Watonwan County, Minnesota Biographies T, U, V & W
Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota
Their People, Industries and Institutions
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families
John A. Brown
Volume II : 1916: B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.
Transcribed by Vicki Hartman
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Tackels, LaMont Howard Page 279-280 LaMont Howard Tackels, one of the prominent farmers of Antrim township, is a native of Watonwan county, having been born here on December 17, 1879. He is the son of Martin Van Buren and Frances H. (Zimmerman) Tackels. Martin Van Buren Tackels was born in Michigan on August 13, 1840, while Frances Tackels was a native of Waterloo, New York, having been born there on December 29, 1846. William Zimmerman, the father of Mrs. Tackels, was born in Pennsylvania. He later moved to Waterloo, New York, and then to Edgerton, Wisconsin, where he died in July, 1879. His life had been devoted to the cultivation of the soil. Horace H. Tackels, the grandfather of LaMont Howard Tackels, was of English descent. He married Samantha Webster and they lived for a time on a farm in Michigan. They later moved to a farm near Edgerton, Wisconsin, and then to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he owned a farm in Pleasant Mounds township. He served for two years in the Civil War. Horace H. and Samantha Tackels were the parents of the following children: Minerva, deceased; Martin Van Buren, Hattie, Sylvia, deceased; Mart, and Charles, deceased. Martin Van Buren Tackels was educated in the common and high schools of Michigan and Wisconsin. He and Mrs. Tackels are the parents of the following children : Kittie Eleanor, Mettie Grace, and LaMont Howard. Kittie Eleanor was born on March 7, 1866. She is the wife of W. D. Hadley, of Martin county, Minnesota. They have one child, Frances Gertrude. Mettie Grace was born on March 4, 1872. She is the wife of W. L. Hackney. They have two children, Harrold LaMont and Francis Martin. LaMont Howard, the subject of this sketch, married Helen Killmer, and to this union three children have been born, Mettie Eleanor, Edith Evelyn, deceased, and Marion Helen. While in high school, LaMont Howard Tackels held positions on the Madelia Messenger and on the Times. He is progressive and well-informed. Thompson, Knut Sevrin Page 344-345 The fact that Knut Sevrin Thompson, clerk of the court of St. James, Watonwan county, has attained a very creditable position in the community through his own efforts, which have been practically unaided from boyhood, renders him the more worthy of the esteem that is freely accorded him by his fellowmen. He was born in Norway, May 19, 1865, and is a son of Jens and Johanna Sevrine (Svensen) Thompson, both natives of Norway, from which country they immigrated to America, landing in Quebec, Canada, May 19, 1868. Jens Thompson was a ship-builder by trade. Upon leaving Quebec he came to Rosendale township, Watonwan county, Minnesota, taking up a homestead of eighty acres, in section 10, his place being the most westerly of any in that part of the county. By hard work and close application he developed a good farm there on which he remained until his death in 1908, his wife having preceded him to the grave about ten years previously. He accumulated over two hundred acres of valuable land. His family consisted of the following children : Marie, Mrs. Henry Madson, Thomas J., who lives in Mobridge, South Dakota: Lizzie is the wife of E. N. Graven, Knut S., the subject of this review; Louisa is the wife of J. E. Johnson, and J. Caroline. They are all living at this writing. John C. Jacobsen was reared by Jens Thompson and wife and has always borne their surname. He is now residing in Mobridge, South Dakota. The parents of these children belonged to the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which faith they reared their family. Knut S. Thompson grew up on the farm and attended the public schools, also spending three months in an evening school at Mankato, where he took a business course. He began life as a farmer and this has been his principal business. He remained on the homestead most of the time until in December, 1909, when he moved to St. James, having been elected clerk of the courts in the fall of 1908, taking office on January i, 1910, and is still incumbent of the same. He has discharged his duties in an able, faithful and satisfactory manner. He has also held the offices of township assessor and justice of the peace and has been township clerk of Rosendale township. He left the last named office to become clerk of the courts. He has always been active and influential in public affairs, and for a number of years one of the local leaders in the Republican party. