Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 63

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 63

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He became connected with the United Commercial Travelers' Association, always taking an earnest and active part in its proceedings. While in North Dakota on one of his early trips he took up a homestead at Eldridge, near Jamestown, and also secured a timber claim.

A friend in Washington sent him new varieties of seed for his tenant to test. He introduced alfalfa into North Dakota, and he became an enthusiastic advocate of this valuable forage as a staple crop for North Dakota. His articles in the Breeders' Gazette and other publications, setting forth the food and crop value of this product, attracted wide attention to it and aided greatly in extending its use in the Northwest. So deeply did he impress the public mind on the subject that he was often referred to as the "Alfalfa King." He also proved by tests the value of several other forage crops and small fruits to North Dakota.

He was reared a Christian and throughout life was a con- sistent and sincere exemplar of that worthy character, holding membership for many years in Pilgrim Congregational church of Minneapolis. He joined the "Gideons," the traveling men's Christian organization and distributed Bibles under its aus- pices all over the Northwest, particularly in Northern Michi- gan. His evenings were devoted to visiting pastors in the interest of Christian work, and in the service of the Volun- teers of America. He was an excellent singer and speaker, and frequently used his talents in these lines in churches and meetings of the Volunteers.

Mr. Clark died in the harness while attending a meeting of the State Horticultural Society held in the Minneapolis courthouse. He made an impassioned speech, seconding the nomination of one of the members for president of the soeicty, dying immediately after resuming his seat.

June 12, 1887, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Petter, who was born at Golden Valley, Hennepin County, a daughter of William and Catherine Petter, natives of Germany, who came to Minnesota in 1853. They lived two years in St. Paul, ten at Golden Valley, and the rest of their lives in Minneapolis. As a child Mrs. Clark gathered hazel- nuts over the locality in which she now lives, at 1513 Bryant Avenue North. She and her husband were the parents of two ehildren, who are both still with her. They are Harriet O. Clark, a graduate of the State University and a teacher of German in Sisseton, S. D. High School, and Clarence F. Clark, a elerk in the office of the Washburn-Crosby company.

VICTOR CORDELLA.

Vietor Cordella, son of the Polish sculptor Marian Cordella chose another line for his creative ability than that of his father when he became an arehitect. His mother, Florence Cordella, was also gifted along artistic lines but it was their ambition that their son should be first of all well educated along academie lines before he took up any work calculated to develop his artistie ability. Victor was born at Krakow, in Austrian Poland on January 1, 1872. He was sent to the graded schools of Austria and received his preparatory educa- tion in the High School. After that he entered the Royal Art Academy of Krakow. After finishing there he became a student of technology under the direction of Professor Michael Kowalozuk at Lemberg.

When he came to America he came first to St. Paul and began his architectual training in the office of Cass Gilbert. This was eighteen years ago. After being associated with Mr. Gilbert for some time he won experience and ripened his art in the offiees of a number of other architects among them, W. H. Dennis, W. B. Dunnell and Charles R. Aldrich.

Mr. Cordella is at present of the architectural firm of Boehme and Cordella. This association began about ten years ago and has been very successful in building up a good business in the local field. He has a large business acquaintance and is of social and democratie tastes. He was married eleven years ago, September 15, 1902, to Miss Ruth Maser of Canton, Ohio.

CAPTAIN JOHN MARTIN.

Among the founders and makers of Minneapolis Captain John Martin must ever stand in heroic proportions, a type of the men of his day and locality, an embodiment of all their aspirations, capacities, natural traits and force of character. Yet his origin was humble and his early life uneventful. He sprang from the ranks of the plain and sturdy people of New England and passed his boyhood and early youth in obscurity and toil. But throughout his life he exemplified everywhere and in every situation the sterling virtues of his elass, its resourcefulness in conception and action, its strong self-reli- ance, and the unyielding fiber of its manhood.

