Early Settlers of Baldwin Township
F.B. Knapp was born in Windom, Vermont, on the 26th of November 1852. When he was four years old, his father died and two years later, he went to live with a stepsister. In 1866, he traveled to Iowa, and thence, in 1870 to Minnesota, locating on a farm, where he had lived with the exception of two years spent traveling through the Northwest. Mr. Knapp was Chairman of the board of Supervisors, having held the position for three years. He was married on the 8th of June 1878, to Miss Nellie Snow. They had two children.
M.C. Sausser was a native of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where his father and grandfather were also born. He dates his birth on the 18th of December 1838. When he was about nine years old, his mother died and he went to live with an uncle in Berks County. At the age of fourteen years, he began to learn the harness maker’s trade, at Pottsville, where he lived six years. He then went to Harrisburg, which was his home for a number of years. In 1876, he came to Minnesota, and carried on a harness shop at Princeton, Mille Lacs County, until moving to his farm in Baldwin Township in the spring of 1881. Mr. Sausser was married on the 6th of February 1861, to Miss Sarah A. Swiler. They had nine children.
W.H. Shaw, one of the early settlers of Baldwin, was born in Piscataquis County, Maine, on the 22d of September 1833. His early life was spent on his father’s farm, when not attending school, until twenty years of age. In 1857 he came to Minnesota and selected a homestead. In 1862 he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Battery, serving three years. Mr. Shaw was Town Clerk for many years, and held the position of County Commissioner for one term. He was married on the 17th of February 1866, to Miss Angelia Hansoom. They had five children.
Smith S. Trask dates his birth in Kennebec County, Maine, on the 3d of November 1855. When Smith was about twelve years old, the family moved to Elk River, Minnesota, and a year later, to Princeton. In 1878 he moved to Baldwin. Mr. Trask was an efficient Treasurer of Baldwin Township. He was married in December 1877 to Miss Abbie Nickerson.
Isaac Young, whose father was a native of New York State was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, on the 17th of February 1931. In 1853 he went to Wisconsin, and lived on a farm in Winnebago County until 1864. Then he returned to Canada, and after remaining two years, came to Minnesota and selected a farm. Mr. Young has held the offices of Supervisor and Assessor, besides local offices. He was married on the 16th of February 1853, to Miss Mary Elliott. They had two children. Note: Isaac Young is Kermit Young’s Great Great Grandfather.
William Brown is of Scotch ancestry, and was born in Tyrone County, Ireland. When a boy, he went to Paisley, Scotland, and spent some time at the silk-weaver’s trade. Returned to Ireland, he served an apprenticeship lowed in his native country until 1853. Coming then to America, he resided a few years in New York City and Glen Falls, thence, in 1855, to Michigan, and one year later to Minnesota. He located on a farm near Princeton, Mille Lacs County. In 1861 he relocated in Baldwin Township. Mr. Brown was married on the 7th of June 1866, to Annie Hillis. The union was blessed with five children.
C.H. Chadbourne was born near the battleground of revolutionary fame at Lexington, Massachusetts, on the 17th of June 1831. His early life was spent attending school, and working on his father’s farm, until at the age of sixteen years, he left home and went to sea, following the life of a sailor for a number of years, the last four of which he was a master of a coasting vessel. In 1855, he came to Minnesota, and the following year, located at Princeton, Mille Lacs County, where he kept a hotel a short time, but soon selected his farm, and built his first claim shanty, on the 4th of July 1856. The primitive claim shanty has given place to a palatial country residence, located on a farm of six hundred and forty acres of good farming land. This is the largest farm in the township. Mr. Chadbourne is one of the representative men of Sherburne County, the citizens of which on several occasions acknowledged his superior judgment. He represented his district in the State Legislature in 1874, and had been County Commissioner for several terms, besides holding numerous town offices. He was married on the 7th of June 1852, to Deborah Crowell. They had ten children.
Morris Guyett was a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, and was born on the 6th of September 1814. He remained on his father’s farm until about eighteen years of age, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account, doing business both in New York State and in Canada. He then bought a farm in Canada on which he resided twenty-five years. In 1865, he came to Minnesota, and settled on a farm in Baldwin Township. Mr. Guyett was married on the 23rd of December 1837 to Mrs. Mary Douglas, whose maiden name was Young. They had seven children.
Erwin E. Grant dates his birth at Medford, Maine, on the 6th of April 1846. He came to Minnesota with his parents in 1862, settling in Richfield, Hennepin County. Edwin soon after commenced working in Minneapolis where he remained until taking a farm as a homestead in 1868. During the summer months, for the first three years after coming here, he drove a truck in Minneapolis. Mr. Grant was married on the 3d of April 1869, to Miss Rachel Jackson. They had five children.
(Neill, Edward D. et. al. History of the Upper Mississippi Valley. Minnesota Historical Company: Minneapolis. 1881.)