Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 124

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 124

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lishment, and when his father died he took charge of the business, incorporating the Massalt Bottling Company in 1907.

The present officers are: Albert Massolt, president; P. A. Benson, vice president; Edward Massolt, secretary, and J. L. Michaels, treasurer. The business is the most extensive of its kind in the Northwest, manufactures all the leading mineral waters, its principal product being "Whale Brand" ginger ale. The plant at 116, 128 Plymouth avenue is large and well equipped with the latest machinery and devices.

Mr. Massolt is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Elks, the Foresters and the Knights of Pythias. In 1886, he was married to Miss Glendora Bowlby. They have one ehild, Gertrude, at home.

OTIS MILTON HUMPHREY, M. D.

Dr. Otis M. Humphrey. who was one of the oldest phy- sieians in Minneapolis at his death July 8, 1911, was born at. Victor, Ontario county, New York, April 26, 1832, much of his youth being passed in Steuben county, Indiana, with his parents. At sixteen he returned to New York attending academies at Bloomington and Geneseo preparatory for col- lege. Failing health, however, compelled him to forego a college course, but he later studied medicine under the diree- tion of an uncle, a physician in New York. He attended medi- cal 'college in Philadelphia and the Long Island Hospital College in Brooklyn. He practicd in Natick, Massachusetts, until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the re- nowned Sixth Massachusetts Regiment as assistant surgeon.

The doctor soon received his commission as surgeon and was placed in charge of general hospitals to which the wounded were sent from the battlefields. For a considerable time he was in charge of such a general hospital in New Orleans, and near the close of the war was director of the army medieal corps. Then he was staff surgeon with Gen- eral Reynolds and General Herron, and served as such until Lee's surrender at Appomattox, being soon after discharged with the rank of brevet-colonel.

He resumed practice in Boston, where he remained until 1870, when health necessitating a change he came to Minne- apolis, locating at the corner of Eighth street and Nicollet avenue. He continued in active general practice until 1892, when yielding to failing health he gave up practice and all other active pursuits. He was an active and helpful member of the leading medical organizations and served as president of the state and local Homeopathic societies. He was edu- cated as an allopath but adopted homeopathy of his own initiative. His religious affiliation was with Plymouth Con- gregational church; and while he took an active interest in public affairs never hield or sought a public office. He had a superior education, academic and professional, and in his life illustrated the sterling New England qualities of character and manhood.

Dr. Humphrey was married in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1862, to Miss Sarah F. Dennis, a native of that city, and who for over forty years has been a highly respected and useful member of Plymouth church. Their three children are: Otis L., of Boston; Frances H., wife of Lester C. McCoy, and Richard D., of Minneapolis. The doctor erected the present home in 1889 at First Avenue and Fourteenth Street and which is one of the choice ones in this section of the city.

سبور

O.M . HUMPHREY

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

His life devoted to his home and his profession, was rich in lofty ideals, his aetivity in all that made for a better citizen- ship redounding to the general good, his memory being cherished by hundreds who knew his ability as a physician, his character as a citizen and his loyalty as a friend.

DORILUS MORRISON.

All honor is due to the men who laid satisfactory founda- tions and built them of ample dimensions for future needs. Among these men none rendered more substantial, intelligent or far-reaching service or aided more in giving character and stability to the city government than the late Dorilus Mor- rison, the first mayor of the city, who assumed the control of municipal affairs in 1867, immediately after the place put off the swaddling bands of village infancy and donned the more ambitious habiliments of city dignity.

Dorilus Morrison was of Scotch ancestry and was born at Livermore, Oxford county, Maine, on December 27, 1814. He was one of the six children, four sons and two daughters, of Samuel and Betsy (Putnam) Morrison, pioneers of Maine and New Englanders by nativity.

Mr. Morrison of this sketch obtained his education in the district or common schools of his day and location, embracing every means of opportunity for mental improvement that came his way, but being necessarily limited in the range of the facilities available to him. His parents were sturdy New Englanders with a keen sense of the value of industry and thrift, and it was in consonance with the atmosphere of his home that the youth began to earn his own livelihood and make his own way in the world at an early age.

