Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1211

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 1049 Laura died at six years and Bertha at nine years of age. All the children except Charles E. were born in Featherstone town- ship. He was born in Maine before the family came west. Peter and Andrew Peterson, two well known farmers of Leon township, are estimable citizens in every respect and are well thought of by their large circle of friends. They are both natives of this state, born in Nicollet county, the former in 1859 and the latter in 1861. Their parents, Abraham and Margaret Peterson, came from the old country in 1857 and settled in the county where their sons were born, remaining there six years. Then they came to Leon township; where he purchased the farm which is still in the family and where the boys went to school. The mother is dead, but the father is still living, having reached the ven- erable age of 90 years. Besides the brothers there was in the family one sister, Anna, now the wife of John Anderson. The Peterson 's farm consists of 160 acres, upon which the brothers carry on general mixed farming. Both vote the Republican ticket, but neither has cared to seek the duties of public office holding. Harrison Miller, another sturdy old pioneer, died at his home in the township of Stanton August 21, 1909. He was born in Ver- mont in February, 1828, and in January, 1854, was married to Harriet Ellis, daughter of Noah Ellis of Thedford, Vermont. He then bought a farm in Wisconsin near Beaver Dam, Avhere they lived four years. In the spring of 1858 they moved to Stanton, having purchased the farm the fall before. On this place they have lived for fifty-one years. He carried on general farming and became one of the substantial residents of the community. Mrs. Miller died on the farm in April, 1906. Four children sur- vive : Alvin Miller, of Seaside, Ore. ; Nelson Miller, a prosperous farmer of Stanton ; Mrs. Cora Whitson, who is still living on the old farm, and Dr. F. C. Miller, who resides in Olivia, Minn., and has an extensive practice. Mr. Miller was a Mason and a member of the United Workmen. As a neighbor he was liked, as a father and husband he was loved, as a citizen he was respected, and as a friend he was held in truest regard. It is such men as he who, from the beginning, have made Goodhue county a place of peace and quiet, and saved it from the disorderly years which so often mark an early settlement in a wild territory. John Collins Applegate, the gifted editor of the Cannon Falls "Beacon," and widely known for his fight in behalf of the small shipper against the monopolies, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., July 22, 1860, son of James P. and Mary Elizabeth Applegate, the former of whom was born in New Jersey and died in 1868 and the latter of whom was born in Pittsburg, Pa., and is still living John C. received his education in the public schools, in Poland