Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 107

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 107


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In the year last mentioned Mr. Hopwood took a position in the wholesale dry goods house of Coykendall Bros. & Com- pany, located at Second street and First avenue north, and was with that firm until 1885. In the summer of that year he was sent by the firm to New York to buy goods, and while spending a Sunday in Uniontown. Pennsylvania, his former home, he received a telegram announcing the sudden death of Mr. Coykendall by drowning in Lake Minnetonka, with a large party of other persons. The business was bought by Messrs.


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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA


Wyman & Mullen, and Mr. Hopwood remained with the new firm until 1892.


He then helped to organize the dry goods firm of Harrison, Hopwood & Cross, which started in business at Third street and First avenue north. The firm suffered by the financial panic of 1893, and the next year Mr. Hopwood sold his inter- est in the business to Mr. Harrison and went back to the em- ploy of Mr. Wyman, the firm then being the Wyman-Partridge company, as it is now. He remained with that company until a short time ago, as a buyer. In 1907 he was elected first vice president of the National Wholesale Buyers of Dress Fabrics, which was organized that year, serving three years in all and twice re-elected. When he left the employ of the Wyman- Partridge company he was presented with a complete set of mahogany office furniture by the company and his associates in its employ as a testimonial to the excellence of his services and the high appreciation in which they were held.


Mr. Hopwood is a charter member of the Interlachen club and belongs also to the Minneapolis, Minikahda, Lafayette, Commercial and Athletic clubs and the Civic and Commerce . association. He was married in 1880 to Miss Mary E. Walton of Saratoga Springs, N. Y., who died in 1883. In 1885 he con- tracted a second marriage, which united him with his present wife, who was Miss Margaret E. Corriston of Minneapolis, Minn. They have three children, Florence E., Robert G. and Warren J. Florence married the late Charles G. Gates and resides in her beautiful home on Lake of the Isles boulevard. Robert G. and Warren J. are associated with their father in the real estate, loan and investment business, with an office in Room 638 Mcknight building. The family residence is at 2667 Lake of the Isles boulevard. Mr. Hopwood is a member of the First Presbyterian church of this city.


C. O. ALEXIUS OLSON.


C. O. Alexius Olson is the son of Anders and Maria S. (Pehrson) Olson, and was born on his father's farm in Long Parish in the province of West Gothland, Sweden near the village of Vara. This was on April 5, 1872. A few months later his father died and when the boy was two years old, his mother brought him to America and went to live with relatives on a farm near Waconia, Minnesota. The following year his mother married John Swenson-from her old home in West Gothland, Sweden. The family then moved to Minneapolis, but two years later they went to live on a farm near Water- town, Minnesota. In 1880 they returned to Minneapolis and the son Alexius has been a resident here ever since. He be- gan his education in the country schools and continued it in the Franklin, Sumner, and North High schools of Minneapolis. During his senior year in the North Side High School he won the German-American Bank prize for oratory. He entered the Minnesota State University in 1891, and was graduated in 1895, receiving the degree bachelor of science. He received the degree bachelor of laws a year later from the same institu- tion, and in 1897, the degree master of laws. Being naturally of a studious turn of mind, Mr. Olson has taken advantage of every opportunity to acquire knowledge, and from 1897 to 1899, and 1904 to 1907, he took post graduate work in the law department and in political science and economics. During his student years at the University he was much interested in College affairs and was always generous with his time in


serving these interests. He acted as president of his class,. then as editor of The Ariel and later as cadet major of the University battalion. He was one of the prime movers in securing for the University a chapter of the Zeta Psi Fra- ternity and was one of the charter members. He is also a. member of the Delta Chi (law) Fraternity.


While he was still a student at the University, he took a. trip abroad spending some time in Europe. Then he was. employed at the World's Fair in Chicago. After being ad- mitted to the Minnesota Bar in 1896, he entered practice in Minneapolis devoting his time to real estate law and to. Probate court practice. In connection with his legal work he also became interested in the real estate business and since 1909 he has been connected with David P. Jones and Company, investment bankers and real estate brokers of Minneapolis, and is at present attorney for this company.


