Winona County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (4 of 4 so headed), 1883 (part 2 of 2)

William R. Parr, millwright, is a grandson of Thomas Parr, who served in the war of 1812, after which he settled in Vermont. William H., son of Thomas Parr, was born here; married Catharine Babcock, a native of the same state, and located in Bombay, Franklin county. New York, where he engaged in farming. Here was born the subject of this sketch, on March 30, 1827. He attended the common school, and assisted on the farm till seventeen years old ; he then took up his trade with an uncle, and has ever since tbllowod it. In 1849, moved by the s|>irit which everywliere actuates tlie young American, he set out for tlie west to carve out a niche for himself in the arch of progress. Coming to Wisconsin, he found ample use for his talents and experience in that growing commonwealth. He planned and built the first mill at La (Vosse ; built saw and grist mills at Madison, Fox Lake, Menasha, Clintonville, Neenali, and numerous other points. He was married July 8, 1852, to Ellen L. Armstrong, who was born at Erie, Pennsylvania, nineteen years previous to her wedding-day. Her parents, John Armstrong and Martha Stancliff, were born in New York. In May, 18H0, Mr. Parr came to Minnesota, and, going into partnershij) with W. K. Ellis (for whom he had previously built a mill in Menasha), built and operated a gristmill at Elgin, Wabasha county. Five years later they removed this mill to the town of Elba, this county, where it is still operated, by a son of Mr. Ellis, and known as Fairwater mill. In 1876 Mr. Parr sold his interest there, and built and operated a mill at Quincy. In 1880 he removed to St. Charles, where he owns a handsome residence on St. Charles street. He served as alderman in 1882-3, and is a prominent member of the city board of trade. In politics he is a republican, and in religious belief a Baptist ; is a member of Friendship Lodge, Knights of Honor, St. Charles. Two children of this family are now living: William E. was born October 15, 1855, married Dilla Hendee, is now marshal of the cit}' ; Jennie May, October 18, 1863, resides with parents; Katie C, August 31, 1859, died before reaching six years of age. William E. Parr has one son - Robert B., born August 7, 1882.

Lorenzo W. Rowley, farmer, is a son of Abijah Rowley, of New York, who married Ruth Forward, of Ccjnneeticut, and settled on a farm at Painted Post, Steuben county. The subject of this sketch was born here January 15, 1811. He lived the life of a farmer boy, attending the common schools. On reaching manhood he engaged in farming and lumbering. Electa D. Ilazelton, to whom Mr. Rowley was married, on March 28, 1833, was born at Argyle, Vermont, February 13, 1815. She was a daughter of Elisha Ilazelton and Mary Kent. In the spring of 1850 Mr. Rowlej' set out to find a location in the west. He settled at Oswego, Illinois, where he engaged in the lumber trade for several years. He came to this county seven years later, and bought eighty acres of land on Sec. 19, Utica, where has always been his home since. His farm is just outside the limits of the village of Utica, and now includes 144 acres. He has a tine location, convenient to school, railroads, etc. Mr. Rowley was made postmaster very soon after his arrival in town, and held the office till 1881. He was justice of the peace for five years ; is a republican. At nineteen years old he joined the Presbyterian church, and was elder of the society of that sect when organized here. On its decline, and merging in the Congregational church at St. Charles, he became a charter member in the latter. Six children of Mr. Rowley are still living. The eldest, Ambrose H., was born March 5, 1884, and died May 16, 1878, leaving a widow (formerly Catharine Everton) and three children at Aten, Nebraska. Those living are as follows : William F., August 10, 1836, married Harriet A. Knight (now deceased), - married Isabel Lellar, lives at Winona; Orinda F., April 13, 1838, married William B. Allen, and lives at Hastings, Minnesota; Mary K., May 20, 1840, married Gerry Terry, resides at Eldorado, Iowa; *Edward A., September 1, 1842, married Harriet B. Ebersole, dwells at Mitchell, Dakota; Erastus M., August 22, 1848, Alwilda Stackhouse, resides on father's farm; Brainerd K., August 15, 1851, married Mary McGovern (now deceased), - married Ida Knudson, and now resides at Athol, Dakota, - was conductor on the Winona & St. Peter railroad twelve years.

