Alton Township

Alton Township

jLTON Township embnices all of congressional township 107, north of range 24 west, and contains the usual 23,040 acres of land. The surface is gently undulating, and exceedingly fertile is the soil, a deep, rich, warm loam, that, with intelligent cultui'e, is practically inexhaustible. This portion of the county is well drained, the Le Sueur Eiver traversing sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 25, besides slightly touching several others. Buffalo Lake, covering nearly all of section 21, and parts of sections 16, 17, 20 and 28, with its affluent creeks and runs, make up the drainage system of the central and northern part of the town. A large part of the township was originally covered with timber, much of which remains here to day.

Early Settlement

Lucius Kyes, now of the city of Waseca, was probably the pioneer settler in this township, coming to this part of the county during September, 1863, and taking up a claim on section 32, where he lived until 1871. He is now a resident of the city of Waseca, he having gone there from his farm, and is engaged in carpentering and building. He was born in Medina County, Ohio, in 1837.

William Wager, in 1863, came to Waseca County and located in the town of Alton, on section 32, and when tiie land came into market bought it of the government, and resided there until 1873, when he removed to Freedom, where he now lives.

Elijah Hills came at the same time and took a claim on what is now the northeast corner of Alma City, and when that village was laid out it received its name from his daughter. Alma HilJs. When these two families came here there were but two famihes within a radius of six miles. Both these two families of Wager and Hills spent the winter in one cabin, 14x16 feet in size, and built of poles and bark taken from the old Indian tepees and some basswood boards.

Morris Lamb came to this township in 1864, and located on section 36, where his son, M. H. Lamb, now lives. Mr. Lamb was one of the unfortunate Union refugees, who, at the time of the breaking out of the war, had to leave their " sunny southern home " for their opinion's sake. He resided in Cumberland County, Tenn., and on the 17th of June, 1861, was compelled to seek more congenial quarters. He therefore packed all he could on three wagons and fled for the Ohio Eiver, his port of safety. He came to Minnesota in 1861, and in 1864 to this county and township. He died here December 31, 1869. He was a native of Vermont. A sketch of him is given in connection with his son in Chapter VIII.

Morris H. Lamb, a native of Ohio, whose sketch is given in detail in connection with legislative representation in Chapter VIII, came to Alton Township in 1864 with his father and made a settlement, and still remains one of the leading citizens of Alton. Perhaps it would be as well to mention in this connection that Mr. Lamb is one of the largest dairy farmers in this county, and the first one to appreciate the merits of the ensilage method of preparing fodder for wintering his stock. He has a large barn, second only in size to that on the De Graff place in the township, 42x90 feet in size, capable of holding a large quantity of hay and three silos of a total capacity of 350 tons, besides his large herd of cattle. Mrs. Lamb is famed throughout the county as being one of the best, if not the best butter maker in the State. Their dairy produced in 1886 the enormous amount of 6,535 pounds of butter, which was sold for $1,601.35. The quality is unsurpassed and readilj' finds a market.

Mathew Casey came here in 1864, and made a settlement on section 2, but shortly after removed to section 15, which latter piece of land he sold the following year to August Kruger, after breaking some of it, and removed to section 26. He after this removed to Janesville, and from there to Tracy, Minn.

In the spring of 1864, Jefferson Davis made a settlement on section 34, this town, where he lived for several years, and finally removed to Alma City, and put in a general stock of merchandise in what is now the Ked front store, which was called Jeff Davis' Headquarters. There he remained a few years, and then moved to Vivian, and remained about three years, thence to Amboy, where he now runs a hotel and livery.

C. M. Campion, Avith his two sons, John and Patrick, myde a settlement in Alton, in 1864. The elder Mr. Campion located upon the southeast quarter of section 13, where he resided until his death ; John took a claim on the northeast quarter of tlie same section, and Patrick on the northeast of section 24. Both of the latter still reside on their original claims.

" Uncle Sam " Larabee came to this township in the fall of 1864. He was the owner of the town site of Alma City, and is mentioned in that connection.

Terence Lilly, who had come to Waseca County from Illinois some years previous, in 1864 removed to this township, and located on section 1, where he now lives.

In 1864 M. L. Devereaux made a settlement on section 34, and resided in this town for some time and then removed to the north part of this State. Later he came back here and lived in Alton until his death. He was a member of one of the Minnesota regiments during the late civil war.

H. A. Clark purchased a farm on section 9, this town, in 1865, and proceeded to make a settlement as detailed below. He came to what is now Alton Township, in 1865, and bought the farm on section 9, where he now lives, of Willard & Barney, of Mankato, and made a settlement. He is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born January 26, 1826. He is a son of Herman and Martha (Warner) Clark, of English and Welsh descent, but both natives of the State of Connecticut, and who had a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are still living. H. A. came west in an early day, settling in Walworth County, AVis., where he remained some twelve years engaged in farming and carpentering. From there he went to California, where he made a stay of three years, and then made the voyage to China, and after a stay there returned by way of England, having completely circumnavigated the globe when he 2ot back to his old home in Wisconsin. After a few years spent in roving about, he came to this township and has been here ever since, engaged in farming and stock-raising.

M. Powers made a settlement on section 22, in 1865, and lived here until his death. He was an Irishman, who came to this place from Waterloo, Wis. He died here about 1879.

Patrick Farley, now a resident of St. Mary town, was one of the settlers of Alton in 1865. He resided here until 1886, when he removed to his present location.

