Sunday, August 7, 2011

George Erwin Child [1868-1936]

  George Erwin Child was born in Waseca, Waseca County, MN, 22 March 1868, died in the Waseca Memorial Hospital, Waseca, Waseca County, MN, 12 Marach 1936, and was buried in the Woodville Cemetery, Waseca County, MN, following funeral services at the home of F. A. Wood conducted by the Rev. M. Green of the First Congregational Church. 
From Child's History of Wasecea County, Minnesota
  He married, first, at St. Paul, MN, 7 September 1901, Lucille M. Smith who died in St. Paul, MN, 10 March 1902, and, second (later divorced), in Minot, Ward County, ND, 27 April 1910, Catherine Florence "Dollie" Cooper who was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, 2 December 1882, and died in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, 12 March 1963.
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The Waseca Journal - 18 March 1936
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  Muncipal Judge George Erwin Child died Thursday afternoon at the Waseca Memorial hospital.  Although he had been in poor health for a number of years and a patient at the hospital for several months, his death was rather sudden coming from a heart attack.  He had appeared about the same Thursday morning when his brother-in-law, Frank A. Wood, called and at noon he ate his usual meal and the nurse had taken his tray into the hall and when she returned she found he had passed away.
  Judge Child has during the past fifteen years served the city of Waseca as city attorney and later and up to his death as Judge of the Municipal Court, being in his second four year term of that office.  He also served as county attorney and previous to his return to Waseca he served as postmaster at Kenmare, N.D.
  Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 1:30 from the home of F. A. Wood, 516 Fourth avenue, northeast.  They were conducted by Rev. M. Green of the First Congregational church.  The pall bearers were Messrs. L. A. Bullard, John R. Bullard, Ray Moonan, G. P. Madden, E. C. Goodspeed and Dr. G. E. Fastle.  Burial was in Woodville cemetery.  Those from away who were here for the funeral were Walter Child, Minneapolis; Mrs. Mark D. Ashley, Jackson; Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Child and Mrs. S. M. Child, Lakefield; and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Coyer and E. R. Krassin, Mankato.
  George Child was one of nine children of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Child, early pioneers of Waseca county.  His father before him served as county attorney and municipal judge, also serving as judge of probate, superintendent of schools and a member of both the State Senate and House of Representatives.  His father was, perhaps, better known in the county through his newspaper work and his Child's History of Waseca county, which work he copyrighted in 1905.
  George Child was born March 22, 1868 and had he lived another ten days would have been 68 years of age.  He was the second child born in the new village of Waseca.  He was educated in the public schools of this community and graduated from the Law College of the University of Minnesota.  Following his graduation he accepted a position with the American Surety Company of St. Paul and held this for a term of years.  He then went to Kenmare, N. D., where he opened a law office and later served as postmaster.  His health failing, he left Kenmare and went to Florida where he hoped the climate would aid his recovery.
  He remained there only one year, coming to Waseca where he opened a law office and has since resided.
  He was married Sept. 7, 1901 at St. Paul to Miss Lucille H. Smith, who passed away March 10, 1902.  He was a member of the Masonic order and of the Minnesota State Bar association.
  He is survived by one brother, Walter Child, Minneapolis; and three sisters, Mrs. Mark D. Ashley, Jackson; Mrs. G. H. Goodspeed, and Mrs. F. A. Wood, Waseca.
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Additional Sources 
  -MN Death Index, 1908-2002 on Ancestry.com.
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Marcia Child [1866-1867]

  Marcia Child was born in Wilton Township, Waseca County, MN, 27 March 1866, daughter of James Erwin Child and Anna Justina Krassin, and died in Wilton Township, 9 April 1867.
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Orilla Justina Child Goodspeed [1861-1948]

  Orilla Justina Child was born in Wilton Township, Waseca County, MN, 15 December 1861, daughter of James Erwin Child and Anna Justina Krassin, died at her home in Waseca, Waseca County, MN, 15 May 1948, and was buried in the Woodville Cemetery, Waseca, Waseca County, MN.
  She married in Waseca, Waseca County, MN, 25 May 1880, George Henry Goodspeed who was born in Osterville, Barnstable County, MA, 8 March 1858, son of Henry Goodspeed and Temperance H. Parker, died in Waseca, Waseca County, MN, 27 May 1931, and was buried in the Woodville Cemetery, Waseca, Waseca County, MN.
  Three children were born of this union:
  01. Henry Erwin Goodspeed who was born in Minnesota, 23 March 1881, was killed when his pickup truck collidede with a passenger train in Waseca, Waseca County, MN, 27 August 1958, and was buried in Woodville Cemetery, Waseca, Waseca County, MN.  He was married to Mollie E. Goodspeed (1902-1977)
  02. Frank Bradford Goodspeed
  03. Claude M. Goodspeed 
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The Waseca Journal - 19 May 1948
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  Mrs. George H. Goodspeed, 86, of this city, passed away at her home. She had been ill for the past three weeks.  Orilla J. Child, daughter of J. E. and Justina Child, pioneer settlers of Waseca county, was born December 15, 1861 in Wilton township, Waseca county. Her father, James Erwin "Pat" Child taught school in Dodge county and also practiced law in Wilton. In 1863 he went into the newspaper work and made it his principal business. Many people still remember Pat and his family. Orilla was one of nine children.
  On May 25, 1880, she became the bride of George H. Goodspeed of Waseca. three children were born to this union. She was a member of the Congregational church, a member of the Monday Study Club and a Past Matron of the Eastern Star. She was a lovable person and made many friends during her lifetime.
  Surviving are her children, Dr. Henry Erwin Goodspeed of Northome, Minn.; Frank Bradford of Hinsdale, Illinois; and Claude M. Battelford, Sasks., Canada.
  A sister, Mrs. Dora Ashley of Jackson, who was with her during her last illness, and a brother, Captain Walter Child of Minneapolis, also survive.
  Funeral services were held at the Pfaff Funeral Home at one o'clock on Monday, May 17. Rev. G. D. Stowe officiated and interment was made at the Woodville cemetery.
  Those from out of town attending the services were Dr. and Mrs. H. E. Good-speed of Northome, Minn., and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Goodspeed of Hinsdale, Illinois. Her brother, Capt. Walter Child was unable to attend the services because of illness.
  Pallbearers were William Hansen, Paul Stucky, L. F. Preston, Ray Roesler, William Gutfleisch and George Webb.  
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Child's History of Waseca County, Minnesota
By James E. Child
[Owatonna, MN: The Owatonna Chronicle,
Whiting & Luers, Publishers, 1905] Pages 700-701
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MR. GEORGE H. GOODSPEED
  Mr. George H. Goodspeed of Waseca, son of Henry Goodspeed, a Union veteran of the war of the Rebellion, was born in Barnstable, Mass., March 8, 1858, and came to Minnesota with his parents in 1872. His father died in 1876, leaving a widow, three sons, and two daughters. George was the oldest and upon him devolved the duty of carrying on the farm and business pertaining thereto.
  On the 25th of May, 1880, he was married to Miss Orilla Justina Child, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Child. Orilla was born in Wilton, Dec. 15, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Goodspeed are the parents of three sons: Henry Erwin, dentist, of Waseca, born March 23, 1881; Claude Martin, born July 13, 1883; Frank Bradford, born Jan. 25, 1888. Claude is a sheep herder in Montana, and Frank is in the senior class of the Waseca high school at this writing.
  George H. held the office of chairman of the board of supervisors of the town of Woodville prior to his removal to the city of Waseca. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1896, and again in 1898. In 1901 he opened up a small farm in the eastern part of Waseca. He soon after became foreman of R. P. Ward's large farm just west of Waseca, a position he still holds at this writing.
THE HONORABLE HENRY GOODSPEED
  The subject of this sketch was born in Barnstable, Mass., Nov. 13, 1834, where he grew to manhood. He was the first man to enlist in Company E of the Fortieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers under Captain Bearse.  His health failed him to some extent, but he was admitted to the reserve corps and served until the 28th day of June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He was elected a member of the Massachusetts legislature, house of representatives, in 1871. In 1872 he came with his family to Minnesota and resided on a farm on the west side of Clear Lake, just northeast of Waseca. He was never a very rugged man, and died of consumption October 19, 1876.
  He married Miss Temperance H. Parker in 1856. She was also a native of Barnstable, Mass., born July 15, 1836. For years prior to her death she suffered from cancer of the breast and side, and finally departed this life at Waseca, Dec. 9, 1896, at the age of sixty years, respected and mourned by all who knew her.
  Mr. and Mrs. Goodspeed had five children: George H., Allen C., (deceased) Stanton W., Mrs. O. L. Smith, and Mrs. Elmer Herrick. Stanton and Mrs. Herrick reside at Glendive, Mont. The others are residents of this county. 
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The Waseca Herald
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Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Goodspeed Celebrate Golden Wedding
Popular Waseca Couple Honored On Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary
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  To be able to celebrate their golden wedding in the enjoyment of health and prosperity in the same house in which they were pronounced man and wife a half a century previously is a privilege accorded to few people.  Yet this privilege was enjoyed by Mr. and Mrs. George H. Goodspeed of Waseca last Sunday.
  On May 25, 1880, George H. Goodspeed and Orilla J. Child were married at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Child of Waseca, with Rev. Levi Gilbert of the M. E. church officiating.
  On Sunday, June 1, the golden anniversary of this wedding was quietly celebrated in the same home, which is now the property of Mayor and Mrs. Frank A. Wood.  Only the immediate relatives were present at each celebration.
  Relatives from out of town who were present Sunday included Dr. Henry Goodspeed of Duluth; Frank Goodspeed of Chicago; Walter and Arthur E. Child of Minneapolis; Mrs. S. M. Child, Mr. and Mrs. W. Walter Child of Lakefield; Mrs. Mark D. Ashley and daughters, Misses Juliet and Miriam Ashley of Jackson.  Many congratulatory messages were received from other relatives who were unable to be present.
  Geo. H. Goodspeed was born on March 8, 1858, at Barnstable, Mass., and came to Waseca county with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Goodspeed, in 1872.  He has been very successful as a contracting teamster and enjoys the distinction of having held more public offices than any man in Waseca county.  He is at present alderman from the second ward in the Waseca city council.
  Mrs. Goodspeed was born in Wilton on December 15, 1861, and her entire lifetime had been spent in this community.  She has taken an active interest in club and church and is well and favorable known in Waseca County.  Her father, the late James E. Child, was widely known as an editor and historian.
  Mr. and Mrs. Goodspeed are the parents of three children, Dr. Henry E. Goodspeed of Duluth; Claud M. Goodspeed of Battleford, Sask., and Frank B. Goodspeed of Chicago.  They have one granddaughter, Miss Georgia Marie Goodspeed of Battleford.
  The Herald joins with the host of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Goodspeed in hoping they will live to celebrate their diamond wedding.