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which he is a trustee. Mr. Thompson was married on May 3, 1897, at Canton, South Dakota, to Christine Thompson, a native of Norway, from which country she came to 'America alone when a young girl. To this union three children have been born, namely : Henry Julius, Irvin Sevrin and Lenora Marie. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Mutual Benefit Association. Thorne, James P. Page 441-442 James P. Thome was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county, New York, April 3, 1865, a son of William A. and Mary G. (Snyder) Thorne, both natives of New York. His father was a shoemaker by trade. About 1880 he moved to Vineland, New Jersey, where he lived his remaining days. James P. Thorne was educated in the public schools of Albany county, New York, and as a young man he learned the shoemaking trade, working with his father. About 1882 he gave up the shoemaking business and took a position in a store as a clerk. For several years he was thus employed in a retail store, and then took a similar position in a wholesale drug store at Albany, New York. Then for about a year he was in the employ of O. S. Pullman, as traveling salesman. In 1887 he came to Elmore, Minnesota, and entered the employ of W. O. Dustin, with whom he continued for fourteen years. In 1901 he came to Jefters and opened up a general store in partnership with Mr. Dustin, under the firm name of Thorne & Dustin. In a short time this firm established a good trade and they have continued to do a prosperous business, with an increase of patronage from year to year. Mr. Thorne was married, in 1902, to Marian Derdge. They have no children. Mr. Thorne is a Republican and has served as a member of the school board, and also as village treasurer. He is a stockholder and director of the State Bank at Jeffers. His fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic order, including a membership in the blue lodge at Westbrook; the chapter at Windom; the commandery at Fairmount and the shriners, at Minneapolis. Mr. Thome's store is up-to-date in all of its features. His stock is extensive and includes a splendid variety. His story enjoys a splendid patronage throughout the community. Tonneisson, Thomas Page 94-95 In the cosmopolitan life of America many nationalities are represented. The virile stock of the old world has infused into our national life many elements of lasting benefit. In the state of Minnesota we find the sturdy offspring of the hardy Norseman predominant in the business and social life of this state. This also might be said in a great measure of Watonwan county. The history of Watonwan county would be most incomplete if, in this volume the banking and other industries were not reviewed. There have been many forces in the business life of Watonwan county, and especially in St. James, that have contributed much to the general development of the county. Among those who stand out for personal achievement and public spiritedness is Thomas Tonnesson, well known throughout the county as a leading banker and man of public spirit. Thomas Tonnesson, cashier of the First National Bank of St. James, was born in Norway, October 7, 1867, the son of Hans and Ingeborg Tonnesson, both of whom were natives of Norway, the father dying in 1872, and the mother in 1915. Thomas Tonnesson was the only child born to his parents. His early youth was spent in the country of his nativity, and deciding to come to America, the land of opportunity, he arrived in this country in May, 1889. He immediately came to this section and at once entered into the spirit of the community and soon became known as a factor in the business life of Watonwan county. On July 5, 1892, Mr. Tonnesson was united in marriage with Elise Olson, also a native of Norway. She was born a daughter of J. A. and Elizabeth Olson. To the union of Thomas Tonnesson and Elise (Olson) Tonnesson have been born two children, Floyd, born on May 30, 1893, and Herbert, born on April 3, 1894, both graduates of the St. James high school, also both have taken business courses at Gustavus Adolphus at St. Peter, Minnesota. Mr. Tonnesson, aside from his business activities, has always taken the proper interest of a good citizen in the civic affairs of this community. In politics, he is a Republican and has served for two terms as city treasurer of St. James. As cashier and stockholder in the First National Bank, he is known throughout the county as a man of splendid business integrity. The First National Bank has a high standing in banking circles and is recognized as one of the most substantial banks in this part of the state. This, in a measure, is largely due to the close attention given it by Mr. Tonnesson, and also largely due to the executive ability displayed in the office which he holds. He is also a director and stockholder in the St. James Telephone Company. Mr. Tonnesson's fraternal affiliation