A History of Birch Cooley, Renville Co., MN Bios Included ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher Submitted: Janusry 2005 ========================================================================= Excerpted from: "HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA" BY REV. EDWARD D. NEILL, -AND — "HISTORY OF THE SIOUX MASSACRE" BY CHARLES S. BRYANT. MINNEAPOLIS: NORTH STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1882. RENVILLE COUNTY. CHAPTER LXXXIII. BIRCH COOLEY This town was organized in the fall of 1866 and an election held at J. L. Preston's, but as the early records are missing, the first officers can not be given accurately. The first settler was Louis La Croix; David Faribault, Sr., was also located near the river at an early date. In 1859 John Kumro and David McConnell settled along the creek; a few more came in the next two years, but all were forced to leave in 1862, by the Indians. The re-settlement began in 1865, by Holder Jacobus and George Buery; the latter returning to his claim made before the outbreak. The settlers of 1866 were William and John Tracy, Patrick Ryan, D. D. Frazier, William Post, .Joseph Deane, P. Reynolds and George Bowers. The German Methodists held religious services hi the summer of 1860, conducted by Rev. Henry Singenstrue: a society was sustained till 1862 and is now connected with the church at Beaver Falls. The Catholics held services under Father Somereisen in 1868 and in 1878 erected a frame church on section 27. Father Andre is now in charge. The first marriage was in 1869, William Tracy and Mary Kilmer. Magdaline, daughter of Geo. Buery, born November 16, 1861, was the first birth. Franklin post-office was established in 1868, and located at the house of H. Jacobus, postmaster; he died in 1878 and the office has since been changed several times. Birch Cooley was established about 1870 and George McCulloch appointed postmaster; the office was at his house on section 20. W. G. Bartley is now postmaster and the office is kept at the mill, on section 28. About 1869 a water-power saw-mill was built on Birch Cooley creek, which has changed hands several times and is now owned and operated by W. G. Bartley & Co., as a carding and grist-mill. They also keep a small stock of goods. The village of Birch Cooley was surveyed in June 1866, by David Watson, on land owned by the La Croix heirs; a store, blacksmith shop, warehouse and a few dwellings were erected. The warehouse was burned in 1871. The plat of the village was never recorded and was vacated a few years since. ANDERSON Halleck Anderson was born in February, 1825. He emigrated in 1852 from Norway, the land of his birth, and became a resident of America. In 1857 he located on a farm in Goodhue county, Minnesota, but in 1869 removed to his present home. Mr. Anderson was married in 1848; his wife Miss Ellen Anderson is also a native of Norway. Of their ten children nine are living. BARTLEY W. G. Bartley, born in New York city, November 21, 1838, went to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, while young, and worked in a woolen mill there until 1869. He removed to Rochester Minnesota, at that date; engaged in the business of manufacturing yarn and operated a carding mill; firm name W. G. Bartley & Co. Since coming to Birch Cooley hi 1880, he has built a small flouring mill, also runs a carding machine and keeps a general store. Married in 1867, Elizabeth Simmons. One child: William Arthur. BRAZIL M. Brazil, native of Illinois, was born January 22, 1842, near Peru. Accompanied his parents to Dakota county, Minnesota, where he attended school and worked some at carpenters trade. After serving in Company F, Fourth Minnesota, from November, 1864 until the close of the war, he returned to his farm in Dakota county. Since 1880 his home has been in Birch Cooley. Miss Sobrina Boonhower was married to him in 1874. There are three children. BUERY G. Buery was born January 25, 1826, in Germany. Came to America at the age of twenty; worked at his trade, that of cooper, in Canada and in Buffalo, New York but in 1857, migrated to Mankato, Minnesota. He has lived since 1859, in Birch Cooley; went to Fort Ridgely in 1862, for safety from Indians, but in 1865 returned to his farm. In 1847 he married Margaret Scherman who died in 1854. Miss S. Coffman became his wife in 1855. Eight children are living. CAMP Robert Camp, born September 2, 1854, near Baraboo, Wisconsin, went, when two years old, to Canada with his parents, and shortly afterwards to Michigan, where his mother died November 20, 1871. His home has been in Renville county, Minnesota, since 1874, and much of the time since leaving school he has been employed in teaching. Came to Birch Cooley in 1875. Owns here a farm of 270 acres. In 1876 Mr. Camp married Miss Elizabeth Griffin. Edith is their only child. CAMPBELL Nelson V. Campbell, a native of Ohio, was born July 29, 1841, in Portage county. He lived with his parents until enlistment in Company B, 55th Wisconsin infantry; was discharged in August. 