USA > Minnesota > Polk County > Compendium of history and biography of Polk County, Minnesota > Part 30
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Mr. Misner was born at Euclid, this county, July 10, 1883, the son of the late Harvey C. Misner, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume. The son began his education in the district schools, con- tinued it at the high school in Crookston, and com- pleted it at Macalester college in St. Paul. He started his business career as a clerk in his father's general store at Enclid, and from 1904 to 1911 he was in the real estate business at Pasadena, California, but with a continuous longing to get back to Minnesota.
In the year last named Mr. Misner' gratified his longing by returning to this state and taking up his
residence in Crookston. He then became manager of the Wheeler-Misner Loan company, of which he is also secretary and treasurer. In addition he is presi- dent of the Crookston Investment company and secre- tary of the Crookston Cordage company, and from March, 1913, to January, 1915, he was president of the Crookston Commercial club, of which he is still a director, as he is of the Northwestern Minnesota Fair Association.
In politics Mr. Misner has always been a Republi- ean, hut never nentral nor indifferent to the public welfare. In the fall of 1915 he was nominated for mayor of Crookston as the city's candidate, and he was elected by a handsome plurality over the regular Republican and Socialist nominees. In fraternal re- lations he is connected with the Order of Elks and is a Freemason of the Knights Templar degree. He is recognized as a first-class business man and a citizen of the best and most serviceable type. On June 12, 1906, he was united in marriage with Miss Ethel L. Scott, of Depere, Wisconsin.
EDWARD PETERSON.
A leader in business circles in Crookston and always at the front in every undertaking for the improve- ment of the city or the benefit of its residents, Edward
Peterson, superintendent of the Crookston Water- works, Power and Light company, is a very useful citizen and a forceful factor in promoting the prog-
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ress and improvement of Polk county and all the country adjacent to it and tributary to its industrial, commereial, mercantile and social life.
Mr. Peterson was born in Sweden August 7, 1860, the son of Peter and Anna Peterson, farmers in their native land and also in this country after their arrival here in 1882, when they took up their residenee at what is now the thriving and progressive city of Thief River Falls. Their son Edward was twenty- two years old when the family came to the United States. He had completed his education in his native place, and was ready for any suitable opening he might find in his new home. He remained at Thief River Falls four years, then moved to Crookston in 1886 and accepted a position in the employ of the waterworks department.
In the course of a little while Mr. Peterson worked his way up to the post of engineer for the company and some time afterward was appointed superintend- ent. He was elected treasurer of the company in
1892, and since then he has been practically in charge of all the operations of the department in the dual capacity of superintendent and treasurer. He was one of the organizers of the Crookston Building and Loan association; is a director and president of the Crookston Cordage company, a director of the Elec- trieal Development company, and chairman of the development committee of the Crookston Commercial elub. He is also a member of the Crookston school board.
On January 1, 1888, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Anderson, the nuptials being solemnized in Minneapolis. This Mrs. Peter- son died in 1892, and on August 22, 1894, Mr. Peter- son contracted a second marriage, which united him with Miss Anna Pherson, of Chicago. They have eight children, Julia, Esther, Agnes Ethel, Albert Edward, Herbert K., Florence, Adeline and Paul, all of whom are still members of the parental family eirele.
EDWIN E. LOMMEN.
Edwin E. Lommen, of Crookston, a prominent eiti- zen and one of the early settlers of the county, was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, February 9, 1856, the son of Anders O. and Sigrid (Hoyme) Lommen, natives of Norway. ITis father was a well known pioneer farmer in Iowa, having located on govern- ment land there in 1850, after living two years in Wisconsin. He was widely identified with the pub- lie activities of the time, was a member of the lower House of the Legislature and served in a number of local offices.
