Henry Ness

As printed in 1882

Henry Ness, a native of Germany, was born in Hohenstein on the 22d of October, 1825. When he was but six years old his father died, and since the age of twelve he has supported himself. He served three years in the war against Denmark, and participated in five battles. In 1857, became to America and directly to this county, locating in Harmony township. Misa Margaret Hahn became his wife on the 15th of July, 1860. In 1863, Mr. Ness enlisted in the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company B, and served fifteen months. - He sold his land in Harmony in 1866, and purchased a farm in section twenty-seven of this township. He devotes the greater portion of his time and land to the cultivation of fine fruit trees, berries, grapes, etc., also gives some attention to the raising of live stock. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors, and held other offices. Mr. and Mrs. Ness have two daughters; Mary, who married W. Patterson, resides in the town of Scotland, and Sarah lives with her parents.

R. O'BiviEN was born in Ireland on the 9th of August, 1820. His father died when he was sixteen years old, and being the eldest of ten children, the chief support of the family devolved upon him. They lived on the farm until 1848, when they were elected from their home by a sheriff and his posse for a "non title*' after the rent had been paid. When the house was attacked Mr. O'Brien and one sister were the only occupants. He asked of the land agent on the outside a consideration of twenty pounds for improvements made on the farm while they occupied it. This request was at first refused, but as the inmates remained firm, the promise was given but broken after he had gained possession. Disgusted with such laws they sailed the same year for America. Their mother died on the voyage and the family located in Freeport, Illinois. The subject of our sketch was married to Miss Mary Mooney in 1854.

During the late war he was tax collector for a time in a part of Stephenson county, Illinois. In September, 1871, he rented his farm and came to Minnesota, and three years later purchased his present farm in this township. He was a member of the board of Supervisors for two terms, one of which he was Chairman. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien have five children; Catharine, the wife of James Moriarfcy of this town; James, a farmer in Fountain; Ellen, a Sister of the Notre Dame order in Milwaukee; and Lawrence and Mary, residing with their parents.

Michael H. Onstink was born in Lorain county, Ohio, in August, 1835. He was the youngest child and only son in a family of eight children, and when but two years old his mother died. His father, having a taste for adventure, spent most of his time in traveling, and when Michael was eight years old he accompanied him on a trip to Pennsylvania. In 1847, they crossed the country to Galena, Illinois, thence on the steamer "Highland IVtary" to Fort Snelling. While at the Falls of St. Anthony the boat left them, and they crossed the country to St. Paul where they remained about two weeks, boarding with. Mr. Bass, who kept the first hotd in that city. They then embarked on the steamer "Ben Franklin" which was then engaged in the removal of the Winnebago Indians to the Crow Wing reservation. They descended the river as far as the mouth of Chippewa River where they joined a crew of raftsmen, and labored at the sweeps for seven days before reaching the ferry opposite Galena. Mr. Onstine came to what is now Fillmore county and secured his present home in August, 1853. In 1858, he formed the acquaintance of Miss Augusta E. M. Osgood, whom he married the same year. She was one of the first school teachers in this section of country, and the daughter of John Osgood, one of the first settlers of Northem Iowa. In 1858, Mr. Onstine was elected Town Clerk and served eleven years. He has also held other offices of trust and always has been a leading man in public affairs.

Jacob A. Rose was born in Harrison county, Ohio, on the loth of August, 1826. When eighteen years old he commenced learning the blacksmith trade, and in 1850, enlisted in the United States Marine service, on board the "Susquehanna." Was in Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan and China, visited the East Indies, and

Google in 1855, sailed for borne, arriving in San Francisco in October of the same year, thence around Cape Horn, stopping at a number of places of interest in South America and West Indies, and landed in New York on the 8th of the following March. He was soon after discharged, and returned to Ohio where he was engaged in farming until coming to Bfinnesota in 1860. On the 4th of September, 1856, Miss Christina E. Eanoth became his wife. The union has been blessed with two girls and one boy. Mr. Rose enlisted in the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry on the 15th of August, 1862, was in the Indian massacre the first year, then went south and remained till the close of the war. He then returned to his home in this place and resided with his father until the death of the latter, since which time he has Dccupied the homestead. His father, Henry Rose, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1796, and was one of the first settlers of Harrison county, Ohio. He came to this place with his son in 1860. Mr. Rose, the subject of our sketch, met with an accident about four years ago in falling from a hor8e,and has since been lame. He has practiced veterinary surgery for the past twenty years. Has held a number of local offices and is now Notary Public.

