USA > Minnesota > Todd County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 16
USA > Minnesota > Morrison County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 16
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Barney Burton is the son of Isaac and Sarah Burton, the former of whom was born in Poland and came to America when a young man. He settled in Peoria, Illinois, and, after his marriage, moved to Wisconsin, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and divided his attention between farming and logging. After having lived in the state of Wisconsin for forty-eight years, he died at Somerset many years ago, at the age of eighty-six. Mrs. Sarah Burton was a native of Germany, who accompanied her parents to America when a small girl and lived near Peoria, Illinois, where she niet and was married to Isaac Burton. She died in the same year as her husband, at the age of seventy-seven. There were eight children born to Isaac and Sarah Burton, Louis, Samuel, Barbara, Anna, Elizabeth, Jacob, Barney and Mitchell.
Barney Burton accompanied his parents to Wisconsin when he was a child of only two years. He grew up in the state of Wisconsin and was educated in the rural schools, living with his parents and working on the farm until fourteen years old. Afterward, until he was eighteen years old,
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he worked in the woods and, at the age of eighteen, went to St. Cloud, Minnesota, where, with his brother, Jacob, as a partner, he engaged in the clothing and men's furnishing business. In 1886 they moved to Little Falls, seeking a better location. Mr. Burton's store in Little Falls was in the old Simmons building on Broadway. His business proved a success and five years later he and his brother dissolved partnership, Barney Burton retaining the business. The business grew from month to month until it was finally necessary to seek larger quarters. The store was moved to the building now occupied by the postoffice and later to the Rider building. The business kept on growing and Mr. Burton finally found it necessary to move into the large Kiewel building. From time to time the stock has been enlarged, until he now has the most complete line of shoes, clothing, men's furnishings, dry- goods and ladies' ready-to-wear apparel to be found in Morrison county. Not only this, but the Burton store is the largest mercantile establishment in Morrison county. Mr. Burton has a branch store at Pierz besides other sub- stantial interests.
On July 6. 1898, Barney Burton was married to Josephine Deutsch, of Minneapolis. Mrs. Burton was born in Minneapolis and was educated in the public schools of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Burton are the parents of four children, Regina, Richard, Mildred and Harold.
Mr. Burton is an independent voter. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is active in the affairs of the Little Falls Commercial Club, but has never been active in politics.
GEORGE M. A. FORTIER, M. D.
The man who devotes his talents and energy to the noble work of administering to the ills of humanity pursues a calling which in dignity and importance is second to no other. He is indeed a benefactor to all mankind. for to him more than any other man are entrusted the safety, the comfort and in many instances the lives of those who come under his care. Among the well-known and able physicians and surgeons of Morrison county, Minne- sota, is Dr. George M. A. Fortier, the present mayor of Little Falls, who for many years has stood without a superior in Morrison county. He realized early in his career that to obtain a large measure of success in the medical profession, technical ability must be supplemented by broad human sympathy. Not only has Doctor Fortier taken a pride in and honored the
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profession by noble services, but he has filled many positions of trust and political responsibility.
George M. A. Fortier, who is the son of the late Moe Fortier, for many years a member of the Canadian Parliament, was born on April 15, 1857, at St. David, province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada. Doctor Fortier is the son of Moé and Matilda (Paradis) Fortier, the former of whom was born near Quebec, on the Isle of Olean, November 6, 1815, and who, when seven- teen years of age, moved to Yamaska, six miles from St. David, where for a number of years he clerked in the store owned by his father-in-law. After working in the store for four years he was married, and in 1836 removed to St. David, where he purchased a stock of general merchandise and operated the store until his death, October 17, 1877, when he was sixty-two years old. He purchased farmer's produce, everything from an egg to an ox, and did an extensive business. He purchased and sold cordwood and lumber, which he floated down the river to Montreal. He was a Liberal in politics, and a member of Parliament for fifteen years, at both Quebec and Ottawa. He was mayor of St. David for many years and also mayor of the county for many years. He was elected a member of Parliament in 1867, and as a con- sequence of this election there was a contest which extended over a period of three months, but Moé Fortier finally won the contest.