is with Libanus Lodge No. 92, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Concordia Chapter No. 25. He and his family are faithful attendants of the United Norwegian church of St. James, Minnesota. In a review of those forces that have been potent in the development of achievements of Watonwan county, Mr. Tonnesson is among those who stand in the forefront. Uhlhorn, Felix Frederick Page 102-103 Comparatively few of the men of Watonwan county who are today active in business, agricultural or professional life here, are natives of this locality. One of the native-born sons who has been prudent in remaining in his native county is Felix Frederick Uhlhorn, merchant of St. James. He was born in Adrian township, Watonwan county, May 28, 1872, and is a son of Frederick William and Caroline (Brunder) Uhlhorn, both natives of Alsace-Lorraine, formrely a province of France, and there they spent their earlier years, emigrating to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1868, then moved to Beaver Dam, that state, where they spent one year, then came to Adrian township, Watonwan county, Minnesota, May 5, 1872, and bought a soldier's claim of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Uhlhorn prospered and added to his holdings until he owned eight hundred acres of valuable land in Watonwan and Brown counties, and he carried on general farming and stock raising on an enormous scale. Politically, he was a Republican, and he belonged to the German Lutheran church, of which he was one of the founders. He was a local preacher and often filled the pulpit of his church, also conducted many funerals. He was also interested in school work. He was clerk of Adrian township for about eighteen years and was a member of the school board for a number of years, also filled the office of county commissioner for several years, and for eight years was judge of the probate court of Watonwan county, finally resigning the office. As a public servant he discharged his duties most ably and faithfully and was one of the most influential and popular men in the county during his day. He spent the last years of his life in retirement, dying on September 21, 1900, at the age of sixty-five years. His widow is still living, at the age of seventy-nine years. She was born on September 30, 1837. The father of the subject of this sketch was born on March 24, 1835. To these parents the following children were born: Herman Henry, August Albert, Fannie, Emil Ernest, Felix Frederick, Oscar Otto, Bertha Mary. They are all living at this writing. Felix F. Uhlhorn grew to manhood on the old homestead, where he worked when a boy, and he received his education in the local public schools. He remained on the farm until he was twenty-six years old, when he came into possession of two hundred and eighty acres of the homestead, which he conducted about six years. In 1904 he came to St. James, where he held various positions until 1913, when he engaged in the hardware business under the firm name of Meyer & Uhlhorn, building up a large business. On March 4, 1916, the firm was incorporated under the name of The City Mercantile Company, with Mr. Uhlhorn as secretary and vice-president. A large stock of general hardware and implements is carried and the business is rapidly growing. Mr. Uhlhorn still owns his valuable and well-improved farm of two hundred and eighty acres, also valuable property in St. James. Mr. Uhlhorn was married on June 22, 1898, to Emma Henrietta Kru- ger, of Brown county, Minnesota, and to their union four children have been born, namely: Anna Clara Bertha, Hertha Anna Minnie, Arthur Frederick is deceased, and Gertrude Christine. Politically, Mr. Uhlhorn is a Republican. He has been a member of the school board of the German school for six years. He belongs to the German Lutheran church. Vagstad, Hans M. Page 434-435 Hans M. Vagstad belongs to the colony of Norwegian emigrants who came to Minnesota in the earlier history of the state, and who make up a large part of the state's substantial citizenship. He was born in Norway, February 14, 1863, a son of Mads H. and Gurine (Riverdal) Vagstad, both natives of Norway. The father was a farmer in his native land and spent his entire life in that country. He died in 1913, his wife died in 1873, Hans M. being about ten years of age at the time of his mother's death. They had six children: Mathias, Hans M., Gabriel, Johanna, Kari and Sara. Hans M. Vagstad received his education in the public schools of Norway, attending the high school for one year. He worked on his father's farm in his early years. In 1882, before he had reached his majority, with an ambition to seek a country where there was an opportunity for greater advantages for young men starting in life, he decided to come to America, where many others of his friends and countrymen had preceded him. In the early