Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 116

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 116

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LUMAN C. PRYOR.

Inman C. Pryor was born January 8, 1864, at Milwaukee, Wis. His father came west from Rochester, N. Y., in the early fifties, thus being one of Wisconsin's pioneers. His home- stead was located a short distance from the townsite of Milwaukee and is now included within the city limits. Here Mr. Pryor was born and lived until twelve years of age. In that year both his mother and father passed away and he removed with the family to Waupun where two years later he commenced work in one of the printing offices and there learned the printer's trade. On leaving Waupun he located first at Madison, Wis., and later at Minneapolis, arriving in the latter city in April, 1882. He resided in Minneapolis for several years, then removed to St. Paul, where he re- mained until 1891. In that year he returned to Minneapolis and early in 1892 took the management of one of the im- portant printing firms. He resigned that position a few months later, having meanwhile acquired possession of the business of the Farm Implement Pub. Co., publishers of "Farm Ini- plements" a trade paper devoted to the interests of the im- plement business in the northwest. This business was taken over by him in March, 1892, and he ha's had charge of same continuously since that time.

Mr. Pryor's education was obtained in the graded schools at Milwaukee and later in the high school at Wanpun. His training in the printing trade he regards as a most liberal education in itself.

Mr. Pryor was married in 1888, while residing in St. Panl, to Miss Luln Marion Judd of that city. They have one daughter, Marion Georgia, wife of Walter H. Gooch of Min- neapolis. ·

Mr. Pryor is a member of the Minneapolis Club, but is not associated with any of the religions or civic organizations of the city. In politics he is republican, but takes no active part in political affairs. Some four years ago he took np his residence on a farm at Wayzata, Minn., near the beautiful re- sort, Lake Minnetonka, and has since made that his home. He continues, however, his active business pursuits in Minne- apolis.

HUGH N. McDONALD, M. D.

In the twenty-three years during which he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Minneapolis, Dr. Hugh N. McDonald has won an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon and a high place in the confidence and esteem of the people. He ever aimed at high ideals, and having attained them at an early period, his chief practice now is as eon- sulting physician individually and in connection with various medical institutions.

Dr. McDonald was born in Ontario, being reared and educated in the Dominion. He graduated from McGill Univer- sity, Montreal, as an M. D., in 1889, then served one year as interne in the Montreal General hospital.

In April, 1890, he came to Minneapolis and for several years was professor of diseases of the chest in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, which became the medical depart- ment of Hamline University.

He is an active member of the American Medical Associa- tion. the Minnesota State Medical Society, the Hennepin County Medical Society and the Western Surgical and Gynecological Society.

He has not sought or held public office.

JOHN B. EUSTIS.

Although not born in Minneapolis, but in a locality that was at the period of his birth far distant from this city in both length of way and the time required to traverse it, but is now not far away in time though still as remote as ever in stretch of country, John B. Eustis, president of the Eustis Loan and Realty company, has lived here from his infancy and has no recollection of any other homc. He has shown his intense and practical interest in the community, too, by his intelligent efforts to aid in promoting its progress, improve- ment and welfare in every way. So that he is, to all intents and purposes, as much a Minneapolitan as if he were native here and all his family history had been enacted in this region.

Mr. Eustis came into being at Kingfield, Franklin county, Maine, on November 12, 1852, and is a son of Samuel S. and Emily S. (Clark) Eustis, the former a native of New Hamp-

MR AND MRS. SAMUEL S.EUSTIS

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

shire and the latter of Maine, and both descended from old English families which settled in this country in early Colonial days, the father's ancestors in the state of New York and the mother's in New England. They were themselves pioneers also, coming to Minneapolis in 1854, when their son John was but one year and a half old. They located on a farm in what is now Midway, and this lias since been converted into trackage and freight yards for the railroads to a considerable extent, leaving only a small part devoted to residence and farming purposes.

The parents were farmers in Maine, and they turned their attention to the same industry after their arrival in this city, but they did not buy their Midway farm until 1864, ten years after they came hither. On it, however, they passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying on it in 1887 at the age of sixty-nine years and the mother more than twenty years later at the age of ninety. She came of a family distinguished for mental force and business capacity, and for a time after the death of her husband, managed the estate he left successfully and profitably.

