Lyon County MN Archives History - Books .....Lyon County, Marshall, Lynd, Nordland 1882
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Book Title: History Of The Minnesota Valley

LYON COUNTY.
CHAPTER LXXXVI.

LYON COUNTY-MARSHALL-LYND-NORDLAND—LYON-FAIRVIEW-GRAND VIEW-LUCAS-EIDS-VOLD-AMIRET.

  Lyon county is located in the south-western part of the state, in the third
tier from the south and the second from the west. It is twenty-four miles east
and west, by thirty north and south, and contains twenty congressional
townships. It formerly included within its limits what is now Lincoln county.
This territory was set off by the state legislature of 1873, and ratified by the
people, at the fall election of that year. The county, as now constituted, is
almost entirely prairie. A heavy growth of timber existed, when it was first
settled, in the west central part of the county, in the towns of Lynd and Lyon.
This has largely been cleared away by the settlers. A number of small groves
appear in different parts of the county, along the streams. The surface in the
north, east, and south, is moderately rolling, in some cases quite level. In the
west, and a little south of west, the country is quite broken, and limestone,
also gravel, appears upon the surface. The general slope is toward the east and
northeast as is indicated by the direction of the streams. As a whole the county
is as well watered as any county in Southern. Minnesota. The Yellow Medicine
river crosses the west line near the north-west comer, flows easterly and
crosses the north line near the center. The Redwood originates in the
south-west, flows north-easterly, and crosses the east line about nine miles
south of the north-east corner. The Cottonwood has its origin in the southern
part of the county, flows north-easterly and easterly, and crosses the east line
a few miles south of the center. These streams, with their numerous tributaries,
serve to effectually drain nearly every part of the county. The soil is,
generally, a sandy loam, and well adapted to the cultivation of corn and oats,
the clayey soil in the south-west being adapted to wheat.

   Two railroads cross the county. The Winona & St. Peter, built in 1872,
extends from southeast to northwest, and the Chicago & Dakota built in 1879,
extends east and west across the south tier of towns. These two with the
prospective extension of the Minneapolis & St. Louis across southwest and
north-east, will give the county ample facilities for shipping to the markets of
the large cities. The locations of the towns and villages are such that very
little of the trade of the county goes to outside points, and a large trade is
drawn from without the limits of the county, especially in the south and east.

   The permanent settlement began in 1867, although there were trading posts in
Lynd and Saratoga as early as ten and probably more years previous. Saratoga
proper was in section 1, of the town of Custer. There is some difference of
opinion regarding the location of Mr. Lynd's post, some locating it in the
northeast quarter of section 33, in the town of Lynd, and others in the
southeast quarter of section 5 in the town of Lyon. There was a log building
still standing in Lynd when the first settlers came in 1867 and '68 and used by
Mr. Ticknor as a residence for a short time, then as a school-house, and later
as a store. This store, opened by G. W. Whitney in September, 1870, was the
first in the county. He not long after transferred his business to a building
erected for the purpose in the village of Lynd. In Lyon, there only exists the
remains of a building which had been burned. The Indians, however, point this
out as the spot where the real trading post stood. The probabilities are in
favor of the latter. In the spring of 1880, Mr. Goodell, while plowing his
garden, about a half mile north of this spot, unearthed a tub full of tools,
consisting of several hand-saws, an auger, chisels, hoes, a hand-axe, a
flat-iron, a tea cup and saucer. The tub was entirely rotten, only the
impression left to determine just what it was, while most of the tools were
destroyed for use by rust. Thomas Robinson, a French half-breed, and John
Mooers, a half-breed son of Hazen Mooers, had claims in Lynd, when the first
whites came. Robinson's was in section 27, Mooer's in 34. They sold in the
spring of 1868, to Ralph Holland and Arthur Ransom and moved into Lincoln
county, where they now live near Tyler.

   In the spring of 1867 T. W. Caster settled in the town of Stanley, a part of
his claim being in Redwood county. He was a graduate of Oberlin college, Ohio,
and a man of very positive temperament, peculiar in his views and independent in
his thinking. He was at one time deputy register of deeds in Olmsted county, and
was also a scout during the Indian war, under General Sibley. He was one of the
pioneers of Redwood Falls, but remained only a short time. His aim was to raise
stock, and he was the pioneer stock man of Lyon county. The first winter of his
stay he had but one cow, and from this he increased until he had a large herd
for this latitude. About four years ago he moved to Pottawattamie county, Iowa,
where he now lives. He was the first county surveyor, and in 1874 was a member
of the county commissioners. His son, Hugh W., was the first white child horn in
the county.

   In June, 1867, Charles E. Goodell, of Illinois, came into Lyon county on a
prospecting tour, and decided to locate. He returned to Blue Earth county and
remained until January, 1868, when he came back and located in the north part of
the town of Lyon, which has since been his home. During the earlier years he
followed hunting and trapping principally. He is six feet two and one-half
inches in height, well proportioned, active and strong; many stories are told of
his physical prowess. Quite a number came in the fall of 1867, and located in
Lynd; some returned farther east to spend the winter. Among those who remained
were A. W. Muzzy and daughters, Mr. C. F. Wright and Mrs. Bowers, Luman Ticknor,
wife and step-daughter, Elizabeth Taylor, L. W. Langdon, wife and daughter
Martha, and son Frank, and nephew, Emerson Hull. Quite a number of people came
in during 1868, but comparatively few settled. In 1869 settlement began in
earnest and a large number came.

   In 1869 preparations were made to organize the county. In December the
governor appointed A. W. Muzzy, E. R. Horton and Daniel Williams as
commissioners, Edmund Lamb as auditor, and Charles Hildreth as sheriff, to
organize the county. Mr. Horton was absent from the county when appointed, but
expected back soon. Not long after his appointment as commissioner, Mr. Williams
left the county on a visit to relatives. This prevented immediate organization,
and the other appointed officials could do nothing until their return. Mr.
Horton never came back, and Mr. Williams' stay being protracted, steps were
taken to procure new appointments, which resulted in the appointment of L. S.
Kiel as commissioner. The first meeting was held August 12, 1870, at Luman
Ticknor's house in Upper Lynd. Mr. Muzzy was chosen chairman of the county
board. The board then adjourned until October 8; met upon that day and prepared
for the first election in the county, by dividing it into election precincts.
Congressional townships 109 and 110, ranges 40 and 41, were set off as Saratoga
precinct. Ziba Ferguson and George Robinson were appointed justices, and Joseph
Wagner, James Mitchell and Clarence Avery judges of election, and the election
ordered held at the house of George Robinson. Townships 111 and 112, ranges 40
and 41, were set off as Marshall precinct. W. S. Reynolds and C. H. Whitney were
appointed justices, and C. H. Upton, Joseph Carter and L. Langdon judges of
election, and the election ordered held at the house of C. H. Whitney. Township
113-40, 41, 42, 43, 44 were set off as Upper Yellow Medicine precinct. The
justices appointed were Prank Nelson and Morse. Townships 111 and 112-42 and 43,
were set off as Lynd precinct, with townships 109, 110-42 and 43 attached. A. W.
Muzzy, A. E. Cummings and Luman Ticknor were appointed judges of election. No
justices were appointed. Townships 109, 110, 111, 112-44, 45, 46, and 113-45,
46, were set off as Lake Benton precinct. William Ross and ____ Bentley were
appointed justices, and William Taylor, Daniel Williams and John Birmingham,
judges of election, and the election ordered held at the house of Daniel Williams.

   At the election which followed soon after, seventy-eight votes were cast, all
of the precincts not holding elections, however. The following officers were
elected—Timothy Eastman, Joseph Wagner and Daniel Williams, commissioners; of
whom Mr. Eastman became chairman. George E. Keyes, auditor; A. R. Cummins,
treasurer; W. H. Langdon, register of deeds; James Cummins, sheriff; A. D.
Morgan, clerk of court; A. W. Muzzy, judge of probate; W. M. Pierce, county
attorney, and James Mitchell, Sr., court commissioner. At a meeting of the
county commissioners, held March 15,1871, at Mr. Whitney's store in Lynd, G. W.
Whitney was appointed superintendent of schools. At this meeting the county was
divided into assessment districts, the commissioners' districts having been
arranged October 14, 1870. They comprised the same territory in each and
numbered them the same, thus District No. 1 included all in the county, east of
range, 42, No. 2 included all of range 42, and all west of that, No. 3.

   The election districts were changed from time to time, as population
increased, or as the different towns became organized, until January, 1882, when
the town of Stowe was set apart for organization, thus ending the last precinct.
The assessment districts have been disposed of in like manner. The
commissioners' districts have been changed likewise, from time to time, still
keeping the original number until 1880, when the county was divided into five
districts.

   The county seat remained at Upper and Lower Lynd, about two years in each,
the commissioners holding their sessions in various places. In the fall of 1873
the majority of the people voted in favor of moving the county seat to Marshall,
which was accomplished between January and March, 1874. Until 1876 the county
business was transacted in different places in Marshall, rented for the purpose
by the county. That year the frame building now used by the auditor and
treasurer was erected on the west corner of Main and Sixth streets, at a cost of
about $450. In 1881 a similar building was erected on the same lot for the use
of the register of deeds and clerk of court. Arrangements are now about
completed for the purchase of land upon which to erect a court house and jail.

   Following we give the roster of county officials since the organization of
the county. 

Commissioners-—The first named being chairman. 
1870, A. W. Muzzy and L. S. Kiel; 
1871, Timothy Eastman, Joseph Wagner and Daniel Williams; Mr. Wagner resigned
and H. N. Randall was appointed, he also resigned and George Robinson was
appointed; Mr. Williams moved from the county and Ira Scott was appointed in his
place; 
1872, Timothy Eastman, M. L. Wood and James Mitchell, Jr.; 
1873, M. L. Wood, James Mitchell, Jr. and A. D. Morgan; 
1874, James Mitchell, Jr., A. D. Morgan and T. W. Caster; 
1875, James Mitchell, Jr., A. D. Morgan and H. T. Oakland; 
1876, Gordon Watson, James Mitchell Jr. and H. T. Oakland; 
1877, the same with Mr. Mitchell as chairman; 
1878, same, Mr. Oakland, chairman; 
1879 and'80, James Mitchell, Jr., H. T. Oakland and G. W. Link; 
1881, M. C. Humphrey, James Mitchell, Jr., Fred Holritz, E. L. Starr and
Jonathan Owen; 
1882, M. C. Humphrey, James Mitchell, Jr., Fred Holritz, E. L. Starr and V. M.
Smith. 

Auditors—
1870, Edmund Lamb; 
1871 and '72, G. E. Keyes; 
1873, to date, O. C. Gregg. 

Treasurers—
1871 and '72, A. R. Cummins; 
1873 and '74, Jacob Rouse; 
1875 '76 and '77, J. W. Williams; 
1878, R. M. Addison;
1879, G. A. Jacobson. 

Registers of Deeds—
1871 and '72, W. H. Langdon; 
1873 and '74, Z. O. Titus; 
1875 and '76, S. V. Groesbeck;
 1877 and '78, C. L. Van Fleet; 
1879 and '80, W. M. Coleman; 
1881 and '82, A. N. Daniels. 

Sheriffs—
1870, Charles Hildreth; 
1871, '72, and '73, James Cummins; 
1874, '75 and '76, Salmon Webster; 
1877 to ____, John Hunter. 

Clerks of Court—
1871, 72, '73, '74, A.D. Morgan; 
1875, '76, '77 and '78, Ole Dahl; 
1879 to ____, C. E. Patterson. 

