Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 133

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 133

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She was an active, zealous, hard-working member of the old Centennary Methodist Episcopal church. She and her husband were the parents of four children, only two of whom survive. They are: Helen J., the widow of John Harvey Horton, and Ella Jane, the wife of Charles Godley, of whom sketches will be found elsewhere. The sons of the family were James Boyd and David Andrews. James went to. Cali- fornia at the age of eighteen and died in that state. He was prominent in the Masonic order, his fraternal brethren erecting a monument to his memory in Masonic cemetery at San Fran- cisco. David A. was an old Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce man, a highly interesting personage in many ways, and is said to have been the champion checker player at the Chamber, where this game of skill affords so much recreation and where a successful player must needs be an adept. For many years no more widely or favorably known man frequented the chamber than "Old Serim," and when news of his sudden death in 1913 came to his old associates many a voice was softened, many a hand pressed and many an eye was moist.

ALVIN STONE.

Alvin Stone was born in Berwick, York county, Maine, October 13, 1825, and there learned his trade of painter. In 1850 he came to St. Anthony, and, in company with James MeHerron, started a painting business on Main street between what are now Fifth and Sixth avenues.

Later George Legg was his associate, the firm finally becom- ing Bigelow, Stone & Legg and employed 15 to 20 men, repaint- ing the old suspension bridge being one of its contracts.

Mr. Bigelow later retired, Stone & Legg continuing. When the Pillsbury "A" mill was erected Stone placed his old foreman in charge. Mr. Stone had a special faculty for paint- ing artistic and attractive signs, having the reputation of being the best sign painter in town. He prospered and became one of the substantial citizens. He was progressive, far-seeing and had good judgment in respect to public improvements and the advance of the city, and rose to high esteem. He died at

his summer cottage August 20, 1893, at Somerville, Massa- chusetts.

Mr. Stone devoted two or three winters, to jobbing in cedar timber, making and handling posts and kindred products. In 1860, in company with Oren Rogers and others, he made a trip to Pike's Peak, where he located a claim and took out some gold. He had a portion of this made into watch chains which are still in the possession of his son. Mr. Stone in company with Baldwin Brown platted Brown and Stone's Addition, First and Central avenues southeast, and built a business block. This started the improvements there, and within a few years it became well built up and populated.

In 1851 he married Miss Elizabeth Goodwin, a native of Salmon Falls, Maine, and who died March 28, 1876, leaving children; Frank, who died in March, 1880, at the age of twenty- five; Hattie, who became the wife of Frank Harrison and died at the age of twenty-seven, leaving a daughter, Minnie E. Harrison, and Harris. He was born October 22, 1860, al- most on the site of his present home. He became a fireman and later an engineer on the M. & St. L. and Soo Railroads, working as such for ten years. He has also been engaged in the clothing and tailoring business and a dealer in real estate. On November 24, 1887, he was married to Miss Arvilla Hen- dee. They have no children.

HORATIO R. STILLMAN.

Horatio R. Stillman, a pioneer resident of Minneapolis and the suburb, Robbinsdale, was born in the western reserve at Andover, Ashtabula county, Ohio, September 5, 1832. His father, Roswell Stillman, was one of the early settlers of Connecticut and his mother, Mary E. (Marvin) Stillman, was a native of Vermont. Horatio Stillman inherited from these parents the sturdy endurance and perseverance that charac- terized the pioneer American and as a young man planned to seek a home in the great western territory. When he was twenty-one years of age his father presented him with $200 and the following year he was occupied in the making of boat oars and was able to double the sum with his savings from his wages. With this capital in the fall of 1854, he set out for Minneapolis in company with his brother. Riley F. Stillman. The journey was made partly by boat and they experienced many vicissitudes. The party transported live- stock with them and after crossing Illinois were to complete the trip by water. The boat on which they embarked en- gaged in a race with a rival craft which resulted in a collision and necessitated the unloading of the horses and wagons. Horatio Stillman was placed in charge of them and traveling in this way he reached St. Paul about midnight several hours before the arrival of the boat and crossed to Minneapolis on Captain Tapper's ferry with the remainder of his party. His brother owned several lots near the present site of the municipal building and there erected a small house. Horatio Stillman secured a span of horses from him and engaged in teaming between the two cities and selling wood cut from government land. After a short time he sold his team and bought half interest in the outfit of Mr. Partridge, one of the men who had accompanied him from Ohio and they continued to work in partnership for several years. Soon after his arrival he had purchased the tract of land which is his present home and had erected a shanty on it and put in

