Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 131

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 131

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Carrie Stratton was a teacher in Minneapolis, at Anoka, and at other places in this state for a long time, and is now living at the Home for children and aged women at 3200 Stevens avenue, Minneapolis.

Charles Stratton, the youngest and a printer by trade, now resides at Victoria, B. C.

PAUL W. SMITH.

The present head of the credit department of the Pillsbury Flour Mills company is one of the best known of Minne- apolis' younger business men.

Mr. Smith was born in Charlotte, Michigan, August 25, 1876. His father, T. J. Smith, came to Minneapolis in 1878, and for twenty-five years was in the employ of the United States government, in the postoffice. He died in January, 1911. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Munger was born in Auburn, New York, and died February 25, 1914.

A resident of Minneapolis since he was two years old, and a business man who has worked his way up to a responsible position from the humble beginning of messenger, Paul W. Smith is now one of the most trusted employes of the great Pillsbury Flour Mills Company. He is head of one of the most important divisions of the business of that institution-the credit department. Mr. Smith went to that corporation on August 24, 1895, when it was known as the Pillsbury Wash- burn Milling Company. He was first employed as messenger, and rose from that position through the various activities of the flour milling trade, selling flour "on the road" and later having charge of collections in various districts. From this he was given charge of the credit department, being responsible for the eredits in the company's twenty branches in the Central and Eastern states. His is a responsible and exacting posi- tion to which he devotes his energies without stint.

In 1896 Mr. Smith married Sarah Davison, a daughter of C. Wright Davison, long known as a directory publisher. They have two sons, Charles Willis and John Morgan, and one daughter, Harriet Elizabeth.

ALBERT R. RUHNKE.

Albert R. Ruhnke, president of the Metropolitan Milk com- pany, of Minneapolis, and of the Minnesota Milk Company of St. Paul, was born in Krojanke, West Prussia, Germany, on April 25, 1851, and is the son of Michael ·Ruhnke, a pros- perous miller. Leaving school, Albert Ruhnke did office work in his father's mill until he came to the United States in 1871, and for two years worked in Detroit, and Wyandotte, Michigan. When he came to Minneapolis he soon found em- ployment in dairies, both in Minneapolis and St. Paul, even driving a milk wagon for a time. In 1877, he went to Roches- ter, and during the next two years worked in a nursery, in

Albers R. Ruhun

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

the summer months, and sold nursery stock in the winters. In 1880 he became boss of a construction gang on the Northern Pacific Railroad, and so continued for two years. In 1884 he bought a dairy at Medicine Lake, operating it for four years. He then organized the Minneapolis Milk company, in which he was associated with Johnson Mealey of Howard Lake, who furnished the milk, while Mr. Ruhnke sold it. He started with one wagon and did a business of about $15 a day. The Minneapolis Milk Company was incorporated in 1884, with Mr. Ruhnke as president, S. J. Baldwin vice president and Nathan C. Cole secretary. It then required but seven or eight wagons to distribute its product. Its business con- stantly expanded until, for 1913, its sales aggregated over $873,000. In Sept., 1913, the Metropolitan Milk Company was organized with a capital of $250,000, and took over the Minneapolis Milk Co. It handles the milk from 12,000 to 15,000 cows, supplied by 1,500 producers, spread over a ' radius of sixty miles, the daily consumption being three cars of milk and one of cream. In 1913 $687,000 was paid out for this product and $100,000 was paid to 150 employes in Minneapolis. In 1900 the company moved to its plant to 900 Sixth street south, building a large additional factory, 66 by 96 feet with full basement and four floors, all made of concrete, and another structure 40 by 50 feet in size, with a basement. Mr. Ruhnke made a visit some ten years since to his native land, reviving the associations of youth. He was married in 1888 to Miss Ida G. Osmer. He is no politician, his business fully occupying his attention. Mr. Ruhnke is also President of the Minnesota Milk Company of St. Paul, capitalized at $50,000 and having an annual sale of $100,000.

PAYSON SMITH.

For thirty-seven years Payson Smith, president of the Payson Smith Lumber company and the Missouri Hardwood Manufacturing company, has been a resident of the state, and for ten of the city. During this period he has been actively connected with business affairs.