Edwin E. Lommen taught school at eighteen years of age and elerked in a hardware store at Decorah, Iowa. In 1878 he came to Polk county and took up a Homestead claim five miles west of Crookston, on which he lived for 19 years, cultivating and improv- ing his farm. Sinee loeating in Polk county he has been actively and prominently associated with the interests which have contributed to its progress and
welfare. He has marked the rapid evolution, which has replaced the log cabin store, saloon, and tem- porary frame shacks, which occupied the site of Crookston in 1878, with the thriving, progressive eity of nine thousand inhabitants, with its brick blocks and paved streets. No less remarkable has been the development of the county, which as an agricultural community, ranks second to none in the State. In this development he feels a just pride in having taken part. While living on his farm, he held various loeal offices and in 1890 was elected to the State Senate and was a member of the legislative body during the sessions of 1891 and 1893. Among the enactments for which he was responsible, there were two which direetly affected his home county ; the law redneing the salary of county officials, which has saved many thousand dollars annually and the First Red River Valley drainage law, which carried an appropriation of $100,000 from the state and pro-
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vided for an additional contribution of $25,000 from the Great Northern railroad. This law made possible the construction of the first extensive ditches in the valley and has had far reaching results, in increasing the value of the land and the prosperity of the region. In 1898 he was elected Clerk of the District Court, which office he held four years. In 1894 he was can- didate for lieutenant governor and in 1896 was candi- date for Congress on the Populist ticket, with the Democratic endorsement ; but was defeated.
Mr. Lommen was cashier of the State Bank of Buxton for 7 years; but failing health caused his retirement, so he returned to Crookston in 1914, where
he has been engaged in the real estate business, de- voting some attention to his farming interests. He is a member of I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A. fra- ternal organizations. He has been twice married. His first union was with Maria Olson in 1881. She is survived by their four children, Clarence E., a physician ; Albert M., who resides in Grand Forks; Alice J., a teacher in the schools at Hatton, North Dakota, and Sidney N., a student at the N. D. U. In 1902 Mr. Lommen was married to Addie S. Sana- ker, who had been previously married and widowed. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ALEX H. DUNLAP, M. D.
Alex H. Dunlap, M. D., one of the leading physi- cians and surgeons of Crookston, has been eminently connected with the medical profession of the county since 1882, when he first engaged in practice in Crooks- ton. He was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1857. His father, John Dunlap, was a native of Ontario and his wife, Julia (Ellis) Dunlap, was born in Edin- burgh, Scotland. John Dunlap was a lumber man and mill owner and lived in Canada throughout his life. His death and that of his wife, but a few hours later, occurred in 1905. Of their family of four sons and three daughters, Dr. Alex Dunlap is the only one who does not reside in Canada. He was reared in that country and received his early education in the public schools and then became a student in Queens College at Kingston. After graduating from that institution in 1875, he began to prepare himself for the medical profession, studying for a few months under Dr. Lafferty of Kingston and in the winter of the same year entered McGill college. In 1882 he
received his degree and came to Crookston where he has continued to successfully pursue his professional duties and has received an extensive patronage as a general practitioner. In the length of time of his services as a physician, he now ranks third among the local members of his profession and the many able attainments of his career have won him the respect and confidence of his colleagues. No small part of his success is due to years of keen study and a constant alertness to the rapid advances made in medical discoveries. Dr. Dunlap has availed himself of the advantages of post graduate work, cach year, either in New York clinics or at McGill college. He is a member of the Red River Valley Medical associa- tion and of the American Medical association. Aside from his private practice, Dr. Dunlap held the posi- tion of local surgeon for the Great Northern railroad for several years. He was married in 1912 to Annie Bolie, who is a native of Minnesota. Dr. Dunlap is a member of the Masonic order.
CHARLES F. SKOUG.
