Samuel W. Spalding

AMUEL W. SPALDING. The pioneer residents of Winona County have witnessed many changes within the past thirty years — wild tracts of land transformed into fields of having grain, elegant structures where once stood the log cabin of the frontiersman, and schools and churches where once the savages roamed unmolested. Among those who have aided in effecting this happy result, and who have lived to see the fruit of their labors, is the subject of this present sketch, who is still living on his fine farm in Pleasant Hill Township.

Mr. Spalding was born in Canada, March IG, 1829, and is the son of Joseph Spalding, who was of Welsh descent. He had six brothers and three sisters, four of whom were born in the Dominion, where our subject rcnained for the first five years of his life; the others were born in New York State. At that age he accompanied his parents on their removal into the States. They made location in Essex County, N. Y.. where Samuel W. grew to manhood and was given a good education in the schools near their home. One year after attaining: his iiuijority lie began to earn his own money b3' working out for others on farms. He continued in this manner for three J'ears, and then, being fond of the sea, was engaged as fisherman on a schooner for two summers, the vessel being employed off the coast of Newfoundland. After his experience as a sailor, young Spalding came West, by way of the Erie Canal and Lakes, and first located in Will County, Ill. He only remained there for six months, however, when iie removed to what is now Houston County, Minn. While here he took up a quarter-section of Government land, on which he erected a rude log cabin. After clearing this tract he sold it and entered another claim for a like amount. On it Mr. Spalding and his sister resided for two years, when the former came to Winona County, and located on the estate which he still owns and occupies, in March. 1856. It includes eighty acres on section 9, which histhor- 3Slough knowledge of agriculture has enabled hira to cultivate and improve in a most proflUxble manner. The greater portion of the claim was covered with a heavy growth of timber, and in order to get this property in readiness for ciillivalion, he expended much lime and toil.

When ready to establish a home of his own, Mr. Spalding was married, in 1857, to Miss Sarah.lane Hatch. To them was born one son, Franklin, who is now a farmer living in this township. Politically our subject has always been a stahvart Democrat. He has been Supervisor of his township, and aided in the building of the first schoolhouse in his home district. He has ever been true to the various duties and responsibilities imposed upon him, and few men in any community deserve or receive higher esteem.

Joseph J. Hillmer.

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Professor Hillmer "s studies had awakened in him a love of liberty, and, deciding to come to the United.States, he left the university just before completing the regular course, in order to avoid ordination and thus be under the control of the bishop. He crossed the Atlantic in 1867 and went to St. Paul, accompanied by a classmate. He reached his destination December 24, this being the loneliest Christmas eve he had ever experienced. Professor Hillmer wa> induced to go to St. Paul through correspondence with a friend at Belle Plaine, and in that city was ordained for the priesthood in April, 1868, by Hishoi) Grace. He then went to MinneaK)lis to take charge of St. Boniface's (Jerman Church in.St. Anthony. He removed the house of worship from the outskirts of the town to the main street in St. Anthony, near where (Jennania Hall now stands. The school was already established, and m 186;t ho succeeded in introducing the now famous Faribault plan, credited to Bishop Ireland. This consisted in getting the school board to p.ay the teachers and coming

PORTRAIT AND BIOGKArillCAL RECORD.

with the public schools, retaining the Catholic teacher and religious instruction, which was to be given after regular school hours. After a year this wns discontinued, but it was the beginning of the famous Faribault plan of education.

