Robert Crooks

ROBERT CROOKS, a retired farmer of St. Charles, who, having acquired a competency, is now resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil, was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Ireland, on the 16th of November, 1816. His parents were Robert and Jane Crooks. The former was a weaver by trade, and in 1840 he left the Emerald Isle, crossing the Atlantic to America. For two years he engaged in mining in Pottsville, Pa., and afterward engaged in coal-mining in Pittsburg. Subsequently he resumed his westward journey, continuing his travels until reaching Dubuque, where he engaged in mining lead for three years, being paid for each ton that he turned out. In the spring of 1853 he left the mines and sought a home in Minnesota, where he secured a claim on section 32, Elba Township, five miles north of St. Ciiarles. This town then consisted of only two houses, a blacksmith shop and a hotel. Mr. Crooks purchased his land of the Government, securing a quarter-section at 11.25 per acre. He immediately built a log cabin and began to plow and plant. In time his labors were crowned with success in the shape of abundant harvests, and for twenty-one years he carried on the farm, making it one of the rich and highly developed places of the county To his first purchase he added until his farm now comprises two hundred and forty acres. He also had another of two hundred, and one of one hundred acres. These and other tracts of land he has disposed of, but still retains possession of the old homestead. On the 5th of November, 1855, in St. Charles Township, Mr. Crooks was united in marriage with Miss Agnes M. Barr, a native of Paisley, Scotland, born January 25, 1825. She came to the United States in 1853, and the following year removed to Winona County in company with her brother, Thomas Barr, for whom she kept house until her marriage. She had been previously married, having at the age of fifteen become the wife of John King, who died, leaving her with two children: Margaret, who is now the wife of Samuel Stcbbins, of Winona; and Alexander, who carried on farming in Elba Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Crooks were born three children, but two are now deceased.

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Both Mr. and Mrs. Crooks are members of the Congregational Church, and take quite an active part in the work of the same. Mrs. Crooks has been a member for fifteen years of the Society for the Advancement of Home and Foreign Missions. In pt>lilies Mr. Crooks is a Republican, and ardently advocates the principles of his party. During the years in which he carried on his farm he managed his business with such excellent ability that as a result of his enterprise and industry he became a well-to-do man. His life has been worthily passed, and is deserving of emulation in many respects.

Robert J. Duncan.

ROBERT.1. DINCAN. Among the leading and influential farmers of Rolling Stone Township is numbered the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He resides on section 12, where he has eighty acres of land, constituting one of the good farms of the county. There he carries on general farming and the dairy business, and his place in its neat and thrifty appearance well indicates the enterprise and careful supervision of the owner.

Mr. Duncan was born on the 16th of October, into, and is a son of Noyes and Mary (Hillings) Duncan. His father, who was a native of Oneida County, N. Y., there spent his early life and during Ins youth learned the wagon-maker's trade. When a young man he removed to Chautauqua, N. Y., where he carried on wagon-making until 1856, in which year he emigrated to Minnesota. Arriving at his destination, he purchaseil a farm in Fremont Township, Winona County, and was one of ita representative citizens up to the time of his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-live years. His parents were natives of New England, but the family is of Scotch descent Mrs. Mary (Billings)

Duncan was also born in Oneida County, N. Y., and died in 1842, when Robert was only two years of age, leaving three children: Mary, now deceased; Harry, who served in the One Hundred and Twelfth Infantry during the Civil War, and died in Suffolk, Wa., while in the service; and Robert. I., of this sketch. Mrs. Duncan's parents were natives of New England, and her father was a soldier in the War of 1812. After the death of his first wife, Noyes Duncan was again married, his second union being with Amanda Howard, by whom he had two children, Mary and Mark, the latter a farmer of this county-.

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After being mustered out, Mr. Duncan returned to his home in Stockton, N. Y., and learned the profession of dentistry, which he followed for two years, but on the expiration of that period he resumed farming, as he did not like office work. In the spring of 1869 he left his home in the East for Missouri, and in that state purchased a farm, upon which he resided for a few months. He then sold and came to Minnesota, where for about Ave years he served as Superintendent of the County Poor Farm, discharging the duties of that position in a prompt and acceptable manner. His next place of residence was in Winona City, where he remained for a year. He then rented a farm for two years, after which he purchased the farm on which he now resides.

On Independence Day of 1862, shortly after his return from the scene of war, Mr. Duncan was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Kelly, of Stockton, N. Y., who died in March, 1875. He later married Miss Helen C. Kelly, a sister of his first wife, and to them have been born two sons, Harry and Herman. Mr. Duncan is a stanch Republican in his political views, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He may truly be called a self-made man, for since the age of twelve he has been dependent on his own resources, and his success is the reward of earnest effort.

Samuel Augustus Johnson.

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.