Blue Earth County MN Archives History - Books .....Vernon Center, Ceresco, Pleasant Mound 1882
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Book Title: History Of The Minnesota Valley

CHAPTER LXXII.

VERNON CENTER—CERESCO—PLEASANT MOUND-SHELBY—STERLING—MAPLETON—DANVILLE-MINNESOTA
LAKE.

   When the county commissioners met April 6, 1858, to form the towns of the
county preparatory to their organization, this one was called Montevideo, but
changed to Vernon April 16 following; it was changed to Vernon Center, October
14,1858. It includes all of congressional township 106, range 28.

   Settlement began in 1855. Israel Wing, Thomas Doak and Joseph McClannahan
came in the spring; James Taylor, M. L. Plumb and J. A. Darling came in the fall.

   Settlement was rapid in 1856, and in 1857 the land was all taken.

   Judson Plumb was born November 10, 1855, the first white child born in the town.

   The first marriage in the town was that of John Doak and Mary Arlige. They
were married late in 1856 or early in 1857.

   The village of Vernon was surveyed in June, 1857, on land owned by the "Blue
Earth Company," in sections 26, 27, 34 and 35. The village became quite
prosperous, and had at one time a hotel, three stores, one blacksmith shop and a
large steam saw-mill. This mill was built by the town site company during the
summer of 1857 and operated until 1865, when it was burned. Reed & Mason built
another mill in 1857, near the present iron bridge. This was subsequently taken
down and the machinery taken away. The Standard mill was begun in the fall of
1857, as a feed mill by G. W. Doty, and completed to its present dimensions
later, and converted into a flouring mill by Mr. Hoover. It is now owned by Mr.
Skinner.

   A post-office was established and called Vernon Centre, and J. P. Dooley
appointed postmaster. The office is still in existence and in the hands of J. B.
Pierce.

   The most of the town site proprietors were from Mount Vernon, Ohio, and
wished to so call their town, but finally adopted the name given. But few lots
are now occupied, there being but one store in the place; the original site is
nearly all vacated.

   Upon the completion of the railroad in 1879, Mr. Elnathan Kendall laid out a
new town site in the north-west quarter of section 26, and called it Vernon
Centre, and the railroad company attached a small piece on the east, called East
Vernon Centre. The station for a time was called Edgewood, but the original name
of the site has been finally adopted. The new town now contains two general
stores, one hardware store, three grain warehouses and one blacksmith shop. An
effort was made to start a town called Montevideo sometime in 1857, in section
33. No plat was ever recorded. A steam saw-mill and one house was built, but no
other improvements were made, and the town came to naught.

   The first school was taught during the summer of 1858 by Miss Henrietta Smith
in a small frame building erected for some kind of an office in the village of
Vernon. In the spring of 1859 a frame school-house was built, and is still in
use. The town now has five school-houses, all frame.

   The first religious services were conducted by the Rev. C. L. Taylor, a
Methodist minister from Shelbyville, in the fall of 1857, at the village. From
that time services were conducted regularly.

   In the winter following the United Brethren denomination began holding
services at the house of C.  C. Washburn, under the auspices of the Rev. Joseph
Casselman. The next summer regular services were held in the hall at the hotel
in the village; the Rev. J. E. Conrad organized a Presbyterian church, and the
Congregationalists also had an organization. A Union church was built just south
of the village in 1866, at which meetings were held by the different
denominations. The Methodists now own the building; their present pastor is C.
F. Kingsland. The United Brethren have a parsonage a short distance south of
this church. The Baptists are building a church in the new town; the present
pastor is the Rev. Rockwood.

   Myrna post-office was established in January, 1874, and T. L. Perkins
appointed postmaster. He kept the office at his house in section 30, until
February, 1878, when E. D. Cornish was appointed postmaster and the office moved
to his house nearly a mile further south.

   The meeting for organizing the town was held at Vernon, May 11, 1858. The
following officers were elected: J. C. Browning, chairman; William Read and
Edward Nickerson, supervisors; J. P. Dooley, clerk; E. A. Cooper, assessor; T.
S. Hays, collector; Israel Wing, overseer of poor; Nathan Bass and G. W.
Johnson, justices; William Skinner and P. B. Day, constables. The first justice
in town was J. A. Darling. He was elected in the fall of 1857.

   Franklin Barnes was born in Highgate, Franklin county, Vermont, in June,
1833. Left home when twelve years old; went to New Hampshire and worked two
years in a saw-mill and chair factory, then returned; was stage driver one year
after which he removed to New York; clerked in a store winters and worked in a
saw-mill summers for four years; engaged in lumbering in Michigan until 1855,
then migrated to Minneapolis. Until 1857 he was in the hardware business, then
came to Vernon Center and settled on a farm. In 1879, Mr. Barnes assisted in
laying out the village of Edgewood; the same year he started a general
merchandise store; has also a lumber yard and deals in farm machinery. In
February, 1856, he married Francis E. Read. William R., Frank H., Hattie L.,
Edward A., and Louisa B. are the children.

   J. D. Blanchard was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1835. At the age
of eighteen he left the parental roof to learn blacksmithing; also learned the
trade of a carpenter; he was employed in saw-mill winters and worked at his
trade summers until coming to Minnesota in 1864; he located at Vernon Center and
after pursuing his trade three years opened a wagon and blacksmith shop. Mr.
Blanchard married in 1858, Lucy A Carpenter. Their children are Jennie and John.

   Joseph Bookwalter was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1850, and is a son of the
Reverend Isaac Bookwalter. When fourteen years old he accompanied his parents to
Minnesota and settled in Vernon Center. In 1877 he graduated from the Western
College of Iowa. While in college he spent some time in teaching and continued
that vocation until 1878, when he entered the Iowa University and took a course
of lectures on law. Returned to Vernon Center in 1879. In 1880 Mr. Bookwalter
was elected to the legislature and served during the term on several important
committees.

   Frank Bosh was born in Indiana, in 1849. When thirteen years of age he began
serving an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade and has since followed it
continually. He came to Howard Lake, Wright county, Minnesota, in 1879; one year
later went to Mankato and remained until locating in Edgewood, where he owns a
shop. Married in 1877, Miss Matilda McLain. Leonard and May are their children.

   D. Carpenter was born in New York, in 1839. Came in 1856 to Minnesota and
settled at his present home in Vernon Center. He has been connected with the
educational interests of the town since the organization of the first school. He
not only took an, active part in organizing the Methodist Episcopal society, of
which he is a member, but was largely instrumental in building the church. In
1851 Miss Maria Pratt became the wife of Mr. Carpenter. Byron A., Orila, George,
Emma J., and Amy are their children.

   Hon. E. T. Champlin, was born in Vermont in 1839. When eighteen years of age
he removed to Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming, also in teaching school.
Came to Minnesota in 1861 and located in Vernon. Enlisted in Company G, Third
Minnesota, as a private, in 1863; was promoted to the rank of captain, and
served until the close of the war; has since given his attention to farming. Has
served as county commissioner, three years and in 1875 was elected to the
legislature. Mr. Champlin married in 1867, Florence E., daughter of Hon. W. W.
Langdon, of Vermont.

   Ezra A. Cooper was born in Franklin county, New York, in 1829. He began
working for himself when nineteen years of age; was chiefly employed as a
carpenter. In 1855 he visited Minnesota, and two years later located on his
present farm. He enlisted in the Sixth Minnesota, and served nearly three years.
In 1861 was elected collector of taxes for his town, has also been supervisor.
Married in 1859, Miss V. J. Harriman. George W., Eva B., Leslie F., Edna E. and
Laura J. are their children.

   Lysander Cook, born in 1829, is a native of Lewis county, New York. He
commenced at eighteen years of age and taught ten years, in his native state and
Wisconsin, and in 1864 moved to Lyra, Minnesota; since 1878 he has lived in
Vernon Center. In the fall of 1875, while in Lyra he was elected to the
legislature; has also held the offices of supervisor, town clerk and treasurer.
Mr. Cook married in 1857, Miss Ann J. Torrey. They have two daughters; Alice and
Nellie.

   E. D. Cornish was born at Bangor, Franklin county New York, in 1841. After
completing his education at the University in Madison, Wisconsin, he began
teaching and during vacations surveyed. In 1870 migrated to Minnesota and
settled in Vernon Center. He began planting trees about ten years ago and now
has eight acres of them, some measuring thirty-four inches in circumference;
there are eleven different varieties. Mr. Cornish has been postmaster of Myrna
three years. In 1868 he married Mary A. Pew. They have have seven children.

   F. C. Hinz, a native of Prussia, was born in 1853. At the age of twelve years
he accompanied his parents to America and settled in Wisconsin, and at the age
of fifteen began clerking. Coming to Minnesota in 1876, he engaged in hardware
business at Good Thunder; in 1879 he removed to Edgewood, and has since given
his attention to that line of trade there.

   J. W. Jacobs was born in Somerset county, Maine, in 1834. In 1845 went to
Wisconsin and began lumbering; in 1852 engaged in farming and in 1871 removed to
Jackson county, Minnesota; he finally, in 1876, came to Blue Earth county and
has since lived in Vernon. Mr. Jacobs served in Hatch's battalion on the
frontier two years. Married Miss Williams, of Illinois. Charles is their only son.

   L. C. Johnson was born in Howard county, Indiana, in 1845. When only two
years old his father died, and at the age of ten years he went with his mother
to Iowa; one year later came to Minnesota and settled in Vernon Center, where he
is now keeping hotel. During the Sioux massacre of 1862 he was a member of the
Vernon militia. Married in 1878, Miss Mary Turner, who has borne him one child;
Lenalva.