1865. The family came in 1867, to Minnesota, and in 1876 to their present farm of 200 acres, of which Nelson Campbell owns 120 acres. In 1876 he was married; his wife's name was Miss E. Curtiss; one child: Charles R., born January 1,1879. CARR John Carr was born in 1809; he was brought up on a farm and obtained his education in Ireland, his native country. In 1837 he married Mary Murt; seven children. Mr. Carr emigrated in 1829 to Canada; removed to Nicollet county where he remained from 1857 to 1873, the date of his coming here. His son, William H., born May 12, 1857 in Canada, owns a farm on section 8 but resides with his parents. COMSTOCK S. J. Comstock, native of New York, was born December 22, 1838, in Wayne county. From the age of six years until the autumn of 1866, he lived in Michigan, then migrated to Wisconsin and the following spring came to his home in Birch Cooley. In 1871 he married Miss Diana Harrington, who was a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have two children. He has filled the offices of town treasurer and clerk. DESMOND John Desmond was born in July 1823, in county Cork, Ireland. In 1846 he accompanied his parents to Canada, but soon after located in St. Lawrence county, New York, which was his home until coming to Minnesota. Lived for a time in Rochester, then on a farm near Mankato eighteen months, after which he settled in Birch Cooley. Married in 1856, Honora Farrell; eleven children; the living are Patrick, who has been town clerk two years, Cornelius, Mary, Ellen, Margaret and John J. FRY George Fry, born April 15, 1824, in Steuben county, New York. Lived in Dodge county, Wisconsin, from 1864 to 1868, the year in which he removed to his farm in Birch Cooley. Mr. Fry was married in February, 1850: his wife, Sarah Holly, born in 1830, is also a native of Steuben county, New York. They have five children: Norton, Alvira, Norman, Julia and Ellen. GREENSLIT S. A. Greenslit was born January 28, 1833, in Washington county, Vermont. He migrated in 1854 to Sauk county, Wisconsin, removed to Minnesota in 1856, and was one of the early settlers of Dodge county. Mr. Greenslit has lived since 1869 at his farm of 320 acres in Birch Cooley. Miss M. Loomis, native of Orange county, Vermont, was married to him in October, 1856; two children: Fremont and Jessie. HAED James Haed, native of Ireland, was born in County Galway. When about twelve years of age his parents died, and in 1847 he immigrated to the United States in company with his brother and sisters. Went to Rochester, New York, in 1850, and in 1855 to Wisconsin: removed again in 1867 to Minnesota, and settled where he now resides. Mr. Haed was married in 1859 to Rose McClusky. Five children are living and three deceased. HILL Thomas Hill was bom May 12, 1809, in Ireland, and when seventeen years old came to America with a brother. His trade is that of mason and stone cutter, at which he worked previous to coming to Minnesota in 1852, then continued in the same business at St. Paul several years. Located on a farm in Scott county in 1856: removed in 1869 to this county and in 1871 settled in Birch Cooley. Mr. Hill married in 1841, Rebecca Darr; they have eight living children. JEWELL W. H. Jewell was born January 3, 1831, in Saratoga county. New York. In 1846 the family moved to Geneva, Wisconsin; remained in that state until 1867, when he removed to Minnesota and came directly to the farm where he is still living. Mr. Jewell was sheriff of this county two years, has held several town offices and served ten years as postmaster. Married in 1852, Caroline Bunce. They have two boys and three girls. JOHNSON Magnus Johnson was born July 24, 1833. At nineteen years of age he went to Christiana, Norway, and engaged in stone work until 1861, the date of his emigration for this country. He located in Fillmore county, Minnesota, but in 1866 removed to Renville county, and since 1868 has lived at his farm in Birch Cooley and has held various offices in this town. Married ha 1855, Caroline Olsen. Their children are John, Mary. Ole. Emma, Christian, Gustave, Julian, Alfred. Louisa, and Almeda. KUMRO John Kumro, native of Germany, was born January 10, 1826. In 1847 he enlisted: served three years, then in 1850 came to the United States: went to Mankato. Minnesota, in 1857, and removed in the sping of 1859 to his farm on section 32 of Birch Cooley. Mary Coffman became his wife in 1856. Eight of their ten children are living. In 1862 the Indians took their horses and they were compelled to walk to Fort Ridgely for safety. LEARY James Leary, native of New York, was born October 10, 1839, in St. Lawrence county. From the age of sixteen he was dependent upon his own exertions. He learned the business of carpenter; migrated to Wisconsin in 1862, and in 1864 to Rochester, Minnesota, where he worked at his trade until 1868, the year he came to his farm in Birch Cooley. Margaret Farrell was married to him in 1864, and has eight children: the living are Dennis, Mary A., Cornelius, Thomas, James, and Catharine. LORDAN Denis Lordan, born in March, 1845, remained in Ireland, his native country, until twenty-three years of age, when he immigrated to Rochester, Minnesota. Mr. Lordan was one of the first settlers in the town of Palmyra, Renville county; since April, 1878, he has lived on his farm in Birch Cooley. In 1872 he married Miss Mary Cornelly. They are the parents of five children: Ellen, Katie, Mary and Sarah are living. MILLER Oscar Miller, native of Wisconsin, was born August 8, 1856, in Fond du Lac. In the autumn of 1865 the family moved to New Ulm, and the following spring came to the farm where he and the father now live; the mother died in this town. Mr. Miller's farm, containing 160 acres, lies on section 32. He married in December, 1879, Lavina Kumro, native of Mankato. They have one child. MILLER T. F. Miller was born in 1855 in Wisconsin. Accompanied his parents to Iowa, and about two years later removed to Birch Cooley, where he finished his education. In 1874 he went to California, but returned two years later and located at his farm on section 32 of this town. He was united in marriage in 1879; his wife's maiden name was Louella C. Petrie. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one child: George E. MURPHY Peter Murphy, born in 1831, in Ireland, lived on a farm and also worked at teaming until coming to America. In 1852 he moved to Canada, and two years later to Dodge county, Wisconsin, but has lived since 1870 at his farm of 240 acres on section 4, Birch Cooley. Mr. Murphy married in 1854, Margaret Bagley. Of the twelve children born to them, six boys and three girls are living. O'SHEA D. J. O'Shea, native of Ireland, was born October 5, 1837. The family emigrated in 1840 to Canada; he removed to Chicago in 1862, and was employed several years in a rolling mill, but in 1865 returned to Canada. Since 1870 his home has been at his farm of 320 acres in Birch Cooley. Miss Mary Holland was married to Mr. O'Shea in 1857. They have eleven children. PATTON J. P. Patton was born October 17, 1842, in Oswego county, New York. From 1854 until 1861 he lived in Wisconsin, then removed to Olmsted county, Minnesota. Enlisted in Company H, Sixth Minnesota; was on the frontier eighteen months, then went south; served till the war ceased; returned to his home, but soon after went to Beaver Falls and worked two years at his trade, that of carpenter, then came to his present home. Mr. Patton has been justice of the peace and county sheriff. In 1870 he married Mary E. Griffin; six children; only one is living. PEDERSEN Jens Pedersen, born June 19, 1855, is a native of Denmark. When fourteen years old he began learning blacksmithing, and at the age of eighteen immigrated to Minneapolis, where he was employed at his trade. In 1878 he came to Birch Cooley, where he carries on farming and blacksmithing. Mr. Pedersen was married in 1877; his wife, Mary Been, was born in Norway, and when nine years of age came with her parents to the United States. PRESTON J. L. Preston, native of New York, was born on July 5, 1838, in Oneida county. His father who was a native of Vermont, was a farmer and died years ago in New York. At the age of twenty-two Mr. Preston entered the lumber business at Grand Rapids, Wisconsin. Enlisted in March, 1862, in Company I, Third Wisconsin cavalry; served until March 15. 1865, when he came to Minnesota and located on his farm of 160 acres, section 21, of Birch Cooley. REYNOLDS Phineas Reynolds was born February 2, 1819, in East Canada. After the death of his mother in 1833 he went to Vermont and worked at farming; remained in the eastern states and Canada until going in 1854 to Wisconsin. From 1864 until the close of the civil war Mr. Reynolds was in service. In 1866 he came to Birch Cooley. Married in 1841, Emaline Annis. Four children are deceased; the living are Chloe, and Gardner, who was born in Canada, February 11, 1852, and lived with his parents until 1877, the date of his marriage with Viola Price, who has borne him one child. He also owns a farm of 80 acres on section 29. RICHARDSON R. F. Richardson, born May 21,1829, in Cattaraugus countym New York, moved with his parents in 1836 to Michigan. In 1854 he migrated to Dodge county, Minnesota, and fourteen years after came to Birch Cooley, where he is engaged in farming and in practice as veterinary surgeon; he is treasurer of this town. He was united in marriage in 1851 with Miss S. M. Carlough. One child, Emma J. SIMMONS R. M. Simmons, native of New York, was born in Genesee county, March 26, 1822. When he was eight years old the family moved to Ohio; in 1844 he went to Iowa, and in 1850 to California; returned after raining there four years and located in Le Sueur county, this state. Since 1867 he has lived at his farm of 200 acres in Birch Cooley. Married in 1843, Mary Kennedy, who died June 2, 1871. Mrs. Ann Knighton, was married to him in 1878; six children. TRACEY John Tracey, who is a native of Ireland, was born May 21, 1834. In 1849 the family immigrated to Fayette county, Ohio; November 18, 1863, shortly after arriving in Albert Lea, he enlisted in Company C, 2d Minnesota Cavalry; was on the frontier until discharged in November, 1865, at which time he located in Renville county. Mr. Tracy has held numerous town offices. He Married Ann Baird in 1861. Of their fourteen children, twelve are living. WHETSON Thomas Whetston was born August 15, 1847, in Syracuse, New York. From the age of seven years until 1857 he lived with his parents in Mc-Henry county, Illinois, then they removed to Minnesota; lived on a farm in Freeborn county until after the Indian massacre, when they went to Nicollet county, but in 1877 located where he now resides. Married in 1874, Bridget O'Shea; four children: John, Daniel and Mary are living.