Kichard Haggerty, in the spring of 1865, came to this place from Dodge County, Wis. He was a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and died in this township, on his farm on section 12, in the latter part of 1882. His wife died in 1881.

Charles Lockwood came to Waseca County in September, 1865, from Wisconsin and made a settlement on section 15, this township, where he now resides. He is a native of Fairfield County, Conn., born December 2, 1821:. He is the son of Ephi'aim and Mary (Hendi'ickson) Lockwood, natives of Connect icut, also, both of whom are now dead. They had raised a family of seven children : Sarah Ann, Aaron, Charles, Jane, Melvina, Frank and Samantha. When Charles was seventeen years, he commenced a seafaring life, which he followed for ten years, and then relinquished that, and moving to Dodge County, Wis., began farming, which vocation he has followed ever since. He made his home in the last named place for about ten years and then came here, as above mentioned, where he is devoting his attention to general farmingand raising short-horn cattle, in which he is very successful. September

3, 1855, he was united in marriage with Louisa Merrill, who was born in Erie County, N. Y., May 9, 1832, and is a daughter of Samuel and Rachel Merrill, natives of New Hampshire and New York, who had raised a family of six children. Her parents had settled in Wisconsin in an early day, where they lived some twelve years, and came to Waseca County in 1859, where the mother died, January 28, 1875 ; the father resides with his daughter, Mrs. Lockwood. Mr. Lockwood has been a member of the town board for four years, and director of school district No. i)Q, for eight years, and is one of the prominent farmers of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood are the parents of four children : Mary, born June 10, 1857, who wedded Fred. Dickenson in 1878, and lives in Janesville Township ; Frances, born October 30, 1860, married to Frank Dickenson, and lives in the village of Janesville; Aaron, born September 3, 1872, at home, and Laura, born August 11, 1874, also at home. Mr. Lockwood is an Independent in political matters and has taken a prominent part in public afifairs of the township.

Jeremiah Vaughn came from the neighborhood of Montello , Marquette County, Wis., in 1865, and settled on a farm on sec tion 14. This place he afterward sold to his brother, James A., who still owns it. Jeremiah removed to Rock Island, 111., and from there back to Montello, Marquette County, Wis., where he is now living.

E. H. Skilling was also among the settlers of the year 1865. He was a native of Portland, Me. When he came here, he made a claim on section 20. He is still a resident of the township.

Patrick Murphy, William Stewart and L. C. Bonner were among the settlers of the year 1865. William Stewart located on section 15, where he lived many years, but is now in the western part of the State. L. C.

Emerson Gates came to Waseca County in 1866, and entered into mercantile pursuits at the village of Alma City, at first by himself, but in a short time formed a i)artnership with W. E. Lockwood, and continued in business there until 1881, when he sold out to his partner and moved to his farm, on section 32, forty acres of which he had purchased of E. G. Pierce, in 1874. He now has 160 acres of land, including some ten or eleven acres of timber, and his residence and barns, which are of a high class, are located about eighty rods west of Alma City. Emerson Gates is a native of Erie County, N. Y., born February 27, 1842. He is the son of Abel and IMary (Peabody) Gates, both natives of Massachusetts. His father was a chairraaker by trade and followed that business all his life. The parents had a family of six children, three boys and three girls. Emerson began life for himself when nineteen years of age, by enrolling himself among the nation's defenders, enlisting October 7, 1862, in Company A, One Hundredth New York Infantry, and participated in the battles of Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, and other's of the Chickahominy campaign, siege of Charleston, S. C, and of Fort Wagner, battles of Fort Walthal Junction, Drury's Bluff and siege of Petersburg, Va., and many others. He entered the service as a private, and was mustered out of it as sergeant, at Buffalo, N. Y., Januaiy 30, 1S65. He then came west to La Crosse, Wis., and the next year to this township, as related. February 5, 1865, he was united in marriage with Emma J. Gray, a native of Erie County, N. Y., born February 5, 1844. They have been the parents of six children : Caspar A., born November 18, 1865, died in 1875 ; Clarence L., born December 19, 1807, died in July, 1875 ; Edith, born February 20, 1876 ; Alice, born July 25, 1878 ; Laura E., born November 22, 1880, and Cassius E., born April 26, 1886.

George W. Dunham came here in 1866, and made a settlement on section 23, pui'- chasing the place of Daniel Shellock. He is still a resident of this place. He is a native of Fairfield County, Conn., born November 24, 1837, and is the son of Peter and Maria (Peck) Dunhaui. His father was a hatter by trade, and died in 1839; the mother is living in Wisconsin with a daughter. They had a family of five children, viz: Mary, who married Joseph Hooker, but died at the age of twenty-two ; Bessie Maria, now Mrs. C. A. Lockwood, living in Wisconsin; Sarah Ann, now Mrs. Oliver Wood, of New Jersey ; Martha, now Mrs. Ezra G. Wildman, and George W., the topic of this biography. When he was but nine years of age, on account of the death of his father he commenced struggling against the world, working out on a farm, and liking that business, has ever since followed it. September 23, 1857, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Lyon, who was born in Massachusetts in 1836. Her parents were natives of New England, but had come west to Wisconsin in an early day, where Mr. Dunham and she were married, he having moved there from his native State. They are the parents of six children, born as follows : George Harrison, August 9, 1859 ; William D., February 22, 1862 ; Oliver, April 18, 1864 ; Charles, March 4, 1866 ; Bessie J., January 21, 1870, and Nellie Mary, March 4, 1882. All of them are living at home. Mr. Dunham is a Democrat in politics, and is a representative man of Alton Town. He has held the office of town assessor, supervisor of the town and clerk of the school district, and is the present town clerk.

