; after serving three years he was discharged at Fort Snelling. He returned and purchased a farm on which he still lives. He holds the office of school director of district number forty-five. His family consists of wife and six children: William, Henry, Fred, Louis, Ida and Melinda.

Albeit Brendemuhl was born at Watertown, Wisconsin, in 1840. At thirteen years of age he went to Kansas, thence to Princeton, Minnesota, remaining nearly six years. He sold the property he had accumulated there and came to Denmark, Washington county, where he still resides on a j farm. His marriage with Louise Marshall took place in 1808. Their children are: Anna, Ed¬ ward, Emma, Amelia and William.

John Coffman, a native of Pennsylvania, was bora in Chester county in 1825. Ilis father's death occurred when he was only six months old, and he was taken by his grandfather, with whom he lived until seventeen years of age. He en¬ gaged in farming for others ten years, then came to Point Douglas, Minnesota, and in i 1854 entered two hundred acres of land, on the St. Croix river, near Denmark. In 1800 he ob¬ tained property, by trading his farm, in Prescott,

I Wisconsin; soon after he returned to Denmark, I where he now lives. He married Ellen Clark, ! who died in 1803, leaving six children. He re- | married to Miss Mary Johnson, who has borne J him five children, four of whom are living.

William J. Cohoes was born near Rutland, Vermont, December 25th, 1838. When about ten years of age, his father died, and in consequence, William was obliged to begin the Imttle of life in early years. In 1852, his mother granted him the remaining time until he should reach his ma¬ jority. He worked on the Champlain and Erie canals and the Hudson river on a freight lmat. Coming west to Fulton, Iowa, in 1857, he tarried a brief time, thence to Point Douglas, and the following year went to Missouri, entering there the employ of the United States and American Express Company. After continuing in the em¬ ploy of the government some time, he crossed the plains to the gold fields, but in 1860, re-entered the employ of the express company, and the next year returned to Point Douglas, Minnesota. Here he engaged in agriculture until enlisting in the Firet Minnesota Regiment in 1865, was with General Grant until the surrender of General Lee. Returning to civil life and his home, he has since resumed his agricultural pursuits. Miss Chris¬ tiana Truax became his wife in 1863, and has borne him eight children.

John Conley was born at Fort Snelling, Min¬ nesota, in 1845. At nineteen years of age he en¬ listed in Company F, Minnesota Independent Bat¬ talion; he served until 1866, when he received his discharge. In 1868, he purchased eighty acres in Denmark, Minnesota, where he still lives. He was married in 1868 to Mary McDermott: Alice,

Johanna Connelley, a native of Ireland, was bora in 1817. She came to America in 1851, and made Monroe, Orange county, New York, her home. She removed to Point Douglas, Minne¬ sota. the next year. She and Martin Connelly were united in marriage in 1853. He was a widower and was the parent of three children:

! William, John and Thomas. He owned a farm at Denmark, on which they lived, and since his death, which happened in September, 1880, his widow has passed her time there. Her children

Allen Cook was bom in Canada West, in 1828. He went to St. Lawrence county, New York, where he lived seven years, then went to Hudson, Wisconsin. Soon after, he became a resident of Denmark. Ilis mother lives with him, his father having died in 1854. Mr. Cook was mar¬ ried in 1864 to Margaret McChesney. They have five children living: Amelia, Sarah, William II., John A. and Josiah.

Edward Delamore was l>om in Ireland in 1812. He came to Canada in 1882, thence to Albany, New York, where he remained only a short time. He then made his home in Ulster county, New York, until 1847, when he went to Vermont and bought a farm. Here he lived ten years, then made Hastings, Minnesota, his home seven years. His present place of residence is Point Douglas, locating there in 1864. He was married in 1837. Ilis family consists of his wife and seven children.

William B. Dibble was bom in New York in 1815. He went to Pennsylvania in 1882, and after remaining nearly two years went to Georgia and Alabama, engaged in the stage business. He bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Illinois, on which he remained some time. After traveling through different states a number of years he started for the California mines in 1849. He engaged in mining two years, then retnmed and located at Point Douglas, remaining eleven years, when he bought his present farm. Married in 1844 to Eliza McCauslin. His second wife was Mary Wright. Nine children have been born to them.

