Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1020

 882 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COCJXTT but has never sought or held any public office. He affiliates with the George McKinley Post, No. 92, G. A. R.. of Cannon Falls. Mr. Van Guilder's uncle and grandmother were victims of the Indian massacre near New Ulm, Minn. Francis Goudy, Sr., one of the large farmers of Stanton town- ship, has been assessor of his township for about thirty-five years, and has also served a long period as school clerk. He comes of good old stock, his ancestors being of that sturdy and devoted race who people the northern part of Ireland. Born in County Down, in that country, August 3, 1838, he came to America in the dawn of his early manhood and settled at once in Stanton township. He worked four months as a farm hand, then rented a farm a short time, and subsequently made his first start as a land owner by purchasing eighty acres. On this land he built a log cabin, and lived in it five years. From this small beginning has grown his present prosperity. He now owns "563 acres of tillable land, aside from several tracts of timber. He has made all the improvements on the place, which is eight miles from Cannon Falls village and four miles from Stanton village. Aside from general farming, he engages in dairying and nwns some excellent stock. Mr. Goudy faithfully adheres to the Republican party, and affiliates with the Masonic lodge at Cannon Falls. He was married in 1865 to Bridget McWeeney, who has proven a good wife and mother. To this union has been born a goodly number of sturdy children. They arc William R., A. P., Francis, -buries A.. Marie M. Nathaniel, Robert J., John T., George H. and Elizabeth A., all of whom arc at home. Annie, the fourth child, is dead. Mi-. Goudy was one of the organizers of the Stanton cheese factory and was secretary and manager of the same for about ten years of its first existence. He also assisted in organizing the Stanton Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, in 1895, of which company he was elected treasurer and still holds that office. Andrew Felien owns a fertile farm of eighty acres in Stanton township, where he is rearing a family of ten sturdy children. He was born in Sweden April 22, 1860. son of Andrew and Kate (Johnson) Feline, who lived and died in the old country. In 1882, at the age of twenty-two years, Andrew left the shores of his native land and made his first venture in America as a work- man in St. Paul. He also labored for a short time in Spring Garden, but a short time later came to Stanton. When he first came here he worked about five years as an employee of Johnson .Miller. Subsequently he rented Mr. Miller's farm, but three years later went to Dakota and tilled the land there seven years. About a dozen years ago, he came back to this township and purchased the farm which he now owns. Here he has made many