In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1895) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1820
From Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota; containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1895), Portrait and biographical record of Winona county, Minnesota. Containing biographical sketches of prominenet ... citizens .. (1894)
JOHN DENNO, a retired farmer, now residing in Dakota, was born on the 20th of June, 1820, in Canada, and is a son of Joseph and Sampah (Meade) Denno, who were also natives of Canada. They came to the United States about 1835, locating in Sheldon, Vt., where they made their home for about five 3'ears. In 1855 they came to Minnesota, and located in the city of Winona. The father was a farmer b' occupation, and became well-to-do. In his family were eight children, five of whom are yet living.
In the usual manner of farmer lads, John Denno was reared, spending his boyhood days midst play and work. As soon as old enough to handle the plow, his labors in the field began, and from that time forward he was for many years connected with agricultural interests. In fact, he made farming his life work. With his parents he removed from Canada to Vermont, when a youth of fifteen, and in 1857 came to Minnesota. Here he secured land which he at once began to clear and develop, and in course of time the once wild prairie was placed under a high state of cultivation, while many improvements found upon a model farm were made.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey, Mr. Denno those Miss Mary Bilemar, daughter of Enos Bilemar, a native of Canada. Their wedding was celebrated on the loth of July, 1840, and for the long period of fifty-two years they traveled life's journey together, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. At length they were separated by death, the loving wife passing away on the 28th of April, 1892. She was a most estimable lady, and her many excellence of character gained her a large circle of warm friends.
To Mr. and Mrs. Denno were born eleven children, six of whom are yet living. Mrs. Jennie Norton, the eldest now living, resides in Homer. The next, a son, died in infancy. June, the wife of Levi Brown, is a resident of Winona. Lucinda, the wife of James Donehower, also resides in Winona. Hattie is now the wife of Edward Leach, whose home is in the village of Dakota. Adeline is the wife of Joseph Tetroe, whose home is in Kansas. Henry C. is the leading merchant and one of the most prominent citizens of Homer. He is a very enterprising man, and his success in business is due to his own efforts. He wedded Miss Mary Leach, daughter of Charles Leach, one of the pioneer settlers of Winona County.
John Denno was reared in the faith of the
Catholic Church, but now holds membership with no religious organization. In his political views he is a Demociat. His life has been well and worthily passed, and he has gained a competence that now enables him to live retired. His honorable and straightforward career has won him universal confidence, and without doubt his many friends will be glad to see this record of his life in the history of his adopted county.
Alvano Benjamin Dyar.
ST LVANO BP:NJAMIN DYAR is a farmer j — \ of Saratoga Township, residing on section 9. The record of his life is as follows: He was born in Freeman Township, in Franklin County, Me., December 17, 1839, and comes of a family of English origin. During Colonial days ancestors by the name of Dyar sailed from England to America and became residents of the Pine Tree State. Azor Dyar, the father of Alvano, was there born October 12, 1812, and his entire life was spent upon the farm which had been owned by his father. His death occurred on the old home place, on the 31st of March, 1892. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and a most highly respected citizen, who was widely and favorably known in his native county. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Davis, and was a distant relative of Jefferson Davis. She is now living in Maine, in her eighty-sixth j'ear. In the family were three children: Alvano B.; Emerson D., who is Vice-President of the H.J. O'Neil Company, leading grain dealers of Winona; and Roscoe, who is living on the old homestead in Maine which was settled by his grandfather.
The public schools afforded Mr. Dyar, of this sketch, a fair business education, and upon the farm his boyhood days were spent midst play and work. No event of special importance ocouired during his youth. He became familiar with all the duties of farm life, and to his father he gave the benefit of his services until he had attained his majority. He then rented a part of the old homestead and began farming in his own interest.
It was in the spring of 1865 that Mr. Dyar came to Minnesota, settling in Saratoga Township, Winona County. For a year he rented land, and then purchased the farm on which his residence now stands. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 9, and to this he has added from time to time until he here has three hundred and fifty-six acres, while altogether his landed possessions aggregate about seven hundred acres. The wild prairie land has been transformed into riii and fertile fields, and the golden grain pays tribute to his care and labor. His time and attention are given to general farming and stock-raising, and his land is all well improved.
On the 18th of November, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dyar and Miss Adah Gerrish. Five children have been born to them, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. In order of birth they are as follows: Charles A., who is now living in Montana; M. Davis, who is connected with the O'Neil Grain Company, of Winona; John G., Bert A. and Mary O., all of whom are still with their parents.