The eight children born to her and her husband were: Warren C., a graduate of the University of Minnesota in its first class, the only other members of the class being H. F. Williamson, now a resident of Washington. Warren was a physician and surgeon at Owatonna, Minnesota, and died there in May, 1913, aged sixty-seven. Samuel S., Jr., is a retired farmer living in Minneapolis. John B. is the immediate subject of this review. Fred and Frank (twins) were formerly both partners of John B. in business, and Fred is still associated with him in that way. Frank was actively connected with the Loan Company until his death in 1903. Emma E. is the wife of E. E. Talbot and has her home in South East Minneapolis. Nellie, the wife of John Uccke, lives at Seymour. Wisconsin; and Ida, a maiden lady resides in Minneapolis.

John B. Eustis was educated at the University of Minnesota. as all the other children were. His father's death obliged him to aid his mother in managing the estate at an early age, and as an assistance in this work he organized the Eustis Loan and Realty company, which was incorporated in 1894. Originally this company had charge of all the family interests. It laid out a large part of the old farm in streets and lots and sold a considerable extent of it to the railroads for track- age and switching service. The freight yards of the Great Northern cover a portion, and many lots have been devoted to residences and small farms. The company has also laid out additions to Minneapolis and St. Paul and been interested in building them up into desirable residence or business sections, and has, in addition, been interested in property in Duluth.

This company originated and developed the Eustis Park at Midway, one of the attractive breathing places for the residents of that picturesque and rapidly growing locality, and has also erected numerous residences, apartment houses, business blocks and other properties for renting purposes. Its business has long been extensive and active, and almost all its energies and financial resources have been employed in expanding and improving the choice and valuable section of the state in which the Twin Cities are located. It has assisted in securing the location of many factories in this section, and in many other ways has contributed substantially to its advancement.

In addition to his interest in the business of the company of which he is the head, they own several farms near the Twin Cities and other valuable property. For twenty eight

years he was actively engaged in farming, but has not been now for some years. Until his mother died he maintained a residence with her, which was the old family home. He is active in local public affairs but not a politician, although he is a firm and loyal member of the Republican party and supports it in all national elections. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterians, and he is an elder in St. Andrew's church of that sect, having filled this office in it for a con- tinuous period of over thirty years. The members of the Eustis family have belonged to that church from the beginning of its history.

Mr. Eustis was once fond of hunting and fishing, but he does not indulge in them or other sports now. Neither is he a society man. He is unmarried, and lives quietly, modestly and serviceably, and he is everywhere highly esteemed as an excellent citizen and a man of genuine worth in every respect.

GEORGE HERBERT PRICE.

The late George Herbert Price, who died at his summer resi- dence at Manitou, Lake Minnetonka, on Sunday, May 12, 1912, after an illness of only a few hours and in the fifty- first year of his age, was cut off in his prime, but had al- ready achieved far more in actual and substantial results than many men of twice his years of activity. He was a resident of Minneapolis about thirty years, and during the greater part of that period was a large and potential factor in the lumbering industry. In his later years he turned his attention to building, and in that line also contributed largely and directly to the expansion and improvement of the city.

Mr. Price was born in New Brunswick, October 19, 1861. He obtained a common school education and at the age of twenty located at Hayward, Wisconsin, where he worked in the lumber woods, as he had done in his boyhood and youth in his native land. About 1881 he came to Minneapolis, where his first work was hauling building material for the Soo Railroad shops. In a short time, however, he entered into partnership with his brother Elijah, who had accom- panied him, and they took contracts to get out cedar timber at Grand Rapids. The firm name was Price Bros., and the partnership lasted until Elijah's death which occurred about 1903.