A, B. Stillman

523

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

his first wheat crop when it was discovered to be school land. He continued his occupation with the intention of buying it when it should be placed in the market, but an act of the legislature setting aside other territory for school lands made this unnecessary. After the spring of 1856 he devoted his entire attention to farming, expending much labor and expense in the clearing and breaking of his land which was covered with invaluable timber. When the fer- tility of the soil for a wheat crop was exhausted he found that it would produce a fine quality of hay and foreseeing the monetary possibilities of the dairy business in this loca- tion he equipped the farm for this industry, finding a ready market for the butter and cheese. From a successful trade in the beginning of the enterprise it has steadily developed into the present prosperous business. In 1864, Mr. Stillman enlisted and served during the remainder of the Civil war in the Eleventh Minnesota regiment which was stationed at Tunnel Hill as guard over the Louisville & Nashville railroad. His marriage to Miss Arvilla Townsend, who had accompanied her uncle, Mr. Partridge, to Minnesota, occurred August 31, 1855. Mrs. Stillman died in 1873, leaving two children, Elmer D., who makes his home at Salt Lake City, Utah, and Ella, who married Mr. Herman Renspies and resides in Robbins- dale. Mr. Stillman contracted his second marriage February 23, 1879, with Miss Maggie Allison of Charlestown, Portage county, Ohio. They have one daughter, Maude, wife of Mr. David Huston of Robbinsdale. Mrs. Stillman was educated at the Farmington Academy in her native state and for a number of years was a successful school teacher. She takes an active and capable interest in church work and the affairs of the world about her and has been influential in the estab- lishment and maintenance of a library in her community. As an early settler and a progressive citizen of today, Mr. Stillman has shared alike the hardships and successes of Minneapolis. In his beautiful country home near Robbins- dale, now an attractive and desirable suburb, he recalls the days when the menace of Indian uprisings forced him to take his family to the shelter of the city. He was actively iden- tified with public affairs for a number of years as Township supervisor and justice of peace and served as a member of the school board for a period of twenty-one years.

DANIEL GEORGE SHILLOCK.

Daniel George Shillock, late member of the Minneapolis bar and eminent citizen, was a native of Prussia, born near Tilsit, Lithuania. He was educated in the University of Königsberg, and as a student became deeply interested in the writings of American authors and through them in their country. He was married in Königsberg at the age of thirty to a talented young musician and soon after this the young couple decided to visit America that they might meet Emer- son, Theodore Parker, Dr. Howe and other advanced thinkers of this country, who had won their admiration through their writings. Mr. Shillock was the heir to the extensive estates of his family in Lithuania and sold his property to his brothers and with his wife departed for the United States. On their voyage they experienced shipwreck and were landed in New- foundland. Arriving in this country, Mrs. Shillock spent a year at the home of Dr. Howe and Julia Ward Howe in Boston where she enjoyed the acquaintance and companionship of the