part of that year he came to this country and located in St. James, Minnesota. Here he worked for a time at the carpenter trade, and later entered the employ of Hans Olsen in the implement business. He continued in this business for four or five years, in St. James, and then came to Ormsby and engaged in the implement business for himself. He has been in that business since 1901. In 1912 Hans M. Vagstad and Anna C. Brumstad were united in marriage. She is the daughter of Ole Brumstad and wife of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Otis Herbert is their only child. Mr. and Mrs. Vagstad are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Woodmen lodge. Ole Brumstad and wife are both natives of Norway; they married there, came to America, settled in Chippewa county, Wisconsin, where they still live. Walsh, James L. Page 265-266 James J. Walsh was born in England on May 17, 1865, the son of Anthony and Barbara (Gillespie) Walsh. Anthony Walsh and family came to the United States in 1866, when James J. was but one year of age. They landed in New York City and came direct to Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Here they made their home for three years, when they came to Watonwan county and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Fieldon township, in section 25. The farm was increased until there was four hundred and eighty acres in the tract. Mr. Walsh retired from active life in 1896 and moved to Madelia, where he died in June, 1907. Mrs. Walsh died in 1904. Anthony Walsh and wife were the parents of the following children : Ellen, James, Barbara and William. The family are all members of the Catholic church. James J. Walsh grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the schools of Fieldon township. In January, 1906, he was married to Catherine Kennedy, and to this union one child has been born, William Clyde, who was born on September 24, 1911. James J. Walsh is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 25 and 26, and the place where he now lives, which was a part of his father's farm. He does general farming and feeds some five hundred head of sheep and one hundred hogs each year. He also conducts a large dairy. Mr. Walsh and family are members of the Catholic church at Madelia. Warner, Andrew W. Page 292-293 Seeking better opportunities, many Scandinavians have broken ties of home and native land and have entered earnestly upon the task of gaining a new home in Watonwan and adjoining counties. Andrew W. Warner, lumber dealer of Darfur, is one of this class. He was born in Sweden, September 16, 1867, and is a son of Charles and Christina Warner, both natives of Sweden, where they spent their earlier years and were married. The father came to America in 1869, locating in St. Paul, Minnesota, but in a few months went on to St. Peter, where his wife and son, Andrew W., joined him in 1870, in which year the death of the wife and mother occurred, after a short residence in the new world. In the spring of 1875 Charles Warner moved to St. James and settled on a homestead of eighty acres in Adrian township, Watonwan county. He had previously remarried, his last wife being Matilda Holm,- of St. Peter. He finally moved with his family to Comfrey, Minnesota, in 1909, where he is spending the last years of his life in retirement. The subject of this sketch was his only child by his first wife. To his second marriage five children were born, namely: Carl Alfred, Lydia Matilda, Anna Sophia, Mary Caroline and Amanda Josephina. The father is a member of the Lutheran church. He has never taken an active interest in public affairs, always refusing office. Andrew W. Warner spent his boyhood on the farm. He was three years old when his mother brought him to America. He received a very limited education, less than six months' schooling in all. When young he learned the carpenter's trade in St. James, which he followed for about twenty years, becoming a highly skilled workman, and continued to reside in St. James. In 1914 he took charge of the C. M. Youmans Lumber Company at Darfur, which he has since managed in a very able manner. Mr. Warner was married in December, 1902, to Ellen Westberg, of Nelson township, Watonwan county. She is a daughter of A. P. Westberg, a pioneer farmer of that township. To Mr. and Mrs. Warner one child has been born, Aurora Elnora. Mr. Warner is a member of the Lutheran church. During the Spanish- American War, in 1898, he enlisted in Company B, Fifteenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in which he remained nine months. He did not get to the front, spending the time at Ft. Snelling, near Minneapolis; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Augusta, Georgia. Wenstrom, Carl Johan Page 109-111 The late Carl Johan Wenstrom was for many years one of the leading business men of St. James. He began life poor