Isaac Martin, farmer, born in Pike county, Missouri, in 1843. In 1848 he moved with parents to Galena, Illinois, where he attended the public school for nine years, when he again moved with his parents to Stillwater, Minnesota, and in two years to Taylor Falls, Minnesota, where he attended school for five years. He enlisted in the Minn. Light Art. in 1864, and was discharged in 1865, since which time he has suffered severely from the consequences of exposure while in the army. In 1870 he married Miss Mary E. Murphy, born in Wisconsin in 1851, daughter of N. W. and Maria Murphy. Our subject has had by this marriage three children: Katie Lea, born 1871 ; Stella Ray, born 1874; Blanche Minerva, born 1879. Mr. Martin removed with his family in 1871 to Chippewa count3% town of Montevideo, where he farmed for five years, but was in 1877 driven away by the grasshoppers, and in the same year bought a farm of 120 acres in Whitewater, on Sec.

* Enlisted in 1861, in 1st Minn. Vols. Was wounded and taken prisoner at Bull Run, and discharged; re-enlisted, and served under W. T. Sherman till close of the rebellion.

18, T. 108, R. 10, on wliich he has since resided. He has been twice elected supervisor, and is this year (1883) chairman of the board. He is a republican in politics, and a simple believer in religion.

William Buckingham, farmer, son of Samuel and Thankfiil Buckingham, was born in Hartford county, Connecticut, in the year 1828. In 1834 he moved with his parents to Ohio, where he attended school and assisted his father on the farm. In 1852, having a small attack of the "gold fever,'' our subject, with lorty others, formed a train under the command of Parson Herrick, and went to* C'alifornia, making the trip in four months, meeting no Indians nor having bad luck of any kind on the way. In California our subject worked on a ranch and part of the time in a mine. In 1857 he returned to Ohio, where he was employed in Tnercantile business. In 1860 he moved to Beaver, Minnesota, where he engaged in business with G. G. Knowles, keeping a general country store, and in 1864 he farmed on shares. In 1872 Mr. Buckingham again opened store in Beaver, and in 1875 bought E. -^ of S.W. ^ of Sec. 31, containing about eighty acres, on which he at once built a commodious frame dwelling-house, in which he has since resided. In 1862 he married Miss Margaret Drake, who was born in Oswego county, New York, in 1842, daughter of Keuben and Sophronia Drake. There are four children of this marriage, born as follows : Willis P., January, 1863; Arthur A., May 13, 1866; Brayton S., August 9, 1868 ; Eoy W., October 2, 1873. Mr. Buckingham is a republican in politics, has been twelve times elected town clerk and once as tovsm treasurer. In religious views he is a Congl-egationalist.

John Ploof, farmer, son of Alexander and Charlotte Ploof, was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1834. When only fourteen years of age he left his home in Canada and went to Burlington, Vermont, where he remained only one year, when he moved to Northfield, Vermont, and in one year again moved, this time to Goshen, Virginia. In 1853, being then nineteen years of age, he married Miss Mary Alvina Allen, daughter of Noah Allen, of Addison county, Vermont, at which place his bride was born. By this marriage he has had four children: Alfred E., born 1862 ; George, born 1867 ; Waldo R, born 1872; Orris, born 1875. In 1860 our subject left Wisconsin for Quincy, Minnesota, and in two years moved to Plainview, Minnesota. In 1863 enlisted in the 1st Minn, batt., and served two years, being discharged in July, 1865. Owing to fever and bad food our subject during his service in the army became almost blind, and has not since recovered his sight. In the fall of 1866 he moved to Whitewater and bought a farm of eighty acres, E. i of N.E. i, Sec. 31, T. 108, K. 10, from Mr. Mitchell, and subsequently purchased from A. B. McCarty, Sec. ^ of S.E. J of Sec. 30, T. 108, R. 10, containing eighty acres, making in all a farm of 160 acres. This farm when bought was heavily timbered, but our subject has shown great perseverance in clearing and improving it, the land being now almost entirely under cultivation. Mr. Ploof is a republican in politics, and in religion a liberal thinker.