   Elnathan Kendall was born in Windham county, Connecticnt, in 1831. Received
common school and academic education. Went to Iowa in 1855 and next year to
Vernon Center. He was the founder of Edgewood in 1879. Was enrolled with the
minute men in 1857 during the Inkpaduta outbreak and at the time of the Sioux
massacre removed, with his family farther east. Married in 1856, Louisa
Richardson. Theirs was the first marriage in Shelbyville. Sarah D., Lois E., and
Edward L., are their children.

   Paul Lewis was born in 1854, in Madison, Wisconsin, and there obtained a
liberal education, completing it at the Worthington business college, after
which he taught in the same college for eighteen months; was then telegraph
operator in different parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota until June, 1881, when he
was appointed station agent at Edgewood. In May, 1881, he married Miss Hattie
Palmer.

   Dr. Oliver H. McMichael was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, December
25, 1845. Attended school and worked on a farm until 1863 and for the next five
years was engaged in teaching and attending the academy of his native village.
He began the study of medicine in 1867; in 1869 entered the medical department
of the Michigan University, and in 1871 graduated. Since May, 1871 he has been
in practice at Vernon Center. Dr. McMichael is a member of the State Medical
Association, also of the Minnesota Valley Medical Association. In 1870 he
married Mary E. Morgan.

   Peter Mertesdorf, a native of Prussia, was born in 1827. In 1854 came to
America and for a short time remained in Chicago, then went to Milwaukee, where
he was engaged at his trade, that of tailor, three months. After farming eight
years in Wisconsin, he came to Minnesota and in 1862 settled in Vernon Center.
Mr. Mertesdorf has been twice married; to his first wife, Mary Touches, in 1858;
she died in 1874, leaving seven children. Miss Mary Cawl became his second wife
in 1875. They are the parents of three children.

   S. B. Nott is a native of Bristol, England, born in 1807. He learned the
shoemaker's trade with his father, and when fifteen years of age he ran away
from home to learn another branch of the trade; in 1831 he came to America;
visited all the principal eastern cities, and in 1833 went to St. Louis; entered
the employ of the Columbia Fishing and Trading company, and crossed the plains;
was one of the party which built Fort Hall on the Snake river. During the next
spring he started with a party on a trapping expedition; losing his way he
wandered about eight days without food before finding the fort. In 1864 Mr. Nott
came to Minnesota. Married in 1837 Sarah Hall. Four living children.

   J. B. Pierce was born in Windham county, Vermont, in 1815. When a child he
accompanied his parents to New York; in 1841 removed to Ohio and in 1856, to
Wisconsin. He came to Minnesota in 1869; engaged in the drug trade at Garden
City until 1876, then came to Vernon Center where he deals in general
merchandise and drugs; was appointed postmaster in 1879. Married in 1851, Miss
E. H. Rider. Three children have been born to them, but all have died.

   J. H. Robinson, born in 1847, is a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania; when
four years of age he went to Illinois with his parents; from 1855 to 1862, he
was in Rice county, Minnesota, then moved to Faribault county. He enlisted in
1864 in Battery B, First Minnesota heavy artillery and served until the close of
the war. He afterwards taught several terms of school and in 1878 settled in
Vernon Center. Mr. Robinson is a grain dealer in the village of Edgewood; owns
an elevator; has also a stock of millinery in the village. In 1867 he married
Joanna Reed. Mary and Effie are their children.

   Theodore Sowers was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1828. His
parents removed with him to Washington county, of that state, where he lived
until 1840, then moved to Indiana where he worked at the carpenter's trade.
Coming to Minnesota in 1855 he made his home in Mankato until 1861 engaged in
the pursuit of his trade. He has since been farming in Vernon Center. He was
postmaster three years, and has been supervisor six years. In 1859 he married
Margaret Schuler. Adra, William A., Effie, Maggie and Robert are their children.

   E. W. Washburn was born in Indiana in 1848, and when nine years old came with
his parents to Minnesota. His home has since been in Vernon Center. He received
a liberal education, completing it at Western College, in Iowa. Engaged in
general merchandizing in Vernon Center from 1873 until 1879, then removed to
Edgewood. For four years he was town clerk and is at present treasurer. Married
Mary A. Warren in 1872. Lillie is their only child.

   Noah Westover, farmer, is a native of Canada, born in 1823. Learned the
shoemaker's trade, which he followed twelve years. Went to Wisconsin in 1851 and
farmed four years, then located at his present place; he lived at South Bend
seven years, but returned to the farm. Mr. Westover married Ann Kerr in 1844. In
1867 he married Sarah Conklin. The living children are Sarah A., William A.,
Jennie and Lillian E.

   A. C. Wilber was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1844, and there lived
until sixteen years of age. He finished his studies at the academy at Fox Lake,
Wisconsin. He afterward followed farming and came with his parents to Minnesota
in 1866, locating on his present farm. Has been treasurer and supervisor a
number of years. In 1865 he married Sarah B. Judd. Fred. C. and Eva I. are the
children.

CERESCO.

   This is one of the towns formed in 1858, and is situated in the south-western
part of the county. It is drained by the Watonwan river in the north, and by
Perch creek in the south and east. The earliest settlers were W. D. Grey,
Francis Percival, William Wells, John Devlin, Benjamin Pease, Hugh Reynolds, A.
B. Barney, Rufus and Charles Thurston. Mr. Grey located near the junction of the
Watonwan river and Perch creek, and still owns the land. He used to trade with
the Indians, and kept a small stock of goods for that purpose. Mr. Percival
located in the northeast quarter of section 22, and soon after transferred his
rights to the claim to Charles Thurston, and left. Mr. Thurston remained a few
years, when he moved to Garden City. Rufus Thurston located in the north-west
quarter of section 21, where he now lives. None of the rest of these settlers
now remain in the town, but have scattered to different parts of the country.

   The first marriage in the town was that of A. B. Barney and Mary Wrightson.
They were married in 1856, soon after settlement began.

   The first school in the town was taught by Miss Hattie Kingsley at a private
house in what is now district No. 13, during the summer of 1859. The town now
has five school-houses, all frame.

   The first religious services in the town were conducted by Jacob Burgess, at
his house in section 22, during the summer of 1861. Meetings were held at his
house, and in the grove near, as convenience dictated, all that season. There
never has been a regular church organization, but services have been conducted
by the different denominations, from time to time, at the school-houses. A Union
Sabbath-school was organized at one of them, which lasted several summers.

   The town was organized at the house of William Wells, May 11, 1858. The
following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Isaac Slocum, chairman,
James Wilson and A. B. Barney, supervisors; C. A. Koempffer, clerk; J. C. Tibil,
assessor; William Wells, collector; J. C. Tibil and E. Tolbert, justices; Oliver
Pease, overseer of poor; W. D. Grey and Isaac Bundy, constables. At that time
Lincoln was attached to Ceresco for judicial purposes, consequently some of
these officers appear from there. The town board for 1881 consists of John
Porter, chairman, John Hughes and William Mason.

N. P. Chambers, a native of Pennsylvania, was born March 14, 1831, in Mifflin
county. When was but four years old his parents died, and he went to live with
an uncle. At the age of twenty-two he married Sarah Jane Hamilton, who died a
number of years later. He enlisted in Company M, Sixth heavy artillery, in
September, 1864; was promoted to sergeant, and in June, 1865, was mustered out.
In 1867 he came to Blue Earth county. Mary Jane Thompson became his wife
Decemher 8, 1870. Robert N., Mary E. and Nancy M. are their children.

J. M. Mead, born in 1823, is a native of Washington county, New York. At the age
of nineteen went to Massachusetts, and in 1848 settled on a farm in Columbia
county, Wisconsin; while residing there he held for a number of years the
offices of town clerk and superintendent of schools, Since removing to Minnesota
in 1858 he has lived his farm in Ceresco, and has served continuously the town
offices, also one term as county commissioner. In 1848 Abigail Gardener, of
Vermont, became his wife. Helen, Eugene, Gardener, Alice and Fred, are their
children.

John C. Thompson was born in 1824, in Washington county, New York, and removed
to Wisconsin in 1844. Esther Derby became his wife March 16, 1847, and died
August 29, 1853; her children were Henry O., Myron G. and Emma; the latter died.
In May, 1855, he came to Blue Earth county and pre-empted a farm, which he
afterward sold, and bought in 1862 the farm he now owns. He married Olive
Nichelson in 1856; their children are Emma A., Mary E., Nellie A., Miles H.,
Alpha and Olive. Mr. Thompson has for a number of years held various town offices.

   Charles Voigt was born in 1853, in Germany, and at the age of twenty-one came
to America, He entered the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary at Madison, Du Page
county, Illinois, from which he graduated, and coming to Minnesota in 1879,
settled in Pleasant Mound, and taught the German school in the church building
at that place; there were ninety pupils in attendance. Mr. Voigt married in 1881
Louisa Suhe, a native of Illinois.

   Eli Waite, born November 28, 1836, is a native of Ohio. When twenty-four
years old he learned photographing. In 1861 he enlisted; the name of the
regiment was afterward changed to Iowa Fifth; about two and one-half years later
he reenlisted and served under General Sully in the West, also went south, and
was discharged in June, 1866.  Mr. Waite came to Blue Earth county in the spring
of 1856. Mary Eliza Nobles was married to him November 8, 1866 and is the mother
of five children: Mildred M., Maud S., Myrtle L., Howard J. and Homer W.

