Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 82

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 82

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Shortly after my confirmation (fourteenth year). I left the parsonage, going to Darmstadt, where I entered the poly- teehinc sehool to qualify for a university course. Mother now took up her residence there too, and I once more had a home. A sister three years older than myself, unmarried, was a pleasant companion. The youngest of six children, we werc

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

the only ones at home. I remained at school in Darmstadt up to my seventeenth year, intending to enter the university as soon as I reached the proper age, eighteen, and to take up the study of law.

Meanwhile, however, a brother who had emigrated to the United States kept urging my mother to have me come to him in New York, where I would have better prospects in life than would be before me after completing my studies in Germany, and after graduating at the university, when I would have to go on a waiting list for a government posi- tion, probably. He promised to provide for me until I should be able to make by own living. Mother accepted his offer. and I was sent to America. On arrival I was received in my brother's family, and he put me as an apprentice in a lithographic establishment, his own line of business. I went to work with a will, taking up the study of English in my spare time. Soon I adapted myself to the ways of a new world and incidentally acquired some of the American no- tions of independence and democracy.

It was well I did. My sister-in-law not approving of what my brother did to assist me, my position in her family became unbearable. I cut loose, confident that a young man not afraid of work could make his way. I was fortunate in finding employment in a large bakery. My new master, Mr. M. Wentworth, was a gentleman from Maine. The members of his family were most estimable persons, and I found a new home. My educational qualifications enabled mne to give Mr. Wentworth much assistance in his office, and I spent my evenings helping the children with their lessons. I was content and deriving much benefit from my association with a truly cultured American family. The close indoor em- ployment, however, undermined by health, and, admonished by the physician whom I consulted, that I must get out of town if I wished to live long, I was forced to contemplate a change in my occupation. With my German ideas of mili- tary life, I conceived the plan of going into the United States army for a few years. Mr. Wentworth tried to dissuade me, but when he found me persistent, remarked that he had no doubt I would get along anywhere, and I enlisted for five years on February 26, 1856.

Sent to a recruiting depot on Governor's Island, it appeared to me for a time that I had made a mistake. My associates were not, as a whole, of a congenial class. Restless, hard drinkers, many had drifted into the service; running amuck of discipline, they became desperate, and deserted. As I looked about me I became convinced that, after all, it was not a forlorn hope for me. I paid close attention to my duties. Assigned to a company in the Fourth Artillery, then en route to Florida, I attracted the attention of my superiors.

With the kind good will of my Captain, John P. McCown, later a Major General in the Confederate army, my posi- tion in the service was decidedly pleasant. During my first year in the company, as we were then engaged in a hard campaign under General W. S. Harney against a band of Seminole Indians led by "Billy Bowlegs," who obstinately refused to join the remainder of the tribe in the Indian Territory, I saw harder service than it ever after became my lot to encounter during my active army career. Chasing Indians through the Everglades, up and down rivers, through swamps and dense forests; never certain when we should be fired on by an invisible enemy from ambush; hungry often and thirsty, we worked for ten months. In all this period we had one fair glimpse of an enemy and open shot at him.

Thoroughly familiar with the ground, the Indians, while hit- ting us hard, always managed to escape an engagement; and it was only by keeping them always on the move that General Harney and his successors, when he was sent to Kansas in 1857, succeeded in tiring them out and forcing their final surrender. Fever and mosquitos were worthy allies of the redskins. As an example of the wear of such field service, I will only state here that of the eighty-seven strong men we had when starting for Florida, in October, 1856, we mustered forty-four men at Fort Leavenworth in December, 1857. We had been sent from Florida to bleeding Kansas on account of border troubles in the fall of 1857. Other com- panies fared even worse.

In the winter of 1857-58 a large number of troops of all arms had been concentrated at Fort Leavenworth in prepara- tion for the start to Utah on account of Morman troubles as soon as grass growing would permit the march of reinforce- ments for the expeditionary force then wintering at Fort Bridger. An exigency of the service caused the relief of Cap- tain McCown from duty with his company, and he was directed to proceed to Fort Kearney, Nebraska Territory, to assume command of the post. The company, unmindful of the hard- ships incident to a 300-mile march across the plains in winter, begged the captain to take it along. General Harney, in command of the department at the time, remembering our good service in Florida, permitted the transfer.