Terence Hammel first made his appearance in this county in 1864, but did not locate here until 1866, which latter is the date of his settlement. He is a native of Ireland, born in 1845, and is the son of James and Alice (McCue) Hammel, who came to America in 1850, remaining in New Jersey some eight years, then, in the year 1859, coming to Le Sueur County, Minn., where the mother died

March 26, 1887, and where the father still lives. Terence commenced life for himself in Le Sueur County, at farming, which vocation he has always followed. June 2, 1865, he and Mar}' Smith were united in marriage. She was a native of Ireland, born in 1847, whose parents had settled in Le Sueur County in 1858, where they remained until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Hammel liave had a family of ten children, born as follows : William, January 17, 1868 ; James, August 26, 1869; Mary, January 9, 1873; Alice, March 15, 1874 ; Rosella, December 25, 1876 ; Anna, July, 1878 ; Grace, December, 1880 ; Jennie, November, 1882 ; Gertrude, May, 1883 ; Varonica, October, 1885. All are single and living at home. Mr. Hammel is the present town assessor, having been elected in 1885.

William Burke came to Waseca County in the year 1867, and settled on section 34, Alton Township, where he purchased eighty acres of William Lambert. He lives at present on section 23, in the same town, where he has a fine farm and modern style dwelling. He was born in Oneida County, N. Y., February 15, 1844. He is the son of Michael and Catherine (Kelly) Burke, both natives of County Boscommon, Ireland, both of whom are now dead. The}' raised a famil}' of ten children : Patrick, John, Mary, Michael, William, Edward, Kate, Maggie, James and Timothy. At the age of seventeen, William Burke enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry. This was in 1861. He was discharged in June, 1862, on account of disability, but on recovering from his illness, he reenlisted in the same regiment and participated m all of the battles in wliich that regiment made such a glorious record, among which were : Shiloh, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Dalton, Besaca and Corinth. He was finally discharged July 16, 1865. He then went to Wisconsin, where he remained but a short time, and then went South, but in 1867 returned to the northern country and settled in Alton Township, where he has since remained. January 28, 1867, he was united in marriage with Joanna Quirk, a native of Middletown, Conn., born Nov. 25, 1845. Her parents were natives of Cork and West Meath, Ireland, who came from Connecticut to Wisconsin in an early day. Her father was a member of Company D, Seventeenth Wisconsin Infantry, and died in the hospital at St. Louis ; her mother died in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Burke have been the parents of seven children, born as follows: Thomas, May 24, 1869 ; Anna, April 18, 1871 ; William, February 1, 1873 ; Mary, February 16, 1875; Bose, July 9, 1877; Agnes, May 27, 1879, and Josie, August 1, 1884. Mr. Burke was elected chairman of the board of supervisors and served three years ; in 1877 was chosen county commissioner and held that office for six years, and has held the positions of town assessor for one year, and director of school district No. 61, for eleven years. He is one of the leading prominent men of the town, and is a Democrat in politics.

Patrick Markham came to Waseca County about the year 1867, and settled where he now lives, on section 34, Alton Township, where he carries on general farming and stock-raising. After these twenty years of good, steady work, Mr. Markhan has accumulated quite a competence, and can now retire from the more active part of farm life and enjoy the comforts of living, which his energy and ambition have honestly won him. Mr. Markham is a native of Ireland, born December 25, 1805, and when but a young man came to America, first locating in Canada, and from there removed to the State of Massachusetts, where he spent a number of years. While there he was united in marriage with Dorcas Bliss, a native of Massachusetts, who died after about seventeen years of married life. In 1857 he was again united in marriage. He is the parent of three children : John, James and Jane. James died in 1882 ; Jane married John Murphy, and John married Nellie Dojde, and lives in this town. The family are members of the Catho-

M. S. Hopkins, and his wife, Ahna (Norton) Hopkins, with their family came to the town of Alton in 1867, and settled on section 25. They were natives of the State of New York and Vermont, who had emigrated to Ohio, from whence they had come here. Mr. and Mrs. Hoj^kins resided here until their death, which occurred, Mr. Hopkins, September 25, 1871, and Mrs. Hopkins, the 3d of June, 1882. Both are buried at Peddler's Grove. They were the parents of six cliildren : George R., born in Summit County, Ohio, December 27, 1840, died December 1-1-, 1863 ; Mary E., born in the same place, September 9, 18-12, who married Albert Chapel about 186B, and has three children; they live at Farmington this State : Helen L., born in the same place, January' 30, 1844, living in Alton Township, and is unmarried ; H. M. whose sketch follows this ; Gertrude, born in Ohio also, October 10, 1854, married J. liandaU in 1875, and lives in Minneapolis, where he is a machinist ; and Sarah E., born in Ohio. August 9, 1857.

H. M. Hopkins, whose father's sketch is given above, was born in Summit County, Ohio, November 15, 1845, and came to this county with the family in 1866. He has followed the vocation of farmer ever since he was old enough to do anything in that line, and understands it thoroughly in all its branches. Since his father's death he has been the main one to carry on the farm, and is the chief maintenance of his two unmarried sisters and a sister of his mother, who lives with them. He is one of the representative men of tlie township, and has held the office of town clerk therein. He is a Republican in politics.