in this world's goods, but rich in what is of far more value than material wealth — a sound mind and a sound body. He possessed concentration of purpose and energy that knew no restraint, keen foresight and the rare executive ability that made everything undertaken accomplish the purpose for which intended. He was also a man of uncompromising honesty. Mr. Wenstrom was born in Sweden on July 14, 1861. He was a son of Swen Johan and Sophia Wenstrom, natives of Sweden, where they spent their earlier lives and were married. They came to America about 1867 and located at Rockford, Illinois, and in 1872 removed to Watonwan county, Minnesota, taking up a homestead, which they developed and on which they spent the rest of their lives, the mother's death occurring in 1883 at the age of fifty-five years. The father outlived her more than a quarter of a century, dying in 1909 at the advanced age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of the following children: Claus lives in Watonwan county; Carl Johan, subject of this sketch; Emma is the wife of Nels Nelson of Watonwan county; Otto lives in St. James. Carl J. Wenstrom was six years old when his parents brought him to America and he was eleven years old when he came with the family to Watonwan county. He received his education in the public schools here and in Illinois. He assisted his father on the home farm until he was a young man. He came to St. James in 1889 and worked as a drayman for awhile, then engaged in the furniture business, which proved to be quite successful. Through his industry, good management and fair and courteous dealings he built up a large trade with the town and surrounding country and carried an extensive stock of everything commonly found in up-to-date stores of this kind, and he continued in this line of endeavor until his death, which occurred on January 31, 1911. Since then the family has continued the business along the lines he inaugurated, retaining the original firm name, The St. James Furniture Company. He was also a stockholder in the Security State Bank, of which he was vice-president. He left his' family well provided for, including a beautiful home. He was public-spirited and did much for the general welfare of his town and county. He served for some time as a member of the city council. He was a member of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church, to which his family also belong. Mr. Wenstrom was married in 1890, to Nellie Nelson, who was born in Sweden in 1865. Her parents brought her to Rockford, Illinois, in 1867, where the family remained six years, coming to Watonwan county, Minnesota, in 1873, the father buying eighty acres, to which he later added another eighty in Adrian township, and here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1907. Mrs. Nelson still lives on the homestead, being now eighty- three years of age. Politically, he was a Republican, and he was treasurer of the township board for several years. He belonged to the Swedish Lutheran church, to which his widow also belongs. Their children were named as follow : Nels lives in Watonwan county ; Nellie, widow of Mr. Wenstrom of this memoir; Andrew lives in Watonwan county; Anna is the wife of Nels Johan Nelson of Watonwan county. To Mr. and Mrs. Wenstrom the following children were born : Reinhold, whose birth occurred in St. James in 1892, was graduated from the local high school and the Commercial College at St. Peter, and he is now assisting very ably in the management of the St. James furniture store; Esther, the second child, was educated in the local schools and is living at home; Estella is now (1916) a junior in the St. James high school; Mabel is a sophomore in the St. James high school at this writing. Mr. Wenstrom died on January 31, 1911. Wenstrom, Otto Page 92-93 The well-known and successful contractor, Otto Wenstrom, of St. James, Watonwan county, is one of the large number of 'immigrants from Scandinavia who has succeeded in the great republic of the West through sheer courage and perseverance. He was born in Sweden, January 4, 1865, and is a son of Severn J. and Sophia Wenstrom, both born in Sweden, where they grew up and were married. In 1869 they removed with their family to Rockford, Illinois, and in 1870 came on to Watonwan county, Minnesota, where they took up a homestead of eighty acres on which the father spent the rest of his life, dying in 1909 at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The mother died in 1883 at the age of fifty-eight years. They were the parents of five children, namely: Annie, Claus, Charley J. ( deceased), Emma and Otto. These parents were members of the Swedish Lutheran church. The father was a charter member of the first church of this denomination in Watonwan county. He was a trustee of the same for many years and a leader of the choir, also a deacon for