   Hermann Zempel was born February 9, 1843, in Prussia. He immigrated to
Wisconsin and worked at farming in Green Lake county; while there he married,
January 14, 1864, Caroline Weinkauf. In 1866 they came to Minnesota and since
1869 have lived at their present home. Mr. Zempel has been very active in
organizing and maintaining the Lutheran church, and Sabbath school at this
place, also the independent school where both English and German are taught; be
has been chairman of the town board and is secretary of St. John's Mutual
Insurance company. Their children are Charlotte W., Wilhelm R., E. Johan,
Otillie E. H., T. Richard, C. Mary, A. Hermann and L. Carl.

PLEASANT MOUND.

   The name of this town is derived from a peculiar range of mounds in the
southeastern part. It is the extreme southwestern town in the county, and
includes all of congressional township 105, range 29. At the session of the
county commissioners held April 6, 1858, it was called Otsego and attached to
Shelby for official purposes. At a session held October 14, 1858, the name was
changed to Willow Creek, and to Pleasant Mound, September 7, 1865. The first
settlers were William Marston, Mr. McKinney, Barnard Marble and J. P. Thomas
came in the spring of 1857. They all settled in sections 1 and 12. They were
interested in a town site about one and one-half miles farther east in Shelby
and divided their time between their prospective town and their claims. None of
them remained long.

   The first school-house in the town was built in district 83 and the first
school was taught in that district. The town now has five school-houses, all
frame. The Germans have built a school-house of their own in section 10 where
they intend having a school taught in their own language. There is but one
religious organization in the town, the Lutheran; although the other
denominations have had services irregularly since the first settlement. The
Methodists now have services in the school-house in district number 125. The
Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in November, 1870 by the present
pastor, H. J. Mueller, with thirty-five members. A church was built that fall in
the southwest quarter of section 1. This was burned the next spring and a new
one built the same year, in the northeast corner of section 2. It is a plain
frame structure and cost about $600. A parsonage is located on the same lot. The
membership now is about eighty-five.

   Pleasant Mound post-office was established early in the sixties. F. O. Marks
was appointed postmaster and the office located at his house in section 25. In
the fall of 1865, the present incumbent, J. S. Parks, was appointed and the
office located at his house in section 26. Willow Creek post-office was
established about the same time. Horace Kinney was appointed postmaster and the
office was located at his house in Shelby. He was succeeded by Nathaniel Capen,
who held the office until 1879 when the present incumbent, J. R. Wilder, was
appointed and the office moved to his house in section 13.

   Pleasant Mound Grange, No. 214, was organized May 23, 1873, with thirty
charter members. They first met at the school-house in district 29, hut
subsequently moved to district 125, where meetings are now held. This grange is
the principal supporter of the system of fairs held under the auspices of the
Blue Earth Valley Stock Association. These fairs are held annually at the farms
of the members, and have hecome so popular that they rival the regular county
fairs.

   The meeting for the organization of the town was held at the house of H. F.
Longworthy, September 26, 1865. J. F. West was chosen moderator and M. A.
Chamberlain, clerk. The following town officers were elected: M. A. Chamberlain,
chairman; F. O. Marks and I. J. Gardener, supervisors; H. S. Parks, clerk; H. F.
Longworthy, treasurer; J. F. West and J. H. Hindman, justices; H. E. Sagar and
J. A. Betts, constables. The chairmen since have been William Perrin and Michael
Dempsey. Mr. Perin served fourteen years in succession.

   J. S. Parks, a native of Canada, was born in 1835 and when quite a young man
accompanied his parents to New York. When he was twenty-two years old his father
died and he being the eldest child had the charge of the family. In 1861 he
removed to Wisconsin, and worked in various places until 1863, when he came to
Minnesota; after a short time spent in Winona he took a homestead in Pleasant
Mound. He was the first clerk of the town and held the office three terms; has
been postmaster here fifteen years. Married in 1864, Helen M. Cray, who has
borne him five children; Robert D., Walter M. and Louis E., Ray M. and Roy L.
are twins.

   William Perrin was born in 1817, in Orange county, Vermont, and resided with
his parents at the old homestead until forty years of age. From 1857 until 1862
he lived in Wisconsin; then, after ten years in Wabasha county, Minnesota, he
came to Blue Earth county and finally settled on his farm in Pleasant Mound. Mr.
Perrin has held various town offices and in 1878-9 served in the legislature;
was also county commissioner for three years and chairman of the town board
fourteen years. In 1842 he married Martha B. Green. Their children are Horace
B., Willis L. and Adda.

   William Robinson, born in 1840, is a native of Jefferson county,
Pennsylvania. He served an apprenticeship in the cabinet makers' trade and in
1857 moved with his parents to Minnesota. During the early part of the rebellion
he enlisted in Company C, Sixth Minnesota, and served until the close of the
war, after which he carried on his father's farm in Faribault county, two years,
then moved to Pleasant Mound. He has several times held the offices of school
director and justice of the peace. In 1866 Sylvia S. Tackel became his wife.
Laura J., Horace A. and Oscar R. are their children.

   J. B. Reiter was horn in Germany in 1837 and lived in that country until
fourteen years of age. Came to America and for seventeen years resided in
Wisconsin; he then came to Scott county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming five
years, after which he began the lightning rod business which he still continues.
He now resides in Martin county, Minnesota; his post-office is Rutland. Mr.
Reiter enlisted in Company E, Ninth Wisconsin infantry, in 1863, and was
discharged for disability. Married Carrie Dohelton in 1862; of eight children,
six are living.

SHELBY.

   This town is situated in the south tier in the county and second from the
west line. It was called Liberty when first identified by the county
commissioners, and changed by them to Shelby October 14, 1858. The first
settlers were Hiram Jackson and son Eli, and step-son, Hiram Luddington. They
came in the summer of 1855 and located on the west side of Jackson lake, so
named honor of Mr. Jackson. Quite a number of settlers came in during the
following year. Among the earlier ones were N. G. Root, C. C. Mack, M.
Walbridge, A. P. Jacobs, F. and B. Farley, George Quiggle, William Gregory,
Lewis and Hosea True and Levi Calhoun. Mr. Root located section 4, and while
stacking grain was killed August, 1864, by the Indians. The elder of the two
sons who were assisting, was also wounded but managed to escape. Mr. Mack was
also murdered by Indians belonging to the same band.

The first birth in the town was that of Mary A. Root. She was the daughter of N.
G. Root and wife and was born June 16, 1856.

The first marriage was that of George Quiggle and Miss Mary Northrup. They were
married June 30, 1856, at the house of N. G. Root, Squire Westover performing
the ceremony. The first death was that of Mrs. Rudolph Crandall; she died in
August, 1857, and was buried in the Shelbyville cemetery.

The village of Shelbyville was surveyed in April 1856, on land held by Judge A.
G. Chatfield, in trust for other parties, in west half of section 35, and
contained 320 acres. The projectors made strenuous efforts to build up a town
but the fates seemed against them. There were at one time two mills, two stores,
one blacksmith shop and quite a number of residences. Only two houses now remain
in on the town site. A post-office was established there which continued until
1881.

Another town was laid out in 1857 in the north-west quarter of section 5, by S.
M. Folsom and others. A few buildings of a temporary nature were put up, but the
enterprise was eventually abandoned.

The advent of the railroad stirred anew the town fever. Amboy was laid out in
1879 on land formerly owned by George Quiggle in the north-east quarter of
section 23. A station was established by the railroad, and this town bids fair
to be a success. It has four general stores, one drug store, two hardware
stores, two hotels, two grain warehouses, one harness shop, two blacksmith
shops, one shoe shop, one millinery, one wagon shop with feed mill attachment,
operated by wind-mill power; one lumber yard and two churches. The Methodist
church is still unfinished. Services are conducted once in two weeks by the Rev.
C. F. Kingsland, of Vernon Center. The organization was effected at a very early
date in Shelbyville, and services were held at private houses by the Rev. J. W.
Powell. They subsequently built a church in the village.

   The Presbyterian church was built in the summer of 1880. Services are
conducted once in two weeks by the Rev. J. E. Conrad, of Sterling.

   The first school was taught by Mrs. Clarissa Henderson, during the summer of
1857, at the residence of herself and husband just across the line in Vernon
Center, although all the scholars belonged to Shelby; there were but eight in
all. The town now has seven school-houses. There were three brick buildings, but
they were blown down during a tornado in the summer of 1879.

   The first mill in the town was built in 1857 by Henry Stokes and J. J. Porter
in the village of Shelbyville. It was a steam saw-mill; later a mill was
attached for grinding corn meal and graham. It was operated but a few years,
when not proving profitable it was abandoned. About the same time John
Swearingen put up a portable steam mill on the west side of the river, which he
operated a couple of years, when he built another mill in the village of
Shelbyville on a much larger scale. This mill also had a coarse grinding
attachment. It subsequently came into the hands of G. W. Marsh, who operated it
a few years, then moved the machinery over to the river and sawed the material
out for a grist-mill. This mill had two run of stone, and was operated until the
spring of 1880, when it was so damaged by the flood that the machinery was
removed and the building torn down. The machinery of the sawmill was sold to P.
B. Day, who moved it further down the river and put up a mill which he operated
a few years, when he sold the machinery and it was moved away. A small
water-power mill was built by Mr. Day about two years since which he still
operates. A steam saw-mill was built by H. C. Howard, near where J. E. Miller
now lives, about the year 1866. A grist-mill was subsequently attached, which
about two years later, came into the hands of T. H. Day, who moved it where the
Champion mills now stand. It is a water-power mill with three run of stone, and
is now owned by William Thompson, of Mankato.

   Champion Mills post-office was established in August, 1878; Robert Richardson
was appointed postmaster and the office located at his store near the Champion
mills. Mr. Richardson held the office until 1879, when he moved to Amboy. The
office was discontinued a few months, then re-established with J. E. Miller as
postmaster, and the office located at his house in section 17.