Patrick Seymour came to the county of Waseca in 1856, and is therefore one of the oldest of settlers. He was born in Ireland, Marcii 20, 1840, and is the son of Patrick and Joanna (Ryan) Seymour, who had a family of six children, two boys and four girls. His parents died in the old country, and Patrick came to this country in early youth, first settling in New Jersey, where he remained about a year, and then came west, spending three years in Chicago, and then coming to this county, as above stated, where he has since remamed. He was married to Mary Hederman, a native of New York, born in 1847, by whom he has had six children, all of whom are at home with their parents. Mr. Seymour is one of the soUd farmers of this section of the county, having a fine farm on section 13, where he is residing.

The lands now embraced within the limits of Alton Township were, until 1863, a part of the "Winnebago agency, and on their beingthrown open to settlement, or shortly after, the people from all parts of the country flocked in and took up claims. The number in 1864 and 1865 probablj'^ equaled the entire population of the township at present, hence it is imposible to give all of the early settlers.

The annals of Alton would be incomplete witliout some mention being made of other citizens, who have been so largely instrumental in developing and building up this part of the countr}^, so sketches of some of them are inserted here.

Andrew De Graff is a native of Schenectady County, N. Y., and was born October 21, 1811. He is the son of Nicholas and Nellie (Thomas) De Graff, who were botli natives of the Empire State, the father being engaged in farming there until called to his reward. Since 1832 Andrew De Graff has been more or less engaged in the construction of railroads, both in the eastern, middle and western States. In 1857 he had a contract to build the Winona & St. Peter Railroad, and had commenced operations when the great financial panic of that year came on and swept like a tidal wave over the land, and compelled the cessation of all work of that kind. Hardly had the financial crisis spent its force when Col. De Graff again commenced work and fini.s]ied it, and since that time he has carried on that business with his late son, Charles A. De Graff. Col. De Graff married Rachel Pomeroy, who was a native of Massachusetts. They were the parents of thi'ee children : Minnie, now Mrs. John A. Berkey, living in St. Paul, where her husband is engaged in mercantile and banking business ; Frankie, a single man who died in 1875, at the age of twentyone years, living at home with his parents at the time of his death, and Charles A., whose sketch follows this. Col. De Graff, by the energy of his nature and the ability with which he is gifted, has raised himself until he now stands one of the most prominent figures in the historj' of railroad construction and financial undertakings in this great republic.

Charles A. De Graff (deceased) was the son of Col. Andrew and Rachel (Pomeroy) De Graff, and first saw the light in Alexander, N. Y., l^ovember 20, 184r3, and died at St. Paul, July 20, 1887. He was truly one of the representative men of the United States. When but a boy he came with his father to Minnesota, and shortly after they engaged in railroad construction, which resulted in tlie accumulation of a large and handsome fortune. In 1864 he served in the Union army for the salvation of our country. Like many other wealthy men throughout the Union, he became fascinated with the breeding problem, and the amusement of his life was his splendid Lake Elysian stock farm. Here he loved to retire from the busy hum of commerce, and surrounded by his champion herd of Jerseys, or in the paddocks of his excellently bred trotters, spend many peaceful days. Mr. De Graff was_ a member of the National Short-Horn Association of America, a director of the Southern Minnesota fair, a director in the Breeders' Association of Trotting and Pacing Horses, and at one time vice-president and member of the board of managers of the State Agricultural Society. He was also a member of the Winona Commandery of Knights Templar. His large circle of friends will ever keep his memory green, as a man of the highest personal character, a generous and faithful friend, an honorable and briUiant business man, and one who was always first and foremost in every good work and deed.

In regard to Mr. De Graff's place, it is unsurpassed by any in the United States, and the buildings which have been erected by Mr. De Graff 's untiring ambition gives it the appearance of a little town of a couple of hundred inhabitants. The hundreds of beautiful trees which have been set out by his own hands afford abundance of shade, and make it the handsomest grove in the Northwest. The barns which stand on the place are enormous, one of them being 60x120 feet, and several more nearly as large ; two fine and handsome tenement houses, and many buildings which are too numerous to mention. The farm, which lies in one body, covers 2,400 acres of land. It numbers from 125 to 160 head of horses, a great many of which are imported stock, and their record competes with any in the Northwest, Mr. De Graff paying for some as high as $3,000 apiece. The herd of cattle which are kept within the boundaries of this large farm numbers about two or three hundred of the finest Jersey and short-horn stock which can be produced.

The following beautiful tribute to the memory of Charles A. De Graff, written by Bishop Whipple, sums up the lovable traits in the character of his deceased friend, and fitiingly closest his eulogium upon the dead : of a century, and loved him as one of the truest friends. Others can speak better than I of his business life - of the benefits he conferred on the im.poverished wheat-growers by showing them the marvelous adapta tion of our fair State to the growth of stock. He was the first to introduce the Kentucky blue grass, and from the day he left railway i)uilding he was a model farmer and stock- Iji'ceder. I loved him for the tender sympathy which ^vas always given in sorrow. His heart was as gentle as a woman's and yet strong and manly, true as steel. I never knew one more ready to respond to the calls of duty. In every walk of life he had learned ' to do justly and to love mercy.' As a son, a brother, a friend, he loved with his whole heart. I never knew a son with deeper filial love. It was his devotion to his mother which first won my admiration and regard. No lover ever watched and waited to anticipate its loved one's unspoken wishes more than he his father's. He knew men. His friends were of the best. With him it Avas a law, 'If he cheats me once, he is to blame; if he cheats me twice, I am to blame.' When I saw him on his beautiful farm, looking so lovingly into the faces of his dumb friends, I thought of Webster's advice to John Taylor: 'Look into their large eyes and kindly faces and be an honest man.' "