Mrs. Matilda (Paradis) Fortier was born on April 14, 1812. She lived to be sixty-seven years old. passing away on April 19, 1879. She bore her husband eleven children, of whom seven grew to maturity. George M. A. was the youngest of the family.
Reared in St. David until thirteen years old, George M. A. Fortier then entered Nicollet College, where he remained for four years. Afterward he attended Montreal College, graduating from the classical course at the age of twenty years. Afterward he attended the medical college of Victoria University, now Laval University, and was graduated from the medical department in 1881. On June 7, 1881, he came to Little Falls, Morrison county, Minnesota, and began the practice of medicine. He has followed the practice of medicine and surgery at Little Falls continuously from 1881, a period of thirty-four years.
It is hardly too much to say that Doctor Fortier is the leading physician and surgeon in Morrison county, and that in his career as a physician and surgeon he has enjoyed perhaps the most lucrative practice of any physician in the county. This large practice is not a matter of accident, but is due first to his superior training and second to his natural tendency for the healing art.
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On September 10, 1883, George M. A. Fortier was married to Petronilla R. Vasaly, who was born in Italy on February 2, 1865, and who came to America with her parents, Louis and Frances (Riberi) Vasaly, when a small girl. Mrs. Fortier's father, Louis Vasaly, was born in Switzerland in 1823, and her mother at Lemonia. Italy, near Florence, about 1839. Some nine years after his marriage in Switzerland, Louis Vasaly came to America, serving in a Minnesota regiment in the Civil War. After settling at Ft. Ripley, he was soon appointed quartermaster, a position which he held until the close of the war. He then returned to Switzerland and brought back with him his wife and two children, Stephen and Leila. The family returned to Ft. Ripley and continued to live there, Louis Vasaly operating a general store, in the fort, which he had established during the war. A little later, Charley Vasaly, another son. was born under the stars and stripes of the fort. After selling out the store at Ft. Ripley, the Vasaly family removed to Little Falls, where Louis Vasaly purchased the hotel from Peter Hoy. calling it the Vasaly House. It was located at the corner of First street and Broadway, where the Kievel block now stands. Louis Vasaly was also a pharmacist, having learned the profession in his native land. Besides having a large general store in Little Falls, he also owned a drug store. After selling the hotel, he opened a wagon and blacksmith shop and feed mill. About 1890 he sold his various properties and opened a feed and flour-mill. which he continued to operate for three or four years, when he again sold out, having in the meantime become interested in improved real estate. He lived to eighty-one years old, passing away at Little Falls on May 4, 1904. In politics, Louis Vasaly was an independent Republican. Ile was a member of the French Catholic church. Frances ( Rebery) Vasaly, mother of Mrs. Fortier, bore her husband ten children, of whom two died in infancy. The names of the children, in the order of their birth, are as follow: Stephen, Mrs. Liela Fortier, Charles, Spirit J., Peter, deceased; Peter, the second; Mrs. Rose Kasparek and Louis.
Dr. and Mrs. George M. A. Fortier have had twelve children, of whom two, Sophia and Muriel, are deceased. The living children are Edward L., Stephen R., Frances, Alma, Rose, Angela, Annette, Charles, George, Louis and Clare.
Doctor Fortier is a Democrat in politics. He was elected to the city council in 1887 and again in 1889, serving two terms. He also served twelve years as coroner and has served as city physician and as a member of the board of health at different times. In 1914 he was elected mayor of Little
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Falls, and is the first Frenchman to hold this important office. He was elected the first time by acclamation and was re-elected by acclamation. Doc- tor Fortier has also been United States pension examiner and United States marine examiner.
PHIL S. RANDALL.
