History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 104

Author: Warner, George E., 1826?-1917; Foote, C. M. (Charles M.), 1849-1899; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893; Williams, J. Fletcher (John Fletcher), 1834-1895
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Minneapolis, North Star Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738

USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 104

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

Iron Manufacturing Company. at that time the largest works of the kind in Milwaukee. His first work there was to build a 250 horse-power, low- pressure beam engine. it being the first in that city, and was built for Mr. Smith's new elevator, A. In 1866 the steam engine, boiler, ete., were built under his supervision for J. Dean and Company's Pa- eific mill, and August 16th of that year he ar- rived in Minneapolis. to put the machinery in the mill. It was accomplished on the 8th of October. and the firm were so well pleased with his work that they presented him with one hundred dol- lars, as a token of appreciation. Ile liked this city so well that he determined to make it his home, in time. July 1st, 1868, he bought an in- terest in the Cream City Iron Works, in Milwau- kee, and the business was carried on under the name of Menzel, Stowell and Company, until November, 1870, when he withdrew from the firm, to come to Minneapolis and accept the posi- tion offered him as superintendent of the North Star Iron Works, of this city. The following is some of the work done under his supervision : the celebrated saw-mill of W. D. Washburn and Company, at Anoka, also Isaae Staples', at Still- water ; the engine at the Nicollet Ilouse, engine and machinery in the City Hall, including passen- ger and freight elevator, the first in the city ; the engines at Captain Rollins'saw-mill, Barnard and Company's factory, ete .; he also designed all of the above machinery. On the first of April, 1874, he formed a partnership with his son, Charles G., and D. C. Howard, to establish the Northwestern Foundry. The works are located on the corner of Third street and Tenth Avenue south, on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. The first gray iron eastings were made July 13th, and the first ear-wheels, first in the city, were cast October 12th, 1874. On the 1st of September, L. V. N. Blakeman bought the interests of C. G. Menzel and D. C. Iloward, and the business is still carried on under the name of G. Menzel and Company. It may well be said of the firm, they have a good, hard-earned reputation. Ilis family circle, until their arrival here, was unbroken, and consisted of his wife Henrietta, Maggie II., Car- rie M., Charles G., Minnie A., and Emma D) .; but to his great sorrow, his eldest and beloved daugh- ter, Maggie II., passed away, January 24th, 1872. T. E. Mercer, a native of Illinois, was born at

Peoria, June 27th, 1850. He came to Minneapo- lis in 1864, and attended school several years, two of which were spent at the University. Ile moved to Grinnell, Iowa and engaged in the hotel business and followed it until 1877, when he re- turned to this eity and was in the grocery busi- ness until April 15th, 1880. He then opened the restaurant and oyster house on Third street, be- tween Nicollet and Hennepin Avenue. He mar- ried Emma Brown, May 15th, 1872.

O. C. Merriman, born July 27th, 1827, in St. Lawrence county, New York. From 1854 until 1859 he resided in Wisconsin, then removed to St. Anthony, and has since been identified with this place. For a time he engaged in the practice of law, but since 1870 has been in the lumber business ; he was a member of the firm of L. But- ler and Company. The firm of Merriman, Bar- rows and Company, as at present organized, dates from April, 1878. Mr. Merriman's wife was Rosanna Herring of St. Lawrence county, New York ; their marriage took place in 1854. They have four boys and one girl living.

Charles Metzger was born May 19th, 1842, at Albany, New York. In 1849 he accompanied his parents to Galena, Illinois, where he lived until 1856 ; in the fall of that year he came to Minne- sota and settled in St. Paul, where he learned the painter's trade. He enlisted in 1861 and was dis- charged in 1862. Ile re-enlisted in 1864, serving until the close of the war. Since 1870 he has lived in this city and been employed as painter and house decorator. September 12th, 1865, he married Charlotte Halgren of HHinois,

Fritz Metzke, a native of Prussia, was born May 2d, 1827. He came to the United States in. 1852 and located in Chicago. He was in the hat, cap and fur business until July, 1880, when he came here and opened what is known as the Chi- eago Exchange, at 117 Nicollet Avenue. In 1854 he married Ino Kirchner. They have had seven children, only two are living.

John D. Meyer, a native of Germany, was born November 28th, 1820. He came to the United States in 1852 and lived in New York two years. HIe removed to St. Louis and two years later to La Crosse, Wisconsin, being all the while engaged in the dyeing business. In 1866 he came to this city ; his steam dyeing establishment is at No. 2 Hennepin Avenne. He married Mary Sefried

11-1CHYOF HENNEPIN COUNTY.

