Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 140

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 140

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In February, 1910, Professor Woods was appointed Dean and Director of Agriculture and Forestry and of the experi- ment stations in the University of Minnesota, and since that time the people of this state have had the benefit of his use- ful and stimulating acquisitions and faithful work in a very important department of their educational and productive industries. The University of Nebraska recently conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Agriculture D. Agr. While living in Washington, D. C., he was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Geneaut Davis, who is also a writer of re- nown. They have two children.

RALPH DAY WEBB.

Having been engaged in business on his own account as public accountant and auditor during the last nine years, Ralph Day Webb, now a member of the firm of Temple, Webb & Company, certified public accountants, has had a good op- portunity to realize the promise of his earlier career and demonstrate that he is a man of exceptional business ability and comprehensiveness of grasp, full of enterprise and re- sourcefulness, and strict in his integrity in all his dealings. Prior to forming his partnership with H. M. Temple, which was started on October 1, 1909, Mr. Webb had built up an extensive business of his own, and made himself a business force of influence and potency in the community, whose value was recognized by all classes of the people.

Mr. Webb is a native of Lenawee county, Michigan, where his life began on August 28, 1862, on a farm about four miles from the city ot Adrian. His father, James Knapp Webb, owned and cultivated this farm, and on it the son passed the early part of his life. He obtained the customary grammar and preparatory school education of the locality, and then continued his mental training at the Raisin Valley Seminary. This institution he entered in 1876 and from it he was gradu- ated in 1880.

Having no inclination for a professional life Mr. Webb did not take up college work, but started at once to build up a commercial career, and in carrying out his purpose he has been connected with several different business enterprises. For about two years and a half he was associated with the retail hardware trade, and then turned his attention to the

packing and retailing of meats as an employe of a large es- tablishment, with which he was connected about ten years, or until 1897.

In the year last mentioned Mr. Webb accepted an offer from the Minnesota Loan and Trust company of Minneapolis, and during the next four years he was connected with the mortgage department of that institution. In 1901 he re- signed to take a position with the John Leslie Paper company as credit manager. This position he filled with great credit to himself and benefit for the company for about four years and a half. He then severed his connection with the Leslie company in 1905 in order to be free to open an office as a public accountant and auditor. He was engaged in this business alone with steadily increasing success and constantly expanding business until October 1, 1909, when he formed a partnership with H. M. Temple under the firm name and style of Temple, Webb & Company, certified public accountants, with which he has ever since been actively connected. The firm has offices in the Lumber Exchange, Minneapolis, and the Germania Life Building, St. Paul.

Mr. Webb takes an active and serviceable interest in all the business enterprises which are carried on for the good of his home city. He is a member of the Minneapolis Club, the Minneapolis Athletic club, the Rotary club and the Inter- lachen Country club. He is also a zealous factor in the fra- ternal life of the city as a Freemason of high degree and an ardent worker for the good of the fraternity. He belongs to Hennepin Lodge No. 4, A. F. & A. M., and in 1898 served as its Worshipful Master. He is also a member of St. John's Chapter No. 9, Royal Arch Masons; Minneapolis Council No. 2, Royal and Select Masons; Zion Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar, and Minneapolis Consistory No. 2, Ancient and Ac- cepted Scottish Rite Masons. From 1901 to 1904 he was Master of St. Vincent de Paul Chapter, Rose Croix, No. 2, of Scottish Rite Bodies. He was married on June 17, 1903, to Miss Lyla B. Baker.

SAMUEL WHITE.

Samuel White was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, June 3, 1850. He was graduated in 1870 from the Oshkosh State Normal School, a member of the first class which was grad- uated from the institution. He then taught for eight years in Iowa, and during the next fourteen was variously employed. In 1892 he came to Minneapolis, and since then he has been actively engaged in dealing in real estate.

On December 3, 1874, Mr. White was joined in -wedlock with Miss Margaret Thompson, a native of Yorkshire, Eng- land, reared from childhood in Grant county, Wisconsin, and also a graduate of the State Normal School. She also taught in Iowa for a number of years, having among her pupils sev- eral persons who have since become distinguished, including John R. Mott, head of the International Organization of the Young Men's Christian Association and originator of the Student Volunteer' movement, and the Stacy' brothers, the commission men of Minneapolis.