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Annie Elizabeth Child Wood [1860-1947]

Unidentified Newspaper Obituary
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  Annie Elizabeth Child was born in Wilton Township, Waseca County, Minnesota, on 8 January 1860.  She was married to Frank Adams Wood, the son of Nathan Wood and Ellen Adams, on 26 January 1884 in Waseca, Minnesota, by the Rev. H. C. Jennings.  Frank was forn in Gardner, Massachusetts, on 14 September 1855.  He died on 12 November 1951 at the age of 96 years, 8 weeks and 2 days.  Annie Child Wood died in Waseca on 20 March 1947 at Memorial Hospital from a paralytic stroke on 15 November 1838.  Funeral services were held at the Pfaff Funeral Chapel with the Rev. M. Green officiating and burial was made in the Woodville Cemetery.
  Annie attended school in Waseca and went on to graduate from the Mankato Teachers' College.  She lived in Waseca all her life, becoming very interested in civic affairs and being identified with many community improvements.  She taught school for a number of years after she was married and both high school and grade school students came to know her.  Annied worked at the Waseca Herald which her father edited and assisted her father who compiled and wrote Child's History of Waseca County.  She was a member of many clubs and very often one of the original members of local organizations.  She was active during her life in the Monday Study Club, the Eastern Star, W.C.T.U., Waseca County Historical Association and the Past Worthy Matrons Club of the Eastern Star.
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Stephen Melvin Child [1858-1939]