   Amboy post-office was established in January, 1880, and the present
incumbent, Robert Richardson, appointed postmaster.

   The town was organized May 11, 1858. The following gentlemen were the
officers for the ensuing year: Rudolph Crandall, chairman; Sylvester Woodman and
James Miller, supervisors; Henry Stock, clerk; C. C. Mack, assessor; W. H.
Miller, collector; N. L. Jackson, overseer of poor; Horace Kinney and J. L.
Sampson, justices; John Diamond and C. P. Hutchins, constables.

   John Barr, a native of Illinois, was horn January 18, 1831, in Logan county,
and remained there until twenty-five years of age. In 1856 he went to Faribault
county, Minnesota, and the year following located in Shelby on his present farm.
He enlisted in Company C, Sixth Minnesota, in 1863, and served through the
remainder of the war. Mr. Barr has four children by his first marriage. January
25, 1876, Ida E. Lowry became his wife, and has two children.

   James L. Brown was born June 21, 1839, in the province of Quebec. Until
twenty-one years of age he resided in his native place, then came to Minnesota
and settled in Fillmore county; in 1872 he removed to section 28, Shelby. His
marriage occurred in 1864 with Sarah Pope, who was born in Canada. Eight
children have been born to them, only five are living.

   George H. Brush, a native of Waterville, Vermont, was born January 22, 1848,
and at the age of six years moved with his parents to Dodge county, Wisconsin.
Two years after, they removed to Waushara county, where he remained seventeen
years, and since coming to Blue Earth county in 1873 has been a resident of
Shelby. In 1870 Helen M. Reed, of Bloomfield, Wisconsin, became the wife of Mr.
Brush.

   George Buckmister was born August 12, 1833, and until thirteen years of age
lived in Essex county, New York, his native place; then accompanied his parents
to Lake county, Illinois, and from there went to Marquette county, Michigan,
where he remained until coming in 1856 to Fillmore county, Minnesota. He came to
Shelby in 1865 and in 1872 located at his present home. Married in 1856 Myra
Crowell. Their children are Emma J., George H., John D., Charles S., Henry D.,
Myra J., (deceased) and Frank N.

   William J. Chamberlin, a native of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, was born
April 3, 1829; he lived until twenty-two years of age in that state. After
passing some time in Illinois and Iowa, he came in 1856 to Minnesota and made a
claim of 160 acres in Shelby. He enlisted in 1861 in Company I, Brackett's
battalion, afterward transferred to Fifth Iowa cavalry, and served until
January, 1863; in the winter of 1864-5 he was south in the government employ.
Married January 12, 1867, to Elsie Morris, who has borne him three children, two
are living.

   George W. Cooper, deceased, a native of New York, was born March 6, 1839, in
Cattaraugus county. While he was young he moved with his parents to Dodge
county, Wisconsin, and in the year 1861 settled in Shelby. His marriage with
Caroline D. Tubbs, a native of Maine, occurred in 1861. Three children were born
to them. On the 28th day of December, 1880, Mr. Cooper died.

   A. Herbert Corbett was born May 31, 1845, in Franklin county, Maine, where he
remained until reaching his majority, at which time he went to Anoka, Minnesota,
and thence to Excelsior where he worked at milling. In 1868 he came to Blue
Earth county and in 1872 removed to his present home. Mr. Corbett married in
1872 Miss Donie Briggs, who was born in Iowa. Ione and Julia are their children.

   P. B. Day, born January 16, 1818, is a native of Herkimer county, New York,
where he worked at lumbering and also learned the trade of millwright. He lived
three years in Virginia and in 1858 came to Blue Earth county; the Indians
compelled him to leave Pleasant Mound and he located in Shelby where he has
since carried on farming and milling. He married Elizabeth Jones in 1850 and she
has borne him fourteen children, eleven of whom are living.

   Bennoney Farley, a native of Kentucky, was horn December 11, 1829, near
Madison. From fourteen until twenty-five years of age he lived in Indiana, where
he had moved with his parents; he worked at lumbering in that state. After
spending one year in Missouri he lived in Lee county, Iowa twelve years, and
there lost his first wife; his second marriage occurred February 9, 1853, with
Mary Rice. In 1856 they came to Blue Earth county and took a claim where they
have since resided. They have three children.

George Quiggle was born March 3, 1819, in Trumbull county, Ohio, and remained
there until about thirty-three years of age. After living thirteen years in
Green Lake county, Wisconsin, he came to Shelby and bought his present home. He
was one of the originators of the town of Amboy, giving ten acres of land to the
village. In 1814 he married Cordelia Silliman, who died in April, 1876; she was
the mother of six children; four are living.

George Green, born December 7, 1820, is a native of Delaware county, New York.
He received an academic education after which he taught in different parts of
New York and also worked at farming. In 1850 he removed to Green Lake county,
Wisconsin, thence in 1867 to Vernon and in 1869 to his present location in
Shelby; since coming here he has served continually as town clerk, and in 1877
was in the state legislature. Married in 1846, Miss D. S. Millard. Their chilren
are Clarence M. and Clara, both teachers.

John A. Hilliker was born January 4, 1816; Franklin county, Vermont, was his
native place and he made that his home and followed sailing until 1854, at which
time he moved to Juneau county, Wisconsin. Since coming to Shelby in 1868 he has
lived on section 4. His marriage took place November 7, 1849, with Maria Bunker,
who was born in Canada. Seven of their eight children are living.

C. M. Hooper, a native of Livingstone county, New York, was born December 23,
1845, and when fifteen years of age came to Minnesota with his parents. After
living two years in St. Paul he went to Belle Plaine, where in 1872 he engaged
the drug trade and afterwards in general merchandise. In June, 1881, he came to
Amboy and established himself in business. Miss S. E. Stoever became his wife in
April, 1873, and has two children, John S. and Mary L.

Asa P. Jacobs, deceased, was born April 30, 1808 in Candor, Tioga county, New
York. The marriage of Amanda M. Brink to Mr. Jacobs occurred January 17, 1836
and in 1856 they came to Shelby and took a claim of 160 acres, one half of which
the family still owns. Six children were born to them, five of whom are now
living. One daughter and her two children were killed during the Indian
massacre. Mr. Jacobs died September 19, 1874.

Moses Kunselman, a native of Pennsylvania, was born July 4, 1829 in Schuylkill
county. When but four years of age he moved with his parents to Armstrong
county, and after remaining twenty years, went to Michigan. In 1865 he came to
Shelby and settled on a farm on section 35. Mr. Kunselman's marriage took place
in 1854; his wife's maiden name was Catherine Hulben; she has borne him six
children, five are living.

   Eliza Reynolds nee Wing, was born February 5, 1830, in Otsego county, New
York. When nineteen years old she went to Indiana where, December 30, 1849, she
married Noble G. Root; two years later they removed to Iowa and after residing
there about two years they came to Minnesota. After living eighteen months on a
claim near Good Thunder they were obliged to give it up, and took another claim
where the family now lives. August 11, 1864, Mr. Root was killed by Indians
while at work near their residence; their son Edward was also shot, but
eventually recovered. After the death of her husband Mrs. Root moved to Iowa,
but returned to her claim in 1865 and the same year was married to Wesley
Reynolds. They have two children living. Five of the seven children by her first
husband are living.

   Robert Richardson was born December 14, 1821 and lived in England, his native
land, until 1850, when he immigrated to New York; from there he went to Canada,
and remained ten years. In 1860 he removed to Wisconsin and worked at milling in
the state until 1863, when he came to Minnesota and for a number of years
continued the same business. In 1879 he opened a store at Amboy; also postmaster
at this place. Mr. Richardson has been married three times.

   John L. Samson, deceased, was born December 28, 1827, in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, and married January 1, 1851, to Barbara Stoek, who was born August
29, 1827; she, too, was a native of Lancaster county. They came in 1856 to
Shelby and made a claim on section 35. Mr. Samson enlisted in 1861, in Company
H, Fourth Minnesota, and served until his death which occurred August 12, 1863.
Five children were born to them.

   John T. Shank, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in August, 1826, in
Lancaster county, where he learned the carpenters' trade. In 1857 he came to
Blue Earth county; after a short stay in Mankato he took a claim of 120 acres in
Shelby; moved to the village of Shelbyville, but returned to the farm. He
enlisted in Company H, Fourth Minnesota, in February,-1864 and served through
the rest of the war. Married in 1848, Anna M. Neal, who died November 19, 1878;
she had borne him nine children, eight are living.

   Albert M. Stephens, born November 16, 1830, is a native of Bridgewater,
Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where he remained twenty-two years. He removed
to Oswego, New York; also lived about one year in Amboy, Illinois, and
afterwards in Iowa. In the spring of 1856 he took a claim of 160 acres on
section 21, in Shelby. Mr. Stephens has always taken an active part in the
politics of his town and has held nearly all the offices. In 1860 he was
married, his wife being Angeline Tiffany. They are the parents of five children
of whom two are deceased.

   Abner Thompson, of Ohio, was born July 4, 1805, and his marriage occurred in
the year 1842, with Sarah A. Staten, who was born May 12, 1816, in Virginia.
Three children have been born of this marriage. Melinda A., David P. and John.
Mrs. Thompson had been married in 1836 to P. Richardson, by whom she had two
children. Melinda A. Thompson was first married in 1861, to David Terherne, who
died in 1866; she bore him two children: George F. and Louisa A; she has also
two children by her marriage with C. H. Fessenden: Guy and Leroy W. David F.
Thompson enlisted in Company C, 11th Minnesota in 1864, was discharged at the
close of the war, and on the 1st of June, 1867, his death occurred.

