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(This is last of a series of three historical sketches publish ed in connection with Geneva's centennial this month. Last Sun day's article ended by naming those who were enumerated in a census. This concluding article continues by naming the people who settled Geneva. The author has included much historical ma terial that has never before been published, Editor By L. W. SPICER (Last of a Series) Nathan Hunt, age 30, preempted in December, 1456, on land in see. Hon 15, Tle and his wife, Margaret, had in 1857, one daughter. She was Ellen, age 4, Mr. Hunt served in the Civil War, John Hines, age 27, and wife Elizabeth, came to section 1 in 1456.They had Lucinda, age 16, Clinton 15, and Luther. The Hines moved to Dakota in 1405. Hiobert Till, age OS. He was a farmer and stone mason. His chil dren were Thomas 20, Jane 19, Mary and John Thomas Hymas, age 21, and his wife Margaret had an infant son. John Charles Henson came in 1857 and settled with his wife, Caresa, on section 4. They had one daughter, May, five months old, James VF. Jones, age 38, was a merchant he came in 1856. He and his wife, Adelphia, had Hiram, 12 years old, Eugene 9, Helen § and Adelia. Later were born Jay and Mark. By his second wife he had James, now living in Florida, Me. Jones, with James Robson, built a store and the hotel. They platted the Village of Geneva containing 400 acres. The original plat is now at the court house in Montorville, Mr. Jones died in 1900, Hiram Ho Jones, the father of James, came to Geneva in 1860, Charley Jones, age 30, and wife Helen, had Prank and Cora, one year old, Mr. Jones was a shoe maker Ilenry King, age 38, and wife, Sarah, had one daughter, Martha, 7. They came to section 29 in 1856. He served as county treasurer in THS8- 1860 Isaac Lyons, age 44, and wife dg. P had children Delwin 16, Ellen 13, Ilda 7. He came to sec tion 8 in 1856 and sold out to James Robson. He was the first landlord of the hotel and after operating for two years sold the contents to O. A. Jones, who later sold to H. R and J. F. Jones, G. ©. Moon, age 23. He came to Geneva and first clerked for J. F. Jones in the state KE. Moon age 22, came to farm in 1857. He lived at the J. F. Jones home Robert Midgley, age 25, was a farmer. He and wife Elica had Howard, George and Elizabeth. Patrick McDonald came to farm in 1858 Milton Morey, age 45, and wife Elica. He was the first settler in Geneva coming in 1855 with his family. Peter Nisson lived with George Dommerhausen family and was a blacksmith. He served in the Civil War John Reed, age 32, came to sec tion 22 in 1856. He and wife El zabeth had a son John. Mr. Reed died while serving in the Civil War. The wife acted as postmaster for some time at Geneva James Robson, age 38, a mer chant and farmer. He was sheriff of Freeborn County in 1860 to 1862, when he organized Co. E of the 10th Regt. He lived in Albert Lea at the time in the Webber House. He was accidently killed by a fel low officer during the Civil War. He and his wife Martha Partridge Robson had Elsie M. John B., James, who married Anna Geneva Shad in 1881 and a son George who died at age of two years, Mr. Robson had Elsie M. John Bb, ted Geneva and built a store and hotel William Robinson, age 26. His marriage to Miss Atlanta Smith in NSC was the first wedding in Geneva Edwin C. Stacey, age 43, lawyer His wife Elizabeth was the first physician in the County. They ar rived in Geneva Village in 1856 Their children were Dorr K., age M4, and Day . Their daughter Ly dia was four years old in 1857. She died in Albert Lea at a early age Mr. Stacy was one of three county Commissioners who formed the County. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention. He held several county offices after moving to Albert Lea in 1860 Cory K. Stacy, son of Eewin and Elizabeth, was 14 years old when he carried the mall from Austin to Geneva in 1857. The dis tance was some 22 miles over an Indian Trail, partly through the Moscow Woods. He guided the two nhensa paper men that spring, who were on their way to Albert Lea to launch the “Southern Minnesota Star’. He was a Civil War Volun teer and was Justice of Peace many years Bernard Shad, age 28. He came to Geneva and opened a black smith shop. He and wife Anna had Anna Geneva, who was the first girl to be born in Geneva. Her birthday was Sept. 8, 1857. Their son John was born on a farm ad jacent to the village June 1, 1859. He was honored at the Centennial in 189 as the oldest living child born in Freeborn County. He con ducted a blacksmith shop in Gen eva for many years. Alexander Schott, age 25, pre empted on section 12 in 1856 with his wife Elisabeth. The C. H. Thomas family left Geneva before 1860 to live in Fari bault County. There were several children. The son, Leander J., liv ed in Albert Lea most of his life. He was a Civil War volunteer, Samuel Woodworth, age 61, and wife Julia settled in section 26. They had Henry 21, Jason 16, George, Charlotte, Wesley and Eli sha. The family moved to Fark bault county soon after the Civil War Patrick Tracy, age 38, and wife Ella had Michael, age 12, Thomas T and Mary 5. Among those who came to Gen eva shortly after 1860 and were prominent in helping the village to grow were: Lucius Gibbs; John J. Gibbes, who was county attor ney and five times elected to the State legislature and was Speak er of the House; George and War ren Osburn, George served in the Civil war; Wehram Pierce, farm er; Charles Wheeler, hotel proprie tor; Adchibral Chamberlan, mer chant; Larson the wagon maker; Michael and Richard Quinn; John Walski; Charles Vinton, who own ed some 27 Geneva lots; L. D. Holmes, who pastured cattle on his 1,000-acre farm and whose home place was one of the first start ing places for the Hollandale pro ject; E. J. Huggins; John Rob son, merchant; H. L. Quinwald, blacksmith; Svend Swenson, mer chant and long-time postmaster; Charles Lawson, merchant and in later years, Clarence Nelson, mer chant and postmaster (THE END) HOTEL BUILDER Capt. James Robson to James I Jones plat Geneva and then helped the hotel and store in connection with his partner. Robson was killed at Ft. Snelling while training troops for the Union Army dur ing the Civil War. JAMES F. JONES Hotel Builder
Newspaper Details
Albert Lea Sunday Tribune
Albert Lea, Minnesota, US
Sun, Jun 05, 1955
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Susan M.
USA 26 Jul 2026
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