David Downing was bom in Washington coun¬ ty, Maryland, in 1819. His parents moved to Pennsylvania in 1827, and the next year he was sent out to earn his living. He learned the dis¬ tillery business at sixteen years of age and con¬ tinued in it four years as a laborer, then bought one-half interest. In 1849, his partner disap¬ peared very suddenly, taking their funds with him. lie then removed to Point Douglas, Min¬ nesota, and engaged in farming three years, after which he made a contract to furnish wood for that place. He then bought the farm where he now lives. He married Mary Henry in 1856.

mother died when he was seven years of age, which event compelled him to reside with an uncle in Wisconsin. He enlisted in 1864, in Company A, Third Regiment Wisconsin Volun¬ teers, and received his discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1865. He became a resident of Point Douglas, in 1880. His marriage to Julia Coffman occurred in 1870. They have had three children: Ida 13., John W. and Frank E.

Timothy Enright was bom in New York in 1844. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Com¬ pany "C," Fourteenth Regiment, New York Vol¬ unteers, in which he served two years, when he was discharged. He returned home and remained until 1865, then removed to Point Douglas, Min¬ nesota. He engaged as laborer until 1876, when he purchased village property and there located. He now holds the position of justice of the peace. In 1870, he married Margaret Delamore, who has borne him five children.

Simon Fetterley was born in Canada in 1826. He engaged in farming in his native place until 1855, then came to Point Douglas and was en¬ gaged in farming for other parties nearly five years. He purchased a farm from Mr. Dibble, which he sold a short time after and bought again of Mr. Bushy. He purchased another farm soon after, on which he now lives. He was mar¬ ried to Caroline Bushy in 1847. Their children are Electa A., William S., Charles S., Melissa J., James N., Susan and Whitney.

Thomas Fisher, Sr., is a native of Yorkshire, England, bom in 1819. He lived with his parents until the age of twenty-two. lie engaged in farm¬ ing two years, and was then in the grocery busi¬ ness four years. He came to America in 1859, locating at Point Douglas, Minnesota. He has since then been a farmer, and since 1807, lived on his own farm. His wife was Miss Sarah E. Wright, whom he married in 1845. They have four children living.

Henry Gallinger is a native of Canada, bom in 1832. He learned the trade of carpenter in his native place then came to point Douglas, Minne¬ sota, in 1858. He engaged in farming and lum¬ bering some time, then bought a farm in Den¬ mark, where he now lives. He enlisted in Com¬ pany F, Hatches' Battalion, in 1865, and received his discharge in 1860. lie married Miss E. l'er-

\V. G. Ilageman, a native of Germany, was bom in 1833. He engaged in farming in his native country until 1854, when lie came to America. He worked over two years in a nursery, and in the spring of 1857 located in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was employed in a saw-mill four years. In 1864 he purchased eighty acres of land in Denmark, and for eight successive years purchased the same amount. He raised fourteen thousand bushels of small grain three years in succession. His family con¬ sists of his wife and seven children. Their names are: Louis II., William F., Lena, Emma, George, John and Albert.

George Harris was bom in Pennsylvania,- in 1824. He moved with his parents to Illinois, when three years of age. His father was killed in the Black Hawk war, while there. At the age of eight, George began working on a farm, in which he continued nine years, then went to Missouri, where he remained until 1845. He then made Point Douglas, Minnesota, his home, eight years. After spending a number of years in various pursuits, in various places, he located at Denmark, on a farm. His family consists of his wife, who was Miss Alice White, and seven children.

Jane lletherington, widow of Thomas Iletherington, was bom in Scotland, in 1820. She ac¬ companied her parents to Canada when three years old, where she remained until her marriage in 1847. In 1850 they removed to Point Douglas, Minnesota and soon after located on a farm three miles away, where she still remains. She is the parent of eight children: Mary, John E., Wil¬ liam P., A. B. Jane. George R., Thomas M., and Ely B.

John II. Hone was born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1839. Ilis parents moved to Marine, Minne¬ sota, when he was quite young, his father being one of the Marine Lumber company. In 1860 he embarked for himself and bought a farm, which he owned eight years then sold and bought 127 acres, where he lives. He is now treasurer of school district number thirty- four. His marriage with Mehitable Ledgard occurred in 1861. They have two children, Cornelia and Alleta.

