Nobles County MN Archives Biographies.....Cass, Junius F. 1855 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 21, 2006, 8:38 pm Author: Arthur P. Rose (1908) JUNIUS F. CASS is one of the county's early settlers and the owner of one of Summit Lake's finest farms. His farm consists of 320 acres, comprising the southeast quarter of section 34, Summit Lake, and the northeast quarter of section 3, Dewald, which are adjoining pieces of land. When Mr. Cass came to the county in 1878 the land was raw prairie. His residence of thirty years has wrought many changes there. Where was then nothing but prairie land is now to be found a comparative wooded country, he having one of the finest groves of the county. This furnishes fuel for domestic purposes, and he has sufficient to last a generation. His buildings are all comparatively new and up-to-date in every respect; the location is a sightly one, and the land is very productive. The subject of this biography furnishes an excellent illustration of what a man can accomplish with no other capital than energy, perseverance and good management. He began life for himself in early boyhood, and since that time has been dependent upon himself entirely. Mr. Cass was born on his father's farm at Bowen's Mills, Richland county, Wis., May 14, 1855. His paternal ancestors were early settlers of New Hampshire. In a very early day one of the Casses was a party of eight who emigrated to Stanstead, Quebec, Canada, when that part of the country was an undeveloped wilderness. In Stanstead was born James M. Cass, the grandfather of our subject, on March 24, 1808. He moved from there to Ohio in 1835, and to Sauk county, Wis., in 1847. Four years later he became a resident of Richland county, Wis. Our subject's father was Hiram Osman Cass, who was born in Barnston, Canada, Jan. 27,' 1831. He was married to Cloa Manley, a native of Tolland county, Conn., and they began their domestic life at Bowen's Mills, Wis. For many years Hiram Cass was a farmer, but spent his later years operating a sawmill at Loyd, Wis., where he died April 26, 1896. His wife died about 1862. Junius F. Cass, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days in the county of his nativity. He received his education in the district schools and in the Sextonville and Richland Center high schools, having been a student at the latter institution three years. He finished his education when sixteen years of age and then began life for himself. In 1872 he began working at farm work in Winona county, Minn., where he was thus engaged six seasons, his official residence during this time being in Wisconsin. During the time he was working in Minnesota he also spent some time learning the carpenter trade, which he followed several years. During the month of October, 1878, Mr. Cass came to Nobles county, and this has ben his home ever since, making a continuous residence of thirty years. He at once filed a preemption to the southeast quarter of section 34, Summit Lake township, and later filed a homestead claim to the same property and proved up on it. During the first five years of his residence here he farmed on a small scale, but devoted most of his time to his trade, having erected many of the first buildings in the community in which he lived. He also worked at his trade some in Sanborn, Iowa, during these years. Mr. Cass was married at Richland Center, Wis., Jan. 26, 1884, to Minnie E. Soule, who was born Dec. 9, 1859, in Richland county, Wis., only one-half mile from the birthplace of her husband. Her parents were James J. and Fannie M. (Thompson) Soule. The former was born in Illinois Feb. 2, 1828, and was a son of John J. Soule, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y. On the 18th day of November, 1851, he married Miss Fanny Thompson, who was born Nov. 2, 1833, and was a daughter of Aaron Baker and Lydia (Hamilton) Thompson. The former was born in Surrey, N. H., and was a son of William and Betsey (Baker) Thompson, the former born July 13, 1776, the latter on the day of the nation's birthday—July 4, 1776. Mr. and Mrs. Cass became the parents of five children: Cloa Grace, born Jan. 23, 1885; Fannie May, born May 16, 1886; Leona Maude and Fred James (twins), born May 18, 1888, the latter dying in infancy; George Lee, born Oct. 27, 1893. The four living children reside at home. After his marriage Mr. Cass devoted his time exclusively to farming, and he has ever since made his home on the land he took in 1878. During the last eight years he has devoted most of his time to the raising of sheep, of which stock he has about 200 head. Besides the half section of Nobles county land that he owns Mr. Cass has city property in Ladysmith, Wis. Mr. Cass has held a township or school office ever since his arrival in the county, with the exception of the first year, and he has held every township office with the exception of chairman of the town board. Beginning in 1879 he served as constable for many years; he was town clerk ten years; and has held the offices of supervisor, justice of the peace, assessor and treasurer. He has been clerk of school district No. 88 ever since the district was organized about twelve years ago. Mr. Cass is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Worthington and of the M. W. A. lodge of Reading. He was one of the organizers and is a stockholder in the Reading Mutual Telephone company. Additional Comments: Extracted from: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY MINNESOTA BY ARTHUR P. ROSE NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA PUBLISHERS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/nobles/bios/cass84gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb