History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 71

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264

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Philander Sandford was the first lawyer who settled in Red Wing. He visited the place in the summer of 1853, and invested in a claim-right of some lots very soon after the survey of the

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original town plat. He was born in Ontario county, New York; emigrated to Detroit, Mich., with his parents while quite young, and there studied law and was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of that state in 1853. In March, 1854, he was married to Sarah J. Lee, and soon after wrote to a lady then in Red Wing, who was expecting to be ready to take boarders that season, that he should be here as early in the spring as possible and expect to board at her house. and intimated that there would be "two of us" when he should arrive. The boarding house keeper made preparations accordingly and in due time the young lawyer and his bride were settled in the new village, and both entered heart- ily into every enterprise that would help build up the place. Mr. Sandford first built an office for his professional work, and next a residence for his family. He was appointed district attorney by the governor of the territory that year, and was elected to the same office after the full organization of the county. Mr. Sand- ford proved himself a good counsellor ; was always ready to give safe legal advice in matters of litigation. He was a man of strict integrity in the transaction of business intrusted to his care. IIe died May 30. 1881. He made profession of his faith in Christ. and joined the Presbyterian church. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Captain Willett W. DeKay. In the month of June. 1891, an- other of the oldest residents of Red Wing departed this life. Per- haps no one in the vicinity was better known at the time of his death than W. W. DeKay. He was born in Orange county, New York, in 1831; emigrated to this county in 1854, where he had been a resident for nearly forty years. He enlisted in 1861 in Company E, Third Regiment, serving four years in the army; was promoted first to a lieutenancy, and afterwards became cap- tain of this company; was married in November, 1862, to Ellen O'Reily. They had four children, of whom two are living. He filled various offices in this city with a faithfulness and industry seldom equaled; was for several years city marshal; also health officer ; and served as postmaster for the term of four years. He was ever ready to help the needy and sympathize with the unfor- tunate ; was faithful in every trust imposed upon him ; a kind, true friend, a public spirited citizen has gone to his reward. Funeral services were attended in the Episcopal church, of which he was a member, by a large concourse of citizens, and a very large num- ber followed his remains to rest in that abode of the dead, in the ornamenting and beautifying of which he had taken so much in- terest.

Swante J. Willard, for many years county auditor, was born in Fjellkinge, Sweden, July 10, 1828. He graduated as teacher and organist from the seminary at Lund, which entitled him to a

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life position in the government schools. Ile taught until 1853, when he came to the United States with Hans Mattson and set- tled in Vasa. The story of the early life of these two gentlemen is told in their own words in other parts of this volume. In 1860. he became deputy auditor and in 1864 succeeded to the position of connty auditor. an office he held for twenty-four years. Hav- ing in the meantime taken up his residence in Red Wing. he was appointed clerk of the water board three years after the works were erected. and retained the position until within three years of his death. At the time of his death, March 18, 1903. it was written: "Mr. Willard's valuable services as a conscientious, accurate and painstaking publie servant are well known, it being the current report that while serving as county anditor he never made a clerical error. Ilis long life in this city and his assistance in the early development of Goodhne county will long remain in the minds and hearts of the people of Red Wing." In 1851 he married Anna Mattson, who died January 3. 1870. The oldest child died in infancy. The remaining four are Mrs. Zelma A. Christensen, Il. A. Willard. Amelie E. Willard and Mrs. C. H. Ashton. In 1875 he married Julia H. Sargent.

John Hack, a retired merchant of Red Wing, was born in Aus- tria, December 19, 1825, one of the eight children of Matthew and Annie (Buechler) Hack. John Hack received his education in the public schools and in a convent. and then learned the carving trade. Upon coming to America in 1853 he worked two years at his trade in New York, and in 1855 came to Red Wing. landing here August 12 of that year. He built two of the early hotels, the Franklin house and the Hack house. The latter was sold to Ilenry Hickman, was rebuilt in brick in 1872. and became the Iliekman house, one of the popular hostelries of the early days. Subsequently he went to Hay Creek and erected a hotel. In 1866. in company with John M. Friederich, he started in the grocery business under the firm name of Friederich & Hack. the concern being later sold to C. E. Friederich & Co. In the meantime Mr. Hack had opened a branch store in Crookston. Minn., under the name of Hack & Gallasch. After retiring from the grocery business in 1882, he took up the general real estate business, which he continued until 1894. when failing eyesight compelled his retirement from business. During his active days he was interested in the business progress of Red Wing and at- tended the now famous meeting held at Centennial hall to con- sider ways and means of starting the pottery industry here. He is still interested in the Red Wing Sewer Pipe Company, the Red Wing Union Stoneware Company. the Red Wing Shoe Company. the Red Wing Furniture Company. the Red Wing Linseed Oil Company. the Red Wing Brick Company, and the Red Wing Ce-

