1881 Biographical Sketches from Stillwater 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. Transcribed by: Peg Buckman 1881 Biographical Sketches from Stillwater, Washington County, Minnesota Contributed by Dick and June Ross, transcribed by Peg Buckman DAHM, Joseph - born 11 December 1835 in Germany. Came to America in 1857. In 1870 he leased the saloon and devoted himself entirely to groceries; is assisted by John DEMLER, and his own son, Leonard (DAHM). In 1874 he married Mrs. J. DEMLER, widow of S. DEMLER, who built the building now occupied by DAHM. DAILEY, Lawson M. - is a native of St. Lawrence Co., New York, born 10 March 1852. Was married at St. Paul, Minnesota 16 January 1874 to Miss Hattie M. DAILEY of Watertown, New York. Russie L. (DAILEY) and Bertrand (DAILEY) are their children. DAVIS, George, born 22 Sept. 1832 at Lancaster, Mass. His father died leaving him to make his own at age 12. Married Georgia STANCHFIELD in 1865 and have five children: Harry, Orris, Warren, Adolla and John H. (DAVIS). DAVIS, James B. - born in Old Town, Penobscot Co., Maine, 1 January 1836. Married Martha BRADFORD of Old Town, Maine in 1856. They have 3 children; James, Nora and Gertrude May (DAVIS). DAW, Richard - native of England, born 31 March 1845. Came to America at the age of 2 with his parents. Has resided in Stillwater since March of 1872. DENTON, Silas, born 28 November 1810, Jefferson Co., New York. Came to St. Croix valley in 1854. Is married to Sophronia COWLES of Durham, Greene Co., New York. They have had 3 children, but only Carrie E. (DENTON), now wife of James PENNINGTON, Jr. survives. DONALD, Alexander, born Hancock Co., Illinois March 17, 1847. His parents died when he was 8 years old, and he was left in the care of an uncle who was a farmer. Graduated from Harrimann(sp) Medical College. DR. DONALD married Mary FERGUSON of Illinois. They had two children, both deceased. DURANT, Edward White - is a native of Roxbury, Mass., born 8 April 1829. He is of Huguenotdescent and about the 6th generation from Capt. Edward DURANT, who moved from Boston to Newton (Cambridge), Mass. in 1732, and who 2 years later, was refused the privilege of building a new pew in the meeting-house. His son, Edward, Jr. was one of the leading patriots of Newton, strongly opposing the British before the Revolution. He was a delegate to the provincial congress of 1774 and 1775. William W. DURANT, the father of our subject, removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, when Edward was 9 years old. When 19 years old he left home and came to Stillwater. Mr. DURANT is Grand Master of the Masons of Minnesota. He married Henrietta PEASE of Albany,Illinois, 29 Dec. 1853. They have three children, two of whom are living. DYSON: Charles - was born in Duchess Co., New York, 20 October, 1846. In 1880 began business with Joseph CARDWELL in the present location, known as Jo's and Charley's Saloon. EASTON: A. B. - born Mesopotamia, Trumbull Co., Ohio, 1 March 1828. His parents were natives of Mass., tracing their lineage to the Pilgrim fathers. He married Oct. 14, 1876 to Julia BURKE. She bore him 3 daughters and 4 sons. EASTON: William - oldest son of A. B. EASTON, was born at Mesopotamia, Ohio 1850. His wife is Josephine McGOWAN. ELDRED: L.W. born at Elyria, Ohio 19 July 1832. On his majority he came westward and located at Dubuque, Iowa until 1868. His marriage to S.M. CONGER of Canton, New York, took place in 1854. Hattie, their oldest daughter, is now the wife of Albert PENNINGTON. SCHWARM: Nicholas - b. 1 Oct. 1842 Butler Co., PA. He married 29 Oct. 1876 to Caroline OTTO. They have two children: Lena and Nicholas. SCOTT: Walter - b. 8 Apr. 1852 Montpelier, Vermont. His wife, Miss STURTEVANT, has bore him 3 children. SIEGRIST: Rev. Jacob - a pastor of the German Lutheran Church of Stillwater, was b. 12 Oct.1846 in Germany. He married at St. Paul, Minnesota in 1870 to Ottilio EBERT, of Prussia. Three children have been born to them, two living. SELB: Paul - b. 3 June 1831 Baden, Germany. Came to America in 1851. Entered Co., C.,8th Wisc. Inf. and was discharged in 1864. Married 8 June 1865 to Johanna MILLER. Herman, Amila, Rosa, Julius, Annie and Freddie are their living children. Robert and Lousia are dead. SENCERBOX: George - b. 3 July 1853 Warsaw, Hancock Co., Illinois. Married 1873 to Lillie LUMBARD. Two children: Anna and George. SEWARD: V.C. - b. 10 July 1854 Laketon, Wabash Co., Indiana. Married in 1869 to Elizabeth PUTNAM. They have one child. SEYMOUR: G.M. - b. 26 Mar. 1829 Onondago Co., N.Y. Married 1851 to Anna KINGSLEY. Children: Frank and Marian. SHORTALL: Mathew - b. 2 June 1846 New Brunswick, Canada. Married in 1869 to Ellen ORGAN, who died in 1871 leaving 2 children. Married again in 1877 to Mary KENNY who has bore him 3 sons, 2 of whom are living. SHUTTINGER: A.G. - b. 12 Sept. 1858 Madison Co., Illinois. Married 6 Nov. 1880 to Miss H. L. TRACY. SIMMONS: Harry - blacksmith, a native of England, b. 28 Nov. 1855. Came to America in 1873and located in Stillwater in 1877. SIMONET: S. - a native of Switzerland, was b. 20 Sept 1833. Came to America in 1857 and located in Stillwater. Married June 1859 to Caroline CARPETZ at St. Peter. 