Mr. Smith was born at Three Rivers, Michigan, September 2, 1869. He was reared in Nashville, Tennessee, where he obtained a high school education. In 1876 he came to St. Paul with his parents. He started his business career as a collector for the Merchants National Bank of St. Paul at a compensation of $15 a month. He remained with this bank ten years, being advanced to the position of paying teller. He has since been continuously engaged in the lumber trade in Minneapolis.

For some years he had various 'connections in this industry, and February 14th, 1906 he incorporated the Payson Smith Lumber company with a business he had started in 1900. The capital stock is $100,000, and its operations have grown to colossal proportions. It is occupied principally in jobbing, buying the output of many mills, north and south, selling at wholesale. It sells ordinarily about 3.000 carloads of lumber a year, having offices in Chicago and St. Louis. Its sales aggregate 50,000,000 to 60,000,000 feet of lumber annually.

The Missouri Hardwood Manufacturing company was in- corporated in 1908, with a capital of $150,000. It owns and operates. mills in New Madrid county, Southeastern Missouri, selling rough lumber and developing farms from the cutover

tracts. This development is in one of the most fertile sections in the country, and to secure the best results, extensive drain- age is necessary. Forty acres and a dwelling are allotted to each farm, the purchaser being aided by the company in get- ting his land into farming condition.

This company was started by Mr. Smith in a small way and with limited capital. It has grown enormously because of its productive properties, its useful character and. the skill and enterprise of management. The land it owns is in one of the finest hardwood regions in the Mississippi Valley.

F. E. Kenaston, of the Minneapolis Thresher company, and A. A. Crane, vice president of the First National Bank of Minneapolis, are directors in the company. But Mr. Smith is the controlling spirit giving personal attention to every detail of the business. He makes periodical trips to the mills, to the branch offices, and to the operations in Southeastern Missouri. He is also a director of the Van Tilberg Oil company of Minneapolis, and is president of the Chicago Transportation Co. of Chicago, which owns a number of vessels engaged in the lumber trade.

In connection with the activity of his home in civic, social, educational and moral fields Mr. Smith is as constant a worker as frequent absences allow. He is a member of nearly all the leading clubs, social, civic, commercial and recreative, con- sidering it every citizen's duty to work for the continual im- provement of social, public and educational conditions.

As a member of the Civic and Commerce Association, he takes an active part in the work of beautifying the city and increasing its commercial importance. He attends the Christian Science church. October 26, 1898, he was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Butcher of St. Paul. They have three daughters, Genevieve, Gertrude and Edna.

GEORGE F. SMITH.

George F. Smith, who died in Minneapolis, July 14, 1890, aged 47 years, had been a resident of the city from not long after the close of the Civil war and was a leading hardware merchant. His health was seriously affected by military service during the Civil war, and was never thereafter fully restored. He had enlisted at the age of 18 and had been discharged for disabilities incurred in the line of duty.

He was born in the town of Salisbury, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, September 1, 1843, and obtained a common school education in his native place. In 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, which was soon afterward assigned to duty in Louisiana under the command of General Banks. He became a sergeant of his company, but at the end of nine months was discharged because of his physical condition. After his discharge he went to Nashville, Tennessee, in the service of the government, and remained there a year or two.

He then came to Minneapolis, where two uncles, Luther and John C. Johnson, were living at the time and engaged in the grocery trade, Luther on the east side and John C. in the firm of Dunham & Johnson, now the John C. Johnson Company, conducted by Fred Johnson, the son of John C. Mr. Smith became a salesman in the hardware store of John S. Pillsbury, on the East Side, and when, in 1866, the Pillsbury store was opened at Bridge Square, on the west side, he arranged its first stock, and became the first salesman therein.

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Four years later Mr. Smith opened a hardware store of his own in the old Lumley building, on Washington Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh Avennes Sonth. Two years later he moved up one block on the same street and took in Frank Scribner as a partner, the name of the firm being Smith & Scribner. Some little time later he purchased Mr. Scribner's interest in the business and thereafter continued to conduct it alone until early after 1880. When the great mill explosion and fire of 1878 occurred, the force of the explosion shattered one of his plate glass fronts.