greatest minds of the period. During this time Mr. Shillock visited Texas and joined a German colony at Brownville but suffering ill health he returned north and spent some time in Springfield, Massachusetts, where his wife employed her musi- cal talent, giving concerts and instruction. It was at this time that he decided to enter the profession of law and took his studies at St. Louis, Missouri. After completing his profes- sional training he began his first practice at LaCrosse, Wis- consin, making this choice of location through the influence of friends in the old country. Later he joined a colony of German Turners at New Ulm, Minnesota, where he remained a number of years meeting with success and popularity in spite of the fact that he was at first requested to leave as the members of the settlement desired neither lawyers or ministers in their midst. In company with Mr. Rudolph he organized a bank and after a time was sent to the state legis- lature by his fellow citizens. He took a prominent part in the military life of the new country and endured the hardships of the Indian hostilities. During one of their outbreaks, his home which stood on the outskirts of the town was used by the red men as a barricade, and while escorting a party of settlers to Mankato, as lieutenant of the New Ulm com- pany, he received a wound which disabled him for a number of years. In 1865 he came to Minneapolis where for the re- maining years of his active career he was a leading attorney and most honored citizen. For a time he maintained a part- nership with Mr. Anton Grethen, but thereafter devoted his attention to his own private practice which was extensive and winning particular renown as a real estate lawyer. He was employed by the Sioux tribe to secure a settlement of their claims at Washington and through his services in their behalf earned their gratitude and esteem. At one time they journeyed to Minneapolis, covering his yard with their tepees, that they might express their thanks and friendship to their "good father" as they called him. Mr. Shillock was finally compelled to retire from professional activities through the loss of his hearing some three or four years before his leath which occurred August 7, 1878. He was a Democrat and as a lawyer. and citizen was held in the highest regard by all with whom he came in contact, for ability, integrity and efficient service in every activity of lfe. He gave most care- ful personal attention to the education of his children, making his home on the east side that they might have all the advantages of the university life and providing his daughters with a governess. Mrs. Shillock survived her husband a num- ber of years and died in 1910, aged eighty-five years. Through- out her life she had steadily developed and used her musical genius and continued her literary pursuits, taking a prominent part in the concerts given in the old Academy of Music and organizing two literary clubs, one of them a German club. She divided her interest between German, French and English literature, but in the latter years would give her attention only to modern thought and writings, keeping her mind open to the liberal and broad ideas of the day and possessing a remarkable mental vitality until her death. She was a mem- ber of the Unitarian church. Three children survive, Mary, who is the Countess Serenyi of Stuttgart, Germany; Lieuten- ant Colonel Paul Shillock of the United States Army, retired medical corps; and Anna, instructor of German in the East High School of Minneapolis. Lieutenant Colonel Shillock entered the army in 1888 and saw valiant service during the war with Spain and also served on the medical staff in the

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Philippines. Miss Anna Shillock is well known through the many years of her capable service on the teaching force of the East High School where she has had charge of the depart- ment of German language since 1889. She graduated from the state university in 1888 and thereafter attended the Uni- versities of Heidelberg and Berlin and in 1898 received the master's degree from the University of Minnesota. Miss Shillock is a member of the German club and the College Woman's elub.

PETER J. SCHEID.

Peter J. Seheid, a prominent and successful builder and contractor, was born in St. Anthony February 7, 1859, and is a son of Peter and Katharine (Spiegler) Scheid, who were born in Germany, married in Loekport, New York, and eame to St. Anthony in 1856. The father was a millwright and helped to build the early mills working at his trade until 1867, when he located on a farm in Golden Valley, near Minneapolis, the village of Golden Valley standing partially on what was his farm.

He continued to work as a millwright, in connection with his farming operations until his death at Golden Valley April 12, 1902, at the age of sixty-nine years, having survived his wife, who died in 1893. He was a Democrat and served some years as village treasurer. During the Civil war he worked for the Government as a earpenter; but, frequently, was pressed into service in the field. He and his wife belonged to the Catholic ehureh. They had five ehildren. Katharine is now the wife of S. D. Nettleton, of Minneapolis. John, who was a market gardener, and served ten or twelve years as president of Golden Valley, died in 1907. Peter J. is the third child in the order of birth. Matthias is a grocer in Minneapolis, and Joseph is a farmer at Golden Valley, owning and cultivating the old family homestead. He also has served as president of the village and in various other local offices.

Peter J. Scheid remained at home until the age of nineteen. He learned the trade of carpenter, working in Minneapolis for six years, most of the time as a contractor in the erection of buildings. He then opened a grocery store at 1400 Seeond street north, which he conducted for twelve years. Since retiring from mercantile life he has been engaged principally in buying and improving property by the construction of several dwelling houses. He has been very successful in this line of endeavor, and has thereby aided extensively and sub- stantially in expanding and building up the city.