The Standard - Lakefield, MN
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  Stephen Melvin Child was born in Wilton Township, Waseca County, Minnesota, on 7 March 1858.  He was married to Amelia Ludtke, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Ludtke, on 31 December 1882 in Waseca, Minnesota, by the Rev. H. C. Jennings.  Stephen died on 30 January 1929 at his home on Menage Avenue in Lakefield, Jackson County, Minnesota.  Funeral services were held at his home and at the Methodist Episcopal Church on February 2nd andwere conducted by the Rev. C. N. Hamrin of Woodlake.  Burial was in the Lakefield Cemetery.  Amelia A. Ludtke was born 16 August 1863 in Germany.  She died on 18 December 1951 at the age of 88 years, 4 months and 2 days at her home in Lakefield.  Funeral services were conducted on 21 December 1851 at the Rost Funeral Home and at the First Methodist Church by the Rev. Clifford Wittstruck.  Interment was beside the grave of her husband in the Lakefield Cemetery.
  Stephen lived his first ten years in Wilton Township.  Then a railroad was built through Waseca County and the new town of Waseca was developed.  The little town of Wilton was soon all moved to the newer town with its railroad advantages.  The Child family moved with the town to Waseca.  Stephen received his education in the schools of Waseca and assisted his father in his printing office.  When he reached the age of 20, he felt the urge of the open spaces and outdoors in preference to being confined to indoor labor.  This led him in 1878 to follow Horace Greeley's advice, "Go west young man."  He went as far as Jackson County, Minnesota, and settled on a farm in Secion Six, Des Moines Township, 4 1/2 miles east of Lakefield.  It was just at the close of the dark days following the grasshopper scourge of several preceding years.  They county had a population of 4,500.  From the Des Moines River west, there was a wide stretch of virgin prairie, with only a settler's shanty or log cabin now and then.
  In 1879 the extension of the Milwaukee railroad from Jackson west was begun and Stephen Child assisted in building the grade for the new railroad for a distance past his farm.  The village of Lakefield sprang up with the coming of the railroad and Stephen witnessed its growth from nothing to a substantial community of handsome, commodious brick stores and find residences and a population one-third as large as the whole county possessed on his early arrival.
  On 31 December 1882, Stephen was united in marriage to Amelia Ludtke, who had also come to Jackson County with her parents, seeking in the new land a hope of future reward for labor well done.  While living in Des Moines Township they affiliated with the Methodist Church.  To this marriage was born two sons, William Walter and Arthur Erwin.  The family lived on the farm until their deaths.  Two girls were given homes and reared by Stephen and Amelia Child, namely:  Mattie May who became Mrs. Lewis L. Heaton of Minneapolis and Hazel Dohm who became Mrs. Glenn G. Warren of Des Moines, Iowa.
  Stephen Child was town supervisor of Des Moines Township for many years until he refused to act longer because he felt he could not give the office the time it should have.  The only fraternal order to which he belonged was the Ancient Order United Workmen and he was a charter member of the Lincoln Lodge No. 164 organized in Lakefield on 9 March 1893.
  Stephen was a home loving man.  He preferred his home to mixing with men in lodges and was never seen 'just loafing' around.   He was of strict integrity and justice.  His influence was always given heartily and sincerely for the things that bettered living conditions and made for spiritual growth.  He was never argumentative, though his opinion once formed were unshakable as solid rock.
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Walter Child [1857-1949]

