History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 109

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 109

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(. W. Shatto, a native of Warren, Ohio, was born in November. 1840. At the age of ten years he accompanied his parents to Minnesota, and followed farming until Is68, when he enlisted in the First Minnesota Volunteers, and served until the expiration of his term of service. Then worked at freighting from Omaha to Denver un- til 1-66. when he came to this city and was em- played In Gould and Company. the pioneer agri- cultural implement firm, until engaging in busi- ness for himself. In 1822 he married Miss Sarah Tmkham. in Minneapolis, They have one child.

John W. Sherwood was born December 17th, 1×17. at London, England. Learned the book- binder's trade in his native place and came to America in 1848: he resided in New York four years, and three years in Connecticut, thenee to Woodstock. Canada. December, 1855, he came to Minneapolis and established the first book bindery in the city ; he does edge gilding and all kinds of work pertaining to his business. ilis wife was Lucinda Marston. The children born to them were: Eney. John, Rachel, Reuben, John, Nelson, Cedric, Mary and Naomi : four of these have passed away.

M. R. Sherwood, son of the above, was born in London, England, September 12th. 1846. Came to the United States in is)s. and in 1865 to Min- neapolis. He commenced the manufacture of pajer boxes in 1872 and was the first in the city to make a specialty of that line of work : he is now doing a large business at 123 and 125 Nieal- let Avenue. Mr. Sherwood was married in May. 1577. to Julia Anderson of Iowa. They have one child. Frederick.

Sherburne and White are proprietors of the Andsor House, located on Washington Avenue, at the corner of First Avenue north. The build- ing is owned In 1. 1 .. Cook ; it was erected by W. F. Hanscom in 1867; it has a frontage of VINy SIN fect on Washington Avenue and a depth of one hundred feet : the house is three stories lugh and there are fifty-four rooms. Messrs. Sherburne and White leased, refitted and refur- misled the house ; they are old and popular hotel men who always endeavor to please their guests.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

B. P. Shuler, a native of Pennsylvania, was born September 13th, 1829, in Lycoming county. Came to this city in 1852, and was employed as mill-wright until 1871, when for two years he en- gaged in the milling business, in company with Mr. Ilineline, at the Richfield mills. He went to California in 1875, returned the following year, and went into business at the Arctic mill, under the firm name of Ilobart, Shuler and Company. In 1863 Mr. Shuler married Abbie E. Tidd, of Minneapolis.

R. G. Shuler, born at Williamsport, Pennsylva- nia. in 1827. At the age of seventeen he com- menced learning the trade of mill-wright, at which he worked in his native state until 1853, when he went to Indiana, and resided one year; then re- moved to Minnesota. and lived at Anoka, farm- ing. building, and in the livery business, until 1864. Hle then accompanied Fisk's Indian expe- dition to the plains. Since 1866 he has lived in this city, engaged in the mill-wright and building business. having assisted in erecting some of the principal mills here. In 1859 he married Lucretia Foster, of Maine. Their children are : Alfred, Harry, and Florence.

Frederick Sievers, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, was born in Frankenlust, Saginaw county. Michigan, June 21st, 1852. Received his early education from his father at home. After confirmation he went to Concordia College. Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1866. where he remained un- til 1872. In the same year he went to St. Louis, and entered the Concordia Theological Seminary, graduating June 29th, 1875. August 29th, same year, was ordained at St. Charles, Missouri, re- maining there as assistant pastor until 1859, when he received a call from this church. Ile is the son of Rev. F. Sievers, who organized the con- gregation in 1856.

P. Simonson, a native of Norway, was born in 1841. Emigrated to America in 1866, and located in Minneapolis the same year. Ile was four years employed in the car-shops, and two years stair-building for J. Harrison. In 1872 he com- menced business for himself, building stairs and railings. Ilis establishment is the only one of the kind in the city, and he has been very suc- cessful. Ile was married in February, 1873, to Martha Anderson. They are the parents of three children. Mr. Simonson's residence and stair-

building shop are at 1006 Washington Avenue south.

C. M. Skinner, M. D., was born at Waukesha, Wisconsin, in March, 1841. He was edncated in his native county; afterward studied medicine and graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1876. For one and one-half years he was honse surgeon of the Cook County Hospital at Chicago; then practiced at Hartford. Wisconsin, about fifteen months, and since June. 1878, has been in practice in Minneapolis. · Dr. Skinner re- sides at 1001 Washington Avenne south. Ilis marriage with Calista Rowell, of Wisconsin, oc- eurred in 1863. They have one daughter.