a long time, in fact, was the main pillar in the church. Politically, he was a Republican, but never an office seeker. Otto Wenstrom was four years old when his parents brought him to America. He grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the district schools. When eighteen years old he began railroad grading work, later turning his attention to the threshing business, which he has followed each autumn for the past thirty-five years and is one of the best-known threshers in the county, in which he has lived for a period of forty-five years, most of the time at St. James. He has noted wonderful changes come over the face of the land"" during that period, seeing the town of St. James grow from the start, and he has always assisted in any way he could in its development. He owns a fine home in the town. He has been very successful both as a contractor and in the threshing business. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. Wenstrom was married December 31, 1891, to Ida Olson, who was born in St. James, July n, 1872, and she is a daughter of Tver and Julia Olson, natives of Norway, from which country they came to Wisconsin about 1865, and in 1870 removed to St. James, Watonwan county, and here they still reside, Mr. Olson being seventy-seven years of age and his wife sixty-nine. She is a daughter of Andrew Bentrud and wife, who came to Wisconsin about 1852, then moved to Mitchell county, Iowa, and purchased a farm. They are both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Olson the following children were born : Halver, Bertha, Mattie, Christie and Julia. To Mr. and Mrs. Wenstrom the following children have been born: Harry, born November 7, 1893, was educated in the schools of St. James, graduating from the high school in 1911, and he is at home working with his father; Ruth, born! on March 10, 1896, was graduated from the St. James high school in 1914 and is now a student in Carlton College; Evelyn, born on August 31, 1901, is attending the local high school. Mr. Wenstrom has been re-elected to the city council for the second term this spring. West, John C. Page 393-394 John C. West, a prominent farmer of South Branch township and a native of Minnesota, was born on February 7, 1869, the son of Elijah Sylvester and Elizabeth (Reynolds) West. Elijah West and wife after their marriage, settled on one hundred and sixty acres in section 12. This was what is known as a tree claim. After the death of the father, in the soldiers home hospital, in California, the mother added another one hundred and sixty acres to the farm. She now makes this her home. Until John C. was thirteen years of age the family lived in a sod house. To Elijah and Elizabeth West was born the following children : Frank, deceased : Milo of Edon, Montana ; Helen Augusta, deceased; Warren, deceased; Elta, of Portland, Oregon, and John C. John C. West grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the district school. His educational advantages were limited, as he could attend school but three months in the year. On September 30, 1891, John C. West was married to Jennie Shilleto, who was born in Minnesota on December 27, 1868. After the marriage, the young couple came to the farm, where they now reside, for their wedding supper. Mr. West had built the house before the marriage and had planted many trees on his farm of one hundred and twenty acres. John C. West and wife are the parents of the following children: John, Jr., who married Iva Harlow and is an instructor in the University of Minnesota; Lila; Warren and David Benjamin; the latter is deceased. John C. West is a progressive and successful farmer, and devotes much time to the raising of Holstein and Oxford cattle and Poland China hogs. His farm is in a high state of cultivation and his cattle and hogs are among the best. He knows what hard and thorough work means, having plowed when but nine years of age, ten acres on the homestead with an ox team. Mr. West has served his township for five years as assessor. Fraternally, he is a member of the United Workmen. Mrs. West is an active member of the Christian church. West, Mrs. Elizabeth Rebecca Page 408-409 Elizabeth Rebecca West, one of the prominent and successful pioneers of South Branch township, was born in the state of New York, being the daughter of Lyman and Abigail (Wooden) Reynolds. Thomas Reynolds, the grandfather of Mrs. West, was a native of Germany and came ot Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming, until his death. Lyman Reynolds was a man of education, and for a time taught arithmetic and geometry, in a select school. He and his family came west when the daughter, Elizabeth, was but four years of age. They located in Illinois, where Mr. Reynolds purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Whiteside county. He later purchased another three hundred and twenty