10 children have been born to them, 6 living. SINCLAIR: James - b. Racine, Wisconsin. Harry is the only child of James and Emma STERNS SINCLAIR. SMITH: John - is a native of Prussia, b. in the Rhine district of Trier. When 8 years old he came with his parents to America; living 6 years at Buffalo, New York; then at Racine, Wisconsin. Katherine JOHANAS became his wife in 1863. John, Margaret, Nicholas and Mary are their children. SMITHSON: William - b. 4 March 1844 Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada. Twice Married. He married his present wife, Emma ROBERTS, 8 Oct. 1879. By his first wife, he had 3 children: Edith, William and Cora. SPENCER: James - b. 19 Feb. 1829 Columbia, Missouri: locating at Stillwater in 1854. Twice married - in 1869 to Rose WINTERS. They have one son. SPINDLE: Elzie - b. 6 Oct. 1851 Kaskaskia, Randolph Co., Illinois. His father died in 1866 he then came to Still water with his mother and her family. He married in 1872 to Hattie STEPHENS.William is their only child. STAPLES: Edward - b. 10 Dec. 1833 Saco, Maine. STAPLES: Isaac - b. 25 Sept, 1816 Topsham, Maine. His father, Rev. Winslow STAPLES. TICE: Rev. David - b. 12 Nov. 1829 Caistor, Lincoln Co., Canada, the youngest of 14 children. With his father's consent, he left to seek his fortunes at the age of 13. In 1857 he gave up business interests to enter the ministry, and at present is pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Stillwater. TOWNSHEND: J.H. - b. 28 Sept. 1846, a native of Illyria, Ohio. On a visit to W.F. CAHILL of Minneapolis, who is related by marriage, he decided to come to Minnesota. is president of the Union Elevator Co. of Stillwater. TOZER: Albert - b 4 May, 1846 Canada East. Married in 1871 to Rosanna DOWNES. Their children are Albert, Lydia, Adelia and Alice. TRASK: Sylvanus - b. 16 Nov 1811, Otsego Co., N.Y. He married on 10 March 1852 to Euphemia ? of St. Paul, Rev. E.D. NEILL officiating. Two sons, Byron & George. TENNER: Joseph - b. 1839 in Switzerland. Came to America in 1860 and settled in this city. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. B, 1st Minn. Vol. Married Jennie DERAGISCH, and they have 5 children. TURNER: Joseph - b. 19 Jan 1839 Sheffield, England. When 4 years old his father brought him to America. In April of 1861 he entered in Co. C. Fifth Ohio Vol. Inf. On 2 July 1862 he married Martha WALCOT, of LaCrosse, Wisc. ULEN: A.A. - b. 15 Feb. 1843 in Norway, and first stopped at Portland, Maine when he emigrated to America 3 May 1867. Married 23 Apr 1867 Martha WILLIAMS. They have two children: Andrew and Ida. VAN BUSKIRK, James - b. 23 July 1845 Westmoreland Co., New Brunswick, Canada. In Nov. of 1876 he married Fannie MOSS of St. Paul. They have had 2 children; 1 living. VAN TASSELL, Theodoro - b. 26 May 1854 Brooklyn, N.Y. Married Sept 1878 to Ida Bernice, daughter of William LOWELL. VAN VORHES, Abraham, deceased - b. 2 Dec. 1793 Washington Co., Pa. Married in 1817 to Mary VORHES of Washington Co., Maryland, whose family at that time resided in New Jersey. 8 children were born to them, 5 of whom are still living, Mrs. VAN VORHES died 19 Dec. 1861 in Stillwater. His eldest son, Col. Nelson VAN VORHES is one of Ohio's brightest representative men. His 2nd son, Andrew Jackson VAN VORHES who died Jan 1873 established the Stillwater Messenger, Andrew was born 30 June 1824 Washington Co., Pa. His youngest son, Henry, was born in Athens, Athens Co, Ohio in 1839. Enlisted in the 1st Minn. Inf. 27 Apr 1861. Married 9 Feb, 1865 to Emily MOWER. Their eldest son, Albert, died at age 1 yr.: Edward Willis and Mary are living. WATSON, George - b. 14 Sept 1823 Muncy, Lycoming Co., Pa. At the age of 8 his father died and four years later with his brother went to Ohio. In 1837 he came to Chicago. married in 1860 to Frances LYMAN of Hudson, Wisconsin. Willie is their only child. WATIER, Oscar - b. 14 Nov. 1855 in parish of St. Anicet, Province of Quebec. From the age of 10 to 1880 resided in Montreal, then locating at Stillwater. WEBB, Joseph - b. 17 Dec. 1825. a native of England. His parents came to America in 184?In Brunswick Co., Ma., where his father died in 1853, he married Julia HASTING 8 July 1862. They have 6 children living, Willis, Evelyn, Carrie, Lizzie, Frank and Joseph. Mary died. WEBSTER, C.S. - b. 16 Dec 1846 Owego, Tioga Co., N.Y. Married in 1871 to Helen PRESCOTT. They have four children. Contributed by Dick and June Ross for USGenWeb Archives Transcribed by Peg Buckman