Knudt Regnolds was born in Wisconsin on the 3d of August, 1853, and came to Fillmore county with his parents when an infant. When he was sixteen years old he entered a drug store at Lanesboro remaining several years, thence to Chatfield and Albert Lea in the same business. His wife was formerly Miss Jennie Nelson, of Decorah, Iowa, whom he married on the 20th of May, 1875. Her father, Nels Agrimson, was born on the 30th of July, 1812, and followed the tailor trade until coming to Wisconsin in 1852. Three years later he moved with his family to Iowa, where they lived twenty-four years, then came to this place and located on the farm Mr. Regnolds now owns. Mr. and Mrs. Regnolds came here in the spring 1880. They have one child.

Theodore L TousLEris a native of Comiecticut, bora in Salisbury, Litchfield county, on the 2d of November, 1835." When an infant he moved with his parents to Ohio, where they were among the early settlers, and where his father died in 1840. Theodore made a trip to Jefferson county in 1857, but returned to Ohio in about eight months. In 1859, he accompanied a party to Pike's Peak, and on his return engaged with a farmer in Trempculeau county, Wisconsin, and remained during the summer. In November, 18 —, he drove a team to Holt township, where he married Miss Mary Jones. They made a visit to Ohio, and in the spring returned to this county, driving the entire distance. In 1862, Mr. Tousley enlisted in Company C, of the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in the battle of Tupelo. After his discharge he resumed to Ohio where his wife had resided during his term of service. While in the army he purchased a farm in this township to which he removed in the spring of 1867. Mr. Tousley was the first to raise amber cane in this place. He has filled the office of Town clerk seven years, also Justice of the Peace, Assessor, and Supervisor.

John Peterson STENsnoEii is a native of Norway, bora on the 27th of October, 1836. He came to America in 1854, with his father, Peter Olson, who took a claim in Canton township, where he remained until his death in 1874. John was employed in farming at home and by neighbors until 1800, when he took land in Holt township. He married Miss Laura Larson on the 5th of February, 1800. They have six children. Mr. Stenshoel was Lieutenant of a home militia company in the war of the Itebellion. Since coming to this township, in 1864, he has been a member of the board of Supervisors a number of terms, and also filled the same office while a resident of Holt.

George Turner was born in Lower Canada on the loth of November, 1843, and moved with his parents to Illinois when about ten years old. They soon after came to Iowa, and in 1859, to this place, and took the land where George now resides. The first few years they encountered the usual hardships of pioneer life. During the war Mr. Turaer enlisted in the Second Minnesota Cavalry, Company A, was in Sully's expedition against the Sioux, and tells many thrilling incidents concerning their depredations and cruelty. When returning to Fort Kidgely they suflFered terribly from cold, remained there during the winter, and in the summer were stationed to guard the frontier. In February they started for Fort Snelling, but were caught in a blizzard, and many froze to death, Mr. Turaer finding his way back with one other of the company, and received an honorable discharge on the 22d of April, 1865. He then resumed to his farm, and has since made it his home.

H r STORY OF FILLMORE COUNT 7,

William H. Travis is a native of New York, born in Dutchess county on the 11th of August, 1842. When eleven years old he became employed in the print works of Gamer & Co., remaining there until seventeen years of age. In 1861, he came to this township with his parents, who settled on section thirty-one. William resided with them until his marriage, when he located on a fraa of his own in section thirty-six, Preston township, but now resides on the old homestead in Amherst. The maiden name of his wife was Rachel Finney. She is a native of Pennsylvania, and was married to Mr. Travis on the 3d of December, 1866.

Jacob Vought, the oldest settler in this place, is a native of Westtrhester county, New York, where he was born on the 21st of January, 1810. When he was an infant his parents moved to Orange county, where his father died in 1819, and his mother in 1822. Jacob was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Andrews on the 22d of January, 1833. They came to Janesville, Wiscou; sin, in 1847, and in April, 1863, started for Fillmore county, and located a farm near Lenora, but only remained a short time, and then selected their present claim in this township. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Vought are, James, who lives in Jackson county; Andrew, who served four years in an Illinois regiment, and while in the army contracted a rheumatic affection from which he has never recovered, and is a great sufferer; he married Fannie Prescott, and lives in section twenty in this township; John enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment, and died on the 6th of December, 1869,.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

John Wakd is a native of Ireland, born in Carlow county. He emigrated to America with his parents, and for two years resided in New Jersey, then came to Green county, Wisconsin, from which place, in the winter of 1856, John walked to this town. He took a claim in section twenty-nine, and commenced improvement immediately. He has since added to it, and now owns the largest farm and is the most extensive stock raiser in this section. On the 24th of October, 1861, he enlisted in the First Minnesota Light Artillery, serving three years, and participating in twenty-two engagements. In the battle of Shiloh he received a wound in the head, was supposed to be dead, and left by his comrades, but soon recovered, and was with Sherman at the siege of Vicksburg. After his discharge he returned to his farm in this place. In 1867, he was joined in matrimony with Mrs. Hannah Ward, his brother's widow. The union has been blessed with four children.

As printed in History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.