acres in Henry county and devoted himself to farming. Lyman Reynolds and wife were the parents of the following children: Mary, deceased; Elizabeth Rebecca, Phoebe, deceased; Thomas Jefferson, deceased ; Ellen, deceased, and Benjamin Franklin. Elizabeth Rebecca Reynolds was married at the age of eighteen, in Henry county, Illinois, to Elijah Sylvester West. Mr. West died in the soldiers' home hospital, in California, where he had been for a few years, because of organic heart trouble. Elijah Sylvester West and Elizabeth Rebecca West were the parents of the following children : Frank, Milo, Augusta, Warren, Elta and John O. Frank is deceased. He was the father of the following children: Dolly, Lula and Alonzo M. Milo lives at Edon, Montana. He married Olive West and they have the following children : Frank, Elizabeth, named for the grandmother, and Helen. Augusta lives near St. Paul and is the wife of Dennis Newton. Warren is deceased. He was married to Etta Durham and to them were born the following children: Dennis, Alice, Mammie and Ray. Elta married Oscar Durham of Portland, Oregon. They have one child, Grace. John C. married Jennie Shilleto and to them have been born the following children: John, Jr., Lila, Warren and David B., deceased. Forty-six years ago when Mrs. West came to her present home, there was no town of Lewisville or St. James, and but a blacksmith shop at Madelia. They were bothered with prairie fires and the land was all undeveloped. For ten years the family lived in a sod house, there being no other buildings on the farm. Mrs. West owns one hundred and sixty acres in section 12, where the home is situated and one hundred and sixty acres in section II. Eighty acres of the farm she homesteaded and filed the claim herself. At present most of her land is rented and she keeps some cattle. Many trees, box elders, cottonwood and willow, have been planted on the farm, which adds much to its value and beauty. Whiting, Solomon D. Page 184-185 Solomon D. Whiting, a well-known and well-to-do farmer and stock raiser, of Rosendale township, Watonwan county, and proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of St. James, is a native of Vermont, born at Johnson, in Lamoille county, that state, May 31, 1864, son of Zachariah and Lydia M. (Spaulding) Whiting, both natives of Vermont, the former of whom also was born at Johnson, December 25, 1826, and the latter in 1836. Zachariah Whiting was a farmer and a man of considerable substance. He was a Republican in his political views and a Baptist by religious persuasion. He died at his home in Vermont in October, 1897. His wife had long preceded him to the grave, her death having occurred in October, 1873. They were the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Alfred E., who lives in La Feria, Texas, and Sarah L., who lives in California. Solomon D. Whiting was graduated from the Vermont State Normal, at Johnson, on January 20, 1882, and for ten years thereafter served as a teacher in the public schools of his home county, at the same time being engaged in farming. He married in 1892 and continued his farming operations in Vermont until 1902, in which year he came to Minnesota and located at Madelia, where he lived for somewhat more than two years, at the end of which time, in 1904, he bought the quarter of a section of land in Rosendale township, where he ever since has made his home and where he has been quite successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. His specialty in the latter line is Holstein cattle and Poland China swine and he has done very well. Mr. Whiting's farm is well improved and well kept, and he and his family are very pleasantly and comfortably situated. It was on February 10, 1892, i>ack in his native state of Vermont, that Solomon D. Whiting was united in marriage to Abigail A. Stebbins, who was born at Enosburg Falls, in Franklin county, that state, March 7, 1869, daughter of Salmon and Cornelia (Eldred) Stebbins, both natives of that same state, the former born on May 4, 1840, and the latter, February 25, 1842, who were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Whiting was the third in order of birth, the others being Charles M., Ralph Ernest ( deceased), Everett, Gertrude and Grace (twins, both deceased), Henry C, Rollin H., Lois C. and Carrie M. (deceased). Salmon Stebbins, who was a well-to-do farmer, died on June 22, 1903, and his widow is now living at Waterville, Vermont. To Solomon D. and Abigail A. (Stebbins) Whiting seven children have been born, Lydia C., Zach, Robert A., Mildred S., Roland W., Lois A. (deceased) and Alice Mae. Mr. and Mrs. Whiting are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a warm interest in church work. Mr. Whiting is a Republican and gives his thoughtful attention to political affairs, but has never been a seeker after public office. |