Silas B. Patterson, retired farmer, is a son of William Patterson, a soldier of the war of 1812. William Patterson married Miss Charlotte, daughter of Silas Baker, of Maine (who served the colonies throughout the revolutionary war), and settled on a farm in the town of Freeman, Franklin county, Maine, where the subject of this sketch was born, January 15, 1826. On reaching maturity Silas Patterson engaged in farming. He was married October 21, 1854, to Mary, daughter of Jesse S. Burbank and Hannah C. Ames, all of the State of Maine ; Mrs. Patterson was born in Freeman, December 24, 1827. Mr. Patterson came to this county in 1861, arriving in Saratoga, April 21 ; here he bought 300 acres of land on Sec. 11, which he still owns ; he also has 160 acres near Marshall, this state, and eighty acres in Anoca county. He lived upon and tilled his farm in Saratoga, till December, 1882, when he removed to the city of St. Charles, where he had purchased a house and six lots the year previous ; he also has four acres of land in another place witliin the city limits. Mr. Patterson pays little attention to public affairs, but deems it his duty to vote at least at every presidential election and for the republican nominees. Himself and wife have been for thirty years members of the Freewill Baptist church. They have had four children, of whom two are now living. Here is their record: Lieuprelett, born February 7, 1856, died February 25, 1880 ; Charles, August 24, 1858, died at ten years old ; Joseph L., October 22, 1860, lives on his father's farm in Saratoga; Almira L., February 9, 1867.

Edward C. Ellis, miller, was born in Acushnet, Bristol county, Massachusetts, September 15, 1846. His father, William R. Ellis, was a son of William Ellis, both being bom in Plymouth county, Massachusetts, and descended from the early English settlers of that region. W. R. Ellis married Rhoda A. Collins, of Bristol county, who died when the infant Edward was but fifteen months old. After building flour-mills in Sheboygan and Winnebago counties, Wisconsin, W. R. Ellis came to Minnesota in 1860 and built a mill, in company with W. R. Parr, at Elgin, Wabasha county, where he became prominently identified with town affairs, serving as assessor for two years; was also chairman of Elba in 1866. During the latter year Ellis & Parr removed their mill to Sec. 5, Elba, where it is still in operation and known as Fairwater Mill. In 1870 Mr. Ellis returned to Massachusetts, where he now resides. Edward C. Ellis was reared till ten years old by an aunt, and was then brought by his father to Menasha, Wisconsin, where he attended the city schools for four years. He then removed with his father to Elgin, where he worked on a farm during the summer and attended school in winter for six years. In 1866 he went into the mill at Fairwater, where he has been occupied nearly all the time since. In 1877 Mr. Ellis removed to Dover, Nebraska, where he engaged in farming for four years. During this time he served as postmaster at Dover; was also assessor one year, and took the census of two precincts in 1880. Owing to the need of attention to his father's mill property here, Mr. Ellis returned to Fairwater in 1881 and bought a half interest in the mill, also leased his father's interest and operates it for himself Mr. Ellis is a republican, and has been postmaster at Fairwater since the establishment of that office in April, 1882. He was married August 2, 1868, to Emma E., daughter of Nathan B. Lewis and Cynthia B. Brown, of New York. They have three children, born as follows: William L., May 28. 1869; Ida B., September 21, 1870; Claude Y., December 18, 1874.

Rev. Edward Ely was born in Up]ier Middletown, Connecticut, September 17, 1812. His parents, Selden and Hepsebeth (Gibson) Ely, were both natives of that state. Mr. Ely received his early education in the schools of his native state, but attended the Madison University at Hamilton, New York, where he graduated, taking both the classical and theological courses, preparatory to engaging in the profession of a minister of the Baptist church. His first location in his profession was at Milton, Pennsylvania. Mr. Ely was married in Owego, New York, A])ril 26, 1843. His wife, Jane Wellington Barker, was born in Utica, New York, November 8, 1817. Her father was Mason Barker, a contractor on public works.