E. F. Nettleton was bom in Oneida County, N. Y., July 7, 1830, and is the son of Lemon and Nancy (Rose) Nettleton. The former of these was a farmer and attained the advanced age of eighty-seven years before he died; his wife died at the age of eighty-three. They had a family of fifteen children, seven boys and eight girls. In 18.57 E. F. Nettleton c^ame to Minnesota and settled in Le Sueur County, where he engaged in farming. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Tenth Minnesota Infantry, and participated in all the hardships and battles with that famous regiment ; was in the battles of Tupelo and Spanish Fort, and served until August 19, 1865, when he was discharged and returned to Le Sueur County, where he lived until 1874, when he removed to tliis town and county. When he first returned he was under the physician's hands for some time for a sunstroke received in the army. lie lives on section 32, whei'e he settled on first coming here. March 29, 18.51, he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Elizabeth Stone, who was born in New York State, October 19, 1832. They have been the parents of four children : William, born November 29, 1854; Theron S., born in April, 1858, married Mary Gates, and is a harness maker in Alma City ; George, born March 19, 1859, married Emma Hodge and is a professor of penmanship in St. Louis ; Luella, born in September, 1850, married Joel Southwick, a carpenter of Alma City.

William Thompson is one of the old settlers of Blue Earth County, this State, his parents locating in 1855 about a mile from what is now Garden City, when there was not a house in that village. Lie is a native of Waukesha County, Wis., born October 1(», 1844, and is the son of William R. and Anna (Brown) Thompson, natives of New York and Vermont, who had come west to Wisconsin in 1844, and in 1855 to this State, as above stated, where they remained until tiieir deaths. When William was but thirteen years of age, he commenced work on his father's farm, and has always followed farming. September 26, 1867, he was united in marriage with Henrietta Killmer, a native of Upper Canada, born December 3, 1846. Her parents were also natives of Canada, who came to Wisconsin in 1854, and remained there ten years, then moved to Blue Earth County, Minn., where her mother died in 1866,. the father lieing still a resident there. They had a family of eight children in their family. Mr. and Mrs. Thomi)son are the parents of nine children, born as follows : William Freeman, May 2, 1868 ; John C. March 19, 1871; Lois Ann. May 2.3, 1874;

Andrew Ilogan is a native of Ireland, born in 1835, and came to the United States in the 3'ear 1856, and for some nine months remained in New York City, and then proceeded to Ohio, but in 1S58 came to Waseca County and settled on section 29, of Janesville Township, where he lived until 1874, and tlien removed to section 3, this town, wiiere he still lives. In tlie year 1S60 he was married to Mary Handerhan, a native of the Emerald Isle. They are the parents of six children, three boys and three girls. One of the latter is married to Patrick Mulcahy, a farmer of Alton Township ; the rest live at home with their parents.

James A. Yaughan was born in Ii'eland in 1831, and is the son of Edward and Mary Yaughan, who were farmers in the old country and who had a family of fourteen children, seven of whom are dead. The parents came to the United States in 1838, bringing their family with them, and for some three years remained in New York City. From there they moved to McHenry County, 111., where they resided until called away by death, the mother in 1861. the father in 1866. James A. Yaughan came to "Waseca County in 1873, and settled on section 14, Alton Township, where he still lives, carrying on his farming pursuits. He is a Democrat in politics, but seeks no public preferment. In 1859 he was united in the holy bonds of marriage with Catherine O'Locklin, daughter of John and Honora (Clarj') O'Locklin, who was born July 26, 1843, in Ireland. Her parents came to this country in 1863, but both are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Yaughan are the parents of eight children : Hannah, James, John, Mary Jane, Agnes, Eddie, Sylvester and Katie.

Organic

of the Winnebago Indian agency, was organized in May, 1864, as a part of the town of Freedom. It remained thus until April 27, 1866, when it was ordered by the board of county commissioners that it be organized as a separate civil township, under the name of Alton, under the township organization act of the State, approved February 21, 1860. The first election was held at the house of M. L. Devercaux.

In June, 1865, as the townships of Alton and Freedom filled up with an enterprisingclass of agriculturists. S. M. Larabee proceeded to lay out a town site with the assistance of S. E. Stel)bings, as surveyor, to which he gave the name of Alma Cit^y.

this site he put up a hotel known then as the Larabee House. " Uncle Sam " and his wife, " Aunt Patty " Larabee, kept this hotel for many years. He was rather an eccentric genius, and was somewhat deaf, but it is said of him that he could always hear even a whisper, if it concerned money or a horse trade. " Aunt Patty " was killed in 1885 by being thrown out of a buggy; "Uncle Sam" resides with a daughter in Blue Earth County.

In the fall of 1865 Chase tfe Ames, of Rochester, Minn., erected the first store building here. The people of this vicinity gave them a lot, where now the store of Smith & Hofeld stands, on which they put up the building. In this they opened up a stock of general merchandise. After remaining about a year the stock was removed to Peddler's Grove.