The operations of this firm were extensive. They included supplying logs from the pine woods on Prairie river for C. A. Smith, H. C. Akeley and other Minneapolis lumbermen, some- times for many as a dozen at a time, and often required the regular employment of 500 men. The Price Bros. were, in fact, the heaviest operators in their line in this locality. Both members of the firm were trained woods- men and went into the forests to give the business their personal attention. While they were contracting for the de- livery of logs they also made purchases of pine lands and carried on lumbering extensively on their own account. The greater part of these lands were sold prior to the death of Mr. Price, who continued the business three years after the death of his brother Elijah, finally retiring because of fail- ing health. He then turned his attention to building, erect- ing several residence structures near his own home, at 2207 Polk street northeast. These are still owned by his widow and are valuable for renting purposes.

Mr. Price was eminently successful in his business under-

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

takings. He began operations with almost no capital, but made every day and every opportunity tell, his prosperity being progressive and continuous. He gave his attention almost exclusively to business, never taking an active in- terest in political contentions and never holding, seeking or de- siring a public office of any kind. But he wa's alive with the keenest interest to whatever was designed to promote the publie welfare. In politics he gave his allegiance to the Re- publican party.

On October 1, 1890, Mr. Price was married in his native land to Miss Grace Murphy, who was also there born and reared. They had two children, George Wilber and Phyllis Grace, both of whom are living with their mother. The father was a wide-awake, progressive and patriotic Christian gentleman and business man. He was a member and for years a vestryman of St. Matthew's Episcopal church and a Freemason of high degree in the Scottish rite, belonging also to the Mystic Shrine, with membership in Zurah Temple. In his Lodge, which was Arcana, No. 187, he was president of the board of directors; and he was also president of the Masonic Temple Building Association taking a very active part in the erection of the new Masonic Temple. His club member- ship was confined to the New Boston Commercial club. His death was due to apoplexy, with which he was suddenly stricken while making garden at his summer home at Manitou about twelve hours before he died, and his early demise was sincerely and very widely lamented.

EDMUND PENNINGTON.

Choosing his life work just after he had attained his majority, Edmund Pennington has climbed from the lowest to the highest rung on the ladder of success in railroad eircles. He began his active career as warehouse-man in 1869. He remained in that position for one year and from that moved steadily upward through the various grades of work until he came to be assistant superintendent of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway. The young man was particularly well constituted by nature for the advance- ment that came to him so rapidly, for he ha's patience, good nature, bodily health and powers of physical endurance which at times during his business carcer have scemed tireless. His capacity for work and his executive ability have always been a marvel to his associates.

It was these valuable characteristics which won for him the position of superintendent of the Minneapolis, St. Panl and Sault Saint Marie Railway, which position he held until June, 1888, after which he became general manager of the same road. Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Saint Marie has proved the sphere of his active business life for after aeting as vice president and general manager for a member of years he was elected president of the road in February, 1909.

Those who have long been associated with Mr. Pennington in a business way are the readiest to bear witness of his splendid qualities of heart and head. His kindly disposition makes him a great favorite in the social world although he is of retiring and modest tendencies. He and his family are actively socially and his beautiful home on Summit avenue is frequently the scene of some handsome social function.

Edmund Pennington was born in La Salle, Ill., September

16, 1848. He was the son of prosperous parents, but it may be truthfully said of him that he is a self made man. He married Mrs. Ella Sturges Lawler of St. Paul, and one of his stepdaughters, Jersuha, is the wife of John Pillsbury.

CHARLES N. ROBINSON.

Charles N. Robinson, president of the Bardwell-Robinson Manufacturing Company was born in New Jersey, in 1853, and is a son of S. B. Robinson, who became a resident of Minneapolis in 1858, and founded a profitable business in the manufacture of doors, sash, moldings, and kindred products, of which he was the head for many years, and of whom further mention is found elsewhere. Charles N. Robinson was educated in the public schools and early learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked until 1892, when he entered the employ of the company of which his father was then and he is now the head. He acquired a thorough practical knowl- edge of the details of production had when his father died he succeeded him as president. This company has been an important factor in the building of Minneapolis. Its prod- uets being used with wood work and finishing of most of its leading buildings public and private. Mr. Robinson has also taken an earnest interest and practical part in the general building up and improvement and in all efforts to secure the best government. He is not an active partisan but an earnest citizen, whose zeal and activity in this behalf, have proven of some benefit. He belongs to the Masons, the Elks and the North Side Commercial club. In 1872, he was married to Miss Kate Eveland. Their three sons are Frank S., Levi C. and Howard.