Judges of Probate—
1871, A. W. Muzzy, resigned, C. H. Whitney appointed; 
1872, Orin Drake; 
1873 and '74, W. M. Pierce; 
1875 and '76, E. B. Jewett;
1877 to ____, D. F. Weymouth. 

County Attorneys
—1871 and '72, W. Pierce; 
1873, '74, '75 and '76, Walter Wakeman; 
1877 and '78, D. F. Weymouth; 
1879 to date, A. C. Forbes. 

Court Commissioners— 
1871 and '72, James Mitchell, Sr.; 
1873, Charles Marsh; 
1874, C. H. Whitney; 
1875 and '76, J. N. Johnson; 
1877, W. M. Pierce; 
1878 to date, C. H. Richmond. 

Superintendents of Schools—
1870, C. F. Wright; 
1871, to August, G. W. Whitney; 
1871, from August, '72, '73 and '74 to April, Ransom Wait; 
1874, from April, to date, G. M. Durst. 

County Surveyors—
1871 and '72, T. W. Caster; 
1873, '74, '75, '76, '77 and 78, C. L. Van Fleet; 
1879 and'80, H. L. Coates; 
1881, V. M. Smith;
1882, J. W. Blake. 

Coroners—
1871, '72, '73 and '74, Luman Ticknor; 
1875 to July'76, none; 
1876, from July, W. M. Todd; 
1877 and '78, J. A. Coleman; 
1879 and '80, J. W. Andrews; 
1881 and '82, S. V. Groesbeck. 

The state senatorial and representative districts comprise several counties;
those serving from this county are: 
Senator—1875 and '76; J. W. Blake. 
Representative—1873, J. W. Blake; 1878, J. W. Williams.

   Previous to 1876, the county was attached to Redwood county for judicial
purposes. Since that time two terms of court have been held in the county each
year, in June and December.

   The schools have been under the superintendence of Mr. G. M. Durst since
April, 1874. In the fall of 1873 the first school house of any pretensions in
the county was built in Lower Lynd at a cost of about $700, and belonged to
district number 1. The same building is in use to-day. From this beginning, only
eight years ago, the schools have increased until now there are fifty-three
organized districts in the county, and several petitions before the county
commissioners for more. There are forty-four school-houses, forty-two being
frame, one brick and one log; the estimated value is about $25,000.

   The first public examination of teachers was held April 22, 1874, by Mr.
Durst at Congregational Hall in Marshall. There were eight teachers present. One
first-class certificate was issued, two second and five third. The
superintendent has continued to raise the grading so that a second grade
certificate at present is about equal to a first grade in 1874. There are now
four teachers in the county holding first-class certificates, twenty-seven
holding second and twenty-nine holding third class certificates. Twenty-nine of
these teachers are males and thirty-one females. The first institute was held at
Marshall in April, 1875. The attendance was thirteen. The session lasted a week.
Several institutes of two weeks' duration have been held since. The first school
in the county was taught by Miss Lydia Cummins during the spring of 1869, in the
log building in section 33, in the town of Lynd, mentioned as being connected
with Mr. Lynd's trading post. The first superintendent was the Rev. C. F.
Wright, appointed in the fall of 1870. The following statement is taken from the
report of the superintendent for 1881: Number of pupils, 1,719; average
attendance—summer—685; winter—607; number of teachers, 60; amount of wages,
$7,171.62; average per month—males, $33; females, $25; amount paid for new
buildings, $5,309.31; improvements, repairs, fuel and interest on debt,
$4,695.56; amount on hand at the end of the year, $1,733.11;Ramount collected
for all purposes, $13,697.29.

   In 1874 the value of school property in the county was about $900; amount
received for school purposes, $677.55; number of teachers, 8; pupils, 208;
amount paid to teachers, $642.93.

   The first religious services in the county were those conducted by the Bev.
C. F. Wright, in the fall of 1868 at Luman Ticknor's house in Upper Lynd, and
the building erected by this society, in the fall of 1873, was the first church
of any sort built in the county, although the Presbyterians built a church in
the town of Lyon in September of the same year. Mr. Wright became ill not long
after the building of the Methodist church in Lynd, and was taken to Redwood
Falls for treatment, and died soon after. There are now about thirty-five church
organizations in the county.

   The Lyon County Agricultural Society was organized in March, 1874. J. G.
Bryan was president, and C. H. Whitney, secretary. Fairs have been conducted
annually since, at Marshall. The society have a lease of forty acres, which they
have fitted up for their purpose. At the state fairs held in 1879-'80-'81, they
took the first premium on grain display. In 1880 they took the first premium on
general display of vegetables, and in 1874 and 1881, the second premium. The
state society has awarded them a silver medal for a general display of products
which speaks well for a county only twelve years old, and located in the section
of the state that suffered from the grasshopper scourge. The following
comparative statements give some idea of growth in a few particulars: In 1870,
the county was not enumerated. In 1880, it ranked as the thirty-sixth county in
the state, with a population of 6,257; male, 3,381; female, 2,876; native,
4,558; foreign, 1,699. The vote for presidential electors, in 1880, was 1,336.
In 1872, of the 452,000 acres of land in the county, only 676 were under
cultivation, which increased in eight years to 41,772 acres. In 1872, there were
nine sheep in the county. In 1881, 7,450 head. In 1880, 3,450 head of cattle
were shipped from the county, and in 1881 the artificial groves covered 2,200
acres. These facts, in the face of the general agricultural depression during
the time covered, speak well for the enterprise of the people and the resources
of the county.

   The first marriage in the county, occurred at the residence of Luman Ticknor,
in Upper Lynd, in the fall of 1868, the Rev. C. F. Wright, officiating. The
contracting parties were Henry Nichols and Miss Ida Hildreth. The first death in
the county, was that of Mrs. Bowers, of consumption, which occurred in the fall
of 1868.

LAKE MARSHALL.

   This was the first town set apart for organization in the county. It is
located in the central part of the county and includes all of congressional
township 111-41.

   Settlement began in 1869, W. H. Langdon came June 27th and located in section
8; C. H. Whitney came in and located in the southeast quarter of section 4,
where a portion of the village of Marshall now stands. At the same time, C. H.
Upton came in and located in the northeast quarter of section 4. The following
fall, Mr. L. W. Langdon and son, E. B., came; Mr. Langdon located in section 18
and his son in 8. Of those that came the next year, we mention M. D. Morse, Orin
Drake, Mrs. U. S. Stone, G. M. Durst, C. T. and Charles Bellingham, Josiah
Clark, and George B. Welch.

   The population increased sufficiently by 1872, to warrant a separate
organization. The meeting to organize and elect officers, was held March 8,
1872, at C. H. Whitney's house in the southeast quarter of section 4; officers
elected: Orin Drake, chairman, C. T. Bellingham and Noble Cuyle, supervisors; C.
H. Whitney, clerk; S. M. Taylor, assessor; O. A. Drake, treasurer; W. H. Langdon
and C. H. Whitney, justices; C. H. Upton and O. A. Drake constables.

MARSHALL.

   The Winona & St. Peter railroad was built in 1872. A town site company was
formed, composed of W. G. Ward, J. H. Jenkins, J. H. Stewart, J. W. Blake and C.
H. Whitney, and the village of Marshall laid out during the latter part of
August, 1872. It was located in the central part of section 4. Four additions
have been made since and the village plat now covers about 300 acres. The first
store was a cheap frame building belonging to the railroad construction company,
Addison, Everett & Co., and put up in June, 1872. They conducted their business
in this, awhile, then moved into better quarters and continued in business, with
several changes in the firm name, several years. A short time after, another
small building was put up by Colonel Samuel McPhaill and occupied by other
parties as a grocery and provision store. This building was subsequently moved
iuto section 6 as a claim shanty and eventually, moved back to the village.

   In 1873 C. H. Whitney started a brick-yard and made 85,000 brick that year.
This same season J. F. Raichert put up the first brick block; it is two stories
high, and is standing as a monument to his enterprise; the lower story was used
as a store, and the upper for a residence and the masonic hall. There are now
twenty-two brick store buildings in the place. The first hotel was built by C.
H. Whitney in September and October, 1872. It was then a two-story building,
35x40 feet, and known as Whitney's Hotel; a large addition was made in 1877. It
is now known at the Merchant's Exchange, and is in the hands of Ching & O. M. Hunt.

   The business of the town is now represented by the following: Three hotels,
two banks, five general stores, three drug stores, two hardware stores, one
grocery, one boot and shoe store, one furniture store, four dealers in
agricultural implements, two millinery and dressmaking shops, one tailor shop,
one jeweler, two meat-markets, three restaurants, one harness-shop, one
shoe-shop, one photograph gallery, four blacksmith and wagon-shops, one
gunsmith, one livery stable, two barber-shops, one marble shop, two brick-yards,
with capacity for making 350,000 brick each season, two feed-mills, one
elevator, two warehouses, three lumberyards, one contractor and builder, four
insurance agents, five law firms, three physicians, one dentist and four
saloons. The Winona & St. Peter land-office was established in 1876. Two
newspapers, the Messenger and the Lyon County News, furnish the people with home
and foreign news. The railroad receipts and shipments for 1881 were as follows:
33,311,198 pounds of general freight, 208,000 bushels of wheat, 339 car-loads of
fuel, 37 car-loads of agricultural implements, and 9 car-loads of apples.

   The Bank of Marshall was established April 18, 1878, by O. D. Dibble,
Jonathan Owen and W. S. Dibble, and does a general loan and collection business.
The Lyon County Bank was established September 1, 1878, with a capital of
$25,000. H. B. Strait, president, and S. D. How, cashier.

   Newspapers — The Marshall Messenger was started in August, 1873, by J. C.
Erwin, as The Prairie Schooner, an appropriate name for the time and locality.
In December, 1874, Mr. Erwin tired of frontier struggles, and moved to St. Paul
and started the Liberty Blade, a temperance paper. The Schooner was sold to C.
F. Case, who moved to Marshall from Waverly, Iowa. The following year was one of
disaster to every one in the grasshopper belt, and existence was only maintained
at the expense of the paper's proprietor. During the year the name was changed
to The Marshall Messenger. It is how published on a power press in one of the
six brick buildings known as the Messenger Block, so named for the paper which
has an ownership in the block. From a small beginning it has grown with the
county, until it now enjoys a serene prosperity, protected by the AEgis of a
large and constantly increasing circulation and a good local patronage. It is
republican in politics, neutral in religion and family quarrels. It is the
official paper of the town and one of the solid fixtures of the county.

    The Lyon County News was established May 28, 1879, by Wilbur M. Todd and
George A. Edes. It was a seven column folio, with a "patent outside." Mr. Edes
retired and Mr. Todd continued its publication until April 21, 1880, when the
paper passed into the hands of George B. Gee & Co. July 7, 1880, the paper was
changed to a five column quarto. November 15, 1880, the present proprietor, Mr.
Charles C. Whitney, obtained possession, and within two weeks an entire
revolution occurred: the "patent side" disappeared, the paper became an
eight-column folio and all printed at home. An entire new and extensive outfit
was secured, a large cylinder press taking the place of the old hand press, the
latter authoritatively stated to be the first hand press in Minnesota. The
efforts of the publisher to issue his paper and furnish live news through the
snow-blockade of 1880-1 were marvels of energy and enterprise. From January 19th
to April 19th the mails came irregularly and at long intervals, and the only
resource was the telegraph. Expensive as it was, the publisher furnished his
readers several columns of telegraphic matter each week. The files of the paper
for this period are a curiosity, including papers of different sizes, forms and
kinds. Only once during the siege was he able to procure regular paper, then by
team driven seventy miles. July 1,1881, the paper was enlarged to a nine-column
folio; Charles C. Whitney, editor and publisher; J. L. Robinson, local editor;
O. C. Gregg, editor of the agricultural department. During the year the
subscription list has risen from three hundred and thirty-six to twelve hundred,
and it is the official paper of the county and city. With the establishment of
the paper under the new management a first class job printing office and book
bindery was put in, and a five horse-power engine introduced. The work produced
is first class, and a large business has been built up in western Minnesota and
eastern Dakota.