Captain John Martin was born at Peacham, Caledonia county, Vermont, on August 18, 1820. His parents were Eliphalet and Martha (Hoit) or (Hoyt) Martin, descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers of Massachusetts, whose early lives were passed in Woodbury, Connecticut, whence they moved to Vermont not long after their marriage. They were farmers and well-to-do for their day and loeality, and John was one of eight children. His early life differed little from that of the sons of other New England farmers, who wring a scanty living from their rugged and not overproductive land. He at- tended the distriet school in the winter months and worked on the farm in the summer, performing his tasks faithfully and with all the skill he could command, and true to his duty in every respeet.

But he had that within him that gave him intimations of the great world beyond his limited horizon and filled him with longings to see it and be a part of it. He felt that he had faculties and capabilities for which he found no scope at home, and at the age of nineteen determined to find a field for their

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

employment. At that age he accepted a position as fireman on one of the boats plying the Connecticut river, then the leading avenue or highway of internal commerce in that part of the country, having first bought the rest of his time as a minor of his father.

After five years of good and faithful service on the steam- boat on which he began the battle of life for himself, during which he rose to the position of captain, his boat was sold South and he was engaged to go with her. During the next five years he served as captain of the Wayne and the Johnson and navigated the Neuse river in North Carolina, conveying tar, turpentine and resin down to the sea and carrying back cargoes of varied merchandise. His wages were small, but he was frugal and saved them. He was also wise and invested his savings in farm lands among his native hills, which he looked upon as his permanent home.

At the end of the period mentioned he returned to Peacham and was married. Just then California broke the silence of the Far West with the inspiring melody of her golden music, and the captain's love of adventure and laudable ambition for a more rapid advance in his fortunes, led him to leave his young bride and join the hosts of argonauts that was hasten- ing to the newly discovered gold fields. He made the trip by the Isthmus route, and passed a year in the new eldorado, owning and working a placer mine on the American river, cleaning up a goodly sum of the precious metal and then sell- ing his mine and returning to his Vermont home with his accumulations, intending to remain there.

But the place had lost its charms for him. Its rocks and hills no longer held him with their one-time fascination. After his thrilling life of years on the deck and in the mining camp, every hour of which was replete with stir and excitement, existence in the remote and quiet hills of Vermont was in- tolerable to him, and his restless energy rebelled against it. He endured it with what patience he could for two years, then broke away from it in an exploration of what was then to all the Atlantic slope the far away West.

In this excursion from the dullness of his native region he visited Illinois and Iowa, and saw great rafts of logs floating down the Mississippi with the current.

Captain Martin's eye at once took in the possibilities of the lumber business in this region. He at once returned to Ver- mont and sold all his possessions in that state. Then, in 1855. he moved to the village of St. Anthony, in which and Minneapolis, as the town became by its later baptism, he passed the remainder of his active and serviceable life, grow- ing in business activity and popular favor with the growth of the community, and contributing in many ways to its ad- vancement and improvement.

As soon as he was established in his new home he entered in full measure into the enthusiasm of the community, and gave every form of its progress the impulse of his hand. On January 23, 1855, soon after he located in the village, a banquet was served at the St. Charles hotel to celebrate the completion of the suspension bridge over the Mississippi. The street parade, a part of the celebration, was a mile in length, according to Colonel Stevens, who took part in it, and was led by Dr. J. H. Murphy as marshal and Captain Martin as standard bearer, so soon and so earnestly did he enter into the spirit of the place. There was music and there were cannon in the parade, and the line of march was through the towns on both sides of the river.

Before the end of the same year the residents of these two

towns organized a steamboat company for the navigation of the lower river, and raised a capital stock of $30,000. Captain Martin took great interest in the enterprise, subscribed to a considerable block of the stock, and later became the captain of the Falls City, one of the company's boats, on which he made trips periodically to the lower Mississippi river points.

But this industry did not occupy him wholly. Soon after his advent in the region he engaged in logging in the pineries, and from then until his death fifty years later he was con- nected in many ways with the lumber trade. He built and operated sawmills and opened lumber yards, and incorporated his lumber business under the name of the John Martin Lum- ber company. He had yards in Minneapolis and St. Paul and a sawmill at Mission creek on the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad, and his tireless energy kept them all busy.

