Bio of Cassius Edwin MOULTON (b.1852), Yellow Medicine Co., MN 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. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: LaNaye Hennen CASSIUS EDWIN MOULTON (1878) Among the best known farmers of Omro township and one of the oldest settlers now living in that precinct is the gentleman whose name heads this review. He went through many of the trying times of the early days and knows the meaning of pioneering. Mr. Moulton owns the northwest quarter of section 9 and the southwest quarter of section 4. Mr. Moulton descends from one of the old American families and is of English stock. It is not known when the family originally came from England, but it is known that it was very early and that several of his ancestors fought with the American army in the war for independence. His great grandfather moved from Massachusetts to New York and his grandfather, Louis Moulton, was born in Genesee county of that state in 1800. Royal Moulton, the father of our subject, was born in the same county in December 1822, and died in 1885. The mother of our subject was Deby (Thomas) Moulton, who was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1825 and died in March, 1907. The Thomas family is of Welsh origin, the grandfather of C.E. Moulton having come to America from Wales when he was sixteen years of age and settled in Pennsylvania. In the family of Royal and Deby Moulton are the following children: Cassius of Yellow Medicine county; Jasper P., of Lac Qui Parle county; Allen, of Lac Qui Parle county; Eva, of Washington; Clara, of Wisconsin; and Ellen, of Dawson. Cassius E. Moulton was born in Genesee county, New York, March 1, 1852, and in his native county he lived until ten years of age. In 1862 he accompanied his parents to the western country and until 1878 lived in Rice county, Minnesota. His childhood days were spent on a farm, and he received a district school education. When he reached his majority he bought an eighty acre farm in Rice county and farmed it during the remainder of his residence there. In the spring of 1878 Mr. Moulton drove through from Rice county in company with his brother-in-law, arriving in Yellow Medicine county early in April. On the seventh day of that month he field a homestead claim to 120 acres on the southwest quarter of section 4, Omro township. He at once erected a frame house, 12 x 16 feet-- the first house in the township that had shingles, --hauling the lumber from Canby. That village was then the nearest trading point and post office, and to go to town meant a trip of sixteen miles. When Mr. Moulton arrived in the county he had no idea that the country would ever develop into the present day conditions, but he set to work to carve a home in the wild country. Many hardships assailed the venturesome pioneer. During the memorable "snow winter" he used hay for fuel--when he could get it, -- and during a part of that terrible season he kept fire only about four hours per day, remaining in bed during the remainder of the twenty-four in order to economize on fuel. In the October blizzard he lost his stock. Mr. Moulton remembers that the country was so overwhelmed with snow that the hills and hollows looked the same. Fortunately, he had provisions enough to last the winter, and he and his family did not suffer from hunger. No water ran the following spring until April 21. Mr. Moulton lived on the homestead until the founding of Dawson in the eighties. Then he moved to that village, which was his home for twelve years, ten years of the period being section foreman. While residing in Dawson he purchased eighty acres of land on section 9, Omro, and later bought the other eighty of the northwest quarter. After leaving Dawson he erected buildings on that place and his home has ever since been there. Mr. Moulton is justice of the peace of his precinct, and he served on year as road overseer. He was a director of his school district three years. In Granite Falls, on August 28, 1878, Mr. Moulton was united in marriage to Sophia J. Ludlow. She was born in Wisconsin June 1, 1859, a daughter of Robert and Sophia Jane (Crandall) Ludlow, and died in October 1900. To them were born the following named seven children: Lee Edwin, who died in June, 1913; Cassie May, who died in 1908; Royal, a farmer of Omro township; Guy Earl, of Douglas county, Washington; Lenora (Mrs. Grant Carpenter), of Bowdle, South Dakota; Zoie (Mrs. George Sund), of Okanogan county, Washington; and Cassius, Jr. who resides at home. The second marriage of Mr. Moulton occurred in Dawson in June 1909, when he wedded Mary L. Coghlan, who was born in Wabasha county, Minnesota, in June 1859. Source: "A History of Yellow Medicine County" by Arthur P. Rose Published 1914