The son began his business career as an outfitter of lumber- men in Bangor in his native state and remained there until 1854. In that year he came to Minnesota and the next year located at St. Anthony. He took a contract to supply the mills on the east side of the river with logs, and for this purpose employed crews of loggers. During the winter he operated on Rum river, delivering his product in the spring.

After passing a number of years in this work, Mr. Morrison operated a sawmill and conducted a lumber yard in Minne- apolis. He became a director of the Minneapolis Mill company and aided in the construction of the first log dam on the Mississippi, which this company erected at a cost of $60,000 for the purpose of supplying water to the numerous mills along the river. Mr. Morrison's lumber business expanded rapidly and the management of the mill company passed more and more completely into his hands as time went by, and it continued to receive his sedulous care and intelligent direc- tion until it was sold to an English syndicate.

In the meantme Mr. Morrison took an active part in the general business interests of the community. In 1856 he was elected the first president of the Union Board of Trade of St. Anthony, and served that organization for some years afterward as a director. This board of trade was organized to stimulate the business interests of St. Anthony and the new- born town of Minneapolis on the other side of the river. Mr. Morrison, also, with loyal devotion to and fond memories of his native region, took a leading part in organizing and directing a New England society composed of settlers from that section of the country.

He was prominent and active in connection with public

affairs also, and in 1864 was elected to the state senate. In the legislature his colleagues were such men as Hon. John S. Pillsbury, afterward three times governor of the state; Hon. Cyrus Aldrich, later postmaster of Minneapolis and useful to the community in other official capacities, and Judge F. R. E. Cornell, and in a gathering of men of their caliber he was recognized as an equal in force, intelligence, judg- ment and breadth of view.

Events were shaping themselves, however, for the employ- ment of Mr. Morrison's abilities in a more restricted though not less important sphere. Early in the legislative session of 1867 Minneapolis was incorporated as 'a city, and on Febru- ary 19 following he was elected its first mayor, and on Febru- ary 26 was inducted into the office. He was re-elected in 1869, and during the four years of his tenure of the office he showed himself to be very wise and judicious in shaping the city government and giving it substance as well as good form and firm legal standing.

With the keenness of vision that always distinguished him Mr. Morrison saw at an early date the great need of increased transportation facilities for this section of the country. He became earnestly interested in the matter and was a member of the company organized to build the first section of the Northern Pacific Railway. In this company he was associated with Messrs. Brackett, King, Eastman, Washburn and Shep- herd of Minneapolis; Merriam of St. Paul; Payson and Canda of Chicago; Balch of New Hampshire, and Ross and Robinson of Canada. The first section of the road extended 240 miles and was completed in 1872. Mr. Morrison was chosen one of the directors of the company, and was continued in the office until the reorganization of the road after the failure of Jay Cooke.

In 1873 he again became a member of the construction company and helped to build the second section of the road, which extended from the Red river to the Missouri. There was no money to pay for this work, so Mr. Morrison took up the stock of his associates, paid off the indebtedness and received from the company as his compensation a large tract of pine lands in Northern Minnesota.

In 1871. Mr. Morrison's interest in the general welfare of his community led to his election as a member of the city school board. He was elected for a second term in 1878, and during this term was president of the board. He was also a prominent and influential member of the first board of park commissioners, and for years was deeply interested in the Athenaeum and in promoting plans for the expansion and im- provement of the Minneapolis public library.

Mr. Morrison was first married at Livermore, Maine, to Miss Harriet P. Whitmore. They became the parents of three children, George H., Grace and Clinton. The last named was the only member of the family living in Minneapolis. A sketch of his life will be found in this volume. His mother died in Austria in 1881, and his father was married a second time, being united on this occasion with Mrs. H. C. Clag- stone, a widow lady of great culture and refinement. In political relations he was a pronounced Republican and in religious faith a Universalist enrolled in the membership of the Church of the Redeemer of that sect. He died in 1896, and his second wife passed away some years later. His name is held in grateful remembrance among all classes of the people of the city for whose advancement he did so much, and he is regarded on all sides as one of its most worthy, estimable and serviceable citizen's and highest types of men.

490

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

HARRY L. MOORE.

