Bio of BLAND, Joseph (b.1821), Wright Co., MN
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451   HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY

Joseph Bland (deceased), a strong, upright character, who lived for many 
years in Wright county, was born in what is now Tyler county, West Virginia, 
near the Pennsylvania line, July 14, 1821, oldest son of Richard Bland, a 
Virginian farmer. He was reared on the home farm, and while still a youth 
began work on the Ohio river as pilot and engineer on differeny steamboats. 
He married Castilda Wyatt, in 1842, and the following children were born: 
Thornton, Rachael, Mary, Martin, Samuel, Sampson and Phoebe. 
Thornton died in 1910. Rachael is Mrs. David Kriedler, of Marysville, this 
county. Mary died in 1883. Martin is a successful farmer of Marysville. 
Samuel died in 1892, Sampson in 1882. Phoebe lives with Martin. In 1865 
the family came to Wright county, and located on a tract of eighty acres 
in section 24, Marysville township. About twenty acres had been cleared 
and a shack had been erected. They moved into the shack, and with one horse 
and three cows started farming. They cleared the remainder of the tract, 
and added other pieces of land from time to time until Mr. Bland was the 
owner of 200 acres of excellent land, as good as any in the county. He 
carried on general farming and stock raising, and was an unusually 
successful man. When his prosperity became assured he erected a new house, 
and from year to year he constructed such barns, sheds and fences as were 
necessary. Everything around him bespoke his thrift and industry. 
Mr. Bland served in a number of local offices such as that of town treasurer 
for five years, and school treasurer for about twenty years, and for one 
term he was one of the commissioners of Wright county. Mr. Bland died 
October 9, 1911, at the age of ninety years. He was known far and wide for 
his droll jesting, and many of his jokes are still remembered. He was strong 
in his likes and dislikes, and very outspoken, always desiring, however,
to do the thing that was right. His death was sincerely mourned. His wife 
had died in 1889 at the age of sixty-six.