In addition, he took a hand in flour milling, and in a short time became a proprietor of the Northwestern Flour Mills in Minneapolis and later of the Northwestern Consolidated Mill- ing company in the same city. This company, under his man- agement, operated five mills with a daily capacity of 2,500 barrels, and became, next to the Pillsbury-Washburn company, the largest manufacturer of flour in the world.

He was a director of the First National Bank of Minne- apolis from its organization in 1864, and its president from 1894 to his death, and held the same relation to the Minne- apolis & St. Louis Railroad from its completion to its in'cor- poration with the Rock Island system. He contributed liber- ally of his capital and business sagacity to the success of these institutions, and did the same for the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie & Atlantic Railroad, of which he was a director and the vice president, as he was of the Minneapolis & Pacific Railway, which opened a new and shorter route to the Atlantic seaboard and made the milling business of his home city independent of hostile railroad combinations.

Captain Martin was one of eight children, five sons and three daughters, born to his parents, all of whom are now deceased. The parents died in Vermont, and the captain passed away in Minneapolis on May 5, 1905, lacking but three months and fourteen days of being eighty-five years old. He was married in 1849, to Miss Jane B. Gilfillan. like himself, a native of Peacham, Vermont, the daughter of Robert and Janet (Bachop) Gilfillan of that city. One child was born of the union, the late Mrs. Jean M. Brown, who died in Minneapolis on January 23, 1901. The mother's life ended in 1886.

Captain Martin was a member of the First Congregational church for many years, and also a Freemason from his early manhood. He was liberal in his benefactions to the needy and charitable institutions of all kinds. As a memorial tribute to the worth of his daughter and his strong affection for her, he contributed the sum of $40,000 to the Children's Home Society. In politics he was an unwavering Republican, be- lieving firmly in the principles of his party as the promise and fulfillment of the highest and most enduring good to the country. But he never sought or desired any of the honors or emoluments usually held out as the reward for political service. He rendered the service with loyalty, zeal and effi- ciency. but it was principle and strong conviction that impelled him, and no personal interest was involved in his work in this particular.

Captain Martin was a man of great force of character, strong mental endowment and the strictest uprightness in all the relations of life. He has passed into the history of his com-

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

munity as a type of the most elevated and serviceable citizen- ship.

GILMAN CONNOR.

One of the men who figured prominently in the founding of Minneapolis' chief industry was the late Gilman Connor, whose trade of millwright was of the greatest importance. He also figures in Minnesota history for another reason-he was one of the founders of the village of Merrimac, which, later renamed, became famous as the home of the "Sage of Nininger"-Ignatius Donnelly, statesman, orator and author.

Mr. Connor was born in Farmington, Maine, March 21, 1810, and died in January, 1883. He learned his trade of millwright, and built large mills in Maine and New Hamp- shire, including a big plant at Berlin Falls, as well as mills in other important places. So that, when he came to St. Anthony in 1857, he came as an expert millwright, well grounded in his trade and a valuable man for the pioneers who were beginning to develop the industry by the Falls. That he was more than an ordinary factor in this develop- ment is recalled by the fact that twice he sought to break away from the trade and become a farmer, but circumstances held him to the trade and to St. Anthony. He was regarded as an expert on all milling questions, especially in the problem of calculating the speed of grain elevation.

Jolın DeLaitte once consulted him relative to a trouble- some elevator. In a few moments he had reckoned the proper speed, the suggested change producing the desired effect. Mr. DeLaitte insisted on paying him twenty dollars for his service. He had a fine mathematical mind, and became one of the active constructors of the waterpower at the falls.

In early life Mr. Connor married Nancy R. Young, of Orono, Maine, and who was born in Sebec, Maine. She came with him to St. Anthony, they then buying the present Connor home on University avenue southeast, their primary purpose being to have their children near a good school. Mr. Connor had hoped to go to farming, but his wife pre- ferred the advantages and social intercourse of village life with convenience to the excellent school whieli was one of the first thoughts of the New Englanders who had founded St. Anthony.