Mr. Dyar exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He has served as Township Supervisor, but has never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking. His business career has been one of success. He had no capital with which to begin life, save a young man's bright hope of the future and a strong determination to succeed, and this determination he has carried out. He is now in comfortable circumstances, and is recognized, not only as one of the substantial, but also as one of valued, citizens of the community.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona county, Minnesota. Containing biographical sketches of prominent ... citizens .. (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN DENNO, a retired farmer, now residing in Dakota, w.as born on the 20tii of June, 1820, in Canada, and is a son of Joseph and Sampah (Meade) Denno, who were also natives of Canada. They came to the United States about 1835, locating in Sheldon. Wt., where they made their home for about five years. In 1855 they came to Minnesota, and located in the cit_v of Winona. The father was a farmer by occupation, and became well-to-do. In his family were eight children, live of whom are yet living.
In the usual ninnner of farmer lads, John Denno was reared, spending his boyhood days midst play and work. As soon as old enough to handle the plow, his labors in the field began, and from that time forward he was for many years connected with agricultural interests. In fact, he made farming his life work. With his parents he removed from Canada to Vermont, when a youth of fifteen, and in 1857 came to Minnesota. Here he secured land which he at once began to clear and develop, and in course of time the once wild prairie was placed under a high state of cultivation, while many improvements found upon a model farm were made.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey, Mr. Denno those Miss Mary Bileniar, daughter of Enos Bilemar, a native of Canada. Their wedding was celebrated on the loth of July, 1840, and for the long period of fifty-two j'ears they traveled life's journeytogether, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. At length they were separated by death, the loving wife passing away on the 28th of April, 1892. She was a most estimable lady, and her iBany excellence of character gained her a large circle of warm friends.
To Mr. and Mrs. Denno were born eleven children, six of whom are yet living. Mrs. Jennie Norton, the eldest now living, resides in Homer. The next, a son, died in infancy. June, the wife of Levi Brown, is a resident of Winona. Lucinda, the wife of James Donehower, also resides in Winona. Hattie is n(iw the wife of Edward Leach,
PORTRAIT AND BICKiRAPHICAL RECORD.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
.loliii Deiino was reared in the faith of the
Catholic Church, but now holds membership with no religious organization. In his political views he is a Democrat. His life has been " well and worthily passed, and he has gained a competence that now enables him to live retired. His honorable nnd straightforward career has won him universal confidence, and without doubt his many friends will he glad to see this record of his life in the history of his adopted county.
Alvano Benjamin Dyar.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
The public schools afforded.Mr. Dyar, of this sketch, a fair business education, and uuon the farm his boyhood days were spent midst )I.Ty and work. No event of special im)portance oceuired during his youth. He became familiar with all the duties of farm life, and to his father he gave the benefit of his services until he had attained his majority. He then rented-a part of the old homestead and bog'in farming in his own interest.
It was in the spring of ISti.'j that Mr. Dyar came to Minnesota, settling in.Saratoga Township, Winona County. For a year he rented land, and then purchased the farm on which his residence now stands. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land on section and to this he has added from time to time until he here has three hundred and fifty-six acres, while altogether his landed possessions aggregate about seven hundred acres. The wild prairie land has been transformed into rich and fertile fields, and the golden grain pays frib- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAI'IUCAL RECORD.
ute to his care and labor. His time and attention are given to general farming and stock-raising, and his land in all well improved.
On the 18tii of November, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dyar and Miss Adah Gerrish. Five children have been born to. them, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. In order of birth they are as follows: Charles A., who is now living in Montana; M. Davis, who is connected with the O'Neil Grain Company, of Winona; John G., Bert A. and Mary 0.,all of whom are still with their parents.
Mr. Dyar exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He has served as Township Supervisor, but has never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking. His business career has been one of success. He had no capital with which to begin life, save a young man's bright hope of the future and a strong determination to succeed, and this determination he has carried out. He is now in comfortable circumstances, and is recognized, not only as one of the substantial, but also as one of valued, citizens of the community.
THE NEW yoflif
CIlARI.i:8 CKRRISH.
#l Charles Qerrish. pl-;
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Mr. Oerrish was married on the 18th of March, 1845, in West Hartford, Vt., to Miss Olive W. Dimick, a native of the Green Mountain State. To them have been born three children: Allen, of St. Charles, a market gardener and breeder of Duroc Jersey red hogs; Adah, wife of A. B. Dyar, of Saratoga; and Ktta Weva. wife of Louis H. Dyer, of Quincy Townshij), Olmsted County.
The parents aided in the organization of the Congregational Church in Saratoga, about 1856, and are now connected with the church in.St. Charles. Mr. Gerrish, who has always been a stanch Republican in politics, was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1857. After selling his first farm, he bought and sold several other tracts of land, and now owns considoralile farm property". On coming here in 1855, he had a capital stock of about $2,000, but he has made the most of his opportunities, and is now numbered amcjng the substantial citizens of the community, a position to which he is justly entitled. He is a large man, of fine physique, with a long gray beard and kindly gra eye, the latter being an index of his character.
Otis Abell.
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.
Named in this biography: Charles Gerrish (b. 1822) Otis Abell (b. 1844)
The printed record stops around 1895. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.