William Duncanson

WILLIAM DUNCANSON, a farmer who resides on section 20, Warren Township, is numbered among the honored pioneers of Winona County. He was one of its first settlers, and is familiar with its history from the time when the city of Winona was a mere frontier hamlet. With interest he has watched its progress and advancement, and has aided in its development, so that his name is inseparably connected with the record of its upbuilding. Such a man is well worthy of representation in this volume. He was born in Nova Scotia, on the 5th of May, 1825, and is a son of William and Eleanora (Benjamin) Duncanson. In their family were six children, five sons and a daughter, but £nice, Benjamin, Jacob and Thomas are all now deceased. William is the eldest survivor. Jerome, who complete the family, is now living in St Paul. The father was a native of Nova Scotia, and throughout his life carried on agricultural pursuits.

William Duncanson was reared upon the old home farm, and from early boyhood its work was known to him, so that when he began business for himself he had a fund of practical experience on which to rely, even though he had no cash capital. He attended the subscription schools at intervals until sixteen years of age, but is practically a self-educated as well as a self-made man financially. His life has been a busy and useful one. He started out for iiimself at the age of nineteen years, and began to earn his livelihood as a farm hand. His home was with his father until 1851, when he came to the United States, going from Nova Scotia to Boston, and thence to Dodge County, Wis., making the journey by way of the canal and Lakes to Milwaukee, and thence across the country by team to his destination. He crossed the Mississippi on a scow, pushed with poles, and after spending the night with Indians, started through the unbroken forest, blazing his way from the river banks at La Crescent to his present home. He made a location near Beaver Dam, and devoted his energies to farm work, being thus employed until the spring of 1854.

That year witnessed his arrival in Minnesota, and thereby Winona County gained one of its valued citizens. He secured a squatter's claim in Warren Township, and in 1855 pre-empted the land, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20. Here he built a log cabin 12x10 feet, and brought to the county the first boards ever sold in Winona. There were less than twelve buildings in the city at that time, including one small store and a tavern. The Indians still lived in the neighborhood, and Mr. Duncanson had lived for six months in Warren Township ere he saw a white settler within its borders. The Chippewa Indians were very numerous in the neighborhood, but were always on friendly terms with their palefaced brother, occasioning no trouble. All of the events of pioneer life in Winona County are familiar to Mr. Duncanson. He came thither with ox-teams, and then used his oxen in developing his farm. He aided in surveying this section of the county, and with its history has been identified from a very early day.

On the 21st of February, 1844, was celebrated the marriage of the subject of this sketch and Miss Rebecca Dodge, daughter of Stephen and Rebecca Dodge. Their union has been blessed

Google with a family of ten children: Margaret; David; Rebecca, who died February 28, 1869; and Jeremiah, Theodore, Orrin, Julia, John, William, and Charles, who died February 9, 1869. Theodore is supposed to have been the first white child born in this neighborhood, his birth occurring in the fall of 1854. He was killed by lightning on the Slst of May, 1871. In the fall of the first-mentioned year Mrs. Duncanson remained for four weeks alone with her four little children while her husband returned to Wisconsin to move his brother here.

In his political views Mr. Duncanson is independent, voting for the man and not the party, upholding principle and not politicians. He has served as a member of the Board of Supervisors, but has never been an ofl9ce-seeker. Both he and his wife belong to the Baptist Church, and are worthy people, who take a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and its advancement. He is both a self-educated and self-made man, and for his success in life deserves great credit. In his business he has met with good success, and now owns three hundred acres of valuable land, all in one body, his farm being now operated by his son. He is also a stockholder in the Farmei*s' Elevator, located in Lewiston. As a self-made man, substantial citizen and honored pioneer, he well deserves representation in the history of his adopted county.

Chris Michel.

eHRIS MICHEL, deceased, was born in Germany in December, 1820, and died at his home in Winona County on the 24lh of October, 1888. The days of his boyhood and youth were spent in his native land, where, in January, 1842, he was united in marriage with Miss Gustine Erison. The lady was there born March 29, 1819, and is still living. By their marriage they became the parents of two children, but both died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Michel began their domestic life in the Fatherland, and there continued for ten years. In 1852 they bade adieu to the home and friends of their youth and took passage on a westwardbound sailing-vessel, which at length dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. Continuing their journey across the country, they finally reached Wisconsin, where they made a location. Subsequently they left the Badger State, and, removing to Minnesota, settled on a farm. They had no capital at the time of their arrival, and were dependent entirely upon their own resources. The husband and wife labored together, his industrious efforts being ably seconded by her work in the house. They practiced economy in their living, and by good management, industry and perseverance at length became the possessors of considerable property, and to-day Mrs. Michel is one of the wealthy ladies of the county.

Mr. Michel made farming his life work, and placed his farm all under a high state of cultivation, until the once wild land was transformed into rich and fertile fields, which yielded to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he

Google bestowed upon it. He was also an excellent financier. Mr. Michel met with a severe accident, a tree falling upon him and striking his head. From that time forward his mind was impaired, but his faithful, wife kept him at home, tenderly caring for him, until he was called to his final rest, on the 24th of October, 1888. In politics he was a Democrat, and with the Methodist Chui*ch he held membership.

After her husband's misfortune, Mrs. Michel assumed the management of the farm and property, and soon showed that she wab a woman of excellent business ability. To her sagacity, foresight and enterprise is due the well deserved prosperity which has come to her and made her one of the wealthy citizens of the county. She now owns sixty-five acres of rich and arable land, has mortgages on a number of farms, and has considerable money loaned. She watches her opportunity, and when she thinks a profitable sale or purchase can be made, takes advantage of the same. Her farm is now rented, so that she has little to care for.

Like her husband, Mrs. Michel holds membership with the Methodist Chuch. She is now in quite poor health, and with her lives her niece, Elvina Harnholtz, who will remain with her during her declining years. Mrs. Michel is a most excellent lady, and her sterling worth and many excellence of character have gained her a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Rev. P. J. Gallagher.

As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota: containing ... (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.