Mr. White was an effective minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having spent twenty years in the ministry as a member of the Upper Iowa, and Minnesota Conference. He was stationed at Brainerd for three years and while there built two churches, one at Brainerd proper and the other at

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

East Brainerd, also a Parsonage. At Alexandria while there built a church and parsonage. At St. Paul Park where he served at two different times he built a large church. At each of these places Rev. White was very successful in evangelistic services where many were converted and joined the church. He also assisted many pastors in revival services in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Mr. and Mrs. White have one son, F. D. White, D. D. S., whose office is in the Masonic Temple. He was graduated from the University of Minnesota in the class of 1906, was married to Miss Leonora Schnell, a graduate in the class of 1907, who was for a time teacher of German in the high school at Sleepy Eye.

Mr. and Mrs. White are active members of tbe Hennepin Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, she being particularly zealous in the missionary work and other activities of the Ladies' Society. Both are interested in the enduring welfare of the community and earnest in efforts to promote it, men- tally, morally, socially and materially.

FREDERICK JOHN WULLING.

The name of Frederick John Wulling will always be in- separably linked with that of the College of Pharmacy in the University of Minnesota, for it was be wbo organized the college as a distinctive department in 1892, and from the beginning of the department was its dean. Before he was called by the Board of Regents of the University to that institution, Mr. Wulling was already widely known as an autbority in his subjects, and was recognized as one of the foremost men of his profession as a student and a devotee of research work. He had added immeasurably to that reputa- tion since his connection with the University and has brought honor to bis college.

Frederick J. Wulling is a native of Brooklyn, New York, wbere he was born in 1866. His father was an architect by profession. Wben he was four years old his father's family took up their permanent residence in what bad been their summer home in Carlstadt, New Jersey, a suburb of the American metropolis, and tbere the son obtained his schooling in the grades and the high school, and business train- ing in New York City during last year at high school and succeeding year. The young man's ambition pointed bis way to college work and to a professional education. In 1884 he accepted a position with college privileges with Dr. C. W. Braeutigam, taking up the study of medicine, giving part of his time also to translations from German, French, Spanish and Italian technical journals. Shortly he showed great pro- ficiency in pharmacy, to which he subsequently gave most of his attention, and to such end that be bad passed the senior examinations in pharmacy and its allied branches before the examining boards of New York and Brooklyn and of New Jersey when he was graduated from the New York College of Pharmacy in 1887. His leadership is indicated by the fact that he won by competitive examination a senior scholar- ship and that he was graduated at the head of his class, re- ceiving the gold medal and an analytical balance for suprem- acy and also one hundred dollars in gold for high scholar- ship. Meanwhile be had been attending lectures at tbe Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. In addition to his scholarship honors tbe young student was

also for the last year of his course in the College of Pharmacy a lecture assistant to Professor Bedford, then rated the bigh- est authority in the pharmacist's profession. In 1887 be was elected to a full instructorship, and the course of his life was definitely laid out. In 1890 be was made assistant professor of pharmacy in the college from which he had been graduated, and the next year he was made professor of inorganic pharmaco-diagnosis in the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy, and be remained in this position until he was called to tbe deansbip of tbe College of Pharmacy which he was to establish in the University of Minnesota. This was in 1892.

Meanwhile Dean Wulling had already been becoming known in the universities of the Old World. Immediately after his graduation in 1887 be had made a tour of Europe, visiting the principal seats of learning on the continent, among them, Munich, Berlin, Goettingen and Paris. Then he returned to America and took up further post-graduate work in the Hoag- land Laboratory of Bacteriology. Two years later, in 1889, he went again to Europe on a study and observation trip studying especially the methods of teaching chemistry in the leading German universities.