L. J. Skinner was born at Brooklyn, New York, April 4th, 1853. At the age of sixteen he was employed as elerk in the dry goods establishment of E. H. Van Ingen and Company, of New York city, and remained till 1879. when he came here and engaged in the paint business, as dealer and contractor. firm name of Adams and Skinner. After a few months he bought Mr. Adams' inter- est and continued alone nearly a year. when he became associated with W. W. Sly, and the man- ufacture of paints was added to the business. Their works are on Nicollet Island. Mr. Skinner married Elizabeth M. Bradley, in 1879. They have had one child, who died in infancy.

O. B. Skinner, a native of New York, was born August 3d, 1844. in Essex county. Learned the drug business at Elmira. New York, went to Kan- sas in 1869, and was in business there about two years, then resided in Vermont till 1876. Since that time he has been in the drug trade at Minne- apolis, with very profitable results. Ile occupies the whole of the building where he is at present located, 1121 Washington Avenue north. In 1870, he married Miss C. L. Baldwin, of Waverly, New York. Of their four children only one sur- vives: Clara. Mrs. Skinner died August 1st, 1880.

Thomas Sloan. a native of Preble, Cortland county. New York, was born in 1857. When a babe he came with his parents to St. Anthony, and at the age of eleven went to work in the mills of Minneapolis. For the past seven years he has been employed at the Cataract mill. Mr. Sloan is an unmarried man, and lives with bis parents at No. 2 First Avenue southi.

William Wesley Sly was born July 9th, 1848, in Oakland county, Michigan. At the age of

HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.

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Chas. W. Johnson in the job printing business. Is now a member of the firm of Johnson, Smith and Harrison. the printers of this history. Ile has luan an active member of the masonic fra- ternity, having served three years as Master of Cataract Lodge No. 2. A. F. and A. M., during which time their new hall was built. Has also lwen High Priest of St. Anthony Falls Royal Arch Chapter No. 3. Thrice IHustrious Master of Adon- iram Council No. 5. and Eminent Commander of Darius Commandery No. 7. of this city. Is also a Scottish Rite Mason. Was elected Alderman of the fifth ward in the spring of 1878, for two yomis. Was re-elected in the spring of 1880 for three years. and on the organization of the city vouneil, was made its vice-president. Was elee- ted president of the city council at its organiza- tion in 1881. which position he now holds. Was married in December 1868 to a daughter of Henry Sinclair. Has two children.

Albre Smith. born November 25th, 1845, at Orange. Massachusetts. Attended the graded schools of Cambridge and in 1863, entered the University of Chicago; the next year he went to Middlebury College: during the two years he wasthere. he read law with Sandford B. Perry and Walker, Dexter and Smith. He returned to Chi- cago. entered the law school, and in 1867, was admitted to the bar at Ottawa, Illinois. Came to Minneapolis the same year and opened a law office in company with M. D. L. Collester. In 1-71. he returned to Chicago, but was burned out during the great conflagration, and coming again to Minneapolis, has since continued in his pro- fession here. He married Mollie MeClelland in 1550. Their children are, Robert, Albee and Orwell.

(. 11. Smith. a native of New Hampshire, was bom Jone 26th. 1859. at Salisbury. Resided there until 1877. when he came here and worked let the firm of Smith and Day. the former being a mother of his. In September, 1878, he became a member of the firm of Smith and Miller; they deal in hardware at 231 Sixth Avenue south.

Charles W. Smith, born November 1th, 1848, at Greenville, Ilinois. Moved with his parents to Philadeljana, Pennsylvania, and attended school there until 1562, when he went to Europe, and entered the Liverpool Free College; he graduated in Imus, and then traveled through Europe. In

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BIOGRAPHIICAL.

1866, he crossed the isthmus and went to Calentta, India, from Madras. Returned to America in 1867, and from here visited Buenos Ayres in the ship Kossuth, in which he was part owner, and was pay-master of the first railroad built in the Ar- gentine Confederation in 1868. IIe took charge of a steamer which went to the relief of a Welch colony in Patagonia, and returned overland to Buenos Ayres, from where he made a trip on horse back across the Andes to Chili, returning through Paraguay and Brazil, thence homeward in 1870. Since that time he has been engaged in teaching in Minnesota. In 1873, he moved to this city, and in 1875 was appointed superinten- dent of schools, and was elected to the office in 1877, and re-elected in 1879. Mr. Smith married Electa Ilawkins in 1872. Arthur Garfield is their only child. The have an adopted son Benjamin W.

