History of Wright County Minnesota, CHAPTER XXXV BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW--Pages 1020, 1021, 1027, 1028, 1080, 1081, 1088, 1089, 1091, 1092, 1094, 1095, 1097 ========================================================================= 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. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Rebecca B Frank ========================================================================= Clearwater, Silver Creek and Corinna Excerpts from : Curtiss-Wedge, Franklin. History of Wright County Minnesota. Volume II. Chicago: H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. 1915. Call Number:977.6C94h CHAPTER XXXV BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW. Page 1020 - 1021 James F. Lee, educator and legislator, was born in Clearwater township, this county, September 11, 1858, son of James and Rebecca (Burcham) Lee, the pioneers. The father was born in Delaware, and the mother in Ohio. They came to Wright county in 1855, settling in Clearwater township, when there were only eight or ten families living in the township outside of te village. They erected a log cabin, cleared the land, under when t usual experiences of pioneer life, an din time developed a good farm. James F. Lee was reared on the home farm, received a good education in the district schools, and remained with his parents until 1879. That year he entered the St. Cloud State Normal school, from which he was graduated with honors in 1882. Thus prepared, he taught school a year in Fair Haven, this being his first school. For nearly ten years, from 1882 to 1891, he alternated teaching with farming, working on his homestead in Groton, S. D., in the summers, and teaching in various places in Minnesota in the winter. In 1891, he bought a farm in section 24, Southside township, which he operated for three years. It was in 1894 that he was elected county superintendent of schools. In this capacity he served for six years. His ability, his wide experience, his scholarship, and his intimate knowledge of the affairs of the county, made him in this position a most admirable officer. A hard worker, a believer in the progressive methods in education, and a follower of the highest ideals in the instruction of the young, he won wide popularity, with pupils, parents, and voters alike. During his term in office he lived in Annandale. At the close of 191 he moved back tot he farm. A year later he rented it, and then taught school in Fair Haven three years. In 1904 he taught in district No. 130, the district in which his farm is located. That was his last year of teaching. Since then his occupation has been that of a farmer. He has a good place, he brings to bear upon the problems of farming the same intelligence that he used in his career as an educator, and his operations have been unusually successful. In 1910, Mr. Lee was elected to the lower house of Minnesota legislature on the county option issue. He was especially active while in the legislature, in all matters pertaining to prohibition and education. It was he who, in 1913, introduced the bill for county option, which was lost by a tie vote. In 1911 he introduced the law which is now in operation, providing special state aid for high schools that teach agriculture and domestic science. He also took an active part in the passing of many other important bills. Mr. Lee was married in 1888 to Annie M. Getchell, daughter of Nathaniel and Alma (Wing) Getchell, who settled in Brockway , Stearns County, this state, in the early fifties. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have two children: Alma G., who is attending Hamiline University, in this state, and Robert F., who is at home. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Pages 1027 - 1028 Florous B. Partridge, for many years a prominent figure in the life of South Side township, Wright county, and Fair Haven township, Stearns county, was born in Ohio, July 14, 1852, son of Thomas C. and Caroline (Root) Partridge. He was brought to Fair Haven village, Stearns county, this state, in 1856, and there grew to manhood. He started his career in March, 1870, when he became a clerk in the store of Grinols & Cooper, at Fair Haven village. The postoffice was located int his store, and Mr. Partridge was delegated to carry the mail between this postoffice and St. Cloud. After many years in the store he secured a tract of 160 acres of land in section 22, South Side township, in Wright county. He soon, however, resumed his employment as a clerk in Fair Haven, first renting his farm, and later disposing of it. About 1885 he secured a tract of land in section 14, South Side township, and here established his home. He cleared up the land, erected suitable buildings, and became a prosperous and successful man. He was highly respected and esteemed, and his death, March 13, 1892, was sincerely mourned. Mr. Partridge was married, October 2, 1880, to Anna B. Kurz, who was born in Stearns County, Minnesota, December 23, 1860,a nd to this union were born three children: Walter A., born July 11, 1883; Cecil F. born December 29, 1884; and Herbert A., who was born March 11, 1890. Mrs. Partridge proved a loving, sympathetic wife and loyal and capable helpmate. After her husband's death she took charge of the farm, reared and educated her boys, and gave them the best of training. The in return have been loyal sons to their mother, have always remained at home, and now conduct the home farm with her. Mrs. Partridge was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Keller) Kurz, natives of Germany. They came to Wright county in 1867, located on a farm in Corrinna township, where the village of Annandale is now located. There he died, May 24, 1875, at the age of fifty-five, and his wife died November 20, 1892, at the age of seventy-two. Thomas C. Partridge, the found of Fair Haven village, in Stearns county, just over the line from wright county, was born in Ohio in 1816. He was educated as a Baptist clergyman, but upon coming to Stearns county in 1856 he became a farmer. He took a very active part in the affairs of the village and township, and was a leading man in every respect. After a long residence here moved to Indiana. His latter years were spent in farming and in preaching. Mr. Partridge married Caroline O. Root, and they had four children: Payson P., of Berrysville, Ark.; Velona C.; Cecil C. (deceased); and Florous B. (deceased). Velona C. married J. B. Vandervort, and they live in Wilmington, Ohio. Page 