    Marshall post-office was established in the fall of 1870; C. H. Whitney was
the postmaster and the office located at his house. In January, 1873, Walter
Wakeman was appointed and held the office until April 1874, when Mr. Whitney was
reappointed. In April, 1876, W. M. Coleman took the office, and held it until
April, 1878, when the present incumbent, C. F. Case, received the appointment.

   Societies.—-The societies consist of the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Grand Army of
the Republic, and two temperance societies. 

Delta Lodge No. 119, A. F. and A. M., was organized November 16, 1874. The
officers were: H. J. Tripp, W. M., J. Goodwin, S. W., S. V. Groesbeck, J. W., G.
M. Durst, S., M. E. Wilcox, T., G. E. Nichols, S. D., B. A. Gubb, J. D., L. F.
Pickard, Tyler. The present membership is forty. 

Good Samaritan Lodge No. 73, I. O. of O. F. was instituted January 5, 1880, with
six charter members, and the following officers: J. E. Maas, N. G., A. T.
Gamble, V. G., C. H. Richardson, S., J. H. Williams, T., S. O. Weston, W., C. W.
Andrews, Con. The membership now numbers forty-five. 

D. F. Markham Post No. 7, G. A. R., was organized in July, 1880, with fourteen
members, with Major J. W. Blake as Commander, and C. C. Whitney, as Adjutant;
the post now has sixty members. 

Marshall Lodge, T. of H. was organized June 12, 1881, with nineteen charter
members, and the following officers: Dr. E. D. Allison, W. C. T., L. Larson, W.
V. T., J. L. Robinson, R., T. W. Robinson, F. R., Dr. C. E. Persons, T., Major
George Mossman, U., Dr. J. M. Andrews, P. W. C. T. The membership now numbers
thirty-two. 

Unity Lodge, No. 173, G. T., was organized November 12, 1879. The society now
has a membership of about fifty, and is prospering finely.

   The school building was erected in 1875, at a cost of about $2,800. An
addition has since been built at a cost of about $2,000. The original building
is octagonal in shape, forty feet in diameter, each way, two stories high, with
a tower in front. The addition is 22x40 feet, altogether containing four rooms,
and capable of comfortably seating two hundred and seventy-five pupils. School
is conducted nine months in each year. Four teachers are employed, a principal
and three assistants. The salary of the principal is $800 per year, and each
assistant $360.

   The village of Marshall was incorporated by an act of the legislature,
approved March 19, 1876, and again under the special law in 1881. The corporate
limits include sections 4, 5 and 9. The first village election was held March
16, 1876. Orin Drake and O. C. Gregg were judges of election, and E. B. Jewett,
clerk. Fifty-four votes were cast, and the following offices elected: John Ward,
president of council; S. H. Mott, M. E. Wilcox and C. A. Edwards, trustees; W.
M. Todd, recorder; J. P. Watson, treasurer; D. Markham, justice; and David Bell,
constable. At the last election, held in January, 1882, 170 votes were cast. The
population in 1880 was 961.

   The first school was taught during the winter of 1872-3, in W. M. Todd's
lumber office. G. H. Darling taught the first part of the term and Walter
Wakeman the latter. A two story building was completed in the spring, the lower
part of which was used for a store and the upper part for school and church.
Schools were conducted there until 1875, when the present fine building was
erected. Outside of the village there are two frame school-houses, making three
in all within the limits of the town.

   The first religious services were conducted in the summer of 1872, by Rev. E.
H. Alden, a Congregationalist then of Waseca, on alternate Sundays, in a tent
that was used during the week as a saloon. During the following fall a building
used as headquarters by the railroad engineering corps, was used. During the
winter only occasional services were held and in different places. In the spring
of 1873, regular weekly services were begun in the building erected for that
purpose, mentioned above. The first local pastor was Rev. Mr. Spaulding.
Services were conducted at the above place until 1879, when the present fine
structure belonging to the society was built, at a cost of about $5,000. The
present pastor is the Rev. J. B. Fairbanks.

   The Methodist society was organized in 1873. Their first local pastor was
Rev. Galpin; their church was built in 1874, at a cost of about $800. Their
present pastor is the Rev. J. N. Liscomb. The society has a large membership.

   The Baptist society organized in August 1877 and held services at the
school-house. For about two years past, they have had no pastor and but few
services have been held.

   The Catholics have held occasional services in different places in the
village, but have effected no organization.

   The first marriage of parties living in the town, was that of Charles
Bellingham and Miss Louisa Durst. They were married at Whitney's hotel, in the
fall of 1872, by C. H. Whitney, then a justice of the peace. The first birth was
that Fannie W. Whitney, a daughter of C. H. and Mary A. Whitney, and born
November 24, 1870. The first death was that of a daughter of James Armstrong, of
scarlet fever.

   Edward E. Ackerman was born January 8, 1857, in Iowa. Accompanied his parents
to New York; removed to Missouri; Iowa and Wisconsin. He came to Minnesota and
attended school in Goodhue county, where the family resided, also studied three
years at the Winona Normal school. In 1876 he and a brother took a farm three
miles from Marshall; was afterward appointed assistant postmaster, and in 1881
bought a book store in the place. July 4, 1880, Mary Constant became his wife.

   E. D. Allison was born in 1845 in Green county, Indiana, where he lived until
1860, then removed to Michigan. In 1867 he began the study of dentistry; after
graduating in 1870 from the Cincinnati Dental college, he located at St.
Charles, Minnesota; was afterward three years at Austin, two years in the south
and the same length of time at Rochester, this state, but since 1878 has been at
Marshall. Mr. Allison married in 1866, Miss Charlotte Lathrop.

   Dr. J. W. Andrews, born April 6, 1849, in Clark county, Illinois, lived from
the age of seven to eighteen years in Le Sueur county, Minnesota. After
attending school at St. Peter and Mankato, he engaged in teaching and studying
medicine; entered the medical department of the Ann Arbor University, and
subsequently Bush Medical college, of Chicago; graduated in 1877, then began
practice at Sleepy Eye, this state, but soon removed to Marshall. In 1880 he
graduated from the Bellevue hospital, of New York. Married in 1878, Jennie C.
French.

   J. W. Blake was born August 29, 1840, in Dover, Maine. The family migrated to
Wisconsin; he attended Milton Academy and State University; for a time he edited
and published the Jefferson County Republican. Enlisted in 1861 in the Fourth
Wisconsin infantry; was promoted to lieutenant, afterward adjutant and captain
in the 29th, and major of the 42d; at the close of the war was provost general
for the district of Illinois. He built a foundry and machine-shop at Jefferson,
Wisconsin; operated it until 1872, when he, with others, established the town of
Marshall, Minnesota. In 1872 he was in the legislature; in the house in 1875-6,
and the senate in 1879. Mr. Blake was employed by the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad company to examine country with a view to extending their road to the
Black Hills.

   W. F. Bryant, native of Wisconsin, was born in 1854. At seventeen moved to
Minnesota; located in Owatonna, where he was engaged 7in farming. In the spring
of 1881 he came to Marshall and soon after started in the livery business. The
marriage of Mr. Bryant with Sarah Robertson occurred in 1875.

   Henry M. Burchard, native of New York, was born November 18, 1825, in Paris,
Oneida county. In 1847 he graduated from Hamilton College; studied law, was
admitted to practice in 1850, and in 1855 was elected surrogate of Oneida
county; filled that office eight years, but in 1866 he abandoned the practice of
law, because of poor health, and located at Winona, Minnesota. He was a member
of the legislature from that county two years; in 1876 was made agent for the
Winona & St. Peter Railroad Land Company, and located at Marshall, his present
home. Married in 1850 Eliza H. Clark; the children are James C., John E. and H.
Elizabeth.

   S. Butturff was born January 6, 1831, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. He
learned coach-making, and at the age of twenty-one moved to Iowa; lived there
and in Illinois until 1856, when he entered the furniture trade at Hastings,
Minnesota; he was in business in various places in Minnesota, and in 1881 bought
a furniture store at Marshall. Married Fanny Schalley, who died in 1861; four
living children. He married Sarah Spates in 1871; she has three children.

   C. F. Case, born November 1, 1839, in South Manchester, Connecticut; went at
the age of fifteen, to Rockton, Illinois, with his parents, and two years later
to Waterloo, Iowa. He entered Ann Arbor University, and graduated with the class
of 1865. Embarked in the newspaper business in Iowa; after editing the
Clarksville Star five years he passed one year in California, then returned to
Iowa and became interested in the Waverly Republican. In 1874 he came to
Marshall, and the next year bought the Prairie Schooner, now called Marshall
Messenger. Married Fannie Waller in 1873; one child, Frank.

   A. C. Chittenden, native of Connecticut, was born July 29, 1845, in Middlesex
county. When thirteen years old went with parents to Wisconsin; he was employed
in Milwaukee about three years, then with a capital of $500 opened a store in
Atwater, Minnesota, which he sold five years later for $16,000. After spending,
eighteen months in Colorado he began business at Marshall. Agnes Hill was
married to him in 1871, and has two sons.

   R. G. Curtis was born in Canada, June 17th, 1834, at Brockville. He learned
blacksmithing in that country, and in 1855, settled at Winona, Minnesota, where
he worked four years at plow and wagon making; for seven years he was in the
livery business; in 1877, came to Marshall and started a plow and blacksmith
shop. Mr. Curtis was married in New York in 1861, to Adelia C. Place; they have
three living children.

   A. N. Daniels was born April 26, 1836, in Arcade, Wyoming county, New York.
From the age of ten years until 1870 his home was in Green Lake county,
Wisconsin; then he resided at Northfield, Minnesota, until going in 1876 to Rock
Lake, Lyon county, where he was one of the earliest settlers; helped organize
the town and from that time until 1881, was assessor and clerk; was also notary
public; since November, 1880, he has been register of deeds.

   M. D. Drew, one of a family of eighteen children, is a native of Vermont;
born in the year 1845, in Caledonia county. He attained an academical education
at St. Johnsburg, and studied law in that place; was admitted to the bar in
1879. Mr. Drew migrated to Minnesota and settled in Marshall, where he is
engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1867 he married Sarah M.
Chamberland, who was born in Vermont.

   George M. Durst was born March 10, 1846, in Alleghany county, Maryland. In
1868 he came to Minnesota, and taught school in Fillmore county, but removed in
1871 to Lyon county; after living about three miles south of Marshall for three
years, he removed to the village. He is county superintendent of schools and has
taught three years in Marshall; is also engaged in the insurance business.
Diantha Wheeler was married to him in October, 1875; she taught the first school
in this place.

   A. C. Forbes, born in 1848, in Quebec, Canada, emigrated in 1870 to the
United States. In 1872 he completed his education at Evanston College and coming
to Minnesota, entered upon the duties of a minister. Eighteen months later he
began the study of law with General Edgerton; was admitted in 1877, and the next
year opened an office at Marshall; was elected county attorney the same year,
and holds the office still. Married in 1878, Miss Adell Wheeler.

   W. C. French was born on Long Island, N. Y. February 21, 1821. At the age of
eleven he went to Chemung county, N. Y., and in 1860 to Cayuga county; in 1870
he engaged in furniture business at Wellsville, and in 1876, came to Minnesota
and located on a farm at Marshall. In 1847 he married Elizabeth Burrells, who
died in 1859, leaving one child, now the wife of Dr. Andrews; in 1861 he married
Sarah Price; she died in 1868, and in 1871 Laura A. Newbury became his wife.