Mr. Connor's early dreams of life in the new West found realization for a time in his participation in the founding of the village of Merrimac, on the Mississippi river below St. Paul. This enterprise was a partnership affair, in which William and John Eastman were also interested. Their plans did not bear fruit, for the hard times of 1857 followed by the Civil war produced an insurmountable handicap. The village was revived later, as Nininger, but never amounted to more than a hamlet. Later Mr. Connor took up a homestead in Big Stone County, but St. Anthony still held him, and re- mained his home. He owned half a block of the choicest part of old St. Anthony, and until the railroad passed through the property it was a beautiful place, fronting the University campus.

Only two years after the Connors came to the young eity by the Falls, Mrs. Connor died, at the age of forty-six. She left, with her husband, seven daughters and one son. Three of these daughters are now living. Anna M. is the widow of George Smith, and of whom mention is made elsewhere.

Addie is the widow of J. A. Chesley of Anoka. Miss Augusta Connor remained with her father, and still lives in the old home at 1413 University avenue. She was a worker in the W. C. T. U. under the late Frances Willard, devoting four- teen years to organization work in Minnesota. She knew Miss Willard personally and was one of hier valued friends and aides. She was also a close friend of Mrs. Hobart of Red Wing, long one of the leaders of W. C. T. U. work in the Northwest. Miss Connor is recognized as one of the pioneer woman Suffragists of Minnesota, and the first to start the work in state university. She was educated in the academy at Bethel, Maine, and early engaged in teaching. Besides her activity in the cause of women, Miss Connor has lived a life of devotion to her family, and is known as a womanly woman whose advocacy adds strength to any cause.

Another daughter, Florence, died unmarried, whose circle of friends was an exceptionally notable one. Still another, .

Marietta, was in the Hennepin County register of deeds office for fourteen years. She married E. L. Spencer and died some years ago. Helen Connor married C. C. Cogswell. She became a teacher at St. Louis, Missouri, but passed her closing years in the old home. The eldest daughter married in Maine, and never was a resident of Minneapolis. Charles died when he was about thirty years old, leaving a daughter, Alma, now a teacher in Oakland, Cal.

Thus Gilman Connor gave not only his best years as a factor in the upbuilding of the city's chief industry, but also left a heritage of good through the achievements of his chil- dren, all of whom were useful members of society.

HON. CHARLES H. CLARKE.

The late Charles H. Clarke, of Richfield township, was born at Bath, Steuben County, New York, June 19, 1835, being reared principally in the city of Corning, and eame to Minneapolis in 1856 with his parents, Charles and Prudence (Tucker) Clark, who spelled the name without the final "e." The father was born in Bath in 1813, and was there married in his twenty-first year. Prudence Clark was born in Weth- ersfield, Connecticut, removing to the State of New York while young.

Charles Clark was a carpenter and builder in his native State for fully a quarter of a century before coming West. He continued in the same line of endeavor, enlarging his operations by becoming a contractor of large jobs and under taking the erection of important public and private struc- tures. His first job of consequence in Minnesota was building the first Hennepin County court house, for which the contract price was more than $36,000, and which served the county for two generations.

Another early contract was for the erection of a dwelling for the elder Dr. Ames, at the corner of Eighth avenne and Fourth street. This was then one of the most pretentious dwelling houses in the town, and was usually spoken of as a mansion. It is still standing, and, although dwarfed and outclassed by many subsequent structures, it still shows that it was erected with great care and a view to stateliness, comfort, and completeness.

In the fall of 1856 Mr. Clark furnished some rooms in the uncompleted court house and lived in them for a year. His next residence was on a lot which is now occupied by the

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Knights of Labor building, opposite the Dr. Ames residence, he having secured the lot as part payment on the Ames house. He lived there until the Knights of Labor took over the property, some ten or twelve years in all. He and his wife were charter members of the Plymouth Congregational Church, and he built the first church edifice for the congrega- tion at the corner of Nicollet avenue and Fourth street. He continued his membership in that church through life, and was regular in his attendance at its services. He was the first superintendent of its Sunday school, serving in that capacity for a number of years. He was also alderman from his ward for some time. During the last ten years of his life he was partially paralyzed and took no active part in business or public affairs.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark were the parents of three children, Charles H., Joseph H., and Emeline S. Joseph H. Clarke, during his residence in Minneapolis, previous to 1890, was engaged in the feed business as a member of the firm of Clarke & Linton. Since then his home has been in Santa Monica, California. Emeline S. Clarke was married in 1859 to Charles M. Cushman, who was engaged in the book trade until his death in 1906.