   Abram Van Aernam was born April 22, 1838, in Albany county, New York. While
he was young the family moved to the western part of the state, and four years
later to Wisconsin, where his father died. In 1868 he came to his present home
in Shelby. Mr. Van Aernam enlisted in September, 1861, in the Third Wisconsin
light artillery and October, 1864 was honorably discharged. Married in 1868,
Jane E. Gourley. Their children are John W., Jennie E., Eva M., George R. and
Maggie E.

   William Vroman was born in 1823, and lived in Bradford county, Pennsylvania,
his native place, until 1845, employed in farming and lumbering. From 1845 until
1876 he was a resident of Wisconsin, then came to Minnesota and located in
Sterling township. Since 1881 he has been owner and proprietor of a hotel at
Amboy. Mr. Vroman's wife was Eliza Pratt; she has borne him eight children, of
whom seven are living.

   J. B. Wilber, born in 1826, is a native of Madison county, Vermont. In 1845
he went to Illinois for one year, then removed to Wisconsin, and in 1861 to
Howard county, Iowa, where he remained four years; from Iowa he came to Shelby,
where he now lives. Mr. Wilber has been a member of the town board for several
years. On the 28th of March, 1854, his marriage took place; Georgiette is his
only child.

   H. E. Weymouth was born October 13, 1859, in Plainfield, Wisconsin, and
accompanied his parents to Ceresco, Blue Earth county. His education was
attained at the State University and he studied law with Lorin Cray, of Lake
Crystal, also with Judge Weymouth, of Marshall; he was in the practice of his
profession two years in Lincoln county and June, 1881, settled at Amboy. Maggie
Farmer, of Lake Crystal, became his wife in 1878 and has borne him two children.

   Hiram E. Young, a native of New York, was born September 20, 1857, in Erie
county. When but three years of age he moved with his parents to Winnebago
county, Wisconsin, where he learned blacksmithing. In the year 1879 he came to
Minnesota and located in Mapleton, but only remained one year, then came to
Amboy, where he carries on the blacksmiths' business.

STERLING.

   This is one of the southern towns in the county and includes all of
congressional township 105 range 27. In the spring of 1858, in connection with
congressional township 105, range 26, it was organized as Mapleton and James
Cornell was chairman of the town board. At a session of the county
commissioners, held January 3, 1860, they granted the petition of the citizens
of the town to change the name to Sterling. The separate organization was
effected April 3, 1860. The first settlement was made in 1855; that year V.
Hyland, Horace De Wolfe and George Boot came in. The settlement the next year
was largely augmented by a portion of the colony that came that year from the
East and settled in the southern part of the county.

   The first birth was that of Jacob Morris, a son of James Morris. He was born
during the winter of 1856-7.

   The first school was established at the house of Joseph Dobie in section 35,
by a Mr. Horton in the summer of 1857. That same season the colonists
established a school with Isabella Vannice as teacher. It was taught at the
house of James Little in section 10 and numbered about twenty-five scholars.
There are now six school-houses in the town, five frame and one log. One of them
belongs to the Scandinavians.

The first religions services were conducted in 1856, by the Rev. J. E. Conrad, a
Presbyterian, at his house in the southeast quarter of section 13. About 1866
the Congregationalists built a church which is still in use in section 14.

Sterling post-office was established early in the sixties. William Russell was
appointed post-master and the office located at his house in section 15. He
subsequently moved it to section 16, where he kept it a short time when Thomas
Randall received the appointment and the office was located his store. The name
of the office had in the meantime been changed to Sterling Centre. Mr. Randall
was succeeded by William Ellis Jr., who the present incumbent, and has the
office located his store.

This town displayed great liberality in its support of the Union cause during
the war with the South, by liberal appropriations for bounties to volunteers and
raising funds to support the families of soldiers in the field.

William S. Alldredge, a native of Indiana, was born in 1825 and moved with his
parents in 1837 Illinois. From 1852 until 1854 he was mining in California then
returned to Illinois and in 1857 located on his farm in Sterling. He has a stock
and grain farm of 160 acres. In 1847 he was united in marriage with Ruth Mosher,
who was born in Ohio. They are the parents of two children. Milo H. and Mary J.
now Mrs C. Alberson.

C. D. Andrus, born in 1837, is a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania. He
accompanied the family to Wisconsin and in August, 1862 enlisted the
Twenty-third regiment of infantry, from that state; three years later he was
mustered out d returned to Wisconsin. In 1867 he removed Martin county,
Minnesota, and thence to Sterling, his present home. Sarah A. Aldredge became
his wife in 1861 and has borne him nine children; the living are Frank, Justina,
Emma, Edgar, Charley, Georgie and Albert.

Arzro Annis was born in 1827, and grew to manhood on a farm in Vermont, his
native state. After living three years in Franklin county, where was employed in
a grist-mill, he migrated in 1856 to Minnesota and settled on section 14 in
Sterling where he is now residing. Married in 1851, Mary J. Hall who died in
1860; Harriet Eldridge became his wife in 1863. He has four children: Albert,
Eddie, Frederick and an infant.

   Allen Benedict was born in 1829, in Delaware county, Ohio. He migrated to
Wisconsin in 1847 and completed his education at Ripon College; he was engaged
in farming and school-teaching in that state, and in 1872 came to his home on
section 17, Sterling. Helen Wilcox, a native of New York, was in 1858 united in
marriage with Mr. Benedict. Of the nine children born to them, six are living:
Clara A., Hettie, Alice, Thomas, Charles and Peter.

   R. D. Boyer, a native of New York, was born in 1831 in Herkimer county. He
went with his parents to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and coming to Minnesota in
1864, he located at his present home in Sterling. His marriage took place in
May, 1860, with Mary E. Shafner, who was born in 1835 in New York. Their
children, Harrison and Franklin, are living, and one is deceased. Mr. Boyer has
served as assessor eight years.

   W. Buell was born in 1817 in Genesee county, New York. In 1834 he moved to
Michigan, thence in 1836 to Wisconsin; he worked at farming in that state and
Illinois until 1861, when he came to Minnesota, and from Olmsted county removed
to Sterling, where he owns 270 acres of land. Married in 1844 Emily Caulkins,
who died in 1860; Mary A. Caulkins became his wife in 1861, and died in 1864;
his third marriage took place in 1866, with Hannah Olverson. Mr. Buell is the
father of thirteen children, six of whom are living: Florence O., Joseph J.,
Durward, Charles F., Silas A. and Grace B.

   George Clark was born in 1830, and learned shoemaking in Scotland, his native
country. He married Ellen Sharp in 1854, and the same year immigrated to
Connecticut, where he worked at his trade. In 1857 he worked on a farm for the
government at the Winnebago Agency, and the next year came to Sterling, where he
has 170 acres of land, with good buildings. Mr. Clark has a step-son, William
Hall, and an adopted daughter, Lizzie Ellen.

   L. A. Cornell, a native of Indiana, was born in 1834 in Elkhart. In 1856 he
came to section 1, Sterling, which is still his home. He enlisted at Mankato in
Company F, First heavy artillery, and was mustered out at St. Paul. Mr. Cornell
has served his town in the capacity of supervisor and constable. Louisa L.
Gordon became his wife in June, 1860; she was born in 1837 in New York. Four of
their seven children are living: Francis M., Edith M., Albert B. and Luke.

   Robert Curry was born in 1835. After leaving school he worked in different
places in Pennsylvania, his native state, until coming in 1856 to Minnesota; the
next year he removed from Olmsted county to his present home in Sterling. In the
fall of 1861 he enlisted under Captain West, and about one year after was
discharged because of disability. Mr. Curry has held the office of supervisor
and school treasurer. Married in 1870 Eliza Tenny. Their children are Maggie and
William.

   Fayette Decker, a native of New York, was born in 1832 in Delaware county.
While living in that state he was in the lumber business; in 1857 he removed to
Wisconsin, and there engaged in farming; since 1864 he has been a resident of
Sterling, where he owns a farm of 120 acres. He has held different offices, and
at present is town treasurer. In 1856 Nancy Alverson was married to Mr. Decker.
Four children have been born to them: George, Charles E., Jessie and John.

   A. J. Ellis, son of James and Mary Ellis, natives of Scotland, was born in
1855, in Queen's county, New York. In the spring of 1864 he came with his
parents to Minnesota and located in Sterling. For the past three years he has
held the position of assessor. Mr. Ellis was united in marriage in 1880, with
Nettie Morrow, who was born in 1854, in Canada. They are the parents of one
child; James Garfield.

   William Ellis was born in New York city, of Scotch parentage. He accompanied
his father's family to this state and settled in Sterling; until 1870 he worked
at farming, then became a member of the firm of Randall & Ellis, dealers in
general merchandise; in 1873 he sold his interest and now keeps a general store
in the new building which he erected. Since 1874 he has been postmaster and for
a number of years has served the town as treasurer and clerk. Married in
October, 1879, Lillie M. Ballard. Their only child, Lillia, died September 12,
1881.

   Dr. C. L. Francis was born in 1823, in Oxford, Maine. At the age of nineteen
he went to Boston, where he studied medicine and attended lectures and graduated
from the medical department of Bowdoin college. He practiced for a time at
Norway, Maine, also kept a drug store. In 1856 he came to Sterling; is engaged
in farming and practicing his profession. Dr. Francis has been supervisor for
several years and justice of the peace. Married in 1849, Miss L. Whittaker who
was born in 1825 in Massachusetts. Their children Charles H. and Agnes L. are at
home; Thomas B. married Rev. Conrad's daughter, of Sterling, and has one child;
Barry.