   H. B. Gary, native of New Hampshire, was born January 4, 1831, in Cheshire
county. He worked as fireman and engineer on different railroads and in 1854
came to Minnesota for the benefit of his health; was for a time on the C., B.
and Q. road, then took a claim in Winona county; remained until 1860 after which
he was again employed in railroading as engineer and conductor until 1876, since
then has been mail agent on the W. and St. P. Married in August, 1852, Nancy E.
Woodard; four children are living.

   M. H. Gibson, whose native place is Huntington, Canada East, was born in
June, 1839, and removed from there to New York. He lived in that state and
Michigan until going in 1864 to Addison county, Vermont, where he learned
blacksmithing; after passing three years there he lived the same length of time
in Iowa; previous to coming to Marshall he spent some time in Wisconsin, Iowa
and Michigan. Mr. Gibson opened a blacksmith shop here and in the fall of 1880,
added a wagon shop. Married in 1869, Martha Babcock; they have two living children.

   O. C. Gregg, son of Orin Gregg, a Methodist clergyman, was born November 2,
1845, at Hyde Park, Vermont. Accompanied his parents to New York and prepared
for college at Fort Edward Institute; at sixteen years of age he began teaching;
at eighteen he entered the provost marshal's office at Plattsburg; remained two
years. Mr. Gregg came to Minnesota and lived one year in Mower county, then
entered the Methodist ministry; he was at Chatfield, High Forest and Eyota, then
settled in Lyon county. He was elected county auditor in 1872; still holds the
office. Married in 1868, Miss C. I. Carter.

   Professor L. A. Gregg was born in St. Albans, Vermont, December 6, 1849. In
1870 he graduated from the Fort Edward Institute, New York. After passing one
year at High Forest, Minnesota, he located in 1871 in Lyon county, where he was
employed in farming and school teaching. In 1881 he was appointed principal of
the graded schools of Marshall. Miss Ella M. Kennedy became his wife in 1878,
and has one living child.

   Dr. S. V. Groesbeck, born September 23, 1840, in Otselic, Chenango county,
New York, moved at the age of seven to Wisconsin with his parents. He was given
a limited education and spent some time in the study of medicine, previous to
enlisting September 23, 1861, in company F, Eighth Wisconsin; he was wounded
twice and lay several months in a hospital; upon being discharged in November,
1864, he returned to Wisconsin. Practiced medicine eighteen months in Houston
county, Minnesota, with Dr. Bowen; was in High Forest from 1868 until 1872, then
came to Marshall; he erected the first dwelling here. The doctor received a
certificate from the state board of examiners in 1871; is at present county
coroner and a member of the State Eclectic Medical society; has been register of
deeds, postmaster and president of the board of health. Married in 1865, Mary
Gibbs; one child living.

   E. L. Healy, native of Massachusetts, was born June 28, 1852, in Worcester
county. While he was a babe the family moved to Illinois; they resided in
Kendall and Kane counties, and he was educated at the public schools of Aurora.
Mr. Healey migrated to Minnesota and lived on a farm in Rice county some time
previous to embarking in the grocery trade at Faribault; from there he came to
Marshall in August, 1878, and opened his present store. In 1877 he married
Jennie Struthers; have one son living.

   J. A. Hunter, who was born May 12, 1843, in Sullivan county, New York, went
when four years of age to Union county, Ohio, and eight years later removed to
Wisconsin. In 1861 Mr. Hunter enlisted in Company F, First Wisconsin; served
until October 22, 1864. He came to Minnesota in 1872 and claimed 160 acres on
section 14 of Marshall; soon after he became engaged in wheat buying at this
place. Since 1876 he has been sheriff of Lyon county. Married in 1876, Miss C.
A. Mitchell; has three living children.

   Lewis Janda was born January 15, 1858, in Austria. In 1874 he immigrated to
the United States; at Mankato he began to learn shoemaking; was with Leo Lamm
four years and two years with Griehel Brothers, then came to Marshall; he was in
partnership with John Eder six months, hut since that has been junior member of
the firm of C. B. Thompson & Co.

   E. B. Jewett, born in Kennebec, Maine, June 19, 1821; after leaving school
followed teaching until 1851. In 1852 he married Mary J. Parks; removed to
Wisconsin, and in 1855 to Minnesota, and soon after his wife gave birth to the
second white child born in Warren, Winona county; he and one other child died;
they have two living, Eva and Clarence W. Mr. Jewett studied law in different
places and in November, 1870, was admitted to the bar; since 1873 he has been in
practice at Marshall; held the office of judge of probate one year.

   George E. Johnson, native of Vermont, was born January 10, 1847, in Caledonia
county. In 1872 he engaged in the produce business at Island Pond, Essex county,
Vermont, but in May, 1880, came to Marshall, Minnesota; after doing carpenter
work for a time he embarked in the meat trade. In 1871 he married Lurena
Fletcher, who was born in Linden, Vermont; they have two living children.

   John Johnson was born in the year 1846, and is a native of Norway. In 1864 he
became a resident of the United States. After living two years in Chicago he
removed to Madison, Wisconsin, and five years after to Red Wing, Minnesota,
where for two years he was employed in clerking. Since 1875 his home has been in
Marshall, and since 1876 he has been proprietor of the Scandinavian Hotel.
Married Annie Thompson in 1876; there are two children.

   J. K. Johnson was born in 1825 in Maine; from the age of twenty-four until
1867 he was much of the time performing the labors of Baptist preacher; was also
engaged in farming. In 1867 he came to Minnesota; farmed in Wabasha county five
years, then in 1872 he took 160 acres in Marshall; he now lives on the same
farm, and in the house which was the first frame building in the town, Married
in 1844, Catharine Drew; they have eight children.

   C. Jolitz, born January 26, 1842, is a native of Prussia. He learned the
trade of blacksmith, and in 1867 immigrated to America; after passing a short
time at Baraboo, Wisconsin he came to Minnesota; lived one year at Winona then
we] it to St. Louis for two years; his home was at Stillwater seven years
previous to locating at Marshall, where he opened a blacksmith shop. Louisa Libe
was married to him in 1872; they have two living children.

   William C. Kayser was born March 18, 1857 at St. Peter, Minnesota. He learned
the jewelers' trade at which he subsequently worked one year at St. Paul; then
went to Faribault, Owatonna and Litchfield. Since May, 1878, he has been in the
jewelry business at Marshall. May 11, 1880 he married Eva Robinson, a native of
Wisconsin.

   E. D. Kosko was born December 12, 1823, in Prussia, and there learned the
trade of tailor. In 1855 he came to the United States; stayed in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, a short time, then resided in Walworth county seven years, and eleven
years in Dodge county; coming to Minnesota he located at Austin, remained but
one year when he removed to Owatonna, which place was his home four years.
Married in 1848, Caroline Milbred; of their nine children seven are living. Mr.
Kosko opened a tailor's establishment at Marshall in 1880.

   John Laudenslager, native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1845 in Dauphin
county. He enlisted in Company A, 50th Pennsylvania and served from 1861 to
1863, then came to Minnesota and entered Company A, Fifth regiment of this
state; was mustered out in 1865. Until 1875 he lived at New Ulm, then one year
at Springfield and two years at Winona, after which he located at Marshall
where, in 1878, he opened a saloon. Caroline Becke became his wife in 1870 and
has four living children.

   A. D. Morgan was born May 19,1843, and until eight years of age remained in
his native place, Beaver county, Pennsylvania; then until 1854 in Allegheny
county. At that time he removed to Rice county, Minnesota and in 1861 enlisted
in Company G, First Minnesota; re-enlisted and served from August, 1862, until
August, 1865, in Company B, Eighth regiment. Mr. Morgan took a claim in Lyon
county in 1867 but since 1880 has had charge of the Empire Lumber company's
yards at Marshall. Married, January 1, 1872, Naomi McDonald who died July 7,
1876; there are two children.

   D. A. McIntyre was born in 1853 in Nova Scotia. He passed about eighteen
months at sea, and in 1870 came to Redwood Falls, Minnesota; until 1874 he was
employed in farming, then became a partner of James Andrews in the furniture
trade at Marshall; one year later he purchased the business, but in the fall of
1881, disposed of it. Mr. McIntyre has erected several of the business blocks at
Marshall. Emma A. Moore, of Canada, was married to him in 1874.

   J. McGandy, born in 1850, left England, his native country in 1852 and came
with his parents to America. He grew to manhood and learned photographing in
Cattaraugus county, New York; he followed that business in Erie county
Pennsylvania from 1872 until 1879 at which date he located in Marshall where he
continues in his profession. Nellie Titus, of New York, was married in 1875, to
Mr. McGandy.

   M. E. Mathews, born September 25, 1849, in Jamestown, New York, moved when
eight years old, with his parents to Iowa, and one year later to Rochester,
Minnesota; commenced reading law in 1868 and in 1871, was admitted to the bar in
Olmsted county. Then, until 1876 he lived at New Ulm; since that year Marshall
has been his home. March 23, 1881, he graduated from the law department of the
Ann Arbor University. In 1875 he married Minnie Boesch; two living children.

   C. E. Patterson, born in 1848, in Jackson county, Michigan, accompanied his
parents to New York, and in 1869, graduated from the seminary at Rogersville,
Steuben county. After teaching about two years was for three years employed in
the milling business; in 1874 he settled on land in Stanley, Lyon county,
Minnesota; followed farming and clerking until 1879; since that date has been
clerk of the court of this county. Miss May Watson was married to him in 1878.

   O. Pehrson was born February 27, 1847, in Sweden, but since 1868 has lived in
the United States. After clerking eighteen months at St. Peter, Minnesota, he
was employed in the same capacity, at Redwood Falls, and in 1874 went to New Ulm
to work for M. Mullen; one year later he opened a store at Lamberton, but in the
spring of 1876 began his present business at Marshall. He married in 1875, Miss
Jessie, daughter of S. E. Bailey; they have one child.

   Dr. C. E. Persons, native of Indiana, was born February 27, 1847, in Allen
county. In 1865 he located at Northfield, Minnesota; soon after entered Carleton
College, where he studied until 1874, and in the meantime read medicine with Dr.
Thompson; he then spent two years at Ann Arbor, graduating in 1877 from the
medical department of that university, and since the fall of that year has been
in practice at Marshall. The doctor married in 1879, Miss Addie Gary, who was a
teacher.

   R. B. Pierce, born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1831, moved when
twelve years old to New York city, where he attended school and clerked until
1851. After passing two years in St. Paul, he had charge of the Indian trading
post at Traverse des Sioux for three years; he was on a claim two years, then in
the Indian supply store until it was discontinued. Prom 1861 until 1871 he was
postmaster there; subsequently was in the grain trade at St. Peter, but since
1876 has had charge of G. W. Van Dusen's business at Marshall. Married in 1855
Miss C. H. Snyder; five living children.

   Captain J. A. Rea was born in 1827 in Franklin county Pennsylvania, and at
twenty years of age went to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he learned cabinet
making. He lived twenty-five years in Oshkosh; was in the cabinet and hotel
business; he engaged in milling six years in Sparta and in 1878 came here and
erected the Marshall mill. Mr. Rea enlisted in January, 1865, in Company F, 46th
Wisconsin; served through the remainder of the war. Miss L. A. Barber was
married to him in 1852, and has borne him eight children: seven are living.