The business of this thriving little burg is now represented 1)V the following firms: Smith & Hofeld, Gates, Crump & Co. and Lau Bros, in general merchandise ; D. D. Smith, drugs ; Baldwin Bros., furniture ; Theron S. Nettleton, harness; D.J. Bickford and Iver Moen, blacksmiths ; J. Benjamin and "Warren Gates, wagon-makers. Tlie Runnells House, formerly the Larabee House, is now kept by Thomas Donahue.

George Hofeld was born in Germany, March 4, 1838, and resided in that country until he had finished his education. In 1854 he came to tlie United States and remained until fall in the State of Ohio, and then moved to Indiana. In 1856 he removed to Michigan, and remained there until 1863, when he first came to Minnesota. He returned to Indiana that fall, but in 1865 came to this county, and purchased a farm in Freedom Township in tlie month of June, 1866, but did not settle down on it until August, 1868. He resided on it until the fall of 1877, when he sold his place and moved to Alma City, where, January 7, 1878, he entered into the mercantile trade, where he now has a general stock of merchandise. He taught school for thirteen winters in Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota, working at farm work during the summers of those years. He has held the offices of chairman of town board five years ; town assesscjr, two years ; town clerk, two years ; notary public, eight years, and postmaster, three years, the last two of which he holds now. He wasmari'ied July 5, 1868, in Michigan, to Anna Huff. They are the parents of five children: Henry, born May 7, 1869; Carl, April 24, 1870; Frank, January 21, 1872, died September 26, 1874; Maud, August 24, 1877, and Edna, September 2, 1884.

the oldest residentof that place. He engaged in the wagon-making business on first coming here, and still continues in thatline. In 1869 and 1870 he was engaged in the manufacture of pumps here, but closed out that branch of his business. He is a native of Bennington County, Vt., born January 31, 1828, and is the son of Abel and Mary (Peabody) Gates. Tlie father was a cabinet-maker by trade, and died in 1872, the mother died in 1880. They had a family of six children. Warren beo'an the business of wagon-making- in 1849, in Erie County, N. V., where he remained many years, and came to La Ci-osse, Wis., in the spring of 1864, where he engaged in farming. He remained there until he came to this county, as already mentioned. April 25, 1852, he was united in nuirriage with Helen M. Canfield, who was born January 1, 1832, in Erie County, N. Y. They have had a family of six children : Lawrence E., who married in 1882, and is engaged in the mercantile business at Elgin, Minn.; Mary, the wife of T. S. Nettleton, married in 1877, and Carrie, Susan, Blanche and Emma, all single and living at home. During the years 1870 to 1873, inclusive, Mr. Gates carried the mail from this place to Janesville.

The mill at Alma Cit}' is in the hands of a stock company composed of Kelsey Curtis, J. D. Morris E. S. Taylor, John Markham, John Wilkinson and Frank R. Field. Mr. Field has the general management and superintendency of the mill, which turns out an excellent quality of flour, and is noted throughout this part of the country. The mill was built by John T. Fisher in 1875, and after running it for some time he sold it to W. H. Ketzback, and for nine years he ran it, part of the time in company with otliers, among whom were Frank Field and Smith it Hofekl. In February, 1886, the present company was formed and have run it ever since. The mill is well eijuipped with all modern machinery, has three sets of stones, five sets of rollers, excellent engine, and all necessary adjuncts that go to make up a first-class mill. It has a

Frank Field was born in Rockford, 111., November 1, 1855, and is the son of John H. and Rosie Woodberry. His father was born in North Bridgewater, Mass., March 19, 1834. His mother was a native of Pennsylvania. They came west in 1853, first stop" ping in Illinois, from there to Mower County' this State, and then to Rochester, Olmsted County, were the next moves. June 6, 1864, they came to this county and settled in Freedom Township, where they still reside. They had a family of thirteen children, six boys and seven girls, four of whom are now dead. Their son Frank, in 1876, entered the Banner mill at Janesville, where he got his first insight in the milling business, and re" mained there one winter. A short time was spent in the same line in Madelia, and then he came to Alma City and entered the employment of W. H. Ketzeback & Co., who were running the mill, and remained with them two years. He then engaged with his brother under the firm name of Field Bros, in the hardware business in the same place. Eighteen months later he formed a partnership with William Altenburg to carry on the same line of trade, and still continues a member of that firm. In the fall of 1886 Mr. Field was instrumental in forming the stock company who purchased the mill of Smith & Hofeld and are running it as mentioned above. In the year 1880 Frank Field and Martha A. Boston were united in marriage. She is a native of Racine County, Wis., born February 23, 1850.

D. P; Young was born in Massachusetts, May 11, 1838. In 1850 he went with the family to Erie County, N. Y., where he remained several years, and then removed to Dodge County, Wis. In 1864 he came to this county, and located in Freedom Township, among the first settlers in that part of Waseca County. He took up farm there, and followed the vocation of farmer until 1875, when he removed to Alma City, where, in company with Fisher and Wilkinson, he built the flouring mill and ran it for about two years and then disposed of it. He then went into partnership with W. E. Lockwood, in the mercantile business and has followed that ever since. May 27, 1858 he was united in marriage with Ruth Lockwood, daughter of Hezekiah and Caroline Lockwood, who was born October 8, 1838. They have been the parents of two children : William, born in 1861, now an attorney of Mankato, who attended the law school at Iowa City, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar at Waseca when but twenty-one years of age. He is married to Nettie Shingler, and has one child, John Paul. The other son, Arthur Young, was born in 1871. Mr. Y'oung's father was a native of Massachusetts, and a carpenter by trade, but now dead ; his mother, who is living with him, was born in Connecticut.

