The following pages I first found at an unknown date, possibly as far back as the 1980s. This Francis is an uncle of our Francis. The copy I am pasting is from Google Play, on the14th March 2022. The Title of the book is 'Memorial Record of Faribault, Martin, Watonwan and Jackson Minnesota'. The pages are 103 and 104.~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Francis Elwess
, one of the extensive farmers and stock-raisers, residing on section 14, Silver Lake Township, claims England as the country of his nativity. Yorkshire was the place of his birth, and the date June 22, 1839. His parents, Francis and Elizabeth (Lindley) Elwess, were natives of Lincolnshire, England, and the father was a farmer, who followed that occupation throughout his life in pursuit of fortune. His death occurred in his native land, at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife passed away in the same locality at the age of sixty-nine.
Our subject was the eighth child in their family and was reared on the old homestead farm until fourteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself. Since that time he has been dependent upon his mendatory title of a self-made man. He began serving an apprenticeship in a grocery and confectioner's store and worked for six weeks, after which he went to another place and accepted a position as clerk in a grocery, confectionery and high-wines store, being thus employed for two years, in Sheffield. He then returned to his home and for one year engaged in the butchering business and learned that trade in all its details. On the expiration of that period he embarked in business for himself, but after eleven months sold out and began working for his father for fifteen shillings per week. His early life was anything but a period of luxury, and industry has been his most noticeable characteristic through all these years.
In 1856, before he was eighteen years of age, Mr. Elwess was united in marriage with Miss Sarah R. Fowler, a native of Lincolnshire, England, then sixteen years of age. She is a daughter of George and Sarah Rebecca Fowler, the former born in Lincolnshire, England, and the latter in South Wales. In July of the following year they came to America, landing at Castle Garden, New York city, from the steamship Washington City, in which they took passage. Their family numbers three children, a son and two daughters: William F., Manager of the New Home Sewing machine business, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Louisa Elizabeth, wife of F. H. Barber, who also also resides in St. Paul; and Annie Lillian, wife of George Elwess, of Martin County.
On landing in this country the parents made their way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, thence to Fairwater, Fond du Lac county, that State, where they made a location. Mr. Elwess worked for his brother as a farm hand for seventy-five cents per day, and afterward entered the employ of Captain Plocker, owner of a large farm, receiving in compensation for his services on $5 per month. Subsequently he began keeping house and worked on a farm for Mr. Boardman, contracting to grub twelve acres of land for a yoke of steers. Later he entered the employ of Dr. Egleston on a farm working for $20 per month in the harvest fields, while his wife received $3 per week for services in the Doctor's home. Thus they labored together and at length succeeded in getting a start in life. Returning to Fairwater they there began keeping house, and Mr. Elwess worked by the day for fifty cents per day.
a time in the employ of Richard Charfield. Buying forty acres of Covernmen; land, he built a small shanty and began making improvements. Not long after, his little shanty was destroyed by fire, with its contents. Not having the necessary money with which to build again, he exchanged his land for stock and started with three yoke of oxen, thirty head of other cattle and one horse, for Martin County, arriving here August 29, 1861. Securing a homestead of section 14, Silver Lake township, he and his good wife began housekeeping in genuine pioneer style, and were among the first settlers in this part of the county. They lived in a dugout the first two winters, and in summer devoted their energies to breaking, improving and cultivating their land. Notwithstanding the numerous losses of his stock by disease, which have been many, and going security for friends, he has been successful. With the exception of a little financial assistance received on the death of his father, and 960 pounds sterling at his mother's death in 1875, his entire possessions are the fruits of his own untiring industry and good management. He is the owner of 800 acres of good land, which is supplied with good buildings, and stock of all kinds, and he is accounted one of the substantial citizens of the community in which he makes his home. During the late was Mr. Elwess manifested his loyalty to the Government and the Union cause by enlisting, in March, 1864, as a member of Company G, First Minnesota Infantry, in which he served until after the South had laid down its arms and peace was one more restored. He then returned to his family and his farm work, and the story of his labor may be read in the record of his success. On one occasion he laid aside business cares and went to his old home in England, where he spent four months in viewing noted points of interest in that county and in visiting the scenes of his boyhood and renewing the acquaintances of his youth. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican party and its principles, and has served as School Treasurer, but has never sought public office, preferring to give his time and attention to his business interests.
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