   Chas. H. Richardson was born in 1841 in Orange county, Vermont; learned
cabinet making at which he worked until enlisting in 1861, in Company D, Second
Vermont infantry; he served through the entire war; in 1864 he was wounded in
the right lung, and still carries the ball. He lived a number of years in
Wabasha county, Minnesota, then spent about two years east, but returned in 1872
and settled in Marshall; has held many town offices and been court commissioner
four years. Married Fannie Watterman in 1864. Myra and Addie are their children.

   J. F. Remore, native of New York, was born August 12, 1824, in Oneida county.
In 1846 he located on a farm in Racine county, Wisconsin, but ten years later
removed to St. Charles, Minnesota; followed farming for some time and was then
in the livery business until 1878, when he engaged in mercantile trade at
Marshall. Mr. Re-more has served as a member of the village board and in 1877
was elected to the state senate. In In 1846, Miss C. Brown became his wife and
has three children.

   Joseph Sanders, born in 1823 in England, came to America in 1855 and after
living eighteen months in New York he removed to Ohio. Worked at shoemaking in
that state ten years; also followed his trade and farming in Illinois until
1867; from that time until 1872 he lived at Rochester, Minnesota, then settled
on his present farm in Marshall. Mr. Sanders was married in 1843; Iris wife was
Miss Ellen Limer; Emily A. and Francis W. are the children.

   V. B. Seward, born in 1853 in Indiana, went with his parents in 1855 to
Mankato, Minnesota. After leaving the State University at Minneapolis in 1875 he
began the study of law; was admitted to the bar in 1878 at Mankato, came to
Marshall the next year and formed a law partnership with A. C. Forbes, county
attorney, and has since continued practice.

   C. B. Tyler was born September 2, 1835, in Montrose, Susquehanna county,
Pennsylvania; in 1857 he settled at Belle Plaine, Minnesota; was deputy revenue
collector at that place seven years, postmaster four years and mayor two years;
since 1873 he has been register of the United States land office, which was
moved in 1880 from New Ulm to Tracy, and with the exception of one year has been
vice president of the Lyon County bank since its establishment at Marshall. From
1875 to 1878 he owned and edited the New Ulm Herald. Married Lydia Messer in
1865. They have four sons.

   John Ward was born in 1819 in New Jersey, and at the age of two years went
with his parents to a farm in New York, where he lived until twenty-one years
old. After engaging in the lumber business in Virginia fifteen years, he
returned to New York; was conductor on a railroad and then employed in farming
in that state till coming to Marshall in 1872; he has since lived on his farm,
excepting the two years he was station agent. Mr. Ward married Miss M. J. Bacon
in 1845; they have eight children.

   S. Webster, born in October, 1833, in Jefferson, Ashtabula county, Ohio,
moved with his parents in 1855 to Rice county, Minnesota; the town of Webster
was named in honor of his father. In June, 1863, he enlisted in Company A,
Seventh Minnesota; re-enlisted in 1864 in Tennessee; was promoted to second
lieutenant and served until the war closed. After residing in Rice and Dakota
counties he came to Marshall in 1872 and claimed 160 acres of land. He was
appointed sheriff in 1873, and has since been twice elected; married in 1856
Frances Humphrey. Two children.

   C. H. Whitney was born January 16, 1836, in Cumberland county, Maine, and
graduated from North Parsonfield Seminary. When nineteen years old he went to
Wisconsin, and was engaged with a brother in contracting until 1863, at which
date he removed to Oronoco, Minnesota, and embarked in the furniture trade; was
town clerk there three years. June 28, 1869, he took a claim where Marshall now
stands, and became one of the proprietors of the city; spent the following
winter in Wisconsin, hut returned in June, 1870, and in 1872 built the
Merchant's Exchange Hotel. Mr. Whitney has been judge of probate, deputy county
treasurer, justice of the peace, chairman of the county hoard, and from the
first a member of the school hoard; is also collector of the land department of
the Winona & St. Peter railroad. Married in 1860 Mary Wirt; Zula M., Millie A.,
Fanny W. and Gertie E. are the children.

   Charles C. Whitney, born March 20, 1846, at Salmon Falls, New Hampshire,
accompanied his parents in 1856 to Lawrence, Massachusetts. After leaving school
he entered Pemberton mills; was absent by chance when the building fell and
buried seven hundred people. At the age of fourteen he began learning printing;
continued until enlisting in 1864 in the Sixth Massachusetts; afterward entered
a battalion of the 26th New York cavalry; was appointed sergeant. Returned to
the printing office, and subsequently became known as the second best type
setter in the United States. From 1870 to 1880 he was a regular correspondent of
the Boston Herald; was also correspondent and reporter for other papers. Mr.
Whitney took a prominent part in state militia matters for a number of years.
Upon coming to Marshall in 1880 he bought the Lyon County News. Married,
November 28, 1866, Mattie Hogle, who died June 8, 1877; one child, Frank. May 1,
1879, he married Nellie Johnson; they have one child, Joseph.

   Judge Darnel F. Weymouth, native of Vermont, was born June 22d, 1318, in
Orange county. He was given an academical education, after which he studied law
and was admitted at Chelsea, Vermont, in 1844. Mr. Weymouth practiced his
profession at Jefferson, Wisconsin, where he had located in 1850, until 1874,
the date of his removal to Marshall; he settled on a farm here. In 1876 he was
elected judge of probate of Lyon county, and has been county attorney two years.
Married in 1844, Mary Blodgett, who died in 1857. There are six living children.
He has one child by his second marriage, which occurred in 1859, with Philinda
Flint, who died in 1865; he married Harriet Howell in 1866.

   C. M. Wilcox, native of Pennsylvania, was born August 26, 1854, in Bradford
county. At the age of fourteen years he went to Rochester, Minnesota, and after
attending the high school of that city five years, he removed to Marshall, where
he was appointed express agent. Soon after, Mr. Wilcox began to study the drug
business, and in the year 1876, opened his present store.

   J. W. Williams was born May 26, 1848, in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and when
seventeen years old went to Fox Lake, Wisconsin. In 1872 he opened a hardware
store at Windom, Minnesota, but the next year came to Marshall, where he has
since been in trade. Mr. Williams has served in the state legislature, also as
county treasurer and clerk of the court. Married in 1877, Ada Webster; there are
two children.

LYND.

   This town was named for James W. Lynd, who had a trading post here prior to
the Indian outbreak in 1862. Several half-breeds had claims near him; when the
first settlers arrived, there was a log building on section 33, which G. W.
Whitney occupied as a store. The first settlers were W. H. Langdon, James
Cummins, A. W. Muzzy, Luman Ticknor, L. W. Langdon, Eugene and E. C. Langdon,
Emerson Hall and Frank Curtis, who came in the fall of 1867.

   The village of Lynd was laid out by A. W. Muzzy, on the south side of the
Redwood river, on section 33. Luman Ticknor kept a hotel and a post-office was
established with D. M. Taylor in charge. In 1871, Muzzy sold to W. T. Ellis, who
put up several buildings. Lower Lynd was started by A. R. Cummins and A. D.
Morgan, a short distance down the river; Ellis moved his business there and the
post-office was also located there. When the railroad was built, leaving these
towns at some distance from the line, they declined. Each was, for a time, the
county seat. Ellis soon after started the town of Camden, where a saw-mill had
been built by James Cummins; there is one store a few residences, and a
three-story flouring mill. The mill has three run of stone and was built in
1874, by Smith, Ellis and Rouse. Camden post-office was established about the
same time, and W. T. Ellis appointed postmaster; Jacob Rouse has held the office
since 1875.

   H. R. Marcyes built a flouring mill with three run of stone, on section 23,
in 1877.

   The town was set apart for organization September 4, 1872, but no election
was had, and the county board appointed officers January 9, 1873. They were
Jacob Rouse, chairman, A. R. Cummins and John Stark, supervisors; N. Davis,
clerk; G. E. Cummins, treasurer. The first school was taught by Lydia Cummins in
the spring of 1869 in the old building which had been occupied by Mr. Lynd.
There are now five school-houses.

   Rev. C. F. Wright, a Methodist, conducted the first services in the fall of
1868. A society was organized with about twenty members; in 1871 a log church
was erected between Upper and Lower Lynd. Another church was partially completed
in Upper Lynd, and used one summer, then moved to Lower Lynd and used as a
residence. Rev. J. N. Liscomb is now pastor, and services are held at a
school-house.

   The first marriage was that of A. W. McGandy and Charlotte Buell, in 1871.
The first birth was Harry Lynd, son of George E. Cummins, born in 1869. The
first death was that of Mrs. Bowers, daughter of A. W. Muzzy; she died in the
fall of 1868, of consumption.

   A. R. Cummins was born July 23, 1811 in Hamburg, New York. He spent eight
years in Canada then went to Ohio, but in 1835 returned to Canada for about
three years; after residing in Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin he passed four years
in Stillwater, this state, eighteen months in Rice county, and then came to Lyon
county in 1868; was treasurer of this town several years, and was the first
county treasurer. Married in 1833, Eliza W. Patterson; George E., James, Emily,
Zilpha L. and Lydia C. are the living children.

   G. E. Cummins, born June 10, 1836, in Canada, came to the United States with
his parents when about three years old. Lived two years in Michigan, the same
time in Iowa and twenty-five years in Wisconsin; since June 1, 1868, his home
has been in Lynd, Minnesota. In 1858 Mr. Cummins married Lydia A. Cook; the
living children are Marian M., Artemas G., Harry L., Lela B., Sophy C., J.
Howard and Bertha; one child died.

   James Cummins, born March 30, 1838, in Canada, went with his parents to
Michigan. He lived in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota for a number 6f years;
returned to Wisconsin and enlisted in Company-E, 25th infantry, of that state;
was discharged in 1865; served eighteen months; returned to Dubuque, and two
years later came to Lynd; he was the first sheriff of Lyon county; held the
office three years. Married February 24, 1864, Rochelle Hull; William R. is the
living child.

   Louis Crane, native of New Hampshire, was born in 1838; from five until
fourteen years of age he lived in Vermont, then in Wisconsin until thirty-four
year old, when he removed to Winona county, Minnesota; in the spring of 1878 he
settled on his farm in Lynd, but since the autumn of 1881 his home has been in
Camden. Married in 1873, Miss Inez Bennett. Mr. Crane served ten months in
Company A, 42d Wisconsin infantry.

   O. A. Hawes, native of Illinois, was born January 16, 1847, in McHenry
county. His home was in Wabasha county, Minnesota, from his eleventh year until
June, 1872, the date of his settlement in Lyon county. Enlisted in Company K, 3d
Minnesota, and was mustered out in October, 1865. Mr. Hawes married in 1869,
Miss C. A. Waterman, who has borne him five children; the living are Edith,
Cora, Harry S. and Eva.

   Levi S. Kiel was born May 30, 1836, at Union City, Pennsylvania. In 1839 he
removed with his parents to Ohio, thence in 1844 to Wisconsin. Enlisted in
Company F, 3d infantry, of that state; was discharged nine months later; then
was in Company E, 25th regiment, from 1864 till war ceased. Since coming to Lynd
in 1868 he has been employed in farming and hotel keeping. Married in 1864,
Emily Cummins; Jessie M., Albertie E., Amy, Leslie L. and Ben are their children.

   W. H. Langdon was born September 28, 1841, in Columbia county, New York. In
1856 he went to Illinois; enlisted there in Company F, 12th infantry; served
until January 1863; was wounded October 3, 1862, and lost his right arm; he went
south in February, 1864; raised, and became captain of, Company A, 101st United
States colored infantry; after the war he was sentinel in the United States
senate gallery. In July 1867 he came to Lynd; afterward spent six years in Lake
Marshall, then returned to this town; was the first register of deeds of Lyon
county; has been town treasurer and assessor. Married in 1868 Zilpha Cummins;
the children are Mary H., Katie A., Herbert C., Jonathan W., Paul H. and Raymond F.