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1.44 Mr. Smith became his partner. forming a Verg afterusing and prosperous firm. Mr. Miller married in 157s. Jennie Ileath. They Laverne child. Mary.

Walter Miller, a native of England, came to 1. linked states in 1569. and located in Min- Lesota City. He remained there two years, en- gabel m mailling. having learned that business in Ligard. Ile then lived in Lanesboro about one and om half years, and from that time was em- Hoved in different mills in this state until May 1450; Since then he has been working as packer n the Standard mill of this city.

sylvester Mills came to Minneapolis in 1855. and for seven years worked a farm in this town- Nap. He now has a bowling saloon and bar at 16. Second street sonth.

David A. Milne, born March 15th, 1853, in

and the next year commenced working in a mill. He removed to Nashua in Is71. and for two years had change of E. P. Greely's mill: he then came to the city, and was employed by Mr. Cahill one In the spring of 1561 he rented the Money Crock Mill. at Houston, Minnesota. From there went to Salem, Wisconsin, and in 1577, returned In Minneapolis. He was with Washburn until Joh. 1599, and since then has been at the odlaws. where he is the head miller. He mar- ried Linna Pattison, Angust 191h 1875.

Charles A Mitchell. business manager of the Tr bne was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, september loth. 1515. His first business ven- tute was in connection with the Boston Gold Mi 12 Company. in the fall of 1565. The com- 1 is oft lum to Colorado, where he remained leven anden months. Thence he returned 1. l' ten, remand there until June 7. 1569, Vle crane to Minneapolis and became iden- Wal with the rowspapeis of this city in July, 14. 11 1 tal ing change of the circulation of the s Fad Derer. in Minneapolis. He remained w1.1 .1 .1et. and its successor. the Pioneer Imel int 1 1-76, when that paper was consoli- Me 1 with the Morning Tubune and the Even- Le Mal Mr Mitchell at that time purchased Be ceraden of the Mail and the Tribune, got thecwter as long as the Pioneer god their hands of the present company,

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up to March 9th, when he was made manager of the Tribune. Mr. Mitchell was married in No- vember, 1878, to Miss Mary J. Church, of Boston, Massachusetts.

Amos L. Miner was born November 27th, 1837, in Clinton county, New York. He lived with his parents until thirteen years of age, when he went to East Salem and clerked in a store for his brother, about two years. He then removed with his brothers to Juneau, Wisconsin, thence to Horicon, and after one year to St. Croix county, where he learned the trade of mill-wright. In 1862 he enlisted in the Thirtiethi Wisconsin Vol- unteers, and served three years. Ile came to this city in June, 1866, and was one year with Web- ster and Pray, then went to Polk county and worked a farm five years. In 1871 he returned, and for nearly two years had charge of the mill- furnishing department of Lee and Hardenbergh's iron-works. Ile invented a middlings purifier, and manufactured them, in partnership with llar- denbergh and Fender, until October, 1873, when he sold his interest to O. A. Pray, and acted as superintendent of the old Minnesota Iron-Works, until June 1st, 1878, when he became a partner in the firm of O. A. Pray and Company. Ile mar- ried Sarah Beede in 1859. Their children are: Adella, Mary, Lydia and Charles; one died in in- fancy.

John Mittwer, a native of Prussia, was born March 30th, 1844. He came to the United States in 1868, and has resided in Minneapolis most of the time since. He worked at painting, and af- terward in a hardware store until 1875 when he engaged in trade for himself. Ile owns the building which he now occupies, 1301 Washing- ton Avenue north, and is doing a good business in hardware. In 1870 he married Frederica Weiss, who has borne him one child, Julius.

Louis Moelchert, born in 1851, is a native of Prussia. In 1873 he came to Minneapolis, and was employed for five years in the hardware trade, part of the time selling goods on the road. In June, 1879, he fitted up and opened bis present place of business, 503 Washington Avenue north. ITis wife was Miss Anna Brown ; their marriage occurred in 1875. They are the parents of two children: Etta and Minne.

E. Mohr, a native of Germany, was born in 1854. Ile emigrated to the United States in 1871, and

located at Sheboygan, Wisconsin. In 1879 he re- moved to Minneapolis and engaged in the bakery business at the corner of Fifth street and Sixth Avenue south. Ilis marriage with Mary Torpe occurred September 30th, 1877. They have two children: Panl and Minnie.

A. P. Molin, is a native of Sweden, born April 3d, 1851. Hle came to the United States in 1869, making Chicago his home two years. After taking a tour throughout the country he came to this city in 1873, and has since made this his place of resi- dence. In 1876 he became one of the partners in the firm of Ryberg and Company in the Stockholm meat-market.

