Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 125

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 125

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In 1903 Mr. Musgrave married Elmina Johnson of Pitts- burgh. They have two children, John and Zabina Brindley. The family attends the Episcopal church.

WEED MUNRO.

For a continuous period of twenty-four years the late Weed Munro was a resident of Minneapolis and engaged in the practice of law here. He rose to high standing at the bar and attained wide and well founded popularity among the people. As a lawyer he was able, resourceful and in- dustrious, and these qualities brought him a large and remun- erative practice and made him successful in the trial of his cases. As a citizen he was enterprising, progressive, public- spirited and knowing, earnest and serviceable in his support of projects for the advancement and improvement of the city and the benefit of its residents, but always keen in his analysis and clear in his judgment as to the value of what was proposed. And as a social factor he was genial, com- panionable and winning. But for the fact that he was on the wrong side of the political fence for this locality he would undoubtedly have been honored with high official stations and gained an extended reputation for his knowledge and wisdom with reference to public affairs.

Mr. Munro was born in the village of Elbridge, Onondaga county, New York, on June 22, 1856, a son of John and Evaline (Page) Munro, also natives of the state of New York. The father was a prominent farmer of the progressive type, giving studious attention to his business and conducting it on the most approved modern methods of his day. He was a well educated man, a graduate of the University of Rochester and a trustee of an excellent academy at Elbridge. He was deeply interested in the cause of education and practical in his views concerning it, and through his activity in connec- tion with the science he rendered the people of his county and state valuable and highly appreciated servicc.

Reared under the influence of such an example, and in

constant touch with lofty ideals, it is not surprising that the son became a man of superior attainments, high aims and sterling worth. He began his academic education in the Elbridge Academy and completed it at the University of Rochester, as a member of the class of 1875. He then studied law, and after a due course of preparation was admitted to the bar. He began the practice of his profession in Syracuse, New York, and remained there until 1883.

Mr. Munro was doing well in his professional work in Syracuse, but for some years the great Northwest beckoned him with persuasive hand, and in the year last named he yielded to the magnetism and came to Minneapolis to live. It was not long before he became well established in a good practice here, and as he was also active in the public affairs of the city and county, he soon rose to prominence and influence in the councils of his political organization, the Democratic party. He was the nominee of his party for a district judgeship and made a strong campaign for the office. But the tide was against him, and although he reduced he was unable to overcome the large majority the opposing party had long had in the district and throughout the state.

After this election Mr. Munro continued to practice law, as he had done before. and remained active in his profession until his death, which occurred on January 30, 1907. Mr. Munro was twice married, first in June, 1887, to Miss Ger- trude Daniels, of Minneapolis, who was very prominent in musical circles. Her death occurred September 9, 1894. On July 2, 1901, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Georgie F. de Camp. Mrs. Munro is still living and maintains her home at 1608 West Twenty-fifth street.

JOHN B. IRWIN.

Within the last twenty or twenty-five years wonderful progress has been made in improving the breeds and breeding of cattle in the state of Minnesota, and great credit is due to the far-seeing and enterprising men who started the movement for this improvement and have kept it in action with steadily increasing benefit to the state. One of the pioneers in the movement, especially in breeding Holstein-Friesian cattle of superior quality, has been Everett F. Irwin, of Richfield, Henne- pin county, and one of the leaders of those who have kept up and expanded the industry is his son, John B. Irwin, also of Richfield, and now living on the farm on which he was born on February 16, 1874, the only child of Everett F. and Martha (Borland) Irwin.

John B. Irwin, who is widely known as one of the great breeders of Holstein cattle mentioned above, and also as the proprietor of Wood Lake and Clover farms, was educated at the Pillsbury Academy and the University of Minnesota, and was graduated from the latter institution in the class of 1898. While attending the University he was a member of the Delta Epsilon fraternity, and still holds an active membership in the Delta Upsilon Club.