C. W . Remington came to Waseca County in 1882, from Blue Earth County, where he had been living for some years, and settled on a farm in Freedom Township, where he remained until 1886, when he removed to Alma City, where he now resides. He was born in Vermont, December 11, 1828, and is the son of William and Beersheba (Packard) Remington, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont. His father was a large manufacturer of shoes in New England. C. W. is a carpenter and joiner by trade, although he no longer follows it, but in his time had few superiors in that line of business, as many of the finest edifices in New England can attest, he having been employed in their erection. For the past eighteen or twenty years Mr. Remington has given his attention to the improvement of horses in this and adjoining counties, and is now the owner of three of the best imjiorted Norman Percheron horses in this section of the country : Victor Hugo, Blackhawk and Success. Mr. Remington's wife, Mary Jane (Wright) Remington, in a native of the State of New York. They have two children : Charles I.,

History Of Waseca Codntt

Dr. C. I. Remington was born in Buffalo, N. Y.,-May 7. 1853, and is the son of C. W. and Mary Jane (Wright) Eemington, both natives of the Empire State. Dr. Remington received a classical education in his 3'outh, and in 1876 commenced the study of medicine with Dr. E. J. Davis, of Mankato, with whom he remained three years, afteiwhich he attended lectures at the medical college at Keokuk, Iowa, for two years, and finding himself well fitted for the profession, in 1879 commenced practice at Alma City, where he has since remained. February 14, 1882, he was united in marriage with Lury Clark, a daughter of Archibald and Margeret Clark, born in Winona County, Minn., October 6, 1860. Her parents are Scotch, the mother having been born in Paisley, Scotland, the father being of Scottish descent also. The latter was a hardware merchant and farmer until his death in 1866, he falling from a load of hay and striking a jjitchfork that was standing against the load, resulting fatally. Dr. and Mrs. Remington are the happy parents of one child, Everett C, born December 18, 1882. The Doctor has a large and increasing practice, and is ranked high in his chosen profession.

Milo Baldwin was born in Litchfield Count}^ Conn., March 22, 1818, and is the son of John and Lucy (Strong) Baldwin, both natives of the same State. Thev were of English origin, and had but two children. Flora and Milo, the former born in 1829, and married in 1852 to W. W. Ramsey, now of Lake Benton, this State. When Milo had reached his majority, he engaged in the painting business in New York, and while there was united in marriage with Rosetta AV right, September 12, 1839, who was a native of New York, born February 26. 1816. They had a family of three children : Mai-y Eliza, born July 3, 1810, married to Abram T. Borden, a merchant ; John W., born January 10, 1842, who enlisted March 1861, in Company D, Eighth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, and died of wounds received at Port Hudson, July 31, 1863; and George W., born June 28, 1843, who enlisted inCompanjr G, Fifth Infantry, and is now a resident of Washington Territory'. Mr. Milo Baldwin was engaged in the painting business but a short time, when he went to Medina County, Ohio, where he followed farming for six years, and then removed to Indiana, where he was engaged both in farming and cabinet-making. His first wife dying, he was married to his second wife, Joanna Taylor, May 27, 1849. She was born April 27, 1824. They were the parents of four children : Lucy, who married John Rush, a farmer of Janesville, October 9, 1870; WiUiam, who is the Methodist minister at Mapleton, Minn., having begun his ministry in 1883, and who married Mary Cooley in 1870, who died in 1874, and in 1882 William married Abbie Dunham, who was born in Winnebago City, this State, August 11, 1861 ; Orlo, who was born May 11, 1856, now in the mill at Alma City, and Robert, an insurance agent, born May 22, 1858. Mrs. Baldwin died February 20, 1860. Mr. Baldwin's third wife was Mrs. Amy L. Moore, who was born in New York State, Decemljer 11, 1822, and who was a widow with three children, as follows : Eber L., born in 1849, married to Mary Maynard, now at Motley, Minn. ; George W., born March 23, 1844, enlisted in 1861 in Company D, Tenth Wisconsin Infantry, and died in the service March, 25, 1862 ; and Olivia v., born September 27, 1845, married to George Smith in September 1865, and now living at Germania, this State. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have had by the present marriage three children : Elmore Y., born December 1, 1862 ; Milton J., born January 1, 1865, and married January 1, 1886, to Martha Larrabee, who was born in Minnesota, August 16, 1864, and is engaged in business in Alma City, and Homer E., born May 24, 1861. Mr. Milo Baldwin is a Pro-

Christopher Mertens, Esq., is a native of South Germany, born February 13, 1843. He came to the United States in 1867, and settled in Dunkirlc, N. Y., where he was engasred in the manufacture of boots and shoes for about one year, and then removed to Two Rivers, Wis., where he followed the same line of trade. Fi'om there, two years later, he removed to the vicinity of Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming, and remained there six years. He then came to Minnesota, and locating in Blue Earth Countj% engaged in the insurance business. In 1878 he removed to Alma City, where he now resides. He was elected justice of the peace shortly after coming here and has held the same ever since. In addition to his official duties, he is the principal insurance and collection agent in this part of the country. He was united in marriage with Genevieve Geiger, July 16, 1868. They have been the parents of five children : John, born July 18, 1869 ; Elizabeth, born August 20, 1871, died February 20, 1872 ; Clara, born July 17, 1873 ; Emma, born March 11, 187.5 ; Louise, born February 17, 1877. He represents some of the best insurance companies in the United States, including the ^tna, of Hartford, Conn.; Phoenix, of Hartford; State, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Live Stock, of St. Paul. He belongs to -the collection agencies of Dunn, of St. Paul, Wilbur, of Chicago, and Northwestern, of Crookston.