Upon coming to the University of Minnesota, Dean Wulling took up further study in that institution, and during the next five years received the degrees of Phm. D., LL. B. and LL. M. This is in addition to the degrees of Ph. G. and Ph. C. He is well known abroad as well as at home, baving again made tours of European university cities and rescarch centers, notably those of Scotland, England, France, Belgium, Ger- many and Austria in 1893, 1896 and 1911. He has been and is now a frequent contributor to scientific journals, and has publisbed a great number of papers and essays as well as several large works, which include his "Evolution of Botany," bis "Medical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry," his "Experi- ments for Beginners," bis "Chemistry of the Carbon Com- pounds," and other technical works of bis profession, with a "Course of Law for Pharmacists."

Dean Wulling is a member of a number of scientific socie- ties, in which he is known as a prosecutor of much original research work. He has been president of the Northwestern Branch of the American Pharmaceutical Association; be is chairman of the Scientific Section of the Minnesota State Pharmaceutical Association since 1904; he has been an execu- tive officer of the American Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties, and in addition has taken an active part in the work of the executive officers of the University of Minnesota; Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Sci- ence; member of the American Chemical Society, of the Cbemists' Club of New York City, of the American Pharma- ceutical Association, of the American Conference of Phar- maceutical Faculties, etc., vice president of the Minnesota Academy of Sciences since 1909.

In 1897 Dean Wulling married Miss Lucile Truth Gissel of Brooklyn, New York. A son, Emerson G., was born in 1903.

JAMES FRANKLIN WILLIAMSON.

Senior member of the firm of Williamson and Mercbant, patent attorneys, was born at Osborn, near Dayton, Ohio, January 9, 1853, being the son of George C. and Sarah A. Williamson, of Scotch-Irish and German ancestry, respec-

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

tively. His grandfather, James W. Williamson, was one of the pioneer settlers (1803) of the Miami Valley, Ohio. Mr. James F. Williamson has had the advantage of a com- mon school and liberal education. He entered Princeton Uni- versity in 1873 and graduated with the class of 1877. re- eeiving tlic degree of A. B. Having been elected to the Fellow- ship of Social Science in 1877, he continued his studies at Princeton University for two years, giving especial attention to Jurisprudence, Civil Government, Political Economy, and Philosophy; and, in 1879, received the further degree of Ph. D., on examination, for post-graduate work.

He began the study of law at Cincinnati in the office of Mr. George Hoadley, later Governor of Ohio; and, in 1881, he removed to Minneapolis, there continuing his studies in the law office of Lochren, McNair & Gilfillan, and was admitted to the Bar of Minnesota in December of that year.

After a competitive examination, he was appointed, late in 1881, a member of the Examining Corps of the United States Patent Office, and continued in that position for several years. In 1885, he resigned from government service and opened his office in Minneapolis, Minnesota, making a spe- cialty of Patent and Trade-mark Law. He was successful from the start and has long had a well-established reputation as a practitioner before the United States Courts and the Patent Office in these technical, difficult and exacting branches of the law.

In 1900, Mr. Frank D. Merchant, a former student in Mr. Williamson's office, was taken into partnership, and the said firm is now widely and favorably known.

Mr. Williamson belongs to the Minneapolis Club, the Civic & Commerce Association, and to the University Clubs of Min- neapolis, Chicago and New York.

On June 9, 1896, he married Miss Emma F. Elmore, and their two sons are George Franklin and Ralph Elmorc.

Mr. Williamson was an early and active supporter of Woodrow Wilson for President of the United States. To this end, he became Vice President of the Woodrow Wilson Club of Minneapolis and was Acting President most of the time. He helped to carry the City of Minneapolis and County of Hennepin for Wilson to the State Convention; became one of the two delegates from Hennepin County to the Baltimore Convention, doing effective work, was Minnesota's representa- tive on the Notification Committee, and was active in the final eampaign for the nomince.

RALPH W. WHEELOCK.

It was by virtue of long experience in administrative and executive affairs that Governor Eberhart selected Ralph W. Wheelock to be a member of the Minnesota State Board of Control, the body which is responsible for the conduct of nearly every public institution, outside of the University and normal schools, under direct state control. Governor Eberhart had come to know Mr. Wheelock intimately while he was his private secretary, thus being convinced of the wisdom of placing lim in his present responsible position.