Starting from Fort Leavenworth in February we reached Kearney March 6, 1858, after encountering some very severe storms en route. On the last day of February we neces- sarily covered thirty-three miles, facing a blizzard which started about an hour after we left camp in the morning. While we might have camped and melted snow, there was not a particle of fuel in sight until we reached a cottonwood grove on a little stream about dark. Nevertheless, we . reached our new station in good condition. Kearney then was the first point in the line of communication between Leavenworth and Salt Lake. Located shortly after the Mexican war, garrisoned by Company I, Sixth Infantry, in the Pawnee country, it increased in importance when it became. in 1857, a supply and refitting station for troops en route to Utah, and in 1858 and 1859 it was materially enlarged, a garrison of artillery, serving as infantry, and one of cavalry being sent there.

With our arrival at Fort Kearney commenced one of the most pleasant periods of my service. Pawnees were friendly, and they looked to the troops for protection against incursions of both Sioux Indians from the north and Cheyennes and Arapahoes from the south, who, al- though they were not hostile, as far as troops were con- cerned, had the habit of sending war parties into the Pawnee territory to replenish their stock of horses. The prairies all summer were covered with herds of buffalo, antelope were plentiful, and by going south about forty miles to the Re- publican Fork of the Kansas river, we could find a supply of wild turkeys, deer, and grouse for our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Our duties were light. There was plenty of time for hunting, and to me lots of leisure for study. An excellently selected company library, rich in works on American history, supplemented by my captain's store of standard works, enabled me to take up, under his kind direction, a thorough course of reading.

The company remained at Kearney until late in the summer of 1859, when the establishment of inland artillery schools

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

caused a concentration of the Fourth Artillery at Fort Ran- dall, Dakota Territory, and Fort Ridgely, Minnesota. Wc marched then across the country, duc north, about 200 miles, from the Platte River Valley, at Kearney, to Fort Randall, on the Missouri river. The country we then trav- erscd, crossing the South, North, and Loup forks of the Platte and the Elkhorn river, was at the time a complete wilderness.

Conditions did not change nich, as far as I was person- ally interested, after our arrival at Randall. Now com- pletely satisfied with my army life, and with prospects of substantial promotion ahead, I re-enlisted when iny first period of service was about to expire, December 26, 1860. Changes, however, were soon to come which bade fair to upset all my hopes. Secession raised its head; the regu- lar army was demoralized by the resignation of numberless officers born in the South. Among these was my captain. Other officers were transferred to other regiments and fields. The eolonel of the Fourth Artillery, who had taken an in- terest in me, died.

Without friends in position to help me; unable to get even East into active service; my company without officers; left at Fort Randall for the time, I finally passed examina- tion for appointment as hospital steward in the United States army. Here again hard luck seemed to pursue me. Although I secured the appointment I sought, a responsible non-commissioned staff position, I was ordered not to a field army, as I had desired, but sent on to the Plains, to my old station, Fort Kearney, Nebraska. All my efforts to get a change, made for years, were ineffective. This was partly due to the necessity of having a perfectly compe- tent man at Kearney, which was soon garrisoned by volun- teer troops; and furthermore, because when the latter came, and Indian troubles became serious, my experience in that line of work, to which was added my perfect knowledge of the country, gained during my previous service there in 1858 and 1859, caused me to be sent into the field to assist officers in command of detachments.

Ordered Eastward at last, I was placed on duty at the large general hospitals at Keokuk and Davenport, Iowa. The war closing soon afterward, I managed to get back to Fort Randall, Dakota. Then I was transferred to a larger post, new Fort Sully, on the Missouri above Fort Ran- dall. I finally applied for examination to determine my fitness for a commission. Ordered before a board at Fort Sully, the record of the examination, added to my service record, resulted in my appointment as second lieutenant of infantry. Ordered to my regiment, the Thirty-seventh In- fantry, I served at Fort Dodge, Kansas, until ordered to New Mexico in the fall of 1867.

