M. R. TRACE was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of March, 1848. In 1857, he removed with his parents to Plainview, Wabasha county, Minnesota, where he received his early education, and taught school from 1865 to 1869. He then went to Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he took a course at the Commercial College and also attended Alleghany College at the same place. On leaving the latter institution, he returned to Wabasha county and taught school until 1872, then was teaching in Todd county about one year, after which he went to Melrose, Stearns county, and was Principal of the school at that place until 1875, and also held the office of Justice of the Peace. He was then Principal of the school at Sauk Rapids for a number of years, resigning the position in the spring of 1880. In the fall of the same year he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the general store of Wood & Gazette, at Rice's Station, where he is at present occupied. Mr. Trace was married in 1870, to Miss Nellie Stewart, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Of four children born to them, three are living; Verna M., Gertrude M., and Lois I.

History of the Upper Mississippi Valley (1881) p. 360 [Langola]