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ment Company. He served eight years in the city council, and in fraternal circles belonged both to the Masons, in which order he has taken thirty-two degrees, and the Odd Fellows, in which he has occupied all the chairs. Mr. Hack was married in New York in 1853 to Catherine Zacher, now deceased. He was again mar- ried. May 28. 1883, to Emma M. Gallish, daughter of Adolph and Amoene (Van Wolfrum) Gallish. The father was a native of Austria and the mother of Bavaria. The former after coming to America lived in Milwaukee and then at West Bend, Wis., later coming to Red Wing. He became interested in the sand in the vicinity of Red Wing and started the filter sand business, which his son, Adolph. Jr., still continues.

Edmund W. Brooks, a familiar figure in Red Wing in the early days, was born in Elyria. Lorain county, Ohio, September 28, 1825. Hlis parents, Samuel and Sophia (JJohnson) Brooks, came from Connecticut, their native state, in the early twenties and took up a large tract of land in Lorain county. Ohio, where they ended their days. After leaving school, Edmund W. took up the business of contracting and building at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1864, failing health caused him to seek other employment, and after coming to Red Wing he seenred an agency for the Me- Cormick harvesting machines. In this city he at once became a popular citizen. He was a believer in fresh air and outdoor di- versions, being a great hunter and fisher. Old residents still re- member the familiar sight of Mr. Brooks, Judge E. T. Wilder and T. B. Sheldon starting out in the morning on a trout fishing expe- dition. He held stock in the old potteries, in the LaGrange mills and the Red Wing Sewer Pipe Company. taking also a deep inter- est in everything that helped to develop the resources of the city. During the last seven or eight years of his life he spent two of his winters in Florida and four in California for the benefit of his health. At one time he served on the city council, being a Repub- lican in politics. He affiliated with the Masonic order and was an active worker in the Presbyterian church, of which for many years he was trustee. Mr. Brooks died at his home in Red Wing. December 28, 1898. Ilis death was the cause of heart-felt mourn- ing. he being one of those of whom it may truly he said, "He was beloved by all who knew him, and respected by all those whom his influence touched." Edmund W. Brooks was married, No- vember 12. 1851. in his native town, to Harriet E. Patterson, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kane) Patterson, born Febru- ary 16, 1830, at Mount Washington. Mass. Her family moved to Ohio in 1834, located at Elyria. and remained until 1869, when they came to Red Wing and lived a retired life. The father passed away May 30, 1871, and mother April 15. 1883. To Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were born three children. Carrie, whose natal day

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was May 25, 1853, at Cleveland, Ohio, was married to Charles E. Sheldon, of this city, October 30, 1878. Lydia Louise, born in the same city, June 24. 1857, was married October 11, 1877, to George H. Malcolmson, of Milwaukee. Edmund De Witt, born May 2, 1866, married Edith M. Brooks, of Iowa, July 25, 1895. He now resides in Minneapolis.

Edward C. Erb, Red Wing, who has charge of the extensive Lawther real estate interests in this county, is a native of Rice county, this state, born March 25, 1865. His father, Christian Erb, was a native of Germany and came to America in 1841, locating in Illinois. There he met and married Geneva Kneedler, a native of New York state, who several years previous had moved to Illinois. In 1855 they moved to Rice county, this state, pur- chased a farm, and followed farming for many years, after which they disposed of the homestead and moved to Faribault. The schools of his neighborhood afforded Edward C. his earliest edu- cation, after which he took a course in the Red Wing Business College. He teamed for one year in St. Paul, and then entered the employ of a well and windmill concern, taking charge of the construction work. In 1891 he purchased a half interest in this company, the firm name being Lazarus & Erb. In 1892 Mr. Erb became constructing expert for the Northwestern Wind Mill En- gine Company, one season, after which in the fall of that year he came to Red Wing and entered the employ of James Lawther. He has remained in that employ for a number of years, at the present time being Wm. and Eva T. Lawther's local business rep- resentative. Mr. Erb is a Republican in politics, and has won praise by his excellent service as chairman of the board of public works, and member of the school board. He belongs to the Ma- sonic order. For three years he served as a member of Company G. The family faith is that of the Methodist church. Mr. Erb was married, October 15, 1896, to Nellie E. Burke, of Diamond Bluff. Wis., daughter of L. C. and Fannie Carriel) Burke, the former of whom was proprietor of a general store in that village for many years. He died August 23. 1897, and the mother, July 7. 1907. To Mr. and Mrs. Erb has been born one son, Lawson Edward, September 14. 1901.