Charles F. Skoug, postmaster of Crookston, is a years of age. He is the son of Theo. J. and Caroline native of Norway, born at Frederickstadt in 1870 (Mathesian) Skoug, who located in Lyon county, Min- nesota, in 1880. Here the father entered upon the and came with his parents to this country when ten
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laborious development of new land and engaged in farming in the State for a number of years and reared a family of two sons and four daughters. Both par- ents are now living and reside in Seattle, Washington. Charles Skoug assisted his father on the homestead for several years and at the age of sixteen, embarked upon his commercial career as a salesman of farm machinery, his enterprise and natural ability winning him ready success and he continued in this occupation for seventeen years, traveling over all the western states and building up a prosperous trade. In 1907 he located in Crookston, where he is one of the in- fluential and progressive citizens. Ile has beeome widely known over the state through his prominent services in the political field and in 1896 gave eon- spicuous service as the leader of the Demoeratie eam- paign, his work evincing marked executive ability
and a natural political sense. Ile has also represented the county in a number of conventions. In June, 1913, he was appointed postmaster and has discharged the duties of his position with competeney and satis- faetion to the patrons. In fraternal eireles, he is a well known and popular member of the Masonie order, the Elks and the United Commereial Travelers. Ilis marriage to Anna M. Nordie, a resident of Min- nesota, was solemnized June 20, 1895. She died in Crookston, April 19, 1914, leaving three children, Kennth M., Vivian and Viola A. Mr. Skoug was married a second time on August 21, 1915, to Mrs. Elizabethi (Lindsley) Lundberg, the widow of Mag- nns Lundberg. Mrs. Skoug was born in Missouri but spent her early life in St. Paul. They make their home in Crookston.
PETER M. RINGDAL.
Peter M. Ringdal, of Crookston, prominent busi- ness man and distinguished eitizen, is a native of Minnesota, born in Goodhue county in 1861. He was reared on a farm where he remained until he was nineteen years of age. He then entered the railroad and express business and continued in this oeenpa- tion until 1890. During this time, steady application to his work and intelligent study of its different. phases, eminently fitted him for responsible positions later and enabled him to render valuable service to the state. He located in Crookston in 1888. In 1894 he entered publie serviee as state senator, eleeted on the Populist party tieket. Since that time he has continued to be actively identified with publie affairs and has accomplished mueh toward securing better and more efficient legislation. As senator, he spent a busy term and his principal efforts were direeted toward better control of common earriers and the reduction of transportation rates, although this was some years before the attention of the general public had been aroused to the eneroaehments of eorpor- ations. He also originated and pushed to a successful
conelusion, the movement which resulted in the estab- lishment, in 1896, of the State Experiment station at Crookston. This station has sinee been converted into a state agricultural sehool. He favored more effieaeious methods in the State Labor bureau and was instrumental in reorganizing the department to that purpose. In 1898 he received a unanimous renomination for state senator but withdrew from the legislative ticket to aeept an unanimous nomina- tion for congress by the Peoples and Demoeratie parties, but was defeated in the election. In 1899 he was appointed a member of State Railroad and Ware- house commission and worked with this commission for two years, during which time considerable prog- ress was made in redueing and equalizing railroad rates and removing discriminations. He was made a member of the State Board of Control in January, 1907, and continued to serve in this office for a term of six years. Mr. Ringdal is the present register of the United States land offiee at Crookston, having been appointed to this position in January, 1914. In 1912 he was honored by the Democratic citizens of
GUNDER STENERSON
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the state with the nomination for governor. In publie service and in the commercial world, his integrity and the power to accomplish that which is based on his earnest convictions, have won the respect of all men. He has always been a radical democrat and faithful supporter of the principles of democracy, favoring all measures aimed at the equalizing of opportunity
and the destruction of monopoly and special privilege. He is prominently associated with the business interests of the city as president of the Crookston Granite company and of the Polk County State bank, a sketeli of which is found in this work. Mr. Ringdal was married in 1885 to Mary J. Shirley.
JAMES P. O'CONNELL.
