Bio of Colby, Jonathan (b.1809) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Colby, Jonathan (p. 284), who left behind him an honored memory as one of
the hardy pioneers of southeast Minnesota, was born in Corinth, Orange
County, Vermont, September 4, 1809. The first 46 years of his life were
spent in his native state, and in 1831 he was there married to Malinda
Pratt, who died in 1854. Of that union five children were born, of whom
Mrs. John Q. Richardson is living. Mr. Colby continued his residence in
Vermont for a year after the dear of his wife, and then he and his son, L.
D. Colby, joined the throng of gold seekers on the way to California,
where for two years they were engaged in mining. They then returned to
Vermont, remained there a year, and in 1858 came to Minnesota, stopping at
Elgin until the following spring. Jonathan Colby then took a claim in
Whitewater Township, Winona County the farm later owned by David McCarty
but three years later moved to a farm a few miles southeast of Plainview,
in Plainview Township, Wabasha County. In 1859 he married his second wife,
Azubah Melendy, and until 1897, a period of 37 years, was actively engaged
in looking after his farm, being recognized as a practical and successful
agriculturist, and an excellent man and citizen. His health finally began
to fail, and for a year before his death he was obliged to leave business
affairs to the care of his wife. On January 16, 1898, he passed away,
deeply mourned by his family, friends, and fellow citizens. Before leaving
his native state he had connected himself with the Freewill Baptist
church, and had remained faithful to its teachings. He was a man of good
principle, good business judgments, and had bettered the world by his
having lived.