Busily engaged as quartermaster in the reconstruction of Fort Stanton, when the army was reduced in 1869, I was retained in service and transferred to the Third Infantry. This brought me back to Kansas. Routine duty kept me busy at Fort Larned and Leavenworth until, in 1874, my regiment was suddenly ordered South, first to Holly Springs, Mississippi, and from there scattered to various stations in Louisiana. A period of very disagreeable duty, political rather than military, now followed until 1877, when late in the fall the Third Infantry was ordered to Montana. I was away on leave then, the first indulgence of the kind of any duration I had enjoyed during my service, and was over in Germany. Returning too late to take my family

across the Rockies to my Montana station, I was ordered to duty at Fort Stecle, Wyoming, and held there until May, 1879, when I joined my company in Montana. Appointed quartermaster of the regiment in 1898, I came with it to Fort Snelling. Promoted to captain in 1890, I joined iny company at Fort Meade, South Dakota. Left without a com- mand by the skeletonizing of two companies in each in- fantry regiment of the army, I was detailed in 1890 for duty as chief ordnance officer in the Department of Dakota, and to command the ordnance depot (lower post) at Snelling.

Upon the breaking up of the ordnance depot in 1894 I returned to my regiment, and I then served as company com- mander at Fort Snelling to the beginning of the Spanish- American war. Selected to remain in charge of the post when the regiment went to Cuba, I continued in command until the troops returned. Again, when the regiment was ordered to the Orient, I was detached by War Department orders and left in charge of the post. Anxious to go with the Third Infantry to the Philippines, the need of an officer versed in administrative work, and the nearness of my retirement by age, caused my wishes to be disregarded. Promoted to major soon afterward, I remained at Snelling to the date of my retirement, November 15, 1899.

At the date of my retirement I had to my credit alnost forty-five years of active service, and, I am proud to say, service without a blemish, as the records will show. Since then I have added over ten years of active work, on duty under War Department assignment with the organized militia of Minnesota. During this period I have received a new com- mission giving me the grade of lieutenant colonel for war service, 1861 to 1865.

Often now, as I sit in my den-army slang for study- with a brave and noble wife, who, sinee 1862, has shared my service, hardships and honors too, I review my army life. The form of many a comrade true, who having done his duty well, answered the last roll call, at home or on the battlefield, arises before me, and my eyes turn mnoist.

But I am content, and grateful to Providence that as a member of our little regular army I was permitted to do duty in the advance guard, picketing the danger line on our inland frontier, thus enabling the hardy pioneers and railroad build- ers to conquer a vast wilderness. To them belongs the honor for the development of our national greatness. There is still more glory for them if hand in hand the farmner and railroad king continue their work. The army's task is nearly done.

In closing this sketch I cannot help calling attention to a peculiar phase of my service career: In the army for life, sworn to defend the flag, the symbol of our nationality, born in a foreign land. free from State or other local attachments, my political ideas have been always eminently national. My military training has taught me the value of team work in all that concerns measures for the maintenance of our national integrity. Here there should be no party lines or State interests. Every American should realize that his most exalted duty is the defense of his country against all oppo- sition. foreign or domestic. Popular traditions and feeling will ever oppose the maintenance of a large permanent army ; nevertheless, prudence demands that we be prepared for war. Should we be forced to take up arms we would quickly find that a national army alone can fight our battles. Let us, therefore, foster our militia organizations. There should be no prejudice against them by labor unions or others.

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

These are the reasons why I am still on duty when with propriety I could take a rest, for the few years or days which yet remain to me, amply provided for by a liberal government.

Col. Gerlach is remarkably well preserved. In November, 1913, he was operated upon for a serious trouble at St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Paul. A short time after the operation a large number of physicians, members of the Ramsey County Medical Association, in attendance upon their annual clinic, came into his presence. Despite his weakness from the opera- tion and the infirmity of his 78 years, the old soldier raised himself from his stretcher and gave his visitors a full mili- tary salute.

CHARLES M. GODLEY.

