Bio of Hyde, John E. (b.1819) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Hyde, John E., retired merchant, is a grandson of Zabdiel Hyde, who
commanded a regiment of militia during the defense of New London when it
was burned by the British in 1781. William Hyde, father of this subject,
was born in Connecticut. Early in life he went to Maine to engage in
teaching. Here he met Miss Julia Douglas, another teacher, born within ten
miles of his own native place. An attachment sprang up between them and
they were married. William Hyde became well known as a newspaper and book
publisher, his establishment being located at Portland. Here was born the
subject of this sketch, in the year 1819. In infancy he was small and
puny, but grew to be strong and rugged, though small in stature, and in
early manhood endured great fatigue and extremes of heat and cold. In the
early years of his business in Mazeppa he was compelled to depend on
neighboring farmers for a team, and could not often get their oxen in
winter except on days when it was so cold their owners did not care to be
out. On these days Mr. Hyde was accustomed to go after wood, or to Red
Wing after goods. At the same time Mrs. Hyde was not much troubled with
customers in his absence, so a double advantage was gained. It grew to be
a common remark with the Red Wing merchants on a cold morning, "Well, I
guess Hyde will be in today." Mr. Hyde's early life was passed mostly in
Portland, and his education was furnished by the schools of that city, and
high school in Boston. He was filled with a desire to be a farmer and
conceived a great liking for stock, especially horses. Great was his
delight when he was permitted to spend a winter with an uncle in the
eastern part of the state. When but two or three years old he was one day
taken to his father's place of business to ride home with him on a horse.
When ready to go his father seated him on the horse, and before he could
himself mount the youthful Pegasus seized the reins and struck the horse a
blow with the whip. The steed at once set off at high speed, but was soon
stopped by a crowd of men without any accident to its rider, who
experienced none of the alarm which his freak had caused in all the
observers. He was kept at school and in his father's store as much as
possible to prevent his haunting livery stables. When eighteen years old
he engaged at farm labor for very low wages, rather than be confined in
his father's business. He continued to follow this pursuit and finally
purchased a farm. He also followed lumbering in winter. In 1842, at Paris,
Maine, he married Miss Sarah Stowell, a native of that place. Her father,
Daniel, was born in Vermont, and Ann Stowell, his wife, was born in Paris.
In 1849 Mr. Hyde sold out his property and set out for the west. His funds
sufficed to carry him to Platteville, Wisconsin, where he was employed for
some time in a powder-mill. At one time the mill was blown up, but he
escaped without injury. In the spring of 1855 he set out for St. Paul, but
was induced by a brother-in-law to stop at Mazeppa. After helping his
brother-in-law to build a log structure he went back to Galena, Illinois,
and secured a stock of merchandise, which he brought here with his family
in October. He soon bought the store in which he was conducting business,
and afterward the store now occupied by E. L. Ford & Co. Here the business
was continued till 1872, under the management of Mrs. Hyde, from the early
part of 1865. In February of this year Mr. Hyde enlisted at Chicago, in
the 156th Ill. regt., as a private. He was soon made orderly sergeant, and
when his ability as clerk and accountant was discovered, he was made
captain's clerk. This regiment was chiefly occupied in chasing guerrillas,
and on three different occasions Mr. Hyde went through a forced march of
ninety miles in three days in excellent form. In July, at Cleveland,
Tennessee, he received a sunstroke, from which he never recovered, and is
now unable to walk about without assistance. In religious faith Mr. Hyde
coincides with the Congregationalists. He is an enthusiastic republican
and has always evinced a commendable public spirit. It was largely due to
his influence that the Mazeppa schoolhouse, now inadequate to meet the
demands upon it. was built as large as it is. He was town clerk for
several years, and nearly always a member of the village school board
while in active life. He was the first postmaster at Mazeppa, his
commission dating January 2, 1856. He came here in debt and secured his
independence by untiring industry. He claimed a quarter- section of land
south of the village, by mortgaging, and afterward redeeming which he was
enabled to tide over several mercantile billows. As high as ten dollars
was paid by him for one hundred dollars of exchange on Boston. His estate
now embraces a large and fine residence and two lots in the village. In
partial compensation for his loss of health the United States government
pays him a liberal pension. He was one of the most active business men of
the town, and his inability is regretted by his fellow citizens. His mind
is unaffected and he is an interesting companion despite his impaired
hearing. Eleven children were given to Mr. and Mrs. Hyde, of whom nine are
living, as follows: Eliza, with parents; Mary D., teaching, Wilmington,
North Carolina; Frank D., Dubuque; Edward S., Zumbro Falls; Anna M. (Mrs.
A. T. Pomeroy), Dubuque; Julia, teacher, at home; Ella F., teacher,
Minneapolis; Minnesota S. (?) (Mrs. Eugene Ruth), Mazeppa; Lizzie F.,
teacher, Minneapolis; Joseph W., third child, was killed by a fall from a
horse, at nineteen; Willard, the youngest, lived but one year.