David Whetstone

AVID WHETSTONE, a farmer of Rolling Stone Township, residing on section 12, is numbered among the early settlers of Winona County, dating his residence therefrom 1855. On his arrival here he found the county but sparsely settled. Its leading cities were then small villages, or had not yet sprung into existence, and the greater part of the land was wild and unimproved. He has watched with interest its progress and advancement, and in the work of development has ever borne his part. To the early settlers is due much of the credit of making the county what it is to-day, for they laid the foundation upon which its present prosperity has been built. Among those deserving of prominent mention is Mr. Whetstone.

This gentleman was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, July 7, 1821, and was the fifth in order of birth

Google in a family of eight children, whose parents were John and Sasan (Ramer) Whetstone. The father was a native of North Carolina, and spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon a farm in that state. When a young man he left his childhood's home and removed to Ohio, where he remained for several years. He then became a resident of Ripley County, Ind., where he remained until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-five. His father was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War and was of German extraction. The mother of David Whetstone was also born in North Carolina, and her death occurred at the advanced age of ninety years. Her parents were natives of the same state, and her father aided the Colonists in the struggle which made this an independent nation. Her father lived to the advanced age of one hundred and seven years, and obtained the prize given the oldest man in Indiana.

Mr. Whetstone, whose name appears at the beginning of this record, acquired his education in the common schools, which he attended through the winter season. During the summer he worked upon a farm, aiding in the planting and harvesting of crops, and in such other duties as fall to the lot of the agriculturist. When he was went'-three years of age, his father gave him forty acres of land, and he began farming on his own account. He cultivated that tract until 1855, when he sold out and came to Minnesota, locating on a farm in Winona County, near Lewiston. The land which he purchased was a tract of raw prairie, on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but he at once began its development, and in course of time, having fields of grain were seen in the place of the barren prairie. That farm continued to be his home until 1882, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land where he now resides. To this he has added ninety-two acres, having in all two hundred and sixty acres.

On the 4th of October, 1844, Mr. Whetstone married Nancy Parker, who was born in Dearborn County, Ind., on the 8d of March, 1825. She is a daughter of Henry and Katie (Ramer) Parker, the former of whom is of German and Irish extraction. To Mr. and Mrs. David Whetstone were born thirteen children, but four of the number died in early life. George, the eldest, is now a farmer in Rolling Stone Township; Jane is the wife of Jonathan Lewis, a resident of Lewiston, Minn.; Mary is the wife of George Ingram, of Winona County; Daniel is an agriculturist of Rolling Stone Township; Susanna is the wife of James Sweazey, of Winona; David follows farming in this county; Silas devotes his energies to the same occupation; Lydia is the wife of Frank Kennedy, of Winona; and John is (engaged in gardening in this county.

Mr. Whetstone is an Elder in and has charge of the congregation of the German Baptist Church that is built on his farm near Lewiston. For forty-five years he has been one of its members, and during nearly this entire period has been engaged in pi*teaching, giving his services to the cause without charge or compensation of any kind. His life has been in harmony with his professions, and his career has ever been a straightforward and honorable one.

To George Whetstone, son of the subject of this sketch, and his wife have been born seven children, all of whom are now living: Nancy, David and Charles (twins). May, Lawrence, John and Esther, all residing at home. Mr. Whetstone has recently sold the place on section 12, and will remove in the spring of 1895 to a new home four miles south of Utica, in this county

POETRAIT AND BlOGRAPHlOAL RECORD.

Nathan fledberry Cross,

NATHAN MEDBERRY CROSS is a farmer and stock-raiser of Saratoga Township, residing on section 27, and is a citizen who has been true to public duty and to private trust. He was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., near the town of Nashville, November 9, 1835, and is a son of Joel Cross. The father was born in Milford, N. Y., July 21, 1800, and was a son of Jerris Cross, who came of an old English family. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Julia A. Medberry, and was born in the Empire State, on the 4tb of May, 1812. Her parents were Joseph and Mehitable (Jackson) Medberry. In the Cross family were four children, namely: Jonas J.; Agnes, who died in 1876; Nathan M., of this sketch; and Julia, wife of Stephen IronB, a native of Pennsylvania. The father of this family having passed away, the mother afterward married James Ball, and to them were born five children, two of whom are yet living, Joseph D. and Jeptha.

The subject of this sketch was born and reared upon a farm. The first thirteen years of his life were spent in his native state, and he then went to McKean County, Pa., where he remained until he had attained his majority. When he had reached man's estate he started for the West, with the intention of trying his fortune upon its broad prairies, for he believed that superior advantages were afforded to those of the older states of the East. He went first to Pierce County, Wis., where he spent the winter, and then crossed the Mississippi, going to Ottawa, Minn., where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of Government land. He lived upon it long enough to establish his claim to the place, and made some improvements upon it during the next two ears. He then returned to Pierce County, Wis., and in the spring of 1861 came to Winona County, where he worked out by the month, engaged in breaking prairie and in other farm labor. He was thus employed until 1864, when he removed to the farm on which, he now resides, securing one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 27, Saratoga Township. Of this sixty acres had been broken, and with characteristic energy he at once began its further develop)- ment.

On the loth of April, 1865, Mr. Cross enlisted as a private of Company I, First Minnesota Infantry, and was mustered into service at Ft. Snelling, from where he was sent to Washington, and thence to Virginia, where he was engaged in doing guard duty until after the close of the war. On the 28th of July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge and returned to his home.

On the 7th of April, 1866, Mr. Cross was united in marriage with Miss Annie Lane, and to them were born the following children: Newton, who died in 1881; Willie, who is engaged in clerking in a store in St. Charles; Cora, at home; Burton,

Google who died at the age of two and a-half years; and Merton. The mother of this family was called to the home beyond on the 8th of September, 1888. Mr. Cross was married, December 27, 1891, to Mrs. Dent, widow of John B. Dent She bore the maiden name of Nellie Hyatt, and by her first marriage she had four children, namely: Frank B., who carries on farming in Wisconsin; William H., who is also living in the Badger State; and Ethel and Archie J., who arc still with their mother. Mr. Cross advocated the principles of the Republican party for several years, but now supports the men and measures of the Populist party. He has long served as Township Treasurer, and for twenty-four years has held one or another local office, a fact which indicates faithful service and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellowtownsmen. His attention is now largely given to his farming interests, and he owns a valuable and desirable place, comprising three hundred and sixty acres of rich land, which yield to him a good income.

Jerod Brown.

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