Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 103

Author: Holcombe, R. I. (Return Ira), 1845-1916; Bingham, William H
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago : H. Taylor & Co.
Number of Pages: 1190

USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota > Part 103

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In Minneapolis, in the year 1869, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Eastman to Miss Caroline W. Holt, danghter of the late Edwin Holt, who was an honored pioneer and influential citizen of this city. Mr. Holt was a man of marked ability and was a prominent figure in civic and busi- ness affairs in Minneapolis. He came to this state in 1868, from Wisconsin, but formerly from New York City, in 1862, and became a large owner of valuable realty in Minneapolis, besides being specially prominent in the state organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Eastman has been a leader in church and charitable activities of her home city, where her circle of friends is limited only by that of her acquaintances. Mr. and Mrs. Eastman became the par- ents of two children, Florence, who died in New Orleans, at the age of seven years, and Eugene Holt Eastman, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of his profession. He married Miss Lenora Snyder, of Dayton, Ohio.

HORACE LOWRY.

Horace Lowry is the only son of the late Thomas Lowry, former president and founder of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company. His mother is Beatrice M. (Goodrich) Lowry.

He was born in Minneapolis, February 4, 1880. He is a graduate of the Emerson Grade School, the Central High School, class of 1896, and the University of Minnesota, class of 1900, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Science. For nearly two years after leaving the University, he was employed as an electrician in the company's shops, after which he entered the auditing department of the company where he remained for nearly a year, being chief clerk at the end of that time. Mr. Lowry then left the company to look after his father's real estate and personal business interests, which up to that time had been in the hands of several agents. In June, 1908, he accepted the superintendency of the Minneapolis division of the company, holding that position until December 10, 1910, when he resigned to give his entire time to the Arcade Invest- ment Co., of which he was president. It was then that he built the twelve story Lowry Building in St. Paul, acting as his own engineer and general contractor of the construction. On January 1, 1912, Mr. Lowry was appointed general manager

410

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY. MINNESOTA

of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company, and one year later, January 1, 1913, was elected vice president which position he now ocenpies.

Mr. Lowry is a member of the Minneapolis, Minikahda, Inter- lachen and Lafayette Clubs of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Club of St. Paul, University Chib of Chicago, as well as the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. He is also a member of the Minneapolis Civic and Commerce Association, and the St. Paul Association of Commerce. He was married March 18, 1909, to Kate S. Burwell. They have two sons, Thomas Lowry and Goodrich Lowry.

CHARLES F. LINSMAYER.

Chas. F. Linsmayer, president of the McMillan Fur & Wool Company, was born in Germany, in 1872, and at the age of eleven came with his parents, who are still living, to Minneapolis, where he attended a public school for two years.

His first work, at the age of 13, was as office boy for the company of which he is now the head; but continued to attend school at night.

At different times and in various ways the company showed its confidence in his ability and judgment, one manifestation of this being that in 1906, he was sent to Europe to study the foreign markets and make extensive sales and pur- chases of rare costly furs. He has since made two trips abroad in the interest of the company, redounding in largely increased business.

Mr. Linsmayer is the president and treasurer; J. C. Wade is vice president, and C. M. Wiley, secretary, and among its directors are Miss C. E. McMillan, a sister of James McMillan, whose sketch and portrait are found elsewhere in this work, and A. C. Gebhart. Mr. Linsmayer is a member of the New Athletic club and the Civic and Commerce associa- tion. He is a Republican but not an active partisan. Sept. 11, 1894, he was married to Miss Helen Gilles of Minneapolis. They have two sons, Carl and James McMillan. One month each year is devoted by Mr. Linsmayer to hunting in the northern wilds, the home at the Lake of the Isles containing some fine trophies of such recreation. He and wife are members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

GUST LAGERQUIST.

Having come to this country a young man, with habits of industry, and the spirit of enterprise that characterizes his countrymen, Gust Lagerquist, an extensive manufacturer of elevators, has found conditions in the United States agree- able in every sense. He has made the most of the oppor- tunities and has hewed out for himself a flourishing business.

