"History of Freeborn County", 1882
London Twp. Biographies
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PERSONS BUMP was born in Wyoming county, New York, on the 29th of March, 1844. When he was seven years old his parents came west and settled in Wisconsin. Persons enlisted in 1862, in the Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company E, was in considerable active service in the South and spent four months in Libby prison, receiving an honorable discharge in 1865, having
attained the rank of First Lieutenant. He returned to his home and the same year married Miss Marinette Colson, a native of Ohio. In 1868 they came to London township, and bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres, in sections twenty-two and twenty-seven and have since made it their home. They have five children.
THOMAS BONNALLIE, one of the early settlers of this place, is a native of Scotland, born on the 5th of April, 1819, His parents came to America when he was an infant, and located in Canada. He remained with an uncle in Scotland until four years old, then joined his parents in Canada. In 1851 he was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Philips and two years later they came to Wisconsin. Since 1856 Mr. Bonnallie has been a resident of this place. His first wife died, and in 1873, he married his present, Mrs. Janette Campbell, a native of Philadelphia, Penn. The issue of this union is seven children.
JAMES H. GOSLEE, one of the old and respected citizens of this section of the country, is a native of Connecticut, born in Hartford county, on the 31st of January, 1831. The early part of his life was spent in farming and learning the carpenter trade, and in 1857, he came to this township. His farm now contains over seven hundred acres and is well improved, he devoting his time principally to stock raising. In 1860 he was united in wedlock to Miss Zillah T. Beach, a native of New York. They have had two children; Henry A., born on the 2d of July. 1861: and Dwight W., born on the 8th of April, 1866. The latter died on the 12th of January, 1882.
WILLIAM N. GOSLEE, another pioneer of London township, was born in Hartford county, Connecticut, on the 12th of May, 1826. He was married before leaving his native State, in 1850, to Miss Sarah E. Ellis. They came west in 1855 and located in Iowa, but the following year came to this place, staking out a farm in section thirteen where he has since made his home. Mrs. Goslee died in 1862. His present wife was formerly Mary A. Cheadle, a native of Indiana, and they have two children. Mr. Goslee owns a fine farm, and since his residence here has served the town and county in different capacities.
ROGER P. GIBSON was born in Connecticut on the 17th of August, 1817. He grew to manhood on a farm and in 1840, married Miss Colista Goslee, who died three years later. Some years after he was again married to a Connecticut lady, who came west with him to Iowa in 1855, and to this township the following year. Death again entered his home in 1861, and took away his partner in life, whose remains rest in the cemetery at this place. In 1863, he was wedded to Miss Emma M. Bolton, who was born in Ohio. This union has been blessed with six children. Mr. Gibson's farm has the appearance of a careful and experienced manager. He is one of the pioneers here and has filled offices of trust in the town.
ARTHUR E. JOHNSTON, a New Yorker, was born on the 6th of June, 1850. When he was sixteen years old he came with his parents to Butler county, Iowa. They resided there until 1879, then came to this place and located in section twenty-four, which is still their home. Mr. Johnston is at present Treasurer of the school board.
HENRY LANG, a native of Scotland, was born on the 10th of January, 1842. He came with his parents to America when an infant, first settled in New York City and afterward lived in Missouri. After a residence of five years in the latter place the family came to Wisconsin and in 1862 to this township. Henry was joined in matrimony to Miss Jane Meadowcroft, also a native of Scotland. They have a family of seven children. Mr. Lang owns a well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres.
JOHN W. MANNING, the present Postmaster of London, was born in New Jersey on the 31st of October, 1845. He remained in his native place until twenty years old, then came to Rock county, Wisconsin, and in 1867, married Miss Sylvia Mosher, a Canadian lady. The issue of the union is five children. In 1872, Mr. Manning moved to Iowa and in 1879 came to this place. He has a good farm in section fifteen.
JOHN ROBERTSON was born near Glasgow, Scotland, on the 15th of May, 1836. He came with his parents to America in 1844, and resided for some time in Rock county, Wisconsin. In 1858 he married Miss Margaret Campbell, also a native of Scotland. They came to Minnesota in 1866, and settled in section twelve of this township, which has since been their home, the farm containing three hundred and twenty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have a family of three children.
JAMES H. STEWART, one of the early settlers of London township, is a native of New York, born on the 19th of August, 1832. In 1853 he came to Wisconsin, where he married, in 1856, Miss Clarissa H. Hubbard, a native of Vermont. The same year they moved to Illinois, and a year later came to this place, taking land in section twenty-four, which is now a well cultivated farm. Mr. Stewart has filled offices of trust since coming here. He is the father of three children.
EDWARD T. THOMAS, a native of Wales, was born in March, 1835, and when very young came with his parents to America. They located in Utica, New York, and several years later moved to Ohio, finally coming west to Bock county, Wisconsin. In 1860 Edward married Anna Thompson, of Ohio. The following year he came to Minnesota and took a claim in London, section twenty-two. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have a family of three children.
JAMES VAN WINKLE, deceased, was born in Illinois on the 9th of September, 1825. He was married in 1853 to Miss Nancy Sutherland, also a native of Illinois. They came to Minnesota in 1858, but only remained a year and a half, and returned to their native State. In 1861 they came again to this State and bought a farm in London, where Mr. Van Winkle died on the 4th of February, 1876. He left a widow and six children to mourn his loss.
SELON WILLIAMS, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Derby, Vermont, on the 23d of July, 1832. When twenty-two years old he moved to Osage, Iowa, and a year later came to this place, settling in section eleven. He was joined in wedlock in 1860 with Miss Mary A. Phelps, a Canadian lady. They have ten children. In 1862 Mr. Williams enlisted in the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company C, spent one year on the frontier, and then went south and participated in considerable active service, receiving his discharge in 1865. He has since made his farm his home.
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