Phil S. Randall, a native of Montpelier, Vermont, born on May 7, 1865, and now a well-known citizen of Little Falls, Minnesota, holds the position of justice of the peace and city engineeer. With the exception of two years he has served as city enginer since 1905. He has served as justice of the peace in Little Falls since 1909. Formerly he served as county surveyor for three and one-half years. Mr. Randall comes from a distinguished family, his father, Francis V. Randall, having commanded the Thirteenthi Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, at the battle of Gettysburg, and turned the force of General Picket's charge by an effective and timely flank movement,
Phil S. Randall is the son of Francis V. and Fanny G. (Colby ) Ran- call. Col. Francis V. Randall was born at Braintree, Orange county, Ver- mont, February 13, 1824. His early educational advantages were limited. Since he was the second in a family of nine children, he was able to attend school only three months. Afterward he worked for his father in the grist- mill but, being ambitious to do greater things, he read law at home, having borrowed books from Judge Heman Carpenter, an attorney-at-law living near his home. After a time he taught school for two or three winters to assist in paying his expenses and then went into the office of Judge Carpen- ter and studied law for a few years. Afterward he moved to Roxbury, Ver- mont, and still later to Montpelier, Vermont, where he opened a law office and did a very successful business until the breaking out of the Civil War.
In 1861 Francis V. Randall was elected captain of Company F. Second Regiment. Vermont Volunteer Infantry. After serving in that capacity for one and one-half years, he was appointed colonel of the Thirteenth Regi- ment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and after nine months was appointed colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, a posi- tion which he held until the close of the war.
After the war, Col. Francis V. Randall resumed the practice of law, in which he continued until his death, on March 1, 1885, at North Field, Ver- mont. He was a Democrat in politics, justice of the peace, a member of the Legislature for three terms and postmaster of North Field.
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Mrs. Fanny G. (Colby) Randall was born at Topshan, Orange county, Vermont. When she was a small child her parents moved to Candia, Rock- ingham county, New Hampshire, and then to South New Market, New Hampshire, where she was married. Col. and Mrs. Francis V. Randall were the parents of three children, Phil S., the subject of this sketch; Gur- don, who died in infancy, and Volney L., a druggist at Wilton, McLean county, North Dakota.
Phil S. Randall attended a private school until ten years old and then moved, with his parents, to Brookfield, Orange county, Vermont, where he attended the district school until sixteen years old. Afterward he attended the Norwich University Military School, graduating in 1886. He then read law in a lawyer's office for two years and on August 10, 1888, went to Ellen- dale, North Dakota, and read law under Fred S. Parker, now municipal judge of Superior, Wisconsin. After remaining a few months, he was admitted to the bar in December, 1888. He remained in the employ of Mr. Parker for two years and then went into business for himself, conducting an abstract, loan and law business for about fifteen years at Ellendale. While living at Ellendale, he was elected county judge and served a term of two years. He also served as justice of the peace.
On December 20, 1903, Mr. Randall came to Little Falls. Minnesota, where he opened a real estate office. Having studied engineering in Ver- mont, about one year after coming to Little Falls, in 1905, he was elected city engineer and, with the exception of two years, has held this position ever since. He has also served as county surveyor and is now a justice of the peace.
On September 1, 1890, Phil S. Randall was married to Nora Delahunt, a native of Russell township, Sheboygan county. Wisconsin, born at Elkhart Lake, January 9, 1868, the daughter of James and Bridget (Flynn) Dela- hunt. James Delahunt was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and his wife in County Meath, Ireland. After coming to the United States, James Dela- hunt settled at LeRoy, New York, where he and his wife met and were married. She had come to America with her parents. James Delahunt was a brick mason in New York state. Later he moved to Wisconsin and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Elkhart for one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. Later he bought and inherited considerable land. He spent his last days in Little Falls, passing away at the age of eighty-five years, in 1907. His wife, who lived to be seventy-seven years old. passed away in 1910. She was the mother of twelve children, two of whom died in
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infancy. John, another child, is also deceased. The living children are Mary Ann, Catherine, Walter, Bridget, Margaret, Nora, James, Celia and Edward Patrick. Mrs. Randall received her education near Elkhart, Wis- consin. After completing her education in the common schools, she taught school at Wisconsin for three years and then went to North Dakota and taught one year at Blanchard. Later she taught school for three years at Ellendale.
To Mr. and Mrs. Randall have been born eight children, of whom one, Charles Edward, the second born, is deceased. The living children are Ramona G., Phyllis A., Zella Marie, Walter V., Bernardine N., Francis J. and Robert Anthony. Ramona is a graduate of an instrumental music course. Phyllis is a graduate of a vocal musical course. Marie is a graduate of a normal school and a licensed teacher. The three latter named are all graduates of the Little Falls high school, and Marie is a graduate of the nor- mal department of the Little Falls high school.
