Person Page - 185

     In 1906 DAVID J. GWIN is one of the honored pioneers of Ithaca township, where he is the owner of a fine farm, much of which he reclaimed from the virgin forest. He was born in Morrow County, O., Feb. 19, 1838, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (James) Gwin, the former of whom was born near historic Valley Forge, Pa., and the latter of whom was native of Ohio. Daniel Gwin was a son of John Gwin, who was born in Scotland and who settled in Pennsylvania, where he remained for a number of years. In 1853 he came to Wisconsin, where he remained a short time, after which he took up his residence in Indiana, where he passed the remainder of his life. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Rev. David James, who was born in Wales, whence he came to America when a young man, settling in Morrow county, O. He was a clergyman of the Baptist church. Daniel Gwin accompanied his parents on their removal from Pennsylvania to Morrow county, O., where he was reared and educated. As a young man he worked in his father's flourmill and later he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1851 he came to Wisconsin and located in Sauk county, near the Richland county line. He secured 160 acres of timber land and also reclaimed a farm in Spring Green prairie, the section having been very sparsely settled at the time and practically no roads having yet been constructed. The subject of this sketch well recalls the conditions and incidents of the pioneer epoch and he aided in reclaiming the farm, working early and late and becoming familiar with wielding the ax and driving the plodding ox team. Daniel Gwin remained on his first farm until 1853 and then removed to Ithaca township, Richland county, where he entered into partnership with Joseph Sippy and erected and equipped a sawmill. Two years later he sold his interest in the business and thereafter he gave his attention principally to farming. He passed the closing years of his life in the home of his son, Enos M. in Sauk county. He was three times married, his first wife having died in 1851. He then married Mrs. Melissa Worden, widow of Moses Worden. She died in 1855, and he later wedded Cordelia Ellis, who likewise preceded him to the life eternal. The children of the first marriage were as follows: Elizabeth, Horatio, Louisa and Jane; all of whom are deceased; David J., the immediate subject of this sketch; Rachel, who is the wife of Charles Hubbard of Clark, Wyo; Sarah, who is deceased; John, who resides in Skidmore, Mo; Sarah (2d), who is deceased; and Enos M. who now lives at Kettle Fall, Washington, being a farmer and carpenter. Of the second marriage one son was born, Henry, who now resides in the city of Madison and who has charge of the Monona assembly grounds. Daniel Gwin was originally a Whig and later a Republican in his political adherency and while he never sought office he served for a number of years as justice of the peace. In earlier life he was a member of the Baptist church but he finally became a Spiritualist. He was a man of broad mentality and of sterling character, ever commanding the esteem and confidence of those with whom he came in contact in the various walks of life. David J. Gwin secured his rudimentary education in Ohio, having been eleven years of age at the time the family removed to Wisconsin, where his educational advantages were necessarily limited, as the pioneer schools were of meager order. As a young man he assisted in the work of the farm and also learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed to a greater or less extent during all the intervening years, having erected many buildings in Richland county. He is now the owner of a well improved farm of 115 acres, having individually cleared a great portion of the same, which was covered with heavy timber at the time the property came into his possession. The homestead is located in section 5, Ithaca township, and he also owns a house and a small tract of land in section 4. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but he has never sought or desired official preferment. He is well known in this section of the state and is held in high regard in the community which has so long represented his home. In 1862 Mr. Gwin was united in marriage to Miss Martha Reagles, who was born in Indiana, being a daughter of Abel and Priscilla (Shippy) Reagles, who came to Richland county in 1854, becoming pioneers of Ithaca township. The mother is deceased, and the venerable father now makes his home with his children. Mr. and Mrs. Gwin became the parents of nine children, concerning whom the following brief record is entered: Mary is the wife of James Davis, a farmer of Ithaca township; John F. is deceased; Pearl is the wife of Jacob Davis, of Richland township; Edward, who is a farmer of Willow township, married Miss Susan Quackenbush; Elenora is the wife of Frederick Reed, of Orion township; Blanche is the wife of Alfred Davis, of Richland township; James, who married Miss Ella Martin, is a successful teacher in the schools of Buena Vista township; Clyde, who married Miss Iva Spiker, has charge of his father's farm; and Anna is the wife of Robert Smith, of Ithaca township.