Charles M. Godley, an old-time merchant of Minneapolis, but for some years now retired from business, was born August 27, 1838, at Harrison, Ohio, and there reared to manhood, educated, and prepared for his useful career and helpful citizenship. He is a son of John and Mary (McHenry) Godley, who were pioneers in Minnesota, as their parents were in Ohio. John Godley's father removed his family from New Jersey by team to Ohio in the early existence of that State; but John Godley moved his family to its new home in Minnesota by steamboat down the Ohio and up the Mis- sissippi to Minneapolis, arriving in this city May 1, 1862. His household comprised thirteen persons and he had not only their goods but a stock of dry goods and several horses. From Dubuque the voyage was completed on the famous old steamer "Northern Light," when she was making her first trip up the river that year. On arriving in Minneapolis Mr. Godley and his family were the first guests of the Nicollet House, which had just been opened by "Mace" Eustis, although it was not really ready for occupancy.

A few weeks after his arrival the elder Mr. Godley opened a dry goods store on Bridge Square, at the corner of Second Street. Two of his sons, Charles and Philip, were associated with him. Augustus, another son, went to a farm in Brooklyn Center, which he occupied and cultivated until his death, in 1877. Still another son, George Godley, went back to Ohio, where he is still living. The father passed his last years on the farm of his son Augustus, at Brooklyn Center, and there he died, also in 1877. He was an old State Rights Democrat and a zealous supporter of President Pierce, and being a fluent and resourceful public speaker, he rose to prominence and influence in the political affairs of this city. He was also an attendant of the Westminster Presbyterian church, which all the members of his family who were living in Minneapolis attended.

Philip and Charles Godley gave up merchandising in 1867. Philip then became a commercial tourist for thirty years. He died in 1898 or 1899.

Charles M. Godley has lived retired from all active pursuits for many years. He is the only member of all the family who is or ever has been a Republican. He has been an active working member of Westminster Presbyterian church from young manhood.

On June 18, 1867, Mr. Godley was married in Minneapolis to Miss Ella Scrimgeour, a native of Connecticut and a descendant of old Scotch ancestry. She was a member of the

first class graduated from the old Union School, in 1862. Her father, E. J. Scrimgeour, came to Minneapolis in 1855 and bought land at the intersection of Fourth street and Second avenue north, where he and David Morgan built houses on opposite corners. He engaged in the grocery trade here in partnership with I. F. Woodman, at Washington and Second avenues south. Mr. Woodman built Woodman Hall, of - early days, and the St. James hotel.

Mr. Scrimgeour was afterward associated with B. S. Bull in the grocery trade at the corner of Nicollet and Washington avenues, and while conducting that business died suddenly in the spring of 1865; the direct cause of his sudden demise was supposed to have been the assassination of President Lincoln, whom he warmly admired. His widow survived him many years. They were among the organizers of the Wesley Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Scrimgeour supplied the lumber for the church building, at Third avenue south and Fourth street, the first church of that denomination erected in Minneapolis. He was, to the end of his life, one of its trustees and class leaders.

Mr. Scrimgeour had three children, viz: Mrs. Godley; her sister Helen, widow of the late John Horton, and who resides at 2015 Aldrich avenue south, and David Scrimgeour. The last named was for more than twenty years one of the lead- ing grain dealers in this city and one of the most active members of the Chamber of Commerce. He died suddenly August 13, 1913.

Charles M. Godley and his wife have two daughters, Mar- garet and Florence, both of whom are school teachers. All the members of the family belong to Westminster Presbyterian Church; the daughters represent the third generation of the family connected with that congregation. Mr. and Mrs. God- ley are still well known throughout the city and highly esteemed by all classes.

ARD GODFREY.

The oldest house now standing in Minneapolis, and which has been carefully preserved, was erected by Ard Godfrey in the fall and winter of 1848, and is now one of the places of interest to every person interested in local history. It was moved to its present location at the old Exposition building by the Hennepin County Territorial association, while it was originally built some 200 feet back from S. E. Main street on quite an elevation, and was later moved to Prince street.

Ard Godfrey was born at Orono, Maine, Jan. 18, 1813, and there grew to manhood learning the trade of millwright under his father, born in 1777, an extensive contractor and builder of mills as well as being an owner and operator.