M. C. Mooney was born October 29th, 1854, at Newport, Vermont. In 1866 he went to Boston, Massachusetts, and worked at the meat trade in Fanenil Hall Market, and in the same business at Cambridge, Massachusetts, until March, 1879, when he removed to Minneapolis, and in August of the year following, bought an interest in the firm of Barker and Company, 717 Washington Avenne south.

Professor John G. Moore was born in Germany in November, 1848. His father dying. Mr. Moore in 1863, came to America with his guardian, and went to Oswego county, New York. At the close of the war. he made a tour through the South, and then went to New Haven. Connecticut. After attending school for a time, he returned to Oswego county, entered the academy at Mex- ico, where he fitted for college, and entered Cor- nell University whence he graduated after a four years course. After graduating, he heid the po- sition of instructor in German in Trumansburg Academy, in Tompkins county, for two years. In 1873 he received an offer from the State Uni- versity, which he accepted, and after being em- ployed as instructor in German for two years was appointed Professor of German, which he still retains. Professor Moore was married, in 1877, to Miss Anna Cole of Sene a, New York. They have one child, William C.

1I. G. O. Morrison was born in Livermore, Maine. Jannary 24th, 1817. In the spring of 1834 he went into a printing-office at Gardner, and from there to Bangor the following Decem- ber, where he engaged on the Bangor Whig and Conrier. Ile graduated at the Bangor high school, and read law with Appleton and Hill, the

HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.

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1-2. remained about two years. and removed to Macomb, Illinois, where he was in the real es- 1.t. business until he enlisted. in 1862, in Seventy- elith Illinois Volunteers as private, and was promoted to first lieutenant. He was captured and held a prisoner seventeen months; after he re omned his regiment. he was commissioned cap- 1.un. and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. The following spring he came here, and for a lune engaged in the purchase of flour for eastern markets: then was in the wholesale grocery trade thtre years with Messrs. Stephens and Newell, and has since been doing an extensive real estate and loan business. April, 1859, he married Liz- zy Pillsbury, who has borne him six children; the hving are, George, Mary. Edward, William and Frank.

Frank L. Morse, a native of Vermont, was born January, 1837, at Johnson. April, 1858, he came to St. Anthony. At the first Minneapolis election he was chosen alderman, and was three times re-elected to that office: he was also eleeted In represent this district in the legislature in 1871, and four times re-elected. Mr. Morse was mar- ned in Chicago. June, 1879, to Catherine Cum- mings, of Burlington. Vermont.

George A. Morse was born in Peterborough, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, July 6th, 1-30. He moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1-sg. and two years later to Lewistown, Maine. In October, 151. be come to this city, and the vear following, started in the book and stationery business: he is located at 206 Central Avenue. Mr. Morse's family consists of a wife and one son.

Thas W. Mortimer was born at Hastings, Eng- laurel Mas 38th. 1>37. He came to America and lowrated at St. Paul in 1865, working at the baker's trade. In 1543 he enlisted in the Fifth Minne- ofa Infantiy and served until the fall of 1865; when des Inged he was orderly sergeant of com- jany l' He returned to Minnesota and has since leen employed by the St. Paul. Minneapolis and Manitoba railway company. He is now baggage amstel the Northern Pacific railroad, the Chi- cagn st. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha railway, and general baggage agent for the Minneapolis and st lams railroad. His wife was Altanice Hayford of Farmersville, New York. Their dl Min an Chas, Mary Jane, Georgia and Wil-

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G. W. Mortimer was born at St. Paul, Minne- sota, July 27th, 1857. He moved with his pa- rents to Northfield, where he worked three years in the paeking department of the Ames mill. In 1870 lie came to this city and for three years was employed at the Washburn B mill ; he was with Mr. Cahill at Minnetonka two years, and one year at the Pillsbury mill here. He then removed to Red Wing and was employed in a mill there three years, but returned to Minneapolis in August, 1880, and went to work at the Galaxy. Ilis wife was Miss G. A. Foster. Their children are: Chancie and Frederick.

Elias Moses, born April ISth, 1829, in Piscata- quis county, Maine. He was left an orphan at the age of fourteen, and when eighteen years of age engaged as salesman in a general merchan- dise store; the next year he went into the lumber business, which he carried on, in connection with farming, for eight years. Hecame to St. Anthony in October, 1856, and has since been in the lumber trade, having been in business for himself since 1860. Ile married Lydia Nichols, of Maine, in 1852. Their three children have all passed away: Hannah, Ilerbert and an unnamed infant. Mrs. Moses died April 4th, 1879.