Sidney Smith Grannis, now living in retirement in Red Wing, has for many decades been one of the prominent men of the county, and has assisted materially in the industrial growth of this section of the country. He was born in Irasburg, Vermont, October 21. 1820. son of Sidney and Betsey (Strobridge) Grannis, both of whom were born and brought up in Claremont, N. H., where they were also married. The father in early youth served a seven years' apprenticeship to the trade of clothier, and with his brother Evander started in that business in Irasburg. After

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some five or six years there, they closed out their business, and Sidney, the father of the subject of this sketch, removed with his family to Utica, N. Y., and later to Morrisville, in the same state. At the age of eighteen, Sidney S. bought his time for $200, to be paid later, and started in life for himself. In the summer of 1856, in company with Abraham Howe, he came west with a view to engaging in the lumber business. They first visited Fond du Lac, Wis., and took notes of some twenty-five saw mills ; afterward going up the Wolf river into the pine woods as far as New London and Royalton, near Green Bay, where John Moore, a son-in-law of Mr. Howe. was engaged in lumbering, both logging and milling. Finding nothing there to suit them, they went to William Howe's, some fourteen miles from Racine, Wis. It was here decided that Mr. Grannis should make a trip alone to Minnesota, still looking for a suitable business location. Accordingly, about July 1, he started for Dunleith, opposite Dubuque, and from there took the steamer Fannie Harris for St. Paul. After arriving in St. Paul he went to Stillwater and then up the St. Croix river to Taylor's falls. Finding nothing to suit him there, he went to Prescott and then to Ilastings. There were disadvantages in a location there, so he came to Red Wing and here found what he wanted. Ar- rangements were made with William Freeborn for a location at the end of Bluff street, from LaGrange to Levee street, at the top of a bold rock or ledge. The price of this location was to be $750. Upon his return home with a favorable report, a company was organized with S. S. Grannis, George HI. Granis, Peter Daniels and William Howe, the firm name being Grannis, Daniels & Co. In October, Mr. Grannis visited Red Wing and completed arrange- ments, afterward returning to the old home at Morrisville, N. Y. April 20, 1857, S. S. Grannis, Peter Daniels and a party consisting of Elijah Atkins, Almeric Childs, Charles M. Grannis, Orson Blanchard, Harvey Miller, William Ingram, Ira MeClenthen and wife set out from Morrisville to Red Wing to set up the mill. Work was at once started clearing the recently purchased prop- erty in Red Wing, and on June 1 S. S. Grannis went back to Morrisville after machinery. This was properly placed and on July 20 the first log was sawed. Among the first output was some timber of the Cannon Falls bridge. In the spring of 1858, Will- iam Howe, one of the partners, located permanently in Red Wing. In the course of the summer Mr. Howe and Mr. Grannis bought the acre lot, No. 12, block 2, Freeborn & Co.'s addition, of Robert Todd, and each erected houses, Mr. Howe's being the one now numbered 712 and Mr. Grannis the one now numbered 722 Bush street. The business at the mill continued to increase, and from it came the timber for the county courthouse, built by D. C. Hill. In the fall Mr. Grannis brought his wife and two children here,