SUELL J. BALDWIN.

As a farmer, a Union soldier, a mechanic, a dairyman. an enterprising and successful man, Suell J. Baldwin, president of the Metropolitan Milk company, has put in fifty-three years of active manhood, forty-eight of them being in Minne- sota and all but one of that number in this city. except por- tions of seven years, while acquiring a homestead in Chippewa county, Wisconsin.

Mr. Baldwin was born in Sandy Creek. Oswego county, New York, Jammary 14, 1839. He is the eldest of five children. of Sidney and Mary (Maxham) Baldwin. One of his brothers is still living in New York. Jabez C. Baldwin was foreman in B. F. Nelson's paper mill, where he met with a fatal aeci- dent. His widow, son, and three daughters are still residents of this city

Mr. Baldwin's mother died carly. Sidney Baldwin had come to New York from Vermont with two of his brothers. Zebulon and George Baldwin, and there Sidney died at the age of eighty-seven. Snell grew to manhood on the family home- stead and seeuring a common school education began his own business career as a farmer.

In obedience to the first call for volunteers to defend the Union he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry. His regiment reached Washington July 4, 1861, and he heard the cannonading during the disastrous first battle of Bull's Run. The day after that battle the regi-

S & Baldwin

Melissa H. Baldwin

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

ment was ordered to the front and reached Bailey's Cross Roads in one day's marchi, with all its guns and ammunition soaked with water and rendered useless. The command was kept on railroad guard along the Potomac, and passed its first winter in a camp on Upton's hill. During the winter all of a party of foragers sent out from this brigade were captured.

In the spring of 1862 the regiment was in the advanee on Fredericksburg, and this division of the army drove the Con- federates out of that city. It was kept in that neighbor- hood and used to strengthen weak places. It was in the second battle of Bull's Run, but Mr. Baldwin being on special detail duty did not participate. He was wounded at South Mountain, Maryland, August, 1862, and sent to General hos- pital at Washington from where he was transferred to Elmira, New York, and was discharged with his regiment at the end of his term, bearing such evidence of service that kept him from re-enlisting and gave him enough of war.

He returned home and resumed work on the farmn. In the fall of 1865 he came to Minnesota, arriving in Minneapolis October 22, in the midst of a severe snow and hail storm. Two of his wife's uncles were living thirty miles farther up the state, but the roads being reported impassable, he and his wife, remained in this eity a few days, then went in an open stage to Rockford, where he bought a farm and built a log house in which he lived that winter, the ground not freezing and potatoes being dug from the hill in the spring.

In July, 1866, they returned to Minneapolis and he worked as a carpenter. That summer he took a trip to St. Louis on a lumber raft. He then worked two years in the livery stable of Deshon & Levi on Bridge Square. Mr. Baldwin has lived in Minneapolis sinee except during the years on a homestead in Wisconsin. While there he was elected town- ship supervisor and served as chairman of the board.

For seven years before previously he operated a dairy at his present home at Twenty-first avenue south and Thirty- sixth street, and on return resumed this industry continuing it three years longer. He helped organize the Minneapolis Milk company some twenty years ago, and served long as its vice president and secretary. When it was reorganized in 1913 as the Metropolitan Milk company he was elected president.

Mr. Baldwin has taken an active interest in public affairs in behalf of good government, and has frequently been solicited to become a candidate for city eouneil. But being averse to official life he refused the use of his name as a candidate. He was married in New York to Miss Marion A. Harmon, who died here in 1877. Their only son died in child- hood. May 25, 1881, Mr. Baldwin married Miss Melissa H. Osmer, daughter of Datus and Esther (Green) Osmer, who came from Watertown, New York, in 1867. Mr. Osmer was a cattle dealer, and soon after his arrival bought ten acres of the Nathan Roberts homestead, where he and his wife died, she in her seventy-fourth year and he in his eighty-eighth. A part of this place is the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin.