The Randall family are all well known in Little Falls and popular socially in the city.
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ANDREW J. FENN.
Andrew J. Fenn, a well-known citizen of Little Falls, Morrison county, Minnesota, now serving as district engineer for the Minnesota highway com- mission, is a native of Johnson county, Kentucky, where he was born on July 15, 1862.
Educated in the state of Kentucky and in Minnesota, Andrew J. Fenn studied engineering under Thomas T. Lange, of Minnesota, spending eight years in his employ. When fifteen years old, he came to this state and settled at Minneapolis. After leaving Mr. Lange's employment, he worked for the Soo railroad and was employed later by the Wisconsin Central railroad and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. In 1893 Mr. Fenn moved to Little Falls, Morrison county, Minnesota, and engaged in the land business for two years. He was then employed by John Virtin for two years in the same business and was finally elected city engineer of Little Falls on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Fenn held this office for six years, until 1900, when he was elected surveyor of Morrison county. He held this office for ten years, until 1910, when he resigned to accept a position as district engineer for the state highway commission. Since 1910 Mr. Fenn has been contin-
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uously employed as a district engineer for the state highway commission and during all this period has been located at Little Falls.
In 1905 Andrew J. Fenn was married to Julia Scanlan, a native of Rockford, Illinois, who immigrated with her parents to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Mr. Fenn is a stanch Democrat and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Fraternal . Order of Eagles. He is a member of the Minnesota Surveyors and Engi- neers Society.
JOHN H. DOCKEN.
Among the influential citizens of Morrison county, Minnesota, the record of whose lives has become an essential part of the history of this section of the state, John H. Docken, a retired farmer of Little Falls, is prominent. For many years, he has exerted a wholesome influence on the life of the community where he has lived. His chief characteristics are a keen perception, a tireless energy, honesty of purpose and motive and every- day common sense. These qualities have enabled him, not only to advance his own interests, but to contribute to the moral and material advancement of Morrison county. He is a veteran of the Civil War, and a man thoroughly in love with the country of his adoption.
Born near Countsberg, Norway, March 15, 1842, John H. Docken is the son of Halver J. and Mary Docken, the former of whom was born near Countsberg, Norway, in 1814. There he lived until he and his family came to America. While living in Norway. Halver J. Docken worked in a silver mine and farmed. Upon reaching New York, he was taken sick but lived until the family reached Stoughton, Wisconsin, where he died at the age of thirty-five years. Mrs. Mary Docken was also born in Norway and came to this country with her husband and family. After the death of her husband, she married Brant Thompson. By her first marriage, there were three children, one of whom died on reaching Wisconsin. John was the second child and Sophia is the wife of Jesse A. Johnson. By her second marriage, there were two children, John and William Thompson.
Only seven years oldl when the Docken family arrived in Wisconsin. John Docken was educated in the district school at Stoughton and also in the public schools of Goodyear county, Minnesota, where his step-father moved. After his education was completed he assisted his step-father on the farm until he was about twenty years old.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN IL. DOCKEN
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On February II, 1862, Mr. Docken enlisted in Company H, First Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Sullie, who was succeeded by Colonel Gorman. The First Minnesota regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac and Mr. Docken participated in many severe engagements, among which were the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oak, Seven Pines, Oak Grove, Gaines Mills, Savage · Station, Peach Orchard, Allen Farm, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, Malvern Hill, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. At Gettysburg, he was severely wounded by a shot in the left arm. This wound was received during the first great charge of the Minnesota regiment. When the famous "Pickett's charge" was made he was wounded seriously in the left side and was sent to Chestnut Hill hospital, at Philadelphia, where he remained for ten months. Because of his weakened condition, he was detailed to hospital service on May 5, 1864. He was discharged on February 24, 1865, at Washington, D. C. After the war, Mr. Docken's condition was such that he could not work and he has not entirely recovered to this day.