1829. In 1851 he came to St. Paul, Minnesota, thence to St. Anthony, where he resided two years. He bought eighty acres in Denmark, in 1863, which he increased to 640 in sixteen years. For five years past his farm has yielded 8,000 bushels of wheat and oats each year. He was married in 1853. Their children are John F., Alvina G., Francis B., Sarah L., William O., Charles O., Harvey E., and Sarah A.

John F. Krueger is a native of Germany, bom in 1846. lie came to America in 1861, locating in Dodge county, Wisconsin. He commenced farming in that county and in I860 rented a farm on which he remained three years. He then went to Iloricon in a flour and feed store, engaging in that business two and one-half years. Soon after, he located at Hastings, and for a time was em¬ ployed by Mr. Libby as lumberman, lie Inis now control of Mr. Nash's farm, on which he lives. He was married in 1868, to Minnie Lemann. Their children are William, Lena and Fred.

Robert Jackson was born in Cheshire, England, 1819, where he lived until coming to America in 1840. He located in Iowa, where he remained nearly three years. He then came to Washington coun¬ ty, Minnesota, being attracted thither by the re¬ ports of its healthfulness. He first located in Denmark township, afterward taking a claim, be¬ fore the government survey. Mr. Jackson has been twice married.

Edward Laforce was born in France in 1817. He came to America with his parents, and lo¬ cated at Quel>ee, Canada. In 1845 he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and was employed by Air. Lawrence, in the lumbering business, six years; he then went to Cottage Grove, Minnesota, re¬ maining ten years. While there he bought one hundred and sixty acres, and after living on it four years traded for one hundred and twenty acres in Denmark, where he still lives. His wife was Alargaret Hutchings, whom he married in 1860. They are the parents of five children.

William S. Louden is a native of Indiana, born in Clark county in 1843. He moved to Point Douglas, Alinnesota, in 1866; thence to Cottage Grove. He remained there a few months; then returned to Point Douglas. After visiting his native state he located on a farm at Cottage Grove, where he remained two years. lie then purchased eighty acres at Denmark, where he

Archibald McCallum was bom in Scotland in 1833. He came to America in 1851 with his parents, locatiirg first at Albany, then at Cale¬ donia, Livingston county. New York. He re¬ mained there until 1863, when he came to Hast¬ ings; the next year he bought eighty acres in Woodbury, Washington county, Minnesota, on which he now lives. He was married in 1871 to Mary Taggart who has borne him two children.

John O'Brien is a native of 'Ireland, bom in 1849. He came to America in 1855 and remained in Baltimore one year. He then came to Hast¬ ings, Minnesota, where he worked in the foun¬ dry and machine shops two years; then in the saw-mills in that vicinity where he still continues. He owns two hundred and forty acres in Den¬ mark.

Samuel Orr, was bom in New Brunswick, 1815. His mother died when he was four years old. At the age of twenty-three, lie went to St. Stevens, where he was employed in the shipyards twentyone years. He then embarked in the brig ''Caro¬ line," bound for Cuba, which was wrecked on her homeward passage about two hundred miles south of Cape Ilatteras. In October, 1862, he ar¬ rived at New York city. He came to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1865, thence to Stillwater, at which place he was employed by Mr. Staples. lie then located on a farm, where he still remains. He has been twice married, and is the parent of seven children.

William A. Page was bom in Denmark, Min¬ nesota, 1856. He removed to Point Douglas with his parents when quite young. After becoming of age, he worked one year for his father, then purchased a farm of his father, where he still lives. He now holds the position of clerk in school district 49, Denmark. Mr. Page was mar¬ ried in 1876 to Lottie Weaver, who has borne him two children, Albert S. and Charles E.

Charles R. Page was bom at Point Douglas, Minnesota, in 1858. His parents were of English birth. They came to America in 1848, and made Philadelphia their home three years, during which time his father worked at carpentering. In 1851, they came to Point Douglas, Minnesota,

Oscar Perry was bom in Pennsylvania, in 1843. He located in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1861, and soon after enlisted in Company "L," Second Min¬ nesota Sharpshooters. He was discharged after having served three years. He returned home and engaged in the oil business until 1875; then spent a few years in traveling, finally locating at Denmark, where he has since resided.

