"History of Freeborn County", 1882
Oakland Twp. Biographies
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ALFRED F. DENBY was born in England on the 16th of August, 1850. When he was four years old his parents had both died, and he was brought up by an uncle who came to America, and settled in Wisconsin. At the age of nineteen years he entered a telegraph office at Winnebago City, and after one year and nine months was sent to this station as telegraph operator, and remained with the company seven years. On the 24th of August, 1873, he married Miss Adda C. Dysslyn, a native of Canada. After leaving the above company, Mr. Denby engaged in business with J. J. Smith, and put up a llouring mill at Moscow, on Turtle Creek, at a cost of $8.500; also built a store in the village of Oakland, which they still run. the mill having burned in August, 1882. Mr. Denby was appointed Postmaster in 1875, and still holds the office. He was sent to the Legislature in 1879 and again in 1881.
ETHAN R. EARL is a native of Jefferson county, New York, born on the 6th of March, 1840. His parents came to this county in 1806, and he resided with them until enlisting in 1861 in Company K. of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. R. P.Moore; was sent south and remained in service until December 1862, when he was honorably discharged for disability. He returned to his home and the 20th of January, 1864, married Miss Phoebe A. Lightly. The same year he bought a farm on section twenty-eight, Oakland township, where he now lives, having since added to his first purchase. He has been Justice of the Peace eleven years and Constable three years, at present holding the former office. His wife died on the 19th of May, 1881, leaving four children. He married his present wife, formerly Rhoda I. Wait, on the 1st of March, 1882.
FRANCIS MERCHANT, JR., one of the early setlers of this place, was born in France on the 20th of September, 1842. He came with his parents to America when seven years old, resided in Oneida county, New York, until 1856, when they removed to Wisconsin, and a year later to this place, locating a farm in section one, which is still their home. In 1862, Francis enlisted in Company C, of the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry: was appointed First Lieutenant, sent south, and at the close of the war, returned to Fort Snelling, where he received a Captain's commission and was honorably discharged. He then returned to his home, and on the llth of November, 1866, married Miss Annie Lamping, formerly from Illinois. They have five children. Mr. Merchant bought his father's farm in 1877, and now carries on the same, his parents living in Walla Walla,Washington Territory.
ASA ROWLEY is a native of the Empire State, born on the 12th of October, 1830. He moved with his parents to Columbia county, Wisconsin, in 1846, and on the 14th of October, 1856, married Miss Hutchison Smith. They lived on a farm in Adams county, Wisconsin, for three years, then returning resided on a farm adjoining his father's until 1864, when they came to Oakland and homesteaded in section six. He has since added to his farm and makes it his home; he has held town offices, also church offices, being a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is the father of four children, two sons and two daughters. His eldest son was graduated from the State University in 1881, and the younger is now in the junior class in the same institution, and his daughters are both prominent teachers in this county.
WILLIAM T. SPILLANE, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Potter county, on the 22d of January, 1856. When lie was sixteen years old he came to Albert Lea, and was employed by H. Rowell in an elevator for three years, then moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and attended school for one year. He subsequently took a trip through Kansas and Missouri, returning to this county in 1877. He was engaged in buying wheat for Cargill & Co., being at different stations on the road until the autumn of 1879, when he took charge of the elevator in this place and has since held the position.
JAMES TORRENS was born in Ireland on the 15th
of October, 1831, and when eighteen years old emigrated to America. He lived in New York, then in Michigan, and in 1859, started to Minnesota, but on arriving in Illinois, stopped and remained through the winter. He was married on the 4th of July, 1858, to Miss Charlotte J. Finlon. Early in the spring they came on to this State, and located a farm in this township, which contains two hundred and forty acres, and is well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Torrens have a family of ten children, all but two of whom are at home.
ALONZO P. WARREN, a native of the Empire State, was born in Genesee county, on the 2d of September, 1823. When he was fifteen years old he came to Racine, Wisconsin, where he worked at the carpenter trade for two and a half years, then returned to his native State. After a residence of three years he again came to Wisconsin: bought a farm in Dodge county, which he carried on for a few years and then came to Waupun and opened a harness shop. He was married on the 13th of April, 1846, to Miss C. B. Rogers. They conducted a hotel for one year in Algona, Winnebago county. For a time they lived in Alma, where his wife died, on the 14th of September, 1851, leaving a son and a daughter. The son enlisted in the army, and was killed in the battle of Atlanta. Mr. Warren was married to his present wife, formerly Miss C. E. Fuller, on the 9th of October, 1866.
HENRY WYENT, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Pennsylvania in 1822. His father died when Henry was fifteen years old and he soon after moved with his mother to a different lacality in the same State, and worked at various occupations, finally renting a farm which he carried on for four years, He was married in the autumn of 1849, to Miss Eliza Showese and they have four children, three boys and one girl. In the fall of 1845, Mr. Wyent came to this place and took a claim in section six, returning to Pennsylvania for the winter, and in the spring brought his family. At the time of the Indian trouble he sent his family back to their former home, and enlisted in Company C, of the Second Minnesota Cavalry; went west and served till the spring of 1864. when he was mustered out at Fort Snelling. He then went for his family, and has since made this place his home. He owns a good farm of three hundred and twenty acres.
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