   Rev. N. A. Hunt, born in 1811, was reared on a farm in New Hampshire, his
native state. He attended medical lectures at Jacksonville, Illinois, also
studied at Oberlin College and at a theological institute in Cincinnati. After
completing his education he was for six years pastor of the Congregational
church at Marion, Illinois, and twelve years at Cottonwood Grove; since the
autumn of 1863 he has resided in Sterling, laboring in the ministry and also
engaged in cultivating his farm. Mr. Hunt was united in marriage in 1845, with
Clarissa A. Conrad, a native of North Carolina. Nine children have been born to
them; eight are living.

   William H. Johnson, of Scotch parentage, was born in 1831, and after leaving
school learned the trade of blacksmith, in his native country, Scotland. Upon
coming to the United States in 1859, he located at Winnebago Agency and there
worked at his trade. In 1874 he removed to his present home in Sterling; is
employed in farming and blacksmithing. Mary E. Little, who was born in 1841, in
St. Lawrence county, New York, was married in 1864 to Mr. Johnson. They have an
adopted daughter, Annie.

   Charles Jones, a native of New York, was born in 1818, in Broome county.
While living in that state he obtained a common school education and afterwards
engaged in farming. In 1855 he migrated to Minnesota, and the year following
located on section 14, Sterling, which is still his home. Mr. Jones is the owner
of 340 acres of choice land. His parents are both natives of Massachusetts: one
of his two brothers is a resident of Tioga county New York, the other lives in
Sterling.

   S. M. Keith was born in 1828, in Ohio, where he remained until seventeen
years of age, then moved to Wisconsin and there worked at farming. In 1860 he
came to this state and has since been a resident of Sterling. Mr. Keith has been
supervisor for a number of terms and justice of the peace ten years. He was
united in marriage with Martha A. Briley, September 8, 1851, in Walworth county,
Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Keith have had nine children; the living are, Albert C.,
George C., Frank E., Nettie L., and Melvin W.

   Abram Moses was born in 1827, in the state of Massachusetts. Went with his
parents to Litchfield, Connecticut, where he resided until 1861, at which date
he removed to Minnesota; his farm of 330 acres is on section 27, Sterling. Mr.
Moses has served the town in different offices for a number of years. His first
marriage took place in 1850, with Margaret Phelps, who died in 1854. Minerva
Dunbar became his wife in 1856. He is the father of six children: Charles E.,
Alice, Ida, Frank, Burt, and an infant.

   E. Munger, a native of New York, was born in 1829, and accompanied his
parents to Michigan, where his education was acquired. Removed to Wisconsin and
worked at farming in that state until 1868, when he came to his present home in
Sterling. He has filled various town offices. Married in 1857, Harriet Vroman,
who was born in 1839, in Pennsylvania. Their living children are Susan,
Phylinda, Isadore, Willie and Mabel.

   James Morris, born in 1824, was brought up on a farm in Ireland, his native
country. In 1850 he came to America; worked at draying six years in New York,
and then came to Minnesota with a colony that was organized in that city and
Brooklyn; he owns 630 acres of land in Sterling; his house stands on the bank of
Maple river. In 1848 he was united in marriage with Christiana Harrison, who
died in 1878, in Sterling. Eleven children were born to them; the living are:
Elizabeth W., John T., Jacob C., J. W., James A., Abraham L., and Ada.

   W. J. Mountin, born in 1843, is a native of Connecticut. At the age of seven
years he went to Wisconsin with his parents, James and Frances Mountin, who both
died in that state. He came to Minnesota and now owns 160 acres in Sterling. He
was married in 1874, in Wisconsin, to Lucy A. Sheriners, who was born in that
state in 1856, of Irish parentage: They have an adopted child: Frances E.

   M. M. Pratt was born in 1827, and after leaving school worked at farming and
dairying in New York, his native state. In 1865 he came to his present home in
Sterling; has a grain and stock farm of 200 acres. Mr. Pratt was united in
marriage in 1850 with Caroline A. Orr, who was born in New York. Their children
are Ella G., Ida M., Homer C., Howard S. and Jennie B. He enlisted in 1862 in
the 154th New York infantry, Company B, and was mustered out at the close of the
war.

   William Randall, a native of New York, was born in 1833 in Broome county. He
was given a common school and academical education. In 1855 he went to Michigan,
thence to Illinois, and the following spring to Winona county Minnesota; finally
located permanently on section 27, Sterling. Mr. Randall joined the militia in
1862 during the Sioux outbreak. He was married in March, 1869, to Lavina
Vanolpenburg, a native of Wisconsin. Their children are Olive and Allen.

  A. B. Reed, son of Carlton and Fanny Reed, was born in 1830 in Connecticut. He
moved with his father's family to Pennsylvania; afterward engaged in farming in
Iowa, and in 1858 came to Minnesota; located on his farm of 325 acres in
Sterling in the spring of 1859; since coming here he has served the town in
different offices. Elvira Storrs became his wife in 1858, and has borne him four
children: Lucas Y., Effie M., Hattie A. and Annis C.

  C. M. Reynolds, a native of New York, was born in 1851 in Lewis county, and
accompanied his parents to Wisconsin where he was employed in farming fourteen
years. In 1868 he removed to this state and is now the owner of 160 acres of
land in Sterling; he has held the office of town clerk here. Alice Franklin, who
was born in 1853 in New York, was married to Mr. Reynolds in 1873, and has three
children: Gertrude, Earl and Floyd.

  Charles H. Roberts was born in Bloomfield, Maine, in 1822, and lived at Bangor
from 1827 until 1837, at which time the family removed to the state of New York;
they afterward engaged in farming in Wisconsin. He located permanently on
sections 2 and 3 of Sterling in 1858. Annie E. Lowdon became his wife in 1853;
she was born in 1838 in New York. They have lost one child; the living are Ella
A., Charlotte, Eugene, Mable, Charles F., Clara E., Mary A., Alice E. and Bessie.

  John Sanborn was born in 1815 in New Hampshire. He removed to Illinois and
farmed four years in Cook county, also the same length of time in Whitesides
county and afterward in Iowa. In 1855 he settled in Rice county, Minnesota, but
since 1865 has been a resident of Sterling. Married in 1842, Julia A. Burgeon
who has borne him twelve children; only six are living: Charles A. is engaged in
the lumber business at Mankato; Mary L. is teaching and Florence M. is attending
school in that city; Emily H., now Mrs. Webb lives in Sterling; Luther L. and
Edwin L. are at home.

  Eliza Philmore, now Mrs. Stevens, was born in 1825, and lived in England, her
native country until 1854, when she came alone to the United States and first
located in Fulton county, Indiana. She was living with the family of Rev. Jacob
Conrad and came with them in 1856, to Blue Earth county. In 1858 she became the
wife of Artemas Stevens, a native of New Hampshire; in 1863 he was thrown from a
horse and killed. Her children are Catharine, Fairmont, Eliza and Joseph. Mr.
Stevens had two children by a former marriage: August and Eugene.

   William Webb, Jr., born in 1844, is a native of Delaware. In April 1857 he
came to Minnesota with his father's family and settled on section 4, Sterling,
his present home. He enlisted in Company H, Second Minnesota in February 1864
and in July 1865 was mustered out. Mr. Webb has been a member of the state
legislature and has held the town offices of clerk, treasurer, justice of the
peace and supervisor. In 1867 he married Emma Sanborn who was born in 1848 in
Iowa. Their children are Henry P., Albert and Rachel.

MAPLETON.

   When the county commissioners formed the towns previous to organization, this
one was called Sherman and attached to Mapleton (now Sterling) for official
purposes. They were organized and acted together until 1860 when they were
divided and separate organizations effected. Congressional township 105 range 27
was called Sterling and township 105 range 26 changed to Mapleton. The first
white settler in the town was Uriah Payne. He came in April, 1856 and located in
the western part of the town, part of his claim being in Mapleton and part in
Sterling. The next settlement was shortly after by members of the "Minnesota
Farmers and Village Association." This association was organized in the city of
New York and included members from nearly all the Eastern states, and a few from
Europe. The secretary was William Wilde, now living in Sterling, Robert Taylor,
now post-master at Mapleton, was chosen advance agent from his having had
experience in establishing a colony at Minnesota City, in the southern part of
the state. He came to the territory in February, 1856, and in May following
traversed Blue Earth county, and decided upon the location selected. The members
of the colony, over one hundred in number, arrived the same month and scattered
through the southern part of the county, principally in Mapleton and Sterling,
where a large number of them still live. In June, 1856, they laid out a town
site covering 320 acres, in section 7, Mapleton, and 12, Sterling. It afterward
transpired the land was illegally entered and the town site was jumped by two
enterprising settlers.

   An association store was managed by Mr. Wessel, which was operated about a
year, when it was closed and the stock divided among the members. The management
of this stock of goods left the association in debt about $1,800, which was not
all paid until within the past year.

   Another attempt was made to establish a town on the south side of section 7,
by James Cornell and others in 1858, but proved a failure. A small portable
steam saw-mill was put up by the Middlebrook Brothers, which was operated a
short time, then moved.

   Mapleton post-office was established here in 1857, with Stephen Middlebrook
for postmaster. It was subsequently moved to the present village of Mapleton and
the name changed to Mapleton Station. Robert Taylor was appointed postmaster,
and still continues to hold that position.

   The first school was taught by Jarvis Harrington, one of the colonists,
during 1857, in a log building erected for the purpose in section 7. There are
now eight school-houses in the town; seven frame and one log. The one in the
village of Mapleton is two stories high and contains two departments, with an
average attendance of about fifty pupils.