E. M. Smith, a native of Michigan, was born February 10th, 1843, at Pontiac. Moved to Wi- nona, Minnesota, in 1867, and for three years was engineer on the Winona and St. Peter railroad. In 1870, he came to this city and ran an engine two years on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway. Since the Union Planing Mills started, he has been employed there as engineer. IIis wife was Effie Jones; their marriage occurred in March, 1869; Burtie, Daisy, Roy and Ida, are their children.

George Smith, a native of Wisconsin, was born July 25th, 1856, in Walworth county. Went to Winona, Minnesota, in 1875, and two years later removed to Minneapolis. IIe is now em- ployed as miller at the Osborne feed mill. His address is 616 Fifth street north-east.

George Smith, born in Picton county, Nova Scotia, September 6th, 1846. First engaged in the business of hides, tallow, pelts, etc., at Chi- cago, in 1870, and afterwards with prominent firms at Milwaukee and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In 1875 he was employed as salesman for Oberne, Hosick and Company, of this city, 103 and 105 Second street south, and has been promoted to manager.

George F. Smith, was born at Salisbury, New IIampshire, September 1st, 1842. Enlisted in 1862 in the Sixteenth New Hampshire Infantry, and served one year. On being mustered out, in 1863, he came to Minneapolis, but the next

year went south to work, and laid the first sill of the Cumberland hospital, at Nashville. IIe re- turned in 1865, and worked in the hardware business for J. S. Pillsbury, until starting for himself in 1872; the firm of Smith and Scribner dates from May, 1876. Mr. Smith married Miss. Connor of this city, in 1867. Their children are: George, Ralph and Cyrus.

J. R. Smith, a native of Salisbury, New IIamp- shire, was born April 21st, 1851. Since 1871 he has been a resident of Minneapolis. 1Ie worked for George F. Smith four years, and in 1876, entered into partnership with Mr. Day in the hardware business. Mr. Smith's marriage with Leonora Day took place in 1875. They are the parents of two children; J. R., and Rena. They reside at 915, Seventh Avenue south.

J. A. Smith, a native of Germany, was born in 1850. Ile accompanied his parents to America in 1855, and removed to Minneapolis in 1874; sinee that time has been engaged in the manufae- ture of barrels, and is now president of the Co- operative Barrel Company.

Jason W. Smith, was born October 23d, 1840, in Penobscot county, Maine. Remained on his father's farm till 1860, when he went to Bangor, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In July, 1870, he removed to this city and clerked in a grocery store three years, then went into the grocery trade at 101 Central Avenue, in partner- ship with W. W. Ilawes. His wife was Emma Maxim: they were married in 1865. Of their four children, three are living: George, Edith and Jessie.

Theodore W. Smith, a native of New York city, was born August 25th, 1860. Commenced working at milling in 1874, at Ashland, Ohio; re- moved to this city in October, 1878, and was em- ployed one year at the Crystal Lake mill. Since that time has been engaged with Hawthorne Brothers at the Trades mill. His marriage with Julia Desjardin occurred August 3d. 1880.

C. L. Snyder, born February Ist. 1831, in Som- erset county, Pennsylvania. In 1857 he came to Minnesota, located at Glencoe and for three years followed lumbering and farming ; he was sheriff of MeLeod county in 1857-8. In 1861 raised company B, of the Fourth Minnesota; he was promoted captain of this company and served three years ; after being mustered out in 1864 he

HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.

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at Monticello. In 1562 he enlisted. and was three and one-half years in active service: mistered out in Ists. Since the war he has made this city 1 is home. In ISTO, assisted in the location of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad. and had charge of bridge imilding on that line until 1872, when he engaged in survey ing townships in north- Western Minnesota. Mr. Spaulding graduated from the Ohio college of dental surgery March 1th. 1575. with the degree of D. D. S .: since that time has been in practice. His wife was Miss J. (. Johnson: they were married in 1866. Three children have been born to them: Willie, Susie and one who died in infancy.