Harry L. Moore, alderman from the Seventh ward, is a forceful factor in public life, whose ability has been variously tried in different capacities, found equal to every requirement, and in all the relations of life has been clean, strong and helpful.

He was born in Minneapolis, May 31, 1868, and is the son of Winchester E. and Nellie (MeKeene) Moore. His grand- father, Joseph Moore, eame to Minnesota in 1851 and located on a farm at Brooklyn Center, where he died in 1898 at the age of ninety-three. Winchester Moore came to Minneapolis in 1855, was for many years engaged in the Plaining Mill business, and was for a long time engineer of the city water works, being now practically retired.

Harry L. Moore was educated at the Washington School and the Central High School, and in 1886, at the age of eighteen, passed the civil service examination and was appointed to a clerkship in the postoffice. After three years of such service he became an employee in the office of Fred S. Swisher, agent of the Michigan Central and the Monon Railroads. In 1891 he was appointed agent of the Monon route, having filled that position with credit to himself and to the company ever since. He is also the local agent of the Western Assurance Company and the Insurance Company of North America.

Mr. Moore's public service has been characterized by enter- prise, progressiveness and breadth of view. He was elected alderman by a handsome majority in 1912, although the honors came unsought.

In the council he has had abundant opportunity to show his mettle and render service, to the full satisfaction of his constituents. He is chairman of the committees on railroads and street railways, and a member of those on public buildings and grounds and of good roads construction.

Mr. Moore has also taken an active part in civie life as a member of the Traffic, Minneapolis, New Athletic, East Lake Street Commercial, Athletic and Boat and Powderhorn Clubs, and in the fraternal lines by membership in the Masonic order, the Royal Arcanum and the Ancient Order of United Work- men. He was married January 1, 1900, to Miss May N. Martin of Crawfordsville, Indiana. They have one son Stan- ley L. They are Methodists in religious affiliation and active in church work.

JAMES H. MARTIN.

James H. Martin, a leading leather merchant and progressive business man was born at Decatur, Ill., in 1860. His father, Captain I. N. Martin, was one of the pioneer settlers of Decatur where he was a well known contractor and builder. He was among the first to respond to the call for troops in 1861 and at the end of the three months' service, reenlisted and served throughout the war, receiving honorable discharge with rank of captain. When the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in 1867, Captain Martin's name was one of the first to be placed on the roster of the first post, and he is still an active comrade in the fast thinning ranks of veterans. James H. Martin attended the public schools in Decatur and at the same time engaged in carrying newspapers and in working in a photograph gallery in the morning and evening.

Leaving school, he secured employment with Nebinger & Reeser, a leather firm, and during the six years in their employ, mastered the business. For the next seven years he was with the Standard Oil company. In 1893 he came to Minneapolis and established himself as a leather merchant, jobbing in leather and shoe findings, his success being beyond expectations, his goods finding market throughout the north- west. For eight years the location was at 609 First avenue, south, but on the erection of a four floor brick building for the firm by C. B. Heffelfinger, it removed to its present quarters, 20-22 North Fourth street, the building becoming the property of Mr. Martin in 1911. Aside from the management of this establishment, Mr. Martin established the Martin & Adams Leather Co. at Spokane but later sold his interest. He is vice president of the I. N. Martin Dry Goods company at Peoria, Ill., and in 1909 he organized the Progressive Shoe Machinery Manufacturing company, whose remarkable growth necessitated the building of a new plant at 32nd street and Snelling avenue at the cost of $40,000. Mr. Martin is a member of Wesley church, and superintendent of the Sunday school, and is president of the Minnesota Sunday School Asso- ciation. He is a Shriner and member of the New Athletic club and the Civic and Commerce association. He was mar- ried to Miss Ida Kain of Decatur, Ill. They have two children, Edith, and Russell. The family residence is at 1917 Colfax avenue, south.

EVERETT F. IRWIN.

Now enjoying the evening of life after a useful career, Ever- ett F. Irwin, of Richfield township, is highly esteemed for his sterling manhood and enterprising and public-spirited citizen- ship.