Two years after leaving the University Mr. Irwin purchased his father's old homestead and began raising early potatoes. The venture was frowned upon and derided by the knowing ones in the neighborhood, but when they saw the returns they began to raise the same crop. It has proven to be an excellent crop for this locality, and thic industry has increased to such an extent that it is now the principal source of income for

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

most of the farmers in Hennepin county south of Minneapolis.

In 1885 Mr. Irwin's father began the breeding of Holstein- Friesian cattle and thereby became a pioneer in what is now one of the state's most important industries. When the son bought the farm in 1900 the Wood Lake herd passed to him, and he, starting with a basis of about twenty registered cows, in thirteen years has made himself an international reputation as a scientific and judicious breeder of this line of dairy stock, his herd having not only brought renown to Hennepin county, but also to the state of Minnesota.

Mr. Irwin has three important ideals in mind all the time in developing his stock. First, quantity and quality of milk and butter production; second, animals of strong constitutions; and third, a large, smooth, uniform type. His success in com- petitive exhibitions is largely attributable to the last named characteristic, for which the Wood Lake herd is notable. It ha's been shown with credit at the Minnesota and other state fairs almost every season since its establishment, the quality of the cattle being constantly improved and the number increased.

The reputation gained for his herd by Mr. Irwin in local contests has been high, and he has also exhibited it in fields of international magnitude. At the Louisiana Purchase Exposi- tion held in St. Louis in 1904, in competition with some 200 animals from ten of the leading Holstein breeders, Wood Lake herd led by a good margin, winning the Grand Premier Exhibi- tor's Championship and the Grand Premier Breeder's Cham- pionship. Again, at the Lewis and Clark Exposition in Port- land, Oregon, in 1905, where the competition was with a better quality of animals than those of the year before, this herd carried away the Grand Premier Breeder's Championship; and at the Alaska-Pacific Exposition in Seattle in 1909, in competi- tion with imported animals, representatives of the herd won highest honors in several classes, first, second and third prizes going to bulls bred at Wood Lake farm.

During all the years of the public history of this herd its reputation has been well maintained. In 1911 it took the first prize at Waterloo and also at the National Dairy Show in Chicago. Individual animals bred in the herd and exhibited by others than Mr. Irwin have also won important honors at numerous state fairs and expositions, and breeding animals from Wood Lake have found purchasers in almost every state of the American Union, and many have been exported to other countries.

The Wood Lake herd stands also in the front rank in butter- fat production tests made under the supervision of the State Experiment Station, cows from this herd having exceeded the world's records of production in different classes. Another evi- dence of the pre-eminence of the herd is furnished by the fact that Mr. Irwin was the first to supply Minneapolis physicians and hospitals with certified milk, the Hennepin County Med- ical Society taking the initiative in the matter of securing pure milk and choosing the Holstein milk of this herd for certification. As recognized by the medical fraternity and chemists, Holstein milk is peculiarly adapted to the needs of infants and persons of delicate health, it being more readily assimilated than any other milk from cows.

In 1907 Mr. Irwin purchased another farm, which now con- tains 480 acres, and is located in Bloomington township, seven miles from Minneapolis. On this he is developing the select Clover Farm herd.

Mr. Irwin is a director, and 1912-14 president, of the Minne- sota State Live Stock Breeders' Association. He is also a

charter member of the Minnesota State Cattle Breeders' Asso- ciation, and has been its secretary-treasurer from its organiza- tion. He was one of the organizers and the first president, for two years, of the Minnesota State Holstein-Friesian Associa- tion, and is now serving his second term of three years as a director of the National Dairy Show held in Chicago, and was one of the three first stockholders of this show in Minnesota, and one of the first three delegates from the National Holstein- Friesian Association to the National Dairy Conference in Chi- 'cago, in which representatives of twenty-eight national association's and industries allied with the dairy interests were assembled. At this conference was organized an association representing the whole dairy industry, which, including pro- duction, is the most extensive industry in the United States.

In 1902 Mr. Irwin presented before the National Holstein- Friesian Association, in session in Syracuse, New York, a strong argument showing the special adaptation of Minnesota to the breeding of Holstein-Friesian cattle, and secured an appropriation for use by the Minnesota State Fair, in addition to its regular fund for prizes, for the development of this breed of cattle. This appropriation has been renewed every year since. This Association is chartered in the State of New York, and Mr. Irwin has served it as vice president, and direc- tor, which position he is still filling.