As a student of political science and economics he has been keenly alive to all political matters. He has always been a republican. From 1899 to 1901 he served the State in the. legislature, and was appointed by the judges of the district court as a member of the Minneapolis Charter Commission. and served during the years 1903 to 1907. He was defeated- by a narrow margin when he entered the race for the legisla -. ture for the second time in 1908.


Mr. Olson is a member of the Lutheran Church.


HORATIO R. OWEN.


The late Horatio R. Owen, who was an influential character- in Minneapolis for many years, performned his life's best work in this community as the founder and proprietor of the agricultural journal known as "Farm, Stock and Home," and in connection with that publication left the record for which, doubtless, he would best like to be remembered if he could make known to us his wishes.


Mr. Owen was born in Huron county, Ohio, May 4, 1849 .. The story of his early life is uneventful and soon told. He- was reared on a farm and obtained the common school educa- tion available to farmers' sons in his day. As soon as his age permitted, he entered a drug store as a clerk, and rapidly- mastered all the details of the business. A few years later he became a traveling salesman for a wholesale drug house, and for several years thereafter pursued that calling with pronounced success.


Mr. Owen was always earnestly and sincerely in sympathy with the farmers of the country, and his choice of life work was as a journalist in their interest. After a good deal of experience with journals and journalism, he turned his atten- tion to that vocation, and in November, 1884, he founded "Farm, Stock and Home." His management of this journal, which became so able and influential a voice in behalf of the agricultural interests of the country, and so strong and sure a light for the men engaged in them, was the feature of liis career that he was most pleased with.


This paper was conceived by Mr. Owen. He named it; he gave the titles to its several departments of work; lie con- tributed to each at times and to some at all times, and he directed the course of each in every particular. It was his inflexible determination that the paper should be both clean and useful. This was his supreme condition: "Every mother- must know that her daughter can open and read any number-


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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA


of the paper without danger of her seeing, in advertisements or elsewhere, a single line that would be improper for her to read." Another of his inflexible rules was: "Let other papers furnish news and amusement, but let us give prac- tical, useful, helpful matter only." He was also scrupulously watchful of the advertising department. He insisted that the income of the paper from this source must always be subordinated to the interests of the subscribers.


One of the most unusual characteristics of Mr. Owen as a publisher was that he regarded every subscriber as a personal friend, and was as desirous of protecting and helping him as if lie were in fact personally acquainted with him; and if the object of his regard was worthy his friendship became real and enduring. The cordial warmth with which the unknown caller at his office was received was not feigned. It was the sincere greeting of a genuine man for another whom he believed to be genuine and for whom he felt a personal regard. This personal interest in and feeling for each subscriber made it easier for him to refuse contracts involving large sums of money for advertising schemes which might take money from his friends without giving full value in return or lead them into doubtful or questionable invest- ments.


It is not easy in these days of intense competition, of tire- less pursuit of money at the behest of naught but greedy selfishness, to inspire confidence in the sincerity of such a business policy as was framed for "Farm, Stock and Home." Undoubtedly apparent want of appreciation made many diffi- culties for the paper in the first years of its career and created misgivings for its future among its friends. But through all these the faith of Mr. Owen was unfaltering. "We may make less money, but we shall build up an institu- tion to be proud of, and that will do good for the world after we are gone," was the sentiment that inspired him to hold to his original designs. His idea of a successful paper was not one that would merely make money, but one that would be helpful, that would exercise an influence for good, that would be highly regarded in the home and ever a welcome visitor there; one that could be depended on as a guide, counselor, and friend, a protector as well as an educator. In these re- spects Mr. Owen could justly feel that his paper was a success, and he was proud of it and of his connection with it because it was in conformity with these ideals.