Edward Spear. Jr .. was born in 1828. at War- ren. Ohio, and received his education in his na- tive place. Was in the army five years; was in command of an Ohio battery three years of the time, and then was paymaster of the army of the Tennessee: after the war he passed five months in Europe. In 187% he came here and established the North-western Stove Works. located in South Minneapolis, Mr. Spear married. in 1856. Emma Londer. Their children are : Lonie, Edward, Bertha and Harry.

R. Speck. a native of Germany, was born Sep- tember 11th. JS11. Came to the United States in 1-61. and resided at St. Paul until IS74 when he came here and for about one year was in the pro- duce and commission business; since then he has had a grocery and general merchandise store, his present location being 501 First street north. 11 - marriage with Mary Joungelaus occurred in 1572. Off their four children, those living are: Carl, Gustave and Adolph.

David Spillane, a native of New York. was hoth August Both. 1855. at Dunkirk. When a labe be moved with his parents to Fillmore cont. Mumesota. When seventeen years of age he commeneed the milling business at Whalan. In July. 1579, he came to Minneapolis and en- gaged with the Standard mill, where he occupies . the positioned grinder.

1. 11. Statir was born December 29th, 1842. in Denmark. Came to this country, worked one year at farming in Indiana, six months in a roll- nog will. and then was engaged as clerk in a hotel, previous to returning to Denmark on a visit. In que he He moved to Wisconsin and engaged in the process business; came here in 1876 and was in

635

BIOGRAPHICAL.

different lines of business till 1880, when he opened a second-hand store at 208 Plymouth Av- enne. In 1865 he married Christine Hanson. They have had nine children; only three are liv- ing.

Carl G. Stammwitz was born in Germany in 1831. Came to St. Anthony in 1858, and was head miller for Morrison and Prescott, at the Farmer's mill, six years. In 1865, bought the St. Anthony mill in company with G. Schober; they purchased a half interest in the People's mill in 1870, and the next year disposed of the St. An- thony mill; in 1875 they took the machinery out of the People's mill and built the Phoenix. Mr. Stammwitz married Caroline Peterson in 1861. Their children are Carl, Annie, Frederick, Olga, Adolph, Otto. Augusta, Bertha, Henry, Alice and Alvin (twins,) and George.

C. M. Stebbins, a native of Long Meadow, Massachusetts, was born in 1829. Lived with his parents until sixteen years of age, when he went to Connecticut and worked at carpentering four years. In 1849, returned to Massachusetts for one year; then went again to Connecticut and remained till July, 1878, when he came to this city; his place of business is 218 Second Avenue south. Mr. Stebbins was married in 1856 to Miss Langdon. They have two children, Hattie and IIenry.

E. S. Stebbins was born in 1854, at Boston Massa- chusetts. Moved to Troy, New York, in 1868. and two years later went to Saratoga. In 1872 hie commenced the study of architecture. Went to Boston and attended the Technological Insti- tute two years. He worked with E. D. Harris three years on the Grand Union Hotel, Saratoga, and the fourth year had entire supervision of the work. In 1877 he came here. Ilis office is 304 Nicollet Avenue. Mr. Stebbins drew plans for the Hennepin county jail, Christ Church, Henne- pin county poor-house, Richfield town hall, and several public buildings at Grand Forks, Dakota. Hle was married in 1880.

Franklin Steele. The following memoir, by Rev. E. D. Neill, was read at the meeting of the department of American History of the State Historical Society, in October, 1880. " In memo- riam : Franklin Steele. This evening we as- semble under the shadow of a sudden and painful lo s. Among the twenty-five or thirty present at

the September meeting of this department of the State Historical Society, he who attracted the most attention by his fine presence and manly form was its chairman, Franklin Steele. Those who saw him on that evening, in perfect health, presiding so courteously, yet unobtrusively, can with diffi- enlty realize that on the third night after, he was silenced by death, and that in less than a week his lifeless body was carried to its last resting- place in the beautiful cemetery which overlooks the capital of the republic. Not only as a life member of the Minnesota Historical Society, and chairman of the department of American History, but as one of the founders of the commonwealth of Minnesota, is he deserving of some brief memorial.

While the French were still occupying the val- ley of the Allegheny, the region between the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, in Pennsylva- nia, was fast filling up with industrious farmers from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany. Among the hardy men who found homes in what is now Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, was the paternal ancestor of Franklin Steele, and the wife of this pioneer was of Scotch descent. Fru- gal and persevering, they raised a large family, and four sons, at least, attained manhood.