  Walter Child was born in Wilton Township, Waseca County, Minnesota, on 23 January 1857.  He was married to Emma Louise Folkedahl on 6 May 1879 in Dayton, Ohio, by the Rev. A. B. Leonard.  Emmas was born in Middletown, Ohio, 15 July 1856.  Emma died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 8 September 1933 of cerebral hemorrhage and was buried in Waseca beside her son Clyde.  Walter Child died in Minneapolis on 31 January 1949 of heart trouble.
  After their marriage in 1879 they lived in Waseca until 1901 when Walter Child accepted a position in grain elevators in Superior, Wisconsin, Omaha, Nebraska, and Terre Haute, Indiana.  He left Terre Haute in 1916 and moved to Minneapolis where he was employed by the Farmers National Warehouse Corporation.
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REFERENCES:  See Child's History of Waseca County, Minnesota by James E. Child for his 1878 role in the first fire company in Waseca (page 333), for his membership in the Waseca County Horsethief Detective Society (page 348), and for his role in the Spanish War as Captain of Company K of Waseca (Chapter LXXV, pages 583-588).
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Friday, August 5, 2011

Juliet Marcia Ashley [1904-1990]

  Juliet Marcia Ashley was born in Jackson, Jackson County, MN, 2 April 1904, daughter of Mark Dexter Ashley and Dora Maria Child, died at Sitka Community Hospital in Sitka, Alaska, 13 January 1990, and was buried in Sitka Memorial Park, Sitka, Alaska, following funeral services in the First Presbyterian Church of Sitka.
  She married in Waseca, Waseca County, MN, 14 October 1952, Byron Burr Lesch who was born in Mount Union, Henry County, Iowa, 9 September 1913, son of Herman Lesch and Julia Popham, died at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, 18 April 2008, and was cremated for later burial in Sitka Memorial Park, Sitka, Alaska, following a memorial service in Bethel Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, Iowa, 4 October 2008.
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Waseca County News - 29 January 1990
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  SITKA, Alaska - Juliet Ashley Lesch, 85, former Waseca resident, died at Sitka, Alaska on Jan. 13, 1990 after a lengthly illness.
  Mrs. Lesch was born on April 2, 1904, in Jackson, Minn. to Mark and Dora (Child) Ashley.  She attended school for several years in Waseca, staying with an uncle, Frank Wood, former Waseca mayor.  She attended Carleton College and the University of Minnesota, and taught school at several places in Minnesota and in Northbrook, Ill.  Later she returned to Waseca to care for her uncle.
  At the Congregational Church, of which she was an active member, she met Byron Lesch, and they were married in 1951.  The couple later lived in Jackson, Minn. and Sitka, Alaska. A few month before her death, a book of her poems was published, called Poems from Alaska.
  Mrs. Lesch was a granddaughter of James E. Child, well-known Waseca pioneer.
Frank Goodspeed, long-time Waseca resident, now deceased, was her cousin.
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Daily Sitka Sentinel - 16 January 1990
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  Funeral services for Juliet Ashley Lesch, a poet and a long-time resident, were to be held 2 p.m. today at the First Presbyterian Church.
  The Rev. David Morelli was to officiate.  Burial was to follow at Sitka Memorial Park.
  Mrs. Lesch died Saturday at Sitka Community Hospital following a lengthy illness.
  She was born April 2, 1904, in Jackson, Minn., to Mark and Dora (Child) Ashley.  She attended Carleton College at Northfield, Minn., and the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis.
  She taught at several schools in Minnesota and one at Northbrook, Ill.  From there she went to Waseca, Minn., to care for an uncle, Frank Wood.  It was there that she met Byron Lesch, and they were married in 1951.
  "They moved to Jackson, Minn., in 1956, where they operated the Ashley Hotel, the place where she was born.
  The couple came to Sitka in 1968, and she managed the Bookstore at Sheldon Jackson College until her retirement in 1981.
  She was a long-time member of the American Association of University Women, holding several offices, including that of president, in the local chapter.
  Many of her poems were printed in various publications over the years, and a few months before her death a book of her poems, 'Poems from Alaska,' was published.  The book is illustrated with photos by her husband.
  During her illness, she was frequently assisted by her niece, Francia Hawkin of Madison, N.J.
  Her sister Miriam preceded her in death.
  She is survived by her husband; brothers-in-law Robert Kozelka of Peoria, Ill., and Donald Lesch of Waterloo, Iowa; two nieces; and seven nephews.
  The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be given to be used to provide a Sheldon Jackson College scholarship.
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