William Orcutt, veterinary surgeon, was born in Ohio, March 17, 1840, and is the son of Caleb and Helen Orcutt. He commenced to do business for himself at the early age of twelve years, his first venture being to buy two yoke of oxen, paying for one and getting time on the other, and commenced teaming, Avhich he followed for about three years. He was then variously employed until June 29, 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Second Minnesota Infantry, and served three years, being always with the company except three months in the hospital, he having been wounded. He was mustered out of the service in June, 1864, and returned to Dodge County, Minn., where he had been living. In the fall of that year he was married to Sophia Donaldson, by whom he had two children : Lula, born September 25, 1865, and James, born December 19, 1867. September 26, 1865, he removed to this county and made a claim on a part of section 12, Freedom, where he now owns about 150 acres of good, well-improved land. In 1873 his wife died, and in 1877 he gave up farming and moved to a fine residence he owns in Alma City, where he practices as a veterinary surgeon. June 15, 1875, he was married to Louise Connor, and they have had born to them two children : Dora Belle, born April 31, 1876, and Anna Louise, born May 1, 1878.

Iver A. Moen is a native of Norway, and immigrated to the United States in 1866, and settled in Dane County, Wis., where he was engaged for about nine years in farming. He then commenced to learn the blacksmith trade, serving there as apprentice for two years and then came to Mankato, Minn., where he finished his trade. From there he moved to Medo, Blue Earth County, where he opened a blacksmith shop, and remained there three years. In August, 1881, he moved to Alma City, where he is at the present. He has an excellent trade, as he is a good mechanic, and has all the work he can attend to. He owns his shop, which is well supplied with tools, and has a nice comfortable dwelling. July 9, 1879, he was married to Johanna Lee, and they have had four children : Maritte, born June 13, 1880 ; George Elmer, May 30, 1882 ; Benedict, March 25, 1884, and Stephen Leon, February 11, 18S6.

Wilton Lodge, No. 24, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is one of the oldest in the State. It was organized at Wilton, in the upper story of the mill of John C. Ide, under dispensation June 1, 1857.

with the following officers : Jesse I. Stewart, W. M.; John C. Ide, S. W.; H. P. Norton, J. W.; E. A. Rice, T.; H. S. Edraondson, S.; T. L. Paige, S. D.; Buel Welch, J. D., and John Magill, tyler. The charter was granted to this lodge, and a number assigned it, January 8, 1858, when the following brethren were elected to the respective offices and duly installed : John C. Ide, W. M.; Thomas Paige, S. W.; Euel Welch, J. W.; P. C. Bailey, T.; H. P. West, S.; J. C. Price, S. D., and D. D. Stevens, tyler. Vov man}' years this was one of the most pi-osperous lodges in this part of the State, and when the lodge in Owatonna w'as about to be organized. Dr. Morehouse and others of that city came over to Wilton to he made Masons, that they might have enough to form their lodge. After the decline of Wilton, and the removal of so many of the brethren of the "mystic tie" to Waseca, Janesville and Alma City, the lodge declined until November 21, 1883, when, under a dispensation signed by C. H. Benton, G. M. and A. T. C. Pierson, G. S., the lodge was removed to Alma Citj^and received new accessions to its membership and is once more in flourishing condition. The following is a list of the present officers : George Hofeld, W. M.; F. R. Field, S. W.; W. E. Lockwood, J. W.: D. D. Smith, S.; F. D. Seaman, T.; John Wagoner, S. D.; William Orcutt, J. D.; Samuel Hodgkins, S. S.; Fred. Dow, J. S., and D. J. Bickford, tyler. They have a very neat hall, where they hold their meetings, and the members all take an interest in the masonic work.

There is but one church organization in the village, and that is of the United Brethren. It was in.stituted in the fall of 1864 by Rev. Joel Steiner, who was a very able and energetic nuin and who probably did more for the upbuilding of this church than any other man. He was pastor for the first two 3'ears, when he was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Reed, who served two years ; Rev. Joel Steiner again served two years, then Rev. Mr. Nield for one year, and Rev. O. O. Rundle for two years, to be again succeeded by Rev. Joel Steiner. Rev. E. Clow, one year; Rev. Samuel Kemerer, one year ; Rev. J. M. Tresenriter, one year ; Rev. E. Clow, two years ; Rev. H. J. Hindman, one year ; Rev. Joel Steiner, one year ; Rev. Mr. Kerr, one year ; Rev. S. George, one 3' ear ; Rev. E. Carter, one year, and Rev. A. Fairchild, one year, succeeded to the pastoral labors here. A year ago Rev. I. N. English, the present pastor, came here and is building up the church. The church has a membership of about a hundred souls, and is in a very prosperous condition. The neat, tasty and commodious church edifice was built in 1874, and the spii'C contains a fine bell, to call the wor.shipers to service.