Washington County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (9 of 11 so headed), 1881

F. V. Briggs w;is born January 28th. 1848, in Kennebec county, Maine, and came west with his father, Calvin Briggs, when about eighteen years of age. He located, with his father, in Marine township, and finally moved to Oneka, in 1874. Here they tilled the farm previously purchased. In 1874 he married Castina O. Rutherford, who has borne him three children: William R., Harry F. and Calvin Y. Mr. Briggs has now a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, nicely improved.

Pierre Girard was bom at St. Rose, Canada, in 1814. Remaining at Montreal until the "pat¬ riotic upstir," he then sought refuge in the United States in 1839. Passing some time in traveling about, he visited Chicago, Buffalo, and other places, and engaged in different pursuits. At times he was compelled to go long distances on foot, experiencing many privations and diffi¬ culties. For some time he made his home at Prairie du Chien, and manufactured ginger beer, also engaged in farming near there for five years. In 1849 he came up the river to St. Paul, and was employed in rafting, and as a lumber¬ man cook, until the commencement of hostili¬ ties, when he enlisted in Company I, Second Minnesota Volunteers, serving until discharged for injuries received, in 1862. During the fall of the next year he removed to Stillwater, and in 1807 located on a farm in Oneka township, on the lake shore.

Daniel Hopkins was born in 1820, and is a na¬ tive of New Hampshire. Learning the trade of tanner and currier in his native state, he worked as such a number of years; also engaged in lum¬ bering seven years. In 1850 he located at St. Paul, Minnesota, and carried on general merch- andising until failing health compelled him to abandon the business, which he did in 1863, pur¬ chasing a fine farm between St. Paul and 8t. Anthony, on which he lived seventeen years and dealt quite extensively in fancy horses. While on a hunting excursion, he crossed his present farm, and thought it so fine a locality that he sold his farm and purchased four hundred and forty acres, having since added two hundred acres more. The St. Paul and Duluth railroad crosses his estate, having a flag-station, commonly balled Hopkins' station. Mr. Hopkins has been twice married; his present wife was Anatte Johnson, a native of Norway, whom he married in 1857. Edward, William M., Judson, Chester, Frank, Henrietta, Marty and John are his chil¬ dren.

Michel Houle, a native of Canada, was born in 1832. Remaining under the home guidance and protection until seventeen years of age, he then sought the copper mines near Georgian bay, working at mining a few months. After spend¬ ing one summer with an exploring party, he re¬ moved to Michigan peninsula and engaged in the mines about four years, going thence to Duluth, Minnesota, from which place he enlisted in 1864 in Company E, Independent Cavalry, receiving his discharge at Fort Snelljng in April, 1866. He returned to Duluth, remaining until 1870; then located on his present farm in Oneka township, of one hundred and eighty acres. There is a spring of clear, pure water near by his house, having been made by his sinking a well forty feet deep, which soon filled to overflowing. Mr. Houle was married in 1869 to MaryPleteir; their living children are Adella, Adeline, Frank, Eliza and Mary.

E. C. Judkins was born at Phillips, Maine, in 1851. When six years old he removed with his parents to Stillwater, Minnesota, and six months later to Anoka, where they remained one and onelialf years; then returned to Stillwater. Nearly two years later his father purchased eighty acres on Grant township, in which they lived some time, finally purchasing a farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Oneka township, which has since been their home. Mr. Judkins was married in October, 1880, to Carrie Prince of Stillwater.

1862, when he enlisted in Company G, Seven¬ teenth Maine Volunteers, passed through twentyone engagements, including Fredericksburg, Get¬ tysburg, second Bull Run and battle of Wilder¬ ness. During the last named siege he received a gun-shot through the knee, for which he has re¬ ceived a pension. In 1867 he came west to Still¬ water, Minnesota, and purchased a farm in Ma¬ rine township, on which he resided five years, then sold, and in 1875 purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Oneka township and has since re¬ sided there. Ilis marriage with Laura E. Church occurred in 1867. Their children are, Charley E., Marshall E. and Eva M.

B. R. Kellogg was bom at Worthington, Ohio and when three years of age went with his par¬ ents to Holmes county; at the age of fourteen he went to Wayne county, Iowa, remaining until he enlisted in Company I, Fourth Iowa Infantry, un¬ der Col. Dodge. He was discharged on account of disability, August 6th, 1863, and in June, 1864, re-enlisted for one hundred days. Having been dis¬ charged at expiration of term at Keokuk, Iowa, he engaged in the quiet pursuit of agriculture in Des Moines county, and in 1878 located in Oneka township, having a fine farm and pleasant loca¬ tion; he is now one of the justices. He w'as mar¬ ried in 1865 to Miss Anna M. Carter, who has borne him five children, viz: Charles M., Rebecca, Luella, Fred L. and Florence.