   B. F. Link, born March 11, 1843, in Columbia county, New York, accompanied
his father's family to Wisconsin in 1853. From 1864 to the fall of 1867 he was
in Montana, then spent the winter in Omaha; after a time he returned to
Wisconsin and since the spring of 1872 has resided in Lynd, where he owns a
farm. Married in 1873, Stella Farnham; the children are Lillian C. Mabel A.,
Glen R. and an adopted son, L. Barnes.

   G. N. Link, of New York, was born November 10, 1834, and lived in his native
state until migrating, at twenty years of age, to Wisconsin. In the spring of
1879 he came to Minnesota and resides in Lynd. Miss Clara Slayton, born May
10,1841, in Lake county, Ohio, became his wife in 1860 and has borne him four
children; one is living, Clara May. They have adopted a boy, Henry.

   H. R. Marcyes was born September 11, 1844, in Maine and in 1854 migrated to
Rice county, Minnesota. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, fourth Minnesota; was
immediately put into the band, and was its leader until the war closed. In 1868
he removed from Rice to Lyon county and located at Lynd; owns a farm and a
flouring mill with three run of stone. Married in 1866, Irena Orton; his second
wife was Louisa Suffermaker, married in 1876; the children are Claude, Ida May,
Eva.

   J. Myers was born August 15, 1844 in Canada, where he learned blacksmithing.
He came to the United States in 1866; lived four years at North-field Minnesota
and one year in Goodhue county, after which he removed to Lyon county and
settled on section 4 of Lynd. Mr. Myers married in 1862, Roxie Shafer; Jacob A.,
William E., George A., Violet R., Lilly, Myrtle, Jasper and Alma are the children.

   Andrew Nelson, native of Denmark, was born February 1, 1842, and upon coming
to America in 1865, located at Racine, Wisconsin. In 1868 he settled in Lyon
county, Minnesota; he was one of the first settlers in the town of Lynd. Married
in 1867, Miss Anna Matson; their children are Clara A., Lois T., George A., Mary
J., Willie A. and Custer D.

   Christian Nelson, born in 1845, grew to manhood in Denmark, his native
country. He came to the United States in 1869, and located in Wisconsin where he
remained two years then came to Lyon county and settled on section 14 of Lynd.
In 1876 Miss Mary Peterson became his wife; four children: Cora, Cara, Edward
and Dottie.

   P. I. and G. W. Pierce, natives of Maine were born respectively in l844 and
1846. Accompanied their parents to Marquette county, Wisconsin in 1856 and four
years later to Steele county, Minnesota; after living in Owatonna four years
they removed to Mankato; in 1871 they came to Lynd. P. I. enlisted in the spring
of 1865 and served until the close of the war, in First Minnesota heavy
artillery; he now conducts the farm. G. W. learned the trade of stone mason and
has been employed as bridge carpenter. Their father, born in 1817 in Maine, met
his death by freezing in the winter of 1875, while trapping.

   Jacob Rouse, born October 18, 1844, in Wapello, Louisa county, Iowa, went
when three years old to Illinois with his parents. He was afterwards in
Wisconsin, and at the age of fifteen returned to Iowa; subsequently visited
several states, and served seven months in Company C, 104th Illinois;
re-enlisted and served until the war ceased, in Company E, 153d infantry. Since
1870 he has lived in Lynd engaged in farming and milling; has been county
treasurer and held various town offices. Married in 1868, Elizabeth Day; the
children are Mary E. and Joseph C.

   V. M. Smith was born September 15, 1841, in Stowe, Lamoille county, Vermont.
He served seventeen months in Company E, Third infantry of that state. 1873 he
migrated to Minneapolis where he was employed in manufacturing flour three
years, then removed to Lyon county; he is sole proprietor of the Camden mill, on
the 'Redwood river. Mr. Smith has been county surveyor and county commissioner.
Married in 1863, Isadore Lathrop. Mary I., Dow S. and Leroy V. are the children.

   Z. O. Titus was born July 8, 1834, in Onondaga county, New York. In 1871 he
removed from Wisconsin to Lynd and in company with G. W. Whitney, started the
first store in Lyon county; about two and one-half years later he located on his
farm. Mr. Titus was the second register of deeds of the county, has also been
justice and supervisor. Married in 1867, Sarah M. Johnson, a native of New York.
The children are Orrin W. and Clara M.

   A. C. Tucker, born in Brattleboro, Vermont, September 24, 1843, removed to
Wisconsin, and several years later to Minnesota. Enlisted in company E, Third
Minnesota infantry; eight months later was discharged for disability;
subsequently served in a thirty days independent regiment; re-enlisted in the
mounted rangers and served one year. Since 1870 his home has been in Lynd.
Married Maria Cleveland in 1868; the living children are Adelbert J., Ezra C.,
Mary E., Harriet D. and Eva A.

   Melville A. Tucker, native of Vermont, was born February 15, 1841, and at the
age of six removed to New Hampshire. Seven years later he went to Wisconsin, and
came in 1855 to Minnesota; lived about three years each at Hamilton, Chatfield
and Rochester. Mr. Tucker served two years and ten months in Company A, Hatch's
battalion. In June, 1870, he came to Lyon county and settled in Lynd. Minnie
Lockey was married to him in 1873; two children, Anna L. and William J.

NORDLAND.

   Nordland is situated on the western border of the county. The settlers are
nearly all Norwegians; the first was Frederick Holritz, who located on section
10 in 1870. The first town meeting was held March 10, 1873, at the house of T.
H. Flom; officers elected: Ole O. Groff, chairman; Ole O. Rear and Nils
Anderson, supervisors; Frederick Holritz, clerk; T. O. Loftsgaarden, assessor;
A. O. Strand, treasurer; J. O. Fangen and Holritz, justices; Thrond Helverson
and W. K. Horden, constables. School districts numbers 24 and 25 were organized
in 1874, and the first school was taught that year. Private houses are used.

LYON.

   This town includes congressional township 110, range 42. The first settler
was C. E. Goodell; he located on section 5 in January, 1868. E. E. Taylor came
in the spring of that year; other early settlers were W. C. Adams, C. H.
Hildreth and H. L. Pierce. The first town meeting was held April 1, 1873;
officers elected: Gordon Watson, chairman, C. L. Van Fleet and J. C. Buell,
supervisors; Henry Mussler, clerk; Charles Hildreth, assessor; C. A. Wright,
treasurer: J. W. Hoagland and Edward Lamb, justices; C. E. Goodell and Amasa
Crosby, constables. The first school was taught by Florence Downie in 1873; the
town now has three school-houses.

   The first religious services were held by Rev. Ransom Wait, a Presbyterian,
November 6,1870. A society was formed and a church built on section 14, in
September, 1873.

   Hildrethshurg post-office was established about 1873 at the house of Charles
Hildreth; in 1878 his house was destroyed by prairie fire and the office was
discontinued. Leo post-office was established in July, 1880, and is located on
section 14, with Mrs. Libbie Hilliard in charge.

   W. C. Adams was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, in 1833 and grew up on a
farm. In 1858 he came to Minnesota and lived in Rice county, near Faribault,
until the spring of 1869, then came to the town of Lyon. He is the parent of
thirteen children; ten are living.

   Walter Carlaw, native of Scotland, was born in 1847 and in 1855 came with
parents to Canada. At the age of sixteen he came to Minnesota and lived near
Northfield, Rice county, engaged in farming. In 1870 he married Rebecca Murphy,
a native of Canada; moved to Lyon and resides on section 32; their children are
George, John, Ellen and Archibald.

   A. A. Fifield, native of New Hampshire, was born in 1846, and was raised on a
farm. He came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, with his parents in 1856. In 1869 he
came to Lyon county and settled in this town on section 10. Married in 1876
Castillo Stedman, who was born in 1849 in Ohio.

   M. G. Fifield was born in New Hampshire in 1841, and came to Minnesota in the
spring of 1856. He located with his parents in Wabasha county, and in 1869 came
to his present home in Lyon. In 1875 he married Mary L. Nicholas, who was born
in Wisconsin in 1853.

   J. W. Hoagland was horn in Pennsylvania in 1838, and there grew to manhood.
In 1864 he came to Minnesota, and lived in Nicollet county until the spring of
1872, when he came to section 20 of this town. Married in 1853 Annie A.
Bartlett. They have had four children; three living.

   E. E. Taylor was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1846. At the age of three
years he went with parents to Illinois and lived on a farm in that state until
1868, when he came to Lyon and settled on section 3; he is the oldest settler in
the town. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in the 112th Illinois infantry, and
served until the close of the war. Elizabeth Meacham became his wife in October,
1874; one child, Mabel Lee.

   Rev. Ransom Wait, native of New York, was born in Lewis county in 1823. He
was engaged in the manufacture of machinery; in 1854 he joined the
Congregational church, and in 1857 engaged in the home mission work in St.
Lawrence county. In the spring of 1865 he moved to Wisconsin, and enlisted in
Company F, 51st Wisconsin infantry, and served until August. In the fall of 1865
located in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and in 1871 came to Lyon county; has
since lived in this town. Mr. Wait is married; four children.

FAIRVIEW.

   Fairview is in the central part of the county and embraces township 112,
range 41. The first settler was William Reynolds, who located on section 34 in
June, 1870. Joseph Carter came about the same time; they were followed in 1871
by John W. Elliott, Richard Gates, Reuben Henshaw and Henry Gibbs. April 1,
1873, the first election was held at the house of J. W. Elliott; officers
elected: H. Lovelace, chairman, John W. Elliott and C. M. Johnson, supervisors;
John Buchanan, clerk; B. C. Emery, assessor; Owen Marron, treasurer; H. Lovelace
and John Buchanan, justices; W. S. Reynolds and A. Williams, constables.

   The first religious service was conducted by Rev. George Spaulding at his
house in 1873. There are two entire school districts in the town, and one joint
with Marshall. The first school was taught by Ada Kennedy in 1874; a granary
belonging to Thomas Lindsay was used. Walter Woodruff and Julia Lovelace were
the first to marry. The first birth was Walter, son of William and Maria
Reynolds, born April 2, 1871. The first death was that of Mrs. Mary Gibbs,
mother of Henry Gibbs, in December, 1875; she was ninety years old.

   J. A. Brown was born in New London county, Connecticut, April 26, 1817. From
eleven till he was twenty-one years of age he lived in Tompkins county, New
York, then worked at carpenter work in Dodge county, Pennsylvania three years,
then returned to New York. In 1864 he went to Chatfield, Minnesota; and after
living for a time in Fillmore county and near Jordan he came to Fairview in
November, 1872. Married September 9, 1857; children are Henry A., Henrietta,
Nancy N., Linnie A., Mary A. and Frank B.

   H. G. Howard, native of Pennsylvania, was born in Erie county, April 11,
1831. Until 1853 he was farming in Chenango county, then moved to Sauk county,
Wisconsin; in 1864 enlisted in Company H, 19th Wisconsin, and was discharged at
Madison in 1865. In October, 1865, he moved to Goodhue county, Minnesota, and
came to Fairview, in 1872. Married Mary Potter in 1855; his second wife was Mrs.
Ellen Kendall nee Simpson, married in May, 1879.

   James Lawrence was born in Scotland in 1842, and when twenty years old came
to America. In 1863 he settled on a farm in Wabasha county, Minnesota, and the
next year enlisted in Company G, Third regiment, and served nine months. In 1879
he moved to Fairview and bought a section of land near Marshall. Mr. Lawrence
was a member of the legislature from Wabasha county in 1874; has been town clerk
of Fairview two years. Married in 1869, Margaret Russell. James C. and George R.
are their living children.