After his marriage tliey moved to Lancaster, Ohio, where he preached for seven years. From there he went to Wheehng, Virginia, where he remained two years, and from thence he came to Minnesota. He landed at Wabasha prairie, now city of Wmona, May 4 1852, where he has since made it his home. As an mducement for him to locate here the town proprietors gave him an acre of land on what is now the corner of Center and Second streets, where '''Ely Block" stands. He here built a residence in the tall ot 1852 This was theiirst lathed and plastered house in the city of Winona During the years 1852 and 1853 Elder Ely preached to the early settlers in Winona county and also at La Crosse. In this latter place he was employed in the winter of 1852-3 to conduct a protracted revival meeting. His efforts were productive of good results Among the numerous converts baptized by him was Mons Anderson, a prominent citizen of La Crosse. For his professional labors in Minnesota Elder Ely never received any pecuniary reward. The first funeral services held in the county were conducted by him at the burial of William Christie, in 1852. The first marriage ceremony in the county was pronounced by him at his house Tlie parties were S. K. Thompson and Mrs. Sutherland. Elder Ely abandoned his profession as a minister of the gospel not long after he came to Minnesota, and has never attempted to resume it as a means of support. He has, however, remained an active member of the Baptist church since its organization. He was for awhile m mercantile business and in insurance and real estate transactions, but has never been steadily engaged in any special branch of business His buildings on the corner of Center and Second streets were all swept away by the "big fire" in 1862. Elder Ely's newspaper articles of reminiscences of pioneer life have for many years interested the readers of the city papers. From the frequency of these communications he has sometimes been designated as -rtie old settler," and quoted as the local historian of the county. His writings and lectures on this topic have been numerous, but have never appeared in any other form than as newspaper contributions. He was a popular speaker, and was usually called out for a speech on all public gatherings. He was always prompt to respond, on every occasion, in a humorous and entertainmg manner He was the first resident postmaster in the city of Winona. The first regular mail made up and sent from this ofiice was by him, about the first of January, 1853. He held the ofiice until the sprmg of 1855. He was for a term or two coroner of Winona county. In 1872 he was sergeant-at-arms of the senate in the state legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Ely have four children living, but none of them are residents of this county. Charles E. is married and living in Dakota Territory; Helen M., also married, and residing in Dakota. Mason B. is in Texas; and Hattie E., married, is now living in Montana Territory. Mrs. Ely has for many years been a successful portrait painter. Her studio is in Ely block, on the same locality where her residence stood in her pioneer days of 1852. In all the years of his life he never used tobacco or intoxicating liquors in any form ; never was sick a day in his life, nor had a physician to feel his pulse ; neither has he ever used spectacles, as his vision is unimpaired.

Father Joseph B. Cotter, pastor of St. Thomas' Catholic church, of this city, was born in Liverpool, England, November 19, 1844. His parents, Lawrence and Ann M. (Perrin) Cotter, were natives of Ross Castle, County Kerry, Ireland, and Liverpool, England, respectively. In 1840 they emigrated to America, settling first in New York, but soon after removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where they remained till 1855, and where his mother died. In that year the father, with the remaining members of his family, removed to and permanently located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Father Cotter was primarily educated in the cathedral parochial school, in St. Paul, after which he entered, as a theological student, at St. Francis' Seminary, Milwaukee, and later completed a three years' course at St. Vincent's College, in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. Three years more were spent at the St. John's University, in Minnesota, after which he was ordained for the ministry at St. Paul, May 21, 1871, and June 9, the same year, was assigned to the pastorate of the church at Winona. The testimony of very many of the best citizens of this city is that Father Cotter has done more to advance the cause of temperance here than any other man in the city.

Father Alois Heller, of the St. Joseph's Catholic church, of this city, was born in Austria, October 28, 1835. By the death of both parents he was left an orphan at the age of five years. At the age of fourteen years he was placed in college at Prague, the capital of Bohemia, from which, twelve years later, he was ordained a priest by Cardinal Schwartzenberg, on August 2, 1863. The six years following his ordination he applied himself to the labors of his profession in his native land, after which, in answer to a call from Father Gardener, he came to America, and soon after assumed the pastorate of a church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and three years later was transferred to Baltimore, where he remained till called to Winona, in February, 1878. Here, as elsewhere, his untiring and zealous Christian labors have been crowned with success, and the fine church edifice erected under his care will long stand a monument to his memory.