Mrs. Francoise Kuchli, wrfs bom in France, province of Loraine, now Germany, in 1836. At the age of eighteen she, with her brothers Joseph and Jacob Klaen, sailed for America, landing at New York city after a voyage of thirty-three days. They proceeded directly to Cleveland, thence to Detroit, and on to St. Marys, here she married Mr. Kuchli, who had accompanied them from their native country. In 1854 they removed to Port Washington, Wisconsin, and after pur¬ chasing a farm located and remained two years, then to Superior City until 1875, then for three years carried on a store of general merchandise. They finally opened a store and hotel at Center¬ ville Station, on the St. Paul and Duluth railroad. Mr. Kuchli departed this life November 1, 1880, and his widow still superintends the business affairs; she speaks three languages, English, French and German, and has an estate of one hundred and thirty-three acres, adjoining her

Joseph Lambert was born 1842 at Sorel, about forty-five miles north of Montreal, Canada. When a lad of fourteen, he came with his father to Stillwater and worked in different capacities until his final location in Oneka township on his farm. It consisted of eighty acres, all under cul¬ tivation. having on it a good residence and other buildings. He and Miss Mary Courtoue were united in marriage, November 18th. 1865. Their children are: Eugene and Agnes.

Joseph Luts, a native of Canada, was bom in 1829, and when ten yearn old went to Clintonville New York, and apprenticed in the rolling mills at that place. After learning the trade, he worked at it about ten years, then returned to Canada«utti: and began farming. Visiting Minnesota in 1854, he again retnred to his native country, and about ten years later again visited the North Star state. In 1866, he located on a farm in Oneka township where he has since resided with his family, hav¬ ing l»een supervisor of the township the entire time. He married Miss Elizabeth Papnow in 1848, who as borne him twelve children: Stephen, who met his death by drowning in the lake ad¬ joining the farm; Napoleon, Lizzie, Mary, John, Armina, Jane, Emily, David, Ellen, George and Louis.

Prescott Newman, son of Col. E. Newman, was born at Weld, Franklin county, Maine in 1832. He came to Stillwater, Minnesota, in 1848, returning the year following, afterward going into business in that county. August 18th, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Seventeenth Maine, be¬ ing soon promoted to the rank of lieutenant, was discharged in 1 863. Four years later, he returned to Minnesota and purchased a claim in Grant township; disposing of it, he purchased in One ka township, where he has since resided, having a farm of two hundred and forty acres. Mr. New¬ man has been twice married, to his present wife, who was Ellen M., daughter of Rev. J.S. Staples, of Maine, in June, 1863. Their children are: Gracia O., Prescott E., Charley T. and Harry C.

David Sawyer was born in Lower Canada, 1815. Here he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, serving five and one-half years as appren¬ tice, then followed his calling until 1872, when he came to St. Paul. During the spring of the next year he moved to Stillwater, remaining until moving to his farm in Oneka township, in 1874. His marriage with Miss Cynthia Rowe took place in 1834. She died at St. Paul, 1872, leaving four children; the living are P. Benjamin, D. Hubert and Alfred.

A. J. Soule, a native of Maine, was born 1837. On reaching his majority he came to Minnesota, and in 1861 enlisted in Company K, Brackett's Battalion, serving until honorably discharged at Fort Snelling, May 24th, 1865. He then pur¬ chased a claim of eighty acres in Marine town¬ ship, and in 1867 purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Oneka township, and has since re¬ sided there. June 22d, 1865, he married Pru¬ dence A. Briggs; their children are, Oscar Frank N. and Charles A.

George Walker was born in Canada, 1823, and when about three years of age, moved to New Hampshire, where for some time he was employed as book agent. In 1858 he went to Boston, Mas¬ sachusetts, and engaged quite extensively in the manufacture of blank books. Failing health compelled him to seek the salubrious climate of Minnesota, and in 1861 he purchased a farm in Grant township, on which he lived nearly a year, then removed to Stillwater. During the fall of 1864 he was appointed overseer of the Washing¬ ton county poor farm, in which capacity he re¬ mained three years, then purchased a home in Oneka township, where he has since resided. The first four town meetings were held at Mr. Walker's house, he having served as town clerk and justice of the peace ever since its organiza¬ tion. except two years, lie married Miss L. Dill, in 1859; their children are, Ella, Franklin, Ar¬ thur, Winfield and Willard.

T. J. Withrow, a native of Nova Scotia, was bom 1829. He remained in the land of his na¬ tivity until eleven years old, when at that early age he went to sea as cabin-boy on a coasting vessel, and followed the life of a sailor four years. Locating at Boston, he remained until twentyfour years of age, then made his home at Still¬ water, Minnesota, in 1854. He purchased a farm in Marine township, on which he lived until 1874, then moved to Oneka township, where he has since resided. His wife was Miss Catherine Clary, a native of Prince Ed ward Island, whom

Fred Youngbluth, a native of Prussia, was bom in 1845. At the age of fourteen, he came to America with his parents, arriving at Baltimore after a voyage of eight weeks, proceeding directly to St: Paul, Minnesota. lie then engaged with Dr. Post, of that city, as coachman, serving as such until enlisting in Company G, Second Min¬ nesota, in 1863; was honorably discharged at Fort Snelling, 1865. Returning to St. Paul, and to his situation with Dr. Post, he remained some time, then engaged in teaming at St. Paul sev¬ eral years. In 1871, he settled in Oneka town.' ship, now having a farm of two hundred and thirtyseven acres. Ilis father and mother are making their home with him. His marriage with Susan Bniitet, occurred in 1 808. They have four chil¬ dren, Anne, George, Emma and Kate.