The coming of this family was due to the keenness of Mrs. Osmer, who overheard remarks which led her to believe this city was destined to become large and important. She pos- sessed a strong mentality and remarkable business sagacity. She bought property on her own account with full faith in the future of the city, and lived to realize handsomely on her investments. She and husband were the parents of eight

children, seven now are living, and six being in Minneapolis.' Thomas Osmer, is a builder of homes. Jane is the widow of the late David Howland, a farmer at Medicine Lake. Cor-' nelia is the widow of the late dairyman Egbert Monroe. Antoinette is the wife of Harry Bady, a machinist, and Ida married Albert Rhunke, late president of the Minneapolis Milk company.

Mrs. Baldwin, whose portrait we present, ably illustrates the value of excellent parentage, the business traits that distinguished her mother being prominent in her own life. It was she who turned the meagre rill of income from the old style of home butter-making into abundant stream fed by the modern dairying operation. She despite the warn- ings of the mere conservative sought customers for milk and finding such disposition of milk more satisfying, continued till they had ready sale for the product of twenty-five cows. Her example led others, including Mr. Rhunke, to set their boat out on the same stream to the end that hundreds of people are now receiving benefits from this determination of this woman to find a more satisfactory way than to mercly follow the path so long trod by others. For 15 years she also has been actively and successfully engaged in building homes and operating in real estate. She has either erected new or rebuilt about a dozen homes in that part of the city where they live and is recognized as a capable manager, an agreeable neighbor and a loyal friend.

Mr. Baldwin is a member and Past Commander of Appo- mattox Post No. 72, Grand Army of the Republic, and also belongs to All Saints Episcopal church, of which he is one of the original members. Mrs. Baldwin was led, some thir- teen years ago, by personal experiences and direct benefits to become. a Christian Scientist. She is active in the First Orthodox church of the sect in this eity, at Second avenue south and Fourteenth street, which has about 200 members under the leadership of Abbott E. Smith. They have one daughter, Marion B., wife of James Wilder, who also has a daughter, Dorothy Carlson Wilder.

ALFRED PETERSON.

Although his life ended before he reached the age of fifty years, the late Alfred Peterson, one of the enterprising and progressive builders and contractors of Minneapolis for six- teen or seventeen years prior to his death, made a record for himself as a business man and citizen in this community that is highly creditable to him and was of substantial and endur- ing benefit to the city. He was born at West Jutland, Sweden, February 3, 1866, and died on March 28, 1912, at Albuquerque, New Mexico.

At the age of fourteen, Mr. Peterson was apprenticed to the cabinet making trade, and at the close of his apprenticeship came to the United States accompanied by his sister, Mrs. Anna Johnson. They located at Lake City, Minnesota, where he worked for three years on the railroad as a section hand and for two at house carpentering. He then moved to Minne- apolis, and, for a time after his arrival here, was in the em- ploy of C. W. Lundquist, afterward becoming foreman for Eric Rhode.

About 1895 he began business for himself as a contractor and builder, and in this line of useful endeavor he passed the rest of his life. His work was all done in Minneapolis. It in-

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

eluded two new apartment houses at Twenty-ninth avenue and Tyler street, both double structures, and both belonging to him at the time of his death. He took a cordial and helpful interest in the welfare of the city, and for four years had the street sprinkling contract for his ward, in connection with which he performed his duties in a manner satisfactory to the people of the ward.

Mr. Peterson was married on March 20, 1893, to Miss Julia Bang, of Austin, Minn. Three children were born of the union, Agnes G., Elvin N., and Alfred P. R. The father was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church at the corner of Monroe and Fifteenth streets, and also belonged to the St. Anthony Commercial club. He lived for a number of his last years in the house he built for himself at No. 1523 Jefferson street Northeast, which is still occupied by his widow and children. He wa's devoted to his business, but periodically sought recrea- tion and relief in hunting and fishing trips, although he never allowed these to interfere with his serious duties in life. He was a sturdy and serviceable citizen, and was well es- teemed as such in all parts of the city.

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Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 116

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