In Free Masonry he was a member of Zion Commandery Knights Templars. He was a member of John A. Rawlins Post of the G. A. R., and the first of its members to die. His re- mains were buried with Masonic rites performed by his Com- mandery and the ceremonials of the Grand Army conducted by his Post.

Mr. Smith was married in Minneapolis, September 26. 1867, to Miss Anna M. Connor, a daughter of Gilman and Nancy (Young) Connor, who came from New Hampshire to St. Anthony in 1857 and erected a dwelling house which is still standing and is now No. 1413 University Avenue Southeast, opposite the campus of the University. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had three children, two of whom are living, as is also their mother. The children living are Fred G., a member of the firm of Nickles & Smith, real estate dealers in the city, and Ralphı C., city salesman for N. K. Fairbanks, of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Stillwater. The third son, Cyrus Gilman Smith, died at the age of eleven years. Ralph C. Smith is unmarried. Fred G. married Miss Alma Westin of Minneapolis and has two sons, Westin E. and Frederick G. He is a director of the Real Estate Exchange, and vice president of the National Real Estate Board.

The mother is a valued member of Gethsemane Episcopal Church and for many years was vice president of the controlling board of the Women's Department of St. Barnabas Hospital. She is also a member of the Relief Corps of Rawlings Post, G. A. R., and of the Territorial Pioneers. Wherever she is known she is regarded as one of the most estimable, worthy, and useful women in the city.

REV. WILLIAM W. SATTERLEE.

Rev. William Wilson Satterlee, son of Ossian Satterlee and Susan Waslıburn Pease, was born April 11, 1837, at LaPorte, Ind., and died at Minneapolis, May 27, 1893. He was ordained a minister by the Western Conference of the Wesleyan Metho- dist Connection for Wisconsin in 1861 at 24 years of age. He took up the study of medicine in the office of a local physician of the Eclectic School, and on moving to Minnesota in June, 1863, he commeneed the practice at Elysian. Le Sucur County, and in addition conducted religious services for the village, thus combining preaching and practice. In 1867 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Conference of Minnesota and was appointed to the charge of Waseca, then a new terminus of the Winona & St. Peter Railway, and was also a supply preacher for the towns of Iosco, Wilton and Plum Valley. In 1869 he was appointed to the pastorate at St. Cloud, supplying also Sauk Rapids, which place he held for two years, being then appointed to the First Methodist Church of St. Anthony in 1871. In 1872 under his charge was builded the second edifice of this congregation on the original

site, being now 214 University Avenue S. E. During this pastorate he became intimately acquainted with the faculty and students of the State University, many of whom were members of his congregation, and to these friendships much of his later popularity was due. In 1873 he was appointed to the Temperance work by the Conference and was made Secre- tary of the Minnesota Temperance Union. Later on he asso- eiated with him in the work the following members of the famous Hutchinson Family "Tribe of Asa," of sweet singers: Asa B., Elizabethi C., and O. Dennett. The sudden death of Mrs. Hutchinson at Rushford, Minn., in December, 1874, from paralysis of the brain severed the pleasant relations. Such was the friendship and popularity of this great temperance singer that the Board of Directors deemed it fitting that a fund for temperance work should be named for her. This was done and some $18,000 was pledged in notes, but much was never collected.

In 1876 was inaugurated the "Blue Ribbon" temperance campaign. He entered this work and conducted meetings at Red Wing, Stillwater, and La Crosse, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire, Wis., at which thousands were pledged, and shorter visits to many other points. As a result of this movement a Temperance Reform Club was organized in Minneapolis with a membership of several thousands, holding its meetings at Harrison Hall corner of Washington and Nicollet Avenues. In 1881 he was elected as Chaplain of this Club and conducted all its public meetings, and at the same time was appointed to supply the Seventh Street (now 13th Ave.) M. E. Church. In 1879 he purchased the "Liberty Blade" publication devoted to the temperance work and edited and published it until 1881 when it was sold to Luther Bixby who continued its publica- tion. At intervals he was appointed by the Conference to supply vacancies in the conference charges. and officiated in this manner at St. Paul, Anoka, Delano, Richfield, and other points. In 1886 he purchased a home at Eureka which place he gave its name. In 1887 he was tendered and accepted the chair of "Scientific Temperance and Political Economy" in the U. S. Grant University at Athens, Tenn., but still continued his Minnesota work during the summer vacations. He was the Prohibition candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis and Governor of the State, but never filled any political offices. His writings were principally for the press, but he wrote and published several books, notably: "Looking Backward and What I Saw," a most perfect delineation of present moral conditions, "Mrs. Columbia," a satire, "The Jericho Robbers," a satire on the Liquor License System.