E. II. Moulton, a native of New York city, was born January 10th, 1841. He came to Minneapo- lis in 1872 and has been treasurer of the Farmers and Mechanics Savings bank since its organiza- tion in 1874. Mr. Moulton's wife was Harriet Skiles; their marriage occured November 11th, 1874. They have two children: Kate and Eder.

E. Moulton, deceased, was born in 1827, at Haviland, Maine. He came to St. Anthony in 1849 and worked at carpentering fifteen years. In 1864 he established the second planing mill on the east side. The firm of E. Moulton and son, commenced manufacturing farm wagons in 1879, making a specialty of "The Moulton Wagon;" shop is at the corner of Division and Taylor streets, east division. Mr. Moulton died during the winter of 1850.

John B. Mueller was born in Bavaria in 1850. He emigrated to America and was twelve years engaged in the manufacture of Morocco leather, at Milwaukee, and at the same time had an inter- est in a New York fur company. In 1862 he re- moved to St. Paul, where for three years he was engaged in the distillery and wholesale liquor

trade. May, 1865, he came to this city, and that year the corner stone of the Mueller and Hein- rich brewery was laid by Kranzlein and Mueller. In 1857 he married Rosa Smith, of Milwaukee. They have seven children.

Louis C. Mueller was born in Germany, March 24th, 1839. In February, 1859, he came to the United States, and lived in Milwaukee ten years, employed as salesman for a large dry goods house. Ile removed with his brother to Faribault in 1865, and although commencing with very little capital, they have by energy and perseverance, built up the leading dry goods house of that place. In 1876 Mr. Mueller opened, in Minneapolis, the German-Scandinavian Bank, and was president of the institution; after paying all depositors, he closed the bank in October, 1878. He has been a member of the firm of Mueller and Schulte since June, 1880; they deal in harness and saddlery hardware. Mr. Mueller married, in 1868, Matilda Ilill. They have one child: Cora.

A. II. Mudgett, a native of Maine, was born in 1824, at Ilallowell. Ile moved to Boston in 1842, and Chicago in 1862, thence to Rochelle, and in 1875, to Tiptown. He has been in practice as a veterinary surgeon more than thirty years. In April, 1878, he came to this city; his office is at 410 Fourth street sonth.

William Mulliken, born July 19th, 1830, in Steuben county, New York. IIe learned civil en- gineering and followed that business in Ohio and Indiana until 1856, when he went to Illinois. and in 1860, to Wisconsin. Ile came to this city in July, 1863, and was employed as assistant engineer on the Minneapolis and St. Paul Railway unt 1 De- cember, 1865, when he went to the Pennsylvania oil regions. He returned to Minnesota, and has much of the time since, been in the real estate business; he was in the United States land office from 1870 to '74. and was one year special agent in the pension department. In June, 1880, he re- turned to this city, and has since been dealing in pine lands. He married Sarah Cortelyon in 1859. They have one child, Ida.

Albert S. Munger was born March 1st, 1837. at Orwell. Vermont. In 1857, he moved to Water- ford, Minnesota, and worked at farming a num- ber of years; he removed to this city in 1867 and was engaged with George B. Wright on the Northern Pacific Railroad until 1870, when he

HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.

1-1 when le went la

e come with his par-

Umton, whom he married in 1868. Mrs. Myers dud February 27th, 1577, leaving one child. Mary

W. D. Myers. M. D .. was born in Madison county. New York, February, 1830. He was ed- ucated at Washington, D. C .. and graduated from De National University, medical department of Colomba College. He was one year surgeon of the Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and after being mustered out. resumed his practice at Waterloo, Indiana. December, 1878, he came to this city and established the Surgical Infirmary, of which he is surgeon and medical director. It bas thirty finely furnished rooms, and is situated on the corner of Second Avenue south and Third street.

CHAPTER LXXXL.

BIOGRAPINCAL, N, O AND P.

Rev. Edward Duffield Neill was the first Pro- Instant clergyman who settled in St. Paul. He was born in Philadelphia on August 9th. 1823, and is the son of the late Henry Neill. M. D., one of the vice presidents of the college of physicians in that city. He was a student at the University ud Pennsylvania and Amherst College, Massachu- watts, graduating in 1512, at the latter institution. His theological studies were pursued at Andover Theological Seminary, and under the distin- gurshed commentator. the Rev. Albert Barnes of M'Inladelphia. Declining calls to churches in 1417. he went to the neighborhood of Galena, Il- Imnors, where he performed missionary labor among the miners. At his own request he was transferred to St. Paul, then a small hamlet, by the Presbyter of Galena, and on the 230 of April, 1419. arrived there, and at once commenced his ladoors, and made arrangements to build the first Mick dwelling in Minnesota, which is still in good preservation, situated near the corner of Fourth and Washington, opposite the Metropoli- tân Hotel. St. Paul. During the first year of his Leiderce in st. Paul he also preached at the falls of -1. Anthony every other Sunday afternoon, as