Mr. Irwin married, on September 22, 1900, Miss Bernice Hennings, of Willmar, who was educated at the State Univer- sity, and a member of the Delta Gamma sorority. They have two children, their sons being John B., Jr., and Everett Hen- nings. Mrs. Irwin is a school official in Richfield and is a member of the state commission to investigate rural schools.

HENRY LUTHER MARTIN.

Mr. Martin was brought to Minneapolis when he was less . than a year old and has since lived at 521 Fourth Street Southeast, for a continuous period of 53 years or more. He was born in Danville, Caledonia county, Vermont, on July 10, 1857, the son of Harmon M. and Mary A. (Morrill) Martin, who were members of old New England families that settled in Vermont in early Colonial days, and members of which were prominent in the struggle for American Independence before and during the Revolutionary war. In the spring of 1858, when their son Henry was but a few months old, the parents came to the village of St. Anthony, then but a straggling hamlet in the wilderness.

Harmon Martin, the father, conducted a meat market for a time, in association with Moses Hayes, and later they united in founding the first iron works in this community, the estab- lishment now known as the Union Iron Works. After a number of years, Mr. Martin sold his share in the business and bought the Island Flour Mill, in partnership with Edward Brown and William F. Cahill, the name of the firm being Cahill, Brown & Company. This mill was destroyed by fire about 1871 or 1872. Then, with William Dunwoody and a Mr. Tiffany, Mr. Martin leased a mill on the West Side. He had a general oversight of all the mechanical and office work of this mill and remained in charge until his death, in March, 1878, at the age of 62. His wife survived him about two years. They were members of the First Congregational church, of which Rev. Charles Secombe was the first pastor.

Mr. Martin, the elder, bought the home in which his son,

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Henry, now resides, in 1859 or 1860. There was a small house on the lot at the time, and this he afterward enlarged. The dwelling house now on the lot was built by the son. The father was one of the original stockholders of the North- western National Bank, and retained his interest in the in- stitution to the end of his days. Early in the decade of 1850 he and his two brothers went to California as gold-seekers, and as they were all resolute, hard-working men. each of them secured some of the precious metal and took it back with them to Vermont. These three members of the family, Harmon W., John and Chester, came to Minneapolis about the same time. While Harmon Martin was in Vermont after his trip to California, he married Miss Mary A. Morrill, who was his second wife and the mother of Henry L., their only child. The father had a son by his first marriage, Lyman S. Martin, who served in the Second Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry during the Civil war.

Henry L. Martin attended the public schools, and took a partial course in the University of Minnesota in one of its early elasses. For some years after leaving the University he was in the grocery trade in partnership with Frederick Johnson, the present J. C. Johnson & Co., wholesale grocers, and in 1879 was employed by the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad when W. D. Washburn was it's president. After two years in railroad service, Senator Washburn appointed him clerk of the Steamer St. Louis, in service on Lake Minnetonka, to take charge of the money taken in on it and direct its office work in general.

In the fall of 1881, Mr. Martin was appointed assistant ticket agent of the Great Northern Railroad in the Minneapolis depot ticket office, under W. P. Ives. Mr. Ives resigned in 1883 and Mr. Martin succeeded him as agent, and remained in the office until 1903, when he retired from all business. During some of the years when he was ticket agent the ticket sales amounted to more than $1,000,000 per annum. Since his retirement from the office he has given his attention to his lands, live stock, securities, and other property.

May 13, 1884, Mr. Martin was married in Minneapolis to Miss Blanche Woodmansee, a daughter of Daniel and Kate (King) Woodmansee, who came from Dayton, Ohio, to Minne- sota in 1870, and located in Ramsey county ; soon after their arrival the daughter entered the State University. Her father operated the stock farm, which later became the Commodore Kittson farm, located near this city. He moved to Minneapolis in 1877 and managed the Commodore's stables until the death of their owner, in 1888, after which he leased the estate. He afterward passed several years in Cali- fornia, and in that state his wife and one of his sons died. He spent the last years of his life in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Martin, where he died at the age of seventy-eight.