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and established his home. In 1859, Mr. Grannis was elected a member of the city council, and October 8 of that year he and his wife, together with their daughter. now Mrs. Ellen McCord. of this place. united with the First Presbyterian church of Red Wing by letter from the Congregational church at Morrisville, N. Y. About this time, in 1860. he was chosen a school director, and in this year also several additions were made to the machinery in the mill. November 11. 1861. he was elected elder in the Presby- terian church. a position he held for thirty-two years, and then resigned. In the spring of 1862. Mr. Daniels, one of the partners, returned after an absence of nearly five years and with him came Abraham Howe, whose son. A. Howe, Jr .. was the engineer at the Grannis mills. In the spring of 1863. George II. Grannis came out from Morrisville. N. Y., and the Grannis interests in the mills were sold out. the firm becoming Daniels. Howe & Co. Mr. Gran- nis at once started the plans for sawing shingles, using a scheme by which he planned to ent many more from a log than was then the practice. In the fall of 1863, Mr. Grannis was elected a mem- 'ber of the legislature, and took his seat the following January. During his term in the legislature Mr. Grannis put through a bill giving the city of Red Wing a city charter, and authorizing the. city to issue bonds for its school districts, for the purpose of rais- ing school funds. In this connection it may be mentioned that Mr. Grannis was the one who purchased for the city the land where the Central school now stands from D. C. Hill, whose resi- dence was moved across the street. where it now stands, in a re- modeled and improved condition. A bill for the location of an insane asylum in Red Wing. in which Mr. Grannis was interested. failed to pass. The machinery for sawing shingles, erected on a boat. was in operation before July 11, 1864. and the output from the beginning was very large. Early in the winter Mr. Grannis acquired land in Hartland heavily covered with timber. Follow- ing this came negotiations for the purchase of the Central Point mill property of Spotswood. Scott & Sterrett from A. G. Hudson, the trustee. Later the Drew property was also purchased. It was in the engine room of this mill that F. F. Philleo and his son William, in 1867. started the manufacture of terra cotta flower pots, one of the early beginnings of the pottery industry in the county. The whole property was afterward sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Construction Company. In 1866, Mr. Grannis was appointed surveyor general of the third of the seven lumber districts then existing in the state. It is interest- ing to note that during these eight or ten years Mr. Grannis pur- chased, including the property already mentioned, the shingle ma-

. chinery from the Starr mill at Lake City, the Central Point mill property, the machinery from the Florence mill. from the Trenton,

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Ilastings and Frontenac mills, and from the Sanderson & Me- Glashen mills, as well as the Drew mill property. In June, 1865, George H. Grannis returned from the east and with Sidney S. improved the Central Point mill property to a considerable extent. In 1865. Mr. Grannis was elected county commissioner for the first district, representing Red Wing, Burnside and Grant. In the summer of 1864, S. S. Grannis, Hon. E. T. Wilder and J. C. Pierce were appointed a committee to purchase a town farm. A suitable place was selected in Burnside, and in 1866 the house was built by Ole K. Simmons, with Alexander Coons as poor- master. The succeeding years were spent by Mr. Grannis in in- creasing his lumbering operations and in acquiring additional property. In 1870, Mr. Grannis met with an accident on a shingle saw, cutting off about half of the length of all the fingers and thumb of his left hand. The shock and pain were great, and from the effects Mr. Grannis has never fully recovered. Subsequently he spent many years at the Central Point property and finally retired.

Mr. Grannis was married in 1842 to Sarah Shaw Howe, of Westmoreland, N. II., by whom he had six children : Ellen M., born in 1843; Sidney Howe, born in 1845; Sidney, born in 1847; Hiram, born in 1851; Edward H., born in 1854, and Mary Etta, born in 1860. Sidney H., Sidney and Hiram died young. Ed- ward H. was assistant surgeon in the Third Wisconsin infantry company for several years, with the rank of captain. He enlisted in the United States service with his regiment and went to Porto Rico. Was promoted to surgeon with rank of major and was mustered out with his regiment in 1899. Since then he has re- mained in the service of the state of Wisconsin. Ellen M. Mc- Cord resides in Red Wing, and Mary Etta Carlsrud, who has two daughters, lives in Minneapolis. Mrs. Grannis died in 1884.