W. W. Satterlee was married to Sarah Stout, daughter of Phillip Stout and Phoebe Adair, at Richland County, Wis., on Dec. 24, 1856. They had four sons and two danghters.

CHARLES F. SIMS.

The late Charles F. Sims, of Minneapolis, who died sud- denly at Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas, May 10, 1910, aged about 78 years. was a pioneer in two lines of mercantile life that have been of great advantage to this city and the Northwest in general. Ile was a partner in the first wholesale drug firm in the Twin Cities, that of Sims, Vawter & Rose, whose leading business establishment was in St. Paul, and he was a controlling spirit in the manage- ment of its business for a number of years. He then sold

Chast Sims.

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

his interest in the firm to his partners and became one of the pioneers in establishing the commercial interests of Mon- tana. He opened the first store devoted exclusively to drugs in Helena.

Mr. Sims' first trip to the farther West was made in com- pany with Captain Fisher, who was in command of a military escort. On this trip he freighted a stock of general mer- chandise to Montana and at another time took out the stock of drugs and chemicals with which he started the store in Helena.

His later activities were centered in the grain trade, in which he was associated with Governor John S. Pillsbury, by whom he was placed in charge of the construction and opera- tion of a line of elevators extending through what is now North Dakota. All these elevators were under the direct personal management of Mr. Sims, and while they were in the course of construction he was accustomed to have forty to sixty men regularly under his immediate supervision. Grand Forks became his headquarters, and for twenty-five years he continued in active participation in the grain trade in North Dakota. He is probably entitled to more credit than any other one man for the present admirable system of handling grain throughout the Northwest.

Mr. Sims became prominently connected with almost every business interest at Grand Forks. He was made president of a bank while he lived there, and was continued in this office for years after he moved to Minneapolis. He also organized and was made president of the Fire Insurance Company of that city, and his services were of such magnitude and im- portance in this connection that they brought about the present enormous business of the leading Northwestern Fire Insurance Company, whose principal office is in Minneapolis at this time.

After many years of great activity Mr. Sims put aside much of his business responsibility and passed many of his winters in rest and recreation in California and Texas. Yet even during these periods he did not give up his interest in business affairs. But death, however, unexpectedly put an end to the activities he would not entirely relinquishi. While recreating in Texas he died suddenly in the midst of ap- parent vigor and robustness, without showing any signs of wear or failure of faculties. It is almost impossible to con- ceive of his having been worn out, for he was a large man of great muscular strength, and with all his physical powers fully developed by hard labor in early life on a farm.

While he was engaged in the drug trade in Minneapolis, in partnership with Hon. N. H. Hemiup, one of the early judges of probate in Hennepin county, Mr. Sims served with credit as one of the aldermen of the city. He was also a member of the old volunteer Fire Department of the village, when its residents had no other means of protection from the ravages of the dread destroyer than the men who "ran with the machine." He was liberal in his donations to churches of all denominations; but he had no sportive habits or tendencies. His mind was too serious, the claims of business were to him too urgent, to allow him any indulgence in anything that seemed to be mere pastime, and he never cultivated a taste for any allurement of that character.

Mrs. Sims, his widow, who is still living, has her home at the Berkley Hotel, and is an intimate associate of the mem- bers of all the old families. While residing in North Dakota she took a very warm and serviceable interest in a flourishing literary club there, and wherever she has lived she has given

helpful attention to organizations designed to improve the conditions of life for the people living around her. Her in- terest in such associations is still strong, but her activity in connection with them grows less, necessarily, as she advances in age. She is well known in the community, and is highly esteemed by all classes of its residents, as her husband was wherever he lived and labored. They were married in Minne- apolis September 1, 1862. Her maiden name was Laura du Dorman. Her parents, Daniel W. and Mary E. (Jordan) du Dorman, were from Maine and came to St. Anthony in 1857. Her father died here, but her mother returned to Maine, where she passed the remainder of her life.