Mrs. Martin is the only survivor of her father's family. By her marriage with Mr. Martin she became the mother of seven children, all of whom are living. They are: Dean, a graduate of the forestry department of the State University and now forest examiner for the Federal government in the White Mountains; Ruth, a graduate of the University and a teacher in the high school at Mountain Lake; Kate. a grad- uate of the University; John, a student at the University; Mary and Blanche, students in the high school, and Henry, a student in one of the graded schools.

LUCIAN SWIFT.

This esteemed citizen of Minneapolis, in the decade follow- ing 1885 made an honorable and commendable record in American journalism. He was manager of the Minneapolis Journal, and one of its four owners until September 1, 1908, when the paper changed hands and he retired from the man- agement. His career was not begun in the field of journalism, nor did it appear to tend in that direction. His relation to it was rather accidental than designed, and his success was entirely due to strong natural endowment and adaptability, impelled by a persistent determination to make the most of any situation.

Mr. Swift was born in Akron, Ohio, July 14, 1848, a son of Lucian and Sarah C. (West) Swift. The father was a native of Connecticut, where the family was established in 1635 by an English colonist, who, early in the nineteenth century, located in the Western Reserve of Ohio. He was a lawyer and one of much force of character, taking an active part in publie affairs, serving as clerk of the courts of Sum- mit County for a number of years and was also State Senator. His father, Hon. Zephaniah Swift, was Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court of Connecticut for nearly twenty years and was the author of a legal digest and of standard trea- tises on several branches of. law.

After several years in Akron the senior Lucian Swift, re- moved to Cleveland, where the son had the advantage of ex- cellent educational facilities. He graduated from the high school and then entered the Department of Mine Engineering in the University of Michigan, graduating in 1869. His room- mate at the University was Charles F. Brush, whose name has been immortalized by the electric arc-light which le invented, and which is now in universal use.

After completing the course at the University, young Swift returned to Cleveland, where during the next two years he was employed as a salesman. But this occupation not being con- genial he determined to come West, where, in the multitude of opportunities amid the undeveloped resources of a new country, he hoped to find employment more in accord with his taste and education. His intention was to locate at Duluth. but the prospects in the Zenith City were not then inviting, and he came to St. Paul through Hon. Charles MeIlrath, then State Auditor and his kinsman. Mr. Swift, secured a position with George B. Wright, of Minneapolis, then a surveyor of government lands, but who soon became land agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad company.

The young engineer remained in this employment for five years, making plats and land grants, rights of way, and other transfers of property, visiting various land offices for the nec- essary information. While so engaged he on'ce camped on the present site of the city of Fargo. At Georgetown, then a promising village, on the Red River, he attended an editorial convention and banquet, over which the talented literary wanderer, Bayard Taylor, presided.

In 1876 he resigned his position and revisited his boyhood home and friends in Ohio. Upon returning to Minneapolis he secured a position as bookkeeper at a meager salary, but his ability being soon recognized, he was asked to become bookkeeper and eashier for the Minneapolis Tribunc. He re- mained in the employ of this paper for a number of years, becoming thoroughly conversant with all the details of news- paper production.

In November, 1885, he joined A. J. Blethen, W. E. Haskell,

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

and W. H. Hawley in the purchase of the Minneapolis Journal at a cost of $130,000, and was at once chosen manager. Within six years thereafter the daily circulation of the paper in- creased from 10,000 to 35,000 copies, a gain of 250 per cent, while the population of the city in that period increased but 75 per cent. September 1, 1908, the paper passed to new ownership and Mr. Swift retired from its management. He, however, retained the presidency of the Housekeeper Company, which he and his associates had purchased in 1895. This magazine became deservedly popular attaining a circulation of more than 400,000. In 1910 it too was sold and the pro- ceeds from these two publications were invested in Minne- apolis real estate.