Mr. Lagerquist was born in Sweden in 1855, and came to Chi- cago in 1878. There lie was for some years employed in a manufactory of elevators when he in 1885 came to Minne- apolis and started the present enterprise, removing after six years to First street and First avenue north, where he remained for five years.

Realizing the need of larger quarters and better facilities, he then built the present factory at 514-524 Third street

north. This is two stories high. 75 by 150 feet in dimensions. and gives employment regularly to about forty men. Under Mr. Lagerquist's progressive management the business has grown to very considerable magnitude, the products attain- ing wide popularity and a very extensive salc. His elevators are modern in every particular, made according to the latest and most approved ideas and contain none but the best materials, and have ever retained the high standard orig- inally set, the principal buildings in the city being fitted with them.

While not a political partisan, Mr. Lagerquist has taken an earnest interest in local affairs, in good government and most rapid advancement for Minneapolis. He has also been active and serviceable in its fraternal life, being a Shriner in Masonry.

He was married in 1885, to Miss Emma Nelson, also of Sweden. They have three children, F. W. is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, for eight years being an ensign in the navy; Helen is a graduate of Sargent's Phys- ical Culture College in Boston; Carl S. graduated from high school, and is a freshman in the University.

OWEN J. EVANS, M. D.

Few citizens of Minneapolis are better known and none is held in higher esteem in the community than the repre- sentative pioneer physician and surgeon to whom this re- view is dedicated. He established his home in Minneapolis in 1865, after having rendered gallant and distinguished service as a surgeon in the Union ranks of the Civil war, and here he continued ir the active and successful practice of his profession for virtually half a century. He is unmis- takably the dean of his profession in Minnesota, where he is the only survivor of the charter members of the State Medical Society, as is he also of the charter members of the Hennepin County Medical Society. A few years since he re- tired from active practice, but he is held in reverent affec- tion by many representative families to which he has min- istered in years past.

Dr. Owen Jason Evans was born in the town of Remsen, Oneida county, New York, on the 5th of February, 1840, being the ninth in order of birth in a family of ten chil- dren, of whom only three are now living. He is a son of Thomas T. and Mary (Lewis) Evans, both of whom were born and reared in Anglesey, an island and county of Wales, in the Irish sea, and both representatives of the staunchest of Welsh lineage. The marriage of the parents was solemn- ized in their native land and upon coming to America they established their residence in the state of New York. When Dr. Evans was seven years of age his parents removed from his birthplace to Remsen, Oneida county, where the father became the owner and operator of a dairy farm. In 1858 the family removed to the city of Rome, New York, and there the parents passed the closing period of their lives, secure in the high csteem of all who knew them.

The rudimentary education of Dr. Evans was obtained in the little district school near his birthplace and was con- tinued in a similar institution after the removal of the family to Oneida county. Thereafter he continued his higher aca- demic studies in the Rome Academy, and in preparation for his chosen profession he finally entered the Albany Medical

Slevaus

411

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

College, in the capital city of the Empire state. In this in -. stitution he was graduated in December, 1862, when he duly received his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Evans, forth- with showed his intrinsic loyalty and patriotism by tender- ing his services in behalf of the cause of the Union, the Civil war being at this time at its height. On the very day on which he received his medical diploma the Doctor also ob- tained his commission as assistant surgeon of the Fortieth New York Volunteer Infantry, proceeded to the front, and entered service in the Army of the Potomac. He lived up to the full tension of the great conflict between the states of the north and the south, and made a record that will ever reflect honor upon his name. After the battle of Chancel- lorsville he was detailed as a member of the surgical operat- ing staff of his brigade, and in this important capacity he continued in active and faithful service until the close of the war, when he received his honorable discharge. Nearly one and one-half years before his discharge a vacancy hav- ing occurred in the surgical staff of his regiment, he was commissioned and mustered as surgeon of the Regiment, this preferment having been given at the urgent request of all save one of the officers of the regiment. It is worthy of note in this connection that his associate, the other assistant sur- geon, was a man twenty-nine years his senior and that his ability and personal popularity brought about his advance- ment.