     HARLOW STODDARD, whose attractive farmstead is located in Willow township, on rural free-delivery route No. 3, from Richland Center, is a member of one of the well known pioneer families of this township, is a veteran of the Civil War and is a citizen who commands the high regard of the community. He was born in the state of New York, May 6, 1845, and is a son of Valentine and Johanna (Davison) Stoddard, the former of whom was born in Connecticut and latter in New York state, both families having early been founded in America. The parents came to Wisconsin in 1855, settling in Willow township, this county, where the mother died in 1857, and where the father also passed the remainder of his long and useful life, his death occurring in 1900. In the midst of the forest he literally hewed out a productive farm and he was known as a man of sterling character, loyal to all the duties of citizenship and one who won prosperity by his own efforts. In 1860 he contracted a second marriage, Mrs. Rebecca McCloud becoming his wife. She was the widow of George McCloud, and she still lives on the old homestead farm of her second husband. Following is a brief record concerning the children of the first marriage of Valentine Stoddard: Jane became the wife of George McGrossen, she died in Michigan; Emeline became the wife of Josiah Edwards and both died in Macomb county, Mich; George R. died in the state of Kansas; Ann became the wife of David Thompson and both died in Richland township, this county; John w. died in Willow township; the subject of this sketch was the next in order of birth; Jesse is a farmer of Richland township; and Jeannette is the widow of Seth Forest, and resides at Monroe county, this state. Frank, the only living child of the second marriage, resides with his mother on the old homestead. Harlow Stoddard was ten years of age at the time when his parents took up their residence in this county, and he was reared to manhood in Willow township, assisting in the development and cultivation of the home farm and attending the district schools as opportunity afforded. In 1864, at the age of nineteen years, he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company I, Thirty-eighth Regiment of Wisconsin volunteer infantry, with which he proceeded to the front and with which he served until the close of the war, when he received his honorable discharge. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and receives a well merited pension of eight dollars a month. After the war, Mr. Stoddard returned to the home farm, in whose work and management he continued to be associated until he had attained to the age of twenty-eight years, when he initiated his independent career as a farmer. In 1875 he purchased his present homestead, having a well improved farm of 100 acres, the greater portion of which he reclaimed from its wild state, also erecting the excellent buildings on the place. He has marked facility as a carpenter and has done much work at the trade in this section of the country. He gives his attention to diversified agriculture and stock-growing, having at the present time eight head of Holstein cattle and also raising a high grade of swine. His political views coincide with those advanced by the Prohibition party and though he has never sought public office he has shown a deep interest in public affairs of a local order and has done his part in developing and upbuilding this favored section of the Badger State. His wife held membership in the Congregational church. She died June 19, 1890. Feb. 22, 1875, recorded the marriage of Mr. Stoddard to Miss Anna Reagles, who was born in Indiana, being a daughter of Abel and Priscilla (Sippy) Reagles, who came to Richland county from the Hoosier state, settling in Ithaca township, where the father still resides, his wife having died here, on the old homestead. To Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard were born four children: Leonard, born in 1875, is a successful farmer of Ithaca township; Emma, born in 1876, and Loren, born in 1878, remain at the parental home; and Georgia, born in 1880, is the wife of Harley Martin, of Buena Vista township.

     Duane Francis Kaney Jr. obtained US Social Security Card at Oregon; last residence not specified.

     Matthew John Kaney obtained US Social Security Card at Oregon; last residence not specified.

     William A. Leder obtained US Social Security Card at Oregon; last residence Fruitland, Payette, Idaho.

     Josephine L. Koranda had zero children.

     Lucy Emma Koranda obtained US Social Security Card at California; last residence Nettleton, Itawamba, Mississippi.

     Clarence Arthur Koranda obtained US Social Security Card; as defined by California Death Index.

     Ernestine M. Koranda was born May 30, 1912, at Lesterville, South Dakota, to Joseph and Matilda Koranda. The family moved to Wadena, Minnesota, in 1928. Ernestine graduated from high school in Wadena in 1930. In 1935, Ernestine completed her nurse’s training in St. Paul. She was a nurse in Detroit, Michigan when she became a reserve nurse in the Army Nurse Corps.
While Ernestine Koranda was stationed at Fort Custer in Michigan, she went on maneuvers in Illinois, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In March of 1942, Lt. Koranda was shipped out to the Pacific, stationed at Townsville, Queensland, Australia. While in Australia at the 12^th Station Hospital, Lt. Koranda “did what they could to treat the wounded coming in from New Guinea and other Pacific Islands.” She was considered very attractive, strong, and compassionate.
On December 19, 1943, Lt. Ernestine Koranda boarded a plane for a thousand mile trip to Sydney, Australia, where she planned to wed her fiancé, Bob Middleton. Only an hour into the trip, the plane developed engine trouble and crashed. There were no survivors. Although originally buried in Australia, Lt. Koranda’s remains were returned to the United States after the war, and she was buried with military honors at Wadena Cemetery. Her fiancé, devastated by the news, later wrote to Ernestine’s mother: “She was the grandest girl I ever knew and I was terribly in love with her and I think she was with me. We spent many long and happy hours planning what we’d do after the war ….”
The Mitchell Daily Republic reported on April 9, 1945, that a hospital ship was to be named in honor of Ernestine Koranda. Ernestine Koranda is listed on the Honor List of Dead and Missing issued by the War Department in 1946 as a Minnesota casualty. She was considered a Yankton County casualty in Lest We Forget.
This entry was respectfully submitted by Sheila Hansen, Fallen Sons State Coordinator, Spearfish, SD. Information for this entry was provided by Lest We Forget, the Mitchell Daily Republic, and by clippings provided by Joan Lemer, cousin of Ernestine Koranda, and Donald Koranda, Wadena, MN, brother.

     Mary Elizabeth Eckert had 3 with 2 living in 1900 children. She had 5 with 4 living in 1910 children.

     Frank Peters (Edwards county, IL) is different than Conrad Frank Peters (Bond and Effingham county, IL). Conrad Frank Peters was a carpenter in 1846. He immigrated on 28 December 1846 to New Orleans, Louisiana, Arrival Date:     28 Dec 1846
Port of Departure:     Hamburg, Germany
Ship Name:     Therese
heading for St. Louis, Missouri. In 1865 at Bond, Illinois, History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois - Beaver Creek Precinct - page 149 - Conrad Peters - original member of German Methodist Church.

     Maria (?) immigrated with Conrad Frank Peters on 28 December 1846 at New Orleans, Louisiana; Arrival Date:     28 Dec 1846
Port of Departure:     Hamburg, Germany
Ship Name:     Therese
heading for St. Louis, Missouri.