Mr. Wheelock was born in Oberlin, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1860. Naturally his early schooling was like that of most boys, but in his 'teens he entered another school, which provided a broader learning. He obtained much of his education in a printing office, and in his youth became a reporter first

in his native town, and later on daily papers in Cleveland. When he was twenty-two he followed "the course of empire" and established "The Daily Republican," in Mitchell, South Dakota, where in twelve years he built up the business from almost nothing to the requirements of a $20,000 plant. Going to Mitchell in that early day, 1882, he won friends and was a "live wire," and as there were many other live ones in the new country, it is a tribute to his ability that he stood among the foremost.

He was assistant Secretary of Dakota territory, and was secretary of the commission which removed the territorial eapital from Yankton to Bismarck in 1883. He was a Re- publican leader from the start, for he was experienced as a political reporter in the Garfield campaign in Ohio in 1880, being stationed at Mentor as correspondent for the Cleve- land Leader. He had thus close friendships with Garfield and other important men and it was natural that he should be at the front in Dakota. From 1889 to 1893 he was receiver of the United States land office at Mitchell.

In 1894 he sold his holdings in South Dakota, and came to Minneapolis to reenter the larger field of journalism. For ten years he was on the editorial staff of the Tribune writing special articles, covering big political events, and presenting over his own signature his views of current affairs. In 1905 he became secretary to Mayor David P. Jones, continuing as such for two years. He then established an advertising agency with offices in the Twin Cities, a business which occu- pied him for two years more. On the death of Governor John A. Johnson, in 1909, and Lieutenant Governor A. O. Eber- hart's suceession he was chosen by the new governor as his private secretary. It was from close association with Mr. Wheelock for four years that the governor concluded that he was admirably suited to the duties and responsibilities of membership on the State Board of Control, appointing him to a six-year term.

In October, 1886, Mr. Wheelock married Miss Lillian G. Steele of Bismarek, N. D. They have two daughters, Adelaide and Hazel, both of whom are well known in art circles as well as in the social life of Minneapolis. They affiliate with St. Mark's Episcopal churelı.

F. L. WILLIAMS.

F. L. Williams, president of the Central State bank of Minneapolis, is a native of Pennsylvania. In 1884 he went to North Dakota, locating in Cass eounty where he engaged in farming and real estate, meeting with eminent success in both these ventures. He devoted his land to the production of grain and stock raising, applying the same methods which have won him success in financial lines, initiative, capable and judicious management. He was not content alone with the natural productiveness of the land. but earefully nursed its fertility and the farm steadily increased in value and profit. Since his retirement from active farming, he has leased his property to thrifty tenants, but still retaining his interest in North Dakota real estate. Hc eame to Minne- apolis in 1901 and began his eareer as a banker which has been largely identified with growth and prosperity of the Cen- tral State bank. This bank was organized in 1905 with Mr. Williams as president and to it he has since continued to give his services. The Central State bank has a capital of

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

$25,000 and has greatly exceeded the expectations of its promoters in its success and rapid development. The entire stock of the corporation is owned by residents of northeast Minneapolis where the bank is located at 2401 Central avenue, Mr. Williams holding a controlling interest. Aside from his connection with this institution Mr. Williams has extensive financial interests in North Dakota banks.

PHILIP B. WINSTON.

Mr. Winston was born in Hanover county, in the Old Dominion, on Aug. 7, 1845, and died in Minneapolis on July 1, 1901. He was a son of William Overton and Sarah Anna (Gregory) Winston, who were also natives of Virginia and descendants of early colonists who came to this country in the seventeenth century. The father was a planter of prom- inence and the family was in easy circumstances. But all its members were imbued with lofty patriotism and intense in their devotion to their native state. It was inevitable, there- fore, that when the Civil war began they should sympathize with the Southern side of the great sectional controversy, and that all of the male representatives of the house who were able should take an active part in the momentous con- flict.