At the battle of the Wilderness a request was made for volunteer surgeons to remain with and care for the wounded while the army moved to the left and prepared for the battle of Spottsylvania. Dr. Evans was one of the four surgeons who volunteered for this exacting service, and the next day after the Army of the Potomac had moved forward to the left the Confederate officer Colonel White, with his guerillas, effected the capture of the four surgeons and all of their wounded patients. They were held in captivity for two weeks and then, by a clever ruse, effected their escape to Fredericksburg. This result was accomplished principally through the versatility and efforts of Dr. Evans. He started for General Wade Hampton's headquarters for the purpose of obtaining needed supplies, but was met by the Confederate officer of the day and halted, but he persuaded the Con- federate officers to permit him to depart unmolested for Fredericksburg, and on his return to come in with such a supply train as he may have been able to secure. He at once sought the Federal lines under General Ferreros, not many miles distant, and after obtaining a goodly amount of food and medical supplies, together with about seventy-five ambulances, he returned to his stricken comrades. The next day he contrived to effect the removal and escape of about two-thirds of the wounded Union soldiers, and he also left adequate provisions for the remainder, as well as for about two hundred wounded Confederate soldiers. With his rescued comrades he returned in safety to the Union lines.

After the surrender of General Lee, at Appomattox, Dr. Evans was detailed as chief medical officer of the department at Farmville, Virginia, where the Confederate hospital was situated and where many wounded Union soldiers, as well Confederate, were confined. In caring for these men the Doctor completed his service as one of the able and efficient surgeons in the Union army, and his career thereafter has mainly to do with Minnesota and its fair metropolis.

After the close of the war Dr. Evans came to Minneapolis, where he engaged in the practice of his profession and where

he has maintained his home during the long intervening years, which have been marked by large and worthy achieve- ment on his part. He early made careful investments in local realty, and in addition to erecting many dwellings of excellent order he has built three business buildings. He still owns the Anglesey block, three-story block and three store rooms, at the corner of Hennepin avenue and Four- teenth street, all of these buildings having been erected by him.

He served two terms as city health officer, was a valued member of the city council, and also gave effective service as a member of the board of education. In 1885 he served as a member of the lower house of the state legislature. In this connection he takes just satisfaction in the fact that he was the author of the bill in conformity with the provisions of which the state condemned and assumed control of the property now known as Minnehaha Falls park. The city of Minneapolis later obtained from the state the ownership of this beautiful park, the state retaining the ground on which is now located the Minnesota Soldiers' Home. Prior to the assumption of state control the now beautiful park was un- kempt and was the resort of the most undesirable class of persons, the ideal place having thus virtually denied its privileges to the better class of citizens. The Doctor was for many years a director of the Minneapolis Board of Trade. Both he and his wife are zealous members of Westminster Presbyterian church, with which he has been actively identi- fied for practically half a century. He is a member of the American Medical Association, and, as before stated, is the only surviving charter member of each, the Minnesota State Medical Society and the Hennepin County Medical Society. Dr. Evans is one of the appreciative and valued members of Rawlings Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is a member and in which he served four terms as surgeon. He is also affiliated with the Minnesota Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and he served as a member of the council of this patriotic organization. In former years he was an active member of the Minneapolis Club and the Nicollet Club, but he resigned his membership in both several years ago.

A specially interesting and valuable achievement has been that of Dr. Evans in connection with the raising of live- stock standards in Minnesota. He has been a prominent and successful breeder of fine horses and cattle. He has brought out on his stock farm many admirable standard-bred horses, and was the first to introduce the high-class draft horses in the state, both Clydesdale and Percheron stock. He has in his possession a fine Tiffany prize cup, valued at one hundred dollars, and this he won at the state fair on ex- hibiting the Wilkes trotting stallion "Red Chieftain," and four of his get. Another valued trophy is two solid silver cups captured by the Doctor's standard-bred "Mike Wilkes" in the ice races on the Lake of the Isle course. The Doctor has also become well known as a financier and successful breeder of fine registered Jersey cattle. At the present time he is interested in fruit ranches in the Bitterroot valley of Montana and on the Pinellas peninsula of Florida. In each of these localities he has made substantial investments in real estate, and his land in Montana is devoted to the raising of apples, pears, cherries and plums, while that in Florida is given over principally to the propagation of grape fruit. Dr. Evans is giving personal attention to the improving of

412

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

these valuable properties and takes likely interest in the same.