After this it seems needless to say that Mr. Owen was an unselfish man. He was in fact generous to a fault, if there be any fault in generosity. This rare characteristic in these "degenerate days" inspired and aided him in the execution of liis meritorious policy in the management of his paper and influenced his whole business career. His temperament was sanguine and sunny. He was ever genial, seldom im- patient, and never despondent. But he was also resolute and persistent. Obstacles did not daunt lim. On the contrary, they rather urged him to greater effort. To know him in life was a pleasure, and since his death the memory of association with him partakes of the nature of a benediction.


March 28, 1893, Mr. Owen married Miss Minnie McMillan, of Sparta, Wisconsin. She is still living but no children were born of their union. Their home life was an ideal one, and all their acquaintances were attached to them by the strongest ties of admiration and esteem.


Horatio N. Owen died April 23, 1900, only eleven days before the completion of his 51st year. He had not been in robust health for five years or more before his deatlı,


and during his last year failed rapidly. Death never met a more valiant foe. The grim monster was not resisted by him for personal reasons, but in the hope and belief that more life for him would mean more happiness and good for others. The general estimate of his character was well expressed by one of his intimate friends immediately after his death, who said of him: "He was worthy of admiration, of confidence, and of the sincerest of all tributes-an earnest following of his noble example."


EDWARD N. OSBORNE.


Edward N. Osborne, vice president of the Osborne-McMillan Elevator company, and a prominent factor in the business activities of Minneapolis, has been connected with the grain and elevator trade for many years, his force of character, business ability, studious attention to the grain interests having given him a commanding position and personal success.


Mr. Osborne was born in Madison County, New York. He grew to manhood in La Crosse and there obtained his educa- tion. There also he began his business career with the American Express company, for four years. When he went to W. W. Corgill & Bro., grain dealers, remaining until 1887. He came to Minneapolis that year, forming a partnership with J. D. McMillan as the Osborne-McMillan company. The business was incorporated with Mr. McMillan president and Mr. Osborne in the office he now holds. The company is managed with prudence and judgment and is recognized as an important factor in the grain trade.


Mr. Osborne is also president of the Empire Elevator com- pany, the Northland Elevator company and the International Elevator company of Canada. He is found earnest and help- ful in the support of every worthy undertaking, being ever guided by intelligence, and knowledge of conditions. He was married in Minneapolis to Mrs. Williams, and they have two sons. He is a member of the Minneapolis, Minikahda, La- fayette and the Auto clubs.


EDWARD MORRILL JOHNSON.


Edward Morrill Johnson, late judge of the district court, an eminent jurist and distinguished citizen of Minneapolis, was born in Fishersville, New Hampshire, November 24, 1850, but at the age of three years was brought by his parents to St. Anthony Falls, Minnesota. There he was reared to man- hood, and later the metropolis which succeeded the earlier village was the scene of his brilliant and useful career. His parents, Luther Gage and Cornelia (Morrill) Johnson were natives of New Hampshire and of notable lineage, traeing their aneestry to old English families whose descendants were settlers of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire and important officials of the colonial period. Luther Johnson came to Minnesota in 1854 and in company with his brother, Mr. John C. Johnson and brother-in-law, Mr. William M. Kimball, started a furniture factory. He removed to St. Anthony Falls in a short time where he engaged in the mercantile business. He was a prom- inent and well known figure in the early history of St. Anthony Falls and Minneapolis, where his death occurred


Leworm Johnson


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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA


at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. Johnson and his wife were members of the First Congregational church and officers of it, where the memory of their faithful and generous sup- port is a permanent memorial. She was a woman of wide influence and her attractive personality won her the popu- larity and prestige of leadership in life of St. Anthony Falls. Edward Johnson received his early education in the public schools of St. Anthony and then entered the Pennsylvania Military Academy at Chester, Pennsylvania. After leaving the Academy he matriculated at the University of Minne- sota, becoming a member of its first class. He then spent three years abroad, travelling extensively during his vaca- tions and studying in the Universities of Heidelberg and Berlin. He studied law in Germany and on his return from Europe he began to prepare himself in earnest for the prac- tice of his chosen profession, entering as a student the office of the Honorable John M. Shaw, at that time the leading practitioner of the city. Here he displayed the remarkable capacity for organization, the studiousness, with a fidelity and attention to detail, which proved the foundation for his success in after years. He completed his legal studies in the University of Iowa, graduating from the law department and beginning the practice of his profession in Minneapolis. He first formed a partnership with the late Edwin C. Chatfield. This firm soon dissolved and he entered into partnership with Claude B. Leonard under the firm name of Johnson & Leonard. This connection was broken after a few years by reason of Mr. Leonard's failure in health and absence from the city and for several years Mr. Johnson continued his practice alone, but on the return of Mr. Leonard to the city a new firm was organized as Johnson, Leonard & McCune, consisting of the two already named and Alexander McCune. This arrange- ment continued until May, 1897, when Mr. Johnson was ap- pointed judge of the district court by Governor Clough. He served for one term in this position, where his broad training and experience in life and his gift for industrious and pains- taking work coupled with a perfect courtesy and kindness of heart contributed to his success and popularity. At the expiration of his term of office he resumed his practice and during this period he enjoyed a long vacation which he spent travelling in Europe with his wife. In the next few years his health gave way and he was finally compelled to close his offices in 1904, and in 1908, accompanied by his wife, he again journeyed abroad in the hope of regaining his strength. This hope proved futile and after several months he quietly slipped away from life at Nauheim in Germany, June 19, 1909. Judge Johnson was a scholar and practitioner of wide repute but his activities were by no means confined to his profession, few men have had as large a share of influence in so many channels of public life or have left as many memorials of public service in a community. As a member of the city council his initiative and leadership were soon recognized by his associates and he originated many of the policies which made for the progressive growth and best interests of the city, among them the revolving fund scheme, assessment for building public improvements and the transfer ordinance. He was twice elected president of the council and the greatest monument to his thought and untiring effort during this time is the steel arch bridge at Bridge square. He was a member of the court house and city hall commissioners from 1889 to the time of his death and for the greater part of this time was president of the board and he gave freely of his time and energy to the erection and the preparing and press-


ing forward of legislation for the completion of the present splendid edifice which houses the city and county offices, that it might be a credit and ornament to the future. And for his faithful supervision the citizens of the county and metropolis owe him a debt of gratitude. He was early a director of the Atheneum library board and gave all his influence toward the securing of a public library, framing the legislative act under which the library now exists. He was a member of its first board of directors and was repeatedly reelected to the board of which he was secretary for a number of years. His efficient services in the many positions of public trust and responsibility and his marked administrative abilities gave him a large political prestige and drew to him the active political forces of his party and he was repeatedly called upon to conduct electoral campaigns in which he dis- played a notable genius for leadership. Aside from the discharge of his public and professional duties, Judge Johnson found opportunity for a successful business career. During the early days of his law practice he became interested in the establishment of the Northwestern Casket company, which had a small beginning in the present plant of the Minneapolis Office & School Furniture company, which he organized when it became necessary to remove the North- western Casket company into larger quarters. He continued his relation with these companies, being president of the latter at the time of his death. Judge Johnson was a man of splendid attainments and his life was one of inestimable value to the community in which he lived. He found great pleasure in scholarly pursuits, was a proficient German student and intensely interested in the fine arts, having made a choice collection during his travels of pieces of sculpture and porcelain. The last winter of his life was spent amid the art treasures of Rome. Judge Johnson was married in 1880 to Miss Effie F. Richards of Waterloo, Iowa, whom he met while a student in the University of Iowa. She is a daughter of Doctor W. O. and Julia A. Richards.


The Judge was a great lover of flowers and spent much of his leisure time in his gardens.


Mr. Johnson was chairman of the ordinance committee dur- ing the enactment of the high License law and Patrol limit law and was very active in the support of both of these measures, which made him very unpopular with the liquor element of the city and his life was threatened at times. He was ever on the side of temperance and the rigid enforce- ment of the laws governing the sale of liquors and was a leader of the council.


JAMES K. OGDEN.