   Isaac Lindsey was born in Lincolnshire, England, January 29, 1816. He worked
at railroad contracting and in a steel furnace until 1853, then came to this
country; he lived in New York state until 1855, then came to Minnesota and until
1876 lived in Olmsted county, then came to Fairview. In 1862 he enlisted in
Company B, 5th Minnesota and was discharged at Helena, Arkansas, in 1863. In
1840 he married Elizabeth Hadlington. His second wife was Mrs. Louisa Trescott,
widow of Solon Trescott. She is the daughter of Captain N. K. Culver, who was
killed by the Indians at Redwood Ferry in August, 1862. Mrs. Trescott's children
were: Effie, Ella, Maud and Carrie. She has borne Mr. Lindsey, George P., Susan,
Hattie E., Norman and John.

   Thomas Lindsay was born in New York, August 4, 1839. In 1862 enlisted in the
108th N. Y. V., and was made, commissary sergeant; was discharged in June, 1865.
He farmed in New York until 1872, then came to Fairview and located in section
12. He has been supervisor several years and was chairman in 1878. Married,
April 8, 1866, Melissa E. Mussen. Melita, Herman, Effie, Carrie and Thomas are
the children.

   E. C. Pierce was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, November 27, 1832.
At the age of thirty-five he moved to New Hampshire, and in 1874 to Fairview,
Minnesota. He has held the office of town treasurer, assessor and justice of the
peace; is on the executive committee of the Agricultural society, and president
of the Lyon County Horticultural society. Married March 17, 1859, Martha
Bartlett; their children are William E., Laura M., Mattie and Addie.

   William S. Reynolds was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1841.
In 1868 he moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota and two years later to Fairview,
Lyon county. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry; was
taken prisoner and held seven months: was discharged October, 1864 at
Petersburg. His wife was Maria Carter, whom he married in 1865. Seven children:
U. Grant, Charles L., William F., Walter, Johnnie, Lora and Lucretia.

   G. M. Robinson was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, June 29, 1825, and lived
there on a farm until 1855. That year he removed to Monroe county, Wisconsin,
and in 1878 moved from there to Fairview; has been assessor and enumerator for
the census of 1880. In 1847 he married Rhozena Grow; their living children are
William C., Josie M., Kate, J. L., Sarah E., George A. and Homer N.

   W. P. Thayer was born in Orange county, Vermont in 1836. In September, 1854,
he moved to Indiana and engaged in mercantile business at Middleburg one year,
then moved to Winona county, Minnesota and farmed until May, 1879; he then came
to Fairview, Lyon county. July 4, 1857, he married Elizabeth Sands, who died in
1874, leaving three children, Fannie, Clara and Johnnie. In 1875, Maria Norton
became his wife. They have one child, Cecil.

   Frank D. Wasson was born November 5, 1854, in New York. From 1859 till '69
his home was in DeKalb county, Illinois; he then lived near Redwood Falls until
1872, at which date he came to Fairview, where, in company with a brother, he
owns 320 acres of land. Mr. Wasson has held various town offices. In 1879 Kate
Robinson was married to him; Grace E. and Charles E. are their children.

GRANDVIEW.

   Grandview is in the northwestern part of the county, and includes townships
112-42. The first settler, O. M. McQueston, came in August, 1371, and located on
section 34; he did the first breaking and built the first house, a slab shanty
"dug-out" protected by sod. T. J. Barber and Selden Coleman came soon after. The
first town meeting was held at the house of J. Thomas in August, 1873; officers
elected: T. J. Barber, chairman; S. B. Green and J. M. Collins, supervisors; A.
L. Baldwin, clerk; George Chamberlain, assessor; J. M. English, treasurer; O. M.
McQueston and H. B. Loomis, justices; G. A. Wirt and C. Cotterell, constables.
The village of Ghent was laid out as Grandview in June, 1878, and soon after
changed to Ghent; the plat covers eighty acres on section 15. The first store
was built by Mr. Ray in 1877. There is now one general store, a blacksmith shop,
elevator and lumber yard. Grandview post-office was established in 1878, with R.
G. Layth as postmaster. Efforts are being made to have the name changed to
Ghent; O. Loranger has charge of the office as deputy.

   The first school was taught in 1876 by Sarah Carstant; the town now has four
school-houses. The first religious exercises were held in 1876 by Rev. Hawes of
the Free Methodist denomination. The society was organized in connection with
the regular Methodists the same year. Services are conducted at the village.

   The first birth was that of Lilly, a daughter of O. M. McQueston, December
16, 1871. The first death was that of a child of Joseph Chamberlain.

   T. J. Barber was born in Jefferson county, New York, .January 30, 1846. In
1871 he came to Faribault, Minnesota, and in 1872 located on section 22,
Grandview township. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Company H, 186th N. Y.
V., and was wounded in the hand. Since coming to this town has been chairman.
March 31, 1870, he married Elnora Fezler. Allen J. and Mary N. are their children.

   James Butson was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, in March, 1847, and resided
there until twenty-three years old, then came to Lyon county, Minnesota. He was
one of the first settlers in the town of Grandview. Married, September 28, 1869,
Miss H. Frances Lee; children, Annie M., Henry and Minnie M.

   O. Loranger was horn in Lower Canada, October 27, 1848. At the age of
nineteen he moved to Essex county, New York, and lived until 1877 engaged in
lumbering; he then went to Chippewa county, Wisconsin, in same business, and in
1878 came to Marshall, Lyon county; he was baggage-master there for the Chicago
& North-western railroad until 1881, when he was placed in charge of Ghent
station. June 13, 1873, he married Adelia Williams.

   A.  Van Hee, native of Belgium, was born March 23, 1839, and was a farmer in
that country until 1881, when he came to Lyon county, Minnesota. He was the
first Belgian in the town of Grandview. July 29, 1862, he married Miss P.
Vanstechelmon; Aime, Bruno, Marie, Modest, Achille, Charles, Peter and Emily are
their children.

LUCAS.

   Lucas is the extreme north-east corner of the county. There are several fine
lakes in the town. The first settlers came in 1871, and were W. H. Slater, R. H.
Price, who built the first house, Mr. Christianson, Peter Oliason, E. T. Hanre,
Hans Dahl and James Wardrop. The town was set off for organization in July,
1873, as Canton, which was changed to Lisbon, and again to Moe, and lastly to
Lucas. The first town meeting was held August 5, 1873, and James Wardrop was
elected chairman, O. H. Dahl and John Moe, supervisors; R. H. Price, clerk; N.
T. Dahl, assessor and treasurer, T. S. Norgaard and P. H. Dahl, justices; R. J.
Benjamin and George Anderson, constables.

   The first school was held in 1873, with Ella Williams as teacher; the
building used was a small house built by E. H. Price on section 2. There are
four organized districts and three buildings. Rev. Joseph Williams, of the
United Brethren, preached the first sermon in the town. The Norwegian Lutherans
have an organized society. There is also an organization of United
Presbyterians, with Rev. B. McCullough as pastor; there are twenty-five members.

   The first birth was Albert Erwin, born February 27, 1872. The first marriage
was that of D. R. Burdette and Alice M. Price, July 16, 1873. The first death
was in the winter of 1873, a son of John Krog.

   R. H. Price opened a store at his place in 1874, and continued it two years.
When Swan Lake post-office was established he was made postmaster; the office
was discontinued.

   Thomas Bell, who was born July 15, 1836, is a native of Canada; he was reared
on a farm in that country, and remained there until immigrating to Minnesota; he
came directly to this town. In 1873 Mr. Bell was united in marriage with
Margaret Murphy, whose birthplace was in Ireland; the children are John A.,
Charles R., James, Mary and Elizabeth.

   Allend Christianson, born November 15, 1836, in Norway, was dependent upon
his own exertions after twelve years of age. Came to America in 1858, and made
his home in Olmsted county, Minnesota, until coming to his present farm, which
he located in June, 1871. Mr. Christianson was in the late civil war from
February, 1864, until its close. In 1866 Flora Price became his wife, and has
six children.

   Christ. H. Dahl, native of Germany, was born January 18, 1852, and at the age
of fifteen immigrated with his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin. In 1870 he
located in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, but since the year 1875 has lived in
Lucas. Sarah Orwall was married in November, 1877, to Mr. Dahl.

   Jacob A. H. Dahl was born March 29, 1854, in Norway. The family immigrated to
America in 1867 and located in Wisconsin; in 1870 removed to Blue Earth county,
Minnesota, and since 1872 has made his home in Lucas; he has officiated as town
clerk and justice. Married in 1880, Emma Orwall; they have one child, Alma M.

   Edward T. Hanre, born November 22, 1843, in Norway. In 1868 he emigrated from
the old country and has since been a resident of the United States; he came to
Lucas in 1871; was among the first settlers here. Mr. Hanre has been elected to
different town offices.

   O. H. Hatlestad, native of Norway, was born March 4, 1853, and in 1854 the
family immigrated to Columbia county, Wisconsin. When he was eleven years old
they removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and in 1874 he went to Marshall; was
in the employ of P. P. Wise as traveling salesman and in 1877 succeeded him in
the business, which he carried until 1881, at which date he located on his farm
in Lucas. In 1876 he married Miss C. Anderson; they have two children: Andrew H.
and Martha K.

   John Krog was born in Norway, February 17, 1828. He was a soldier in the war
between France and Prussia. Mr. Krog has been a resident of the United States
since 1861, and since 1863 has lived in Minnesota; in 1872 he came to his
present farm on section 22. Ellen Olson was married to him in 1854, and died
April 25, 1864. Miss P. Christensen became his wife in 1865; there are three
girls and three boys.

   J. C. Lines, native of Canada, was born November 5, 1853, in Ontario. After
twelve years of age he was obliged to labor for self-support. In 1865 he removed
to Wabasha county, Minnesota, in 1869 to Redwood county, and in May, 1873, came
to Lucas; has served his town as assessor. In 1876 he married Angeline Garry.

   John McDonald, born in Nova Scotia, May 10, 1843, accompanied his parents to
Canada when about eight years old. At the age of fourteen he began the life of a
sailor; was at sea and on the lakes ten years. In 1871 he located in Bay City,
Michigan, where he was employed in the salt works; since 1878 he has lived at
his farm in Lucas. Married in 1871, Catharine Kennedy, who has two girls and
three boys.

   John F. McLinnan, who is about thirty-eight years of age, was born in Canada
and remained at home until twenty-six years old. He learned carpentering and was
employed at that trade six years in Duluth; for two years he kept a stand in the
market at St. Paul; in 1875 he came to his home in Lucas. Jessie McKinley became
his wife in 1872; they have four boys and one girl.

   Martin T. Ness, a native of Norway, was born March 31, 1851. Followed his
trade, that of baker most of the time until coming to America, in 1871; in the
spring of 1875 he came to Minnesota and directly to his present home. Mr. Ness
has been supervisor and assessor. In 1880 he married Nora Midboe who has borne
him one child: Amelia G.

   C. J. Price was born March 9, 1852, thirty miles south of Chicago, and lived
there until five years old. His father died October 30, 1854, and in 1857 the
mother and family located near Rochester, Minnesota; in June, 1871, they came to
Lucas but did not settle here till October, 1876. Mr. Price married Susie Hoyt
in October, 1876; the children are Clinton E. and Grace E.

   R. H. Price, born February 3, 1846, near Chicago, accompanied his widowed
mother to Minnesota, when he was eleven years old, and settled near the city of
Rochester. He served in the late war from February 1864, until its close. In
1871 he came to Lucas, was one of the first settlers and assisted in the
organization of the town; has officiated as assessor and clerk. Mr. Price and
his mother reside together.