In the year 1869 Dr. Evans wedded Miss Elizabeth Dodge, of Princeton, Illinois, and she was summoned to the life eternal in 1879, leaving no children. In 1890 was solemn- ized the marriage of the Doctor to Miss Tamazine McKee, who presides graciously over their attractive home, no chil- dren having been born of this union. Dr. Evans is known and honored in the city that has so long represented his home, and it may consistently be said that his circle of friends is limited only by that of his acquaintances.

CHARLES D. LOUGEE.

Charles D. Lougee has borne the heat and burden of the day and is enjoying the beauty of its sunset or the milder glories of its late evening at his home, 1103 Fifth street, Southeast Minneapolis. But he is by no means oblivious of or indifferent to what is going on around him, and is as deeply interested in the continued progress and welfare of his home city and state as when he was one of the most active and potent factors in promoting their advancement.

Mr. Lougee was born in the village of Bainstead, Merri- mack County, New Hampshire, a few years after the birth of the late Governor John S. Pillsbury in the neighboring village of Sutton, about 25 miles distant. They were life- long friends, and were associated in business here for many years. The county of their nativity has produced other men who have attained distinction, among them former Governor Harriman, of New Hampshire, and former Governor Otway, of South Dakota.

Mr. Lougee grew to manhood and was educated in his native State, and he there learned the trade of carpenter. He came to Minnesota in 1857, and located at Faribault, where he engaged in carpenter work for ten years. In 1867 he came to Minneapolis to live, and in partnership with the late H. J. G. Croswell, operated a flour mill near the site of the present Pillsbury Mill A, which was destroyed by fire some years after he sold his interest in it to his partner, with whom he was associated for about four years.

The milling business in which Mr. Lougee was engaged was profitable, and he invested his revenues from it in pine lands. in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Governor Pillsbury owned lands nearer the city, and they began to operate together, Mr. Lougee assuming charge of the details of the lumber business. They had their logs sawed in Minneapolis mills, belonging to other persons and then disposed of their lumber at wholesale. The business continued under their joint management for a number of years, and each accumulated a handsome fortune from it. Mr. Lougee finally sold his interest to C. A. Smith and Governor Pillsbury.

At an early day Mr. Lougee became and still is a stock- holder in the First National Bank. He also served for a time as vice-president of the Flour City Bank, and has held con- siderable stock in other banks for many years, but has never cared for official position's in these institutions. Neither has he ever sought or desired public office of any kind. One reason for refusing official position was that once given by Governor Pillsbury when he was urged to be a candidate for Congress: "My business is worth more and it must suffer if I go into public life," and he resolutely put aside all efforts to induce

him to change his mind, and some of them were difficult to resist.

November 28, 1872. Mr. Lougee married Miss Catherine Sperry, in Minneapolis, where they were both living at the time. Miss Sperry was a young lady of unusual mental en- dowments, educational attainments, and personal charms. She is a sister of Rear Admiral Sperry, of the United States Navy, and of Mark L. Sperry, of Waterbury, Connecticut, the place of her nativity. She and her husband were the parents of three daughters: Mary, the wife of Hon. John C. Sweet, a prominent lawyer of Minneapolis; Helen, the wife of Dr. A. A. Law, and Catherine Louise. They are all graduates of the University of Minnesota, and Miss Catherine is a teacher of art in Oregon. The mother died in 1889. He was married the second time to Harrictte L. Brown on July 12, 1894.

The home of the parents is at 1103 Fifth street southeast, Minneapolis, as has been stated, and there Mr. Lougee finds his greatest contentment and pleasure. He has helped to build, magnify, and adorn a municipality that is one of the glories of our country, and he has planted and cherished one of the finest of the many charming homes in the city, and given to it an example of domestic virtue and contentment nowhere sur- passed.

HON. JOHN G. LENNON.