William H. Putnam, Red Wing, banker, comes of New England parentage, his parents being William R. and Mary (Phelps) Put- nam, of Danvers, Mass. The mother died in that town, and the father, in 1876, took up his residences in Red Wing, where he lived until his death, in 1886. William H., born January 22, 1848, attended the district schools in Danvers, Mass., his native town, and in 1867 came to Red Wing. For six years he was employed as a clerk in the office of the county auditor, after which, in 1873, he entered the employ of the bank of Pierce, Simmons & Co., with which institution he has since remained. After ten years of serv- ice he was chosen cashier, a position he held å quarter of a cen- tury. From cashier he was promoted to vice-president, and on January 1. 1908, he assumed his present position as president. His years of active service have covered a wide range of the busi- ness and financial growth of the county, and with this progress

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Mr. Putnam has been prominently identified. Mr. Putnam has successively been elected to the state legislature since 1903, and has presented and actively advocated many important measures during his term of service. A Republican in politics, Mr. Putnam has served as councilman, as a member of the school board, and for two terms as mayor of the city. He is interested in the ma- jority of the leading manufacturing concerns of Red Wing. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and of Red Wing Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M.

William Larnard Webster, retired, has engaged successively in several Red Wing business enterprises. Of New England an- cestry, he was born at Croydon, N. H., February 19, 1826, his father. William W. (married to Azuba Gale) being of that sturdy type of Yankee blacksmith immortalized by Longfellow in his famous poem. "The Village Blacksmith." The father died in 1867 and the mother in 1874. William L. received his early edu- cation in Claremont. Sullivan county, New Hampshire, and at Windsor, in the same state. The tailoring trade, which he then learned. was his occupation at Windsor and Charleston, N. H., until 1856. On his arrival in Red Wing. in that year, he became proprietor of the Kelley house, a popular hostelry of the early days. A year later he opened a jewelry store. and still another year later he embarked in the livery business. In those days Red Wing had no railroads, and the demand for horses was great. Year by year the business grew. the livery, boarding and sale stables all being conducted on a successful seale. In 1906, after many years of hard work, he sold out his business and retired. He still makes his home in Red Wing, he and his wife living at 705 Fourth street. Mr. Webster was married at Hartland. Vt .. June 19, 1848, to Susan W. Sturtevant. of that place, daughter of Thomas F. and Rosaline T. (Taylor) Sturtevant. the former of whom was a manufacturer of cloth. The father died in 1876 and the mother in 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Webster has been born one son. Frank. head clerk and manager of the Willard hotel at St. Paul. W. L. Webster is a Universalist in religion, a Republican in politics and a member of the Odd Fellows.

George R. Sterling, a prominent Red Wing manufacturer of the early days. now deceased. was a native of Luzern county, Pennsylvania, born JJuly 14 .- 1831. When quite young he was taken by his parents to New York state, later to Vernon county. Wisconsin. Thence he moved to Pierce county, Wisconsin, after- ward to St. Paul. Minn. In June, 1858. he came to Red Wing and started the manufacture of boots and shoes, under the firm name of G. R. Sterling & Co. In this business he remained for about three decades, retiring from active business in 1887. The growth of the Sterling concern was associated with the growth of the

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county, and its activities had their part in the npbuilding of the city during the seventies and eighties. Mr. Sterling was a Re- publican in politics, but always refused to accept public office. In fraternal affiliations he was a Mason, and in religious belief a follower of the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died September 21, 1897, at his home in Red Wing. George R. Sterling was married at Red Wing, June 29, 1862. to Eliza MeGarvey, daughter of Edward and Eliza (Henry) MeGarvey, natives of Belfast, who located in Canada in the early days. There the father died in 1874, and the mother came to Red Wing, where she ended her days in 1884. To Mrs. Eliza Sterling were born five children : Myrtie, of Chicago; Jennie, wife of Dr. F. W. Dimmit, of Red Wing; Florence, wife of Charles C. Lenth, a missionary who died in India in 1900; Mary L., wife of Dr. C. A. Ishman, of Minneapolis, and Edward M., who was born in 1876 and died in 1881. Mrs. Eliza Sterling died January 7. 1877. April 13, 1878, Mr. Sterling married Isabelle MeGarvey. a sister of his first wife. born in Belfast, Ireland, February 20, 1847. To this union have been born three children: Alice II., born October 5, 1880. is a successful school teacher; as is Georgiana R., born September 25, 1883. William M. was born July 17, 1885, and died May 5, 1888. During his lifetime Mr. Sterling was noted as a hunter. He loved the out-of-doors and was an unerring shot. many a wild beast fall- ing a victim to his rifle. He had an inexhaustible supply of hunt- ing stories, and being of a sociable disposition, his stories of life in the woods after big game became well circulated throughout the county, many of them being still remembered and told to the present day.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 71

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1264

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264