   The village of Mapleton Station was laid out in October, 1870, on land owned
by Clark W. Thompson and others, in the north-east quarter of section 4. Several
additions have been made at different times. The village has made a substantial
growth and is to-day a thriving business center. Following is a synopsis of the
business places: Two hotels, four general stores, two hardware stores, one drug
store, one furniture store, one notion store, one flouring mill, two harness
shops, two shoe shops, three millinery and dressmaking shops, three blacksmith
shops, one restaurant, two meat markets, three saloons, two lumber yards, six
warehouses and one cheese factory.

   The professions are represented by one doctor and two lawyers. There are also
three churches and one school-house.

   The Mapleton Baptist church was organized in June, 1868. The first pastor was
Bev. S. A. Stow. Their present church building was erected in 1878 at a cost of
about $1,500. The present membership is fifty-five, and the pastor is the Bev.
E. A. Howe.

   The German Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1871 with about ten
members. Services were conducted by Rev. A. Barnake, who is also the present
pastor in Troendle's hall. Their church was built in 1876 at a cost of $1,500;
the present membership is twenty-five and services are conducted once in two weeks.

   The Mapleton Catholic church was organized in June, 1876, by Rev. Theo. Venn,
with a membership of twenty-five families. Their church was built the following
fall at a cost of $3,000. Father Venn still officiates and holds services once a
month. The membership has increased to about thirty-five families.

   The village was incorporated in 1878 and effected an organization March 19.
The following officers were elected: Joel Gates, president of board; L.
Troendle, James McLaughlin and C. H. Wick, trustees; P. A. Foster, recorder;
Sherman Peet, treasurer; C. W. Smith, justice, and Henry Tenny, constable.

   S. C. Brooks was born in 1838, in St. Lawrence county, New York. At the age
of fourteen he moved to Illinois and in 1859 came to Minnesota; for some time he
was farming at Winona then removed to Lake City. In 1864 he enlisted and served
during the rest of the war. From 1865 until 1874 he was employed in farming in
Mapleton and then commenced his machinery business; since 1878 he has also been
interested in the livery with Mr. Tenney. His marriage occurred in 1861, with
Matilda Talles. Their children are Oliver, Bertha, Anna and Rosa.

   Le Roy Bowen was horn in November, 1846, in Oswego county, New York. He
resided in that state and Michigan until 1865, when he came to Minnesota, and
lived on a farm in Mapleton until 1879; then he removed to the village and
bought the Mapleton hotel of which he is still proprietor. In 1867 Mary Morrison
became his wife. Lillian G., Lizzie, Lydia, Estella M. and Mary L. are their
children.

   J. E. Brown, born in 1831, is a native of Canada; when but a child he
accompanied his parents to St. Lawrence county, New York, and lived there until
eighteen years old. He removed to Wisconsin and after working nine years at his
trade, that of mason, he entered mercantile business at Fond du Lac. In 1864 he
engaged in trade at Winnebago Agency; six years later he opened the pioneer
store of Mapleton and continues in business here. Married in 1858, Miss C. B.
Townsend.

   Charles H. Case was born October 12, 1854, in Houston county, Minnesota,
where his parents had located on the 10th of the same month; he was the first
white child born in that county. At the age of fourteen years he became employed
in a store, but at the same time continued his studies; when seventeen years old
he entered a telegraph office and remained until coming in 1875 to Mapleton to
assume his present duties as station agent. In February, 1878, he married
Frankie Farnam.

   John Chase, a native of New Hampshire, was born in 1823. In 1844 he went to
Vermont and thence to the state of New York, where he lived until 1856, at which
date he came to Minnesota, and located in Faribault county; since 1862 he has
lived on his farm in Mapleton and has filled various town offices. In 1849 he
married Abigal Ash. They have eight children.

   George A. Clark was born in 1845, in Lewis county, New York. Much of the time
since sixteen years of age, he has been engaged in school teaching. In 1862 he
removed to Wisconsin and the following year located in Mapleton. For eleven
years he was clerk of the town and is now justice of the peace. His marriage
took place in 1865, with Alvina J. Cory. Their children are Eda and Ida, who are
twins; Ada, Fay and Ray.

   James Cornell was horn in Franklin county, Ohio, in August, 1807, and when
twelve years old moved with his parents to Clark county. At the age of
twenty-four he went to Indiana, and in 1856 he and his family came with an ox
team to Minnesota; reaching Mapleton after a journey of six weeks. May 27, 1856,
he delivered the first sermon preached in this town; he also married the first
couple and preached the first funeral sermon. The first town meeting was held at
the house of Mr. Cornell and he was the first commissioner from this town.
Married in 1828, Emily Byrd, who died in 1852; his second wife was Anna McCoy.
He has nine children.

   Charles Dietz, horn in 1855, is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota. Soon after
his birth the family moved to New Ulm and when seventeen years old he went to
Mankato to learn the trade of harness maker; remained three years and then after
one year at St. Peter and a short time at Minneapolis he opened a harness shop
at Mapleton. Mr. Dietz has served one term as justice of the peace since
residing in this town.

   E. M. Dyer, a native of Vermont was horn in 1850, in Windham county. While he
was quite young his parents moved to Ohio and in 1857 they located in Blue Earth
county. When seventeen years old, he, in company with a brother, built in
Rapidan, the Dyer mill, which they operated a number of years. In 1874 he came
to Mapleton and for six years engaged in the wheat business; since 1880 he has
been dealing in general merchandise in company with Mr. Straber. Married in
1875, Charlotte King. Nellie is their only child.

   L. Dyer was born in 1820, in Windham county, Vermont. From 1853 to 1857, he
lived in Ohio, then settled in Danville, Minnesota. In 1860 he was appointed by
the government to take charge of the fanning department of the Winnebago
reservation and held that position until 1863, when the Indians were removed.
The year following he went to Rapidan and until coming to Mapleton in 1881, was
engaged in farming. Mr. Dyer has held numerous office in the different places he
has lived. In 1844 married Esther Wight. Three children: Henry O., E. M. and Ida.

   Joel Gates was born in 1818 and lived in Wyoming county, New York, his native
place until twenty-three years old, engaged in farming and lumbering. In 1841 he
migrated to Wisconsin where he was in the lumber business seven years; entered
mercantile trade in Illinois, but soon returned to New York where he continued
the business until 1860, at which date he commenced farming in Mapleton. Ten
years after he opened his hardware store at the station. Married in 1841, Miss
E. Merchant. Their children are Ida E. and Emeretta J.

   M. A. Gilmore, born in 1839, is a native of Ohio. He went to. Wisconsin with
his parents when young, and remained until 1869, when he went to California; in
his business there, of mining and freighting, he was very successful. Returned
and bought a large farm in McPherson, which he still owns, but for the past few
years has lived at his farm in Mapleton. In 1865, Louisa B. Nichols became his
wife. Their children are Lucy M., Edwin A., Ada A., George W., Helen A. and
Hattie R.

   Charles Hidde, born in 1841, is a native of Germany. He immigrated to New
London, Wisconsin, in 1855 and lived there until enlisting in 1861, in Company
G, Third Wisconsin infantry; at the close of the war in 1865 returned to
Wisconsin and since 1870, has resided in Mapleton. Miss Bertha Kline became his
wife in 1865. Frank, Clara and George are their children.

   James McLaughlin, a native of Ireland, was born in 1842, and with his parents
settled in Ohio in 1849, where they remained until going in 1855, to Scott
county, Minnesota. From 1868 until 1875 he was farming in Mapleton, then came to
the village and began the furniture business, in which he is now engaged. He has
held several offices and at present is town clerk. In 1870 he married Margaret
O'Brien. They have three children: Lizzie, John and George.

   Adolph Paegel was born in 1843 in Germany. He learned the trade of sail
making, and nine years previous to coming to America in 1870, he followed the
life of a sailor. He worked at his trade six years in Chicago, then came to
Minnesota and located in Mapleton; in 1878 he bought the building and opened the
saloon where he is still in business. In 1873 Miss Hulda Jennrich became his
wife. Their children are Matilda, August and Ida.

   James Pearson, born in 1838, is a native of Canada, where he learned milling
and worked at the trade until 1864, when he removed to New York. That year he
entered the 184th New York regiment and served until the war closed. After
living in that state five years he returned to Canada and in 1879 came to
Minnesota; he worked at his trade in Mankato, also in Janesville and in the
spring of 1881, leased the Mapleton steam flouring mill, which he is operating.
Married Mary Mand. Their children are Mary, John and Annie.

   S. Peet, a native of New York, was born in 1844 in Oswego county. In 1862 he
entered the army, but after serving eight months, was discharged because of poor
health. Returning to New York he worked at his trade, that of cooper, until
1864, and from that date until 1875 he did carpenter work and farming in
Mapleton; since coming to the village he has been engaged in mercantile
business. In 1865 occurred his marriage with Miss B. S. Bowen. Carrie and Hattie
are their children.

   William N. Plymat was born in 1845, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. When a
child he accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, and after leaving Fox Lake
College in 1863 he settled in Garden City, Minnesota; the year following he
entered Brackett's battalion, and until mustered out in 1866 served on the
frontier. He came to Mapleton, where he engaged in farming, teaching winters
until 1877, when he commenced to read law, and since being admitted to the bar
in 1880 he has been in practice here. Mary Young became his wife in 1866, and
has four children: Genevieve, Luretta, Harry E. and Walter A.

   J. S. Roe, born in 1853, is a native of England. At the age of fourteen he
commenced to learn blacksmithing in Ireland, remaining there until coming to
America in 1872. He lived about four years in New Haven, Connecticut, then a
short time in Massachusetts, after which he came to Minnesota; resided until
1879 in Medo, then removed to Mapleton, bought a shop, and has since done
blacksmithing and wagon-making. Mary Livingston was married to Mr. Roe in 1872,
and has two children: John S. and George G.