Charles Clark died in June, 1892, surviving his wife some ten or twelve years. Hon. Charles H. Clarke was associated for some years with his brother-in-law, Charles Cushman, in the book and stationery trade. Later in life he served eight years in the House of Representatives, and was also deputy collector of internal revenue for eighteen years under William Bickel. He became close in friendship and business relations with Colonel W. S. ("Bill") King, who chose him as secretary of the Minneapolis Fair, conducted by him for some years. Previously-first in 1863 and again from 1866 for five years, closing in 1871-he was Secretary of the State Agricultural Society. He was also a member of the Executive Board of the Society for several terms and superintendent of the State Fair on numerous occasions. He was greatly interested in the Society and served it as Secretary for five years without salary.

He was school officer for many years and ever active in work for the good of the schools. He visited them frequently, often talking to the pupils, and would sometimes teach a class. Every Christmas for years he would have a Christmas tree for them and distribute presents to some sixty boys and girls. His last real activity in life was shown in making an address to one of the schools in the city.

In politics he was a Republican and ever an aggressive partisan. He died November 21, 1885. In 1856 he was united in marriage with Miss Adelaide H. Hoag, the only child of Charles and Ann (Emmons) Hoag, who came to St. Anthony in 1852. Their former home was in Philadelphia, where he was principal of a leading school. The Hoag home was at first on the site of the present Church of the Immaculate Conception in St. Anthony, where he had secured 160 acres by preemption. It was a mansion for that time, and its white marble mantels were brought from Philadelphia at great cost and labor. Mr. Hoag became security for large amounts for an old friend, who failed to protect his surety in an emergency, and Mr. Hoag's property was largely swept away. He then secured a fine tract of land bordering on Diamond Lake, five miles south of Bridge Square, and erected a comfortable home overlooking the lakes. In addition to serving as County School Superintendent and in other similar capacities and positions, he devoted himself mainly to his home and planted

the fine rows of elms that now adorn the grounds. To induce his daughter to live near him, he deeded to her nearly 100 acres of fine land and here the Clarke children were reared. As stated elsewhere in this history, Mr. Hoag is the man to whom is accorded the distinction of giving Minneapolis its poetical and suggestive name. He lived in the city from 1852 to his death, which occurred Feb. 1, 1888. His widow died Oct. 8, 1872.

Mrs. Charles Clarke was reared a Quaker, and adhered to the faith of her parents, although she never affiliated with the Society of Friends. She and her husband were the parents of six children who are living. They are Frederick H., a resident of Richfield township; William A., of Idaho; Ger- trude, wife of Howard S. Clark, of Minneapolis; Antoinette, wife of Samuel J. Nicholson; Adelaide H., who is living on a part of the old family homestead, and Joseph H., a merchant at Bloomington, and who also resides on the old homestead.

FRANK H. CASTNER.

Frank H. Castner, attorney-at-law, was born in Bureau County, Illinois, June 12, 1862, the son of Stewart M. and Mary (Hildebrandt) Castner. Two brothers and his father were Union soldiers during the Civil war, the father serving on the border in Missouri and the brothers were with Sher- man, all remaining in the service to the end of the war. Early in the seventies Fred, the younger of the brothers, located at Waseca, Minnesota, where he resided for a number of years.

Frank H. Castner, his mother dying when he was ten years old, was taken to Iowa City, Iowa, by his brother-in- law, John T. Marvin, a highly educated man and well known teacher for many years. Mr. Marvin came to Minneapolis in 1879 to become a professor in Minneapolis Academy, now Minnesota College, in which he was one of the principal instructors for two years. He afterward was manager of a mill at Appleton, Minnesota, finally entering the ministry of the Congregational church.

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Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 63

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