Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/127

 HISTORY 05 GOODHUE COUNTY 89- .Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Captain Williston 's command was ordered with the rest of the regiment on an expedition against the Indians. The regiment engaged in the battle of Wood Lake, September 22, 1862, and was stationed at frontier posts until May, 1863, when again ordered on an Indian expedition, engaging the Reds in battle July 24, 26 and 28, 1863. Company G was then ordered to St. Louis, Mo., October 7, 1863, where Captain Willis- ton remained till the spring of '64, when he tendered his resigna- tion and after its acceptance returned to Red Wing, where he resumed his practice with Judge Wilder. In. 1872 he entered into partnership with 0. M. Hall, this arrangement continuing for several years. His first appointment as district judge came in 1891 from Governor William R. Merriam. He was elected to the position in 1892, and then successively re-elected until his death. His associate on the bench was the Hon. F. M. Crosby, of Hast- ings. Judge Williston represented the county in the legislature in 1873-74, served in the senate in 1876-77, was clerk of the city schools seventeen years, and city attorney several terms at vari- ous times. He was an independent voter, a communicant of the Episcopal Church for fifty years, and a member of the Masons. William C. Williston was married in 1854, at Chardon, Ohio, to Mary E. Canfield, of that place, daughter of Austin and Lodemia (Benton) Canfield. To this union were born two sons and two daughters. William F. C. is deceased. Julia W. is the wife of John H. Rich of Red AYing. Annie C. is the wife of Louis Phelps r now of Wyoming. Eugene, the youngest son. died in infancy.