Charles Saxon

SAXON, ANDERSON

Posted By: S. Ferrall
Date: 10/3/2008 at 17:34:33

Charles Saxon(1834-1903) was one of the earlier and best known settlers of Indian Lake township. From 1872 to the time of his death in 1903 his permanent residence was on the land he homesteaded the southeast quarter of section 30.

Mr. Saxon was born near the town of Wasdtena, in the southern part of Sweden, Oct. 5, 1834, the son of a carpenter. The first eighteen years of his life were spent in his native country, where he secured a common school education and began learning the carpenter's trade under the instruction of his father. The family came to America in 1852 and located at Rock Island, Ill. There for two years Mr. Saxon, Sr., worked at his trade and his son assisted him. Charles removed with his parents to Fulton, Ill., in 1854, and during the next ten years he was employed in a sash and door factory. He took up his residence on a farm near Winona, Minn., in 1864, and for about two years engaged in tilling the soil. He then returned to Fulton, Ill., and again took a position in the sash and door factory, remaining there two years, making a total service of twelve years in that business.

From Fulton he moved west in 1868, and located in Allamakee county, Iowa, from which place many of the early settlers of Indian Lake township came. There he purchased a farm and during the next four years he engaged in agricultural pursuits.

During the years 1870 and 1871 many of the Scandinavian farmers of Allamakee county, Iowa, came to Indian Lake township, in Nobles county, and filed on claims. Among this number was Mr. Saxon, who came up in the fall of 1871. He filed a claim to the southeast quarter of section 30, built a shanty thereon, and then returned to his Iowa home. To hold the claim it was necessary to return the next spring. Mrs. Saxon and two of the children came up first, arriving on the place in May. The husband with two more of the children arrived on June 8, and thereafter to the time of his death, that was Mr. Saxon's home. The family passed through all the trials and tribulations incident to the life of Nobles county pioneers. Mr. Saxon took an active part in the affairs of the township during his life. For a good many years he served as a member of the township board and also held other offices of the township. He was a member of the Indian
Lake Baptist church.

Mr. Saxon was married Sept. 2, 1862, in Allamakee county, Iowa, to Augusta F. Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Anderson. She was born Dec. 19, 1839,and still lives on the home place in Indian Lake township. To this union were
born nine children, seven of whom are still living. They are John A., Frank, William A., August Wallace, Ida C. (now Mrs. Samuel C. Anderson, of Allamakee county, Iowa); Charles R., Walter A., Leonard (died in infancy), Oscar (died in infancy). All of the children now living, except Mrs. Anderson, reside in Nobles county.

Mr. Saxon died March 10, 1903.

~'An Illustrated History of Nobles County Minnesota',by Arthur P. Rose, Northern History Publishing Co., Worthington, MN, 1908, pg 369

Photo: the late Charles Saxon & Mrs. Saxon

Allamakee Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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