The first Ogdens in America were among the pilgrims, their genealogy being traced back to 1453 in England. In America there are records of them as early as 1642, when Governor Kieft's stone church in New Amsterdam was built by John Ogden, the pilgrim, and Richard, his brother, of Stamford, Connecticut. Later John settled in Northampton, Long Island, and in 1650 was granted the exclusive privilege of killing whales in the South Sea, within the boundaries of the town, for seven years.


After twenty-four years on Long Island, John Ogden, at the age of fifty-four years, removed to New Jersey, in 1664, receiving, with others, a grant of land from Governor Nicholls,


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representing the Duke of York. He was the first of sixty- five men to swear the oath of allegiance to King Charles II, in 1665. Governor Carteret made him a member of his council and deputy governor, and in 1668 he was made a burgess. He with twenty companions was here also granted the exclusive right for three years to take whales along the coast. It was about this time that he was made schout, or sheriff, by the Dutch, now exercising sway over this part of the country. In 1673 his name led the list of eighty accred- ited to Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and he was soon virtually governor of the English towns in New Jersey under commis- sion from the Dutch. The Ogdens came to be the foremost families of this region, as attested by the fact that in the church yard of the First Presbyterian church at Elizabeth- town, there are ninety-one tombstones, including that of John Ogden, which bear the name. The date of the death of this illustrious ancestor is given on this old tombstone as 1682.


The Ogdens continued in their leadership of industry as well as in their prominence in whatever community they resided. The line traces down to the nineteenth century and stands out prominently as that of an early manufacturer of pottery in Cincinnati, Ohio, whose grandson was J. Oscar Ogden. His grandfather and father had been rich and suc- cessful, leaving large property in which J. Oscar Ogden shared. He came westward, and early settled in Milwaukee, where he became one. of the best known citizens, noted as a close student, a book worm, and some said, a "walking encyclo- pedia."


James K. Ogden was born in Philadelphia March 7, 1868, but the days of his boyhood were spent in Milwaukee. He entered the business world when he was seventeen, and in 1887 sold paints over the Northwest. In 1889 he organized the Twin City Varnish Company, being its president and manager, with a factory in the Midway district. There he built up a large business, which ranked well with other manufacturing concerns of the Twin Cities, the output selling all over the Northwest and on the Pacific Coast. Mr. Ogden continued actively in the varnish business until 1910, when he retired, erecting the Ogden Apartments, one of the finest buildings of its kind in Minneapolis.


Mr. Ogden married Amanda Drysdale. They have no chil- dren, but there are two sons by a former marriage, Sherman S., a student in the Blake School, and Harvey R., a student in Shattuck School. Mr. Ogden is active in the social and club life of the city, being a member of the Elks and the new Athletic club.


ALBERT NEWTON OZIAS.


In the late Albert Newton Ozias were combined the qualities of an educator, the attainments of a scientist, and the genius of an inventor. For about a dozen years he was principal of high schools in Minneapolis, and supervised this feature of the city's educational system during its growth from the centralized, one-school unit to the expansion of several high schools, each of which included in its curriculum far more than had formerly been considered the study course of a high school. He had for years been an educator, but had found relaxation in the construction of mechanical devices which utilized the principles of science.


Mr. Ozias was born July 2, 1848, in Preble County, Ohio,


and died April 16, 1912, in Minneapolis. His early education was completed in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. Then he attended the Ohio University, where he received both scientific and Master of Arts degrees. From the University (and even before) he engaged in teaching, and taught at first in country schools, then in Xenia, Ohio. From here he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he taught science in and was principal of the High School. In Des Moines he married, in 1877, Miss Marie Louise Mckenzie, who also was a teacher of Latin and history in the Des Moines High School. She was born in Wyandotte County, Ohio, and was a graduate of the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City. A year after his marriage Prof. Ozias went to Columbus, Ohio, to teachı science in the High School. He continued as an educator in Columbus for eighteen years, and then came to the North- west again, to be principal for three years of the Racine, Wisconsin, High School. In 1899 Mr. Ozias came to Minne- apolis as principal of the South High School, a position which he filled for nine years, and then was transferred to the principalship of the new West High School, in recognition of his good service in the South High School.




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