1080-1081 Horace Webster, one of the most honored of Wright county pioneers, and now the oldest living settler in Clearwater township, was one of the original proprietors of Clearwater village. He was born in Canada East, July 6, 1828, and about 1849 came to what is now Minneapolis, and engaged in lumbering for several years. From there he went to what is now Minnetonka, where he likewise remained for a period. In 1855, Horace Webster, Simon Stevens and John Farwell came to Clearwater village, which Asa White and A. Boyinton had chosen as the site for their proposed "El Dorado." Her the Messrs. Webster, Stevens and Farwell determined to establish a village of their own. They accordingly made many improvements, and the following years entered the site as "Clearwater Village" in the name of Simon Stevens and J. H. Talbott. IN 1857, Mr. Webster took a claim of 160 acres in sections 1 and 12, Clearwater township. He broke the land, erected buildings, and engaged in general farming. From the first, he was highly respected and influential citizen, and in time he became one of the leading farmers of the county. On his original homestead, Mr. Webster has continued to reside. Now at the age of eighty-seven he is a remarkable man, sprightly and active, with a keen sense of humor, and all the ripened wisdom that the years have taught him. He can read without glasses, and is well versed in all the topics of the day. His thoughts as he looks back over his useful and well-spent life are pleasant ones. Beginning with a little log cabin on a claim of 160 acres of wild land, he now has 225 acres of fertile soil, provided with a frame house and other suitable buildings. He has served as a member of the town and school boards, and in minor offices. He helped to build the Congregational and Catholic churches in Clearwater. He is not a church member, but attends the Methodist Episcopal services. Mr. Webster was married in October, 1854, to Miranda Pease, who proved a faithful helpmate and a loving wife and mother. She died May 20, 1902, leaving three children: Mary H., George H. and Fed. Mary H. married Frank Harrington, of Clearwater township and has two children: Charles and Harriett. George H. died in 1903. Fred conducts the home farm. He married May Dean, and they have four children: Clarence, Grace, Lucy and Lucille, the two last named being twins. Pages 1088-1089 William Wallace Webster, now deceased, was born in Sherbrooke, Providence of Quebec, Canada, April 1, 1832, and was there reared. His youth and early manhood was devoted to farming and mercantile pursuits. In 1856 he came to the United States, and soon thereafter located in Clearwater. Subsequently he engaged in various lines of endeavor until August, 1861, when he went to Fort Snelling and enlisted in the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He was elected first lieutenant, was later promoted to captain and served as such until after the battle of Murfreesboro, when from meritorious service he was promoted to major, which position he held at the close of his service, which terminated in 1864 on account of illness. He then returned to Clearwater, where he engaged in the mercantile business for the remainder of his life. William Wallace Webster was married in 1861 to Malvina Woodworth, by whom he had three sons, William F. Charles H. and Arthur, who died in infancy. Mrs. Malvina (Woodworth) Webster died November 30, 1868. He then was married on August 22, 1871, to Lucy C. Walker, who is still living. To this union were born two children, Wallace and Anna l. Major Webster was a charter member of Clearwater lodge, No. 28, A. F. & A.M. and was its secretary at the time of his death. He was also a member of St. Cloud Chapter, No. 46, R. A. M., and of the A. C. Collins Post, NO. 112, G. A. R. He died November 18, 1895, and his death was sincerely mourned. The Clearwater "New" said of him: "Mr. Webster was a man concerning whom it is no small task to prepare an obituary which will do ample justice to his memory. In his home a devoted husband and loving parent, in his business honest and industrious, in his public life one loyal in the interests of the republic, a leader whom all might follow with safety, he stood almost without a peer in the midst of a wide circle of friends." Pages 1091 - 1092 William Ponsford, veteran of the Civil war and a most substantial citizen, now retired was born in England, December 3, 1840, son of Joseph and Sarah Ponsford, natives of England, who came to America in 1851, and located in Herkimer county, New York, from whence they came to Clearwater township, this county in 1860. William Ponsford was eleven years old when he came to this country. He attended school in Herkimer county, New York and in 1861 followed his parents tot Clearwater township, in this county, where he located on a farm. February 25, 1864, he enlisted in Co. E., Eighth Minn. Vo. Inf., and went South with his regiment. At the Battle of Murfreesboro he received a bullet to his head which confined him t the hospital. After his discharge at Ft. Snelling he again took up farming. In 1868 he exchanged his Clearwater property for a farm in sections 17, 18 and 20 Corinna township, on the north shores of Pleasant lake. He cleared up the place and in time had one of the best farms, in the township. There he followed general farming until 1907, when he rented the farm, and took up his home with his daughter, the wife of Dr. Alfred M. Ridgeway. During his active life he prominent in township affairs. For many terms he was constable and school clerk, and for twenty-nine years he was town clerk. Mr. Ponsford was married September 20, 1868, to Mary Townsend, who died December 13, 1906, leaving two children: Viola L., now wife of Dr. Alfred M. Ridgeway, of Annandale, and Ada M. now wife of Dr. Martin F. Lowe, of Buffalo. Page 1094 John M. Haven, farmer, merchant and banker, was born at Silver Creek, Wright county, September 19, 1857; engaged in farming and mercantile business at Big Lake, Sherburne County, was a representative in the legislature, 1889; president and director of banks at Big Lake, Monticello, Maple Lake and other towns. Page 1095 Selah Markham, blacksmith and farmer, born in New York April 9, 1813; came to Clearwater, this county, in 1854, opening the first farm and building the first house there. Page 1097 William Vorse, wagonmaker, born in New York, October, 1808; settled in Clearwater township in 1855, where he first cultivated a farm, but after 1861, resided in the village of Clearwater.