This is what I was able to find:
History of
Goodhue County, pg. 150 (
Goodhue Twp.)
"The first settlement in the township
Goodhue was made in 1854 when Francis Yergens and John
Mann arrived and staked out claims, built cabins and started to establish their homes in the wilderness. The following year came David
Hickock,
Hohn Ingebretson, Harry
Danielson,
Oliver Knutson and
Knute Knutson. Mr. Hickock and Mr. Mann each built houses and opened them as hotels and although the population in that immediate vicinity was small, travel through the section was quite heavy and both ventures were deemed successful. In 1856 Peter
Easterly arrived and finding that
Hickock and
Mann had more business than they could attend to, opened another hotel. Some time later
Hickock and
Mann abandoned their business, but Mr. Easterly maintained his public house for a period of twenty years. A tavern was also maintained for a time by J. V. H. Bailey."
There was not a complete biographical sketch on John
Mann or any of his descendants. This is all the information I was able to find, unless you think he may be mentioned in another township. There is not an index to every name in the book, so I have to go by the township I am given.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
Rachel