Hon. W. H. Yale, attorney-at-law, oflice on north side Third, between Main and Johnson streets, practice established in this city in 1857. Mr. Yale was born in New Haven, Connecticut, November 12, 1831, and completed his school studies by a three years' course in the Connecticut Literary Institution, at Sufiield. Read law two years in the oflice ot Hon. Geo. R. Cowles, of Norwalk, Connecticut, came to Winona March 28, 1857, was admitted to practice by Chief- Justice Wech, of the territorial court, in August of that year. . The following spring was elected justice of the peace, the only republican on the ticket, and held that oflice two years. In the fall of 1859 was elected probate judge, the term of oflice being for one year, and upon its expiration assumed the duties of county attorney, to which he had been elected at the general election, fall of 1860, holding that office two years, and was again elected county attorney, fall of 1864, for a further term of two years. In the fall of 1866 was elected to represent his district in the state senafe, served one term, and in the fall of 1869 was elected lieutenantgovernor, from which office he retired at the expiration of his second term, having been re-elected in 1871. Was returned to the state senate for the two years' term, 1875-6, and since its expiration has been engaged solely in the practice of his profession. Mr. Yale has had few law partners during the more than twenty-five years of liis practice at the Winona bar. He was associated with Hon. Wm. Mitchel in practice from 1867 until that gentleman went upon the bench, in 1874, and this, with the single exception of a short association in business with M. B. Webber, has been the extent of his law partnerships. Mr. Yale is married and has two sons, one a child at home, and the other, Charles B. Yale, admitted to the bar of this county in 1878, and for the past two years attorney in the general office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, at Milwaukee, in charge of the personal injury department. The exgovernor is a communicant of the E})iscopal church of this city, and a senior warden of its vestry.

Third street, in Stevens block. This business was established in 1877, in its present location, and gives employment to four persons. Members of the firm are Henry Stevens and H. 0. Stevens. Henry Stevens came to Winona in the fall of 1862, and established himself in drygoods trade on Second street, 4 Simpson's block. This business was conducted until 1874, from which date until the establishment of the book-house in 1877 Mr. Stevens was not in trade. In 1875 he built "Stevens Block,'- a three story and basement brick, stone foundations and facings, fronting 48 feet on Third street, with a depth of 90 feet ; the half of the ground floor occupied with his own business. Mr. Stevens was a member of the city council during 1879-80; has been president of the board of education for the city, and since 1864 has been one of the board of trustees for the Congregational church, and a member of its building committee for the erection of the new church just completed.

Benjamin Ellsworth, Utica, the model farmer of Winona county, was born in the State of Maine, in Franklin county, July 8, 1826. His parents, William and Polly (Dolbier) Ellsworth, were also natives of Maine, and were born toward the close of the last century, and are now buried in their native state. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters. The former was of English ancestry, as his grandfather with two brothers emigrated to this country from England in the early part of the seventeenth century, and settled in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont respectively. Benjamin, the subject of this brief sketch, was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools of his native state. Soon after he became of age, ambition and an enterprising spirit led him and his brother Amos D. to California, where for five and a-half years they successfully engaged in mining, after which they returned to their old home. Soon after his return from California Mr. Ellsworth made a prospecting tour as far west as St. Paul, Minnesota, and the same fall (1857) went to Waupon, Wisconsin," where he engaged in the grain trade till 1863, when he removed to Winona, Minnesota, and continued to deal in grain here till the completion of the Winona & St. Peter railroad as far west as his farm in Utica township. The farm is located on Sees. 18 and 19, T. 106, R. 9, and was bought by Mr. Ellsworth in 1860. On his removal to his farm he at once built a warehouse, which has continued to be a market for grain at that })oint. It may be here stated that Mr. Ellsworth shipped the first carload of wheat in bulk sent over tlie road. Mr. Ellsworth also platted the village of Utica, and a few years ago built his fine and stately residence a few rods north of the village, and has since his residence here been actively engaged in stock-raising and farming. In his pastures can always be found good grades (and some thorough-bred stock) of cattle, horses, sheep and swine. He is, no doubt, the most extensive and intelligent farmer and stock-raiser in the county, and a large land owner in and out of the county, all of which is the result of honest industry, good management and close attention to business. November 29, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma G. Campbell, also a native of Franklin county, Maine, by whom he has an interesting and healthy family of four children, whose names, in the order of their birth, are Frank W., Vesta E., Ethlin M. and Osman B.