Mr. Swift is a member of the Minneapolis, Lafayette, Mini- kalıda, Minnetonka Yacht, the Elks and the Commercial clubs, having been one of the original members of the latter. For several years he was a member and director of the Board of Trade and of the Business Men's Union. In 1891 he was a director and treasurer of the Exposition. This was the banner year in the history of that enterprise, the attendance exceeding half a million. In 1877, Mr. Swift married Miss Minnie E. Fuller, a native of Ashtabula, Ohio, and a daughter of Rev. George W. Fuller. Their only child living is Grace F., wife of A. W. Strong.

Mrs. Swift died in 1903. She was blessed with natural charm, enhanced by culture and intercourse, ever radiating beneficent influence and exemplifying to a degree, a domestic life devoted to service. Her interest in charitable efforts never ceased; hundreds cherish her memory in grateful affections.

HON. SILVANUS ALBERT STOCKWELL.

Born at Anoka, June 8, 1857, and having passed the whole of life in the state, and been active and enterprising in busi- ness and public affairs from the dawn of manhood, Hon. Silvanus A. Stockwell has made a record that is creditable alike to the commonwealth and to himself. He is a son of Silvanus and Charlotte (Bowdish) Stockwell. He a native of Worcester county, Massachusetts, and she of Hartwick, Otsego county, New York, where they were married, and whence they came to Minnesota, in 1856.

They engaged in farming at Anoka and lived in that town until death of the mother in 1889, when she was fifty-eight, and the father in April, 1908, when he was eighty-five. He was the first treasurer of Anoka county, and so served several years. He was also an alderman and filled other public of- fice's. The mother was a member of the board of education for twelve years, being the first woman to so serve, and was its president at her death. She began teaching at the age of fourteen, and taught in New York and in Ohio until her marriage. She also taught in Anoka in both public and private schools, and ever maintained a warm interest in the cause of education. She was besides a public speaker of more than local renown and an earnest participant in the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Methodist Episcopal church.

Silvanus A. Stockwell remained in Anoka until the age of eighteen, being educated by home training and in schools sometimes taught by his mother. At eighteen he began teach- ing in Sherburne county, afterward continuing this work for several years in country and village schools in Anoka and

Hennepin counties. In 1878 he came to Minneapolis as an employe in the office of the American Express company, and three or four years later became railroad train messenger, remaining with the company eleven years. In 1889 he en- tered the life insurance business as agent for the Provident Life and Trust company, with which he remained about four years, then became general agent for the Penn Mutual, com- pleting his twentieth year of such service October 21, 1913. Nearly one-half of the business done by this company in Minnesota is transacted through his office.

The Penn Mutual has extensive loan interests in Minne- apolis. At one time one-tenth of all its mortgage loans were placed in this city, and they then exceeded in amount those of any other company doing business here and much of this business has been secured within the last twenty years.

When he was but nineteen he began active work in political campaigns, he and another young man organizing and conduct- ing a campaign for the mayoralty of Anoka against Captain Cutter, in opposition to the saloon interests, their candidate being easily elected.

He has been keenly interested in politics ever since, and was himself elected to represent the Thirty-third district, in- cluding the Seventh, Eleventh and Twelfth wards of Minne- apolis and the town's of Excelsior, Eden Prairie, Bloomington and Richfield, in the House of Representatives in 1890. He was the Democratic candidate endorsed by the Farmers' Al- liance. In the session of 1891 he was chairman of the com- mittee on labor and author of the present anti-Pinkerton law, requiring that all recognized legal officers must be resi- dents of the state, imported officials having no authority. He also served on the committee on education and introduced the free text book bill which later became law. In 1892 he was defeated, but four years later was again chosen from the same district, being the Democratic and Populist candidate. In the ensuing session was a member of the 'committees on edu- cation and taxation and secured the repeal of the law exempt- ing mines from taxation when they were not in operation. He made this question a campaign issue and got the Re- publicans in the legislature to endorse and work for it, keep- ing himself in the background, and so succeeded in getting it enacted.

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Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 125

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