Archibald served under the lamented Mont- gomery in 1775, in the expedition against Quebec, and during the revolution became deputy quarter- master general for the troops of the western di- vision of the army in Pennsylvania.

John, who was born in the town of Lancaster, was about seventeen years of age and going to school when the thrilling news arrived that the farmers near Lexington had peppered the British sokliery from Boston, with the contents of their fowling pieces. It stirred the blood of this boy, and soon he was found enlisted in the war for in- (lependence. At the battle of Brandywine, in September, 1777, he received in his shoulder what was supposed for a time to be a fatal wound. On one occasion he swam across the Delaware, while ice was floating, with orders tied in a silk handker- chief around his head. Although benumbed, he reached the Jersey shore, anl gave an alarm, which baffled the enemy. In March, 1778, Lieu- tenant John Steele was recommended to the ex- ecutive council of Pennsylvania as "an officer well qualified to recruit in Lancaster county."

HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.

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Mr. Steele passed the winter of 1838 at Wash- ington and elsewhere. It on the evening of the 13th of June. on the steamboat Burlington, ar- roved at Fort Snelling. Among his fellow pass- ungers were Capt. Maryatt, of the British navy, the well known novelist, and a number of others, Lules as well as gentlemen. With them, he rode ont for pleasure to the Falls of St. Anthony. then the ultima thule. a point at which he was destined to ervet the first permanent structure, and in which. after it bream . a city of forty-eight thou- sand inhabitants, he was suddenly to die.

On the 20th of June. the steamboat Ariel ar- rived at Fort Spelling, and one of the passengers said that the senate had ratified the treaty. but it was not until the 15th of July, that the Palmyra brought the official notice.

Mr. Steele now made another trip to the falls of st. Croix and on the 16th of Angust he came back to the fort. Disposing of his interests at the falls of St. Croix, he turned his attention to the development of the claim at the falls of St. An- thony, and in 1835 engaged a man to cultivate six or eight acres there. the land having not yet been surveyed. It was not until 1815 that there was a sale of lands by the government, and this year be completed the first saw-mill on the east side of the falls.

In 1sal he secured a site for the preparatory department of the University of Minnesota, and was the largest contributor toward the erection of the first academic building. The academy was opened in October. 1551, and until destroyed by fire stored in the east division park, opposite the stone e btire now owned by Macalester College.

After the treities of Iso1. settlers began to dwell on the prairie on the west side of the falls of &t Anthony, and in a few years were more numerous than these on the east side. With an ob ling faith that in time, the roar of a great city would drown the "vojee of many waters," Mr. Steel. In fore patents were issued from the gen- cal land office at Washington for the land on the west side, contracted for the swinging of a wire Depension Integr over the Mississippi. just above the cataract. the first bridge of any description which spanned the great river from Lake Hasca to the gulf of Mexico.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

After its completion, the Minnesota legislature in the winter of 1855. adjourned for one day lo be present at the formal opening of the artistic struc- ture, which for years was not only a great thor- oughfare for immigrants. but admired by travelers and tourists as a thing of beauty. About this time his name was appropriately given by the state to one of the counties made out of the lands which had been ceded by the Sioux.

The month of August. 1862, can never be for- golten by the settlers of Minnesota. The Sioux, taking advantage of the civil war that was then . raging, rose like demons incarnate, and without warning began to attack the settlements of the Minnesota river, and murder and scalp defence- less women and children. Volunteers from St. Paul and Minneapolis hurried to the scene of slaughter, and Mr. Steele followed as soon as possible with the necessary supplies. The drivers of the supply trains at length fallered and said they dared not go on, when Mr. Steele, with characteristic quietness and efficiency, headed the column, riding in an open buggy, night and day, and restored confidence.

In April, 1843, he was married, in Baltimore, by the Rev. Dr. Wyatt, to Anna, daughter of William C. Barney, and grand-child of Commo- dore Barney of the United States navy, and also of Samuel Chase, the Maryland states-man, one of the signers of the declaration of independence, afterwards judge of the supreme court of the United States.

With his bride he came to Fort Snelling when it was surrounded by Indians, and in his wilder- ness home lie always exhibited a generous hospi- tality. Ashis daughters began to grow up, he felt felt it desirable to have a family residence where they could obtain a proper education, and during the latter years of his life he passed the winters in Washington, but always spoke of Minnesota as home.

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History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 109

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