Robert Morgenbier, artist and photographer; reception-rooms and studio at 11 and 13 Second street, Winona, Minnesota. The business was established by the present proprietor and his then partner, Mr. Leopold Weiskopf lately deceased. The gallery has, as regards dimensions, appointments and equipments, few equals, and no superiors, that is, of galleries devoted entirely to private portraiture. The large and increasing patronage enjoyed is an assurance that fine work finds proper recognition everywhere. Photography has made such rapid strides toward the realm of high art, that the best results of a few years ago can in no way endure comparison with the brilliant productions of a thorough artist of to-day. To make photographs acceptable, to many is not a very serious matter, but to produce such work as will impress even a casual observer with their artistic beauty is another thing. The capability of producing such results emanates from a thorough knowledge of and training in the elements of high art. The rising and successful photographer of the day must be an adept with' ])encil and brush aside of his experience in practical photography. Mr. Morgeneier is fortunate in being one of a family of artists, and from childhood's years a pupil of his father, Mr. John W. Morgeneier, a gentleman prominent in art and photographic circles. Since in Winona, Mr. Morgeneier has, aside of attending his many sittings in gallery, found time to finish a number of brush pictures that merit universal approval. A constant contributor to the literature of his profession, he has been accorded the honor of being placed upon the list of authorities upon matters pertaining to photography,

(See " Wilson's photographies," Bennermim and Wilson, publishers, Philadelphia, 1881). In the regular gallery work he has live assistants, and everything moves with the regularity of clockwork. In a visit to this lino establishment ample recompense will be found in examining the work therein displayed. Patrons or visitors are assured of ec^ual i)olite reception.

CuARLES Gernes, ail early resident of this county iirst landed in Winona, November 9, 1854. At that time but few white settlers cnjoved what might be termed houses, but rather existed in shanties little better than the Indian tepees, which were then numerous where the gem city of Winona now stands. Mr. Gernes is a native of that part of Holland which, by conquest in later years, became a part of the kingdom of Belgium. He was born April 2, 1816, and early in life learned the trade of tanner. In 1840 he married Miss Mary Lebotee, a native of Holland, and conducted the business of his trade till 1850, when in the capacity of counsel or su])erintendent he brought to this country a colony of 160 families, all of whom he located at Green Bay, Wisconsin. The ocean passage was made in the sailing-vessel Tuskena, and occupied a period of sixtv-two days. From his arrival in America till his settlement in Winona Mr. Gernes resided in Delaware county. New York, in the community of a French colony that had previously located there. For many years after his advent into Winona c<iunty Mr. Gernes devoted the most of his time to locating land-seekers, and early became acquainted with all parts of this and adjoining counties, passing many nights out on the open prairie. His first wife died in 1856, and his second marriage was in 1857, to Mary Millaerd. 'She was a native of Belgium, and for a time a governess in the family of Col. Benton, whose wife was a daughter of John C. Calhoun, well known in American political circles. She died in this cit}^ in 1873. 'Mr. Gernes has several times visited Europe, and looks back with much pleasure to the happiness these trips afforded him, and especially to the season of 1878, when he visited his old Holland home, accompanied by his children. That year he frequently met General Grant, while that distinguished American citizen was making a txnir of the world. His children are : Theodora, born in Europe, and Anna F. and Bernard A., born in this country. The latter is now engaged in merchandising in the dry goods and clothing line, in his new brick business-house, on the corner of Second

Professor Hermann Rohweder, leader of the Germania band of this city, is a native of Holstein, Prussia. He is a son of George Rohweder, and was born May 3, 1842. At the age of seven he began the study of music, and soon developed a taste and proliciencj in music which gave promise of a briglit future. Early in the spring of 1857 he, with his father, brother William and a sister Mary, sailed from Hamburg for America in the steamship Borussia, and landed in Winona late in May. Soon after his arrival here he made an effort to organize a band, associating with himself Prof Story and a few others. Their first instruments were a harp and violin. The former was made here, and is still owned by Prof Story, though he has since purchased an instrument of that kind at a cost of $800. From this small beginning the Professor has succeeded in making the Germania band of Winona a permanent institution and the best organization of the kind in southern Minnesota. They first started as the North Star band, but some years later assumed their present name. The company contains fourteen expert players, and the estimated value of their instraments and fixtures is $5,000. Prof Rohweder is a gentleman who thoroughly understands his profession, and is a competent instructor on all horn and string instruments. He was married in 1863, to Miss Margaret Dickmann, also a native of Holstein, and has one chiFd living.