Thomas Screeton is a native of England, born in 1821. He served an apprenticeship of seven years as carpenter at Manchester. He then worked sixteen years at pattern-making. In 1858, he came to America, making St. Paul, Min¬ nesota, his home a few years. He enlisted in the United States Engineer Corps, in which he served six months. He purchased his present farm in Denmark, in 1844.

Austin M. Shearer was bom in Canada, in 1843, where he lived until the spring of 1864. He then went to Green Bay, Michigan, and after a short stay removed to Point Douglas, Minnesota, and purchased a farm about three miles from there. He still lives there. His marriage with Miss Ellen Page took place in 1870. They have two children: Minnie and William.

James Shearer, born in 1815, is a native of Massachusetts. After completing his education, he wras employed as clerk in a store nearly five years. For a number of years after, he was en¬ gaged in the mercantile business, then passed a number of years in traveling. He located at Point Douglas, on a farm, which he bought in 1849. He is now' town treasurer and county commissioner. His marriage with Miss M. J. Hardy, occured in 1866. They have three chil¬ dren: Marcus A., Martha V. and Irving F.

Simon Shingledecker was bom in Germany, in 1815. He came to America in 1831. He lo¬ cated in Ohio, and worked nine years as a farmer, then went to Illinois, thence to St. Louis. He was employed three years on a boat, which ran from St. Louis to New Orleans. In 1845, he re¬ moved to Hudson, Wisconsin, engaging in lum¬ bering three years; he then bought a farm in Den¬ mark, Minnesota, where he still lives. He mar¬ ried in 1850, Margaret Truax, who has borne eight children: Caleb J., Abraham R., Agnes

A. Stevens was born in Canada, in 1806. At the age of sixteen, lie learned the trade of wheel¬ wright. lie continued in that business until 1832, when he was married and moved on his wife's farm, where they lived until 1850. They then sold and bought eighty acres at Cottage Grove, Minnesota. In 1877, his wife died and he sold his property. Since living with his daughter at Denmark.

Mortimer M. Swingler is a native of Indiana, born in 1841. lie came to Hennepin county, Minnesota, in 1857. He enlisted in Company A' Ninth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers; after serving three years he received his discharge at Fort Snelling. Soon after, he went to Stevens county and gave his attention to farming until 1870. He visited different places and pursued different lines of business until 1880. then located at Point Douglas. He bought the ferry and the land adjoining in Denmark, and holds the char¬ ter for a term of live years. He married in 1867, Fannie M. Taylor. They have live children living.

Abraham Truax was bom at Brockville, Can¬ ada West, 1824. His father was a sailor, and in consequence the family was forced to often change location. They moved to St. Lawrence county, New York, where they remained about thirteen years. In 1848 they came to Minnesota,

1 ocating at Point Douglas. When Hastings first started, Mr. Truax removed there and helped in building the old "Buckhorn,"a log structure. He returned to Washington county in 1859, where he has since resided. He held the oflice of sheriff of Dakota county at an early date. He was mar¬ ried in 1859 to Mary Lahey, who has borne him five children. His wife died in 1867.

Mark Wright was born in England, 1830. He came to America with his parents in 1841, locat¬ ing at Quebec, then to Upper Canada, where his father was employed by the government eight years. In 1852 his father bought one hundred and sixty acres in Denmark, Minnesota, on which he lived until the time of his death. In 1864, after his father's death, Mr. Wright purchased one hun¬ dred and sixty acres, where he still lives. His family consists of wife, who was Margaret Ste¬ vens, and four children.

Alary Wright was l>orn in 1800, in England. She lived with her parents until twenty-live years of age. In 1826 she married Mark Wright. They moved to Canada in 1842, living in different parts of the province until 1852, when they removed to Point Douglas, Minnesota. They Iwnight one hundred and sixty acres in Denmark, the May following. Her husband died in 1873. She still lives on the farm with her son George who owns one-half. He was married in 1874 to Adelaine Wright.

Robert Wright was born in Canada, 1848. He moved with his parents to Point Douglas. Four years later, his father purchased a farm in Den¬ mark, and moved there. Mr. Wright remained with his parents until twenty-one, when his father gave him eighty acres of land on which he moved . and still resides. He was married in 1872 to Miss Electa Fetterley, who has borne him one child.