In political affairs Mr. Scheid leans strongly to the principles and policies of the Democratie party, but, in loeal eleetions he is independent, considering only the abiding welfare of his community. He takes a cordial interest in general business affairs and is a director of the German-American Bank. At the age of twenty-four he was married in Minneapolis to Miss Margaret Hoffman, daughter of Henry Hoffman, formerly a grocer and earpenter and builder in this city, locating here among the early arrivals. His wife was formerly Miss Kath- arine Bofferding.

In the deer hunting seasons of the last twenty-five years Mr. Scheid has made hunting trips into the Northern part of the state, principally to Aitkin and Itasca counties. From these exeursions he has brought home many trophies, a number of which have been mounted. His trips are made in the

company of a number of congenial companions, the regulars of the party being, besides himself, N. Brown, Henry Keller, Joseph Dupont, Thomas Eastman, John Scheid, S. D. Nelder and Fred Keller. A photograph taken in 1903 shows this group standing near twenty-four deer suspended on one long pole. While this is a very creditable representation of the party's prowess, it is not far in excess of what these gentlemen usually achieve when they go forth into the wilds.

WALTER H. THORP.

Walter H. Thorp, president of the Thorp Fire Proof Door company, was born at Three Rivers, Michigan, July 19, 1874, the son of Darius D. and Helen A. Thorp. He spent his boy- hood in Detroit, attended the city schools and for a time wa's secretary to the manager of the Detroit water works board. He graduated from the University of Michigan, with the class of 1896. In July following he came to Minneapolis and beeame identified with the Fire Proof Door company, and applied himself to the mastering of all the details of the business from the mechanical department to the office man- agement. In 1900 he bought the industry, which then became the Thorp Fire Proof Door 'company and which has developed into one of the leading manufacturing enterprises of Minne- apolis, with a large market throughout this country and Canada. The plant was removed in 1907 from Fourth street to its present loeation at 1600-1618 Central avenue where it oecupies a large factory equipped with modern machinery and employs 150 skilled workmen in the construction of a door designed to complete the eflieiency of the fire proof partitions used in modern structures. As pioneers in this field the com- pany has met with marked success and a rapidly increasing demand. They have agents in most of the larger cities: and, among the well known buildings in which they have installed the doors are: Macey's in New York, Wanamaker's, Phila- delphia; the Baltimore & Ohio Building, Baltimore; the Lowry building, St. Paul; and the Plymouth building and Raddison hotel in Minneapolis. Aside from his prominent relation to this industry, Mr. Thorp is president of the Minneapolis Knit- ting Works. He was viee president of the Civie and Commerce Association. He holds membership in a number of the leading social organizations of the eity including the Auto, the Rotary, the University, the Commercial and the New Boston Commer- cial clubs and the Builders Exchange. Mr. Thorp was married in 1904 to Mrs. Vivian Stanley Rodgers. Their only child is Helen Stanley Thorp.

JOSEPH F. LEE.

Attaining to the patriarchal age of ninety-four years and eight days, the late Joseph F. Lee was one of the sterling and honored pioneers of Minnesota and for more than half a eentury he maintained his home in Minneapolis, where his death oceurred on the 3d of March, 1910. He did well his part in connection with the development of the fine city that was his home for so many years and through his judicious investments in local realty he became possessed of a fortune of about one-half million dollars.

J. F . LEE .

525

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Mr. Lee was born in Detford, England, on the 23d of Feb- ruary, 1816, and was reared and educated in his native land, where he learned the trade of boot and shoe maker and where, in 1843, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Parslow, who survives him and who is venerable in years. In 1857 Mr. Lee left his native land and came to America and he became sufficiently impressed with its ad- vantages to return to England for his wife and children, who soon afterward accompanied him on his second voyage to America. He resided for a time on Long Island, New York, and about the year 1859 he came with his family to Minne- sota and numbered himself among the pioneers of Minne- apolis. He settled at St. Anthony before that section of the present North side of Minneapolis had been in the least de- veloped, and during the long intervening period of more than half a century he continued to reside in Minneapolis. For a long time he conducted a boot and shoe shop on Bridge Square, and he found ample demand upon his expert services in the manufacturing of boots and shoes for all classes of citizens. He gained special reputation in making the old- time copper-toed and red-topped boots that were the pride of the boys of the time. An interesting diary which he kept in the early days gives information concerning the leading Minneapolis citizens of fifty years ago and also mentions many youngsters whom he knew in the early days and who attained to positions of prominence in the community.

