John Waltham

As printed in 1894

JOHN WALTHAM. is a man of strong individuality, possessed of many striking characteristics, among which are those sterling qualities which have gained for him high regard. Those who know him best recognize his honesty of purpose, his straightforwardness and the true nobility of manhood, and his friends in the community are many. He was born in Molten, Lincolnshire, England, May 27, 1817, and in 1836 crossed the Atlantic to New Orleans on the new sailing-vessel, "John Dunlap," which reached its destination after a voyage of eight weeks. He was accompanied by a man and his three children whose wife had refused to leave Pugland. This gentleman had a brother in Alton, Ill., a miller, who had requested him to bring a young man with him, and in compliance with this request he brought Mr. Waltham to his brother's home.

On reaching Alton, Mr. Waltham hired out to the miller, and for him took some horses to northern Illinois, riding them two hundred and ten miles across the trackless prairie and through the wilderness. For this he was paid $12, of which he spent S6, wishing to save the remainder to return with, if necessary. He settled at Pecatonica, Ill., where he worked at various labors until 1837, when he went to Dubuque. In the same j-ear he returned to Alton, and hired to his old employer to work in the coal mines, where he was employ-ed for some years. Finally he purchased eighty acres of land near Shipman Station, and opened up a farm. In 1851 he went to California by way of New Orleans in company with a party of five. They crossed the Isthmus and had some interesting experiences in getting around the rajjids, having to change boats several times. They left home in March, and on the 24th of July reached San Francisco. Mr. Waltham suffered from ill health and for a time could only work half a day. He afterward secured a claim, on which he spent the summer, and then returned to Marysville and staged one hundred and fifty miles to Shasta. Beyond that all travel was on muleback. In the fall Mr. VYaltham engaged in prospecting, and in the winter took a claim. He worked for 40 per month above expenses and the next summer received *!100 per month above expenses. Finding the mountains were covered with snow, he concluded to go fifty miles across to Trinity River. When half the distance was accomplished he and his companion came to the home of four miners, with whom they remained over night. The next day they traveled over the mountains without either food or drink. Mr. Waltham went through many hardships and experiences during his life in California, but also gained much valuable information.

After his return to Illinois, the subject of this sketch purchased eiglitjacres of land at Shipman. In 1861 he again went to the Pacific Slope, by way of the Isthmus route, taking with him his wife and daughter. He expected to locate in the Umpqua Valley-, but the ship could not enter the river on account of fogs, and went on to Portland. Mr. Waltham did not like that region, and after visiting several points on Puget Sound returned to San Francisco, and in the spring again went to Illinois.

On the 27th of April, 1856, in Alton, In., Mr. Waltham married Lucinda B. Carpenter, who was born December 18, 1827, in Landgrove, Bennington County, Vt., and came to Illinois with her father at the age of thirteen. They resided on the old farm near Shipman until 1861, when they came to Minnesota, and Mr. Waltham entered a farm six miles north of St. Charles. The following year he sold out his household effects and returned to Illinois. He took passage on the "Denmark," which was sunk on a sandbar, one hundred miles above Alton, but took another boat and proceeded on his way. Mr. Waltham settled on the old farm near Shipman, and in 1863, after planting his crop, decided to go to Colorado. He left St. Joseph, Mo., for Denver with a train of freight teams and drove four mule-teams across the country. After his return he fitted up the mule-train for trip to Montana, in 1863, but returned to Illinois in 1864, just before the election of Lincoln.

The year 1865 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Waltham in Minnesota. He settled two and a-half miles southeast of St. Charles, and in the fall purchased land a mile and a-half northwest of the town, on which he built a large brick house, now owned by N. V. A. Crow. For twelve years he improved that place. In the mean time he went to "England to see his family and old home. He also visited Florida to look up the country, but did not make investments there. In 1877 he went to California with a view to buying land, but was not pleased with the country and returned to Ashland, Neb., where he rented a farm. After raising one crop lie returned to Minnesota. In the mean time he had sold his farm in Winona County. The next season h6 again went West, this lime to Hot Springs, Ark., where he engaged in hotel-keeping until 1873. He then returned to Winona County, where he still had business interests, owning a farm near Utica. In 1878 he returned to St. Charles, and in 1881 he began the brewing business, which he carried on for two years. He then sold out, as the business proved unprofitable. He has since twice visited Hot Springs, taking friends both times, visited California in company with Mr. and Mrs. Crow, and attended the New Orleans Exposition, thence going across the country lo Los Angeles, Cal. He has five times visited Mississippi. He now owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Utica, another tract of sixty acres, and some residences in St. Charles which he rents.