   C. W. Smith, a native of New York, was born in 1832 in Oswego county, and
while young moved with his parents to Ohio, thence to Iowa, and in 1855 he came
to Minnesota and settled in Mapleton. Mr. Smith worked at farming, and then for
a number of years followed the carpenter's trade. In 1862 he entered the army
and served one year in the First Minnesota cavalry; re-enlisted in 1864 in the
11th infantry, and went through the remainder of the war. Since 1876 he has been
engaged in the carriage business. In 1857 he married Phoebe Cornell. Julius W.,
Elmer A., Emily S. and Grace are their children.

   C. G. Spaulding was born in 1836 in Coos county, New Hampshire, and after
leaving school he engaged in farming and teaching in that state until 1859, at
which date he moved to Illinois. About eighteen months later he settled in
Faribault county, Minnesota; was in the wool growing business there, also taught
school during the winter months until 1874; he then came to Mapleton, built a
warehouse, and has since been engaged in grain buying. Married in 1877 Delight
E. Berry. Their children are Mary and Charlie.

   Robert Taylor was born in October, 1819, and when a young man learned the
trade of print cutting, at which he worked in Scotland, his native land, until
1842; he then came to America and continued in that employment in Boston,
Taunton and New York city. In 1852 he was appointed one of a committee to select
a location in Minnesota for a colony; he settled at Winona, where his wife and
children died. He returned to New York, and in 1855 came again to Minnesota on a
similar mission; both colonies were failures, and nearly all returned East. Mr.
Taylor is still a resident of Mapleton; he has held many county and town
offices, and since 1865 has been postmaster.

   W. H. Tenney, born in 1842, is a native of New York. When he was seven years
old his parents moved to Wisconsin, and shortly after to Michigan; in 1862 he
came to Minnesota, and in 1866 to Mapleton; since 1878 he has been engaged in
the livery business. In 1864 he was united in marriage with Miss C. E. Tenney.
Their children are Minnie, Estella and Hattie.

   L. Troendle, a native of Germany, was born in 1830. He came to the United
States in 1854, and until 1872 lived in Wright county, Indiana; at that time he
located in Mapleton; since early life Mr. Troendle has been engaged in
mercantile business. In 1859 Louisa Schroder became his wife. William, Henry,
Carl, Emma, Annie, Lena and Louisa are their children.

DANVILLE.

   This town was first called Jackson by the county commissioners in April,
1858. It became necessary to change the name on account of there being another
of the same name in the state. The name of Danville was given to it at the
request of Lucius Dyer, that being the name of his native place in Vermont. It
is the extreme southeastern town in the county.

   The first white settler was Hector Sharp, who came in May, 1856, and settled
on section 27. Quite a number of settlers came in June and later, most of whom
have either died or moved away.

   The first birth in the town was that of Mary, a daughter of Francis and
Helena Wagner. She was born in 1857 in a tent the family were occupying at the
time in section 26.

   The first religious services were conducted by Rev. James Cornell, a
Methodist, at the house of Mr. Sherman in section 20. There are now four
organized churches in the town, viz: The St. John's, Catholic, established by
Father V. Somereisen in 1864, although church services had been held since 1859
at private homes. The church is located in section 23. Services are now
conducted once a monthly the Rev. Theo. Venn.

   The German Lutheran, built in 1867, located in the north-west corner of
section 24. Their first minister was Rev. Arnard. The membership at that time
was about thirty and now about seventy. The present pastor is Rev. Barnake.

   The German Methodist church, organized also in 1867, had about twenty
members. The church building was erected in 1869 and located in section 14.
Their present pastor is Bev. Christian Gebhard.

   The Reformed German Lutheran church was organized in 1880 and put up a small
church.

   The first school was organized during the winter of 1858-9 at a private house
in section 26, by Uriah Northrup. The town now has six school-houses.

   Franklin post-office was established in 1857 and Francis Phillips appointed
postmaster. The office was located at his house in section 35 until the spring
of 1859, when it was moved into Faribault county.

   Sherman post-office was established in 1867 with Barney Cooper as postmaster.
The office was located at his house in section 9 until 1869 when it was
discontinued. A few years later it was revived and James McBroom appointed
postmaster.

   Danville post-office was established a few years since and Henry Stenernagel
appointed postmaster. John Laurisch is the present postmaster and the office is
located at his house in section 1.

   The town was organized in May 1858 and the town officers for the first year
were—Lucius Dyer, Chairman; Benjamin Hopewell and Samuel Larabie, supervisors;
N. J. Kremer, clerk and collector; Hector Sharp, assessor; Samuel Larabie and
--------- Sanborn, Sr., justices; Stephen Larabie and Sanborn Jr., constables.

   John P. Kremer was born in 1841 in Loraine, France and accompanied his
parents to Erie county, New York. In 1855 they removed to Wisconsin, thence in
1857 to Faribault county, Minnesota, and six months later to Danville. He was
given a common school education and also attended German school, while in New
York. Mr. Kremer has one of the finest improved farms in Blue Earth county. He
has held various town offices and was clerk of Danville for twelve years. In the
fall of 1881 he was nominated for county treasurer on the democratic ticket.
Leonie Eschbach became his wife in 1871, and has four children: John P., George
E. M., Rosa and Katie.

   John Kremer, a native of Germany, was born in 1842 and in 1850 came with his
parents to America. They lived in Erie county, New York five years, then
migrated to Wisconsin and thence to Minnesota in 1856; he has always been a
farmer and now resides on the farm in Danville, where they first settled. In
1863 he enlisted in Company E, Second Minnesota cavalry; was stationed on the
frontier and in the spring of 1865 was honorably discharged. Mr. Kremer has
served the town in several offices and for eight years was constable. Married in
1873, Mary Mosser. Their children are William, Ida, Lena and Martin.

VILLAGE OF MINNESOTA LAKE.

   This thriving business center is situated on the western shore of the lake
from which it derives its name, in the northern part of Faribault county. The
first settlers on section 4, in which the town is located, were Chauncy Barber
and S. Merrick, who came in the fall of 1856. After a residence here of three
years, Mr. Barber removed to Utah. Merrick remained about ten years then removed
to Waseca county, where he now lives. N. J. Kremer was the first settler in the
township of Minnesota Lake. His father and three brothers came at the same time
and settled in Danville. Mr. Kremer now resides in the village and owns a large
amount of real estate.

   In the spring of 1859 a post-office was established, with Alexander R.
Harrison in charge.

   The village has grown rapidly as the surrounding country became settled and
now contains four general stores, one furniture store, one feed store, three
hotels, four warehouses, one flouring mill, four blacksmith shops, two wagon
shops, two shoe shops, one harness shop, one millinery store, a meat market, two
livery-stables and three saloons; two physicians and two veterinary surgeons.

   The village was incorporated in 1876; the first officers were:  A. Clark,
president of board; William Lambie and N. J. Kremer trustees; E. A. Case, recorder.

   The population was 208 by the tenth United States census.

   A. Clark was born in 1816, in Addison county, Vermont. In 1819 he went with
his parents to New York, and in 1826 to Wisconsin; he learned the trade of
carpenter and joiner, at which he worked until 1861, when he raised Company D,
Third Wisconsin infantry and served as captain; in 1863, poor health compelled
him to resign, but he re-enlisted in the fall of 1865; was made captain of
Battery G, heavy artillery, and raised it to 144 men; was mustered out at the
close of the war. He was in the mercantile business eight years in Wabasha and
since 1871 has kept a general store at Minnesota Lake. Mr. Clark has been
president of the village council since its organization in 1875. Married in
1843, Elizabeth McDonald Their children are Dewitt and Fidelia.

   Dr. P. Follmann, a native of Germany, was born in 1829, and studied at
Luxenburg and Paris until twenty-six years of age. Upon completing his education
he traveled one and one-half years in France and Germany and then began the
practice of his profession, medicine. In 1861 he immigrated to Winona,
Minnesota; three years later removed to St. Louis and in 1868 returned to
Germany for a visit. The year following he located at Mankato where he was in
practice; was also engaged in the drug trade in that city and subsequently at
Mapleton; in 1877 he sold his businss there and has since followed the practice
of medicine at Minnesota Lake. In 1859 he married Katharine J. Schwitzer.

   N. J. Kremer was born January 14, 1834, in Loraine, France. In 1850 he
immigrated with his parents to Erie county, New York, where he worked at
farming, and in 1855 removed to Wabasha county, Minnesota; the year following he
filed the papers for the first claim taken on Minnesota lake. He has since been
engaged in farming also in real estate and mercantile business; at present he is
senior partner in the firm, Kremer & Apley, dealers in agricultural implements.
For twelve years he has been chairman of the town board. His marriage occurred
in 1861 with Elizabeth Wagner. Of the eight children born four are living; Peter
J., Julia, Edward N., and Rosa.

   S. M. Merrill was born in January, 1834, in Ohio. In 1855 he moved to Waseca
county, Minnesota and until 1862 engaged in hunting and trapping; at that date
he enlisted in Company F, Fifth Minnesota and after serving three years was
honorably discharged as a non-commissioned officer; he participated in many very
severe battles and was wounded three times. After leaving the army he followed
hunting and trapping again until 1869, and since then has been interested in
farming. He is owner and proprietor of the Merrill House at Minnesota Lake. In
September, 1871 he married Emma Poland. Merton, William, and Holly are their
children.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 

History of the Minnesota Valley
Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Co. (1882)


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/blueearth/history/1882/historyo/vernonce86gms.txt

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