James P. O'Connell, receiver at the United States land office at Crookston. is a native of Minnesota, born in Wright county, July 18, 1873, the son of William and Mary (Haley) O'Connell, pioneer set- tlers of the state. They were natives of Ireland and were married in New York, after coming to this coun- try. In 1858 they came to Minnesota and William O'Connell located on a government elaim in Wright county where he engaged in the constructive work of the frontier farmer, clearing the wild land and continuing the improvement of it until his death, March 13, 1874. The death of his wife occurred in 1908 and they are survived by seven children; the six sons of the family all residing in the State. James P. O'Connell, born in the early days of the development of the country, has witnessed the many stages of its progress and has taken a keen interest in the observation of the forces which have so rapidly foreed the evolution of the primitive wilderness into a populated and productive agricultural region. IIe
remained on the homestead in Wright county until nineteen years of age, meanwhile attending the pub- lie schools and then became a telegraph operator on the Great Northern railroad. After three years of able service in this position, he was appointed sta- tion agent for the road at Warren, Minnesota, and continued in this capacity for sixteen years. In 1914 he was made receiver at the government land offiee at Crookston, a position for which his efficient and satisfactory service has proven him eminently fitted. Mr. O'Connell has always given his active interests to the affairs of the Demoeratie party and in fraternal cireles, is a well known member of tlie Elk lodge. His marriage to Louise Flannigan was solemnized at Waverly, in 1900. She, like her hus- band, is a native of Minnesota, born at Watertown. They have three children, James, Sydnie Georgiana and Paul J. Mr. O'Connell and his family are mem- bers of the Catholic church.
GUNDER STENERSON.
Gunder Stenerson, of Erskine, a prominent lum- berman of the northwest, is identified with two well- known lumber companies, as manager of the company of Stenerson Brothers, lumber dealers and contractors, and president of Stenerson Lumber corporation. He is a native of Norway, born August 1, 1864, and eame to this country, accompanied by his brother, Sven Stenerson, in 1886. They worked during one winter in the pineries of Michigan and then went to Dane 13
county, Wisconsin, where they were employed in the lumber eamps and at farm labor. In 1887 they were joined by the third brother, Knute Stenerson, and in the following year the three brothers removed to Min- nesota. Being acquainted with the locality of Peliean Rapids through friends and relatives, who resided there, they bought eighty aeres of timber land near that place. The land was covered with hardwood and with au expenditure of about four hundred dol-
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lars they installed a portable sawmill and secured some pine timber, and from this modest start, with notable management and business ability, they have built one of the important lumber industries and eor- porations of northern Minnesota. In 1892 the Sten- erson brothers, with Evan Olegaard, established the Olegaard & Stenerson company, with a lumber yard at Erskine. In 1890 Stenerson brothers started a yard at Pelican Rapids, and later bought the other yards at Mentor, Felton and Bornp. Sven Stenerson was a carpenter by trade and through his extensive opera- tions as a contractor and builder in Peliean Rapids added this business to the company's interests. Upon the organization of the company, Gunder Stenerson was made manager and put in charge of the Erskine yards and Knute Stenerson retained the direction of their interests at Peliean Rapids, and this arrange- ment has continued to the present time. In 1895 Mr. Olegaard withdrew from the firm and the company of Stenerson Brothers was formed, and has enjoyed a steadily growing trade, prospering in all its enter- prises, in the lumber business and as building eon- tractors, a present important contract being the erection of a United Lutheran church at Erskine at an estimated cost of some ten thousand dollars. The yard at Mentor had been sold and was later re- bought. As operated at present, the yards are located at Pelican Rapids, Erskine and Mentor, and the com- pany is owned by Gunder Stenerson and Knute Sten- erson, Sven Stenerson having sold his interest in 1913 and returned to Norway, where he purchased the old family home and made it his permanent residence.
The Stenerson Lumber company was incorporated with a capital of $100,000 and conducts an ex- tensive business through its yards at Earhardt, Hal- stad and various other places. Gunder Stenerson is the president of the company, Knute Stenerson viec president and L. I. Grina secretary, treasurer and manager. The other stockholders are Sven Stenerson, Melvin Grina, the manager of the yard at Earhardt ; Conrad Grina, local manager at Borup, and Ole Grina, who is in charge of the branch office at Halstad. Gunder Stenerson is widely known through his suc- eessful association with the various important business interests of his busy career and as business man and citizen is highly esteemed by all, and aside from his active interest and support of publie endeavor has given valuable serviee in local office, as mayor and member of the school board and is a present member of the town council. In 1907 he returned to his native land for a visit, but has continued to make his home at Erskine since 1892, spending the summer months at his cottage on Lake Sarah, a few miles distant. Ile was married in 1894 to Betsy Torgeson, daughter of Thomas Torgeson, a pioneer of the Thirteen Towns, who opened the first hotel in Erskine in 1888 and is now living on his farm, one mile south of the village. Five children were born to Mr. Stenerson and his wife, four of whom, Ragna, Ingeman, Christine and Gordon, are now living. A daughter, Corrine, died in early childhood. They are members of the Synod Lutheran church, where Mr. Stenerson gives aetive service as treasurer.