At an early period of his residence in Minneapolis Mr. Lee began to make well ordered investments in local real estate, especially land adjacent to the railway lines. This property, much of which eventually became demanded for railroad pur- poses, greatly increased in value with the passing years, and through the medium of such investments Mr. Lee realized a substantial competency. With his cherished and devoted wife he passed the closing period of his life in the modest but attractive house which was their place of abode for more than a quarter of a century, this homestead, in which they reared their children, having been situated at 227 Seventh avenue north. Mr. Lee was a Democrat in politics and was a consistent communicant of the Church of England, as is also his venerable widow, the latter being held in affectionate regard by all who have come within the sphere of her gentle influence. Mrs. Lee is ninety-one years of age at the time of this writing, in 1914. Of the eight children two died before attaining adult age, and concerning the others brief record is consistently given in the following paragraph:

Annie E. is the wife of Edwin E. Nourse, of Minneapolis. who is here actively identified with the lumber business, and they have four children,-Edwin E., Jr., Viola May, Maude E., and Leon F. Hannah P. is the wife of Peter Schuck, a representative business man of Minneapolis, and their children are: Lillian, Carrie, Myrtle, Viola and Lee, the eldest daughter, Lillian, being now the wife of Harry Johnson. Georgia P. is the wife of Charles Kleopfert, of Minneapolis, and they have four children,-Carrie, Ruth and Grace Esther. Albert Lee, the next in order of birth, be- came a suecessful and popular business man of Minneapolis, where he was engaged in the retail cigar and tobacco trade at the time of his death, which occurred on the 23d of August, 1912, the date of his birth having been November 17, 1871. On the 10th of November, 1910, Albert Lee wedded Miss Della Schmidt, of Winona, this state, and she survives him, no children having been born of this union. Sarah became the wife of Charles M. Hazelton and her death oc-

curred September 28, 1905, her children being Jennie, Chester A. and Earl E. Frank J. Lee died in 1907 and is survived by one daughter, Myrtle.

GARRETT J. SOMSEN.

The late Garrett J. Somsen, who died in Minneapolis, October 3, 1912, had been a resident of Minnesota for many years and of the city for twenty-three. He was successful in business, wide awake and progressive in advancing the progress and improvement of his home city, elevated in his citizenship, and devoted to American institutions, although not a native American, having come to Minnesota with his parents from Holland as a lad of nine years.

He grew to manhood on a farm near New Ulm, Minn., and acquired his education in the common school. He operated as a horse dealer for a time, then went to Lime Spring, Iowa, where he was engaged in merchandising until 1890, when he came to Minneapolis to give his sons better educational facilities. He became a produce dealer, especially in butter and eggs, continuing as such for a number of years. The latter part of his life was devoted largely to buying and selling land, and by general sound judgment and good manage- ment he accumulated a handsome estate.

For some years after leaving Lime Spring, Mr. Somsen retained the ownership of his stores there, and also acquired two farms in Minesota and large acreage in the Dakotas, Canada, and the Panhandle of Texas. He kept the greater part of his own land until a short time before his death, when he sold a considerable quantity, as well as the Iowa property, retaining, however, his Minnesota and North Dakota farms.

Mr. Somsen was married to Miss Emma Cullen, and they had two sons, Henry and Stephen. Both were graduated from the law department of the University of Minnesota, and Henry began practicing in the office of John Lind, in New Ulm. Mr. Lind was an old friend of the family, and when he was elected Governor turned much of his practice over to young Mr. Somsen, who is now city attorney.

Stephen Somsen is in the firm of Brown, Abbott & Somsen, in Winona. He is a capable and energetic lawyer; his services are particularly valuable in the management of outside busi- ness, and he is often sent to the Eastern cities and even to Europe, to attend to important legal matters.

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Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 133

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