Mr. Ililliner also had charge of two missions, one in Crystal Lake Township and the other in Medina Township, near Minnetonka. In the year 1870 he erected St. Joseph's Church in North Minneapolis, which was named in his honor, and he was aided largely' by Jacob Barge, John Orlh and other prominent German citizens. For some time he had charge of that church, there being then only three priests in Minneapolis, the. others being F'other McGolrich, now Bishop of Dulutli, and Rev. Father Tissot. lately deceased. Father [IfUmer had charge of the church until November, 1870. About this time a change in his views occurred. He became acquainted with Rev. D. B. Knickerbocker (the rector of (iethsemane Episcopal Church of Minneapolis, but now Bishop of Indiana), whose liberal and broad views had a great influence on the church and also upon Mr. Hillmer. His natural love of liberty led him to accept these ideas. About this time the infallibility of the Pope was declared, a view which he could not accept, nor would he submit to the arbitrary rulings of the ecclesiastical authorities, whose demands were at times extreme and unjust. He decided to leave the priesthood, and carried out the resolution in November, 1870. He sent his resignation to Bishop Grace, who would not accept it. but Mr. Ilillmer was thoroughly disgusted with the lives of priests, saw much insincerity in their doctrines and could not consistently remain in the Catholic Church. He has, however, still retained his intimacy with his old parishioners, whom he always visits while in Minneapolis.

It was the intention of Mr. Ilillmer to join the Episcopal clergy. He went to Faribault, where Bishop Whipple resides, and in accordance with the canons of the church he spent six months in study for the ministry, and was then received as a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, on the Ist of June, 1871. He w.as placed in charge of Trinity Church at Stockton, Winona County, where lie remained for one year. While in that city he was married, September 1, 1871, to Miss Emma J. Booth, then a student in St. Mary's Hall, of Faribault, Minn., which cit\' was her home. Her father wns a prominent merchant of Hamilton. Fillmore County, where he located aten early da\'. David L. Booth will be well remembered by the old citizens of Winona, as he had intimate relations with many of the pioneer settlers. To Mr. and-Mrs. Ilillmer have been born the following children: Jennie Monica, a teacher in the city schools; Joseph Booth, cashier in the United States Express Company's office; Nona Theresa and Elsie Corinne.

During the year passed in Stockton, Professor Hillmer was also rector of a church in Minnesota City. In October. 1872, he went to St. Charles, Minn., and first conducted services in the parlor of his home; he afterwards held meetings in a hall until Trinity Church was erected. He also conducted services occasionally in Chatfield and Eyota. In connection with his ministerial work he taught private classes in German in Rochester, and thus began his career as a teacher. He came to Winona in 'August, 1876, having been elected teacher of German in the public schools. At the same time he held regular services on Lord's Day in Rushford and Minneiska, and at times during the absence of the rector filled the pulpit of St. Paul's Church in Winona. In 1890 he became rector of Grace Church at Wabasha, and spends Saturday and Sunday of each week at that place, where his work lias been extreniel3' successful. He is now teacher of languages in the high school of Winona, having classes in Latin and Greek, four classes in German and one in French. He thoroughly enjoys his school work, and makes it a ilelighl to the students. Till relations between them are ever of the most pleasant, and the pupils all have the highest regard for Professor Hillmer. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy was conferred upon him by Galesville University, of Galesvillc, Wis. For some time he was also associated with Dr. Tescliau in the publication of the Winona Adlrr. a weekly German paper.

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In 1885 Professor Hillmer visited the old Austrian home, where he spent the vacation months, meeting many of his old friends and classmates and some of his former professors. He also spent many pleasant hours with his brother, the Captain, who died the following year. A love of liberty has been one of Professor Hillmer's chief characteristics, and in accordance with this he is a man of broad mind, whose views on no subject are narrow or contracted. To others he accords the same right of far-reaching thought, and in consequence is charitable and liberal in his judgments.

riarshall Ney Pierce.

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On the 22d of November, 1882, Mr. Pierce was united in marriage with Miss Frances Medera Lewis, daughter of John P. Lewis, formerly a merchant of Winona, who dice! in Indianapolis, Ind., in 18!)4. Mrs. Pierce was i-eared in this city, and by her marriage has one daughter, Frances Gertrude, who is eleven years of age. Mr. Pierce possesses most excellent business and executive ability, is enterprising and prog'essive, and sagacious and far-sighted. He gives close attention to all details, is true to every trust, and thereby merits the confidence of all.

Ole Nelson.

As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota; containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.