Mr. Irwin was born twenty-two miles from Buffalo, Erie County, New York, February 2, 1840, and at sixteen came to Minnesota with his parents, George W. and Meribah L. (Webb) Irwin, both also probably born in that state. They located in what is now Edina, but was then, Spring of 1856, Richfield township, seven miles from the court house. They paid $1,200 in gold for 160 acres of Oak Openings, which he made into a fine farm, and where he died.

The eastern line borders what is now Penn avenue, which was laid out soon afterward and became the principal road into the city. George W. constructed the buildings which are now standing, including a fine two-story barn. The first dwelling house erected was built in a hurry and so loosely that during storms it leaked, necessitating moving the bed to the middle of the room.

Mr. Irwin died February 21, 1885, in his seventy-fourth year. His widow survived him ten years, being about the same age. They were among the eleven original members of the First Baptist church of Richfield, which was organized in 1858, and of whom their son Everett is the only survivor. The father was chiefly instrumental in establishing the congregation, and during life this worthy couple retained an active and pro- ductive membership, many deeds of kindness and words of sympathy attesting the nobleness of lives grounded in Chris- tian faith. For eleven years church services were held in the school house and until the erection of the present building in 1869.

Mr. Irwin has ever been zealous for the church welfare, serv-

Everett of Onoin

491

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

ing it as clerk for twenty and as deacon for fifteen years. The original Irwin family were three sons and one daughter. Levina became the wife of Clinton E. Reynolds, a pioneer sash manu-® facturer of Minneapolis. George H. Irwin is a real estate dealer. Judson D. Irwin has for twenty-five years been a physician in St. Louis, Missouri. Everett F. Irwin remained with his parents until twenty-one. He as a boy grubbed out a considerable quantity of land, becoming inured to all other kinds of farm labor.

He attended the first high school in Minneapolis, Prof. Stone being principal; and himself taught three winter terms. Se- curing eighty acres of prairie in Bloomington township, he put in his first crop while living four miles distant, carrying food from home. His team consisted of a yoke of oxen and a span of colts. This crop netted him, however, a profit of $1,300.

One year later he exchanged for another tract on Lyndale avenue, where his son John B. now lives. There were new buildings, and about forty a'cres was under cultivation. A leading feature of his business was to buy young cattle, feed them through the winter and sell at advanced prices. Mean- while he kept clearing until he had seventy-five acres under cultivation, and buying more as circumstances permitted.

He was among the first breeders in Minnesota of Holstein cattle, and for fifteen years exhibited them at the state fair. The . Wood-Lake Stock Farm herd of fifty head took one season premiums amounting to $700 in competition with thirteen herds from other states. Two years Mr. Irwin was elected President of the Western Holstein-Friesian Association. His son John B. finally assumed charge of the herd, not only maintaining but extending its former importance and reputation. As a young man Everett served as Quarter Master in Capt. E. B. Ames' Company of state militia, being an active participant in its annual musterings. At the Indian outbreak, in August, 1862, he enlisted in Ansen Northrup's Company of cavalry, making a forced march from St. Peter to the relief of Fort Ridgely.

Mr. Irwin was married in 1867 to Miss Martha Borland, of Iowa. She was born in the same town in Erie County as himself, graduated from the state university of Iowa, in which her brother was a professor; and was for a time herself engaged in teaching. The brother's health failing, she accom- panied him to the then noted St. Anthony Water Cure, located on the site of the Exposition building. After marriage she entered heartily into all local movements for social betterment, was an earnest worker in Sunday school, her natural grace and endowments, emphasized by an excellent education and intercourse with cultured people, endearing her to the hearts of a wide circle of warm friends. She died August 18, 1900.

Mr. Irwin's second marriage. January 15, 1902, united him with Miss Minnie Manton, daughter of Rev. Joseph R. Manton. Mrs. Irwin graduated from Burnett's Ladies' Seminary, the then leading girls' school of the Northwest, taught for four years in the Minneapolis schools; and, at her mother's death, devoted herself to the declining age of a loved father.

When John B. took charge of the old farm and the cattle industry, Mr. Irwin began more actively to improve the pleasant farm on which he now lives. He was town super- visor eight or ten years, a part of that time being president of the board. He was clerk of the school district twenty-four years in succession, and was township assessor fifteen. In politics he is a working Republican. In all relations of life he has been esteemed as a true, useful and representative citizen.

