The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-08-13
PRA|S|NG OLD SETTLERS
SPEAKERS lAUD MEN WHO
BLAZED THE TRAILS
OUTING TODAYAT SIBLEY
Splendid Occasion Was Featured
BY An Address From Rev.
G. A. Cahoon

Members of the Blue Earth County
Territorial Old Settlers association
were favored today by most ideal
weather on the occasion Of the hold
ing Of their annual picnic at S1bley
park. The program Of the day was
opened at noon on the picnic grounds
by the serving Of a picnic dinner,
each family bringing with them a.
well filed basket Of good things to-
eat. Kenneth Morrow and Miss Stel-
Ia Bartlett favored the audience with
Owing to the death of the president
of the association, the late Charles A.
Chapman, w. H. Pay vice president,
OF the association, presided at the
meeting, introduced the speakers or.
the day and announced the numbers
on the program. A mixed Quartette
composed Of Miss Cornelia Mans :.
field Mrs. Evan Hughes, Joseph e.
Kendall, and Judge Evan Hughes
rendered a number OF vocal seiec-
tons.
Memorial BY Thomas Hughes.
The following, memorial was read
by Attorney Thomas Hughes touch
ing upon the attributes Of the Eve
members of the association who
have passed away since the last an :
nual meeting Of the association.
Another year has rolled by since we
last met in the park. and number OF
appeared IN its food. Five OF them were
OF our organization"
The frst Of these to pass away was
our old FREUD. Fred Boegen. He was e.
native Of Arnon. Belgium. where he was
born December 9. 1891. He tnigrated to-
Canton, Ohio In 1851. where he and his
brother Henry assisted in building thei
was married to Elizabeth Pearl at Tiffin.,
On May IS. 1851 Fred Bosgen and his
brother Henry arrived in Mankato.
days They were both machinists by
trade and followed the same for seventy
years. On arriving IN Mankato they
opened a machine repair ; shop on si,at the
and In 1853 erected large saw MILL
which they operated In the vicinity OF
their homes In the north central part
of the city for many, years
Fred Boesen served for a term OF
nine years as q member OF the city
council Of Mankato, and took an active
part in securing this park for the city
ments. Mr.. Boegsn was public spirited
and q strong character, who possessed
IN q marked degree the prime virtues
of his race. honesty. industry and thr1tt:
He died In August 1919 at the ripe olo
age Of ninety-seven years
The next Of Our members to pass
away was our worthy president, Chas.
A. Chapman. who died January 20, 1890
tober Il. 1855 and educated In Lawrenos
scientific school Of Harvard University
from which he graduated aa civil en-t
gineer in 1885,, he then inarned!ateiyi
seek employment in railroad CONSTRUCT
ton work Hard times Of that year had
put a stop TO all railroad building and
he found empioyrnent fGr thst year M
er Improvement company's land grant
In tho spring Of 1887 in company with
his friend. DR.. Byron Dewitt Of Oswe-
go. Iowa, he came to South Bend this
county, where he arrived June 13, OF that
year. The same year he together with
Or. Dewitt and several others bought
the farm Of Noah Armstrong on
which they laid out the townsite Of lie
Hitler City. In the fall Of 1857 he NOV
ed TO Nankato and in company with A.
D. insolvency opened surveyors offica
son wholesale house now stands. Dur
ing this early period he surveyed and
plated number Of additions to Man.
kato-warrens. Hanna's. Givin's ana
Dukes and others. He was elected
county auditor of Blue Earth county in
1se3 and 1864. and was the first city en-
gineer Of Manksto. He was the secre-
over twenty years, secretary OF the
Nsnkato Cemetery association from its
organization in 1869 until his death.
was president Of the territorial old set
tiers association for a great many years.
Mr.. Chapman was married March 81,
1859 to Miss Hannah A Chapman OF
Bethel Maine, who proceeded her hus-
band to the other world Their only
child, James r. Chapman, resident OF
Pueblo, Colorado. Mr.. Chapman was a.
man of fine ability and most exemplary
character. Quiet. faithful and depend
able in all his ways, he ever wore the
confidence and esteem OF ell who metl
him. !
John C. Noe was the third member of
our society to pass into the Great Bel
yond. He was born at Newburg. n. Y
May 2.L1s44 the son @- Albert Noe. a.