HON. CHARLES L. SAWYER.

Hon. Charles L. Sawyer, one of the leading real estate dealers of Minneapolis, was born in Lee, Strafford county, New Hampshire, March 28, 1860, and attended the district school until he reached the age of eighteen. He completed a course in the academy at New Hampton, New Hampshire, and in 1884 entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1888, standing fifth in a class of ninety entitling him to mem- bership in Phi Betta Kappa Fraternity. In 1891 he received the degree of A. M. from his Alma Mater. He was four years a superintendent of schools at Waukegan, Illinois, and in 1892 came to Minneapolis as the first principal of the South High School, which he served as such until 1899. During his prin- cipalship, the enrollment grew from 300 to 800; and the number of teachers increased from twelve to twenty-eight.

While teaching he attended the night classes in the law de- partment of the State University, and from that department received his degree of LL. B. in 1897, immediately afterward, being admitted to the bar. In 1906, 1908 and 1912 he was elected to the House of Representatives from the Forty-first legislative district Minnesota, including the Fifth and Sixth wards of Minneapolis. In the session of 1907 he was chairman of the committee on education. In that of 1909, he was a { member of the same committee, and it was almost wholly through his efforts that the bill pensioning teachers became a law. He also introduced and passed a bill providing for the abolition of secret fraternities in high schools. During each of the sessions he was zealous and industrious in behalf of the interests of the State University, especially in the matter of permanent improvements.

In the session of 1913 he was chairman of the University Committee and of the committee of Public Accounts and Ex- penditures which made a thorough investigation of the mone- tary affairs of the State; and during his entire service he fought hard for County Option and the better regulation of the saloon, although not an agitator. He favors woman suf- frage; and worked for the submission of an amendment to the constitution providing for the same. He has served on many local party committees and been active in campaign work; and in the gubernatorial campaign of 1912, he was interested in the candidacy of Hon. L. C. Spooner.

Since 1899 Mr. Sawyer has been engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, having been for seven years a member of the firm of Moore Bros. & Sawyer and fourteen years a member of the Minneapolis Real Estate Board. He owns an irrigated fruit ranch of 360 acres in Southern Idaho, which he has developed himself, 175 acres being in fruit already

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

bearing. lle was married in January, 1892, to Miss Olive M. Bennett, of Laconia, New Hampshire. She was a teacher and also a graduate of New Ilampton Institution. They have four children. Esmond B., a student, freshman in the Univer- sity of Minnesota; Russell J., Charles A. and Miriam Louisa.

Mr. Sawyer is a member of the Park Avenue Congregational Church, which he has served as deacon and a trustee. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and noble of the Mystic Shrine. lle is Past Worshipful Master of Minneapolis Lodge No. 19, Past Illustrious Master of Minneapolis Council No. 2, and Past Commander of Zion Commandery No. 2, and Past Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. He was a charter member of the Commercial Club and a member of the Six O'clock and Monday clubs. He makes occasional hunt- ing trips to North Dakota, Montana and Idaho.

HON. GEORGE R. SMITH.

The interesting subject of this brief review is now (1914) representing the strongly industrial and commercial city of Minneapolis and surrounding county of Hennepin, in the popu- lar branch of the United States Congress.

Representative Smith was born in Stearns county, Minne- sota, on May 28, 1864, and is the son of David and Katharine (Crowe) Smith. His boyhood and youth were passed on his father's farm, and his education was begun in a country school house.

When Mr. Smith was fifteen years old he entered Lake View Academy as a student, and there he passed several years in further preparation for the professional training he had in mind and toward which he was working. He was graduated from Lake View in 1886, after winning a gold medal for scholarship, and during the next five years he taught school, earning every dollar he got by his excellent service to his pupils even though he did not intend to make teaching his life work. He lived frugally and saved all he could of his earnings, and in 1891 became a student in the College of Law of the University of Minnesota, being prepared to pay his way , as he proceeded by the money he had saved as a teacher. From the law school he was graduated in 1893 with the degree of LL. B. and a high rank as a student.

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Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 131

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