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

230 possible, and he has continued his journeyings. His prosperity is due to his own well directed efforts and also to those of his estimable wife, whose excellent business and executive ability has stood him in good stead, a fact ivhich he recognizes, giving to her due credit. She has indeed been to him a helpmate. Although not possessing the extreme polish of the society man, Mr. Waltham is possessed of true manliness and has a keen appreciation of the beauties of nature and of the high and lofty along other lines. Although his school privileges were limited, travel and experience have brought him a wide knowledge, and he frequentljjots his thoughts down in rhyme, which often possesses much beauty, both of thought and diction. His ability as an entertaining conversationalist is widely known and recognized, and he always has a fund of rich anecdotes and interesting personal reminiscences to relate. Some one has said of him that he it a man through whose life runs a strain of humor, earnestness, satire, levity, honesty and cheerfulness. His life has been somewhat as the rolling stone, yet contrary to it in one particular, for he has not only gathered moss, but polish as well. The record of Winona County would be incomplete without this sketch of one of its leading characters.

Otis Crandell Tucker,

OTIS CRANDELL TUCKER has long been one of Winona's prominent business men, and this history would be incomplete without the record of his life, which shows what can be accomplished by diligence, perseverance and well directed efforts. He early learned to make the most of his opportunities, and in this way he has steadily risen from an humble position to one of affluence. He was born near Hoosick, Rensselaer County, N. Y., March 12, 1822, and is a son of Silas H. and Betsy (Crandell) Tucker. On his father's side he is a relative of ex-Secretary B. F. Tracy, a member of President Garfield* cabinet. The father served as an officer in the War of 1812-13, and after his return from the army was extensively engaged in farming, and at the same time carried on a lumber business in Vestal, Broome County.

Mr. Tucker was two years of age at the time of his parents' removal to that place. He early became familiar with the work of the farm and of the mill. In his boyhood he attended the common schools, and for two years pursued his studies under Professor Wheeler, of Union, N. Y. When he had attained his majority he started out for himself and began the lumber business on his own account in Broome County, N. Y. He soon after bought a mill, and later carried on business in Pennsylvania. He worked earnestly, trying hard to make a start in life, and at length his labors were rewarded by increasing capital. In 1858 he first came to Minnesota and loaned some money on real estate? but soon after returned to his home.

In the fall of 1860 Mr. Tucker again came West, with a view to seeking a location, and after traveling through Illinois and Iowa he took up his resident'e in Winona, in 1861. It was his intention to eventually' build a lumber-mill, but instead he opened a lumber-yard. There were only two small mills in this place at that time, cutting from twelve to fifteen thousand feet of lumber per da. They were the beginning of what is now the most important industry of the place. In connection with his lumber-yard Mr. Tucker engaged in buying grain for a short time, but soon abandoned this and for fifteen 3'ears carried on a lumber business, extending over a radius of one hundred miles. Previous to locating in the West he had made investments in pine lands in Michigan, which lands he subsequently sold at a handsome advance. He had also made some loans on land in this locality, and out of these grew a real-estate business.

With various other enterprises was Mr. Tucker also connected. He began loaning money, and became a stockholder in the First and Second National Banks, and subsequently was made a Director of the Second National Bank. His time and attention are now largely given to his real-estate interests, and whatever of success he has attained has not been the result of chance, nor has come to him as an inheritance, but has been achieved through earnest and persistent efforts, and is the reward of untiring labor. He votes with the Democratic party but has never sought political prominence. He is a man of high character and strict integrity, whose standing in business and social circles has made him one of the valued citizens of his adopted county. He is noted for his promptness in meeting his obligations. No one in his long business career ever had to come to him a second time with a bill or other obligation. In a period of more than thirty years he has had l)ut one law suit, and in that particular case he was the defendant, and obtained judgment against the plaintiff for about $2,800.

On the 2d of July, 1860, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Tucker and Lucinda C, daughter of Benjamin Rounds, of Broome County, N. Y. Their only child, a daughter, Ella, was born April 8, 1861- Her early girlhood was passed in Winona, and after graduating from the Normal School in 1887 she entered the Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill., where she remained two years. Her taste and natural artistic genius, which were of a high order, received guidance and direction through a course of special instruction in art in Chicago, at the Cooper Institute in New York, and through six months of European travel, spent in viewing the work of the old masters. She was amiable and unassuming in character, prominent in society and charitable movements, and a favorite with all. She passed to her reward October 17, 1894, regretted by the entire community, and mourned by all who knew her, and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Samuel A. Ailing.

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.