   J. C. Robertson, native of Scotland, was born October 20, 1848 in Edinburg.
In 1849 the family immigrated to Wisconsin; removed to Olmsted county,
Minnesota, in November, 1854, but since the spring of' 1876 his home has been on
section 34 of Lucas. Married in 1872, Josephine Borden; they have two children:
Jessie M. and Dora E.

   George Russell was born July 19,1853, in Scotland. From the age of fourteen
he was dependent upon his own exertions; came to the United States and directly
to Olmsted county, Minnesota; in May, 1875, he came to Lucas. Maggie Wilson
became his wife in February 1875; Alexander, Anna and Harry are their children.

   J. D. Smith, born August 30, 1838, was reared on a farm in Scotland, his
native country. Came to Minnesota in 1866, and settled in Wabasha county, where
he has a farm, also owns 160 acres in Lucas, which town has been his home since
1878. In July, 1873, he married Mary Philip who was born in Scotland; four
children; John P., Mary E. and George A. are living.

   James Wardrop, born August 15, 1826, in Scotland, went to Glasgow at the age
of fifteen and learned stone cutting. Emigrated to Canada in 1842, soon after
went to New York, and was employed at his trade until coming, in the spring of
1871, to his farm in Lucas. Miss Elizabeth Russell, native of Scotland, was
married to him in 1856; Jennie and John are their children.

   J. A. White was born July 21, 1835, in Rome, Oneida county, New York. After
leaving the common schools he attended Whitesboro Seminary, then engaged in
teaching. In May 1863 he migrated to Illinois, and for one year during the war
was superintendent of forage department. Mr. White removed in 1866 to Yellow
Medicine county, Minnesota, and the same year located a farm. He has been
employed in teaching and has held the county offices of superintendent and
commissioner. Married in July, 1859, Anna Kilbourn, who died November 25, 1861;
re-married in July, 1865; two children: Julius and Burton.

EIDSVOLD.

   Eidsvold is located in the northwest corner of the county, and is formed of
township 113, range. 43. The first settlement was made by Nels Torgerson in
June, 1871; after him came Swend Pederson and Ole Esping. The first town meeting
was held September 20, 1873; officers elected: H. T. Oakland, chairman; Nels
Torgerson and A. Annundson, supervisors; John Coleman, clerk; O. B. Bingham,
assessor; Swend Peterson, treasurer; H. D. Frink, justice; O. H. Esping and G.
Annundson, constables.

   The village of Nordland was laid out by the railroad company in 1876, on the
southwest quarter of section 25. The name was changed to Minneota by an act of
legislature. An attempt had been made previously to start a town to the west; H.
D. Frink opened a store in 1873, and continued about a year; N. W. L. Jager
opened a store in 1874, moved to the present village of Minneota the next year
and put up the first store in the place. Christian Lee started a blacksmith shop
on section 26, and ran it two years. Dr. T. D. Seals started the second store in
the village in November, 1875; Jacobson and Peterson established a lumber yard
in 1878; J. C. Peterson is now agent for the parties who purchased the business
in 1880. Another lumber yard was started in 1880, with John Dobson as agent.

   Nordland post-office was established in 1872, and H. D. Frink appointed
postmaster; the office was moved into the village in 1875, and N. W. L. Jager
made postmaster; the name was changed to Minneota in 1878. Almost every branch
of business is transacted; there are five general stores, two hotels, two
elevators, one warehouse, two drug stores, two blacksmith shops and a feed mill.
The village was incorporated and the first election held January 21, 1881;
officers elected: G. A. Jacobson, president; John Carlen, N. W. L. Jager and J.
C. Peterson, trustees; A. D. Davidson, recorder; J. H. Frost, treasurer; S. B.
Kentner, justice, and Wm. Davidson, marshal.

   The first religious services were held by Rev. J. Berg, a Lutheran, at the
section house in the village. There are two Norwegian Lutheran organizations,
the Conference and the Synod. The Icelandic Lutheran society organized in 1880.

   In 1879 a Catholic colony was located in Lyon county by Bishop Ireland, a
large portion of the land occupied being in Eidsvold. The first settlement by
the colonists, who are English, Irish and Belgians, began in 1880. The first
priest was Rev. M. J. Houly; he was succeeded in April, 1881, by Rev. Louis
Cornelis, who built a neat church and parsonage, the only Catholic church in the
county. The colony now numbers some seventy families.

   The first public school was taught by O. H. Dahl; a railroad section house
was in use until 1879, when the school-house was built at Minneota: there is one
other school building.

   The first marriage was that of J. J. Wallen and Miss Annie Olson, October 24,
1874. The first birth was twin girls to Swend Pederson and wife, in 1871. The
first death was in 1872, a daughter of Ole Pederson.

   Louis Cornelis was born in Belgium, April 3, 1843. When young, went to
England, but returned to Belgium and finished his studies for the ministry at
Loudain College. In 1865 he came to America and for two years was curate of St.
Peter's church at Keokuk, Iowa; taught for two years and for three years
traveled in Europe. Upon his return to this country he engaged in mission work
in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and during the time built a convent at Stevens'
Point, Wisconsin; also completed churches at Lanesboro and Preston, Minnesota.
In 1881 he assumed charge of the colony at Minneota.

   Knud O. Dovre was born in Norway, February 10, 1844, and came to America in
1870; settled at Northfield, Minnesota, and two years later came to section 34,
Eidsvold. Married Annie Olson in 1862; has five children.

   Thomas Hanson, native of Norway, was born July 14, 1849. In 1865 he came to
Vernon county, Wisconsin, and from there to Olmsted county, Minnesota; engaged
in merchandising and farming, and was postmaster at Hanson post-office four
years; in 1879 he opened a store at Minneota. Married in 1873, Martha Anderson,
and has three children.

   G. A. Jacobson was born in Norway in 1836, and emigrated from there in 1854.
For three years lived in Wisconsin, then went to Arkansas, Missouri, Dakota and
Iowa; from there he came to Minneota, Lyon county, Minnesota, and engaged in
lumber dealing and wheat buying. In 1878, was elected county treasurer and is
president of the village of Minneota. In 1861 he married Aase Olson; they have
had six children; five are living.

   N. W. L. Jager, native of Norway, born in 1841, came to America in 1866, and
settled in Fillmore county, Minnesota. He worked on a farm some time, then ran a
country store two years; in 1874 he settled in Eidsvold, started a store on
section 26, and in the fall of 1875 opened in the village; was appointed
postmaster at Minneota. Married Christine Dahl in 1877; they have two sons.

   E.  K. Kjornes was born in Norway, August 14, 1846. In 1870 he emigrated and
settled in Allamakee county, Iowa; lived there four years, then came to Eidsvold
and took a claim of 160 acres on section 24. Has been assessor three years and
is president of the Mutual Insurance Co. of Eidsvold. Married May 18, 1879,
Sarah Hellickson, who was born in Wisconsin.

   H. T. Oakland was born in Norway, December 14, 1846. In 1866 he came to
America and settled in DeKalb county, Illinois; six years later he went to Boone
county, Iowa, and in 1873 he came to Lyon county, Minnesota; he settled on
section 14, Eidsvold. He was chairman of the first town board and is now
supervisor. In 1869 he married Isabel Nelson, and has five living children.

   Swend Pederson, born in Norway, May 3, 1838, came to America in 1866. He
lived in LaCrosse county, Wisconsin, eighteen months, then went to Rochester and
Grand Meadow, Minnesota; in 1871 came to Lyon county and the next year took a
claim. He was first town treasurer. In 1871 married Christine Amundson, and has
three children living.

   Dr. T. D, Seals, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Washington county, in
October, 1839. Enlisted in the navy in 1861, and was in the medical department
until 1864. In 1870 he went to California, and one year later was appointed
physician at the Sioux Agency at Flandrau D. T. While there he had many rough
experiences. At one time was ordered to leave, as the Indians thought him an
evil spirit; he stayed, however, as he was under the protection of friendly
Indians. In 1875, he opened a store at Minneota.

   Nels Torgerson was born in Norway in 1834. He came to Madison, Wisconsin, in
1866 and two years later moved to Freeborn county, Minnesota. In 1871 he came to
Lyon county and was the first actual settler in the town of Eidsvold, and one of
the first supervisors. Married Thore Amundson, and they have seven children living.

   J. J. Wallen was born in Norway, January 1, 1819, and came to this country in
1856. Lived in Illinois seven years, then in Iowa, where he worked at
carpentering thirteen years; then came to Lyon county, and after living on
section 22 four years, opened a furniture store in Minneota. His wife was Annie
Olson, married in 1874, the first wedding in the town. They have three children.

AMIRET.

   This town is composed of congressional township 110, range 40. The first
settlers were Charles and Lafayette Grover in 1868, and James Mitchell in 1869.
The town was designated as Madison, March 19, 1874; at the election held soon
after at the store of William Coburn, James Mitchell, Jr. was elected chairman,
L. Grover and D. Houks, supervisors; William Coburn clerk; J. H. Williams
assessor; S. S. Truax, treasurer; John Taylor, justice; L. Mason, constable. The
name of the town was changed to Amiret by legislative act.

   A store was started by William Coburn in 1872 on section 32; the railroad
company put in a switch and called the station Coburg. A post-office was
established in July, 1872, with Mr. Coburn as postmaster. The village of Amiret
was laid out on land owned by the railroad company, in 1874, and Mr. Coburn
moved his store to the site and conducted business till 1876. J. H. Williams put
in a stock of goods and did business at his residence about three years. David
Bell was in business from 1878 till 1880. The only store at present is a branch
of A. C. Chittenden's in Marshall. Coburg post-office was moved to the station
in 1874 and the name changed to Amiret.

   In 1873 the Congregational society built a church on section 22, which was
moved into the town of Custer in 1875. The first service was held in 1872 by
Rev. J. Rees.

   The first school was taught in 1873 by Mrs. Warnick, in a board shanty on
section 31; there are now two school-houses. The first marriage was that of J.
A. Hunter and Miss C. A. Mitchell, June 3, 1875. The first birth was a daughter
to William Coburn and wife in 1873. The death of a daughter of L. Mason, in
1872, was the first.

   Charles S. Grover, native of New York, was born May 19, 1830, in Livingston
county. When twelve years old he moved to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and
subsequently to Dodge county; in 1857 he migrated to Olmsted county, Minnesota,
and one year after to Waseca county. Mr. Grover enlisted in Company F, 10th
Minnesota; was in service from 1862 until the war closed, then settled in Rice
county, this state; in 1868 he located on section 31 of Amiret. Married, June
14, 1852, Sarah Northup; seven children are living.

   Lafayette Grover, who was born February 5, 1837, is a native of Livingston
county, New York. Accompanied his parents to Wisconsin when he was five years of
age, and settled in the town of Lake, Waukesha county: he afterward spent one
winter in Indiana, but returned to Waukesha county and remained twelve years, at
the expiration of which time he went to Olmsted county, Minnesota, and in 1868
came to Amiret. Married, December 31, 1858, Olive Northup; there are five living
children.

   James Mitchell, Sr., born January 21, 1821, is a native of Ayreshire,
Scotland. In 1838 he came to America; after living two years in Waukesha county,
Wisconsin, he made his home in Jefferson county seven years, then went to Green
Lake and Marquette counties; in the autumn of 1866 he settled in Plainview,
Minnesota, but since the spring of 1869 has resided in Amiret. Margaret Barclay
was married in 1845 to Mr. Mitchell, and has borne him nine children; five are
living.

   James Mitchell, Jr., was born September 16, 1847, in Hebron, Jefferson
county, Wisconsin, and has made his home with his parents. He was chairman of
the first town board of Amiret, and since the year 1870 has served as county
commissioner.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

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


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