MARTIN O'BRIEN.
Martin O'Brien, of Crookston, a prominent attorney and eminent citizen of the state, was born in Boone county, Illinois, October 15, 1867. IIe is the son of Michael and Mary (Tighe) O'Brien, who were natives of Ireland. Michael O'Brien was born in county Mayo and was married to Mary Tighe in her native county of Sligo. They came to this
country abont 1850, loeating in Boone eonnty, Illinois, where he followed his trade of stone mason. They continued to make their home here until their death. Seven children survive them and three of the sous reside in Crookston. Martin O'Brien was reared in his native state and received his early education in the county schools. After graduating from the high
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school at Belvidere, Illinois, he began the study of law in the office of Judge R. W. Wright, a pioneer lawyer of Boone county. In June, 1889, he was admitted to the bar and located immediately in Crookston and began the practice of law. He has engaged in the general practice of his profession and from the inception of his career has met with noteworthy suc- cess, winning the regard and approbation of his legal associates. For two years he was a member of the firm of Wilkinson, Schmidt & O'Brien in partnership with A. C. Wilkinson and P. C. Schmidt. Since leaving this firm he has conducted an independent practice. Mr. O'Brien is a member of the Democratic party and is extensively identified with the political affairs of the state. He has been actively interested in many of the important conventions, serving as delegate at large in national convention of 1908 and district delegate to the national convention of 1912 and was made the Minnesota member of the committee on resolutions in both national conventions. He was
elected chairman of the state democratie committee in 1912 and served in this office until his professional duties necessitated his resignation and forced him to decline re-election. Whereupon he was elected vice chairman and made a member of the executive com- mittee. He is at present city attorney of Crookston, having served in that office five terms. ITis adminis- tration of public matters has been characterized by the same display of integrity and ability that has marked his private legal affairs. He has also served the county in the capacity of assistant to the county attorney in important matters of litigation, in which the county was interested. He has been E. R. of the Crookston Lodge P. B. O. E. and a member of the Grand Lodge of that order. He served for five years as member national board of Auditors, M. W. of A. He was married in Minneapolis, in 1904, to Elizabeth Mealia, who is a native of Minnesota. They have three children, Marion, John and James.
ARTHUR A. MILLER.
Arthur A. Miller, of Crookston, well-known lawyer and identified with the banking interests of the north- west, was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, September 16, 1851. His parents, Samuel and Sophia (Reid) Miller, were natives of Nova Scotia and came to Wis- consin in 1851. Here Samuel Miller located on timber land and began the arduous task of clearing and cul- tivating this tract. He devoted the remainder of his life to his farm and developed a fine property. Ilis death occurred in 1888 and that of his wife in 1914. Three children survive them, a daughter, who is the present owner of the old homestead; a son, residing at Harvard, Ill., and Arthur A. Arthur A. Miller was reared on his father's farm and attended the schools at Milton, Wis., where he graduated. Ile then entered the educational field and spent eight years teaching in the schools of his native state. But his ambitions were centered in the legal profession and in 1882, he began the study of law. The follow-
ing year he was admitted to the bar and located in Fargo, N. D. After five years of successful practice in that city, he formed a partnership with Mr. Foote and the new firm of Miller & Foote was established at Crookston in 1888, where they have enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. As a lawyer, Mr. Miller has won the respect and confidence of his professional associates. Aside from his legal activities he has been prominently identified with the growth of the financial institutions of this region. In these interests, he is associated with his law partner, Mr. Foote. In 1906 they bought the controlling interest in the Scandia American State bank. Other banks in which they own shares are the First National of Cass Lake, the Citizen State of McIntosh, the First State bank at Thief River Falls, the First National of Warren and the First National bank of Crookston. Mr. Miller also has extensive land interests, owning several thousand acres of farm land. His political affiliations are with
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