In 1867 John H. Docken was married to Anna Johnson, who was born at Schien, Norway, in 1843, and who came to Minnesota, settling in Good- year county with her mother, her father having died in Norway. She is the daughter of Johnson and Anna (Harver) Johnson, the latter of whom stayed with a sister in this state until her death. She was the mother of eight children, Mary, Johnson, Holmwood, Ora, Chester, Ike, Carrie and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Docken have been the parents of five chil- dren, Anna Marie; Hanna, the wife of Henry Payne; Helena, the wife of Edward Hirt; Harry Joseph and George J.
After Mr. Docken's marriage he purchased eighty acres of land in Goodyear county and farmed for three years. He then sold out and moved to Lyon county, Minnesota, looking for land and stayed there one year, but did not buy. In the spring of 1872, Mr. Docken came to Morrison county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land in Buckman township. It was wild but Mr. Docken broke and cultivated it. Within a few years after coming to Morrison county, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres adjoining his homestead, which was also wild land and most of which has been put under cultivation. A little later he bought fifty-five acres in Morrill township, east of Buckman, which was also unbroken land. At the present time, Mr. Docken is farming about two hundred and eighty acres, his two sons conducting the farm.
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In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. John H. Docken moved to St. Cloud, expecting to retire. After building a home Mr. Docken found that he could not remain, so he returned to Buckman and remained on the farm for four years. In the fall of 1904 he turned the farm over to his two sons and pur- chased a home at 213 First Street, Northeast, Little Falls. Here Mr. and Mrs. Docken now make their home.
The Docken family are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Docken votes the Republican ticket and was chairman of the board of supervisors of Buckman township, when living on the farm, which position he held for twelve years. He was a member of and director of the school board when on the farm and held this position for many years. Mr. Docken is chaplain of the local post, Grand Army of the Republic.
CARL BOLANDER.
Few business men of Morrison county, Minnesota, are quite as well or favorably known as Carl Bolander, a well-known real estate dealer of Little Falls, Minnesota. None stand higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the community where he resides and fewer have had a larger part in the material advancement of this county. In his career as a real estate dealer. he has purchased and sold thousands of acres of land, which during the period of his ownership has been improved.
Carl Bolander was born at Vrigstad. Sweden, on July 10, 1867, and was educated in the schools in his native land. Among other things he learned the carpenter's trade. He was associated with his father in the lumber business and in farming until he was nineteen years old. He then served in the Swedish army for three years. After obtaining permission from the king of Sweden to leave the country, he immigrated to America in 1891. Landing in New York City, Mr. Bolander went immediately to Chi- cago and followed the carpenter's trade a part of the time during the famous world's fair of 1893. In July, 1893 he removed to Little Falls and was first engaged as a carpenter. In a short time he became associated with C. . 1. Lindbergh, and was employed to look after Mr. Lindbergh's lands. At the same time he became interested personally in the real estate business. He bought wild lands and converted them into improved farms and then sokl them. He sold all kinds of real estate, however, including farm land and city property. Since coming to Little Falls. Mr. Bolander has done consid-
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erable building. In the early days he erected dwellings and business blocks which he later sold. He is now dividing his attention between Mr. Lind- bergh's lands and his own personal real estate business. He has extensive holdings in real estate, and this requires a considerable part of his time.
On June 21, 1905, Carl Bolander was married to Helena Newman, a native of Detroit, Michigan, who is of German descent. Mrs. Bolander was educated in Detroit and was a trained nurse by profession. She came to Little Falls to pursue her profession and it was here that she met Mr. Bolan- der. There has been one son born to this marriage, namely, Carl Magnus.
Before his marriage, Mr. Bolander took an active interest in lodge work and was a captain of several degree staffs. He took great pride in the work of the various degree staffs and was known as one of the best drill masters in this section of the country. Mr. Bolander is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeomen. He is a progressive Repub- lican in politics and since coming to Little Falls has served as alderman, as member of the board of public works and is now a member of the board of education. Mr. and Mrs. Bolander attend the Congregational church. Mr. Bolander owns a large touring car, which he uses not only for business but for pleasure as well. The Bolanders are very popular in Little Falls and vicinity.
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