FRANK LEONARD MORSE.

Frank Leonard Morse, who died in Minneapolis on April 22, 1898, was an early arrival and a potential force in help- ing to lay the foundation and build the superstructure of the city. He was born at Johnson, Vermont, January 18, 1837, and came to Minneapolis in 1858. His first arrival, however, was in 1857, when he came with his father, Moses Morse, who was a resident of Burlington, Vermont, and sought this locality as one in which he could loan money to advan- tage. Frank passed a few months in Kansas, but returned to Minneapolis in 1858. He became a farmer near Minnehaha and also owned a farm near Minnetonka, from which he sold wheat at $3 a bushel. He too loaned money and made invest- ments.

His brother Henry joined him in 1866 and passed the remainder of his life here. They were both small farmers and living in North Minneapolis. The father also came to Minne- apolis eachı summer until 1867, then remaining and died here in 1872. Frank was one of the first members of the city council, beginning his service in that body in 1867 and con- tinuing it several years. In 1871 he was elected a member of the legislature.

During his first service in the council he was its vice president and was known as the "great objector," being con- stantly on guard against injudicious expenditures of the pub- lic money. His last service in the legislature was as senator from the Thirty-first district from 1893 to 1895. He was a Republican originally but became a Greeley man in 1872, and afterward a Democrat, which he continued to be although the free silver issue of 1896 caused him muchi dissatisfaction.

On June 11, 1878, Mr. Morse was married in Chicago to Miss Catherine Agnes Cummings, of Burlington, Vermont, who came to Minneapolis in 1867. They had no children. Mr. Morse was a devotee of hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreations. He was warm in his friendships and keenly felt the loss of those to whom he was closely attached, and others had the same feeling toward him. During the last ten years of life he was rather closely confined to his home but was free from financial and mental cares. He took life easy and enjoyed the companionship of old friends. His home was the center of neighborhood society for the few persons with whom he was on intimate terms. They were mainly old whist players and choice companions. The Fiat Poker club was organized in his home with a membership made up of such well known men as Joseph W. Thompson, R. B. Lang- don, Colonel Benton, Judge Welch, George Cadwell, O. M. Laraway, B. L. Perry, Major Heffelfinger, Dr. A. Barnard, Judge William Lochren, S. B. Searles, John Harrison, Ed- ward Clement, Horace Henry and Mr. Hubbard.

This club was locally famous and its members probably got as much enjoyment out of its gatherings as any body of men ever did in Minneapolis. They became warmly attached to one another in bonds of friendship which nothing but death could sever. The young people of the neighborhood also made the Morse home headquarters, and not a day passed but it was the scene of rich enjoyment. Mr. Morse was an invalid for some years but had little physical suffer- ing. His greatest and almost his only source of grief was the death of old friends before him, each intensifying to him the fact that the circle was narrowing year after year. His widow is still living at 1819 Hawthorn avenue.

492

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

JOHN H. MUSGRAVE.

Jolın H. Musgrave comes of an old Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, family, where he was born October 21, 1871. After attend- ance at the Western Reserve University, he entered Yalc, where he was graduated from the Law School in 1893. He began his practice at Pittsburg, but in 1900 caluc to Min- neapolis. His father, Samuel Musgrave, had bought, in 1898, the old Buell block at Seventeenth street and Nicollet avenue, had converted it into flats, and had decided to live retired in Minneapolis, dying here 1910. He had formerly been a successful hardware dealer in Pittsburg.

John H. Musgrave has enjoyed a fine general practice, being recognized as among the ablest counsellors at the local Bar. He is a stockholder in the Pittsburgh Steel Company, and has other important financial interests in that city.

He finds relaxation from professional cares especially in the diversion of driving high class horses. He has owned several fine horses, and takes keen delight in participation in gentlemen's driving races, such as those on the ice, at Lake of the Isles. In politics he is a Democrat, and though he has never sought public office, he has been active on campaign committees in state and local contests. He is a Knight Templar, a Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner.

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Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 124

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