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Charlestown Township Biographies |
John W. Dotson, native of western Virginia., was born in 1829 in
Wood county. In 1848 his marriage occurred with Miss Annie Pool. He
enlisted August 18, 1861, in Company E, Sixth West Virginia
infantry, and was honorably discharged in 1864, on the 10th day of
September. In 1865 he migrated to Illinois, and in 1872 removed to
Brown county, Minnesota; came to Sanborn in July, 1880, and was soon
after appointed postmaster. Mr. and Mrs. Dotson are the parents of
seven children.
William Goehring was born November 4, 1835, and when fourteen
years old began learning the trade of butcher, at which he worked
while living in his native land, Germany. From the date of his
coming to America, 1853, until 1868, he lived in Pennsylvania, where
he was employed in iron mills, then came to his present home in
Charlestown, Minnesota, and has here filled various town offices.
Married in 1862 Mrs. Bendz, whose maiden name was Barbara Kirchler.
Four children are living and two are deceased.
John A. Letford, who was born in 1849, is a native of
Cincinnati, Ohio. He accompanied his parents to St. Paul in 1858,
and in 1869 removed to Carver county. Mr. Letford has been engaged
in various lines of business; removed in 1881 from Lamberton to
Sanborn and opened a general store; the firm name is Smith & Letford.
Miss Harriet C. Lee became his wife in 1872; her death occurred
October 20, 1881. The children are Harrie C. and William.
Charles Porter was born in 1829 in Franklin county, Maine. At
the age of twenty moved to Quincy, Illinois, and in the fall of 1854
settled in Dakota county, Minnesota. In 1863 he enlisted in Company
F, Second Minnesota cavalry; served two years; he acted as scout on
the frontier two summers. Mr. Porter was the first claimant of land
in Redwood county; took land in Charlestown, July 14, 1864, and has
resided here with his family since 1866. He was county commissioner
five years, and has filled numerous town offices. Married, December
13, 1859, Phoebe Hawkins. Of their ten children, seven are living.
Lepold Seng, born in Germany in 1841, came to America in
1860. Enlisted for three months in company E, 2d Missouri;
re-enlisted for six months in the same company, and at the
expiration of that time he enlisted for three years in Company H,
25th Wisconsin; served six months on the frontier and the remainder
of the time was in the south; engaged in many hard fought battles
and was wounded twice. After the war closed he lived in Wisconsin
until 1872, and since then has been farming in Charlestown,
Minnesota. In 1866 he married Alice Martin, who has borne him seven
children.
George W. Skelton was born in 1842, in St. Lawrence county,
New York. The family moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, where the
parents died, and from the age of five until the year 1873, his home
was in Iowa. August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, 38th Iowa; was
discharged eighteen months after, for disability. Since 1873 he has
resided in Charlestown, and has held several offices. He married
August 25, 1868, Lettie McClelland; they have four children.
George L. Wagner was born in 1835, in Germany. The family
immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1846, but since 1868, he has lived on
his farm in Charlestown. While young he worked with his father at
the tailor's trade. After leaving the common schools he passed two
terms in college, and also studied medicine; has practiced for a
number of years. In 1862 he was in the employ of the government,
doing garrison duty. Mr. Wagner has held the offices of postmaster,
town clerk, justice, and notary public. Dorothea Siegel became his
wife in 1858. Of their eleven children, seven are living.
John Weber, a native of Germany, was born in 1837. From 1855,
the date of his arrival in America, until 1866. he resided in Dodge
county, Wisconsin then in Winona county, Minnesota, five years, and
since 1871 his home has been in Charlestown; his farm of 160 acres
is on section 26. He has held several town offices. The marriage of
John Weber and Mary Stock took place in 1858; she was born in
Germany. Mrs. Weber has borne her husband nine children.
A. J. Weldon, a native of New York, was born in 1858, in
Fulton county. In 1873, he migrated to Wisconsin, but removed the
next year to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and in 1877, came to
Redwood county, where he now lives. He has followed railroading some
and at present is engaged in farming. In 1877 he married Alvina
Jacob, who was born in Pennsylvania. Emma P. is their only child.
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