Michael Hanley, street commissioner of Winona, was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and in infancy was brought by his parents to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His father, who was a carpenter by trade, died soon after their arrival in Canada, and four years later his mother died of cholera. In July, 1856, our subject, with a younger brother Martin and sister Maria, came to Winona. In 1867 he was married to Miss Mai-garet Carney, a native of County Sligo, Ireland, by whom he has five children, whose names are Mary A., Margaret, Elizabeth, Thomas and Genevieve. He and his wife are members of the St. Thomas Catholic church of this city, and he is a member and faithful worker in the Father Mathew Society, and a member of the Catholic Knights of America.

Dr. John D. Ford (deceased) was born at Cornish, 'New Hampshire, April 18, 1816. He graduated at Dartmouth College, and subsequently from the medical college of the city of Philadelphia, in 1843. Soon after he commenced the practice of medicine at Nor-

"wich, Conneetieat, ^nd early attained a high position, ranking with the very first among his professional brethren. While a resident of Norwich he was warmly interested in the educational institutions of that city, and labored earnestly in behalf of its common schools. Excessive devotion to his professional labors, however, produced a sensible effect upon his delicate constitution, and after a successful practice of about eleven years he was compelled to seek a climate more congenial to his health, and he came to Winona, in 1856, while our young city was just emerging from the wilderness. He here assumed his practice, which soon became extensive and successful in the highest degree. But the same earnest devotion to his work, which was an eminent characteristic of Dr. Ford's, and which is indispensable to all who would lead in the development of great enterprises, soon began to tell upon his frail constitution, and he was compelled to relinquish the practice of his profession and turn his attention to pursuits better suited to the condition of his health. Accordingly he accepted the agency of several of the old and responsible insurance companies of the east ; with his great organizing and executive abilities, his quick and clear perceptions, and good judgment, he within a short time established extensive and important business relations between these companies and the citizens of this state. Bringing with him to his western home the same earnest interest in the cause of education which he had felt in New England, he early identified himself with the history and progress of the common school system of this city and state. His work was a pioneer work, so to speak. It was undertaken at a time when there was no public sentiment to sustain such efforts, and when there were difficulties and prejudices to be encountered which often appal the stoutest hearts. But the crowning labors in the life of this great and good man are those which he has so unselfishly and nobly given toward the establishment of the great normal school system of this state. Dr. Ford was, no doubt, the first to propose this comprehensive plan for the ])re])aration of teachers, without which all other efforts for the education of the masses must be comparatively valueless. Few men in our countr>' yet appreciate the great idea symbolized and represented by these institutions for the training of those who were to become the missionaries and instructors of the masses. lie believed, with Horace Mann, that "coiled up within this institution is a spring whose uncoiling may wheel the spheres." Hence his faith in its power for good amounted almost to inspiration. It is a foregone conclusion that but for his labors the normal school of this state would not now be in existence. While others have despaired he has believed, when others were indifferent and inactive he labored, and not until he beheld it a fixed fact - not until he foresaw it clearly expanding into the fullness of its power and usefulness - not until he felt the premonitions of faihng mortality, and a growing necessity for repose from the cares of life, - did he relinquish his place at the helm where he so nobly stood through the last eight dubious years. His work in the city of Winona will be through all the coming generations a monument to his farseeing intelligence, and to his generous regard for the future welfare and greatness of his adopted state. In his relations to it he belongs to the state, and the generous people of the state will ever cherish as one of its best friends and noblest benefactors. He died October 29, 1867, and was buried in Woodlawn cemetery, near the beautiful city he so much loved, and a few years later his devoted wife followed him to the same last resting-place. The normal school board and the board of trade both passed and entered on their files suitable resolutions of respect to their honored dead.