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has been mentioned in the history of Minneapo- lis. He erected the first Protestant house of wor- ship for the white population of Minnesota, at St. Paul, in the summer of 1849, and in November of the same year organized the First Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. In May, 1850, the wooden church building was destroyed by fire, and a large brick church at the corner of Third and St. Peter streets was built in its place, and is now changed into stores. Resigning the charge of the First Presbyterian church. he began to preach in the new and upper portion of St. Paul, where there were no churches, and in 1855 organized the church known as the "House of Hope." now the largest in that city, of which the Rev. David R. Breed is pastor. Ile acted as its pastor for five years, when he resigned. Williams, in his "Ilistory of St. Paul" writes: "During this period he gave great attention to educational and literary mat- ters. Ile was appointed territorial superintend- ent of instruction in 1851, and held that oflice two years. In 1853 he organized and secured the erec- tion and endowment of the 'Baldwin School." In 1855 he secured the building of the 'College of St. Paul,' which was for several years a clas- sical academy for young men. He was at the same time secretary of the St. Paul board of edu- cation. For several years he was chancellor of the State University. He was also state superin- tendent of public instruction from 1858 to 1864, and secretary of the Historical Society from 1851 to 1863." Hon. D. Burt, state superintendent of public instruction, in his report in iss1 to the legislature of Minnesota, writes: "The territorial law of 1851, requiring the governor to appoint a superintendent of schools, remained in the statutes until 1860. In that year, it was enacted, that the Chancellor of the University, an officer then required to be appointed by the board of regents should be ex-officio superintendent. This act made E. D. Neill the first state superintendent of public instruction. In the first state report, he recommended the gen- uine township system, and the appointment of county superintendents, and also that the ap- portionment of school funds should be made, upon the number of scholars, attending the dis- triet school. Two of these early recommenda- tions have been realized, and the third is yet to come. The first annual state report could con-

tain but few statistics, since territorial superin- tendents had adopted no plan for githering such data. Mr. Neill was the author of the first teachers' register ever issued in the state, and of the first forms used for reports on the condition of schools. On the 7th of March, 1861, a law was passed requiring a joint convention of the senate and house to elect a superintendent of public instruction for a term of twoyears. What- ever may have been the motives dictating this legislation. it could not have resulted from any general hostility to Mr. Neill. for on the same day in which the act became a law, he was elected, in joint convention. by an almost unani- mous vote, as superintendent of public instruc- tion, for two years. But on the 29th of April, he was appointed chaplain of the First Minnesota, causing a vacancy in the superintendency, which the Governor filled, by requirement of the school Jaw.

In June, 1861, he accompanied the first troops that left Fort Snelling, for the seat of war, as chaplain of the First Minnesota Regiment, and was with that regiment, in the first battle of Bull Run, and at Fair Oaks, and in the seven day's conflict ending at Malvern Ilills. He was then appointed by President Lincoln, United States hospital chaplain, and assigned to one of the Philadelphia hospitals. Early in 1864, he re- ceived an appointment at the President's house, in Washington, as secretary to open and arrange al. correspondence, and to sign land patents for the President. He continued on duty in the Executive mansion until he was appointed by President Grant, in 1869, United States consul at Dublin. He held the consulate for two years, then resigned, and resumed his work in Minne- sota, which had been suspended by the civil war, as president of the Baldwin School and Col- lege of St. Paul, which were consolidated by the legislature. in 1874, as Macalester College, so called, because the late Charles Macalester, of Philadelphia, bequeathed to the college the large tive story stone edifice, built for a hotel, situated in the East Division of Minneapolis, overlooking the Falls of St. Anthony.

In January, 1874, Mr. Neill was one of the first clergymen to unite in the Reformed Episco- pal church movement, and, he was instrumental in the erection of Christ Church, on Hennepin

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History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 104

Author: Warner, George E., 1826?-1917; Foote, C. M. (Charles M.), 1849-1899; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893; Williams, J. Fletcher (John Fletcher), 1834-1895 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Minneapolis, North Star Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 738

Author: Warner, George E., 1826?-1917; Foote, C. M. (Charles M.), 1849-1899; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893; Williams, J. Fletcher (John Fletcher), 1834-1895
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Minneapolis, North Star Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738