Philip B. Winston was one of the most gallant and manly of the number, and at the age of 16 he cheerfully and eagerly turned his back on fine educational opportunities and all the inducements of a promising business career, and even the blandishments of social life, to espouse the cause of Virginia in the war. At that age he enlisted in the 5th Virginia Cavalry as a private and at the close of the war was First Lieutenant on General Rosser's staff, his brother-in-law.

Through it all Mr. Winston bore no childish or youthful but a soldier's part. Soon after his enlistment as a private he was promoted lieutenant for gallantry in the field, and en- gagements in which he afterward participated included the deluge of death at Gettysburg, where he faced men who in later years became in Minnesota his most ardent supporters in politics and his warmest personal friends.

Mr. Winston went back to the old homestead and engaged in farming until 1872, when he came West. Taking up his residence in Minneapolis, in association with his brothers, Fendall G. and William O. Winston, he organized the con- tracting firm of . Winston Bros.

This firm had as its first large contract the building of one thousand miles of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and it afterward built many thousands of miles of the same kind of thoroughfares, extending its operations over all parts of the country. Mr. Winston gave every department of the firm's enormous business his personal attention.

From the beginning of his residence in Minneapolis Mr. Winston always took an earnest interest and a helpful part in local public affairs, as he did from his youth in national politics. He never shirked or neglected any duty of citizen- ship, seeing in the principles and theories of the Demo- cratic party the promise and fulfillment of the highest and most enduring good to the masses of the American people. But he did not enter politics as a candidate for office until 1888, when he was the nominee of his party for mayor of Minneapolis. He was defeated at the ensuing election, but two years later (1890) he was renominated and won the posi- tion by more than six thousand majority.

At the close of his term, which was one of unusual ad- vantage to the city because of the intelligence he brought to the administration of the office and the firmness and system with which he conducted it, Mr. Winston declined a second term, although earnestly urged to accept it. He was, however, elected to the state house of representatives, and during the period of his service in that body he took a very active part in its proceedings. Two measures of special importance which he championed and secured the enactment of were a general election law and one providing for free text books for the school children of Minneapolis. When Mr. Winston retired from the legislature he withdrew from active participation in politics as a candidate altogether.

Mr. Winston was married in 1876 to Miss Katharine D. Stevens, a daughter of Colonel John H. Stevens, the first settler in Minneapolis. Two children were born of the union, both of whom are living, as is also their mother. The chil- dren are: Philip Bickerton, who married Katharine Stewart, daughter of Dr. Chas. Wheaton of St. Paul, and Nelle Pendle- ton, who is now the wife of Charles S. Pillsbury, of Minne- apolis, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.

FRANK J. WILLSON.

Mr. Willson was born in the village of Concord, Erie county, New York, on August 20, 1847. He is a son of George W. and Marietta (Yan) Willson, who brought their family to Hennepin county, Minnesota in the spring of 1859, but soon afterward changed their residence to Clearwater, Wright county, where they remained one summer, returning to Min- neapolis in the fall. In the spring of 1860 the father rented a farm near Glencoe, in McLeod county, and the family lived on that until the Indian uprising of 1862.

On August 19, that year, while all hands were engaged in stacking grain in the field, they received notice of the ap- proach of the infuriated savages, and leaving seven cattle in the pasture, they all immediately started for Glencoe, which was two miles distant. When they reached Glencoe they learned that nearly all the families living in that place had left and were on their way to Carver, thirty miles further. The Willsons traveled all night and arrived at Carver early in the morning of August 20, the fifteenth anniversary of Frank's birth. The Indians killed all the members of a family seven miles from the Willson farm on that day, and some were seen near Glencoe, but no attack was made on that village.

A little while afterward the father returned to the farm and saved a small part of his crops, but the family came on to Hennepin county and never returned to Glencoe. The father rented land in this county and the sons worked out to aid in supporting themselves and the rest of the house- hold. The father died in Hennepin county in the spring of 1868. The mother is still living and has her home with her son Frank. She was 87 on December 22, 1913.

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Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 140

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