In business affairs, in public service and in all the elements of sterling manhood the career of Hon. John G. Lennon is creditable alike to him. to his family and to the community. He was born on Bridge Square, Minneapolis, September 2, 1858, a son of Charles and Margaret (Glass) Lennon, natives of Ireland, where they were reared and married. Soon after marriage they came to the United States, making the voyage in an old sailing vessel and being twenty-seven weeks on the ocean. The father's brother, John G. Lennon, one of the leading real estate men of Minneapolis, was at that time sutler at Fort Snelling.

Mr. Lennon's father died before the son was born and, in 1860, his mother married C. C. Hartley and moved to Lansing, Mower county, Minnesota, whence she returned to Minneapolis in 1895 or 1896. and here passed the remainder of her life, ex- cept when living at Kalispell, Montana. She died in Kalispell, Montana in September. 1912, aged eighty-two. For many years she was a member of the Territorial Pioneers Associa- tion, and from girlhood belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. There were two children in the family, John G. and his older sister, Mary.

Before John G. Lennon returned to Minneapolis, in 1895 or 1896, he opened a general store at Blooming Prairie, where · he rendered the community service as a member of the city council, the school board and the postmaster. He was also for some years a justice of the peace. He has traveled ex- tensively for clothing houses, which he has served thirty years as salesman. As a salesman he has been connected with one firm fifteen years, and is still selling goods all over the Northwest, making two six week trips a year. He belongs to the Church of the Redeemer and the United Commercial Travelers' Association, and is a life member of Minneapolis Lodge of Elks No. 44.

It is in his legislative carcer, however, that Mr. Lennon's record is most conspicuous, creditable and serviccable. He has

413

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

been a member of the House of Representatives continuously for ten years, being elceted in 1904, in the Forty-first legisla- tive district, which embraces the Fifth and Sixth wards.

In 1905 Mr. Lennon fathered the law providing for state inspection of hotels. He was the author of the law creating the state free employment bureau. Its activities at first were confined to Minneapolis, but since extended St. Paul and Duluth and so enlarged in scope that it now includes several lines, not at first embraced. He has kept in close touch with labor legislation and supported what he deemed judicious and helpful to the working classes.

In the session of 1907, he ardently supported the bill creat- ing the State Farm for Inebriates, which is now in operation at Willmar, and which is supported by 4 per cent of all saloon licenses in the state. After the law was put into effect, the city of Morris contested by refusing to pay the tax, but the law was fully sustained when the case was carried to the Supreme Court.

In the session of 1911 Mr. Lennon was elected Speaker pro tem, and for three weeks, during an illness of the Speaker he served as Speaker. His presence in that session was due to his triumph over the advocates of County Option in the liquor traffic who made a bitter fight on him at the election. In that session he served on the special committee appointed to investigate the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, and wrote the report submitted by the joint committee of the two houses. The investigation was renewed in the session of 1913, when Mr. Lennon was dean of the House, and he took a prominent part in the discussion it awakened.

On December 26, 1877, Mr. Lennon was married at Portage, Wisconsin, to Mrs. Amy Giddings. They lost one child at the age of three and a half years, and have one living, Captain Bert M. Lennon, adjutant in the Minnesota National Guard and deputy state hotel inspector. By her first marriage, Mrs. Lennon had a daughter, Grace, now the wife of F. J. Schisler of Winthrop, Minnesota, where her husband is a merchant and mayor.

DR. CYRUS NORTHROP.

Dr. Cyrus Northrop, late president of the University of Minnesota, did not attain his elevation to the first rank of educators in this country without difficulties of a weighty and at times oppressive character. But he met the obstacles in his pathway with a serene, self-confident and determined spirit that kept him always moving toward the goal for which he was destined. In early life his mind was omnivorous in its appetite for knowledge, but his physique was frail and scarcely able to sustain the intellectual force that dwelt in and controlled it. He suffered much from uncertain health at times, but during most of his boyhood and youth kept on with his studies and making decided and permanent progress in them; and his field of operations, after he began to exert his force in the management of human affairs, covered many lines of thought and action, but was always in the educational domain.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 103

Author: Holcombe, R. I. (Return Ira), 1845-1916; Bingham, William H Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Chicago : H. Taylor & Co. Number of Pages: 1190

Author: Holcombe, R. I. (Return Ira), 1845-1916; Bingham, William H
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago : H. Taylor & Co.
Number of Pages: 1190