Moses Stickney

As printed in 1894

MOSES STICKNEY is one of the worthy citizens that Vermont has furnished Winona County. He resides on section 29, Warren Township, where lie has made his home since 1855, covering a period of almost forty consecutive years. He is therefore numbered among the early settlers of the county, and has been an eye-witness of the greater part of its growth and development. Its history is familiar to him from the early days, and he well deserves mention among its honored pioneer settlers.

The Stickney family is of Norman-French extraction, and was founded in America in the year 1637, at which time some of the ancestors of Moses Stickney landed at Rowley, Mass. His father, Moses Stickney, Sr., was a native of New Hampshire, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mercy Peffer, was born in the old Bay State. By trade the father was a carpenter and joiner, but in the latter part of his life he also gave some attention to farming. His father served as a member of the Colonial army during the War for Independence. In the Stickney family were three children, two sons and a daughter.

The subject of this sketch, who is the only survivor, was born and reared on the old home farm, the place of his birth being in Windham County, Vt., and the date March 27, 1815. He became familiar with all the duties of farm life, for as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields. He attended the district schools, to which he had to walk a distance of a mile and a-half, but in this way he obtained a fair business education. When he reached man's estate he took charge of the old homestead farm, and cultivated the fields and improved the place for about fifteen years.

On the expiration of that period Mr. Stickney sold out and purchased another farm, upon which he lived until 1855, when he again sold, preparatory to removing to the West. In the mean time he had married. On the 2d of February, 1846, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Cynthia Brown, and to them were born nine children: Moses A., born November 10, 1846; Cynthia E., who was born October 20, 1848, and died November 16, 1858; Heury, who was born July 6, 1850, and died in 1871; Marshall E., born January 9, 1852; Charles D., June 28, 1854; Samuel E., December 14, 1858; Ida A., April 6, 1860; Clinton A., who was born November 22, 1864, and died April 12, 1865; and Raleigh G., born October 4, 1866.

Leaving his Vermont home, Mr. Stickney journeyed by way of rail and river toward the setting sun until he had reached Minnesota. Being pleased with the country and its prospects, he stopped in Winona County, and soon afterward made a settlement in Warren Township, pre-tempting one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 29. It was mostly oak openings. His first home, a board house 16x18 feet in dimensions, still stands, one of the few landmarks of pioneer days that yet remain. He began breaking prairie with ox-teams and with such crude machinery as was in use in that day. Winona contained only a few cabins, and this locality was a frontier settlement, just opening up to civilization. With its development and progress Mr. Stickney has ever been identified, and has borne his part in the work of advancement and upbuilding. His labors have brought to him a comfortable competence, and he is well situated in life. His farm he sold August 22, 1894, to his son, Samuel E.

On attaining his majority Mr. Stickney joined the ranks of the Whig party and voted for William Henry Harrison. When the Republican party sprang into existence he went to its support, and has since voted that ticket. Mr. Stickney has not gained a national reputation, but in the community where he lives he is honored and respected and has the high regard of many friends.

Robert Crooks.

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.