He was named for his father and his mother was Catherine Gaubert, the daughter of Anton Gaubert, born in 1779, one of the Huguenot emigrants, who came to America, leaving ex- tensive estates in Paris.

At eighteen Ard was given his time, and was placed by his father in charge of the erection of a large mill, having about one hundred men under his supervision. He also in- vested in a schooner, which, however, was lost on its maiden voyage, causing him a severe loss.

In October, 1847, he arrived at St. Anthony, having been employed by Franklin Steele to build the contemplated mill,

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

and expecting to find the dam well toward completion. But little more than some preliminary work was done, and he was put in charge of both damn and mill. During the winter, Anson Northrup hauled the plank for the dam from a mill on the St. Croix river, and the following year both dam and mill were completed, the first lumber sawed being used by Godfrey in the building of his own house above mentioned.

He had become a partner both in the water power, the mill and the town site, and continued in personal charge of the mill until he sold out all his interests and, in 1853, removing to a claim at Minnehaha, his house standing on the site of the present Woman's Building of the Soldiers' Home. Here the greater part of his life was passed, but a few years toward the close being at Minneapolis, where he died Oct. 15, 1894.

He also built two mills on Minnehaha creek near its mouth so that logs were supplied direct from the river. The saw- mill was burned, as was the flour mill later, not in fact till after he had disposed of it.

He had been actively identified with almost every move- ment of the early days in St. Anthony. He was the first Postmaster. His commission, dated April 10, 1850, and signed by Jacob Collamer, the Postmaster General, is still in the hands of his son.

He was one of the charter members of Cataract lodge of Masons, the lodge being organized in his house, and for lack of a sufficient number, his wife was requested to aet as Tyler of the lodge.

Judge E. B. Ames had come from Illinois, as organizer, this territory being in that jurisdiction. The boat came to Stillwater, and the Masons there appealed to Amcs to or- ganize their lodge before coming to St. Anthony, which was done, thus blasting the hopes of the local members to make Cataract lodge number one in Minnesota.

Mr. Godfrey was married to Harriet N. Burr in Brewer, Maine, Jan. 31, 1838, who died June 24. 1896. Their family were seven children, five of whom now survive. They are Abner C., who for some years has been a theatrical manager, and who is well known in connection with fraternal work in several orders, his greatest activity being with the Knights of Pythias, of which he is Past Grand Chancellor. Harriet R. is a well known teacher and first white daughter born in St. Anthony, May 30, 1849, late president of the Territorial Pioneers, Women's Club. Martha A. is a maiden lady. Mary is Mrs. C. O. Parsons of Milwaukee, and Minnie, her twin sister, is the wife of D. W. Ham. The eldest daughter, Helen, married Mark T. Berry and died at Los Angeles in 1902. Sarah Catherine died in 1881 the wife of John E. Osborne.

HARRY B. WAITE.

Almost from the dawn of his manhood Harry B. Waite has been prominently connected with the lumber industry of Minneapolis and one of the leading factors in developing and expanding it to its present colossal proportions, and since 1895, when he founded the H. B. Waite Lumber company, he has devoted his energies to building up the interests and en - larging the business of that corporation, of which he has been the president and active muanager from the beginning of its history. He has been connected also with other industrial and mercantile agencies, here and elsewhere, and through them

all has come to be a power in business circles in this part of the country.

Mr. Waite was born in the city of Chicago on July 23, 1865, and is the son of Henry J. and Ann (Ellis) Waite. Not long after his birth the family moved from Chicago to Marseilles, Illinois, and there he began his academic education in the public schools. He came to Minneapolis in 1880, and in order to complete his education attended the Central high school in the city. Early in life he made up his mind to be a phy- sician, and after his graduation from the high school began the study of medicine in the Minnesota College Hospital, an institution of medical instruction then in charge of the most prominent physicians and surgeons of the Northwest. Mr. Waite completed his second year's course in the medical school, but by the time he did this he had learned to look at the world in a different light, and instead of becoming a profes- sional man he decided to go into business, and chose the lumber trade as his line because of the large opportunities offered in it by the rich pine forests of this state.

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Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 82

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